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I’m a bit split on making signings today. It’s clear we are in serious need of improving our midfield. We’re close to not even having one with Moi injured and Lavia inevitably being injured soon. The start we’ve had has I think made many of us think a title challenge is coming and that addressing these issues now is imperative. But if you consider finishing 10th and being terrible last year, 5th and CL football would be brilliant progress. And CL next year and extra cash could (and with time to assess) could result in much better signings next summer and then a title challenge. Not good at practising patience though. Get the chequebook out!!

Posted before, I fully accept.

No. In a word. Never has had and never will have the physicality for the PL. Belongs in the Championship.

Which one?

About time we beat these muppets. Hopefully Alonso has a plan and can tighten us up at the back.

All the data is readily available on FBREF. Not going to be very conclusive though, as it all depends on the style of play for a particular manager. In the Maresca season and a half, we were a possession side, so all the wins (and all the defeats) are pretty much going to show us as having more possession than the opponent, unless we are playing Arsenal, Man City, PSG, Bayern etc etc.

Now that would be something. A 36 goal season and his club is relegated on zero points LOL

I first started paying attention to possession numbers under Pochettino - I think something like the first 10 matches I looked at we won the game if we had less possession than our opponent, and drew/lost if we had the most. I would love to see a complete statistic on whether or not this applicable over several seasons

Sincerely hope he scores the consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat every week for them.

Cathkin Park, the former home of Third Lanark. Late 1960s. Here’s the story below, for those who don’t know it. Third Lanark FC and Cathkin Park One of a series of articles looking in to some of the lost or forgotten Old Stadiums and Football Clubsaround the UK. www.bamberbridge.net This episode takes us North of the border to a one time Scottish Giant. A club that went out of existence in 1967 having been a founder member of the Scottish League, crowned Champions of Scotland and Twice Scottish Cup winners. It’s quite likely that most readers under the age of 50 will never have heard of Third Lanark FC. A club whose home ground at New Cathkin Park for the majority of their existence, boasted a capacity of 50,000. Cathkin Park as it is now, with the huge banked terrace still visible The club was formed in 1872 as Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers playing at Cathkin Park which was also the regiments drill field. Initial facilities at the ground were limited to a log pavilion but funds generated from successful Cup runs enabled the club to add a grandstand, at a cost of £155, in 1878 and also to conduct Scotland’s first experiment with floodlit football. The club also changed their colours to ‘blue and white hooped jerseys with white “knickerbockers”. During this initial period The “Hi Hi” (which for unknown reasons became the clubs nickname), won the Scottish FA cup beating Celtic in the final. NewCathkin Park in the 1960’s Things changed for Third Lanark when in 1903. Local Rivals Queens Park left their ground nearby at Hampden Park, for a new Stadium, which they named ….Hampden Park!!. Third Lanark then left Cathkin Park and took over the original Hampden Park renaming it New Cathkin Park. Confused? The move to the new stadium came with one strange decision. New Cathkin had a two-storey brick built stand and embankments in place. Queen’s Park asked Third Lanark if they would like these to be left in place but the new owners insisted everything be demolished and, transported their own stand from the original Cathkin and built their own embankments. In the same year all official links with the rifle volunteers were severed and the club’s name was changed to Third Lanark A.C. (Athletic Club). Over the years the club further developed (New) Cathkin Park eventually reaching a capacity of 50,000. The largest attendance at the Stadium a game against Rangers in 1954 which attracted 45,455 Match action from the 1960's at New Cathkin Park – Third Lanark in Red The following two years saw Third Lanark winning the Scottish League by four 4 points from Hearts and the following season, winning the Cup, beating Rangers in the final. Those heights were not maintained however and although the club maintained it’s first Division place until the First World War, darker times arrived as during peace time The growth of Glasgow Giants Celtic and Rangers meant the “Redcoats” (another nickname) couldn’t keep pace and suffered relegation. More 1960's match action . It wasn’t until 1935 that Third Lanark returned to the Scottish First Division as Champions of Division Two. The club remained in the top flight for the pretty much all of their remaining existence, twice reaching the FA Cup semi Finals before suffering relegation, but bouncing back again in 1957. In the early 1960’s Third Lanark managed a third place finish in the League but soon Financial problems were to hit the club. By the mid 60’s, the club was in meltdown with players being sold and assets at the club being sold off. In 1967 the Club Directors announced they had agreed to sell the Stadium to Glasgow City Council. Shortly after, the Board of Trade launched an investigation into the club, which would uncover multiple cases of fraud and which also disclosed that players had been having to pay their own fares to away matches. Original main stand at New Cathkin Park Tales of asset-stripping along with the intention to sell the ground to developers amid rising debt abounded. In June 1967, the club was wound up by the Court Of Session in Edinburgh who appointed an official liquidator. It was found that the club’s liabilities were £40,000 greater than their assets. The remains of New Cathkin Park still exist to this day with one sprawling terrace still standing. The stadium subsequently fell into disrepair and most of the fabric was gradually removed. The remains of the terraces from three sides of the ground can be seen in the park. However, a reformed Third Lanark AFC, which plays in the Greater Glasgow Amateur League, currently plays in the park. New Cathkin Park sliding into decline In 2017, Third Lanark AFC. announced a £5 million plan to return to Cathkin and redevelop the ground, with an all-weather pitch, a 2000-seat stand, floodlights and community facilities for football and cricket. Fifty Seven years after their demise, there are still hopes that Third Lanark can once again return to The Scottish Football League at a rebuilt Cathkin Park.

Why can't I shake this feeling they aren't really serious about buying him. For some reason, it feels like us with Maignan

No way they ever pay 75M for him. Not to fussed though, Mudryk wasn't close to being good enough prior to his absence, so I dont know how anyone thinks he's improved massively after 1,5 year without football. I dont like doing business with Tottenham, but I think for Mudryk personally going back to a manager who really rates and loves him is great to see on the human side of things. Let them get him back to speed, I dont think there's a world where he would have been a part of our squad now or in the future regardless

We have better options in attack but you just look at Arsenal from back to front and they're just a solid unit. So whilst individually they are not as strong, their attack is super strong due to the cohesiveness of the system and everyone doing a job. Same goes to how they defend. Its bloody brilliant but annoying because its them.

Will take a draw right now.

Three wee blue cars in the background!😀😀😀

“If ever a team deserved a lead, it’s Rangers!” A great line in the commentary, by the legendary bbc Scotland football commentator Archie McPherson.. And he was 100% right!

If its an option to buy we can still sell him to somebody else yeah?

Happy birthday to Ruud Gullit. 64 years young today. Again, I couldn’t quite believe it, when we signed him!

Couldn’t quite believe it when we signed Mark Hughes! Thought he was a very good player for us.

A loan with De Zerbi is the best option for Mudryk. De Zerbi will favour him after their history and get him playing again. Best case he comes back to us refreshed and flying with confidence, worse case we get £75m and make a profit on what looked like a failed transfer. Win:win

Well we’re living in it, if that counts? Still have to paint the hallway and completely do the downstairs toilet and main bathroom. Then get started on the garden/driveway. Currently enjoying a week in Cornwall, then straight back into it. Finished by Christmas is the target.

Not directly related but Liverpool have been linked with his replacement at Genk, Lucca Brughmans, for £30m. He's made 15 senior appearances for Genk in total since last season. 6ft 7, giant. We signed Penders after two senior appearances for 17m, for comparison.

Renovations done?

But I'd bite your hand off for Camara and Fabian Ruiz. But I'd still like to get Anselmino a domestic loan and then sign a further CB on a permanent. Ideally I'd like 3 signings today, and all to be needle movers.

Rogers, Pedro and Palmer all put in very good shifts defensively. Their role is to defend high up the pitch to make defensive players think twice about bursting forward. We should not be relying on them defending near the box. Pedro's inexperience defending led to a simple block turning into an OG. Gusto and Neto were most at fault for the first goal. Gusto stood ball-watching while Rogers was trying to shield the ball from two Brighton players, and he did well but unluckily conceded a throw; instead of running back into position, Gusto stops, then throws his hand up, and then tracks back at speed but only after Neto has missed his tackle. There is no logical reason why Gusto, the nominal CM and a player actually capable at LB, should have been waiting stationary in an attacking LM position while Rogers and then Neto had to deal with an attack. He was certainly at fault for the last goal, Gross was his man and Rogers' height and presence means we rely on him to defend set pieces there, and I'm sure Austin McPhee expects Rogers to be one of his 'generals' out there given they have previously worked together well. Yes, it was at the end of the game and Rogers was clearly gassed, but we will have more consequential injury times in the season ahead. Rogers is by far the best defender of the three, he is excellent at winning the ball in central midfield. His seeming hesitation (like King's goal at Fulham) is at least partially explained by a lack of understanding with his new teammates. The defense only gets better if Rogers, Pedro, Palmer (and Estevao/Quenda) are allowed to do their thing and create real jeopardy and risk in the minds of midfielders wanting to push forward. All it takes is a save and a long-pass from Martinez to make them instantly regret their decision. Rogers "working harder" doesn't meaningfully solve the main problem with our defence, which is that our players are spaced way too widely and have to cover big ground to catch people running between the lines or at the back posts.