OrlandoDon

Yeah, I can see us using Vinny centrally but we still need a Ronan or the likes. I think we also factor in that Hayes is 35 and can't play every minute every week, Mclennan is piss, Duncan needs a loan deal, Watkins isn't a winger, and Kennedy has been piss until recently against weaker opposition. A strong winger certainly helps....

I don't see that at all, he's a work your balls of kind of guy, pretty pacy, but not really the skill, tricky, beat a man, threat that pass type of guy. From what I have seen, and I know he's clearly unfit, Duk brings the pace and workrate but has more skill...

I’d say if it’s 2-3 more players it’s surely a #10, holding mid, and possibly a left central defender. Duk, Ramirez, miovski, Roberts, hayes, kennedy, Vinny, even mclennan and Watkins, we are surely set for forwards and width. It’s clearly central we need.

Given the Richardson concern and the lack of center mids, as much as it doesn’t help mccrorie, get another mid in to play next to ramadani then mccrorie can slide to right back. Add that player, Ronan or McGrath, plus dunne after we punt bates, then I’d be happy with that squad. recall someone saying coulson was a right footed left back, does he play right back??

Keen for more detail. How was Stewart? Roos? Coulson?

That’s the way I feel. 2-0 loss to Celtic at parkhead is no disaster. saw little of the game. Positives?

Think you’re being unfair there. JG has said 2-3 more and we’re missing key players in key positions. Those players, if they are any good, don’t come cheap and will have options. It’s impossible for a club like us to be finished with transfers and ready for games week 1.

Saw about 5 mins and in that time Celtic should have scored, then a minute later hayes with the miss. Could be much better so I suppose 1 down at the break isn’t too bad…

More detail please! Lost a goal from a set piece corner??? One Bates clears with a header We getting over run or actually in the game? DM sit back tactics?

Can’t get in to red tv international???

I’ll take my previous comment back. I’ve already said todays score isn’t the be all, if polvara is to be one for the future only one way to find out. Bates isn’t so shouldn’t play….!?!

Amazing to think that with all the signings to date, missing scales and Barron and we’re scrambling. Just shows we still need 2-3 strong signings. Really big games from the ‘experienced’ Stewart and ramadani needed. it’s a lot to ask of polvara. Even with the week he’s had, and the preseason in general (as last years form), I’d have gone with bates and mccrorie in the middle.

Kinda my thinking. Aren’t we their first competitive game of the season, whereas it’s game 5 for us (despite the lower level opponent.) maybe we’re a little more match sharp?? we haven’t ultimately been challenged either so I really don’t know how good we are. I’m never totally happy when we don’t win, but as long as we look like a team progressing the score isn’t everything today. We’re also probably two bigger signings missing, a 10 and another defender/midfielder who may start, plus scales. As has been said, nothing really to lose so why not have a go? I just don’t want to see DMs overly negative tactics. Hopefully JC has brought a bigger balls mentality and we get stuck in. He’s said it, let’s see it.

Let’s be real. Who honestly thought we’d get 150-500k for bates? As we all know, when things seem too good to be true…

Strange on the timing maybe. If bates goes too surely this means dunne is coming in? Or is it simply a lock that coulson is left back on sunday and mccrorie in the middle? Still leaves us thin on defensible cover and in center mid if we don’t bring in someone.

He may be shite, but it's left footed shite which is better than Bates shite....perhaps? Even if Dunne is mediocre, trading Bates for Dunne in a sense really helps us as Stewart and Scales are our referred central pairing anyway, and we have the back up leftie. But if Dunne is any good it certainly allows Scales to play left back, gives competition at the back which is healthy, and keeps McCrorie in the middle of the park. Really gives us options while Bates does not. Would also clearly allow MacKenzie or Hancock to go out on loan, most likely the latter as they both don't need to play very limited mins. Yes, I am stating the obvious, but hope this occurs.

RE leftie defender, I’d rather we tried to develop Mackenzie Hancock and or Milne than sign a one position guy who’ll sit on the bench in case of injuries. I’m assuming coulson was signed since he can play left back or left mid so unless Ramirez leaves I think we have decent depth in all positions except center mid, both holding and #10. I’ll say it’s 1 more at 10, and maybe another holding. we only have Ramadani Barron and polvara, all inexperienced/young/unproven at this level long term. Honestly, and not happening, shinnie would really help here in many ways in position, experience, attitude, and leadership. Seems like a goodwin type of guy too.

There’s an obsession with the left central defender having to be left footed. From what I understand we have Stewart scales bates Milne mccrorie and Hancock can all play central defense. Even McKenzie. You really think we’ll sign another??

Goodwin said 2-3 more a week ago too, thats’s why I’m saying one more now. Being realistic, but certainly a #10 is definitely needed….although I guess we’re not that deep in center mid in general…

Fair to say that one more signing and we’re done with business, and it’s a #10? Holding out for Ronan or McGrath??

Center mid is such a key position that mccrorie has to play in there. We have to consider that neither ramadani or polvara has played for us much, played against Celtic, or played at parkhead before. We are going to have to gamble somewhere being short that I’d gamble with hayes at left back with bates in the middle for experience, and maybe Roberts wide midfield. That is unless we sign a stud of a number 10 and vinnie and kennedy are wide.

A little harsh maybe but I understand your point. Scales is regarded quite highly plus you can argue we signed three internationalists……so far. But I do agree with you and I hold my breath. I always get optimistic at this time of year, and I used the Gleason forrester summer as the example a few weeks ago and how that didn’t work as planned. I just hope goodwin and the players are given time as a squad overhaul was needed. I won’t judge if we lose or even get spanked by Celtic, first couple of months we’ll see if the signings are of the required level.

Interesting nickname, Cal Roberts is known as ‘the Geordie Messi!’ Curious to see him play!!

I assumed it was an autocorrect! Too many old victor meldrew’s like me here!

Willing to give Richardson a chance and don’t think he’s as poor as some say, a hard and pacy worker who does give us something. Also a young lad with plenty of time to improve…….and nowhere near as poor as gurr! we haven’t really been challenged in the four games so far. raith were the best to date and did expose us a little but I’ll judge us from Celtic onwards. We have to acknowledge we have an new back 5 including Roos, plus scales, Richardson, and Hancock are young. New team with plenty of first team inexperience, only fair to give them time. Even Stewart, captain of a new team who haven’t played together, lots of gelling, understanding of each other’s game etc., thing we owe a little patience. roos hasn’t overly impressed me to date, doesn’t look as good as a declining Lewis, but I’ll still save judgement until league games. A little surprised we haven’t seen Lewis at all so far as I think part of his poor play from last season was a result of a shitty season as a team and a loss of confidence. goodwin again saying we need 2-3 more players. Morris, Ronan, McGrath, anyone else been mentioned? Martin Boyle really at the game? Anything there??