MelvinBragg

To be fair, if Hastie's going there he's going to walk into their first team. Kent loan ending and Candeilas is poor. Good luck to him and we move on...

Also on the subject of contract extensions, if Gorrin and Grimshaw are out of contract in the summer then that's an issue I'd be looking at right now. Gorrin in particular but if we keep striking out with left back signings then Grimshaw at right back and Tait on the left wouldn't be the worst option to go with...

It's a situation where I can see both sides of the argument. At a recent home game I heard someone say that we should have had him tied down on a contract before we put him in the first team. Our history is filled with players who impressed at U20 level but who never made an impact at first team level. Think of Dom Thomas, Bob McHugh, Luke Watt in recent years. There have been guys who have made an initial impact and faded, like Forbes, Saunders and Carswell. We as a club have made some mistakes in offering some contracts and ending up with players here who weren't good enough at first team level. That being said, we seem to get more decisions right than wrong. That old chestnut about how many young players have we let go who have gone on to better things. If Hastie has faith in his ability, the two examples he should perhaps look at are Lee Erwin and Robbie Leitch. They moved early to big clubs and made a fair bit of money by doing so. What the stalling in their development has done for their earning potential for the rest of their careers would however make me wonder if in the long term they will really end up massively better off by the end of their careers? The club have made the best offer they can. As others have said, there's no point in worrying too much about it. Players have left over the years, others come in. We move on. Semple is a player that has been much talked about, pretty sure those who watch the U20s will know of others. I would love him to stay but if Hastie leaves, then he leaves with my best wishes. He's given us some great moments and been a massive part in stopping what could have been a slide into a relegation battle...

Stand corrected on Riedle. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had him as East German like Sammer...

Don't think Riedle was in the squad in 1990...

Juninho? Guivarch possibly? Andreas Mòller?

Why was Dunne playing left back?

Trips to Ibrox and Parkhead, I always take the approach that if you can get away without an absolute pasting and avoid injuries and suspensions then it's job done. Sadly on the injury front, we have suffered today. Thankfully we have points in the bank. What I did find interesting today was that when McHugh got injured, Liam Donnelly came on. How far out of the picture is Peter Hartley?

Scott in for Main. Assuming Main is injured as not even in squad...

Much has been made rightly about six league wins in a row. I wonder when the last time was that we started with the same eleven for five games in a row. Must be a while ago...

He may not have been man of the match but I really am growing to love Liam Grimshaw..

Is it not the case that we need to offer Cadden a new contract to be entitled to compensation? At least equivalent contract...

Given the shape he was in by the time he arrived at preseason training for us having considered his options, I'd be astounded if Scott McDonald is anywhere near match fit before the playoffs...

Hard to disagree with any of that. Question would be whether McHugh and Frear would settle for the kind of wages that we would offer a backup...

Is that the same man that brought in Carson, Gillespie, Dunne, Kipré, Aldred, Tanner, Gorrin and Johnson? I'm not Robinson's biggest fan but people have selective memories when criticising his transfer record. Most of the signings that didn't work (Fisher, Plummer, Petravicius, Taylor-Sinclair), he moved on pretty quickly....

At no point did I say that Frear was better than Ariyibi. I was only making a point that Ariyibi has (rightly) received a fair bit of praise since his arrival. In that time, Frear has been instrumental in us winning two games (Dundee and last night) in ways that are obvious. Yet he doesn't get the credit. Also calling bullshit on the suggestion that Frear doesn't work hard enough for the team. This is a guy who sacrificed himself by playing out of position for the last season and a half if he was selected. Not saying Frear would be first name on the teamsheet but I think you're downplaying his contribution massively...

I was thinking this after last night. Frear has his critics but in the five games since Ariyibi arrived, Frear has contributed 2 assists (3 if you include winning a penalty against Dundee) and Ariyibi has none. Not slating Ariyibi here as I think he has offered something but at a time when statistics are used to criticise certain players, feel as if some tend to ignore the contribution of Frear as it perhaps suits an agenda...

I thought he'd come on as a sub in at least one game...

Generally we don't often win 5 league games in a row even with fixtures as kind as our recent run so a win on Wednesday would be some achievement. Just feel we might fall short and draw 1-1. No real basis for my thinking, just a hunch...

Aye, 9 goals in 23 starts was all hype. If we're going to continue down the road of playing passing football, the Craig Tanner of last season would be an asset. Whether we get the Craig Tanner of last season back is different question. But unlike you, if the coaching and medical staff feel it's a possibility, I'd be willing to give him a chance...

If you're in the second section in of the East Stand, then aye it's probably me. I wholeheartedly agree on Hastie by the way...

To be fair, we do have a habit of not getting out quick enough after our initial clearances. Tait in particular today played a couple of Livingston players onside. At least, that's my excuse...

Goalkeepers Gillespie Ferguson Defenders Dunne Aldred Tait Hartley Livingstone Mbulu Donnelly Midfielders Campbell Gorrin Turnbull McHugh Grimshaw Aribiyi Frear Hastie Forwards Main McCormack Johnson Sammon Scott That certainly seems a big enough squad to see us through to the end of the season. With McHugh and Grimshaw both able to play as defenders and McCormack able to play as a winger if/when he gets fit, it gives us a bit of flexibility. Any money spent would have been unnecessary. Obviously have missed out Tanner, Cadden and Carson. I know Tanner and Carson are out for the season, is there any word on when Cadden will return?

Gillespie Grimshaw Aldred Dunne Tait Campbell Gorrin Turnbull Hastie Main Ariyibi Subs McHugh Hartley Livingstone Frear McCormack Johnson Mbulu Scott Cadden Not sure we need to bring anyone in even if both leave...

Other than the two we've signed already obviously...