And why has he looked faster for Dundee United.

Probably because he was surrounded by slower players.

I imagine he'd get a good few in this league. As an estimate approaching 15. A useful player from the bench, when we have injuries/suspensions, or when he is in form to start.

I don't thinks he's good enough, but feel sorry for him. He's getting the Salgado & Nelson treatment, completely frozen out.

No he's not. He's still had some game time at least. But if he wants first team football he may have to move.

Is this a genuine Twitter account?

I would expect martin Ollson to be away before the end of the window so I am leaving him out of equations. If he stays then that's a big bonus. However Orr looked good going forward but, after a couple of solid early games, struggled towards the back end of last season. You can't fault his commitment but that will only get you so far. The same applies to Jason Lowe. Neither looked a premiership defender at the end of last season and I have no reason to think they will be top class in this league.

Dann should be extremely competent in this league bit I thought he would be a good signing last season and he was a walking disaster. From what I remember a back four of Givet, Dann, Lowe and Hanley didn't cover themselves in glory at championship Cardiff last year.

I'll have to disagree with you then.

That's your opinion stated as fact. Personally I'm not too sure if Jason Lowe, Bradley Orr and Marcus Ollson are good enough to be in a top 6 championship side, especially with the points that onlyonejackwalker made above. Also the jury is out on Hanley. He may well join the ranks of Taylor and Broomes who had to step into the fold young and never lived up to their promise.

Wow, what an awful person I am. I'll try and remember to put 'in my opinion' after every sentence. Just in case you are confusing what I am writing as another posters opinion.

Bradley Orr did a decent enough job in the Prem to say he has something to offer in the Championship, Marcus Olsson isn't a defender, and Jason Lowe is a very tenacious player. Compared to other Championship defences I would find it hard to believe that they were not in the top ten, and I personally feel they'd be up there with the best if you factor Martin Olsson, Dann and Givet into there. Obviously I'm talking about our current setup. Things are subject to change.

Teams can easily by pass our midfield if required and place pressure on our defenders. After lasts seasons horror at the back I would have thought re-inforcing the defence would be our first priority. Maybe the Keanious knows better or perhaps someone has told him the strikers at this level are pish.

We've got a very good Championship defence.

Wahey!

Good old Colin

David Bowie - Bring Me The Disco King

Gomez - The Comeback

Beck - Steal My Body Home

Aphex Twin - On

Credit where it's due. The German refereeing the match between Chelsea and Napoli tonight was superb. No coincidence that the match was such an exciting spectacle.

So just what makes the plonkers with the whistles in this country so keen to use them to the detriment of entertainment, the spectacle and the game itself? It never used to be like this.

But then when you compare the likes of Howard Webb (a man content at letting the game flow by simply not giving decisions) and Collina, you can see the thing is to be a good referee, playing by the rules and employing consistency whilst actually being good at your job and knowing what is a foul and what is not, rather than simply not blowing their whistles. I do take your point though, Premiership referees give far too many fouls simply by guessing or due to prejudice against certain teams or pressure. It's a hard job but you can't help but feel our lot aren't much cop.

I read it a few hours ago now but I'm sure Kean said he will be be fighting for a starting place upon his arrival. Delighted if this is true but wouldn't be surprised if it was a little while till we see him. Happy at this. I know very little about him but as mentioned he has come through the ranks at Barca and it doesn't appear to have been a knee jerk reaction signing as his name has been floating around for a while. The fact Barca offered him a contract recently and have got the buyback clause (possibly something they always do) gives me confidence he could prove to be a positive acquisition.

i was really surprised when people wanted him to be played towards the end of his rovers stint. it was obvious he wasn't up to it. he may have been able to finish but he could rarely get into goalscoring positions anymore. i was more than happy to stick with a misfiring roberts since at least for all his limitations he played with a little bit of pride and commitment more often than not. then the idiots would chime up with 'benni mccarthy, benni mccarthy, benni mccarthy' and it became obvious i was surrounded by fools.

the story should be about how bad the goalkeeping was

I echo that. I was convinced that we would need him to stay up. I'm glad that we did get rid of him. Goes to show that the guy is to blame for the shape he is in and not anything the club were doing.

well obviously. do you honestly believe the rovers fitness team didn't know that big macs make benni mac big? the shape he is in is down to himself and himself alone.

Surprised to read some of the vitriol on this thread toward McCarthy. He played well for you, scored some important goals and helped to maintain your Prem Status. Now he wants to move for what he sees as a better opportunity, why would you begrudge him the chance to advance his career with a bigger club during the last few years he has playing football professionally?

i've disliked him for years and i'm excited to see him leave.

hardly massive vitriol in here compared to footy mad when judas left

it's a big hole to fill. i can only think of the beast or andy reid.

actually parkin would be about right.

Fat Benni

i prefer either Big Mac, or Benni McCarthorse

All depends on any replacement.

I'd accept £1.75m and be glad of getting him off the wage bill if we could get somebody in who converts two thirds as many chances as benni providing they did twice as much running for the money from this sale (easier said than done). I reckon you'd probably get more goals (definitely as many) from a player like that as they would actually get in the positions to score, which Benni only does every so often. Plus once Niko starts banging them in it'll take a little pressure off the other strikers.

Once Kalinic starts scoring Benni will start moaning anyway. We all know what happened when Santa Cruz became the main man.

If we can't replace then keep hold. Pointless selling him to a rival mid season.

Portugal decriminalised all drugs (I believe) the doom mongers predicted chaos, yet drug use and crime (not solely "drug" crimes) have fallen.

An EU country leading the way....

they decriminalised the possession of drugs, of any class

i'm pretty sure they could confiscate it though.

and dealing is still illegal obviously

so you guys pro or anti?