buster.

We've reached a stage of the season where for various reasons we're suffering a blip wrt scoring goals. Suspensions Fatigue Unhappiness for some individuals Injuries Lack of options Highlight a lack of creativity etc = No Champagne football or goalfests and the increased probability of dropped points. I predicted 1-0 yesterday for a reason but the only thing that is important from yesterday is the 3 points and we got them. We need to get to the end of this month with as little damage as possible, then regroup. We need players in the team who will battle for the cause becuase there won't be much in the way of fancy football. McAuley before Worral McCrorie before Coulibaly Had Kent been fit, I'd have him in the team.

A very well respected and liked poster from FF who has since passed on, 'Number_Eight', used to tell a good story about ball boys. He used to be a ball boy at Ibrox of occasion in the 60's and in one European game against Borussia Dortmund on the run to an eventual Final appearence in 66/67, he considered himself to have been partly responsible for an assist. A ball was launched high into the sky and Number_Eight ran, got under it and caught it and quickly threw it direct to a Rangers player, who took a quick throw that led to a goal.

In Sportsound Podland, Kilmarnock are top of the league. There was no programme to cover the Rangers game which you could say (politics aside) given they don't have anyone there is to a degree, understandable. There is of course, a pod dedicated to the Hibs v Celtic match. However, the more standard approach would have been not to release a pod until the second game of the day had concluded. Not just any game, but a game that could and did see a change in the leadership of the top flight. Did the employees and contracted of PQ need to go Xmas shopping yesterday afternoon and couldn't stick around ? Context is that 'every' single top flight game, eg. Livingston v Hearts on a Friday night or a Dundee v Motherwell on a wet and windy Tuesday night in January get their subsequent PQ podcast coverage.

Notable that a starting XI without a loan player put in a real shift today. McCrorie, who needs more gametime to get fully up to speed, brings a much needed commitment and drive. I hope he wasn't injured today. Barisic brings balance and quality and again more gametime will help him go to another level.

Three points were non-negotiable............ very important win today. Keeps the show on the road as we head into 4 very testing fixtures.

What does Lafferty need to do to get a goal ? Last week he scored, but he didn't. This week he misses an easy header from two yards out and has the goalie pull off a great save to deny another header. He's obviously storing them away for the 29th.

Another early goal was just what we needed

Read more carefully Craig..............."Past loan deals"

The problem is that it's become very predictable and in the vast majority of cases, it isn't working. Ryan Kent is the one (current loan) that so far bucks the trend but a judgement on his season still has a way to go. I don't like the idea that loan players from certain clubs need to get X% of minutes and more importantly, I doubt some of our own players like it either.

Gerrard v Lampard in transfer battle seems like too much of a convenient double rumour for a rag like The Sun.

Past loan deals for youngsters from big clubs (IMO Roma and Benfica are big clubs) Oduwa Zelalem Ball Dalcio Sadiq Toral Ejaria I can see a pattern that we get players that will never make it at parent club. I think we'd be better off developing our own players. eg. Ejaria might have more footballing talent than Ross McCrorie but he hasn't got the same size of cojones or understanding of the club. The likes of McCrorie should be our future and they need games. Bringing in 'talent' without the right mindset won't take us forward.

Surprisingly long deal considering ! I've nearly as much chance of becoming a Liverpool regular first team starter as Ovie has. A degree of talent isn't enough at a big club.

No prizes for guessing how Hamilton will set-up. We've had a good run of getting early goals in our league matches at Ibrox and that was very much the main reason behind the good home run we had. Stating the bleeding obvious but if we get one today then it's likely we'll end up with a comfortable victory but if we don't it might get frustrating and uncomfortable. Our last two games at Ibrox, we have produced 2 red cards and no goals. One of those cards mean that Morelos is suspended today which will probably give Lafferty a start. No Kent (injury) and no Ejaria (gone) will mean opportunities for others. I'd like to see Ross McCrorie continue and get back to where he was a year ago. As for creativity, I think it'll be our full backs (Tav & Barisic) who'll be relied upon but Lafferty can't be left up front without close support.

If you go through the list of young players we've had on loan from 'big' English clubs,...............you have to question the policy when set against developing your own players.

An important aspect of SG's mindset has to be real belief that he can achieve what he's being tasked to do. As a player it was never a problem for him but this is now a very different set of responsibilities with limits to how he can effect things. Expectations are way beyond current reality and what that does is create a next to impossible environment to take the time necessary to develop something that reaches the set goals in a reasonable time frame.

IMO if we want to compete at the top end, we'll need a better first choice centre forward than Ryan Hardie. As you alude to Ian, one of the big difficulties for us and any manager in charge is that there is seldom the luxury/opportunity of giving a youngster a decent run of games unless injury forces the situation or the youngster is exceptional.

I'd take him as a Bosman to replace Kent for 19/20. At the sametime, trying to reduce dependency on loan deals.

A Rapid Capitulation !

Jones would be a good signing for next season on a Bosman* * I think but ain't 100% that he's in his last year.

Yes, very much agree with that. It's been a difficult start for him and we need to be patient.

We can't discard players after a few games, especially players who cost decent money. Grezda is a player who has ability but would seem to be in one of two camps, 1) needs time to adapt / lacks pre-season isn't 100% or 2) a player who won't take to the Scottish game / pressure of playing for a big club. He may spark into life in the second half of the season, especially if we can bring a creative midfielder in.

Did Kent shag your Mrs ? Kent has been a big positive and you can't fault him because of an injury. If anything he was used too much given his body will have never played so much of this level of football before. Ejaria has went the way of some past loanees, good start and then drift. In a way, it's got a logic to it but this 'current situation' will make it a big risk to put him back in the team when it is relatively struggling and the crowd is a result or two from getting on it's back.

The way things are going, December could prove to be a difficult month but we have to keep focused on the bigger picture, however difficult that may be. Much of this squad have reached a point when they are running on not far from empty, mentally and physically. We desperately need a player or two to step-up at this point and help get us through to the winter break with minimum damage. To start with, Lafferty is relatively fresh and needs to come to the party on Sunday and lead the line well, he looked sharp in his short cameo in Vienna and I'd be tempted to puch Barisic up one and give Middleton a rest. We have to give Grezda more minutes and hope he starts playing. Finaly, I hope McCrorie now gets a run, if he can get back to how he played a year ago we'd be in better shape.

Better for all concerned if he leaves now. He's 21 years old, not 16..................Doesn't bode well for his career, certainly at the top end.

Not unlike the past really. Good start in group, followed by slide DWDLDL and exit. Athough we've punched above our weight in Europe this season, this group has ended up being a real opportunity squandered or at least that is what it feels like. 55 countries enter European competition. 48 teams left in Europe 23 belong to Spain, England, Germany and Italy. The financial gap keeps growing, it's getting to be like a different sport................ a reflection of parts of society.