MelvinBragg

That will be yer diamond midfield again...

As someone who has sat in the section in line with the 18 yard line at the Cooper Stand end of the East Stand for over 15 years, I'd be mightily unimpressed to be moved. On a similar issue, there was discussion following the Cup final of the Bois obstructing the view of those near them. We had seats pretty close to them and those in their section weren't the problem, it was those who wanted to be close to them but who had tickets for other seats. About twenty of us had seats for the rows behind them and had to try to get those "hangers on" to move which wasn't easy and we received a fair bit of abuse for trying to do so. If it was one or two of us, we could have tried to find seats elsewhere but given we had bought a large group together so we could all watch the game together then it was difficult and made the twenty minutes or so before the game started a really unpleasant experience. I realise that this probably doesn't belong in this thread but it increases my concern if the Bois are moved to close to my seats. They are not the issue. It is (and I hesitate to use this phrase) the "daft wee laddies and lassies" who are not part of the group as such but want to be "close to the action". And I know saying this makes me sound like an old sore arse. So be it. The Bois for the most part do a great job of self policing but those who want to be "cool" by hanging on the fringes cause problems sometimes...

Jim McMahon quoted as saying the transfer has the potential to earn us more in the future...

The thing I have taken from the last few games is this: we have to find a way to get Craig Tanner in the team. The number of assists and goals he has contributed for the amount of time he's spent on the park suggests he could provide the creativity we need. Where we play him is the question...

Real test for the manager. Let's hope he can justify that new contract...

We won't get Moult back, Hartley could easily move elsewhere and Cadden may well leave in January. We need to work with what we have. Robinson has done reasonably well so far but this will be a huge challenge. A team that has been designed with the idea of 'Get the ball into Moult' for the last two seasons will need to find a new way of playing...

Looks like a 451 to me, obviously hoping that it turns into a 433 when we have the ball. Could be a 352 with Frear and Tait as wing backs. Time will tell...

Fee?

As much as I love Louis Moult, this is not a new problem for us. John Sutton averaged nearly a goal every two starts for Motherwell. Michael Higdon scored 43 goals in 81 starts. Porter was a similar story. These guys move on, we find a way of making it work, maybe not replacing with the same type of player, but we'll come up with something. And if we don't, then we replace the manager with someone who can make it work...

I suspect we'll lose Cadden and Moult in January which is fine because that's the model we are using. Good to know we have targets lined up but pretty relaxed about it given we have options within the squad. Bear in mind we went to Dens Park and won without Cadden, Moult or Rose in the starting eleven. Campbell, Plummer and MacLean weren't even in the squad that night. Obviously it's a concern losing arguably our two best players but we have a good few points on the board already and even without those two, I reckon we'll have enough about us to stay out of trouble. Would feel a good bit more relaxed if big Bowman could hit some form again. Feel as if he hasn't really been the same since the semi final witch hunt. In terms of the summer, Hammell, Watt and Plummer will probably be away. Of those three, Plummer is the only question mark. If he can force his way into the team, which given our form hasn't been easy, he may yet earn another deal. Newell and Petravicius are both young and will be seen as prospects so expect us to offer them deals. Pretty much everyone else will be offered a new deal. Whether they sign it or not is a different question...

I suspect when Cadden's slot is up for grabs Robinson is hoping that the competition for right midfield/attacking midfield will bring the best out of MacLean and Tanner...

I'm kind of with Robinson on this one. As soft as the penalty was (and it was very soft), let's focus on how well our team did. We rode our luck with some of their chances as you always have to against a team with better players but for our defence and goalkeeper to hold them out for as long three days after chasing the ball for half an hour with ten men is impressive. By focusing on the penalty, we fail to give our players the credit they deserve. I don't think that on paper we have the second, third or even fourth best squad in the league but on our day we'll give anyone a game...

If these are the rules, then football is becoming a game I won't watch...

Not at the game, haven't seen it, wouldn't be surprised...

Could equally be back to 352 with Frear and Tait as wing backs...

All I know is that a player on the fringe of things has been told not to worry as there are likely to be players moving on in January...

Not what was suggested to me...

All three of them are players I like and that I feel have something to offer. But if our formations of choice are 352 or recently 4312, I don't see where any of them get a starting spot. Bigirimana has been sidelined by the good form of Rose and Campbell. The fact that Grimshaw now seems to have moved ahead of him in the race for a midfield spot means he's 5th choice for a starting midfield place. Is he physical enough for our style of hounding the opposition midfield? Tanner, I think is a great player. Could he play as the 1 in a 4312 against lesser teams? Then where do you play Cadden? Or is it time to give Tanner another shot as second striker given Bowman's form has tailed off a bit thanks a bit to the semi furore. Robinson certainly seems to rate him so I think we'll be trying to find a way to get him into the team without weakening the overall shape. Frear is a winger. Where he fits unless we play 433 (442 or 451 would be suicide), I'm not sure. We are missing the balance he offers on the left so would like to see him in the team but both Cadden and Tait deserve their starting spots on current form. I'm not criticising any of the three players or Robinson and it's a refreshing change to have options on the bench but if Bigirimana can't even make the bench and we have the likes of Ross MacLean in a similar position, could his wages be better spent elsewhere? Central defence where we have less cover? Good headache to have but nonetheless a headache...

Harsh. We play with strikers. If you're suggesting we're a physical team that relies on set pieces and crosses into the box then you're probably correct. Invariably our midfield three this season has comprised of three hard working midfielders with creativity such as it is, provided by the wing backs or getting the ball into the front two quickly. Is it working? Results say yes. Is it dreadful to watch? I wouldn't say so. Tait and Cadden have been very good going forward in the wing back roles. It does lead to the question where the likes of Frear, Tanner and Bigirimana fit into our system...

Isn't that what Bigirimana was supposed to bring? Given he didn't make the 18 on Sunday, have to figure that he's down the pecking order...

I hear on the grapevine that one or two players might be moving on in January. No names but midfield seems to be the area in question...

Actually can see a flaw in the club's logic. Given we'll be in Europe having won the Scottish Cup, our first league cup tie could be a tricky one...

I can see what you're saying and I agree to an extent, can also see the club's thinking. It's not going to change the fact that we didn't win the cup, will it make us feel any better to be told that 'Aye, you were robbed of a chance to get back into it'? As to Celtic fans' opinions? The few I know have been pretty up front with me in saying that it wasn't a penalty or a red card. Those on social media or elsewhere who want to delude themselves that this is us admitting it was the right decision? They can tell themselves that if they want, I'm not getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed man...

No matter what happened on Sunday, I was never going to make this game. I suspect we are going to be in for a bit of a doing, not simply because it's Celtic but because we spent half an hour on Sunday with 10 men chasing the ball all over a massive pitch. Need to be looking to freshen up midfield and forward areas for that reason alone (we don't really have the personnel to change the defence much). I'd go with Carson Tait Kipré Hartley Dunne Campbell Bigirimana Grimshaw Tanner Moult Frear

I agree. Would still take it though to be the team to stop their unbeaten run...