RicoS321

Fucking impressive to be binning your manager before the league starts.

I guess we've still got Porteous to boo when Hibs come to town, but it'd have been nice to have a backup.

Was it difficult getting tickets for the away end?

I think you're right. Sometimes it just doesn't work for a player at a club. There's no doubt in my mind that he's been hung out to dry a little in his time here. He seems like a fairly honest loon who's trying his best too (aye, Gallagher, I'm having a go at you). I suspect he'll be a high earner in the squad and, with Stewart being made captain, he's not going to be getting many minutes at right centre half. Best for everyone that he moved on. Hopefully we'll add in a sell-on just in case.

I'll be a little disappointed if we do too in some ways. Scales signing has led us to this position. It does make letting Turner go seem a bit strange now too, with the suggestion that it was to make way for Hancock. Turner at least looked ready to challenge for that position, if we're saying that Hancock needs another year (which is fair enough) then surely Turner would have been the cheap option that solved the problem? It looks like we're on to the hit or miss signings now with this Coulson loon. We'll likely be paying a good wage for another centre half to sit on the bench. I'm not going to blame Goodwin for the above of course, the overhaul in the summer was massive. Inevitably there will be poor signings in there, and so we'll likely see even more late signings to make up for those. I can't see anything other than a big squad this season with an expensive bench and zero opportunity for youth to come through (sound familiar McInnes?). Personally, I'd like us to be patient and not do too much business between now and January and have a good look at what we've got. The comparative success in the league cup has, unfortunately, covered over the fact that this should very much be a season of transition, working towards a more balanced squad and towards the club's long term strategies. If we get more and more signings (especially permanent ones), I can see us building a bit of a mess for the coming years. Maybe loans (like Coulson) from here would be fine.

You're right. Bates it is then. Edit: whilst I was slightly joking above, if we don't get anyone in before the weekend, our choices are Bates, Hancock or McRorie into defence leaving Polvara and Ramadani in midfield. You're concerns over Hancock are exactly the same as mine over Polvara. Would that be your choice? Maybe we should start a match thread for this.....

It's certainly the strategy that the fans have been crying out for. I think it's very high risk and the league cup group stages are not that indicative of anything (just as Europe wasn't last season). I'm not seeing a stand out yet in our signings, with Hayes and McRorie probably being the best performers so far. Ramadani looked good in the earlier games, but didn't dominate at all against Raith. Stewart looked like he could do a job in our league without many issues. The passes he gave away were not really of concern as there was an element of trying the difficult pass against a lower league team. He looks like he has the ability to do the simple things well whilst being solid in the challenge. Pace definitely an issue, and Scales covered well in that regard. He looks good too, with the obvious issue that he can't play in 3-4 games. The rest remain unfit or untested. I have a feeling that Roos and Richardson will be the inevitable duds that you always get when signing multiple players. We are going to need a couple that stand out from the rest in order to be successful though. We need real evidence that this approach is working better than simply picking up players from the SPFL or that have played here previously and not made it down South.

That's just elevated my rage.

Not sure that's entirely relevant though, many young centre backs come into the first team through the route of fullback. He played centre half for the youths did he not? He very much looks like a centre half playing at fullback. To the extent that if we get a good (and fit) left back by the weekend then I'd be shifting Hancock into centre ahead of McRorie.

Remember it well. Stockley wearing Ramirez' next number.

Aye, that's a weird one I hadn't considered. I get it though. It's a fucking series.

When did this phrase make into football lexicon? My nephew says it (4, it's not his fault), and my sister in law was surprised I'd never heard such a term. I'm guessing it's from the sky/english fitba breeding ground. I don't want to be critical of you, but I fucking hate the term. I accept that's my irrationality, and my issue though. Edit: also, you were just repeating what was said on English fitba forums, so perfectly acceptable usage

Welcome aboard loon. Attacking midfielder is what we were looking for. Be interesting to see if he can step up from the non-leagues.

I think that we're now in the position that we have to sign any left sided player at all before the Tims game. If we sign lots of left sided players then at least one will be available and fit for Sunday.

26 year old playing for Helmand sport. Not sure the Afghan league is up to much these days.

4-1=3

Ronnie and Gurr took shite to such extremes, I struggle to judge any other right back.

My conclusion is that Scales has done well and can be disappointed to be thrown in the sea due to the arrival of our new wonder signing.

Decent ish performance today. As others have said, not sure how that transposes to the league. Our subs killed the game, McRorie not the answer at left centre half, so if Al is right about a new left back then shifting Hancock into centre would be a far better option. Stewart wins everything in the air, Richardson doesn't seem to be good enough, Scales looks decent, Miovski and Duk will be struggling to be match sharp for the Tims. Ramadani was okay, but not as dominant as I expected (as someone else mentioned, Barron has looked better for us previously, although we can likely accommodate both). Kennedy wasn't pish, but not great either, a good backup. There's something I don't trust about Roos. A great start to the season though and still plenty of work to be done. Hayes, McRorie and Hancock our best players.

Miovski straight in, with the number 9 shirt too. Ramirez must be on his way.

I have an unsigned copy too, but a lovely offer seabass!

Deliberate attempt at a jinx from the establishment Huns. They've always hated us.

We can certainly hold our heads high. We're the pride of the SPFL bottom six.

It'll all get setup ready to go and the Huns will concoct a conspiracy preventing it being implemented.

It's ridiculous though. Hibs should be allowed to go out by virtue of being shite at fitba like everyone else. To be honest, this happens too often and raises a fundamental flaw in the administration of our game in the 21st century. I mentioned this a few years back when some part time outfit were being punished, but it's even more ridiculous now. It shouldn't be possible for Hibs (or Stranraer) to field an ineligible player. A system should be in place whereby you submit your team lines online, that connects to the SPFL database and returns any ineligible player instantly giving the team the opportunity to correct. It's absolutely bullshit that this function doesn't exist. Teams getting thrown out based on admin is completely anti sport. At a time when we're ruining the game with hyper-tech VAR, this simple application is still not available at about 1/1000th of the cost. Admin is not what sport is, and it shouldn't decide the outcome of anything ever. Hibs are a big enough team not to have made the error (although they have had a complete turnover of staff), but Stranraer will have some part time person who maybe wasn't there last season and doesn't know who is suspended. We should be helping clubs and removing these things from the game, it's extremely black or white.