LA-Don

Harsh to judge Burns and Storey this early but sounds like the same old story. No McGinn or Hayes and we severely lack creativity?

2009-10, first division player of the year and league champion too.... Golden boot 2014/15?

Hmmmm, debatable. Shearer scored more spectacular goals but, according to wiki which may not obviously be accurate, Shearer scored 53 in 157 games for us and Rooney is 45 in 77 games. Different types of players with certainly different level of teammates, but what makes a better goalscorer, scoring ratio of goals to games? McDougall would have scored loads. Loved going to school on the Monday and ripping into my mates after he'd scored 4 against Celtic in '85! Gutted when he retired.

Pretty much agree with what you say, although last year we started well in center of defense and rarely conceded in the first x games. Dare I say Reynolds is finding form? Taylor is still somewhat solid but, yes, will cost us a goal here and there. I guess DM is relying on us finding form again, but with an improved attack we go with the Newcastle approach of outscoring opponents?? Will OConnor get a chance in there? The GK position really affects the defense and I think Lewis will help us. I totally agree we lack a forceful center mid, which again will affect the CD position. Stick a Roy Keane type in there and the CD does a lot less. This is the key position we have not filled.......yet. While I'd prefer Shinnie at left back he's a solid center mid. But if we commit to him there we need to sign a left back, I agree regarding Considine. I see McLean as a confidence player. He lacked it when we first signed him, but picked up last season when playing just behind Rooney and grabbing goals. He won't get that position too often as I do see us regularly with Stockley and Rooney up top. I don't see him as a holding mid, like a Barry Robson replacement, I think that was the hope. Also don't think McLean and Jack are a good combo if we have 2 up top. I'd even go with Jack and Storie in there. Don't know if OConnor is an option with Jack but it's going to be a tough season for McLean if Stockley plays with Rooney. Sign a dominant center mid and I'm happy. Preseason has been shit since most games have meant something in the Europa League. We haven't had the chance to experiment with the first team too much as a result, hence the same 'old' faces.

Morning after and while the ref was shit, could he have sent the keeper off, should Stockley have been sent off etc, we still didn't take our chances and it's our own fault. Over two legs still plenty of positives, we still played well and were clearly the better team.....but it's failing to take our chances that was our downfall and has been before now. Shockley has been a strong addition to the squad, we can see that. Very comfortable with him in a starting 11 which we didn't initially see when signed. Also Joe Lewis looks a solid keeper. Can't really judge Burns or Storey yet. I hate the whole European set up, money talks over common sense. We should never be playing qualifying games in June. I'd love to see the Cup Winners Cup reintroduced and us go back to 3 tournaments. Also, no way should champions league failures be allowed into the Europa League. I predict a poor season or at least inconsistent one for McGinn for which he'll get abuse from the fans. He didn't get much of a break this summer and will burn out or get injured.

Great news! Best goalscorer we've had since Frank McDougall........although someone may prove me wrong. Felt for him on the penalty miss as he's been a great signing for us.

Didn't see the sending off so cannot comment there, but missed chances at home and a missed penalty, we should have been out of sight regardless of the ref.

Did he play a second match? I think I read somewhere they were looking to do so but no info anywhere...

Well, thought he had a good game yesterday but obviously at fault for the goal. I really feel for the guy, he's definitely a committed worker who gives his best in every game but he is the typical bomb scare and sadly in his position errors cost goals. He has his strengths but he's costing us regularly and while losing Ward and Rooney cost us the league last year, Ash will cost us goals and games, and that error could have a huge impact on staying in Europe (although Rooney's missed header was a bad one too.) Don't see us signing anyone soon though, fully expect DM to gives Morris a shot if and when fit and we've got quite a few central defenders. All I see is big Ash getting more and more dogs abuse and he's not going to get any better. Disappointing, DM hasn't fixed an ongoing problem position and it will cost us.

Thought we played pretty well but missed chances could put us out of Europe. They had 2 good first half chances but we really should have been at least one or two up at half time. SURELY DM is looking for a central defender but CREDIT to Taylor for his involvement in our goal. I thought Ash played well but he costs us goals on all too regular a basis and we're not comfortable defensively and under pressure. 1-1 not a disaster and a positive performance but they'll be better at home, but we definitely are still in the tie and capable of advancing.

I'd assume we've budgeted to get to this stage of the Europa League. Anything after is a bonus and if we get to the group stage I wouldn't be surprised to see a few extra pounds thrown to the transfer kitty, especially since it guarantees another 8 games minimum (not sure of the group sizes) and greater demands on the squad. Out of Europe now and it's Aucho, reach the group stage it's Pogba and Neymar?

'Fine' is exactly what he should be saying. Can't really say he's shit I suppose and if you pump him up too much he's still a trialist who could then get offers elsewhere.

Wonder how much how far we go in the Europa League is influencing current spending and signings, if any. Prize money for advancing to the group stage is 2 million, plus it's a fair chunk of money for every round. We've got 340k so far and up to over 500k if we advance over Maribor. Reaching the first qualification round - €200k (£167.5k) Reaching the second qualification round - €210k (£175k) Reaching the third qualification round - €220k (£185k) Reaching the playoff round - €230k (£190k) Group stage participation - €2.4million (£2million) Group stage win bonus - €360k (£300k) Group stage draw bonus - €120k (£100k)

I'll get slated for this but I do to an extent value Considine, Reynolds, and Taylor. All can do a job if they are beside a main central defender e.g. Russel Anderson. Considine also gives cover at left back and Taylor is certainly advantageous at free kicks and corners. I think all three need the experienced cool head along side to hold their hand. Blatantly obvious, and I suppose we're screaming out for a signing because we've been playing longer than everyone with 4 competitive games already but the window is still open for 5-6 weeks. I also hate to suggest going back to old loan players but any chance of Michael Hector on loan again? Doing f all at chelsea I'd assume. Not quite the old head but he went on loan to Reading last year, why not here this year? We have to punt one of the aforementioned three, I'd suggest Reynolds. Also, Shinnie is the best left back in Scotland, play him there. Sign the midfield general we also desperately need.

I get the audio but just a black screen. Any info??? Help!

Apparently he's more of a Yaya Toure than a Wanyama! Would be nice to get a break here and scoop up a solid freebie player!

So, I thought DM talked about increasing the squad depth and having more players......and now 3 gone in a week, Flood, Smith, and Shankland. Are we deeper now? Our squad doesn't appear bigger and we don't seem to have added a single first 11 player which is concerning. Last seasons first team out (7) - Ward/Collin, Brown, Quinn, Robson, Goodwillie/Church, Flood, Smith In (7) - Lewis, Alexander, Morris, Storey, O'Connor, Stockley, Burns 2 keepers out and 2 in, 1 defender out and 1 in, 1 attacker/forward out and 3 in, and O'Connor replacing Flood, Robson, and Smith (although Burns may be Smith's replacement.) I may be missing a player but to me we're paper thin in midfield and need to replace Flood and Robson. I can cope with our defense provided we have a strong central midfield to protect them....which we clearly do not.

So is this boy now on trial with us? Does anyone know if he's actually coming? I don't understand all the negativity surrounding him on other fan sites. He's desperate to play in Britain and he/his agent appear to be doing their best to get a trial. What have we got to lose? If he's another Victor Wanyama I'm sure we'd be happy and if he's shit no harm done.

Happy with the game and performance, thought Hayes and McGinn were up for it tonight which stretched them. Still think it's blatantly obvious from tonight that we lack a central midfield general. Surely with Flood and Robson away that signing is now coming. 4-4-2 is definitely the answer. I think Stockley is a very good signing, particularly when we have quality wide play to fire in crosses. Rooney and Stockley together is a real threat.

You have to assume (not the smartest thing to do, I know) that we have a player or players lined up to come in. Flood has already played in Europe and while injured now it does leave us thin in there. That's us lost Robson and Flood, two experienced central midfielders and 'major' signings, I'd hope for a big signing or two in return. Add Cammy Smith that's a third central guy although with adding Storey and Burns that could mean one of them wide and McGinn playing centrally again. Fingers crossed.......

I know we'd made our 3 subs but Flood was clearly fucked and could hardly move. We played with 10 with him on the field, hope no further damage was done (although I'm sure some wouldn't mind that!)

Well, god awful performance. I don't get to see many games but that's one of the worst I've ever seen. Still, no harm done, we're through, and that's basically another preseason game. Other than that no positives to take. Tactics - clearly wrong. We gave a PART TIME team from LUXEMBOURG who have NEVER won a european game far too much respect. Based on the first leg we should have run them off the park, played passes and made them chase, and won by a couple of goals at least. We went long ball most if not the entire game and gave it away for pretty much 90 mins, I don't recall one good sequence of passing play, and I don't even recall us having a shot on goal. Injury - Flood was fucked. Why leave him on? He couldn't run or do anything at all, NEVER touched that ball after injury and couldn't pressure defensively. All we did was add to the injury I'd think, very poor decision to leave him on. Central midfield - I'd argue that's more of a problem area than central defense because if you dominate in the middle of the park you dominate games and are less likely to defend as much. Everyone was hopeless tonight but I'll highlight the captain since he should have a clear influence on games like this one. For both legs Jack was poor and I don't know what he gives us right now. Oh well....

Definitely looked like a preseason game, fitness told in the end. 3-1 flatters them. Thought Stockley played very well, big, strong, won a lot of balls, and works very hard. On the negative side I definitely think we're still lacking a creative center mid, Jack, McLean, and Flood were average but who do we have to bring in as a creative midfielder? Andrew Shinnie please! And for all those who criticize him, credit to McGinn, good game, worked very hard, and got the crucial second goal (although probably credited to an OG). Could have easily said he was exhausted and took a break but put in a good shift.

Decent interview on red tv, sounds like we've been watching him a while and tried to sign him before. Sounds a pretty confident and experienced guy despite his age plus has been in the Ireland set up u15-u21. Preferred position is central defense but can play right back or holding mid, says he's a big strong physical and aggressive guy (and admits overly aggressive at times) who can also play on the deck. Yet another Irish boy which has been working well for us, good for team chemistry. Welcome aboard!

I'd really like to see us get Aucho in asap and take a look. Seems desperate for a move to Scotland/England, what have we got to lose? Plus it's a little more intriguing that a lower English league signing. He could be shit, but why not look and soon?