RicoS321

Seems like a half decent manager. What's the deal, not minded enough? The weird thing is they'd likely have been excited if it had been the son of a good manager, or Gerrard who's objectively worse than Martin. Hopefully be gone by November with a massive payout.

33 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Shay Reid, 16 yr old Northern Irish lad with 51 goals this season being looked at according to a down market publication, but I refuse to post a link to it on here. 

Preston and Wrexham also looking at him.

The truth of all of this should be taken with a large pinch of salt of course.

 

 

It might not be true, but it was good of you to ShayRe id.

7 minutes ago, Jute said:

a better option than Ambrose off the bench

That's like praising someone for having a better human rights record than Hitler.

Have to say, though, that Hale and Murray up front for Dundee would likely see them top six. Sometimes you can even employ Steven Pressley and have everything just fall into place on the transfer front. I think he'd come to us over them, even as backup, but it depends what he wants for himself. I think England would be a bad move, don't think he's suited to the game down there.

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Reports/Rumours circulating that we are in a "battle" with Dundee and English teams to sign Ronan Hale from Ross County.

Belfast Telegraph is the source.

No way he's turning down the opportunity to work with Elvis. We move on.

In all seriousness though, I'm not sure about him. He's a good goalscorer, but he never looked particularly great on the other aspects. Given that he'd be out second choice, that finishing aspect could go out the window without match sharpness. I think Sokler would score a similar number of goals as first choice in a team like County. If he was Scottish, then it'd be a no-brainer, for European numbers. 

1 hour ago, Jute said:

 

I don't speak Arabic, but does that say "fuck the Tims" in the inscription?

I hope we finish ahead of Steven Pressley's crack Dundee outfit.

29 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Timothy Akindileni is away to QPR for an undisclosed fee plus add ons.

Am I right in thinking that this was the youngster who was reportedly away at the end of January but for reason it didn't happen then ?

 

Him and Carroll were the two I think. Carroll to Forest was the one that fell through.

53 minutes ago, BigAl said:

OMG

Jesus Christ and every other similar saying all rolled into one

The likes of Livi and Falkirk must be rubbing their hands

Great minds etc. That was almost my exact reaction. Must have been Strachan?

1 hour ago, Jute said:

My mate has just bought a place near there and is applying for Spanish Citizenship. A local la liga side probably removes last excuse for not abusing his hospitality. 

It's a decent stadium, I've been a couple of times. Out of town though, like a Spanish McDairmid.

2 hours ago, Jute said:

Last round of La Liga 2 games about to start with Deportivo v Elche on premier sports 2 now. Elche need to win to secure promotion to top flight. 

Elche promoted. My folks are season ticket holders there. That'll be their prices up for next season! 

25 minutes ago, Panda said:

I respectfully disagree on account I could win more headers than Molloy. 

Maybe, but Knoester isn't brilliant in the air, and both are good positionally and coming out with the ball, so are usefully interchangeable. Milne would be the most comfortable of the three on his wrong side, but I wouldn't want him playing there other than an emergency (or to preserve subs within a game). Tobers and Dorrington have both been poor on the wrong side. But it's beside the point really, if we're saying Molloy isn't good enough as cover, then we need another left sided centre back to cover Knoester, as Dorrington isn't the answer there, not the other two. 

41 minutes ago, Panda said:

Not always, no. The loan system also exists to get better players in that you otherwise can't. 

Would we be overloading it though?

We ended the season with Tobers and Molloy injured. Without Dorrington we'd have been relying on Knoester and Milne.

Molloy could do with a loan. Rubezic should be sold. So Dorrington coming in would give us four centre halves. I don't think that's overloading the squad.

He was poor on the right for a long time too.

I didn't think he was poor on the right for more than one or two games. He appeared far more settled on his correct foot. 

The loan system does indeed get you better players, but it would make zero sense to take any player on loan for a position you already have three players for without moving a couple on (in the case of defenders, who generally form partnerships and get plenty minutes). You'd basically be saying to both Tobers or Milne that they are surplus this season, but good for next season once we send the better player back to his club. Neither are young lads, and would rightly take the hint that next season would likely see the same scenario. 

As I said, fine if we're moving two on. I would disagree that one should be Molloy though. Molloy at left side of defence is better than Milne, Dorrington or Tobers on their wrong side. Where you see four centre backs (in your scenario, sending Molloy away), I see an imbalance of three right sided and one left sided. To me, it makes more sense to have two left and two right, plus the option of Polvara to cover if we lose two on either side. If one is Dorrington, then Tobers or Milne needs to go, alongside Rubi. We had a tight squad last season, with a few players in it that needed to be appeased. We shouldn't be starting the season with that approach on known quantities. We didn't know guys like Ambrose weren't going to be up to it, as they were new signings, and we'll undoubtedly pick up some more duds this summer too, that'll all need game time. Dorrington would unsettle the squad too much in my opinion, so if he comes, someone needs to make way. Unless we're changing to a back three of course, in which case fire on. 

27 minutes ago, Panda said:

If he is better than what we have then often the only way to get that level of player is on loan. We were never getting James Maddison on a permanent deal for example.

Too early to make a call on Tobers, and likely too early to expect Milne to be a regular starter. Dorrington would be very useful, especially since he can play both sides of defence.

 

Maddison, Clarkson and - due to injuries - Dorrington were all signed for places in the squad where we were short. That's generally how the loan system works. Overloading the squad with defenders by loaning one is a terrible idea. If Tobers and Milne are deemed not good enough, to the extent that we're loaning a player, then one needs to go. Obviously, the caveat being if it's a loan with agreed fee. The biggest reason for signing Dorrington would be his sell on fee. That'd be the only reason to sign him, and we'd need to move one on (aside from Rubi). The worst thing would be if we signed him with the intention of pretending that him or another of the right centre halves can play on the left. He was poor on the left. Last thing we need is another imbalanced squad.

8 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

What Duncan does have in his favour is he's pretty solid technically and I think Thelin will like that.  He's also not wee either. You could be bang on mate but I've got a feeling it might work out for Ryan yet.  I think we can all agree that we want it to at least.  

He's got a lot of good attributes, it remains to be seen if he can match that with the mentality and drive to use them. The fact that he hasn't set the heather alight at QP is a big issue. He's going to need to work very hard in preseason if he's not going to be released. If he could work on his sprinting, that could be very beneficial. At the moment, he hasn't the power to back up his technical skills, and I think that with a good bit of work he could make it. That's no different to Polvara, Palaversa and many others. Currently I'd put him in the Jayden Richardson category of a player that should be good, but might never be. There may be an opportunity for him to drop back to left back for next season. He's diligent enough for that role, if he no longer wants to drive at players further forward. 

Dorrington is an interesting one. He's going to be a better player than Tobers, and probably Milne, but we'd be buying him just so that we didn't miss out. Unless we're moving to a three, I don't see it. I don't like to see buying players just because they're available, and we'd need to shift on at least one in my opinion. Happy to see Tobers moved on for Dorrington. I think Tobers can adequately be replaced by Milne and Dorrington will be more valuable in a few years than Tobers. There is no world in which we need Milne, Dorrington, Tobers and Rubi. Especially when Polvara can more than adequately cover that side of defence. Move a couple on (if signing Dorrington) and use the funds to sign a striker. 

31 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

So you’re saying 2025-26 won’t be Ambrose’ season?? £10m to inter Milan next summer?

Like we'd accept that.

I'd say that Mitov is potentially our highest value player. He's got the all attributes required to be a top level goalie, and if he has an injury free season of the performances he's capable of, then there's a good chance he'll be off next summer for a decent fee. If Suman can prove himself if/when called upon then he might be out number one in a year's time. 

In terms of players being worth something, I don't think we've got anyone in the squad just now that will make us a big sell on. Despite our business model, the guys we've signed seem to be firmly within our level (or below in some cases). The only exception, for me, would be Clarkson. If he goes on to have a good season next year, I can see him being worth a few million. He has the potential to be very good. Jensen, maybe, I guess. Knoester is a great signing, but I don't see him as someone who would go for big money, given his age and lack of the physical side (he's not an absolute unit). Keskinen would require something special in the coming season to fulfil his potential. Unless Milne becomes the surprise package?

36 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Kabangu signs three year contract at Hearts as Jambos exercise the purchase option included in his loan agreement.

Hope they've paid a right few quid for him.

Looked fairly average when I saw him, but maybe just an off day. Was he maybe injured quite a bit? I'm guessing that they've seen something there. 

5 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Two signings plus bavidge

I think Bavidge will be behind Emslie now. Not sure either are anywhere close. Would expect both to be out on loan again, with an attempt to get them in at championship level. Bavidge failed previously at that, but no harm in trying again. I could see him being like Bruce Anderson. Good finisher, but not quite fast enough or strong enough to make the grade (but possibly go on to have a good career). From what I've seen, he doesn't look to have any real outstanding attributes that could see him breaking through. 

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Despite being a Kiwi 

Fuck sake, trying to be too smart again. He'll probably play every week for us next season now, and get player of the year.

54 minutes ago, Jute said:

Jamaica v Trinidad & Tobago on premier sport if any one is bored enough. 1-0 at half time.

Tony Warner v Greg Leigh as the fixture has always been known.

1 hour ago, manc_don said:

Milanovic a Johnny warren medal winner, which is best award an Aussie footballer can get

Surely not being James McGarry is the best an Aussie footballer can get.

55 minutes ago, manc_don said:

Sounds like Armstrong actually lands on the moon in this one? 

Don't be ridiculous. It's not even a planet, just a big projector image that they chuck up every night. Moon, my arse.

28 minutes ago, Jute said:

Not sure. Maybe debris under the wheels. Definitely looking like a road rage incident. 
 

This is allegedly start of incident.

Bloody hell, that's mental. It's either blind rage or blind panic. Not quite sure why the road isn't closed when there are that many people on the street. Horrible like, could easily have been at Hampden or on Union street yesterday. Hampden, especially, you regularly see impatient drivers going through the crowds and bravado from pished up football fans walking. It's never a great mix.

1 hour ago, Jute said:

 

ab3fc8e0-acfc-4754-918e-9a75a3c39fd3.mov 4.24 MB · 2 downloads

Some of footage that’s circulating. Police have confirmed driver was a 53 year old white British male. 

Christ, that's horrific. How/why does the car actually stop? Airbags maybe? Otherwise it looks like he could have just kept on going. 

12 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Much as it pains me in this instance, I can't really disagree with that summary Rico.

Having said that can't say the prospect of visiting the Tony Macaroni Bowl again particularly appeals to me 

Aye, it's pish. However, I would also like the plastic pitch thing to come to a head in the most controversial way possible, given the blatant self preservation vote.