wellfan

True, but it feels different now because the bar has already been set so high for AJ after JBA and the team’s success last season.

Correct. But for some reason, it feels like we might be sleepwalking into them half-cocked.

I wasn’t thinking like this a week or two ago, but the negativity has started to creep in because of the lack of signings, the pre-season starting XIs, and reports of yet more injuries adding to our ever-increasing list of crocks and duds. If we go out of the UCL to HB without so much as a whimper, I’d say it’s game over for AJ before the league season has even started. It might not be entirely his fault, but the buck will stop with him. A defeat like that would be terminal, just as it was for Alexander after Sligo. That said, a busy week in the transfer market, both in and out, could quickly change the mood. The concern is that, even if it does, it’ll still leave little time for AJ to get his preferred XI ready for next Thursday.

McGhee, Hendry, Stama, and unfortunately McGinn should all be written off now, and replacements need to be identified quickly. We can’t be going into the HB game with the squad looking anything like it likely will in less than two weeks’ time.

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.