weeyin

We already have strikers who can't score.

I thought everyone knew that Rangers VAR doesn't review that kind of incident.

What I discovered the last time we were discussing this is that there is training compensation up until a player's 23rd birthday, and solidarity payments after that: "Any time a player is transferred while they are under contract, then a solidarity fee is paid to all clubs that trained the player between his 12th and 23rd birthdays at a proportional rate depending on how long the player was at each club." What I hadn't realised is that they continue throughout the players' career. "Solidarity payments do not stop at the player’s 23rd birthday (like the training compensation payments do) but continue through the course of the player’s professional career each time he is transferred while under contract." So as long a fee is paid while they are under contract, even if they are 40 years old, we still receive our cut. Apparently 5% of the transfer fee is used for the distributions.

I don't disagree, but I was reading one of those mid-term reports the other day that suggested there were 8 teams in the Premiership that needed to sign a striker in January. So we'll need to be smart to find what we need - especially when you factor in that no team is going to let a productive striker leave them in the middle of the season without a very good reason. I'm not so worried about the "what might have been" as we are still early into the overhaul of our style of play. We have far exceeded my expectations of any rebuild I can remember.

No. Turnbull was doing fine at Celtic until he was injured. By the time he was fully fit again, the new manager had built a different style of team without him. Cardiff was probably a bad move, though. Miller is highly rated, but that doesn't mean a 19 year old is ready to be a starter in a team in a new country. Arsene Wenger said it took about 6 months for a new player to adapt to a new team in the same league. Longer if they moved to a different country. You can a take a look at teams like Liverpool this season to see how some of their, undoubtedly talented, new signings have struggled. I understand the reasoning, but Miller joining Udinese without a proper pre-season in Motherwell or Italy might have been a rare misstep. While you can never guarantee that a youngster will flourish in later years, Miller looked about as close to guaranteed as you can find. Max Johnston was rated too, and he won a cup and two league titles after he left. So picking the right team and right country also plays a big part.

Here's hoping Santa has a striker or two he left in the bottom of his sack. Take your pick...

I just spent the last hour and half clearing snow so I'd be finished in time for kick off. It had better be worth it.

That isn't going to appease the Mhob. They will be demanding the spending of many pounds (or Euros).

Will be interesting to see what Celtic do in January. Do they back Nancy and let him spend to try and win a league title? Or sit on the fence in case they need to punt him too? Given the politics of the situation, I imagine their Board would be much less unhappy conceding the title to Hearts than they would see it end up at Ibrox. Dream scenario for us is winning both OF games while Hearts are losing. More realistic for now is we are in a fight to hang on to 3rd and then see what happens after that.

This, plus I expected to concede 4 or 5 goals from misplaced passes when we're knocking it around across the edge of the penalty box.

To be fair, I think we are currently too far behind to be in a realistic title discussion. If we extend our unbeaten run for another 10 games, then we can talk.

Oooft

That's the key though. When we are conceding, goalies often take the blame. Sometimes deserved, sometimes not. Defence, however, needs a team effort from front to back with the keeper being the last resort. Much better to prevent shots on target before he is needed.

It's often hard to judge forwards, or players as there are so many factors in play over and above footballing talent. That's why we often see players over or underperform at different clubs. Theo Bair is a recent example. This far into his 15 goal season for his he had only scored 2 goals. So it can be very difficult to predict who is going to settle in and hit form.

Turns out he's not very good. Who knew?

A good defence wins titles!

Of course. I think we notice it more when we are having so much possession, but if you watch a Man City game for example, even a beast of a goal machine like Haaland misses his fair share of "easy" chances. I remember when Roberto Baggio broke the transfer fee world record. We played Italy in a World Cup qualifier (at Ibrox) and he was put through clear on goal with enough time to pick his spot. He almost put it out for a shy.

If we adopt a similar approach to the Hibs game, by applying pressure to their defence, we have a chance. That continues to be their weak spot.

I would never bet against Murray, but his scoring form has been poor this season.

I'm voting for Said today. Even though he was only a sub, I thought his introduction helped boost the energy and tempo we needed in the second half.

That was one of those games where if you're a neutral you'd be thinking a goal was always on the cards for us, and if you're a 'Well fan you're thinking we're never going to score.

Patience is a virtue. Now take your pick...

Us and about 5 other teams. I still prefer this to finishing 7th with KVV, but I'm sure there will be some activity in January.

Good job we played Slattery.