MelvinBragg

Sometimes it's not best to fight fire with fire. It all depends on the supply to the front men. If we have wee quick guys then balls into feet might work against "big lumps". But as I say, a lot will depend on the kind of service we give the strikers..

Stoke are the latest to be linked with Murphy. Doesn't strike me as likely as they seem to prefer stronger, more powerful players..

Nothing we didn't already know but the lack of depth in the squad really hits home when the bench is Hollis Saunders Halsman Carswell Forbes Smith Lawless Not much on there that you'd fancy to change a game if things weren't going our way. Could also mean complacency from the first eleven. Other than a Saunders/Hateley debate, the rest of the team don't really need to worry if their form dips..

Sorry, should have been clearer. The story I heard was the same as Finlay. That Blackburn had bid just under £2m and had been told to beat it. No, a deal worth potentially £2.8m, I knew United couldn't turn down..

Last I heard, United had knocked back Blackburn's offer. You only hope that if Murphy was a few clubs' Plan B if they didn't get Goodwillie then we can now engineer a bidding war that would get us the largest possible fee, and as a real bonus almost certainly rule out the Old Firm..

For the record, if you think Murphy is better than Jelavic, then you're off your head..

Didn't he do that on Saturday? I reckon we'll need to score two to win on Saturday as our defence rode its luck a bit against Inverness..

I'd be hoping for 5+ goals out of our defenders as well this season. Hanmell has one already and Saunders and Hutchinson are threats at set pieces. And Tom Hateley scores a free kick once every 40 games or so. If Law, Jennings, Lasley and Humphrey can muster 15 between them, then you're looking for Murphy and Higdon to supply around 30. 50 is doable. Not saying we'll do it, but it is possible..

I'd disagree. Higdon may not have been 100% fit on Saturday, but it was clear that he has positional awareness that Smith doesn't have yet. Yet being the key word. Smith could do worse than watch Higdon's movement off the ball and the way he plays with his back to goal. I would agree that physically he seems to have all the tools though..

Best not to heap too much pressure on the guy just as McCall has tried to ease the creative burden on him by signing Law. In terms of ability, it's all there. But I'd like to see him do it in a big game. Too often for me against the Old Firm he seems to have an inferiority complex and doesn't perform as we know he can. He needs to start believing he can rip the likes of Mark Wilson and Steven Whittaker to shreds. Because he can.. Will he still be here in September? I think the answer hinges on that question of doing it against the best the SPL has to offer. Any scout will want to see him doing it against Rangers and Celtic before they takes a chance on him. Doing it against Inverness (with the greatest respect) is unlikely to seal a big move. The comparison with McFadden that people seem to make backs this up. McFadden seemed to save his best for when the big boys came into town. Arrogance, cockiness, call it what you want, Murphy could do with a slice of it...

Just need to hope that Gunning has the sense to move somewhere he'll get first team football and where he knows the manager and the fans already rate him..

That would be a ridiculously good bit of business to be honest with you. If we pick Gunning up for free, then frankly McCall has pulled a blinder. Still rather see a striker arrive, mind you...

As long as none of them are called Stephane Chateau D'or, that's fine...

As I've said before, my concern with Porter would not be his ability (although as has been pointed out playing with Clarkson and McCormack helped him), but his fitness. Although fairly consistent with us, had injury issues both at Oldham and Derby. On paper, he and Murphy look a good pairing but I won't be distraught if he signs for someone else..

I think given we have Hateley, Jennings, Lasley, Forbes, Law and Carswell, another centre midfielder is unlikely. And McCall has been willing to even play Hammell in midfield so I reckon a centre midfielder is way down the list of priorities..

I'd be against us bringing Reynolds back only because my seat is within earshot of Frazzle...

While agreeing that looks a useful line-up, the bench could read Hollis Craigan Page Forbes Carswell Pollock McHugh The first eleven will have to be pretty consistent, as there don't seem too many outwith it that we could look to to change a game for us..

My gut instinct says no...

Aye, I remember thinking early last season that surely Archie Knox would do something about the hair and the pink boots. Sadly not...

As I've said before, injury problems before he came to us, injury problems after he left us. I get the impression we saw the best of Chris Porter. I wouldn't be fighting anyone for his signature..

I'm guessing Nicky Law will be said signing as Burns hasn't really come up with anything before that we haven't already read on here..

It's possible that Erskine's new contract contains a clause allowing him to leave for an SPL club for a nominal fee. Just a thought..

So we won't be signing Stephen Hughes by that logic. Or maybe we'll have a midfield of Law, Lasley and Hughes. Interesting that some Rotherham fans think he's better as a winger..

I wouldn't be that upset over that, to be honest. I like Jennings, he's a solid citizen but he misses too many games through suspension and when he comes back, he seems always to be carrying a wee bit of excess weight. One of those "if he stays - great, if he goes - no big deal" players for me...

I only hope we don't sell him on the cheap. And that McCall has a replacement lined up..