buster.

Now you can say we have an up and running player trading model, rather than just talking about one. This is the type of cash injection that will allow directors and investors to sleep easier, at least for a few months. Looking ahead, the pathway for our younger players needs to be real, not talk. Some of our youngsters need to look at the likes of Patterson, Bassey and see the importance of adding physicallity to talent. I appreciate Big Calvin was quite exceptional in the latter. Lowry is quite slight, but he may just have enough talent to get started and grow along the way.

Not a whole season, but you don't have to go far back to see a poorish pre-season extend into the start of the season. Last season, we were poor in all games, other than the Real Madrid friendly where players were well up for it. Fast forward a week or so and 3 competitive defeats on the bounce, Malmo x2 and our fist league defeat for 17 months. The same soft centre would return regularly throughout the season and cost us the league. One other that vaguely sticks in the mind was McCoist's first season as manager. Poor pre season (started in Germany IIRC) extended into competitive games. Drew first league game at home to Hearts then went out to Malmo (CL) and Maribor (EL) without winning a game. The important thing about hitting the ground running is obviously CL qualifying, the land of milk and honey. The poor starts above hurt the club's finances in a big way.

If Borna was to play somewhere near the top of his game, it'd go a long way to sorting out the gap on the left. But the IF is a big one given his inconsistency. We definately need to recruit a solid centre half who isn't injury prone.

All 21/22 League 4 appearences, 102 minutes Cup, 1 app, 44 mins, 1 goal CL, 2 app, 18 mins Total first team minutes (according to soccerway): 164 Not that many, BUT factor in that it was for Bayern Munich and it shows the lad does have some pedigree. Interesting to see how he looks with a blue jersey on compared to our own Alex Lowry. Given Alex is ours, I hope they both do well but Alex shines brighter.

Young players on loan to Rangers from big clubs create a lot of excitement, but usually disappoint. You don't have to go back far for the last one. I just hope that our own youngster, Lowry.... gets a fair crack of the whip and simply the best players get the jersey.

If the Bassey interest is real and the bid realistic, then get this deal done asap. Don't let it drag out, nor subsequent incomings. Try and have it behind us before we get to the competitive games. CLGS qualification is a financial game changer and we need to give ourselves the best possible chance.

Thanks Not on twitter, so can't delve into such detail.

Aye, but be fair,...we have different levels of bad. Have you seen anyone vouch for this guy as being credible ?

Is Dutch media as desperate as much of ours is for attention ?...

Maybe it wasn't the correct term. Perhaps turning him inside out would be better 👍

Any deal close to 20M and we have to try and push the deal through IMO. If we could, then the player trading model starts to go beyond 'baby steps' and making a real difference. Will the stock of Bassey playing in Scotland get any higher ? We could qualify in the CL and he shows up well or he gets ragdolled but high quality players, uncertain. If a good bid is real, take it.

Do Huddersfield blast out the Benny Hill Tune when practising corners ?

The domestic (league title) means lots of "quid" through CLGS direct entry. ---------------- As things stand, my expectations are in limbo. Ask me again in 3 weeks.

A good set-piece coach is a wise and practical investment that will give a good return.

How important was financial muscle to Leipzig ? Bear in mind, we don't have it.

'Big picture' was a phrase I heard the new guy say several times in 5 minutes. I had to turn it off, he was full of textbook phrases. I just have my doubts it will work in Scottish football. I obviously may be completely wrong.

I get that this is the theory. When a manager leaves it is often because something isn't working. What if we find that it is the system that isn't doing what we hoped it would. Do we continue to force fit ? Do we always find top coaches, happy to be coached by someone they may or may not respect?

News of more (extended?) injury woe for Helander and Roofe can't be classed as a surprise. We'll soon see how Ryan Jack is doing. Souttar was in surgery again. This time, a scheduled op. to remove 'buttons' ! Let's hope they don't find anything else in there. Alfredo used to get stick for being suspended a lot, but his ability to shrug off any knocks and niggles made up for that. However, there came a point (springtime this year) where we pushed him too hard and his heavily strapped up thigh muscle problem reached a point where surgery was required and he is still out. He got pushed because the backup options weren't always available, the injury prone Roofe. What we have in Roofe is occasional backup, not a sustained option. Backup with an asterisk. Like Alfredo once seemed, Connor Goldson is a machine for churning out game after game. What happens if he gets injured ? As it stands, too many players in the squad who need managed for chronic injury or age, IMO. Most squads will have a couple, we have too many. Financially, difficult to bring in good backup options for 'managed' backup options.

Here is hoping Souttar can stay fit,...... but I think it is more about hope than judgement. Too many players in the squad that need managed, either for age or chronic injury. We have recruited a level of ability for a reduced price (eg. Helander, Roofe) because of their injury history. There is a fairly high risk involved and 2 in the same area of the team increases that risk.....but then we are sponsered by a betting company.

I am on the cynical track with this. You would hope coaches knew how to coach properly before arriving at Auchenhowie and that the manager could manage the operation. Having listened to this guy for 5 minutes talk about coaches sometimes not seeing big picture because they are too involved on the pitch. I have my doubts he'll make much difference but hey, you got to support your manager, I guess.

If you have an injury prone Helander in the squad, you really shouldn't be recruiting another injury prone centre half #Souttar Asking for problems

Listened to the first few minutes of a video of him being interviewed. Can't say it excited me but at least the board are supporting Gio in this. I guess it is about 'smart investment', trying to maximise the coaches input, so as to better improve players and ultimately add value.

But their mid season break is significantly longer to any in Scotland (typically 3 weeks) and by fcuk, that has been long enough for us to completely change from our best run of form into an inconsistent stutter. For Malmö, there had been 40 days between league fixtures. We have had breaks between seasons that are only a week or so longer. For me, it wasn't so much that Malmö were up to speed. It was down to us not being at it. In between the games against Malmö, we also lost our long unbeaten run in the league, at Tannadice. Dundee isn't in Scandinavia.

Perhaps, but after an industrious first half hour at Ibrox where our intensity had us on top but without much precision,.....we more or less folded.

Between the 24th May and 3rd July, Malmö didn't play a league game. From the 3rd of July to the 1st leg against us, they played 4 league matches.