David

Aye, no point in fucking about. If I hear something that sounds credible I'll post it, not got much time for cryptic nonsense or the classic "heard it from my brothers wife's mate who plays 5 a-sides with the guy who drives the team bus" stuff. Should hopefully be the forward we've been crying out for.

The MLS season doesn't start until March, so there's a possibility maybe? It's not as if they'd need him right away. Apparently so.

Nah, I hear lots of rumours from those types of folk and don't bother with them. This is from someone who should know.

I'd say so, yeah. I'm obviously not 100% certain, but the person who told me seems to believe it's pretty much a done deal and will be announced shortly, and they have no reason to lie. I didn't believe them at first either. I'm not entirely sure I do still!

Ross McCormack deal apparently just about done. will be a cracking signing if it happens.

Think it'll be someone better who's brought in as a replacement for Bowman.

I have to admit, the Sammon loan deal was a bit of a weird one when it was announced. I was fairly certain he'd go on to do nothing of note, and wondered why we didn't just give young Scott the opportunity to play backup to Main, Bowman and Johnson? Does anyone know if we can cut his loan deal short in January? Or are we stuck with him until the end of the season?

Well, the fans wanted changes and something different after the St Mirren game I guess...

It could also be said that Robinson showing faith in him and putting him in the team is what has led to the rumoured interest from the likes of Southampton in the first place, couldn't it? Make no mistake about it, if Turnbull decides to move on to bigger things it'll be due to a combination of factors, none of which include him being "forced out the door" or being unhappy playing under Robinson. If anything he will owe Robinson and the rest of the management team at the club a debt of gratitude.

I reckon we'll snatch a point, but would be thrilled if we took all three points. Kilmarnock are a quality outfit at the moment, but if we play as we know we can, there's no reason we can't win today.

Top post Fizoxy, although you'll no doubt be accused by some as just being "Burrow's pal" or some other nonsense. Personally, I quite like the fact that we can rest easy knowing that those in charge aren't going to do anything stupid, such as sack the manager in January when we're still clear of the bottom two. If we ever find ourselves going on the kind of run (which would also require one of the bottom two to go on a successful run) which sees us drop down that far then questions can and should be asked at that point, but not before. Again, we can look at things in the summer and there may very well be a change of management at that point, but doing so beforehand in the current circumstances would be madness.

Not really. The truth is, if someone moans like fuck about every manager we have they're going to be able to say "ah, I told you so!" eventually, as every manager eventually goes in the end, and rarely of their own volition. These are usually the same people who dismiss our cup runs because we didn't win the cups in question, and who are usually posted missing when we win a game. You've been around long enough to know the script.

What's the time frame for not referencing that one game whenever we talk about facing a side we should be confident of getting a result against? It's been five years now, so I'm guessing it's at least ten?

The ones on here moaning and wanting Robinson out are pretty much the same crowd that was moaning about Barraclough, McCall, McGhee and so on. It's just how it is.

And I'm not saying that our league should be better than MLS. I wouldn't expect it to be, we're a small country and financially our game is miles behind. Me saying that moving to MLS from Motherwell is a step up isn't intended as a put-down to us or our league, it's just a fact I think. More money, bigger crowds, better facilities, playing against some top names.

Look, I'm invested in Scottish football, same as everyone else here, but I'm under no illusions that for a viewer who has no vested interest in any of the teams it would be akin to me watching an English League One or League Two game. I wouldn't open my curtains if there was an EFL League Two game taking place in my garden, which is how I'm sure most non-Scottish team supporting fans feel.

At this exact moment in time, yes, but I'd say that Cedric and Moult would be in with a shout of making either team, and aside from the Randolph years under McCall I'd say that Carson would be in with a shout also. This has been a down year for sure, but just as easily as we found Moult and Cedric not that long ago, we could easily do the same this summer and kick on again.

Hard to argue with that to be honest, but I'm hoping we can take a point today. St Johnstone haven't lost at home since they were hammered by Celtic in October, have they? Dropped points against Killie and Hearts though, so a draw could be achievable.

Like the majority of footballers they moved there for the money and the quality of life that North America offers. Why do you think the higher paid players at Rangers and Celtic come here? For the quality of our league? Yes, in your opinion. I wonder how many people outside of Scotland are entertained by the quality of product we see on a weekly basis? You need to realise, I'm not saying that the standard in MLS is great, I'm simply saying that it's less garbage than the standard in Scotland. Of course, you're invested in the Scottish game so you don't see it as a neutral, which is how you see MLS. Ask any neutral if they think the standard of a regular SPFL game is higher than mediocre at best. My point isn't that MLS is fantastic, my point was that Andy Rose is moving to a team where he'll play in front of much larger crowds, make more money, train in better facilities, come up against some higher quality of players than he ever will with us, and most likely enjoy a higher quality of life. It's a no-brainer of a move for someone who isn't attached to either Motherwell or Scotland really.

Players heading for retirement? Such as 29 year old Giovani Dos Santos, Sebastian Giovinco who's been at Toronto since he was 28, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco, Carlos Vela, Andre Horta etc? All names that could walk into any side bar Celtic perhaps in the SPFL. You do still get the odd "big name" past his best heading to the league, but the overall level is higher than the stuff we see in the SPFL I think. Maybe not 5 years ago, but definitely now. Not that such an assessment should be seen as a slight on our league, as the US is a massive place with more money, so it makes sense that they have a product on the up.

I'm guessing you've maybe not watched MLS in a good few years? The standard today is certainly higher than that of the SPFL I'd say, and the quality of players there is also higher for the most part. Vancouver Whitecaps may not be the greatest side in the league, but the league overall is higher quality than the SPFL I'd think. Rose will also be playing in front of over 20,000 fans at home games on average, and the average wage pisses all over most of what Scottish football can offer. It's a move up, both footballing-wise and definitely a move up lifestyle-wise, despite what we may think here in Scotland.

Ironically, he's moving to play at a higher level in January.

We should, but that doesn't fit the agenda of those who are having a moan.

Does it still make footballing sense if you sign a new deal to get regular playing time, a new manager comes in who doesn't rate you and you end up not playing? Or you end up injured and released down the line having missed out on the chance to earn some good money? It depends on who the individual is, that's true, and on their mentality. If I was a player in Turnbull's position and was facing a choice between a new deal at Fir Park, where I could get more game time under Robinson, but run the risk of not fulfilling my potential, getting injured, a new manager coming in who doesn't fancy me and it all going tits up with me eventually leaving on a free in a few years, or the guarantee of triple my wages for two years or so and the chance to return to Scottish football afterwards and still make that money I was offered at Motherwell I'd be offski. Again, I'm talking as someone a bit older, someone who would be thinking about the financial future of my wife and kids over the notion of playing games and winning trophies. All of that would come second to me securing my families future, and I'd go where the money is. Lee Erwin left us for a three year deal at Leeds on decent coin, and even though he didn't make a dent there he more than likely earned more than he would have with us as a regular. He then went to Killie, where he probably earned at least what we offered him, before he moved to Iran where he was offered "substantially more" than he was on at Killie. I doubt he'll have much trouble finding another club if he's not happy in Iran. He's only 24 years old and has made far more than he likely would have if he'd stayed with us.