Panda

Revised line-up since despite being back in training Mackenzie doesn't look like he'll make it, we don't appear to be signing a LCB this week and David Bates is probably in no fit state to play after flying to Poland and then not signing. Roberts may get thrown in, but I think Goodwin will be reluctant to have two debutants with Coulson surely certain to start - unless he's thinking of Hayes at LB, but why sign a LB then do that? Less confident that I would be with Barron, Scales and the midfield version of McCrorie all playing.

Hancock joins Arbroath on loan, for real this time. That Bates and Hancock have been allowed to leave suggests Goodwin has a signing up his sleeve. About time too, it's been nearly two days since the last one.

David Bates linked with a 500,000 euros move to Legia Warsaw. Do they not realise we'd be happy to punt him for free? Anyway, no arguments any more on the need for another central defender. Left footed please.

Because having right footed players playing there last season (McCrorie and Bates) didn't work. It was one of the big issues that led to Glass being a failure. Another one was McCrorie not being in midfield. You named seven players. Two have played LCB and struggled. Two have never played a top team game at CB. One can't play on Sunday. One is rumoured to be leaving. One should be midfield. Two need to be going out on loan. One is injury prone. I'll be disappointed if we don't sign another defender.

Last season, Jim Goodwin picked up maximum points in the League Cup group stage, then failed to win the any of the first six Premiership games - including a 6-0 shagging by Celtic - got knocked out of the league cup before August was done, and didn't pick up a first three points of the season until the end of September when *checks notes* Aberdeen visited Paisley. Still, moving on.. If Scales could play on Sunday I would actually fancy us for a point as the defence has been fairly settled, Ramadani & McCrorie look good together in midfield, and Hayes & Kennedy have impressed and look hungry. But if we're having to rearrange the defence and midfield, and maybe giving Coulson a debut, it's not ideal for a visit to Celtic Park. I don't want to see McCrorie in defence. We need his energy in midfield. Based on the current group of players available I'd go with (see image) If Mackenzie is fit then I'd play him at LB. More experienced than Hancock, and while I know little of Coulson - going by reports he's more of a winger that's been moved to LB and I think we'll be doing a lot of defending on Sunday. I'm basically just picking what I know. Bates I don't think is as bad as many make out, he's just not comfortable on the left. I'd move Stewart across and start Bates. Hoping Celtic are rusty having not played competitively, and we can get in there and rattle them.

We need another central defender, preferably one that can play on the left. We're still a Scales injury away from having the exact same issue as last season in playing two right footers in defence. Midfield wise, it needs to be Ronan or someone of that ilk, someone who is obviously improving the side. Not to be negative, and obviously I'll wait until I see these guys play to make a proper judgement, but I'm not as excited by all these signings as everyone else. Good (on paper): Miovski, Ramadani, Stewart, Scales. And all four have looked good so far, albeit v lower league teams. But... We've signed two players (Richardson & Roberts) who were playing national league football last season. Roos was a bit part player at Derby Coulson was shipped out on loan twice last season (Ipswich & Peterborough) and struggled for game time at both. Duk (Benfica B) We've got positions filled that we needed filled, and that's good, but I don't need to hear the next signing played 10 games last season at Cheltenham, or was a stand out in the South London pub league. Because at the minute it's Gurr, Jenks, Longstaff and JET vibes.

Can anyone start the match thread or is there a tradition in place? I want to explain to everyone why I think Matt Kennedy will be MVP.

"Two or three more" according to Goodwin this morning. Connor Ronan, Michael Hector and Aaron Ramsey, and then we're done.

Or play Stewart on the left (he played there at times for Wycombe), play Milne on the right, McCrorie into midfield, and we romp to the three points.

A young guy that's played the last year at LB, thrown in at CB against the champions? No, I won't allow it Rico.

Talking of left-backs - Hayden Coulson the next name linked. Currently at Middlesbrough but was most recently on loan at Peterborough. Had a loan spell at St Mirren in 2018, managing to miss when Goodwin played and managed there. Seems to be a very attack minded defender, also playing both wing-back and as an attacking midfielder last season. He favours the left but can also play on the right - even playing as a right winger at times for Middlesbrough. He also played once at centre forward for St Mirren against Celtic (game finished 0-0).

In his loan spell at Stirling, and all his games this season, he's been at left back. If he can play both though then that's handy.

Goodwin on record as saying he wants a left back. Which suggests Hancock will go out on loan before the window closes.

I would take Dunne. A left sided defender is what we need and a bit of competition for places between him and Scales is healthy. Also, if he's signed before the Celtic game, it means McCrorie can play in midfield which I think is a big thing. Yes the standard of opposition hasn't been great but I would argue he's been our best player so far - three goals, effective partnership with Ramadani, getting box to box, also getting wide and putting in crosses, and generally setting the tempo. I think we will be badly missing all that at Parkhead if he goes into defence. So aye, get Dunne in. I would probably still rather we kept Bates and sent Milne out on loan rather than have him kicking his heels on the bench, but I'll be surprised if Bates isn't away soon.

Genuinely can't remember the last time I was at a game we won 3-0 so I'll take that. Not a vintage performance but had a friendly feel to it - they knew the group was won as soon as the penalty went in, Raith had a few half chances but generally offered little, and I think there was one eye on Celtic. Might sound and odd thing to say, but least seven in the starting line-up have never played Celtic away before, 60,000 on their flag day, huge game. I think it's hard to not be thinking about that and wanting to get through the 90 minutes without an injury. Until they get there of course and realise Celtic's famous atmosphere is only reserved for the Champions League. I think we'll find the intensity will be a lot higher this weekend. It'll have to be.

Rules: 1. One name per points tally for the season, first come first served! 2. Only allowed to change prediction until closure of January transfer window as along as it is to an empty tally. 114 100 90 80 79 78 77 76 75 Panda 74 73 72 71 TLG 70 69 Madbadteacher 68 67 66 65 - manc 64 63 DantheDon 62 61 60 - BigAl 59 58 57 56 - Wee Toon Red 55 54 53 - Tom_Widdows 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20

Miovski will definitely play according to Goodwin. He's just deciding whether to start him or if it'll be from the bench. Barron out for another four weeks.

I'd keep Bates - I think we're short in defence still. But if you can only really play RCB and the fella in front of you is captain, you may as well go. Would be nice to get some cash for him. I still think Charles Dunne wouldn't be a bad signing to give us another option on the left. Wonder if Shayden Morris signing is us giving up on Connor Ronan, as can't see us spending £1m on both of them. Going by reports Ronan had a very good game for Wolves against Levante. Played as a deep-lying playmaker. So it's very likely Wolves will only allow him out on loan at best (which, I guess, might actually make the move more realistic if we do buy Morris)

Also think a win in this one is the difference between being seeded or not for the last 16?

I'm heading up the road for this game, so fully expecting our little bubble to burst. Hoping Miovski gets a run out. Kinda torn on the defence. Part of me wants to see Scales, but part of me wants to see us line-up with the team that's gonna play v Celtic. Would keep McCrorie in midfield. Celtic won't be firing on all cylinders on day one so let's go at them, and McCrorie in midfield I think is key to that.

Duk has trained three times in six weeks according to Goodwin, so he's miles off the pace. Barron to miss the Raith & Celtic games it seems, but Mackenzie back training next week. Goodwin also admitted McCrorie moving into defence late on was him beginning to prepare for the Celtic game, with Scales not available. Though says Bates and Milne also being considered.

Duk getting 45 minutes apparently. And, big news.....apparently it's pronounced Dook as opposed to Duck.

I might be completely wrong about this, but with Duk being Portuguese and them being in the EU, I think his Visa application should be quicker. Even though the U.K. isn't in the EU, I think applicants from there tend to have less problems. But, fuk knows. Miovski is a wide player, number 10 and striker I'm sure. Some talk that Ramirez's family arrived yesterday so who knows.

I'm fairly confident that's just a light shade of red. But, to be fair, I did have to give it a second look.

Point of order: The live text is provided by Opta, as are the match stats. True story.