MelvinBragg

The traditional flat 4 across midfield is dead. With a few notable exceptions (Leicester season before last), it just concedes too much possession. Most teams play at least three in the middle of midfield. Hence my reference to a 'suicidal' flat 4 across midfield...

Fact is that with Osman fit for them, it kind of justifies Robinson picking his more physical midfielders and leaving the ball players like Tanner and Bigirimana on the bench. Not saying it's what I would do but can see the justification. Hendrie gives us the option of a back four. But that would mean trying to pick two centre halfs out of four. And where do you then play Cadden without playing the suicidal flat 4 in midfield? Really need his running power or we risk not being able to get up the park. In short, I don't have a clue what team I'd pick...

Grimshaw and Tanner in for Cadden and Ciftci. Rose or Grimshaw at wing back? 442 with a diamond midfield? I don't know so hopefully neither does Neil Lennon...

Any word on the potential new striker we were supposed to be after? Given we have a game in a couple of hours, I'd have thought we would want our business done relatively early today...

You do realise that £180k is probably three players' annual salary for a year? So not fuck all in the grand scheme of things? Not that I'm advocating selling Carson for £400k, not with so little time to get a replacement in. But to say £180k is fuck all to a club like ours is patently nonsense...

Dare I say our current assistant manager?

I thought Celtic had moved on to other targets when we made it clear that we weren't letting Carson go on the cheap? £500k sounds like a lot for a guy you paid £10k for in the summer, but as you say and the point I made to a Celtic fan at my work, there's no point in being the richest team in the Championship. It's only a good deal if we have a replacement lined up...

That would be a bit disappointing given the valuations were apparently "miles apart" but not surprising if Carson wants to go. Hearing talk of a left back coming in this afternoon. Not been given a name though...

Nowhere near the worst we've had recently...

This is all true but we all know that if a player wants to leave, then there are many ways to engineer a move. Is Carson the type of player to threaten to down tools? I don't know. But this is not Hearts or Aberdeen where there would be a decent wage increase and not much else to tempt a player. This is Celtic, a sizeable wage increase and if Carson believes in his ability to displace De Vries, an opportunity to play in the Europa League this season and win a league medal. The lateness in the window counts in our favour as it doesn't give Carson that much time to agitate for a move if he wanted to. His background might mean he's not welcomed by some of their support and that might put him off. I honestly couldn't say how this will pan out...

Those saying that £500k would be a good return if we could get a replacement in. Problem is that chances are there will be no potential replacements out there that clubs would be happy to let go that would be worth having. Having said that, if Carson wants to go then the deal will happen. And why wouldn't he want to go? Massive wage rise, De Vries out of contract in the summer I believe, and Gordon at an age when he'll start to miss a few games? Goalkeeper is one position where a player probably realises that there's only one spot so being a sub is an occupational hazard. Losing Moult and Carson in the same window will be a real sore boot in the balls...

Had a quick look at his stats. 5 goals in 12 starts is impressive but hasn't scored since 9th September. Interesting looking at St Johnstone stats. Scougall, who many coveted in the summer, has 1 goal in 17 starts. Tanner, 7 goals in 16 starts. What does that tell us? Maybe that sometimes chasing a 'name' isn't always the way to go...

Not sure I'd be disappointed if we didn't get him. Not sure where he fits in to the system that we seem to be playing. And after a bright start to his loan spell at St Johnstone, he didn't do very much. And that's with a manager who had got the best out of him before and a fair number of players he had played with, ideal situation you'd have thought to rediscover his form...

I'm guessing (and I stress guessing) it means Left Hand Side...

Someone on one of the match threads mentioned the possibility of a journeyman left midfielder. Haven't heard any names mentioned though...

Let me first say that I like Andy Rose and don't think he's nearly as bad as some on here make out. But to me, dropping Tanner today looks like a way of keeping Rose in the team and that decision looks baffling to me. Hope I'm proved wrong...

To be fair, first half was brutal. Where Steelboy is wrong is that it had nothing to do with Robinson's tactics and more to do with the poor quality players on both sides...

Cadden or Rose at left wing back? Hmmmm...

Simo Valakari on Gascoigne on Owen Coyle day is my particular favourite...

You would hope that someone paid to scout players could see past that. I would hope that in the summer we would be looking for at least £500k on the basis of his age and his natural physical attributes. But as always, as others have pointed out, a player's value is essentially whatever someone is willing to pay for him...

Given in his post match interview he stated that he had to be careful not to bring in players that would impede the likes of Livingstone, McGuire and Turnbull, I thought maybe one more signing at most. Maybe a short term loan til the summer in the hope that the young players are ready to step up then...

I'm more convinced that if we get through, it'll be Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers or Hearts. Away...

Given the teams that were left in the draw with four ties drawn, it could have been a whole lot worse...

This is not a criticism of Carson but I can't honestly remember these great saves he made. Any saves I saw him make today were saves I'd expect him to make and I suspect he'd be disappointed himself if he didn't make...

Carson's save was one for the cameras, had it gone then I'd have been seriously unimpressed. Agree about Tanner. Think the only tiny criticism I would have is that occasionally holds on to the ball a second too long at times. Still think he's our key attacking player at the moment...