Douglas Oliver

Unless things reach Martin-esque depths this season, I think he will start next season with us. If we end 26-7season as league champions I would hope he’d stay another season to build on it, but he’ll certainly have offers if we win under him…and he would have a decision to make.

It would be nice not to have to think about a new manager for at least a couple of seasons; but that will depend on results.

Yes, and I think he’ll be able to pick a more attractive job than us, should he want.

Might as well get Muscat’s too, as the concerns and ultimate reason for declining are believed to be Thelwell in both cases. Either way, Rohl is our manager now and hopefully he succeeds.

Nine points back with a game in hand. It’s a long way but not insurmountable. Hearts should arguably have lost to St. Mirren and Dundee Utd before the break, so they appear to be regressing to their mean. As long as we keep winning in the league, anything is possible.

We’re getting wins. I am hopeful the performances will come; but not certain as I have doubts about a lot of the players in this squad.

They won’t sack him, and it’s the right decision not to. This looks just like the title defence under Klopp, without the massive squad overhaul and summer tragedy. There were two prolonged winless runs that season, but they got it together enough to finish fourth.

I think these will be the rule for a little while - win without emphasising performance. Rohl clearly understands his brief is to win now and try and coax consistent performances from the players as we go. Unlucky losing both Souttar and Cornelius over the break but we won with their stand-ins.

Not complaining - Danilo deserves a run and we have to get Miovski going - but curious.

Chermiti not in the matchday squad. Is he also injured?

Hopefully, he will stand by that. The side is at the end of a cycle and I think Scotland has some very good young players who might not get a look in if Clarke stays on.

I think this actually works out…Clarke leads the team over here next summer and steps down at the end of the tournament (surely he can’t stay on past it, barring actually winning the WC), on “his” terms. Then a new man comes in - and Clarke’s pals are finally dropped, for good.

Philly is the closest host city to me. If Scotland plays a match there, I may see about driving up.

Congrats on qualifying! I’ve been as critical of Clarke as anyone but today was about topping the group - nothing else mattered! Perhaps our nations will meet over here next Summer

Yes, and consistent improved league form and results is something substantial build on.

I’m pleased we are building momentum in the league. For so long we came a cropper at places like Dens and Rugby Park. We are starting to win there again ; hoping consistency in the league translates to proper title challenges. We’ve still got a ways to go for that.

I don’t think Rohl set us up like that; our senior players should be pushing us on, getting the side to up its tempo, etc.

The gulf in class was apparent during the opening minutes. Dens on Sunday is the really important one.

Now we’re 2-0 down. Gulf in class is obvious here.

He may come good but right now he just isn’t reliable.

Quite possibly. At any rate, if Rohl decides stripping Tav would not be worth the possible dressing room problems, not offering him a new contract will ensure a new captain for next season.

GRC is absolutely correct in that removing a captain is not something done lightly and if Rohl won’t consider such a move until he has more credit in the bank, that’s perfectly reasonable. I see all the instability and changes we’ve tried and can’t understand why a captaincy change seems off-limits

I don’t think there will be incoming without outgoings. I expect we will largely stand Pat and see what Rohl can do with this group of players. Not what many want to hear, but…

Either way that will be Rohl’s call.

That will have to be Rohl’s decision and there are always multiple factors to consider with such a decision. But I think there is a way it can be done while minimising the dissent

The entire squad has been a bomb scare for most of the season, Tav included. We’re on opposite ends of this, fair enough. I look at the frailty and weak mentality amongst the players and am willing to question if our captain is still the right man and am willing to try something different.

2) leader we need? Do we want to improve and start consistently winning? We’ve tried hustling about everything else and there is a rot that still remains.

Why? He’s a 34 year old full back who has had some good performances and some bad performances and will rightly be remembered as a club legend. But we’re not winning things, we are churning through managers and players. Why is he exempt from scrutiny? Why are we so afraid to even consider he is not

2) Overnight improvement is unlikely but it introduces a different dynamic and how we start/finish matches under him should be apparent pretty quickly.

My preference is strip Tav, appoint Raskin, and see how he performs in that role. I have a suspicion he will thrive and the players will respond to his leadership. If I am wrong I will hold my hand up. We’ve tried everything else, why not this?