der Berliner

In his case probably rather a loan. One would hope. IMHO, there is not so much difference in playing style between Jones and Kent (quality aside). Both are pacy, direct and willing to shoot. Thing is that a) Kent will always be first choice and b) both are better in games where the opposition plays an open style. Against the brickwall brigade, we'd probably need more of the trickery and inventive sort ... which also begs the question why Stewart gets so little game-time (not least with the problems on the right). Likewise, we sure need a poacher who occupies the slot near the penalty spot, where far too often balls run lose and no-one is near or indeed, in sight.

Checked said article and it looks no more than wild speculation. One may argue that Barker has reasonably underperformed, but has been given next to no chance to get any continuous game time whatsoever. That is not solely his fault, but to keep him in any shape or form he sure needs game time, so a loan will be a good option for him. Any cash we will receive should he go will be a bonus, as he was a freebie. 10k a week? Well, I don`t know the wage structure, so throwing figures about and commenting on them is a waste of space. those sanctioning his deals and wages are those in place right now, and even if he was an Allan signing, someone would have signed under that. Jones would be somewhat bizarre, unless there was something we don`t know about. Thing is, bar a couple of games, Jones has sure not let us down, is just back from injury and even in that short cameo against Tashkent, he had good spells. And as a wee remark, after Grezda left, we would essentially sent away any sort of back-up for Kent if those two were going, as they are both left wingers by trade. Any new player would by default be second choice to Kent still. Hastie back ... so we would have some pressure on Ojo ... who rarely plays these days too? IMHO, our main threat on the right would be Stewart (albeit being a striker first and foremost), who`s injury was rather untimely (how often did we have that?). For some reason or another, we either play Ojo (who far too often slips into "EPL u23 - mode") or shoe-horn Aribo in a right-attacker role that ain`t his. So getting Hastie back to have a real right-winger may help to get more balance. BTW, methinks Josh McPake can`t go anywhere (bar back to the club we loaned him too), so may get a call-up to the first team. Would be interesting, but not a desirable option unless injury and suspension happen by. EDIT ... just checked Hastie`s stats again, who have changed since he joined us, as Rotherham uses him primarily as a left winger. 16 games, 3 goals, 1 assist. In the 3rd tier of the English game. Dunno whether he will be the spark that tears down the Scottish brick-walls ... NB: if Kent gets injured, we`d then only have Hastie there as straight cover, Well ...

I just checked it: Earth is still rotating. Despite what I read elsewhere after our defeat. Anyway, After a certain time, the opposition teams sussed out how MW`s team played and how his players worked. Roundabout the turn of the year, Warburton`s Magic in the Premiership was gone. SG has assembled a far better team with better players, but IMHO still sticks far too often to the same game-plan ... even if the players not always work. I had and have my reservations regarding Aribo in a right-sided attacking slot that ain't his prime role. Tav needs someone to work with and Jack usually supplies this if Aribo ain't close, Then again, it is asked of Aribo to go inside once the striker is being drawn away ... and Morelos is rather mobile up front. He sure is good there, but I wouldn't place him on a wing. Now, the Hearts game was the usual hectic affair and they played their game and we tried to adapt, rather than forced our play upon them. Hence SG's comments. Too bad that our second striker, the more creative Stewart was/is injured. Too bad, that SG kept Ojo on the bench, rather than giving the Hearts backline more to think about. Too bad that Jack had to come off injured and we lost the chance to put Jones on. When it comes to Wednesday, Ross County will provide the same stubborn rersistance that we saw at the Scumhut on Saturday. I'd keep Polster at right-back, who looked willing to create and go forward. Who can drop into the DM role if need be. Arfield looked willing and more like himself, so may keep a slot. Morelos will be back and add another dimension to our attack, even though the rest of the team should be able to cope with and in his absence. While we could very well stay with the "4-3-3" ... 4-2-3-1 line-up on Wednesday, I would ponder ... McGregor Polster - Goldson - Katic - Barisic Aribo/Arfield - Davis Ojo - Kent - Jones Morelos ... with us switching to a 3-5-2 when we attack, and/or Polster dropping into a DM role near to Davis, while Aribo moves slightly further forward as ball-winner (which he can), distributor or option going forward like Jack does on occasion. The left wing is well covered, Jones may even go into a striker slot when Baraisic moves forward or Morelos comes to the flank. Kent in a more free, roving role. I suspect that the Stags won't come out to attack us too often, so we should have enough players in the attacking third to tear their wall down.

Worst time to play them, all players back, new guys in there and as usual all well up for it. They were there for the taking at 1-0, but Kamara (as he did in the first half) tried to be too clever and that was that. Afterwards never really in it, as 26th put it, we tried to play their game and lost. After Clancy's show at the Scumhut yesterday, a fine weekend for the Scum. Wednesday can`come quickly enough. Only bright spark: Polster looked quite good.

Too little threat up front, should get Jones or/and Ojo on soon, as they are more direct and fast. Their defence is there for the taking.

Hearts will be up for it, as always. Probably trying to have a go for 30 mins. Halkett is there, Naismith and Souttar back, plus some guy called Boyce (was he at Hibs before?). Hopefully we edge ahead early and keep them well at bay afterwards. If the attack struggles, you would hope that Jones and Ojo get early calls.

Of course, TLB does scare the shit out of the faint-hearted ...

Haven't seen all the highlights, but Ross County could have had 3 or 4 goals by the time Clancy gifted them the penalty. That said, their keeper denied the Scum a few good chances AND Clancy did not see a clear handball in the area by a Stags player. Can be seen in the highlights below. That shall not excuse him for his error at the penalty, as Johnson clearly made the most of it. BTW, that stand-still picture below is scary stuff ...

I`m prepared for a rumour-update-frenzy over the next 7 days ... ???

Has he been linked with a return? I think not. Hence he is not up there. ?

2nd row brigade was slaughtered for their 30-shots game vs Stranraer, am I to expect that the 1st row will get the same treatment? Anyway, 3 points, same old story against the brick-wall band. It shows how depended we are on a Morelos, but also underlines my point that we simply fail to sub folk quicker. Ojo brought more to the attack than Arfield, and Jones might have been more useful when Saints opened up. Apart from the last run, Kent was not seen for the last 20 odd minutes ... 3 points, 1 goal for the highlights DVD and on we move.

So it is essentially Stranraer revisited, only with a better team parking the bus. Work to be done, perhaps try another attacking player, as we constantly try to play through them in the final third and have a lack of players there ,,,

Since no-one is in the preview list ... The Scottish Premiership Ibrox Stadium Rangers FC vs St. Mirren FC Referee - Nick Walsh Assistants - Alan Mulvanny and Graeme Leslie Fourth Official - Steven Kirkland Missing - Filip Helander (foot), Alfredo Morelos (suspended), James Tavernier (infection), Greg Stewart (calf), Glenn Middleton (foot) LIVE on RTV, KO 7.45

Was just a reminder what was last added to the OP ? (And as long as it is not official ... )

Rumours are that Jordan Houston will join Ayr United permanently (with sell-on stuff et al) and that Jak Alnwick pre-contract deal with Blackpool is close too. Just to keep you posted.

Yes! The OP knows and has it in the squad list ... ?

It will be a long 11 days now. IMHO, we will not sell Alfredo before the summer and even then it might be tactically clever to keep him after any EL/CL qualifiers, to offset any financial shortfalls we might suffer by not reaching qualification to the group stages.

FFIW ... Tyrese Campbell of Stoke has seemingly pulled a hamstring after scoring the opener yesterday, and Sheffield United (EPL) have apparently entered the race for his signature. Whether he is actually a target remains to be seen, out of contract in the summer and as far as rumours go yet to decide to take a new Stoke deal, an offer from the Old Firm or now the Blades.

So as of now, that is 3 first team players away, with Herrera, Docherty and Middleton to probably follow. A few academy folk too. 5 more FTPs are away on loan, as well as a few academy chaps. Defoe has yet to extend his contract, as far as I am aware, I reckon Flanagan`s, Halliday`s and Foderingham`s won`t be renewed either, even though they sure add some strength in depth. Looking into the future, quite a bit may depend on whether we actually make it 55 and navigate the CL qualifiers succesfully in the summer, after which the transfer window will still be open. That may very well have a significant impact on the people we will look for come August / September.

As per title, we played a closed doors game against Queen of the South, winning 4-1 From the snippets out there: Line up McGregor - Flanagan, Goldson, Mayo, Barisic - Kamara, Barjonas, Polster, Ojo - Kent Morelos Goals: Morelos 2, Kent & Ojo

I wonder why we would offer 4.5m for a guy in his last six months at Rodez? https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ugo-bonnet/profil/spieler/525114

1 ... is helping no-body, not least those singled out under IMHO the wrong circumstances. Play pacy wingers against a brick wall? 2 ... a second striker would lurk in/around the area, the penalty spot, the place left open when the main striker is draged wide. We saw that time and time again of late, only Aribo dropped into that hole of late. 3-5-2 would leave you with two wingers still, narrow or wide, as it pleases. 3 ... how many games against the brick wall teams saw our first row union play out dire wins? Yet, are / we / are expect the 2nd and 3rd row to blast them apart? Playing shyte and still totally dominating them. Same story, different angle? 4 ... No downplay, just a remark. Paterson was hardly tested as a defender, so he had room to explore and took it. 5 ... Up-playing Paterson and downplaying fringe guys, one might say. 7 ... see above, 1 and 3 8 ... see above, 3. There was no need to play that system against a side that only sat deep. If EVER there is a chance to test other options, why not use them? 9 ... Aribo played there for Nigeria, Jones before with Killie. They were the only ones springing to mind. SG threw in Ojo as a lone striker ... that was sure not better. 10 ... see above 3 and 8. BTW, I'm not having a hatchet job at SG, likewise he sure is not beyond critique.

It is worrying that the manager says such stuff. Getting a bit of perspective here : - We totally dominated a game against 10 defence-minded players. Games we have had similar performances before, by our starting brigade. 33-0 shot, 10-0 on target, 12-0 corners. We seemingly moan on a high level here. - The gaffer deemed it worthwhile to stick to his one-striker line up against this. We all know what was coming, so did he. Was it adjusted? Nope. - He threw in Halliday and Barker from essentially no-where, assuming that they gel. Same with Jones after months out with injury. BTW, in case people missed it before, Jones and Barker are not skill-wizards, they work with space, pace and their directness. How much of that did they get? Against Tashkent Jones got space and was far more effective. - Credit is being heaped on Patterson, who did well. But he was essentially not tested and was thus given quite bit of freedom to bomb forward. Dunno, but it doesn't sit well with me when we hardly ever give the "fringe" players any real chance to shine, then throw them in against the ultimate brick wall and expect them to ran them down and over (in a way that the first row usually doesn't do either). And then, straight after the match, come up with these remarks? When the bucket should also stop with those selecting players for every game and tactics for every game at hand. Out of my head I can remember but one or two games where we adjusted the formation according to the opposition at hand and cast the "4-3-3" aside. Obviously, as Stewart was out injured, a second striker was not to be, even though we could have played Aribo or even Jones there.

Just noted: Andy King [Leicester - Huddersfield] Loan - BBC Transfer Page

He sure can, but so too can I. I would suspect that neither of us is of the required standard. We do have Flanagan and Polster though. (NB: That's sarcastic mode, BTW.)