Hi Rico

It's never too early so here goes.

Pile all the speculation/unfounded rumours etc in here lads.

Agree with you jute, but given how we are dropping points, the term essential is what I’d use over priority. Delvin gimpy again yesterday, I worry he gets a long term injury. RB needed, preferably on who can play LB, although a mckimmie who can play anywhere at the back would be nice!

thinking long term, as well as an experienced CB I’d also like Jensen recalled and looked at/given minutes. The fact we rarely see McDonald when that middle pair continue to gift goals says a lot, and we need options for Molloy and ruby. Plus Jensen can play LB too.

stunned we chose Ambrose over ex hibee nisbet yesterday. Has to be a kick in the stones for nisbet and I hope he’s sent back to milwall. Get a legit forward in. When gueye is fit he’s not a 9 either so not the solution. Plus he’s not really a winger despite playing there, and we need another of those.

Don’t mind that there’s no rumors of interest as we keep things tight, but that’s boring. Any links out there?

Edited December 22, 20241 yr by OrlandoDon

Jensen only managed 5 games in Denmark and not played any of games since October so not convinced he is answer. 

7 minutes ago, Jute said:

Jensen only managed 5 games in Denmark and not played any of games since October so not convinced he is answer. 

Agreed but ‘free’ and a position we need, cover and competition for Mackenzie and molloy.

16 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Agreed but ‘free’ and a position we need, cover and competition for Mackenzie and molloy.

Don’t need competition for McKenzie, we need to replace him. Hes not signing, so may as well look to sort it out properly.

4 hours ago, manc_don said:

Don’t need competition for McKenzie, we need to replace him. Hes not signing, so may as well look to sort it out properly.

Agreed, but I don’t think January is an easy window and we have other priorities. We’re thin on depth that why not take a look at Jensen? A lot has been made of gueye and Morris under JT, why not see how Jensen responds?

4 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Agreed, but I don’t think January is an easy window and we have other priorities. We’re thin on depth that why not take a look at Jensen? A lot has been made of gueye and Morris under JT, why not see how Jensen responds?

He's not very good. Better than McGarry, not as good as Mackenzie. Not as good as Molloy. A very average defender who'd be a good squad backup to have. However, if he's not interested in being a backup then he's best off elsewhere. He's nowhere near good enough to be starting every week, and doesn't really have any attributes that stand out. You can tell Rubi to be aggressive and attack the ball, Molloy to focus on sweeping up and using his good distribution. Jensen is okay with the ball, but slow to use it, is okay in the air and not particularly quick. He's like a poorer version of Molloy but at an age where he should be at his peak defensively. 

Morris and Gueye both had very obvious attributes that a manager could work with, I don't see any in Jensen. Like McGarry, he's just that bit below the required level, which is fine for backup with a view to shifting on when we try out the next guy.

I’d disagree that Jensen is better than McGarry. JM has at least had some positive improvement. Jensen has been pish from day one

39 minutes ago, manc_don said:

I’d disagree that Jensen is better than McGarry. JM has at least had some positive improvement. Jensen has been pish from day one

Have you got shares in McGarry?

5 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Have you got shares in McGarry?

No, I’ve just seen him play more. Jensen is pish, McKenzie is a hun, it’s a no brainer. For the record, we should still be looking to get someone in. McGarry isn’t the answer. 

Kristers Tobers, 25 year old Latvian central defender currently playing in Switzerland with Grasshoppers and out of contract in the summer.

37 caps for Latvia and the current national team captain 😉

9 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Kristers Tobers, 25 year old Latvian central defender currently playing in Switzerland with Grasshoppers and out of contract in the summer.

37 caps for Latvia and the current national team captain 😉

Seems left (of centre) field, let’s go for it 🤪

Appears as if their is an option of a further year at Grasshoppers but not clear is it the player or the club that hold it 🤔

12 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Appears as if their is an option of a further year at Grasshoppers but not clear is it the player or the club that hold it 🤔

They'll not stop him getting his dream move.

Hints that it'll cost us about £700k to get him now rather than wait til summer. We need new defenders now!

8 hours ago, Reekie_Red said:

Hints that it'll cost us about £700k to get him now rather than wait til summer. We need new defenders now!

Maybe they'll be prepared to wait for payment until we've been paid by the Hun for Barron...so they'll get their £700k some time in 2026.

Think everyone in Europe knows Tribute Act are broke again so maybe best not to tell them we are waiting for cash from them. 

So has Sivert been found out what he can/can’t do? Not the dominating/influential player we saw early season. Means shinnie has to do more of what he doesn’t want to do, and his performances have dropped, and we’re seeing more of palaversa and he hasn’t set high standards.

are we adding a center mid to our January shopping list??

29 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

So has Sivert been found out what he can/can’t do? Not the dominating/influential player we saw early season. Means shinnie has to do more of what he doesn’t want to do, and his performances have dropped, and we’re seeing more of palaversa and he hasn’t set high standards.

are we adding a center mid to our January shopping list??

Gonna be quite the extensive list 😂 I have to laugh because it’s so bloody depressing at the moment.

1 hour ago, OrlandoDon said:

So has Sivert been found out what he can/can’t do? Not the dominating/influential player we saw early season. Means shinnie has to do more of what he doesn’t want to do, and his performances have dropped, and we’re seeing more of palaversa and he hasn’t set high standards.

are we adding a center mid to our January shopping list??

I thought Polvara looked decent when he was given game time. Surprised he didn't feature today. Maybe just getting back to fitness. Easily as good as Palaversa to date.

21 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

I thought Polvara looked decent when he was given game time. Surprised he didn't feature today. Maybe just getting back to fitness. Easily as good as Palaversa to date.

Maybe didn’t want to risk a player just coming back from injury on that carpet.

17 minutes ago, Jute said:

Maybe didn’t want to risk a player just coming back from injury on that carpet.

Think that's a bit of a myth to be honest. They'll be training on plastic everyday. The pitch actually looked like it played well today. Obviously not for our lads.

Our numbers 9 and 10 are so key to how we play, getting them on the ball sucks in defenders and gives the wide players time to push up, and space. I agree with whoever said it, clarkson isn’t the same player he was when on loan, but at the same time, multiple managers and playing multiple different positions and roles haven’t helped a young player (never mind any player.) McGrath has crumbled since he missed the penalty, plus I can only assume him playing more than he has earned of late has to do with convincing him to sign a new contract? Intimately, it’s one or the other at 10.

our 9 is a mess right just. Sokler has had the most time and failed to lock in the position, nisbet rarely looks fit and mobile, I prefer duk to have stayed away, and Ambrose, possibly, and saying this sincerely, the worst player I’ve seen play for us. The endless chopping and changing at 9 hurts the team and the players. This has to be a must sign in January.

Man Utd are apparently in the market for a new left back in January 

Sir Alex was at Rugby Park yesterday.

Was he scouting Jack MacKenzie or am I getting five 🤔

Out two Alfie's, Messrs Bavidge & Stewart are both of to ICT for the second half of the season.

We must surely have some deals very close to completion if we are letting players go on loan prior to bringing any in 🤔

Bavidge was already at Ayr so no change to the numbers there and I doubt Stewart is high in Jimmy’s plans this year.

Our problem isn’t numbers, it’s quality. We’ve got plenty of players but not enough good ones.