egg

Have you heard anything since the Scotland job became available? Interesting that NA had his vote or confidence since that little development - perhaps GS is no longer available.

That's way off. Most youth players that have come through over the years have been attached to the club for years.

Still not sure where your confidence stems from other than blind hope. I really hope you're confidence is well placed and we can unearth another gem.

I hope you're right but over the years I've watched so many players crash and burn when it matters. Whilst I hope your confidence is well placed o wander where it comes from...

It won't hurt.

Instead of who? jos has been merd this season.

Nope. I saw this on Groupon on Monday. Seems I was beaten to it.

Hope you're right. The problem is you've come on here saying the kid is the real deal without being able to justify it. For every bale and bridge there's an Allan tankard, ray Wallace, Kyle critchell - hype is dangerous.

Strachan was mentioned to me before NA arrived by a reliable source. I mentioned on here here that we should expect the return of a familiar face but didn't commit to a name. The situation changed and NA arrived. The same source mentioned GS earlier this week and later that day Levein got the boot. That's a coincidence too far. He apparently wants the sweaty job and the temptation may be too much but GS may be our boy. Watch this space.

Feeling good about this. 3-2 Saints, Gaston first scorer.

No. The joiners is independent of the others.

Unfair criticism. Pat knows the place of old and Glenn is very savvy. They've been undone by the economic climate, rising beer prices and bands promising to bring the world and bringing no one. It's a cracking venue run by two lovely blokes. Do as Turkish says and support it before it's too late.

What silly questions. You don't have to see a player actually play to realise he's brilliant. Hype is where it's at.

Agreed. Playing gaston as a 10 would mean playing him behind 1 up top which forces us into a midfield 4 of some description, or a 10 behind 2 up top. The former leaves us light in the middle and the latter without width. NA has to grow a pair and pick the best team for the job.

We need to play a 3 man CM with proper CM's in there. 3 of Cork, Schneiderlen, Davis or JWP. One to sit a little deeper and hold. The others to play slightly wider and offer cover to the full backs. We need to play 3 ahead of them to offer width and support the attack when possible. Quite what the best 3 is I'm unsure but I don't like the idea of squeezing the surplus man into one of the 3 CM roles just to accomodate him. If there ain't room for one or more of AL, RL, JR or GR then so be it.

Er, so you're saying one of our CB's and GR and AL can do for us what Makelel, Essien and Lampard did for Chelsea? Ffs.

This. 3 proper CM's needed with one of them holding and collectively covering the back 4.

Spot on. J Rod is a very decent player. Much more complete than Austin and given time in his favoured role, and some decent service, he'll be fine.

Agree with the above. Cracking performance from Forster and Celtic.

He has looked poor at RB for us and will be worse at CB. I know we're struggling but square pegs in round holes won't solve that.

If we were to play 3 CB 's then he's an option, but not good enough in a 4. I wouldn't have him at RB either, just not good enough. He's a CM who should play there with 2 others and tighten us up in the middle.

Great system if you're given the right mix of players. Not so good when you're given loads of attackers and no no natural wide players or a lack of defenders! Either way, the point is that the expectation to play the players that the manager has been given could be construed as interference in team selection. I just wander whether that is what the likes of Turkish are suggesting, or whether it's being suggested that the big boss is really saying to NA that he wants a particular team or player on the pitch.

Never experienced it, I've played it! It can work with disciplined midfielders but won't work with attack minded players. As for 4123 or 505 they're one and the same when you're playing 5 defenders and five attackers. Ridiculous team selection whatever you call it.

That he likes Guly and likes to give youth a chance, probably.

I don't think he picks the team but it wouldn't surprise me if NA is under an expectation to select the players given to him.