bobbybingo

So those guys are better than Stewart and Van Veen? Or is there maybe another reason he didn't throw them into the starting 11?

Which manager are you talking about?

That dunderheid McInnes has Stewart and Van Veen on the bench.

Yeah, we've seen a lot of loan players being recalled and sent out elsewhere recently, whether that was down to them stepping up a level or just not getting a game. Like you say, it's too risky to rely on getting a season out of a player who's performing well. Biereth is a guy who has a lot of confidence in his own ability and is hungry to prove himself, which worked for us, but no one should be surprised he jumped ship so easily.

As long as he does hee haw today, that's fine, since we're unlikely to face him again in the league. If he's back on form when Killie play the 3 below us, we won't be complaining.

As I read it, nothing was happening until Sturm Graz approached Biereth's agent and Arsenal to ask if something could be done and, since they all wanted it to happen, the deal went through very quickly. The whole thing illustrates why we should & shouldn't go for loan deals.

Sacking the manager ensures nothing.

That was then, this is now, as the players we're able to attract clearly demonstrate. I honestly didn't think you'd want to bring Gannon, McGhee: Part II or Alexander into a conversation about 2.5 year deals.

A manager with the kind of proven track record you're looking for isn't coming here. Unless it's one season wonder Thomas Courts.

If we'd brought in a new manager in December, how long a contract would you have given him?

Could well be true. I also read Van Veen said his preference was to work with Robinson and that he was signing with them. Who knows. I doubt his first words as a Killie player will be, I wanted to go somewhere else.

No guarantee Van Veen was ever interested in coming back here.

If. He obviously didn't.

Right, I thought you were referring to the summer too. Unless there's someone we haven't been informed about tonight, there's no way of spinning a strikeforce of Bair, Vale, Ferrie and Mr Glass as a deliberate choice. Once again, our survival will probably have as much to do with others' deficiencies as our own abilities. The 3 below us appear to have had shit windows too.

The answer seems obvious, but I have to ask - what's a proper striker?

Looking like it.

I wouldn't think they've a realistic chance of getting 3rd either, but I'll bet some at Rugby Park do now.

Bair's considered a reasonable signing now because he's scored 6 goals, most of which have helped win us points. At the end of the day Kilmarnock are shelling out on Van Veen to help them finish in 3rd or 4th place. No one can say that's now guaranteed.

I suppose you could ask Groningen if they got their money's worth. Kilmarnock can tell us in May.

All those achievements were prededed and followed by seasons with poor league finishes and cup results. We haven't managed to maintain a credible challenge over an extended period for nearly a century.

You could well be right, I've no idea what funds we have available. But I agree, it's too risky.

How do you define 'a credible force in Scotland'?

That could certainly work as long as he delivers. If he doesn't, very different story.

We can't afford his wages, if the figures quoted are anywhere near accurate. I have no problem with that. He promised Groningen 30 goals this season. There are no guarantees.

Is that guaranteed?