MelvinBragg

Straker til the end of the season. Thomas likewise with another year option. Johnson, no idea...

We're going to need a bigger bench...

No Pearson or Erwin? I think this illustrates the balancing act that the manager has now. Blending new faces with some of the good players we had already..

This. We've seen three of Baraclough's signings play and opinions are mixed on them, Pearson being the only one seen so far as definitely an improvement. Grant and Long look to have decent pedigree but you could say the same about Cosgrove and Nielsen in those positions. Will the two new wingers be better than Ainsworth? We don't know. We do have options now and while it's a cliche for every manager to say that "it's a good problem to have", the onus is now on Baraclough to mould a team. He's been backed by the board so even more than before yesterday, the buck stops with him. The hope is that the fight we saw against Dundee United and in the second half on Saturday is taken into the next game and with the freshness that new faces will bring, we can kick on and get some results. But it's a hope. Not a guarantee. Hard work continues...

I only count seven...

I think predicting a team for this game is nigh on impossible having not seen any of the new guys play. Have to figure Long in goals and Straker at left back. Centre half? Reckon Kerr's done enough to keep his spot. Who partners him, Ramsden, McManus or O'Brien? Right back? Good luck guessing that one. Midfield will depend on whether Lasley and Pearson are fit. If they are, have to imagine Carswell drops out. Pearson, Lasley, possibly Grant and one of our many wingers. Erwin has done enough to stay in the team and Sutton scores goals. Like I say, total guesswork for most of the team. Good news is, it'll be the same for Jim McIntyre...

How does the loan window work up here? I know that down south it opens next week for lower league teams. Actually think that with Vigurs, Lawson and Leitch still injured that anyone who can play centre midfield will be going nowhere. Even if Lasley and Pearson return, it's one area of the park we don't have many options so Carswell and Ramsden will be pretty safe. Obvious thing to say but we've plenty cover at right back. Watt out on loan to gain experience or possibly Reid or Kerr on their way (although both have featured a lot under Baraclough). Be interesting to see what happens and who Baraclough has been using simply because he didn't have other options...

I think the question now becomes which players will be leaving/going out on loan in the next few days. Burrows stated that there'd be some leaving. Cummins looks a no brainer. McHugh and Angol are injured so unless we're going to release them when they're injured which seems a particularly iffy thing to do, it won't be them. Signing of two wingers makes you look at Ainsworth and Dom Thomas. Given Dom Thomas has come off the bench in a few games recently, you'd think that Baraclough sees something in him. Concern would be, as Lobey Dosser says, that these new signings inhibit his development. Time will tell, I guess...

I'd assume so, presumably to fill the gap left by Kenny McLean..

Assuming it is Thomas, unless something has fallen through there. Still not been announced yet although clearly SFA have been notified of the deal...

Having nearly two weeks before the next game might work in our favour...

Get the impression that Thomas might be it for us. Like Baraclough's thinking. Opposition defenders really confused when told to "go and mark the winger Thomas.."

Shiels or Hartley?

I agree. Maybe add Watt's name to that list..?

Concern would be what it does for Moore and Erwin's time on the pitch...

Frankly if we add another player tonight, we'll need a bigger team bus when everyone is fit...

Left footed, not necessarily left sided. Maybe playing centrally...?

19 year old midfielder who's sat on the bench for Everton. Like Long, sounds promising...

Ah, rumours of conflict between Baraclough and McManus. It's got me all misty eyed for the days of Jim Gannon and Stephen Craigan...

Flaw in that story is the fact that he played against Dundee United after the Celtic game...

Certainly sounds almost like an identikit replacement for McManus...

Stalker!!!

Wondering if the next thing will be Scott Allan to Dundee United now. Apparently knocked United back but now Fyvie in, who knows...

The New Firm helping us out, nice...

What kind of medicals do we perform at Fir Park? ;-)