buster.

As an example, we have to be getting the likes of Thomas from source rather than have to pay a large fee (that we can't currently afford). Admittedly 'source' in this case is a little extreme in terms of geography, New Zeland.... ...but one way or tuther, Australasia is somewhere that we should look to keep an eye on. .

I'd add that the new scouting set-up need to be good at what they do and find players before they make headlines and become relatively more expensive. To add value, it's easier if you haven't already shelled out a transfer fee/paying big wages......and whilst you could rightly say investment (in terms of fees) will be necessary at times, until we are in a better financial position, we need to find players earlier, provide a pathway ....(have a manager that will play them & support that shows more patience at this time / I appreciate the difficulty of both factors). To get back to a level of financial model we were accustomed to, it comes down to regularly qualifying for European group stage football, preferably the CL. To get there, we'd need an relatively overperforming football operation, including an excellent first team manager/coaching set-up.

The celtic-minded do what they do but from our perspective, we need to do the best we can (at all levels) and limit Own Goals that make it easy for the former, starting in the boardroom.

Pete Going by that we have 2 more spaces available. .

I haven't seen much of him and I'm sure you are right. I was only saying he seemed to get on the end of quite a few loose balls in the 6 yard box in that video.

The extent and wide-ranging fall-out from Murray's decision (or heavy gamble) to go down the EBT route has proved to be mind-boggling. There are a thousand and one angles and characters that have emerged. Bottomline - it was an awful decision by the Murray Group to take the risk in the manner and to the extent it did. - HMRC/legislation should be more cut and dry and not provide endless loopholes and grey areas. - high earners should pay the appropriate tax and NI.

Seems to have scored a fair amount of centre-forward like goals.

Much more likely. Anyone know the rule regards number of loans ?

Until we get our finances in better shape, we'd do well to concentrate more on our academy and try to bring through youngsters. The good players get hoovered up at an increasingly younger age and we'll get the relative dregs of that market. If you go for guys like Sean Goss, all the past evidence of this type of deal points to a very poor success-rate. If there is a first team opportunity, better to look to play the likes of Barjonas. The other important part is once we have a player, is to improve him and add value. Over many years, we have failed miserably in this regard and generally reduced value (tbf it is more difficult in the era of Bosman). Lewis Morgan (topical) and Billy Gilmour both illustrate different angles of the costly mistakes and harsh financial reality that make it more difficult.

Whatever 3rd parties may or may not have done wrt communications within this transfer deal, the obvious and not surprising point is that we don't have a cashflow position that will allow for much frontloaded spending this month. It will be difficult to complete deals for transfer targets that other clubs with money (eg. English Championship) want the same player. However, it's good to see Jamie Murphy at Ibrox and we really need him to hit the preverbial ground running. Given his lack of gametime this season, he should be fresh and eager to do so.

I owned up to being extremely unfair but if you look at the pictures of him, you begin to understand why, well into his 23rd year, he has never completed 90 minutes of a first team football match.

The little I saw of Thompson, I quite liked but there were other noises (eg. John Hughes/Raith manager) who called him out for his attitude. Generally, some young players who go through the Man Utd academy system appear to wear a chip on their shoulder (eg. M.Stewart) and don't seem to recall that despite being attached to ManUtd, they didn't actually make it. You can see the logic, young guy signs for big club and he thinks he's 'made', doesn't make it but likes and keeps the mental picture of being a big club player....He then continues to speak/act 'big' but can't back it up on park. Agree with Blueger, the likes of Barjonas surely have to be a better option, for several different reasons.

Maybe he's been sent up to Scotland to bulk up on monster munch. If there is an North wind blowing up in Fraserburgh on gameday, he might end up in Aberdeen. They say first impressions are important and I look at the pics and read 'GO55YTOSSY' and think that this loan deal won't serve any good for any party involved. Very unfair and based on pretty much 'nothing concrete' but I'll be surprised if I'm wrong.

We need players in CM.

Perhaps the plan is to have a good look to see if it likely he can get over his injury problems (not be Jordan Rossiter II) with a view to try and get a cheap deal in the summer. ie. then trying to add value and sell for profit.

Hardie is 20 and has played a substantial amount of first team football in the Championship (mostly on loan) and has represented Scotland at various levels. He's scored goals most of the time. As things stand, if Morelos was to be unavailable for whatever reason, there would be a reasonable arguement to give Hardie a run in the team.

Agreed ! Apparently he's had some fairly bad injury problems that has kept him on the sidelines. Either-way, it doesn't invite optimism that he'll thrive at Ibrox.

He's 22 and played next to no first team football. You'd get long odds on him doing well at Ibrox.

The 22 year old Goss doesn't seem to have played much first team football at all and never a full 90 minutes. All I can see is 232 minutes for QPR between Feburary and April last year. https://uk.soccerway.com/players/sean-richard-goss/317322/

If last year, someone had posed the question.......Which Scottish top flight club will both Sean and Declan play for in 2018 ? Who would have been the 12th guess ? :devil:

Scottish Hack still pished from Hogmanay ?

For those involved, it's sad and pathetic to the point you almost feel sorry for them.

Let's look on the brightside, they shouldn't have been difficult to deal with regards cutting the loan spell short.

Agreed An effective defence isn't usually about one or two big money signings.

We need both.