Gribz

Wonder if we will see any big movers. I would say the biggest move will be Jack Wilshire out of Arsenal and likely going to Palace. They have done some good business with getting Benteke, Townsend and Remy but they still play awful (they cost me 600 bucks at the weekend on the accumulator). But when you see Southampton and West Brom blowing their transfer records to a figure we cant compare with it shows that a move down there as per other threads is worth it.

Just even looking at the teams in the third tier down south is appealing. Away days to Charlton, Sheff Utd, Coventry and Bolton would raise the profile of that league and is more appealing than Hamilton away. The Championship is getting loaded with big teams every year. Newcastle, Villa, Wolves, Leeds, Sheff Wed, Derby, Norwich - its like a Premier League 2. Celtic will probably get what 30M for CL this season? While Watford and Bournemouth can expect to pick up about 90M from the Premier League - they survive the season and its the same again next season. Its well worth it.

Tynecastle on a Friday night will have a bit of an atmosphere to it. Much prefer Friday night football compared to Sundays. The TV money men have screwed up the timing of the next game though. Manchester Derby and OF derby at the same time.

Has to be City. They are the bigger and better side. But he wont go there.

Then Davie Weir will need to get his boots on, and probably a recall for Big Eck. There has to be availability out there, I cant believe we can take Clint Hill but not improve on that. Im sure we do Due diligence.

Lescott signing for AEK Athens. A good defender on his day but something gives me the feeling we have got away with missing out on him.

1 day in my time zone As it stands we will be relying on Crooks to be a make shift centre half. Kiernan and Wilson just aren't at the races. Every squad needs 4 centre halves so we are low in numbers also.

Ive often thought British league would be the better option but the issue is their is far too many clubs. Looking around Europe there is 2 or 3 division tops while Scotland has 4 divisions already plus England has the same with 20-22 teams in each. SPFL should get its own house in order first by throwing the current set up away and make a 16 or 18 top tier. A move down south would always be most appealing to both OF but they don't need us. No doubt about it we could sell out away allocation 10 fold. But I think the Atlantic League is far more likely - its globalisation. It wont be long before MLS sides are playing Europes elite also and with the money China are pumping into their game the club world cup championship will develop in the next decade. The Asia version of the champions league is a good standard yet you are having teams from Australia playing in Korea and Japan which is at least 8 hour flights - you are talking countries so far apart taking on each other - that will evolve into Europe soon enough.

If he is good enough he is old enough. Centre half is the priority but a winger wouldn't be a bad move, it could allow McKay to play more central.

Bringing a centre half in isn't looking too promising then. There is no way we can go 4 months with the current 3 we have. Im struggling to see why Hill came with such good references, he looked well off the pace on Friday night. Magic will need to wave his hat today to get something over the line.

Yeah that's the one. Havent seen or heard about him since his move, very strange one. As for Burke Ive never heard of him either, he isn't even in the national squad.

Couldn't believe this when I read it, Ive never heard of the guy yet he goes for 13M from the Championship to a German Side. Who is the young kid who went to Portugal and has a buy out clause of about 50M?? He hasn't kicked a ball since he went.

It MIGHT be the one game where playing all 3 (Halliday, Barton, Rossiter) is justified if we still go 4-3-3. But I agree with Frankie a 4-2-3-1 would probably suit us better at the moment until MW works our his favoured midfield. And 4-2-3-1 would mean changes as per my earlier post.

Next cup match is 20th Sept Vs QotS. 10 days after Celtic away.

What is the other competitive match before Celtic? Id ring the changes for Parkhead. Barton is lucky and I think got away without any damage so should make the game. At the moment Id play Barton with Halliday sitting with probably Forrester ahead of them in a diamond and 2 wider players - Mckay on the left and Tavernier on the right with Hodson stepping in at RB. Again it depends on Waghorn's fitness - he is a must if available.

MW is correct, we are still a new team and gelling. He just hasn't managed to get the right blend yet. Its no excuse for the first half performance. I disagree with his comment about Hill only getting 2 minutes notice though, subs should be prepared to come on from the warm up and first kick. We didn't start playing until we got the goal - and what a hit it was. Tavernier for me is a Premier League level wing back. Id be tempted to play him as a right winger and try Hodson at RB if the latter is a better defender. The tackle on Barton was horrible. I think he will get a few of them this season as players want to act the big man against him and are inferior to him. Barton is used to more time on the ball down south, its just shows the poor level of the Scottish game which is more like 5 a side, so he will have to adjust a bit. Kranjcar is good on the ball and can spray passes all day to perfection but when running he looks like he is towing a caravan. We really need more penetration in in the midfield to the final 3rd of the park, Holt will obviously boost that and Im thinking that's what Windass can also bring. The personnel bar 2 centre halves is fine, its all about getting the right blend. I hope the Senderos deal is concluded today, we are crying out for a real defender.

Must be heading towards older age but I find myself up at 4am most days but I will be up 1 hour earlier to watch this tonight and im looking forward to it. I think playing away from home suits us more at the moment as teams come to Ibrox and sit, at home there is more of a expectation on the opposition to attack and play more. Not sure of the team news in full but Im hoping there is a change in the middle of the park. Halliday did wonders last season for us but unfortunately will probably be the one to make way. I think Id go with this depending on availability: ____________________________Foderingham_______________________ Tavernier_____________Wilson____________Hill_____________Wallace ______________________Barton_________Rossiter___________________ ______________________________Kranjcar___________________________ ________Forrester_____________Garner________________McKay_____

Souness' game in this day in age would be completely different. Most of his challenges wouldn't be allowed despite him winning the ball. He would still manage to control a game and with pitches what they are now he would be a 30 million pound midfielder. He would be a leader and a captain still and probably get into any Premier League side. Some of the tackling in his day (not even that long ago when you think about it) was ultra solid but still clean, although there was a lot of bad ones, but the rules wouldn't allow it now. Imagine how good Maradona would be now with the carpet laid pitches and half tackles compared to when he got hacked non stop.

Overall the draw is good and balanced, it doesn't seem to favour the big boys anymore and there is two top teams in each group. Fair play to UEFA for once, with the Euro's and this CL they have opened up the tournaments more. Arsenal should finally be pleased and have to win that group. Spurs is a very even group. Leicester getting Porto is a tough draw but they have a great chance of 2nd. City are a banker for top 2 but getting Barca is interesting. Celtic have zero chance of top 2.

Bad result but Im not to bothered as Sunday football every week has its effect. West Ham have made 9 signings but its mostly been squad signings rather than straight in first teamers, that can be an issue. We needed a few of them to be first team improvements certainly in defence.

Whilst Adam has a point he does seem to be looking unfit and doesn't get in Stokes starting XI at the moment in the Premier League and is doing much more media work. That said he should be in the squad.

Agree with that. Said similar in another thread that what the management and board have done is phenomenal, what more else could they have done especially with personnel leaving over the summer. Some clubs find it difficult to ship one out in order to buy more but to improve a squad overhaul with 7 or 8 players is nothing short of fantastic.

Not when we are short in numbers in defence and he can potentially be first choice centre half. At 6ft 5 Im hoping Weir spends time with him in training. Crooks and Senderos at centre half is more appealing than Wilson and Kiernan for some reason.

Ive certainly been a Miller fan (not the beer) over the years. Second stint was by far the most effective though. At the moment his game has changed a lot due to age but he is still getting important goals and his experience, attitude and contribution is what is key right now. His composure for the goal on Saturday was good to see. He is has been this millennia's version of Gordon Durie - while not a prolific scorer he can offer a lot upfront.

Senderos is dragging on and that's never a good sign. Silence coming out of Ibrox is never a bad thing, deals tend to get done on the quiet. I would imagine MW has a few loan deals up his sleeve.