January Transfer Window

[Frankie 8,707]

In the summer we signed Davis, Mendes and Edu to complement Ferguson and Thomson in midfield.

 

Five very talented players but none of them can play the wider role effectively so in essence we have little alternative options now opposition teams know how to suppress our tight midfield.

 

Putting Lafferty and Novo in this deeper, withdrawn (and not wide per se) role isn't really the kind of tactical eureka moment I expect from my manager when faced with such a dilemma.

 

As such, like it or not, we're back to Burke, Beasley and Aaron if we do want to change our style enough to make it more difficult for teams to guess our outlook.

[UCF2008 0]

As such, like it or not, we're back to Burke, Beasley and Aaron if we do want to change our style enough to make it more difficult for teams to guess our outlook.

 

Personally, I'd give Burke a chance to win himself some sort of contract extension. He's been doing well in the reserves and if he comes back in and plays to his abilities it can only be good for us. If he doesn't, then he'll be moved on, as seems to be semi-expected atm.

[Frankie 8,707]

I simply don't trust Burke to be able to deliver value for money mate.

 

But until we have a replacement, then - if he is doing well in the reserves - then he should be considered ahead of others who are not doing the business.

[UCF2008 0]

The thing with Burke is that when he's on form, value for money is exactly what he delivers. There's no doubting that he's been injured too often in his career so far and that when he has been fit and playing there are sides to his game which let him (and us) down, but overall I still think he's one of the best products of our youth system in the past decade.

 

Like Gribz says, he's past the stage of being a promising youngster. Sure, he's young enough to still be able to improve his game but he needs to start delivering now. All the same, whatever reasons we've got for having a problem with Burke (as a player or otherwise ) I have to admit that I've got a really bad gut feeling about letting him go on a free.

Edited November 14, 2008 by UCF2008

[Frankie 8,707]

I don't disagree mate.

 

Burke, when fit and on form, is exactly the kind of player the team needs and is exactly the exciting kind of player most fans love watching.

 

Unfortunately, he doesn't do it often enough which is why offering him a new contract would represent a gamble. At reduced terms, then fair enough.

[chilledbear 16]

I'm not the biggest fan of Burke, but we played our best football last season when he was in the team.

 

I wonder if Whittaker at right back and Broadfoot at left back, will give us better attacking options. Anyway I would still like a winger Burke/Beasley in the team, preferrably on the left. I can remember PLG playing Burke on the left against Linfield for some reason.

[Frankie 8,707]

CB:

 

I actually think Whittaker will start tomorrow in place of Papac most probably.

[chilledbear 16]

Is that not the norm, sign a new contract and take a break?

 

I would like to see Whittaker make it at Rangers, he has pace, looks a decent athlete, and seems to have loads of confidence. As for his football ability, lets say he has shown glimpses.

[Frankie 8,707]

:D Sure is mate!

 

I like Papac but he's not had a great season so far for whatever reason so I think the time is right to play either Whittaker - or even bring back Steven Smith.

[pete 2,499]

In the summer we signed Davis, Mendes and Edu to complement Ferguson and Thomson in midfield.

 

Five very talented players but none of them can play the wider role effectively so in essence we have little alternative options now opposition teams know how to suppress our tight midfield.

 

Putting Lafferty and Novo in this deeper, withdrawn (and not wide per se) role isn't really the kind of tactical eureka moment I expect from my manager when faced with such a dilemma.

 

As such, like it or not, we're back to Burke, Beasley and Aaron if we do want to change our style enough to make it more difficult for teams to guess our outlook.

 

In fact Walter Smith went on a fools shopping spree last summer. Just like the old never ending bottle of Guinness Joke. Give me two please. Our team is full of central defenders but he bought or signed more. Central Strikers i ran out of fingers counting them and he has also bought enough defensive midfielder's to build the Berlin wall up again. So many defensive minded players and yet we leak 3 goals against Dundee utd. Walter Smith is the Dotty Professor and should be given his pension.