This is a crucial time of year. The January transfer window can be so vital we’ve seen the likes of Ross County make great use of the window and get themselves out of trouble in recent seasons.
Now it’s the turn of Dundee United who find themselves in danger and will have to be better than Houdini at getting out of this situation.
Listen, it’s amazing the difference a new player can make when they walk into the dressing room. It just gives the place such a lift and can be the catalyst for a wee run.
As usual these days the fireworks and great spectacle in England which we see on transfer deadline day – or as it’s known in Scotland ‘Monday’ – won’t filter its way up here.
It’ll be a quiet January but a couple of loan deals or free agents could be the key to a team extracting themselves from a relegation dogfight or pushing for a European spot.
We’ve heard that Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson saying he’ll back the manager in the window but for me they are gone already. They might scrape a play-off at best but that relies on other teams crumbling.
There’s no doubt Mixu will have a lot of contacts in the game but I don’t envisage a great deal of money being spent.
If you’re a supporter, you’ll want something to give you hope ahead of the run-in. It will be interesting to see who they bring in.
If they are successful that could really ramp up the pressure on under-fire Kilmarnock boss Gary Locke who desperately needs to strengthen.
I think the inconsistency they’ve got there is a recipe for disaster but in saying that the likes of Partick Thistle and clubs behind could be drawn into it anytime.
At the other end of the table, Celtic’s defence has been heavily scrutinised but it’s attack for me that could cause them problems.
If Griffiths got injured then you would be relying on Ciftci and we’ve not even seen Carlton Cole yet.
They are not going to get a big marquee signing like they have done down the years such as Robbie Keane or a Craig Bellamy which is the reality fans face these days.
Aberdeen looked nailed on to finish second so a just a tweak here and there from McInnes in the transfer window in case Rooney got injured is all that is required.
I don’t think finishing second to Hearts is a big deal. They’ve already exceeded supporters’ expectations if they could get a good Cup run, finish third and get into Europe then that would be a massive season for them. I can’t see them pushing the boat out trying to finish second.
