bmck

Two defensive midfielders absolutely can work in the right setup - unfortunately neither of these players has the speed or range of passing to make it work. So I agree. Top marks for changing it. To be fair to Ally, he probably made the right choice in terms of central defence. Kirk's been out for a long time, and I'm weary to fall into that trap of writing a player off after a few bad performances, especially after returning from injury. But to me Kirk has none of the attributes of a central defender - he has average pace, his positioning is poor, and he isn't really very good in the air. His distribution is frightfully bad. When he's out on the right he's like the little engine that could. He can/could run all day, and tackle fairly well and was surprisingly adept at getting forward. To me he's, at most, a second choice fullback. Although if Whittaker plays as poorly as that he could well be in for a starting shot. Totally agree we need a CB badly. I think Ally's more than aware though. Agree, but as I said in another post - it's a sign of a malfunctioning midfield. When there are no options, that's what happens. Movement was poor today - but you necessarily don't have a lot of movement in a team with two holding midfielders unless they are top quality. Although Jelavic and Naismith are very different players, they are of a similar type when up front. You'd prefer Jelavic not to be the one holding the ball up unless the pass is coming from close in a flowing attacking move, but that's the same story for Naismith when up front.

The editing on that piece is a genuine disgrace. The clearly cut in clip of Ally smirking is so obvious. I couldn't believe that was from an actual BBC thing.

It happened mate. Could hear it on the telly.

I think today showed that CM is a problem position for us. Unlike positions like CB and CF, it's not just one quality individual we need. I think Ally done well today to make an effective tactical change, which is easier said than done. Who else spotted that that change would have made a difference? I do think Templeton going off also helped, but nonetheless, it was a perceptive spot. However, who you play and what kind of player you play at CM defines your whole philosophy of play. If you play two holding midfielders, you need two out and out wingers, or one winger and an attacking playmaker. This means the ball has to get quickly out wide via full backs or quick incisive passing from your holding midfield players. That didn't happen. When we moved Davis into centre midfield we have someone to up the impetus and pass and move from a more influential position. The effectiveness of this increased when young Wylde came on because as Hearts moved in to cover the give and gos Davis is capable of, space opened up out wide. Naismith, moved wider, makes excellent runs - both through the centre from deep/wide and out wide. But something's still missing - I think we need, rather than a winger, a genuinely creative attacking central midfielder. Davis can be extremely creative in his passing and running, but to me he's more like Barry when he was younger, except that he can go past someone. He's someone who builds play, but is always looking forward as he does so. He's definitely a player capable of opening up a defence, but that's not the thing that defines him - he's far too rounded. As much as I think Ally's change was a perceptive and correct one, that we had to change central midfield suggests we're not quite sure of the type of play we're aiming for. I'd like to see Davis at centre mid with McCulloch or Edu, one winger, and one new genuinly creative final third midfielder who lives to make defence splitting passes. I know they're not ten a penny but it would be nice. Failing that, I think Ally has to decide what sort of midfield he's after, how it's supposed to function and how it intends to create. By and large - and Hearts may actually be an exception - teams ought to have to adapt to deal with our system. All that over analysis aside, though - today's not a disaster. Ally's shown himself to be competent, and the draw only puts a little more pressure of those upstairs to make things happen.

We also need quicker delivery from Juanmo. Jelavic is 10% sharper than most defenders, but that's lost when everything is delayed. My one consolation is that Ally saw what was wrong and fixed it. I just don't think we have enough quality to guarantee a goal, even when the tactics are broadly ok.

How very dare you speak of Davie Beckenbauer Weir that way.

I think we've learned over the years that there's almost no topics or threads that aren't potentially Boyd carnage.

Understated GIRUY. Outstanding.

Comedian Rich Hall's doing it!

Aye he's great. Not sure I'd entrust him my healthcare though. Did you see his documentary on the South in Holywood? Was excellent.

Aye, I've never seen anything from Wallace to suggest he's a world beater. To be fair, same with Naismith, Whittaker, Boyd, Thomson who all (in varying degrees) made the step up to assets. We need the best homegrown talent both from the SPL and via Murray Park to give the squad the resilience and experience it needs to compete all the time in the SPL - we tend to need good genuine quality (mostly from abroad) to supplement that to ensure the best chance of winning though. I really want a quality CM and central defender. Papac's experience and Wallace's competition should ensure a weak spot in our team improves.

Great post. I think, to some extent, it's just the fans job simply to make irrational demands all the time - demand top signings, demand to win the league, demand fiscal responsibility, demand nicer pies - even when they are inconsistent. That way we form a big pressure group so that the people with actual power are kept on their toes. That said, I think that any degree of reflection would suggest that there's a new approach. We're buying younger players with sell on value, and are willing to push the boat out a little there, but not too much. We'll get experience in, too, but only if the price is right . We've signed up our key players with the biggest sell on value on long term contracts. It seems suspiciously like the long term strategic planning we've been harping on about for ages. This inevitably means that we're not going to get the high drama of signing after signing whatever the cost. Everyone at Ibrox knows we need players, and they aren't resting on their laurels. They just wont be bumped like dafties.

Alan Smith was an excellent player who really had everything. Never quite fullfilled his potential but still, nonetheless, a genuinly quality player. Perhaps just a bit past it now. Would depend on his willingness to take low wages and fight for a place. I'm copy and pasting the above to store it for next year's inevitable thread

Marv was at times exceptional for us. He was a colossus in defence and had a personality of a similar stature. He gave everything for the cause and had decent pace. Less effective defenders have garnered more praise. Just don't let him pass the ball more than ten yards.

Extremely pleased about this. Particularly as I don't rate Papac as highly as some do. I like him, and he deserved a new contract, but hopefully Wallace will prove good competition for him and give us a more attacking option on the left.

I'm sure Celtic are Ross Hall and we're the Nuffield. When my sister worked there she certainly saw a few players (she recognised them because of the badge, not by person, sometimes I worry if I've guided her properly).

We do need an nemesis for calscot. I reckon the friction between your two antithetical poles of perspective could replace oil in energy generation!

It's the attempt at humour that destroys me.

Totally agree. He is the kind of person who responds to the question "Aw it's the close season Chick, you'll be enjoying the break" with "Hactually, I think you'll find I'm in the employ of the BBC all year round".

.... so we may as well start celebrating now :cheers: -- Explain to me how Rangers are going to square their oncoming tax bill and I'll wager you could teach us how to nail jelly to a tree. Frankly I still don't quite comprehend how the Ibrox club's takeover has built a jigsaw puzzle picture of a sunny future. But then why listen to me? I never thought Craig the Whyte knight would get his hands on the club in the first place. So off we jolly well go into another season which has already fired up more questions than answers, with its embarrassing hiccupping start as the Old Firm take their sabbatical before the term has learned to walk. Of course I understand the desire - requirement, maybe - for the big clubs to go big buck hunting, but I still find it humiliating for the SPL that the big kick-off is followed by a couple of weeks of damp squibs as Celtic then Rangers throw the other clubs a deaf one. It's like getting married then bodyswerving your own reception. Rangers fans can't be full of the joys of life. All window shopping in the transfer market, but no real spirit of the shop to drop. Sure, they've been linked with more big names than Piers Morgan�but headlines don't mean signings. Ally McCoist once compared taking the baton from Walter Smith to accepting the microphone from Sinatra and of course he was right. But it strikes me that Nelson Riddle has just taken the orchestra off the stage too. He took the job because ultimately he had no option. But privately he must reflect that somewhere down the line there might have been a better time. Like Neil Lennon timed his run, for example. After the Tony Mowbray shambles, the only way was up. No fence sitting from your old reporter. I'll be stunned if Celtic aren't champions by the time autumn and winter have blown their last and dear spring is in the air once again. Rangers were champions last year because they deserved to be, not because of Celtic's spectacular trip at Inverness as they toddled to the finishing line. A title race is a distance event and it is never won or lost on any given Saturday afternoon or Wednesday night. But this time at Parkhead, I suspect the lesson will have been learned. Mind you, to be fair there hasn't been a run on the ink at Lennoxtown. Signings there too have been a collector's item. But the difference is the depth of squad already on the employment register. Atlantic deep: Rangers meanwhile have to set sail in a puddle. What we need them both to do is progress in Europe in their respective competitions, to ensure a little midweek action in the Champions and Europa Leagues. That would put a little light in our lives. And talking of a little brightness, why do I have a good feeling about St Mirren? It's a worry. This time last year I was insistent that they would be relegated and if not quite gloriously wrong then I looked like being spot-on for a fair few months. Scotland coach Craig Levein faces crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers But the signings of Gary Teale, Nigel Hasselbaink and Stevie Thompson and a general something in the air over Paisley - and maybe the strong drink - has me think better days are coming. And here's a thing as I juggle my feel good factors: Scotland - I think we might make it to Poland and Ukraine although hopefully not Donetsk, quite the dreariest place I have ever been. There, even the birds cough. Certainly the play-offs of the European Championship qualifying group beckon at least, where Lithuania's turning over by Liechtenstein opened the door for Scotland and a straight two-way fight with the Czechs for second prize to World Champions Spain. So let SPL battle commence, earlier than ever but still too late. We should have been back three weeks ago thereby allowing our European representatives some run-up to their ties and freeing up some time for the inevitable winter back-log of postponed games. And maybe even a January shutdown� Hey, but I'm not one to spoil a bright new dawn with a bit of mumping. But watch this space. �SPL champions: Celtic �Second: Rangers �Third: Hearts �Relegated: Kilmarnock �Scottish Cup winners: Hearts �League Cup winners: Dundee United

I've been thinking about this. I've not really understood why everyone's been super excited about him. I thought I'd perhaps just missed the games he'd starred in. He is the right size, and has good pedigree - but the only game I can really remember him in was the Celtic game where he looked very much off the pace. A longer loan for him to actually prove himself would suit me fine though.

Hmmmmmmm......

At this stage I can state categorically that our new signings will occur within 48 hours of a day before the next signing takes place.

I think I'm right. I'm awaiting the day they actually get someone like Lennon to say something. Maybe on the official site.

He's quite right to say those things. But at least he's not denigrating us in the process, as he could easily have done: