wellfan

I agree. We’ve set the mould in terms of style and approach. Top six and a cup run would be a success for Alfred.

With Ward and Welsh gone, McGinn injured, Watt, Just and JT all likely to leave, and Slattery already gone, that’s virtually the entire spine of JBA’s team dismantled. Anyone expecting Alfred to simply pick up where JBA left off is kidding themselves. That’s not to say he can’t be just as successful with the players who remain and whoever else comes in, but it won’t be the same. Last season may well prove to be an anomaly, although I hope I’m wrong.

Third season lucky, aye? Clearly it’s everyone and everything else’s fault that he’s been crap.

Yes, I don’t rate Stama, and I’m starting to come round to that view on Hendry too. But I never said that about RCC. In fact, I said I expect a lot more from him this season. I’m expecting him to step up and make a much bigger contribution. Willy could well be JT’s replacement, while Thor remains a bit of an unknown. Once JT and Just are sold, I still expect us to bring in at least two more forwards.

What part of “will be sold” in reference to Just and JT wasn’t clear? The whole point is they’ll likely be sold and replaced. Hendry will likely be nursed through his injuries until his contract expires, while Stama will hopefully be moved on this summer, freeing up his wages for another signing. So, realistically, we’re still looking at three new forwards coming in, while at the same time trying to balance the books and stick to the club’s strategy.

Stama – not good enough. Just – will be sold. Hendry – permanently broken. Thor – has everything to prove this season. RCC – I expect a lot more from him this season. JT – will be sold. Said – pure chaos. Willy – aye. So, in reality, that leaves us with four decent options.

Let’s all hope that Kettlewell doesn’t figure out how to use social media.

Stama would probably pull a hamstring just placing the ball on the penalty spot.

They were both free agents following relegation.

Willy is mainly a RW.

That’s our Welsh replacement and his stats look good. https://x.com/analysingtsp/status/2072799601145344063?s=46

Replacement solutions for Slattery and Welsh should have been lined up weeks ago. If not, we’re heading into the Conference League qualifiers half-cocked. With McGinn now injured and Gordon choosing to go elsewhere, the immediate priorities have to be two centre-backs and a creative midfielder. And that’s before even considering the possibility of losing and replacing Just, Maswanhise and Watt.

That's the shortest essay you've ever written. Well done.

Some people have opinions. Some write essays. Others live in fantasy. £8-10 million.

I wonder if the away kit will be in lime.

Welsh was an established pro who wanted minutes to get away from Celtic, and we benefited from that. Rice is different. He chose Rangers over a pro deal at Motherwell, spent four years on the fringes, and stalled his own development. We shouldn’t be the club rebuilding a player’s career for a direct rival.

I see our resident arrogant know-it-all has made a reappearance.

Alfred the Excited. All jokes aside, that was a good interview.

The age point is a red herring. The issue isn’t how old a manager is, it’s whether they have the aura and presence to lead and command the respect of 20-plus other men. In our case, we’ll soon find out.

JBA has an aura about him that all successful managers seem to possess. It’s something intangible that’s hard to define or explain, but you know it when you see it I didn’t see much of it in Wimmer, and I don’t see it in Johansson either. Does that mean he’s going to fail? No. We just have to wait and see.

At least our new manager isn’t Steve Clarke.

Hendry confirmed out injured again. He’s turned out to be an absolute waste of a signing. With McGinn out too, and Welsh and Gordon gone, we’re very short at centre-back. And let’s not even get started on Stama. He’s another busted flush.

With Robbo at Aberdeen, a spiteful old prick at Celtic, the aforementioned ‘Del’ at Rangers, the Invisible Man at Hearts, and Mr Vanilla at Hibs, we really shouldn’t have much to fear from that lot next season.

I suspect that with Welsh and JBA gone, Gordon could well stay this season if Johansson rates him and can promise him regular starting football. Otherwise, we’ll probably be signing a big, bald but silky Scandinavian brute of a CB to fill the JBA-shaped hole in our hearts.

Summary: doesn't know JBA personally and won't rip up the current playbook.