MelvinBragg

God, I hope the season starts soon...

As you know, I don’t really buy tops so quality less of an issue for me. Design was to my tastes. Simple collar, quite a plain design. And we've had a few tops with more loose definitions of claret and amber...

The white away one where it ran down the side was horrific but the two kits we used the season we were in administration are two of my favourites. Plain, no nonsense kits, the a way the inverse of the home...

Having "The Untouchables" on the kit wasn't too shabby...

I'd imagine a fee would be involved. Hibs could afford that, we couldn't. Not that I see it happening... Also says Murray is on trial with Sigma Olomouc...

Anyone questioning McCall's record in the transfer market is insane...

I'd be interested to know how often Sutton and Anier started together last season. My gut feeling is that it wasn't that often. Point is, we seldom started with two out and out strikers. Normally five in midfield or with McFadden as a link man in a 4411. For me, it makes a Shiels type a more likely signing. Could Clarkson do that? Well, I seem to recall him playing winger for Bristol but does he have the footballing intelligence to play the McFadden role? He certainly could fit the bill as a replacement for Anier in those situations when we threw Anier on alongside Sutton. Would be a decent signing but would he start every week and would he be better going somewhere like Hibs where he probably would...

This. McCall has a good track record. Guys like Clancy, Ramsden, Reid, Ojaama and Ainsworth didn't have stellar careers before arriving at Fir Park but we've got the best out of them...

A lot of faith in Erwin then? No disrespect to the Welsh, but I'd maybe see us beating them. But not sure where the goals would come from. Ainsworth? Vigurs? Maybe but we'd still need a striker to occupy the central defence and create space for Vigurs and Ainsworth...

Even if big Handsome gets injured...?

Looking at his career, assuming he's someone that Neil Warnock recommended. Only concern with going down the loans from England route is that I seem to recall previous seasons managers saying that loans from England tended to arrive later, when clubs down south have finalised their squads. We probably need someone in before the European games...

Where did you read/hear that?

Assumption was that Cummins was staying but Murray wasn't being offered a new deal. Whether that's simply a reflection on who was out of contract (as it seems to be with the keepers) rather than what McCall thinks of them, that's a question only McCall can answer. Have to figure contract status comes into it when there's not much between players' abilities...

Not saying these things are definite, just rumours that I've heard from people who're not known to simply make stuff up. We have been pretty good at keeping our cards close to our chest, transfer wise. But not always down to the club if stories leak out. Agents, players, players' friends, how these things have always leaked out... Being honest, the centre back story is the one I put most stock in given the lack of detail. When rumours that have been doing the rounds turn out to be true, it tends to be the "heard we're bringing a winger in from down south" vague types of rumour...

One thing is sure, we need another attacking option. Right now we have Sutton, Erwin (untested), McHugh (not rated by many) and Ainsworth (a winger). That's putting a lot of pressure on Sutton and Ainsworth to repeat their return from last season. We need to somehow replace Anier and McFadden's goals and assists from last season. I also heard yesterday that McCall had a centre back in mind to replace Hutchinson. To me, this doesn't seem a priority unless Ramsden is further away from a return than first thought...

I reckon Shiels is more likely than Burke...

Speaking to a few Rangers fans, Shiels seems to play well but McCoist doesn't pick him as often as some of the fans would like. "Didn't get a fair crack" is a common phrase used...

I hear talk that Dean Shiels is one of the players we're looking at to replace Anier...

He's done nothing really for two seasons. His next move will have to be the right one or he could end up like Derek Riordan...

Given our record home and away against Aberdeen last season, maybe going to Pitoddrie twice isn't a bad thing...

Nope..

I don't think anyone had Anier down as an absolutely key player next season so to secure a six figure fee for him is a great piece of business. I have every faith in McCall to find a replacement. Only downside is that any replacement, no matter how good, will not bring the continuity that Anier would have brought. Thinking of how long it took for us to find the right way to get the best out of Vigurs last season. For that reason I hope we get someone in quickly. Season starts in early August, be nice to have any new signings bedded in before then...

Both likely to take up similar positions. Reckon they'd get in each other's way a lot. Both players who work the width of the penalty area. Really need someone to run the channels either side, dragging the centre backs out of position making it easier for your "number 9" to find space... EDIT Malky beat me to the punch...

Humphrey was a couple of years older when he came and was similar to Angol in that he was all pace and power and his decision making and end product left a lot to be desired. Sometimes I think what doesn't help Angol is the players he's compared to. When he plays at left back, he's compared to Hammell one of the most experienced and consistent left backs in the league. When he plays left wing, he gets compared to more experienced players like Ainsworth, Murphy or Humphrey. My opinion is that he has a lot of the tools required to succeed at our level but too often he doesn't put them all together. With coaching and a run of games in a set position, he could make the same kind of progress that Humphrey made...

Good move for him...