fizoxy

It will be interesting to see how Baraclough lines up on Saturday. I think this is the first game where he is facing opposition for the second time (not sure if the first RC game should count since he didn't set the tactics for that one). It may be hard to tell if an improved result this time is down to the new players or the manager learning something from the last encounter, but either way it will be a reasonable measure of how far we have/haven't come. As for lineup, I think that Reid will be dropped to make way for Laing, and with our weakness at the back post I wouldn't be surprised to see Kerr return to Right back (can also see him being in there for set pieces up the other end). I doubt Hammell will be ready, but surely Pearson will be. So I see the likely lineup as: Long Kerr Laing McManus Straker Lasley Grant N.Thomas Pearson Erwin Sutton Personally, I'd have Erwin up front and D.Thomas on the left, but I don't see Sutton getting dropped.

The reality is that we're level on points with st mirren with a game at hand (I think) and three ahead of county. What has happened has happened and all that matters is the next game. All of the bottom 4 have to play each other twice more and we have the odd result against the top six to consider. I don't see any of these teams putting on a run of results, so things will change a little each week depending on the fixtures and we'll probably go into the last two games with both spots open. Also, don't rule out Partick being dragged into this.

We could speculate on what will happen in the next three months, but what are the opinions on what will happen if we do go down? I think we are better equipped for it than we were in October, with the infrastructure changes we have seen, and we have the benefit of a lot of big contracts coming off the books. However, I don't think we will come straight back up since we will be competing with saints or county, and two out of rangers, hibs, and qos, and with two bigger clubs set to come up next year, missing out on the gate revenue could set us back a few years too.

I doubt this will result in supporters drinking any more than they do currently, it will just mean the clubs get the money instead of the pubs. Might work in conjunction with safe standing.

The way I look at it is we have 2 more throws of the dice to get clear of this. 1) new assistant gets a reaction 2) Pearson and hammell return The second would be huge as pearo is what we are crying out for, and hammell may be the only player I would label as dependable. If these done happen and we dont get 6 points out of the next 9, we're toast.

My guess: Long Reid Kerr McManus Straker lasley Ramsden Thomas grant Erwin Sutton

Great work guys, the WTFC spirit lives on

Who is Leanne on steelmen online?

Twitterflow said that would be today.

One thing that is clear from this transfer window is that we have identified the problems and taken steps to address them, rather than hoping the same squad can get us out of this mess. We can also be sure that with the increased numbers bara shouldn't have to settle for the only player available at most positions, and as such we'll pretty much be seeing his team from now on in, whether that is all the new guys or not.

So, we're looking at something like: Long Reid Kerr McManus Straker Lasley Grant Erwin Pearson Marvin Sutton Subs: Twardzik, O'Brien, Thomas, Thomas, Law, Watt, Guessing that hammell won't be ready, otherwise he'd be in, and Laing will be banned.

Hope there is a good turnout. I can attest to them being heavy drinkers, I tried to raise my game to their level and failed miserably. My apologies to scotrail.

Could we be bringing in a forward to replace a departing lee Erwin? If he is out of contract in the summer and attracting scouts, it seems ominous. We would get a development fee in the summer, right?

The reaction he gave the in his pre match interview suggested " you can bet your arse I'll be busy on monday" but he is a good promo guy, hopefully it is backed up tomorrow!

Will hammel be close to ready by then? Will that not have been 4 weeks? I assume mick, pearo and Lasley will also be back. This game is huge, along with our remaining games against st mirren, Partick and Killie.

Would have took a point when i saw the lineup, and fair play to the guys for fighting back, and to faddy for those misses.

Kerr on for O'Brien. Bold move....

Les Hutchison has been at the club all week apparently, and the last communications suggested a formal announcement today, don't know if that has changed or if there is a presser scheduled for this evening. And in Bara's pre-match interview he seemed to suggest that everything has been resolved.

The left back is cover for Hammell, who should hopefully be back in the next 3-4 weeks and will regain his position as our full time LB, and we also have Watt who can do a job there. If Hammell hadn't had the setback last week I doubt we would have gone for this guy. I assume we are aiming a larger chunk of our resources at some of the more pressing areas such as a forward and a CB, and maybe CM. So I am not looking at this move as anything more as a depth move in an area where we are thin. The MFC twitter suggests that Laing will be in tomorrow, and there will be more to follow, including a forward.

Announcement expected tomorrow?

Cant really be surprised at bringing in defenders when here's no real evidence we have any.

Louis Laing should be a dab hand at the match reports should we sign him.

Flow on twitter - Whoever was reported to have fallen through in the record today (that keeper?) was bollocks, and at least 2 expected in before Saturday.

"Hopefully we have the tractor ready for Friday's press conference" Unfortunately the owner of the tractor is now using it, so we're trying to get one of those shopping trolleys with the toy car attached to it.