Rousseau

It was a strange deal -- in the sense that Halliday is not up to their level -- Qarabag were in the CL group stages and Gabala have reached the EL group stages for the last few years; Azerbeijan are progressing, and are higher than Scotland in the Coefficient.

I'm not really convinced of Murphy. He played 35 times last season, but only averaged 53 minutes per game which suggests he came on often or was replaced fairly quickly. In those 35 'appearances' he scored only 2 goals, assisting 3, in a promoted side; rather poor return. He may be a decent attacking option on the left, but I'm not convinced. He might do OK in Scotland, though: he's quick, tricky and direct. Even Jones and Docherty -- the latter has not really been linked with us, but has been mentioned on Twitter -- have a question mark for me, on whether they can adapt to playing for a 'big' side. Seeing the clips of their goals and assists, they seem to occur when their respective teams break, and where there is a lot of space: when do we get that? I said the same about MOH at the time too. I agree with the strategy of taking the cream of the crop from Scotland, but I'm reluctant to state, as some are quick to do, that 'these guys will improve our first-team'. Like Halliday, I think they'll be decent squad players, and provide depth in areas in which we're short.

I think he's still the NI Number Two -- he was doing it alongside his previous few jobs.

We'll concede a goal in the next game, we'll blame Wilson and demand his immediate transfer. Fickle.

I think JohnMc needs his hole too...

He did, surely? His football was the way forward; his implementation of it, not so much.

He'd be a good attacking outlet on the left, which we desperately need. I'm not sure I'd class him as a Premier League player, though: he's barely played any minutes this season.

I feel we are far too eager to get players off the books. They may not be of the quality we'd like in a Ranger, but they are our best players for now; we really shouldn't be selling them until we get some players in.

Happy New Year!

Half way through that second half I was thinking, 'this is not a fair game'. There weren't any horrendous decisions from the Referee, or awful challenges -- except perhaps Broonaldo on Holt -- but I just felt similar challenges seen us penalised, and they were not pulled up at all.

Gordon's save reminded me of Goram's against Van Honkedonk (I can't be bothered looking up the spelling!), but they didn't have Albertz (?) to score from the counter...

Candeias, McCrorie, Windass, Holt and Morelos all burst a gut out there. Wilson was solid, winning tackles and composed on the ball. Bates was solid. That should be the bare minimum every week!

Murtinho sets up not to lose. That was a fight. If only Morelos could've taken one of those sitters... That first one seemed easier to score.

I'll be honest and say, for me, it's a gut reaction; which in part comes from reading about his tactical approaches. His record is not great, overall. However, he quit at Leeds after doing a decent job, because of the new Italian ownership. He was under-performing at 'boro, but it did come as a bit of a surprise; he needed more time. I don't understand how the Chairman can moan about style under Monk, then opt to appoint Pulis!? That boggles my mind. The latter two jobs had extenuating circumstances, for me. His Swansea time was good, but petered out. I think he's well-steeped in a modern style, learning from Martinez, Laudrup (and Rodgers... ) etc. with his own defensive rigidity; he's developed the academic side of his knowledge after a bad early injury curtailed his career. He achieved a double over both Man Utd and Arsenal; and had Swansea doing well in Europe. I think he deserves a good job; a chance to develop a side. I'm not sure he'd get that time at Rangers, but I'm intrigued at the possibility of us going for someone like Monk. Is it likely? Not really. Out of the names being bandies about, he's one of the few that I like the sound of.

I'd take him in a heartbeat, but, I don't know, I just feel he is outwith our grasp. He probably would, but he seems like a short-term option. I think we need a long-term rebuild. He's not the answer. The football would be terrible, and he's more of a lower-league manager; his greatest successes were with smaller sides, punching above their weight, preferably with a bit of money behind them.

Every man and their Dog would prefer Laudrup to Monk. Laudrup is completely unrealistic, though. Monk could be an option... maybe. It's amazing how we differ. Whereas you like him, I see Warnock as a complete NO, NO, NO, NO! While I see Monk as an interesting option.

I'm not aware of anything like that. It just seemed like a quick fix to me, at the time.

*Pete watching Spanish Football*

Managers can 'fit' a club before they even start, so results don't matter in that regard. It's all about the alignment of style for me; and they have to be hand-picked, not just appointed because they are free. For me, Mourinho has never fit; he doesn't suit a Man Utd philosophy. West Ham!

I think we've got a different definition of "fit". I don't think Carvalhal was planned per se, but I think he was on a list, and when he was available they moved. Just because the Chairman knows the guy doesn't make it a good fit. And West Ham don't have a plan, nor a philosophy, so it's just pick the best that's available; everyone fits, and therefore no one 'fits'.

I'm still intrigued by Monk. His overall record is not that great, but he's been really unfortunate to be in charge at some basket-case clubs. He was sacked at Swansea because they were in 15th after one win in eleven, which was poor, but Leeds were taken over by a mental Italian, and then Middlesborough didn't like the football on offer and went for Pulis! Monk's pulled off some really good tactical displays against big sides -- he beat Arsenal, ran Klopp's Liverpool close, and reached the last-32 of the EL with Swansea. He'd still be at Leeds if it was a more stable club.

I agree -- Carvalhal to Swansea is perhaps the only one who 'fits'. The rest are just picking whomever is available.

He's just excited because he's finally pulled his man-crush.

I won't say a bad word about Murty. He's stepped in when we needed him, and did a job, twice. It's not his fault he's a youth coach. He's just not ready for first-team management; and certainly not our job.