16 Jul 2017 07:06:24
Some observasions on the pre season

Is the team and squad better than this time last year - definately
Are there improvements still to be made - most certainly

How are the new players doing - To early to say but the signs are very good

Who else do we need - Defence needs strenghening - no cover for RB/ CD and on yesterdays game Isaguirre let the winger get by him too easily ok for Scotland but a liability in Europe same for Sviatchenko too slow

Young players coming through from scotland must put on more power and muscle if they are to make BR team Ajer, Ralston, Henderson, Miller, Nesbitt and Aitchison also Wardrop, MaCart, Johnstone although Hill looked strong enough out of position at RB

Bitton is not interested therefore should be the next to leave with Cifti and a few youngsters going out on loan

On a side issue why is everyone on James Forrests back. He has done nothing wrong that i can see. Always gives his best and i am sure Lusnig would prefer him in front as he tracks back and helps out.
Hayes has shown nothing more than Forrest but still people want him dropped, He is 5 years younger than Hayes, Where was Hayes 5 years ago certainly not setting the world on fire.

1.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 08:10:19
Still a RAM for me, neither Forrest or Hayes are good enough for where we want to be. Certainly think we want a CB now as well with Boyata being out, particularly for Europe. Probably a right back too, and possibly another striker if the likes of Ralston, Aitchison aren't seen as being ready. Would still like to see a new goalie too so all in all, would like to see quite a few if we could.

2.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 09:57:17
Id be well chuffed if we get in a cb and a RW.

3.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 10:16:26
I keep hearing about the brilliant young players we have coming through and have done for the last 20 years. Apart from Tierney, over the last ten years we have produced players for Aberdeen and the Dundees of this world.

I think Rogers has had a look and decided if we are to step up then we do t have the talent I house

For me the return from the academy has always been relatively poor with only a handful making first team and apart from Tierney none have been of a standard we need for the CL.

I know someone will say it different now and we have better young players, I hope they are right but time will tell.

I agree with the points about Forrest and Hayes, neither is good enough and combing both you have a player only half as good as wee Paddy.

Anybody got any player they think is the real deal in the young player set up?

4.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 11:14:40
Magic pole . ajer nesbitt Miller hill Ralston are there or there about . possibally couI'd do with a year loan in spl . henderson has improved in game play ( and physique) any time he's played . but he hasn't come from an epl reserve team so maybe that's the hold up with him getting a game🤔😁. but the thing is if you don't try them you never know if they are good enough . Tierney wasn't being touted as the next big thing then Izzy got injured and the rest is history as they say.

5.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 11:58:17
I think all of the players you mentioned are good, but I'm not convinced they are good enough and I expect them to eventually move on if we do take another step up.

I sincerely hope they turn out brilliant and surprise me.

As for Tierney, I heard about how potentially great he would become when he was 13.

We need to remember they are no younger than three of the best players on the park for us yesterday, all around 20. If these players can't match their levels then they won't be played and that's the way it has to be if we want to progress on the euro stage.

It's not about age, it's about ability and that for me is the problem over the years, good players emerge but the vast majority leave never having established themselves. It's imperative we produce players as we don't have a big chest of gold, I haven't been convinced since Lennoxtown opened. Could be the country isn't producing any real talent so when we do we want to have them.

6.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 12:35:38
We can't really argue about the return from the Academy in recent times. What I will say however is that I am more enthused since BR took the hot seat.

We are not going to get a Tierney everytime. We will however get a McGregor, who is massively undervalued by our support. We might even get another McGeady who made us an obscene amount of money to reinvest.

I can see more kids getting the chance in the coming years. It is up to them to make take it with both hands.

7.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 14:33:49
Magic p. they still need the chance to flourish or fail . otherwise we should close the acadamy and buy them of other spl or sfl clubs after they've developed them. as for the 3 you mention they've been getting game Time experience at league level to improve (loans) . i've said here before I hope it was the unbeaten run that stopped br introducing more youngsters last season.

8.) 16 Jul 2017
16 Jul 2017 18:22:02
I will be doing backflips if they turn out as good as people think. I'm just not convinced yet.

9.) 17 Jul 2017
17 Jul 2017 14:19:09
It's a bit unfair writing off the youngsters based on yesterday's game. It's easier to come in and play well when you're playing alongside established first team players, I think we played the last 25-30 mins yesterday with 8 academy players which was a step too far, if they are introduced individually like KT was I. e playing beside established first teamers then they can be judged more fairly.