weeyin

Given Robinson had one window to completely refresh a massively under-performing team, I'd say stage one was successful. Next window, it looks like we'll need to replace one or two key players, but all the noises coming from the club are that we at least know who our targets are. Anything around mid-table in May, and with no relegation scares, would be a big improvement on the last couple of seasons. I'm actually quite surprised at the level of performance given how many new players we have.

We brought Moult in (as we do with many players) on the promise this can act as a springboard to bigger things. Not to mention lining our own pockets too. I don't fault our Board for doing everything to keep him. It stops fans from moaning we didn't try, and it may even bump up his value when/if concrete offers are made. Equally, I don't fault Moult for moving on. He has more than kept his side of the deal, and even though everyone knew he'd be gone by summer, he has been completely professional in the way he handled speculation on and off the pitch. If any player ever needs a lesson on how to manage their departure from a club, this is it.

5a./ Determine if Newell is first team material and a Cadbury's Selection Box please Santa.

Was that the one where some posters on here (and our manager) became convinced that Dan Twardzik was the answer to our goalkeeping problems?

https://twitter.com/scotsunsport/status/940348485987074049 https://twitter.com/scotsunsport/status/940348485987074049 Would make sense if Preston are in for him given that Alex Neil is the gaffer there. Plus, if Moult didn't want to relocate his family, it's not too far away. Much closer than Brighton was for McGhee.

My eyes. My eyes!

I think he'll be making a farewell appearance at the Accies game.

Stupidity isn't an offence. There was no foul committed. If it has got to the stage where any contact by a defender in the box is a foul, they might as well not even bother challenging.

And in the Liverpool v Everton game the ref gives a pen for minimal contact and a player throwing himself to the ground.

"Good going forward, appalling at defending" seems to be the requirements for full backs in the modern game. I've never quite understood it myself, but even the elite teams seem to favour it.

I don't think Moult would have been as productive without him this season. But as I said, if we have to bring in a new striker in Jan, we need to find the right combination again.

So you'd drop someone who is a good foil for our top goalscorer? I agree if we bring in a new striker we'll need to see who is their best striking partner. Playing one up top has never worked for us, and I don't see that changing.

So we're dropping Bowman?

Nobody had a clue who Moult was when we brought him in. All we need to do is the same again. (This scouting lark is a doddle).

You want EPL level refs, pay EPL level wages. Of course, given the standard there in recent times, all that means is you get more expensive mistakes. Plenty of howlers in that league this season.

The big benefit of selling Moult (rather than losing him on a pre-contract) is we can negotiate add-ons. So even if he was sold for what we payed for him (50k, I think was the figure), the add-ons could pull in a tidy sum.

Plummer plays centre back too, so if he is to play, a straight swap would cause minimal disruption. Or Dunne could move there and Hammell come in on the left. I'm not convinced Bowman / Fisher would work, but not unconvinced either.

Apart from the obvious concern of losing Moult, we haven't really had much of a chance to work out the best formation of our other attackers. At least we have some options, though.

I agree with that. I'd rather we paid a living wage to everyone rather then minimum wage.

That is a thing of beauty.

The thing is, it doesn't matter who knows what if there is an error. That's what "error" means. Last year, my company made an administrative error in reporting tax for employees in our Connecticut office but lived in New York. The mistake was made by a 3rd party payroll company whose entire job consists of paying people and managing deductions. It took them 8 months to fix.

They should just have kept it closed until it's completely finished (which is 2018, apparently)

He's probably about the best they can afford.

In his latest interview Robinson says they already have January targets lined up - partly to freshen the squad and partly to replace anyone that leaves. He didn't mention Moult specifically, but I think that was being implied.

Pretty sure it would have ben Levein (as Director of Football) that was responsible for most of those signings. He's just pretending they're not his fault.