buster.

The only number that really matters is the total points at the end of the column. A manager needs to gather as many points as possible in the way he deems best for the players he has to work with or can put together. As far as a league is concerned, it's consistency that is important and the most reliable way of going about that is making a priority of being solid at the back. You can also carry a threat middle to front if you have some quality and cohesion. Best example I can think of is the way Atletico Madrid go about their business under Diego Simeone. ------------------ With one game left here are the total points compared with those at the end of last season Killie 56 (41) +15 Hearts 49 (46) +3 Rangers 69 (67) +2 Aberdeen 70 (76) -6 Celtic 82 (106) -24 Points are the most important number but to win games of football you need to score goals and you'll find that Aberdeen and Celtic have conceded a similar amount of goals as last season but scored a lot less (Celtic are 33 down on last season and although they often score a barrelload against the sheep, they are still going to fall well short)....Aberdeen are 19 goals down/ we are 15 goals up.

Almost as comical as the proposed transfer exclusive regards Rangers after McGinn is the Daily Record pundit video analysing the story with a double act that look like a modern day 'Laurel & Hardy'. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/rangers-snatching-john-mcginn-see-12519968 You have to see them (Liam Bryce and Jonny McFarlane) sat together to appreciate it

I wouldn't know if I've not been able to successfully not portray the point I wanted to make I think I've probably got the flu.

Another positive from the Gerrard factor is that it gives the youngest generation (who have become fans in recent years) a sense of actual high profile opposed to just hearing stories about past times.

I believe the fashionable phrase is 'developing story' So he's fine but didn't think to tell anyone at the club he had flu, was expected at the press conference but left the club in limbo in front of the press #SmellaRat

Given we won't be bringing in world beaters from Barcelona or Brechin, just as important as the recruitment is putting in place a footballing operation that can actually improve players quickly.

From Frankie's twitter feed Interesting............. Do Hibs train in the afternoon ?

For various reasons we can forget about Hibs for the time being but there is no reason why we shouldn't look to build better ties with a couple of the provincial clubs with a decent record in bringing through youngsters, eg. Hamilton Accies. Primarily we need to create an enviroment where we can improve our own players that includes the 'pathway' for the exceptional talent. In the past we have paid a premium (transfer fee) to other Scottish clubs for bringing through youngsters/providing them with substantial number of first team football at young age. We should be looking to bring through our own youngsters who are good enough to get gametime for top tier provincial sides (providing pathway to our first team) and thus try to eliminate the transfer fee and maximise our own youth.

I think he was trying to big up his own player in public rather than not recognising that McGinn can play. The business side of their player trading operations will see McGinn as a potential pound sign. One positive for us is that Rodgers hasn't been that good in the transfer market.

Maybe it's relative, the Fulham skipper is only 5' 10" and we have a teamful of Iniesta's.

There is just no way he's coming to Rangers. Hibs and Celtic have a mutual interest that in part is to prevent us getting stronger. From Liam Henderson in the Championship to how Scott Allan was signed by Celtic and has ended up back at Hibs, helping to take points from Rangers (+assist for Dundee winner against us). Celtic could offer Hibs 500K plus a 6 month loanback of the same player. They could involve Scott Allan in a deal. They have a chance of getting a very good prospect on the cheap and when the push comes to shove, they'll be sniffing around holding most of the cards.

Yes, and some 'divisions' run so deep that objectivity becomes impossible. I'll be surprised if McGinn doesn't end up at Celtic. It's a no-brainer of a signing for them.

Behind or ahead of curves are subjective or semi-objective judgements that don't actually mean much. We are where we are and given the amount of change wrt personel both on and off the pitch that is about to be triggered, it's difficult to know where we'll be in a few months and the timescales involved regards performance. For AJ, he needs to ensure that the club is run properly and there is no more institutional failure at any level. You'd imagine Sundays game will be difficult but it's not that easy to read. A week ago, I'd have said we weren't getting anything from the fixture but now after Hibs scoring one penalty in 180 minutes (away from home), the Lennon tirade against his players, their chance of second place gone, Boyle unlikely to play, our resilience at Aberdeen, Bates back in defence and one penalty goal conceded in 180 minutes........ I'd say we have a chance of taking something.....BUT.....we need to start the game well and not let them swarm all over us and get an early goal. It's up to Jimmy Nicholl to get the message accross before the game (not at HT) that we have to react professionally to any adversity or losing an early goal. Frankie makes a very relevant point about the amout of players that will probably be featuring in their last match for Rangers, the same goes for Hibs and possibly both dug-outs. How that will effect the game, we'll have to wait and see. Can't say I'm not glad the season isn't finishing.

Agreed, he's been off the rails for years and isn't going to come back to Glasgow and find his way again. Given his history of the last few years, I think he's burnt his bridges and no serious football club will touch him. Unfortunately, we've been caught with a contract to honour and is another cost from what AJ called "institutional failure".

I'm old fashioned in that I think you have to build a team initially prioritising a solid defence and strong core all the way down the middle of the park. .

Craig Levein on Neil Lennon's claim that Hearts are irrelevant to Hibs: "We've put them out the Scottish Cup and stopped them finishing second. That's pretty relevant, to me." https://mobile.twitter.com/anthonyabrown/status/994339330800877569

The Nobel PP is hardly a good indicator of character given some of whom have received it. Lennon got attacked at Tynecastle a few years ago and the fall-out from that was jaw-dropping. Now wouldn't you think that the authorities would see Lennon's serial goading of rival supporters as highly irresponsible and look to do something about it ? He does it last night because he got away with it at Ibrox. Aren't the authorities interested in prevention or indeed their own rules ?

I haven't seen the contract but I read somewhere about a clause that allowed the Mexican club to cancel the loan deal (that seems to be getting used) and surely they would stop paying the wage. Whether there would be some kind of extra payment, I obviously don't know.

It's not so much about being back or not, it's the monthly wage he'll be picking up in exchange for nowt.

Lafferty is a big player for them. When I heard he was supposedly out, I didn't see them having much of a cutting edge but ..........

As per the 26th of Foot post above, McLaughlin/BBC Scotland have updated their line on the penalty and it now reads..... Dons goalkeeper Joe Lewis had already blocked well from Alfredo Morelos before the striker conceded a penalty for a challenge on Kenny McLean. McLean dispatched the disputed spot-kick and struck the crossbar as the Dons dominated the rest of the half. ---------------------- Why did the Chief football reporter, Chris McLaughlin not do what every other outlet did the first time around and edit a match report the day after the game ? Do reporters tend to make such omissions ? No, it was a concious decision that has been seen to be too obvious even for BBC Scotland and they've decided to edit it to cover their erses.

I'd be a bit careful with what you call a moderator

The team are called Derry although I get your point and looked it up. The 'legal name' of the town is indeed Londonderry. Spent a fair bit of time over N.I. in the 80's on a couple of tours but not up that way and I don't know it from Adam.

A wee bit of attention would be heading our way if we had an away tie in Derry on the 12th of July with Steven Gerrard in charge of his first Rangers game

We would be seeded for the First Qualifying Round.