Four signings — starters, not squad players

You can be an optimist and still be realistic. I think the four players we've brought in are more likely to be starters than squad fillers, and that's worth sticking up for.

I get the instinct to hope for one big name, but I don't see the four signings as merely depth. Call me optimistic, but I reckon they look like starters — the sort you build a side around rather than toss on the bench and hope for the best. That doesn't mean the window is closed. It just means we shouldn't write off what we've already got.

Why I see them as starters is simple. When you bring players in and they fit obvious needs, they don't automatically slot into backup roles. Fans often assume anyone not branded a marquee arrival is a squad player. That's a narrow way of looking at it. The best teams in Scotland have often been assembled from pieces that complement one another rather than one huge signing propping up a group of average men. I can see how some supporters are still waiting for a headline, but the sensible read is to judge the lads on the park, not the sticker price.

Do we need a marquee to be competitive? No. The sum can be greater than the parts. It's not glamorous to say it, but cohesion, work-rate and a clear idea from the manager will get you far in this league. You can have a couple of very good players and a strong group around them and be a well-balanced team. I'd rather have four players who start week in, week out, than one flashy name and a threadbare squad behind him.

There's also the McInnes question. I hope he can replicate the sort of improvement people credit him with elsewhere — turning players into better versions of themselves and getting teams organised. At the same time I'm not blindly trusting reputation. I want to see it on the pitch. Pre-season and the opening fixtures will tell us more than speculation ever did. Until then, it's fair to be hopeful and cautious at the same time.

So where does that leave us? Keep expectations measured. Give the new lads a chance to settle in their roles. Don't automatically downgrade them to squad players just because they weren't splashed across the tabloids. If we get a couple more additions, brilliant. If not, there's still a basis here to build a competitive side. For my part, I need games to start — that's when opinions become evidence and hope becomes either justified or not. Until then, I'm willing to back the four we've got as likely starters and judge the rest when the whistle blows.

Written by Angus1812: 18 July 2026