31 Jan 2016 09:01:33
No sign of any of the POD'S (prophets of doom) posting their concerns about the obvious gulf in class between the top league and the Championship following the semi final defeat of Barcelona (St J) by wee Hibs yesterday. And before anybody mentions how Hibs have strengthened in the window I think I'm correct in saying Stokes didn't make the bench and Thomson was on the bench. Given the obvious fact that Rangers are the best team in the Championship, no?, (8 points clear) , would it not follow that a decent two or three additions in the summer would set us up nicely to do some damage in the top division next season? I'm not saying we will win the league next season as I think Celtic will still probably be a step too far, but surely we can at the very least do a Hearts? Some of the POD'S have already expressed views of bottom half misery. Really? Don't get me wrong displays such as yesterday's have to be kept to a minimum, but then we still won, didn't we? Really guys? And if anybody comes on to mention O'Halloran was so unsettled with all the transfer talk he didn't perform I'm not buying that either.

1.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 09:49:23
Hit disagree if you like but at least put up an argument as to why you think we cannot compete in the top flight. This is what you are saying, isn't it?
Our players are not as good as the ones who played during the good times but I don't exactly see a Larsson, Thompson, Sutton or Petrox across the city either. Is it fair to say this? C'mon let's be 'avin you!

2.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 10:14:25
Yup agree I've been saying all season that next year, with 3 or 4 good signings, we will be in the mix with Hearts and Aberdeen for second spot. I think top 4 finish in our first season back with this young team would be a great foundation.

3.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 10:20:02
I gather u forgotton how st johnston wiped the floor with us. kilmarnock be a test but let's be honest. with players we got now with accrington boys we mid table team at best. way weplay our defence wide open. i say we have flat back 3.wallace an tav push into wing or left right mid an 2 up top. will have extra man in middle in halliday so most time will still be like playing with 3 up top but least we got security at the back.

4.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 10:37:10
Agree with most of your points OP.

W&W doing a fantastic job but looking at this transfer window with Celtic signing a Danish international, a young player who not long ago cost over £10,000,000 and bringing Ryan Christie down from Inverness even with Delia's lack of managerial prowess they have gone a long way to reinstating the gap that had been narrowing quickly since Warbs took over.

5.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 10:39:59
stokes was injured.

6.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 10:45:22
I would expect us to be at the top half of the table next season. However, is that going to be good enough for many of our fans? Personally speaking I think we need to be realistic and realise we are miles behind Celtic and it will take time to bridge that gap but I'm not too sure everyone will be as patient as me.

At the minute not one of our players would get in the Celtic team and most of them are not even as good as their second choice players.

7.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 10:53:15
Stokes is cup tied that's why he wasn't on the bench.

8.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 11:19:30
you can judge on one cup game even our games if we can compete in the spfl. anything can happen in these games. we will only tell when we are playing week in week out. i think with our game platy and players wed compete in the league. not the fished article yet but wed give most a run for their money.

9.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 11:31:53
By all accounts Hibs were by far the better side yesterday so where is this gulf?

10.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 11:56:52
Hibs had an excellent result yesterday but we should remember that we lost to St Johnstone in the same competition. Next week against Kilmarnock should show how far we have come. Kilmarnock have just lost their manager, they are whipping boys for everyone right now and suffered a big defeat to Dundee United recently.

We should be expecting to show that we are ready for the SPL by hitting them for four or five. let's just wait and see.

Personally I reckon we are four or five quality players short for the SPL since I suspect that two out of three of Law, Shiels and Clark will go, (not that I believe that Clark should stay) , and we will lose our three loanees at the end of the season.

I can only hope that with our new management and scouting team we can uncover three or fours 'Sterling' type players for the defence, midfield and attack that mean we can make a real challenge for the league next season.

11.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 12:04:08
Boss Hog, I reckon that you are being a bit unfair on some of our players and our manager is certainly miles ahead of Delia.

That said, we will need to seriously strengthen in the summer and with a bit of luck our new scouting system will pay dividends.

12.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 12:16:36
Aye Camoo but plenty of people were coming on here shooting us down after the St Johnstone game and wasn't that a one off game? It can't work both ways.

13.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 12:23:20
Naz
I agree about Celtic being a class apart at the moment. But the rest? Where have Aberdeen and Hearts got all this investment that will ensure they finish higher than us next year? Can we not attract a better class of player than either of them? Can we at least not do a Hearts next season? Are they really that far in front of us? Sorry guys just can't get my head round it. The people who think we can't finish at least in second place next season. I don't get it. And Celtic are better, yes, but look how they have bombed in Europe against sides with much less resources. And you can't say it was a one off game and all that pish because it happened a number of times. Is this team not there for the taking? Really?

14.) 31 Jan 2016
31 Jan 2016 14:14:45
if stokes was cup tied why put him on the bench?