DMAA

Not going to happen. At this stage in pre-season he'll be very confident he can improve on last season. He's not going to roll the dice and take that poisoned chalice.

Silly season personified

Won’t happen anyway

Unlikely because Rangers take part in the UEFA Youth League this season. I think we'll be very keen to do well in it to advertise how well the academys doing so the likes of McPake and Mebude will be kept here. Some of the youth would benefit from cameo appearances anyway.

I’ve watched the videos and Defoe has looked brilliant. Have to admit I worry a bit for Morelos because Defoe’s sheer quality will make it hard for him to wrestle his way back into the starting line-up.

I can’t remember, I guess it depends what kind of a question he’s asked. In a response he gave some time this week he was quite reserved and only mentioned centre back as a position he needs a player for. Of course it’s likely there will be more than one addition though

Daily record reporter said in the Record Rangers podcast “that will be news to the player who is due in Glasgow” or something like that. They were only claiming it was discussions.

He’s basically ideal for he 4-3-2-1. Can play the 4-3-3 but you won’t get anything like the best of him. I’d suggest with the depth we have on the wings he won’t play in the 4-3-3 tbh.

I think that was Ojo Craig. Aribo wasn’t involved in that drill.

That wasn’t what I took from what he has said. I thought he said he needs a centre back but is happy with what he has apart from that.

That’s a cop out ? it’s just a first impressions or prediction type thing, there’s obviously a lot that can change before the season starts

Just my opinion but I think it will be a fresh start for Barisic and I expect him to impress in pre-season and make the position his own again for the start of the season. If we fly out of the blocks and play good attacking football in the 4-3-2-1, Barisic will flourish in that style of play with the whole wing more or less to himelf. I would expect him to get a lot of assists and be a constant threat. When we are not playing well or against higher quality opposition Flanagan may be a safer bet from a defensive point of view.

He's at the same complex, not with Rangers

He’s a free agent but his wages won’t be value for money.

I’m worried by it. The wage bill must be eye watering just now. Sell a few players and it might allow us to buy one more quality player.

I forgot Murphy! If he gets up to speed fast I think Murphy could be brilliant in the position beside Arfield. However I'm copping out of that decision as well and leaving it as Stewart/Murphy. McGregor Tavernier - Katic - Goldson - Barisic Kamara - Davis/Jack - Aribo Arfield - Stewart / Murphy Defoe

Edmundson has almost certainly been signed as an understudy to Katic and Goodson. Aribo has been talked about a lot as a number 10 by fans but he isn’t, he’s a box to box centre mid. Very good at the defensive side of the game actually.

Yeh Ojo is an unknown at this stage. Im certain he’ll start in the 4-3-3 and I suspect he might even in the 4-3-2-1 but I hope Stewart does because I think he’s more suited to the system. I lean to Davis too but im conscious of the Jack haters so decided to cop out of that decision.

Let’s call it the strongest 11 then. The team that starts when you play Celtic.

No but I was only dealing with the starting 11 here. With Jack and Davis I just couldn’t decide.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ojo. From what I've seen he doesn't seem natural in a central position though which is why I've opted for Stewart but after last season I do think it unlikely that the Liverpool player won't start. Being a bit cynical I can't help but wonder if the management are just trying to appease the fans by making it look like they really tried for Kent. Word is that the loan fee is £1m and the wages must be significant too. We already have plenty in the position so I don't get it but time will tell.

Aribo is about to be announced and barring any big bids for Morelos or Tavernier I think from here on in the focus will be on outgoings. So what's your starting 11 as things stand? Here's mine; McGregor Tavernier Katic Goldson Barisic Davis/Jack Kamara Aribo Arfield Stewart Defoe I think Barisic could flourish this season in a stronger team and in the 4-3-2-1 where he will finally have that left flank more or less to himself. He's not a great defender but he can be excellent going forward and all being well could rack up the assists very fast. IMO Kent doesn't link up that well with full backs because he's mainly about dribbling. In this new formation there are some very good passers of the ball who can play Barisic in and he'll finally have the space he needs in front of him. I watched him for Croatia and that's exactly how they used him. Aribo is a starting player. He's not a no 10 but will be brilliant on the left side of that 3, he's an all round midfielder who will win the ball back for us regularly and will be very good in possession. If given the chance I think Stewart could have an excellent season. This position is made for Stewart. He's technically very good. He has good passing, vision, dribbling and shooting. A lot that we didn't have in that position before. And with those players around him he should score and assist plenty. I do wonder if he'll get the chance but if he does he'll be the player who'll surprise our fans the most. Incredible as it is, Morelos doesn't make the starting 11 as long as we're playing this formation and Defoe performs. Defoe is an excellent player in excellent shape and this formation finally makes the most of his abilities.

Attitude is massively important and it rubs off on your teammates in training and for that reason - if not the others - it should be the door for Lafferty for me.

Of course it isn't, it's about making Charlton more money, plain and simple.

Rossiter only has a year left so if we're looking to deal now it's purely to see if we can recover some of our losses on him in the way of a fee (very doubtful imo). Because he would benefit from another loan at a higher level. He's played 6 months regular football now and if he got another season of regular football (at League 1 level at least) under his belt and performed well I'd still consider a one year extension because he's only 22. Skeptical on the Dorrans report, sounds like guesswork. Reports were he was keeping very fit ahead of pre-season. He is 32 and injury prone so I suspect there will be no offers and he will stay.