Next season

[NOSCOTCAPS]

GK suggestions - Roos from Killie not sure what contract he is on but almost spit of the legendary Sieb!

[LSArab]

A lot depends on who goes down

If st Mirren were to go down Gogic is the type of player we need

A few more like him to toughen us up. Someone to replace Fatah and his creativity and a brilliant GK needed after all the trauma of last few years

[shedka]

Lewis Smith at Livi as I said before the game, good player and was good at Accies before

26yo now, ready made player for this level

[LSArab]

It would be good to get some more Scots / Brits for next season

You do need a good strong 💪🏻 nucleus for a team.

I thinks Sevelj, Manny A and Pan have central midfield covered

The defence and GK are obvious points for improvement

Plus a creative player to replace Fatah

[NOSCOTCAPS]

It would be good to get some more Scots / Brits for next season

You do need a good strong ���� nucleus for a team.

I thinks Sevelj, Manny A and Pan have central midfield covered

The defence and GK are obvious points for improvement

Plus a creative player to replace Fatah

We have 2 creative players if a bit inconsistent and don’t suit the work ethic. Traps injured who is one and Dolcek if allowed to play and you can forgive his lack of defensive qualities, which can be worked upon. I would keep the latter as he is at full fitness and just needs some minutes to regain match sharpness. 10 mins here and there or as a ‘forced hand’ for any player though does not inspire confidence though in fans or the player.

[JamesMcClean]

Whatever happened to big Sam McClelland? I remember him being terrific in those closing weeks of the Championship season two years ago. If we’re going to let go KK and Bert after the calamities of this season, would he not be a decent shout?

[NOSCOTCAPS]

Whatever happened to big Sam McClelland? I remember him being terrific in those closing weeks of the Championship season two years ago. If we?re going to let go KK and Bert after the calamities of this season, would he not be a decent shout?

I think I mentioned him some months back somewhere on another thread. But I believe he is recovering from injury and will be out of contract with St J at the end of the season. But I would agree definitely worth a shout. Bert I think is actually a good player but slow and cannot be played in a back 3. KK goes from the sublime to the ridiculous about every game and one for rolling about after challenges. Could be decent back up.

[LSArab]

I think I mentioned him some months back somewhere on another thread. But I believe he is recovering from injury and will be out of contract with St J at the end of the season. But I would agree definitely worth a shout. Bert I think is actually a good player but slow and cannot be played in a back 3. KK goes from the sublime to the ridiculous about every game and one for rolling about after challenges. Could be decent back up.

The plan must be to let Bert and Dolcek go and I suspect the same with Traps.

They are all loan or out of contract

KK I think the plan is to sign as he has some potential - he needs to keep his concentration better which is the big question mark

I wouldn?t be surprised if Ross G is sold and Ferry is obviously being sold

Iovu despite Saturday and SCH are central defenders we definitely want to keep and develop and have an experienced defender with them

It is going to be another big rebuild

[PT_Arab]

Reading this thread and the talk of another rebuild got me thinking that we will need a good number of pre season games to get players bedded in and get them used to playing together. Obviously we won't have European games this time and that brought me to the realisation that we will be in the League Cup group process again. Man I hate those games!

[shedka]

I don't mind them, for me it's been a good thing to introduce, was what the league cup originally was when it started in 1946, was always group stages for years, only stopped maybe late 70s or early 80s, then maybe changed to try leg ties before becoming Scottish Cup light for awhile until ten years ago when they changed to this format

Would rather we missed them due to being in Europe but still decent games to have and it can propel you into the league season if you play it right, see Hearts this year (extreme example right enough)

[LSArab]

I actually really enjoy the league cup games albeit would rather be in Europe

Much better games to get up to speed than friendlies

I?m not really a fan of friendlies

The league cup section also allows some matches against local teams and lower league grounds to visit etc

The format is good and creates a bit of interest in July

[TerryTheTerror]

I don't mind them, for me it's been a good thing to introduce, was what the league cup originally was when it started in 1946, was always group stages for years, only stopped maybe late 70s or early 80s, then maybe changed to try leg ties before becoming Scottish Cup light for awhile until ten years ago when they changed to this format

Would rather we missed them due to being in Europe but still decent games to have and it can propel you into the league season if you play it right, see Hearts this year (extreme example right enough)

I doubt the league cup games back in the day happened in July though.

Just checked the Arab Archive for season 71/72 and we were in a group with Hibs, Kilmarnock, & Motherwell. The group matches started in mid August (14th Killie at home).

The issue folk have now is the timing of the early games. It's a real leveler between the teams and the bigger clubs, understandably, treat them as pre-season.

[Yeats 62]

Yeah, played far too early. I know it's not the same, but still get gutted when we go out, remembering the times when we won it TWICE. It did have more value then. Sad though, that the third best rated trophy in Scottish futba, has now turned in to a friendly competition. (until yi get to the semis)

[JamesMcClean]

Seeing as the teams involved in Europe are playing in the midweeks through Aug anyway, I don’t know why they can’t be played in the early midweeks of the season so that by the time the European teams are available (mostly out!), then the early games have still been played so the tournament can continue on the same schedule. Even better for me would be to ditch the league set up entirely and make rounds 1 and 2 a straight draw like the Scottish Cup. And again have that in the midweeks of Aug. This group stage nonsense starting in July frankly is farcical.

[Arabs4ever]

This group stage nonsense starting in July frankly is farcical.[/QUOTE]

That though is the SFA for you. The Academy setup being regarded as "elite" is a box ticking exercise which is just the SFA trying to say look how good we are. They themselves need a think tank on that as they are bunch of useless chunts imo. Years ago United had a good youth system but someone thought we could make all clubs have this and in the end the youth coming through is nothing like before because it doesn't allow s-forms who actually played football.