Kmcalpin

Its premature to make predictions about this season for several reasons. In theory, a team can sign better players than they did in the past but what if rivals sign even better players? In short, its all relative. With the exception of last Saturday, we've had problems in converting possession into goals. That might change with the arrival of Hendry and Osong. Who knows? Our midfield is the match of most in the league, although it currently lacks a defensive element. Our defence, including the goalkeeping position, though concerns me. Our goalies are probably ranked in the bottom 4/5 maybe? Full backs? Early days but probably mid league. Central defence? Probably bottom 3/4. All this could change in the next 7 days of course, with the arrival of new recruits hopefully. So far, I like our new style of play but questionmarks remain, for me, as to whether it will be effective in securing results.

Absolutely. We need to keep our feet firmly on the ground.

Post from a Hearts supporting friend. "Well that was a point stolen. Motherwell were excellent today, and the best team I've seen this season. So fair play to them." This chap has played football at a reasonable level, so he's qualified to comment.

He's leaving on a jet plane.

Next week will represent a crucial test for us. A home game against a beatable side. This early in the season, not a six pointer of course but an importnat game nonetheless. Hopefully we'll see a new face or two, but maybe not starters. Rightly, we're reciving plaudits for our attractive style of play. Now though, we need to up our game at both ends of the pitch. Improve our defending at the back and be more lethal up front.

Hopefully we'll see 2 new central defenders and a defensive midfielder (a No 6 to some) arrive in the next week or so to make us more solid. Hearts had 19 shots to our 9 yesterday (9 against 3 on target). Those figures should make us sit up and take notice. In fairness then Ward will have, justifiably, expected better protection from those in front of him. He should start next next week to give him a chance to redeem himself. The goals we lost were down to a combination of errors, not just down to Ward. In truth though , both he and Oxborough would appear to be run of the mill keepers. Hearts gave our defence a thorough test yesterday and it was found wanting.

Just watched the TV highlights too, which didn't do justice to our first half performance. Yes, Hearts' 2nd goal was a close call, according to VAR lines. I was however alarmed by the quality of our defending at times. If we want to turn our good play into points this does need addressed in the next 10 days or so.

A point to mull over folks. Hearts beat both Aberdeen and Dundee United before today scoring 5 goals in the process and conceding 2.

But, not with the defence we have.

Keep the heid folks. It was a very good result. A very tough start to the new campaign and we're unbeaten in 3. Forget about losing 3 late goals; we were always going to concede and Hearts fully deserved their point, as did we. Yes, disappointing to lose 3 but thats football. The big plus for me is that we played Hearts today with over a week of the window to go. It would be far worse to have recorded this result next Saturday. Hopefully, we'll look back on today in 6 months time and say it was a very positive result. JBA has now seen our defence at its worst and should know by now that he has to strengthen the defence and whats more has over a week to do it. He will already have been looking at defenders and Hearts comeback today should crystallise and galvanise his thoughts. All this, and we played some really entertaining football.

Yes, it is. Maybe the likes of Luca Ross could go out on loan to a League One or Championship side. Dylan Wells? Maybe Kofi Balmer will move on as it seems he isn't fancied by JBA. There's also 3 long term absentees amongst the 28 0r so.

You can envisage a scenario where any combination of the three players in question, who are all ooc at the end of the season incidentally, return from injury but JBA doesn't think they warrant gametime. It would be fairer to send them out on loan for 6 months to put them in the shop window and boost their chances of a deal elsewhere.

Are they suited to our style of play? There's also the question of squad size and budget and the fact they're not JBA's players.

I do wonder what the future holds for them now. 6 month loan deals when they are fit?

Pleased with this signing. Omn paper we look to have a fair bit of firepower up front. All we need now is another midfielder and a central defender.

I think we're fine at full back. Balmer probably needs to move on for the sake of both parties and free up a place.

Still think we're light in central defence. Ideally I'd like to see 2 new defenders arrive.

I suppose that the exact wording of such matters can vary between deals.

15% of what? The total fee or the total fee minus what Sturm Graz paid us. In David Turnbull's case we received nought from Celtic in an add on as they didn't make a profit on him.

I'm very much of the same view. A successful forum needs all manner of views. It's important not to be an echo chamber. Some posters are optimists and some are pessimists. Most are somewhere in between. All views should be welcomed providing they adhere to message board rules.

IF Balmer and Halliday leave, I'd expect 2 midfielders and 2 central defenders to be brought in. As things stand, we're one light in both areas.

Presumably on loan? Certainly he doesn't sit well with our current style. I wouldn't want to offload him though until a replacement was in the door.

Dylan Wells seems to be highly rated by the club, but hasn't featured at all this season. Does anyone know if he's out with a long term injury. Radio silence from MFC.

He strikes me as being a penalty box player end of, although admittedly his service has been poor so far. We either have to adapt our game to suit him, or he's moved on. I can't see JBA changing our style to accommodate one player. His one saving grace is that our midfield and "support" strikers have yet to start firing on all cylinders.

I wonder if they are season ticket holders at Parkhead. If so, you'd think Celtic would be reviewing their status, irrespective of any potential banning orders.