ascender

Who knows what goes on behind the scenes at clubs. Many people who've seen Gow play say he's just not good enough and there's nothing more sinister than that. I guess the U21 rule won't be helping his cause either. I'd have thought if any of our players had an issue like that, they'd either be sacked or helped through it an in a country this size, the media would be all over it. In fact, they'd even be all over the rumours surely if there was any credence to them?

I was delighted to see him at first as he wasn't afraid to shoot from distance which made a nice change. But I thought he tailed off in to mediocrity at best, although he wasn't helped by injuries or being played in numerous different positions and our long ball game.

If Cuellar and Weir are going to be the first-choice partnership, we seem to have an awful lot of backup centre halves, that's all. Especially if Smith comes back in to the LB slot. So long as we sign a proper RB and someone creative for the midfield, I'll be a happy Bear.

These rumours about Boyd have been around since he signed for us. If there was any truth in them, do people not think that someone would have done something about it by now? If your mate down the pub knows about it, do you not think maybe someone connected with the club would have heard too?

I remember years ago this was mentioned and the reality is that if a player is willing/keen to come to the UK, depending on who that player is, the only clubs outside of England who could afford the fees or wages would be us or Celtic. So often players will be offered to both of us by agents. Oh, and not sure why we'd be after yet another centre back.

Shame, I thought Stoke were going to make us an offer we couldn't refuse.

And they parted company with their PR people yesterday too although no-one knows why yet. You have to wonder what's going to happen next there. Was it not in January that Romanov announced he was going to appoint a new manager with experience of British football?

A few people who claim to have watched a decent amount of reserve games last season reckon the only reason Gow hasn't been in the first team is because he's not shone.

The problem is though that if we say Thomson and Ferguson are our two best players and are going to start in the middle, where's the creativity going to come from?

I guess you've not been reading FF for the last couple of years. After nearly any game Boyd plays there's a thread where many of the posts basically say he's rubbish and we should sell him.

I wonder how the McGregor story (if true) came to be leaked. Good news if true, but on the other hand, I hope its not been leaked by the player or his agent as a sign to any other interested clubs about how much they'd have to pay him. i.e. not very much if you're an EPL team.

On his day he can bring a lot to the team in terms of an individual performance, but those are very, very few and far between now. However, there's no doubting he also brings something to the team, even when he's not playing well. I know i've said it a few times, but I'm fed up with hearing that he's playing through the pain barrier for us and he always seems to be carrying an injury of some sort. Surgery doesn't seem to work and rest doesn't either, so should he still be playing? Its not just a slight knock though, he seems to be carrying a new injury each year that really needs an op to clear up. At times this season I think he's been a waste of a position in that midfield and I'd like to see him stop being an automatic pick as I don't think that helps anyone.

Has Buffel not played a few times since he was supposedly frozen out because of that clause? So what was the point of not playing him unless he'd reached the total -1 I guess? Like Gow, I think its just that he's not impressed Smith in training and the reserves.

Regardless of what people think of Boyd, the thing that annoyed me most about the criticism against him last season was that no matter what he did or how he played on the park, there'd be postings after the game saying he hadn't improved at all. That to me summed up that a lot of people just don't like him for whatever reason and no matter what he does, he won't be accepted.

So Cardiff have now bid 3.5M? That's a pretty big jump in their offer at this early stage.

I never realised Boyd is still only 24. Surely he has a lot more to contribute?

I think Novo is better used out wide and coming off the bench. I may be a bit harsh, but when he's used as a starter, his shortcomings seem to become much more apparent. I think Boyd's style would compliment the new strikers, but JCD is too similar to who we've signed which is why I think he might still leave.

And now he's signed, welcome to the Gers Gow isn't part of the deal. Clicky

So, why on earth would we consider selling Boyd? Does the fact he's been our top scorer since he signed count for nothing? The worrying thing about stories linking Boyd, Cuellar & McGregor with moves away is that they seem to be growing in number rather than lessening.

That must be paper/agent talk. Unless the Lafferty deal falls through, I can't see us signing any more strikers.

The Gow thing seems strange, but people on FF seem to have two explanations for his lack of appearances. 1. Quite a few who say they watch the reserve matches say he's been average at best and that's why he's not broken in to the first team. 2. He's had a run-in with Walter. I'm given to believe 1 as 2 seems to be levelled at anyone not in favour with Wattie, but I've not seen any reserve games so i can't comment. Paying the lad off is disappointing, but hardly surprising.

I think an attacking and creative midfielder has been our priority for 3 years or so and I'd be really disappointed and gutted if we don't add one to the first XI this summer.

I'd have thought Lafferty will get a chance sooner rather than later, if only because he's 20 so can be included in SPL squads over a young reserve player.

I'm assuming Cousin will go to someone in the bottom half of the Premiership. Naismith is supposedly out for months yet, so I think we can count him out for the rest of this year. WS seems to prefer Novo on the right & from the bench, which I kind of agree is the way to get the most out of him unless we sign a proper right winger. While Fleck is an exciting talent, I don't see any reason to rush him, is he not just turned 16 or 17? McCulloch has been mince up front, so I guess that leaves us with... Velicka Lafferty Miller Boyd JCD 5 players going for maybe 2 positions? Of course, maybe Wattie will want to play one up top again with a pair of forwards alongside him almost in a 4-3-3. Would make sense as we seem light on natural goalscorers in that list. If JCD struggles with injuries again, I could see him dropping down the pecking order. Lafferty is 20, so that probably puts him on the bench in every SPL game at worst. I think it will hinge on what formation we play and ultimately, who we sign for the midfield/wide positions.

No secret squirrel sources for me, just news reports I'm afraid. The only thing they said was that the deal was obviously subject to Gow agreeing terms with Burnley.