MelvinBragg

I would say a striker would be a definite requirement for before Friday if Murphy is unavailable for next week. Going with a strikeforce of Sutton and McHugh with only Gary Smith for back-up would leave us looking a bit sparse up front. The real problem is that you have to balance this with making the right signing and not signing someone just because we need them for the Breidablik games and they turn out to be a waste of a wage...

I could live with that...

Apparently we have winger Chris Shuker in on trial according to one of the papers...

I'd argue we're a bit stronger as a unit. At this time last year, we didn't have Randolph, Humphrey, Hateley or Jennings. Who have we lost that we had in the squad for that first Llanelli game? Jim O'Brien, Michael Fraser and Paul Slane? You could argue that you could add Reynolds to that list as it seems we're doing our best to sell him (rightly in my view). However you could argue that Hutchison, Saunders, Murphy, Forbes and Saunders should all be better players than they were last season purely by virtue of having played competitive SPL football. There is also the fact that this close season we don't have a new manager coming in trying to put across a new philosophy and new ideas to a group of players that he doesn't know. There is a degree of continuity in terms of coaching staff this season that we didn't have last year. The players will have a fair idea of what Brown and Knox will ask of them and how they will want them to play. This may count against us when the SPL season starts as other teams will also be pretty aware of how we will set our stall out. But the same is true of most SPL teams. St Mirren are the only team with a manager who hasn't managed in the SPL before and therefore who will be harder to read. We're not in bad shape at all. Would I like another striker and winger on board? Absolutely. Am I losing sleep over it? Not really. Who is to say that the likes of Gary Smith or Jamie Pollock won't make the kind of impact that the likes of Hutchison and Forbes did at the start of last season...? Chin up, people...

Sounded out a couple of people down South who've seen Randolph play "Solid enough keeper but he makes some cracking howlers" "Big lad but Dracula like at crosses" Sounds like we're signing Stevie Woods. Which is fine by me. If Hutchison stays fit, our keeper's ability at crosses is less of a concern...

I like Craig Brown's comments about the Cypriot So he'll knock you on your arse, then give you a hand back up. I like the sound of him already...

Mate down South reminded me when Brown took charge that when he took over at Preston he stated he would not guarantee they would be the best team in the league but that there would be none fitter than them...

He'll not be as good as John Ruddy then...

While that might well be the case, it might be that he finds that other clubs are not willing to pay a fee for him however are willing to offer him a signing on fee and salary. It might be outwith his control...

For what it's worth, I've seen Heaton play. Very decent keeper, not the best at crosses but a good talker for one so young. Problem is he's very highly rated and the rumours are that Notts Forest are after him. If we were to get him, it'd soon be "John who???", but for that reason I reckon we would have no chance...

I take it the express story reported on the Scottish gossip page of the BBC website is just a re-hash of old information? Stating we've had talks with Masaba, Weston and Jack Ross?

Don't see it somehow. He can thank Jock for pretty much putting the kibosh on any job prospects for him there...

Apparently St Johnstone are after Paul Gallagher from St Mirren. Given we are looking for a goalkeeper, should we not be looking at him?

I think you have a valid point here, Andy, and I think this is why the likes of Fitzpatrick and before him Quiinn, Clarkson and others have suffered at the hands of the fans. Post-McFadden it seemed like any young player who didn't look like a world beater right away was declared "not good enough". I have made the point about Fitzpatrick many times on here that he has all the tools to be a solid SPL midfielder, nothing moe, nothing less. In a few years time, he'll be our left footed Lasley...

Aye, but guys like Jamie Murphy were above him despite having hardly kicked a ball...

I seem to remember if McShovelface's first season noting that Chris Porter was way, way down the list. Sometimes you suffer for a consistent level of performance when it comes to this kind of vote. I suspect Sutton and Hately suffered the same this year (although Hately's performances have really tailed off...)

Note 14 at the bottom states...

How many does Murphy have for the season? All three of our strikers have gone through spells of chipping in their share. And Murphy has not scored a few winners? I'm not his biggest fan, and I still don't know if he's ready to be a nailed on starter but he's made a fair contribution this season...

Specsavers in Motherwell is just down from McDonalds...

Graeme Smith? Seriously, if only Coke could perform to that level more often, he'd be indispensable. Almost gave it to him but like a few others, for me Sutton kept things going when it looked like it was all over...

No chance. Risk injuring your prize asset in a friendly? That won't be happening...

I normally agree with you, Jay, and I'm not saying we will lose on Wednesday night, but allow me to be a bit pessimistic as we go into the game without the two guys who've been our two best centre midfielders since January...

No Jennings, no Lasley, we'll only get to Europe if fifth place in the league gets Europe. And even then Hearts have two home games..

From what I hear, you might well be right. And I'm not convinced that Jennings and Hately are an ideal partnership. Personally I'd rather see Coke and Jennings partnered together. But that does leave us with a wide midfield slot to fill and I don't see us going with two out and out wingers...

While I can see where the original post is coming from, I struggle to think of someone who has been in our youth system, been unable to break into our first team and gone on to great things. Tends to suggest that over the years that those in charge round our way can sort the good players from the dross. Cream tends to rise to the top. If the likes of Saunders, Murphy, Hutchison and Forbes are good enough, they'll play irrespective of who's manager and who else is in the squad. If they're not good enough, the fate of Kenny Wright, Shaun Fagan and Greig Denham (to name but three) awaits them. Let us not forget that many of the products of "our" youth system are not Lanarkshire born and bred. Lasley (Paisley), McFadden (Glasgow) and currently Hutchison (the NE of England) are just three that spring to mind. We, as a club, are doing what many of the bigger clubs are doing but on a much smaller scale/budget. Like Arsenal/Man Utd/Liverpool et al paying ridiculous sums for 14-15yr olds from smaller clubs with good youth systems so we have taken two players in the last couple of years (that I'm aware of) from Queens Park and I seem to recall one from Ross County (though I can't remember the guy's name). Bringing in a guy from Chelsea may not seem to fit the same ideal (and at 20, older than I'd like) but we picked up Jim O'Brien in similar circumstances...