Les Westander of County

We do have wingers in Gardyne, Franks and arguably Dingwall. Also Foster plays wide left, but none of these is genuinely left-footed. Gardyne the most 2-footed. We also have young Mclaughlin at Left Back or wide left. We'll manage. But yes, we'll need Routis, Woods and McShane to consistently do well in the middle.

No more midfielders before the window closes? Formations to suit current strengths in the squad.

He wasn't all that good-looking anyway. ... now that he has dumped us.

slightly more defensive than recent line up where we had Boyce behind / close to Graham and Schalk with a 3-4-1-2 instead of having Cikos at Right Wing Back as above. Might be wise then.

Good point well made. I'll definitely get my groceries from your shop from now on.

Oh yes - forgot about Fraser. More good options when fit again. The wingbacks may have been further forward than they will be against SP opposition, but both certainly seemed to create a threat with good crosses in the final 18 yards. Both Gardyne and Dingwall had some attacking moves in final third and shots on goal. When such excitement was happening up front I also thought that Kenny and others were making sure there were enough bodies back to deal with quick counter attacks. Premier League will be the real test, and with that extra week of fitness, but I thought the shape was working quite well. The important thing is being versatile, and I'm sure it is easy once comfortable in this shape to revert to more conventional and familiar ones.

Can't say I'm daring to hope for top 6, but the team looked better today (albeit etc etc) and will hopefully continue progress to be ready for Dundee. The 3-4-1-2 looked effective and lively today but that was with much of the game played in the opposition half. Only 1 corner to defend and not much for our keeper to do today. Not wishing to be defeatist but right now, I'd take an 8th place finish thanks. Any higher and Jim is confirmed as genius for me.

Seems very inflexible, and perhaps the opposite of the Dutch Total Football style of the past: surely in that situation the appropriately available midfielder (or forward) needs to deal with the attacker - and in turn, a forward slips back to cover their position. We need to avoid our defender getting outnumbered, and while that's where the priority is, make others available to help out. I've certainly seen other teams quickly find 2 or 3 players to cut off an attacking player of ours. So tactics may need work but I suspect the team also needs to work a lot more on communication, familiarity with each other and their jobs. Knowing what to expect and how to respond in different situations. But then, luckily for Ross County, I am no Ross County Manager.

Not to disagree with these observations - other teams would have pressed hard and quickly - but isn't our full-back Kenny culpable as well, as the left area is where the killer pass /cross /strike ultimately came from. McEvely ends up pulled between the 2 attackers and can't commit. If he'd gone to close down Vaughan the ball would have been slipped to the other attacker with an easier strike at goal. We were a defender short at that moment, with Kenny still a bit further forward and too far from the action. ?

Dot think so. Too similar anyway?

Yes, according to Club. Who do not lie: http://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news/archive/four-new-signings-for-201617-season/

For Sophia's benefit I will comment on our opponents tomorrow. BBC reports: "A Scottish Premiership player has been charged with a breach of the peace aggravated by sexual orientation prejudice. Inverness Caledonian Thistle defender Josh Meekings did not appear in person for the hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court. His solicitor Rory Gowans asked that the case be continued without plea for instructions from his client. Mr Gowans sought a four week deferral which Sheriff David Sutherland granted. The case will call again next month. Mr Meekings was charged by police after the alleged offence in Inverness city centre on 20 December last year." This probably wont be much of a distraction, but shows he is allegedly not just a bit of a thug, but indeed a homophobic thug.Will this affect his career? I would hope he'll never get signed here anyway. If it were one of our players I would be embarassed and critical of his recruitment. My prediction is that Jim will have a thuggery-mitigating strategy against our larger local rivals, and we'll ultimately win the match. No Pooping On Our Parade.

More Play Less Pay might be the preferred option for him than going back to Aberdeen

Haven't seen the DL squad in action but Miller would have to be pretty good to displace Fraser. Unless Fraser went centre back which seems unlikely. I agree with Bunglebonce, albeit 2 results later: we are doing pretty well though I would not expect us to catch the top 3, and St J are getting further away from us too. We'll need great consistency to maintain top 6 status.

* satisfied grin *

Another week's trial. Have they not yet established if he is Dutch enough?

I thought Woods has talent. I wouldn't give him the dead ball duties and he maybe tried to do too tricky things or otherwise made mistakes, but many times his touch was excellent IMHO.

Woods had a great touch at times. Just not always - otherwise he'd be in the Unglish Premiership. Good footballer. Hopefully he can be that wee bit more accurate, e.g. with free kicks. Spoiled for midfield choice now, but we need a goalie most of all. Within the next 2 hours?

I'm slightly less than midway between suspicious and surprised. Not brave enough to bet against it.

Very good. Carry on.

Not needing more - I'm pretty full up now, thanks.

I'd expect Jim to only sign players he thought potentially better than what we have already - either now or with a bit of development time. Not sure if Irvine would be seduced by Hibs, cautiously optimistic that his happy experience here will clinch another season's stay. Plus no one else has his hair.

But we already have too much money. What's the point?

Nope.

Outrageous! I will concede that 196cm is a very unlikely level of tall. But you are saying there is only 3 inches difference between Wee Billy and Big Dazhol? At least this time of year allows us to really get to the big issues - or the allegedly apparently so-called less big issues.