CoveRangers1922

Dreadful. Potentially a central midfield 3 of Darge, Kerr and Sena. Darge is so reckless, guaranteed yellow. Our two more established CM's (Scully and Yule) again displaced out wide as we have no natural wingers. Very little creativity there for me and Burrell will be completely isolated for large spells. Defence isn't much better. Really need a Lang type CB and a new LB. Jones will be destroyed all night by Morrison. We can be organised and hold shape at times but this is a good time to play us.

Don't know how reputable this source is but obviously we are expecting interest in Rumarn and National League sounds about right. It's when, not if.

We look a completely different side without Fyvie, a relatively average one sadly, as @Midweek-away-to-Lossie rightly mentions. He's a massive loss for us, hasn't played since picking up an injury in the 1-0 win against Montrose at Balmoral on 14th November. Isn't due back to end of January / start of February. Was out all of August and half of September too as well as the 2nd half of last season when we desperately needed him to avoid the drop. Shouldn't be so reliant on one or two players but we are and I hate sounding negative. We've conceded in our last 6 league games after a run of 4 consecutive clean sheets. Will be tough to break that sequence at TFS against a Falkirk side 24 unbeaten and looking strong. We'll need to score to take a point. Burrell has scored in 8 straight league games and we'll be hoping that continues. Pawlett would have helped us but ship has sailed now. We need some quality in but doubt anyone comes in before tomorrow. A statement signing to lift the players and take some of the reliance of Rumarn would be golden. I think we'll go 4-5-1, sit in by and large and use Burrell's pace on the break. I have a hunch McGowan will be dropped in favour of more energy in the middle. Snatch the first goal and see where it takes us; that's my hope

Hahaha, what a signing that was. I'm now even more intrigued to find out who our January signings will be.

Yes is injury prone to put it lightly, however, he's outstanding and way above L2 level. Should be a real threat and will add more goals to Peterhead and assists for Rory and Shanks. Turning 33 next month so not geriatric either. He's going to need to go some to catch your Warriors side who look in imperious form and have established a commanding lead at the top of L2. It's very good business for Petehead nonetheless and will boost their promotion hopes even if that looks to be via the playoffs

How the f*cking hell have we managed to miss out on Peter Pawlett. Should have snapped him up in the summer. He's mates with Mitch and Fyvie so really thought we would win that one. If he wanted just PT give it to him. Very rare opportunity to get that quality of player. He could be as influential for Peterhead as Fyvie has been for us. Caveat that to him staying fit. Fantastic signing and will feed Rory and Shanks.

WHAT.A.SIGNING Pawlett was on top of my summer signings list for us. He's top class, even at the age he is. IF he stays fit he will destroy L2. Rory will be thinking all his birthdays have come together after seeing his announcement

McGowan shouldn't get anywhere near the starting lineup. Playing completely off his legacy and his alliance with Hartley. Its exasperated even more when he isn't alongside Fyvie. He and Sena today were miles off of it. Sena does hustle most of the time but has no idea what to do with the ball when he gets it and it has a tendency to bounce off him at all angles. McGowan couldn't even get close to his man or the ball the whole game. Huge gaps in the middle all second half. Hartley was in the P&J today saying they are trying to get the Doyle deal extended. Jones didn't show up again I thought, was hooked and we played Darge at LB which was baffling. Connell I just don't know where we play him to be effective. Doesn't look a left winger that's for sure. Burrell has been sensational but I feel for him. He's up there on his own, no one within 20/30 yards at times. Huge credit to him, looks like scoring every match with limited supply. We need some astute signings in the window but more than anything we really need a fit FF. Shot ourselves in the foot massively today. Gave Kelty a gift to get back into the game and that spurred them on to a deserved draw.

How was young Finlay Marshall for Edinburgh City today? Have seen him in a few games over the last year. Big step up and will take him to develop but could be a player there.

I noticed they are way behind in games and there's definitely a strong chance it's postponed at least once. Luis was slightly inconsistent with us last season but generally formed a brilliant partnership with Max Johnston. He's got lots of talent, can turn full backs inside out but his final ball needs honed and he needs to add more goals to his game. Would rip up L1 but the Championship is a different level as we found out.

So bad that potentially they will be looking for an alternate venue for this fixture? Fancy loaning us Luis for a few months?

Dayshonne is a good signing by the way. He's got very good work-rate, will press high, is quick and will get in behind and score goals in L2. To be honest in the league cup he caused Livi's defence some problems and looked above average compared to the rest of team away to Accies first game of the season. Don't know why Hartley took such a dislike to him shortly after giving him a 1 year deal. Livi and Arbroath gave him a trial this summer before coming to us. He's not at that level but certainly can do a job in L1/L2

We need a winger but not that desperately! Zanatta must frustrate fans. He ghosts in and out of games, like most wingers to be fair, can show signs of promise and chip in with goals and assists but has never found consistency. He'll find another club in the league. I read your posts that he's got some interest.

Dayshonne Golding recalled from his loan spell with Banks o Dee and immediately is loaned to Elgin

Finlay likely wouldn't have got regular minutes with us at this early stage in his career and he will do at Edinburgh so I'm not overly shocked we are overlooked. He's got developing to do. We missed Ryan Duncan, Jack Milne, Connor Barron and the youngsters we have got from the Dons or the Dundee clubs for that matter were either not good enough (former club particularly) or a year too early. Timing is massive with the young loans. Agree that Hartley doesn't gamble throwing in young ones enough but also I'd caveat that by what I mentioned above. We've had Finaly Robertson, Josh Mulligan, Kai Fotheringham and never benefitted. All have kicked on as they've gotten older. Did well with Ross Graham and to a lesser extent Connor Smith. Again all progressed. I have the same opinion. We only truly need another CM if it's someone we can't turn down OR Fyvie is a big risk of being out longer than end of this month OR his injury might flare up again. For me I'd love to see wingers come in and Yule and/or Scully partner Fraser centrally. That would strengthen us on the flanks and through the middle. Robson and Hartley have a strong link and we can't get anything from the Dons. They mostly have seasoned pros of younger lads who now are Championship standard in their first team squad. Their under 18's or Aberdeen B squad are Highland League standard as evident by BoD beating them at Balmoral a month or so back.

Finlay Marshall signs on loan for Edinburgh City. Decent signing that for the Citizens. He's got talent undoubtedly. First forey into senior football so will be a learning curve but will hopefully excel.

If you are an Accies fan you have got to be pleased with the investment by the new owner, the quality of the recruitment by large and the points tally so far. Latter could be higher but in general its positive even with Rankin at the helm. Stark difference from last season in many respects. Still might not win the title, this year, but have assembled a side that will have a realistic chance in the playoffs regardless of the Championship team who finishes 9th. Accies squad seems overloaded in certain areas so I'm expecting a few outbound. What are your thoughts? I'm sure a few of our fringe players will attract L1 interest

Permanently? Either way thats a prudent signing for Stenny who are flying and could have an elusive title wrapped up with a few months to spare at this rate. Wasps have quite a few attacking options and a larger than normal squad so maybe works well for both clubs.

Surprised if McLeod is inbound. Didn't tear it up at L2 Forfar, seems a bit of leap even though he's highly rated. Bird and Leighton who must be ahead of him in the pecking order.

No wonder, strong squad for this level and you are flying. If Callumn goes you have a ready made replacement in Ethan Ross. Shanley is extra fire power and competition for places at worst. He could easily get hot if he gets a run of games. January isn't really the window to do significant business in the main and if you keep your squad you'll be hard to catch even if Accies throw lots more money at it. Given how poor our summer is we will be "forced" into wheeling and dealing I feel but ultimately it will be down to finding form in playoffs if we make them

I heard that Cammy, when at Thistle, just wanted to play first team football. Moved to Morecambe and is an unused sub every week. There's a loan opportunity to be had there I would think. Local lad, from Balmedie. 6 month deal would work for both parties imo. Mitch might possibly PCA in January, surprised if he moved this month. His days of leading the line for us are gone and is adapting to playing deeper. Reid likely going to Formartine I read. Why Aberdeen signed him when he was never going to get close to first team action. Don't really see him ever playing higher than L1 so for a top 4 SPL club to recruit him is perplexing. We might be looking at Brody Paterson and Jake Hastie. Took the former in on loan in January and Jake was coming to us before he signed for Hartlepool by all accounts.

Hartley must be fully aware that his recruitment in the summer, in the whole, was extremely poor and he made many mistakes. Will have been constrained with budget (rightly so) but he must be aware this needs vast improvement. I met our scout, an old guy, at Links Park a few weeks back watching Mo v Falkirk. Didn't get his name but felt like saying were you responsible for the attempt at player recruitment. I suspect he just does opposition analysis though. Can we afford a scout to aid signings? Gillingham wouldn't get close to another full time club in Scotland and I agree with your bin list and also agree that many of them will remain until the summer. One or two might be leave (Vigurs especially), be returned (Williamson) or loaned out (Darge) to make way for others coming in. Why we gave Jones a two year deal when surely there was no danger of another full time club offering anything. Strange one when we already recruited Luke Strachan and could use the loan market. Gallagher deserves some game time for me. He's streets ahead of Sena with the ball and versatile in that he can play DCM, CM or AM. With Bal waiting in the wings, losing Suman for some cash wouldn't neccesarily be a bad thing. With the Spiders struggling, Williamson going back is a real possibility. Would mean we have 5 loan possibilities. Going by what @Watson Nimrod mentions it looks like it will be a tough market. We have a link to Motherwell, I'd take Robbie Mahon after impressing at Edinburgh City. Others on my watch list are below. Most are loan options but a few could be PCA options. Shane Sutherland (ST, unattached) Cammy Smith (AM/LW, Morecambe) Cieran Dunne (LWB/LW, unattached) Fraser Bryden (ST, Ayr) Charlie Reilly (ST, Dundee) Joe Bevan (ST/RW, Albion Rovers) Jack Milne (CB/DCM, Aberdeen) Jordan Allan (ST, Falkirk) Ola Lawal (CM/AM, Falkirk) James Lyon (LW, Thistle) Zander Mackenzie (CM, Thistle) Hamish Ritchie (CM, Peterhead) Dario Zanatta (RW, Accies) Findlay Marshall (CM, Aberdeen) Stephen Warnock (RW, Kilmarknock) We only need one more CM unless McGowan throws in the towel and departs or Fyvie is more term injured than anticipated. We need width, both sides, and another striking option or two. Another CB is a must. I'd love some decent loans from SPL clubs but realistically the Sanders and equivalents are going to the Championship and not L1.

I reckon we'll loan Golding out somewhere else before he's inevitably released. Extremely interested to see our first signing or two in this window. What kind of intent will we show, what area is Hartley targeting. He stated recently we don't have enough natural width which is glaringly obvious to all and has been since day 1 of pre-season. He's chopping and changing Gillingham and Stewart at CB so clearly trusts neither overly much. I'd imagine wingers and CB. Yule and/or Scully then can play more centrally and we strengthen further. Hopefully some movement soon.

Noticed Aaron Reid was recalled by the Dons. Clearly he'll be loaned out or even released as he'll never get close to their first team squad. Watched him a few times at Peterhead and in my opinion isn't close to L1 standard unfortunately. I'd be very unwhelmed if we are even expressing an interest. Was with our under 20's a few years back so he's known by the club. Could he return to Elgin or go back to a stint in the Highland League, maybe at Banks o Dee if Golding moves on?

The area we were weakest at the start of the season without question and undoubtedly where the Bairns are strongest. Replaced Shay Logan and Harry Milne with Rio Davidson-Phipps from Haringey Borough (tier 7 in England) and Jacob Jones who was at Forest Green Rovers but loaned to King's Lynn (tier 6 in England). Both are dreadful. JJ still playing but I'm fairly confident we'll try to get better in this window. Luke Strachan will replace him worse case scenario. He's been out injured for 5 months. We took in Mikey Doyle at RB who has been a solid addition.