craig

Until DM sells up ?

Likewise calscot - and we mustn't forget that the most important signing for ANY team is the man who SELECTS the 11 that play - I think in PLG that WE have made the most important and influential signing this summer

Not sure I agree Beattie. It depends on whether we also want them or not. Gravesen and JVoH didn't have too many other options (not saying they aren't good players but they just didn't have too many great options) and I don't think we were ever interested in either of them so I don't think it is necessarily fair to say that the big name players are more keen to join them - depends on if we are also in for the same players or not. I think we are closer to them than we think - they have a solid team now, for sure, but not wonderful. If we could get one or 2 more defenders who add quality then I think we match them - we should be 5 points clear of them already in the league. One difference which can't be forgotten though is that 2 of our first-teamers are on loan so they are in a better position than us right now in terms of a starting 11 who are all on permanent deals. Going to be an interesting season - but as I said in another thread, a couple of short months ago and most of us would have sacrificed the league this year in order to move in the right direction - which is definitely happening.

My take is Gravesen is a good player but so too was Petrov, difference being Petrov was younger and knew what the SPl was all about. Different type of player but I don't necessarily think they have strengthened their team - one good player in, one good player out !

IMO a large part of the reason that we have some unhappy Bears in the ranks is because of the football we have been playing in the first few games of the season - a double-edged sword if you will. When PLG was announced there was almost the unanimous opinion that we would give PLG time to get rid of the dead-wood, bring in his own players, have them playing the way he wants,make strides with Murray Park and the youth system.......... and most said that we would accept not winning the league this season as long as we were making positive movements in the right direction as a club. However, the high standard of performances against Motherwell, DU and Hearts (even Dunfermline & Killie should have been beaten comfortably) means that all of a sudden we have the "we are playing great stuff so we should win the league" mentality. Had we started the season playing poorly I actually think that we would be applying LESS pressure to the team and PLG because we had already "accepted" that we would be rebuilding from the ground up. The fact we hit the ground running performance-wise means we have now ignored that "rebuilding" and expect instant wins and trophies. Before the season started we wanted a competitive team on the park (not necessarily winning ALL the time but competitive), good coaching, improvements being made with our media stance as a club, improvements at Murray Park, better youth development. I for one happen to think we have all of the above moving in the right direction. And having played only FIVE games of the new regime I can't believe just how much of an improvement we have already seen (and let's not forget that we have not spent a LOT of money on players - which for me shows that PLG has the tactical nous to do VERY WELL without having to spend copious amounts of money to spend). Also lets not forget that PLG still thinks this team will get better, which is very worrying for the rest of the SPL because in EACH of those five games we should have been blowing teams out of sight - only bad defending, bad finishing and some bad luck have prevented us from scoring 5 or 6 goals in EACH of those games. I still maintain that the future is very bright and we are much further forward in terms of quality than most of us would have believed we could ever be 4 or 5 months ago when PLG was appointed.

Yeah but sky sports website quotes him as sayign he, his agent and Celtic will make an announcement today - even though he is back with the Danish squad. I still don't fear him and, as is said, I am actually pretty glad that they are spending as much on him as they are - 2 mill plus all those wages, and then other players will not be happy about him getting so much more than them - I will take Clement any day

You aren't going to be convinced either way juffery but I just can't see how Prso can be dropped when he has been one of our better, if not best, players this season. Also, are you sure he is playing up front (where you should be judged by your goals) ? Because it has looked to me more like he is dropping off into the hole and playing more of an attacking mid role. The way I see it is that, for example, we have Prso in the team and we create 15 chances and 9 of them are from his play then by dropping him you MIGHT lose 6 or 7 of those chances because the incoming player being different might not see the chance open up as quickly. Those extra chances he creates could be goals and a win. Also, had we dropped Prso for Sunday's game just past we probably would be looking at our season's first defeat and even though his missed chances cost uis a win, the 2 goals he created also gained us a point.

It is a team game and it depends on what a player brings to the team. Gers are creating a boat load of chances and many of them are because of Prso's play. If you drop him you could also be dropping an additional 5 or 6 chances per game and the law of averages says that the more you create the better chance you have of scoring. I think you are looking at Prso's scoring record and ignoring the other attributes he brings to the team. Prso isn't in the team to simply score goals.

But juffery, if Prso is making the chances and someone else isn't there to take them how does that justify dropping Prso ?? Or are you saying he is supposed to make the chances and then get on the end of his own passes ? If someone else isn't there to take the chance when the big man creates it then surely it is the OTHER player that should be dropped for not being there to take the chance created by Prso, NOT Prso. I agree with the rest, Prso has been a stand-out this season in most games - the only thing lacking is putting it in the net - but his general play has been to a very high standard and I don't think that would merit dropping him.

Skysports is quoting Gravesen as saying he has agreed to join Celtic. TBH his signing doesn't really bother me. I think he is a good player but not someone to be feared

me too Gav

This rumour is on football-rumours.com - the WORST rumours website around (I know you didnt get it from this site Colsh). They are suggesting that as part of the deal we get to keep one of the Man U youngsters. I doubt there is truth to it, but you never know.

Open to debate whether he is either the top manager or the most scrutinised - I am sure there will be many that beg to differ

Well Cammy... I hope it is the Gers that Scholesy is signing for

I am

Nah, I think they had to scrap it Gribz

The Celtic dealsboth transpired after Hearts were eliminated from the CL..... coincidence ? I think not. I agree with Pete, I think the Tims are playing Russian Roulette and spending money they don't even have yet (unless, as I believe, they have already sold Petrov for 5-7 mill which would ease up the finances of the 2 signings made - but still they are using some, if not all, of that CL money). If, as is possible, they don't make the CL next season they will be in a world of hurt I actually find it amusing that Strachan goes out and buys another midfielder in Graveson when their defence is a shambles. I am still confident this season despite these signings the Tims have made - we are creating a boat load of chances and that is a good sign - now we just need to take them..... oh, and a couple of clean sheets wouldn't go amiss (perhaps Klos will be back soon and challenging for a 1st team place - if we are paying his wages he should get a chance to stake his claim as #1 IMO).

According to 'Arry he is off to Villa. Anyone else think that Petrov leaving is already a done deal with them signing JVH and Graveson in for talks ?? They HAVE to be using that cash from Petrov's sale.

Not only did you just use a statistic to suit your own argument but you completely changed the debated topic which was, I remind you, Chelsea vs Man U head to head last season. It STILL was 1-1 in games, right ?

I say you, Frankie and Del have a couple of pints with the balance Cammy. Or how about get the forum a mention on the electronic boards at Ibrox at HT in one of the home games ? How much does that cost ?

Was that not the tournament we had when Sampdoria (I think) were also there ?

DIdn't realise it was a cup knock out type event in the EPL Colsh. Who won how many games ? 1-1 I believe. Statistics, statistics - you can use them whatever way you choose to justify your own statement

Russia is a bit more than 2 hours Gribz ! But I know what you mean - they hardly have a rough life of it

Dunn, you getting this info from the BBC Boards ? I saw it on there too. Or did you listen into Talksport ?

You a closet Arsenal fan Colshy ? Or do you think they are Chelsea's ONLY challengers this season. You might want to take a closer look at the league table and the start Man U have had, especially as they are notoriously slow starters.