frankthetank22

Have we ever seen Curran & Schalk start a game together? I can't think of them being in the same XI.

Some good news in today's P&J. We've not seen him since the thug draper nailed him on the back of his head within 10mins of the cooncil dump match, months ago. The way he'd been playing before he had the concussion problems, he could easily have been our player of the season. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/961609/curran-aiming-for-fresh-start-in-staggies-recovery/? Craig Curran aiming for fresh start in Staggies recoveryRoss County forward Craig Curran did too much too soon in his attempts to recover from a succession of injuries and illness, but is confident his dark days are done. Curran, pictured below, spent several months on the sidelines last season after suffering dizziness, fatigue and headaches following a blow to the head in the 4-0 victory against Kilmarnock last August. Although Curran returned in October, the Englishman broke down again after suffering from glandular fever, and went on to miss almost the entire second half of the campaign. After participating in every training session since the Staggies returned for pre-season last Friday, Curran reckons he is on course for a full recovery. He said: “It has been a long time. It’s the first pre-season I’ve actually looked forward to, even with all the running. “No-one ever wants to miss so much football, and I had two good spells playing last year, but it was marred by the two bad spells as well. “I wanted to push it when it was not the right time. “I knew last year that even when I was trying to get back, I wasn’t right. But it’s a different feeling this time around. I feel a lot better. I’ve got to the point now where I can train and play. “I’ve done all the training with the rest of the squad and all the running. The tough runs have been fine and my fitness levels are good, they’re starting to get back. “Another week or two of football and I’ll be going into the season in better condition than I was last year. That will be a good thing for me, and I’ll be looking to kick on. “I want to make sure I have a good year and stay fit and healthy.†Curran was forced to watch on from the sidelines and the 26-year-old added: “They were probably my two toughest days in football, watching the League Cup semi-final and the final win against Hibs. “I missed a lot of games, and they were all bad days, but I was thrilled for everyone when we won the League Cup. “But I’m not going to dwell on the past, I’ve got my mind on the future.â€

Is Craig Curran going to be able to start the new season?

352, looking at how we and our season developed, last season, I think 352 is the way forward for us. 442 with a striker on fire in Liam Boyce did us well at the start of last season and caught out a good few of our competitors but as the season progressed teams found us out and overran our soft midfield. Sacrificing a defender for a holding midfielder (Routis) makes sense to me, as it allows McIntyre to still play with two upfront, although it means we depend a lot on the work rate of our widemen, Gardyne and another (Foster if he stays maybe).

Tata ginger pele Also cograts on passing your management degree the other day

A six figure bid from Burton Albion has been rejected I think Jackson could well sign on for another year as he's clearly enjoying his role at the club but if he's not prepaired to sign hopefully Stubbs at Rotherham can help drive the price up

400k wtf! We got 100k for Luckassen(sp?). He's young, under contract, a currant international player start the bidding at £1.2m

Ouch, low blow.

All good then, surely that'll help convince him to move up north

C'mon Liam, bag a hattrick ðŸ‘

There's a good chance that it's total bull$hit as the sun and bbc are saying the same thing, without any quotes from the club.

As I said on OTB, on first impressions I'm not impressed but I'm hopeful of an improved training gear range.

I had deliberately avoided talking about our central midfield options in my post above as it seems to be a contentious issue with a wide range of opinions. I know there has been a big call for us to sign a big tough robust ball winning central midfielder (aka Ross Draper type) but with the four we currently have Woods, Irvine, Murdoch and McShane I can't see it happening, without one of those four moving on. I also believe that McIntyre is a bit of a gambler and will (usually) always push for a winner rather than settle for a draw, I've really liked our quick attacking style and McIntyre's insistence on playing two attackers as well as two wingers, whether that be 442 or 352. Therefore, I think he is prepared to sacrifice a holding midfield place for a potentially more dynamic central midfield, that is a bit soft when it comes to winning the ball back. That said, out of the four I think Woods and Irvine are by far our best two. McShane has proven that he definitely has something but needs to impose himself a little more in games next season but he's had a good debut season in the top division. It's Murdoch who I'm not so sure about, he's looked good in matches and like the hardest of our four midfielders yet in matches (ict & hearts particularly) he has been rag dolled and cast aside with ease, also his passing range/creativity is not in the same league as Woods or McShane. If there is to be change imo it would be Murdoch out for an improved holding midfielder but I could live with who we already have.

Thanks for posting that Forfinn, it's good to see the squad listed like that so we can see the areas where we need to strengthen. I'd be delighted if Gary Woods signs on permanently with us, does anyone know if he is a free agent from Leyton Orient this summer? Scott Fox is without doubt our No.1 but Gary played in a good number of games (including the cup final) so he's more than just a back up, if Fox's form were to slip I'd have no doubt McIntyre would put Woods in the team. I think Fraser will ultimately move into the centre of defence, whether this season or next, as I see that as his best position (playing/training with Davies and Quinn must be great for his development). I can see this being at the expense of Scott Boyd who has been a great club servant/ambassador but just isn't good enough for the top flight nowadays. Therefore if Fraser were to get more match time in the centre, another experienced RB is essential. Erik Cikos would be a good signing, hopefully he's keen to return as I thought he was destined to play at a higher level than we could offer him at the time. (indeed he was called up and made his international debut after his loan spell with us in 2014, he also went on to play and score in the Champions League (qualifiers) for Slovan Bratislava after his loan spell with us too) He's 27 i think now and if Jim can get him anywhere near as fit and eager to run up and down that right flank as he was two years ago then he will be our first choice RB. I do wonder what went so wrong for him in 2015 and 2016? As well as an experienced RB (Cikos or another) I think we need another LB as after breaking into the first team I'd like to see McLaughlin loaned out so that he gets a full season (or maybe even 6 months) playing regular first team football at LB, this experience after breaking into our first XI would hopefully see him return to us as a better player. Foster has proven to be a good first choice left back but due to his versatility (he had an amazing game on the left wing against Aberdeen), I'd like to see another LB to replace the already departed Reckord so Jim has the option to utilize Foster's versatility/pace elsewhere in the team. And as Forfinn has highlighted above, wide midfielders for either side are also required as Dingwall and De Vita just haven't made any impact on the first XI this season at all. I personally had really high expectations of De Vita after the spell he had on our left wing between February and May in 2015 but for whatever reason it just hasn't worked this season. Tony Dingwall to me is a bit of an enigma, we all really want him to do so well and maybe he feels that pressure from the fans (of being the "local lad") but again as with De Vita, for whatever reason it just hasn't happened this season. What age is Tony, 21/22? Maybe a loan spell is worth a go in order for him to get a good run of matches under his belt and he can get used to influencing games in the positive way we all know he can. We've been very lucky this season that Gardyne's form has been so good and that he's stayed fit for as long as he has done. I'd prefer him to play on the right more often, as I feel he's more of an attacking threat coming from there but as there's no real other option for the left, he's had to play there for a majority of our games. Franks has been indifferent, it took a while for him to get a run of games and he's very right footed but he has real pace to terrify any LB. Improved consistency with his crossing would be helpful but you can say that about most wingers. One last thing, Up front. Curran/ Boyce, Graham/ Schalk have looked great for us this season, we're so lucky to have these attacking options. I don't feel we need David Goodwillie (thank you for the goal at Hearts on Saturday though) but in order to give us options for when injuries hit us I'd like to see Kyle MacLeod used as I think he's got great strength and willing and with good attacking coaching from Jim and Billy, Kyle could develop and become a top striker for us. Anyway, in short, keep Gary Woods, let Goodwillie, De Vita and Boyd go, loan out Dingwall and McLaughlin and strengthen the wide areas!

I hope for Liam's sake he gets into the squad and gets some playing time in the finals but I fear his chance may be gone due to his loss of form and the emergence of Washington. Hopefully he bags a couple of hat-tricks for us before now and the end of the season, we're giving him plenty game time and creating plenty of chances for him!

Great news, I genuinely feared he was going to sign for another SPFL rival.

Heats away for the themed away-day would be great. Has a decision about the theme been made, would it be Hawaiin again??

Yet another good day to be a Staggie, Cheers Canning & McGovern McIntyre for manager of the season?

Congratulations to Jackson Irvine for winning player of the month for March 2016 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35964135

I was just discussing his achievements at work yesterday afternoon, getting two teams (united and york) relegated in the one season is impressive stuff, hopefully he's in the running to replace ronny!

Plus it was draper who finished Craig Curran's season with a scything tackle from behind 18 minutes into the game on the 2nd January. What a bunch of hammer throwers and so much for getting protection from the officials, they seem to openly encourage the thuggery. (I'm really missing Craig :-( from the first team) ((pessimistic comment about league position removed at behest of Stagsby, plus I've heard Curran is feeling fit and itching to return and could be back before the season ends 😀))

Why away end?? Try for the mallard, balantyne or the bar at the stadium.

Curran is better and does more to benefit the team imo I hope Alex signs up for next season, it's Liam Boyce who needs to find form fast if he wants to make it into the Northern Ireland Euro squad. There's every chance Schalk, Graham and maybe Goodwillie are ahead of him to start on Wednesday and also Saturday.

Supergran, just about to fly away??

I hear we've signed an American keeper,Chris Konopka.