Panda

Talking of left-backs - Hayden Coulson the next name linked. Currently at Middlesbrough but was most recently on loan at Peterborough. Had a loan spell at St Mirren in 2018, managing to miss when Goodwin played and managed there. Seems to be a very attack minded defender, also playing both wing-back and as an attacking midfielder last season. He favours the left but can also play on the right - even playing as a right winger at times for Middlesbrough. He also played once at centre forward for St Mirren against Celtic (game finished 0-0).

In his loan spell at Stirling, and all his games this season, he's been at left back. If he can play both though then that's handy.

Goodwin on record as saying he wants a left back. Which suggests Hancock will go out on loan before the window closes.

I would take Dunne. A left sided defender is what we need and a bit of competition for places between him and Scales is healthy. Also, if he's signed before the Celtic game, it means McCrorie can play in midfield which I think is a big thing. Yes the standard of opposition hasn't been great but I would argue he's been our best player so far - three goals, effective partnership with Ramadani, getting box to box, also getting wide and putting in crosses, and generally setting the tempo. I think we will be badly missing all that at Parkhead if he goes into defence. So aye, get Dunne in. I would probably still rather we kept Bates and sent Milne out on loan rather than have him kicking his heels on the bench, but I'll be surprised if Bates isn't away soon.

Genuinely can't remember the last time I was at a game we won 3-0 so I'll take that. Not a vintage performance but had a friendly feel to it - they knew the group was won as soon as the penalty went in, Raith had a few half chances but generally offered little, and I think there was one eye on Celtic. Might sound and odd thing to say, but least seven in the starting line-up have never played Celtic away before, 60,000 on their flag day, huge game. I think it's hard to not be thinking about that and wanting to get through the 90 minutes without an injury. Until they get there of course and realise Celtic's famous atmosphere is only reserved for the Champions League. I think we'll find the intensity will be a lot higher this weekend. It'll have to be.

Rules: 1. One name per points tally for the season, first come first served! 2. Only allowed to change prediction until closure of January transfer window as along as it is to an empty tally. 114 100 90 80 79 78 77 76 75 Panda 74 73 72 71 TLG 70 69 Madbadteacher 68 67 66 65 - manc 64 63 DantheDon 62 61 60 - BigAl 59 58 57 56 - Wee Toon Red 55 54 53 - Tom_Widdows 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20

Miovski will definitely play according to Goodwin. He's just deciding whether to start him or if it'll be from the bench. Barron out for another four weeks.

I'd keep Bates - I think we're short in defence still. But if you can only really play RCB and the fella in front of you is captain, you may as well go. Would be nice to get some cash for him. I still think Charles Dunne wouldn't be a bad signing to give us another option on the left. Wonder if Shayden Morris signing is us giving up on Connor Ronan, as can't see us spending £1m on both of them. Going by reports Ronan had a very good game for Wolves against Levante. Played as a deep-lying playmaker. So it's very likely Wolves will only allow him out on loan at best (which, I guess, might actually make the move more realistic if we do buy Morris)

Also think a win in this one is the difference between being seeded or not for the last 16?

I'm heading up the road for this game, so fully expecting our little bubble to burst. Hoping Miovski gets a run out. Kinda torn on the defence. Part of me wants to see Scales, but part of me wants to see us line-up with the team that's gonna play v Celtic. Would keep McCrorie in midfield. Celtic won't be firing on all cylinders on day one so let's go at them, and McCrorie in midfield I think is key to that.

Duk has trained three times in six weeks according to Goodwin, so he's miles off the pace. Barron to miss the Raith & Celtic games it seems, but Mackenzie back training next week. Goodwin also admitted McCrorie moving into defence late on was him beginning to prepare for the Celtic game, with Scales not available. Though says Bates and Milne also being considered.

Duk getting 45 minutes apparently. And, big news.....apparently it's pronounced Dook as opposed to Duck.

I might be completely wrong about this, but with Duk being Portuguese and them being in the EU, I think his Visa application should be quicker. Even though the U.K. isn't in the EU, I think applicants from there tend to have less problems. But, fuk knows. Miovski is a wide player, number 10 and striker I'm sure. Some talk that Ramirez's family arrived yesterday so who knows.

I'm fairly confident that's just a light shade of red. But, to be fair, I did have to give it a second look.

Point of order: The live text is provided by Opta, as are the match stats. True story.

As a Roma fan, fuck him. (But, actually, hope he does well Just not against i Giallorossi )

Which one did you expect?

My first reaction every time I see this is to correct the person and remind them it's a cup game! Can't get used to playing for three points in the League Cup. I wonder if Lewis will play, with Goodwin maybe considering playing both goalkeepers in these four games before picking his number one for the season.

Both Aberdeen & Hearts have rubbished the Liam Boyce rumours, but FS are just continuing with the "Aberdeen are linked" thing, in the same way every time they mention Connor Barron they say that Celtic have a fight on their hands to get him based on a scout watching him once. Gets them hits though, innit. With Miovski, Watkins, this Duk lad and then trying to give Liam Harvey some minutes, I can't see us signing another frontman anyway, especially since there's every chance we don't get a suitable offer for Ramirez and decide to keep him. Think priority now is creative midfielder and a left sided defender, then we're ready to absolutely piss this league.

Not sure how good Fletcher is at 35, but he might be good foil for Tony Watt. Getting Levitt on a two-year deal is very good business, even if they cash in next summer. Could be a right interesting battle between Hearts, Hibs and United for fourth next season behind Scotland's big three...

Anthony Stewart the captain...

Presume this is how we're shaping up. Besuijen as a number 10. No Connor Barron in the squad. Edit: Just realised I've written Roos as Ross.

Brechin City friendly tonight available to buy for a tenner. https://brechincity.univtec.com/event/62b190d3dbd3b91e7749a11c

Reports today that Dundee United are closing in on loan deals for Levitt & McGrath. On one hand, they'd only be loans. Have a good half season and both could be away in January. But on the other - if they manage to get Zander Clark, Dylan Levitt & Jamie McGrath all signed up then they're in good shape. It also leaves us with just Ronan to go for from the three players we were talking about the other day, with Hearts apparently ramping up their interest.

Last season he played RCM, LCM, as a defensive mid and on occasion as an attacking mid. He even played at LWB. Passes into penalty area 47%, dribbling 60%, 38% shots on target, 26% crossing. Five goals. While he was doing that, we had Funso Ojo, whose passes into penalty area was only 30%, successful dribbles less than 50%, shots on target 24%, crossing 22%. Scored once. He also hugged the right hand side while Levitt was more fluid. Levitt was also able to turn with the ball while Ojo could only run in a straight line (I know he's not here anymore but I'm still not over it). Comparing Levitt to McGrath and Ronan. McGrath - more of a wide midfielder, but his stats were actually very similar to Levitt. Less goals though, but probably because he was playing wider. Previous season, when played more centrally, he scored 17 goals. Ronan - again, not a huge difference in stats. But scored eight goals and had four assists so was more effective than all of them last season. Any of them would be good signings. But McGrath (likely a loan) is 25. Ronan 24. Levitt is 21 and could be at a World Cup on his 22nd birthday, making him the much more enticing option.