JeanieD

I suspect Stirling will be kept aside for one or other of the bigot twins. As an aside the flakey nature of this tournament now means that Dundee now know exactly what they need to do to get into the next round, which does seem a little "Austria/Germany" (for our older readers).

Possibly got what we deserved - beat the so-called big team in the Group and cannot beat the so-called (other) minnows - a familiar tale. Spoke a bit prematurely ............... but shouldn't mask a fragility in the current squad which doesn't auger well for the season.

Worth remembering that regardless of what Falkirk and D. United do this evening, The Spartans could still win the group - so it is even more complicated than suggested above.

Prudham played only 4 or 5 games (I think) - scored goals for fun - even managed to get sent off after one game - certainly entertaining.

Best ever loanee was surely Eddie Prudham

"Win one" penalty shoot-out "Lose one" penalty shoot-out

The "powers-that-be" seem to have a history of taking the biggest bid that delivers the smallest audience, generates diminished interest and then collapses. They deserve congratulations for consistency if nothing else.

I should also have added that in 1971 we played 12 games in order to win the trophy (it would have been 10 but for the "supplementary play-off round" against Alloa) - this year the probable winner will have played all of 4 ties - and yet, as has been stated above, it will potentially be heralded as part of a glorious "treble".

Back in 1971 there was no preferential treatment for the "bigger" clubs, there was no seeding to give the "bigger clubs" an easier ride into the latter stages to which they have already been parachuted in the first place - there was also no nonsense like 5 team groups (with all the potential for "manufactured" results that that could bring) and no bonus points for penalty kick winners. In my view the competition itself has been devalued by these changes and that, as a cup competition, it certainly isn't what it used to be - mind you neither is the so called "Champions League" which is as far away from the format of the old European Cup as the Viaplay Cup is from the old League Cup. Perhaps these changes haven't exactly made it a "diddy" cup but they certainly haven't, in my view, enhanced it in comparison with its predecessor.

If we win - we are striding purposefully toward the quarter-finals at least and possibly beyond to cup glory If we lose - it's a manufactured diddy competition anyway and who cares about glorified pre-season friendlies!!

As regards rail stations Kilbowie was very close to Singer, our former ground at Meadowside was very close to Partick West, and Cathkin was but a poorly directed goal kick away from Crosshill station similarly Station Park Forfar is well named - common theme seems to be that combinations of these grounds, clubs and/or stations no longer exist. (The same might apply with regard to Ibrox and "Ibrox/Copland Rd. subway station with regard to the demise of that club but that is perhaps a conversation for another day).

I only remember it because it was the day after my sister’s wedding and it was almost as tedious!!!

Think it is April 9 1983 0-0 Somner wasn't playing for Accies that day (unless he is the mysterious "Newman" listed as a sub) but all the other Jags (if correctly identified) were apparently. As I recall it was one of the most dire games of football I have ever witnessed - both sides were lucky to get 0.

(O’Hara behind) Watson, McNab, Dunlop and MacDonald v Hamilton away????

Could we not ask QP to bring our game forward by 4 days?

............................. in the vein of turning up at another club's celebrations I suspect Airdrie away is also a possibility

Perhaps worth considering that we had one of the oldest first eleven sides ever fielded by the club last season. Some managers have been successful as regards youth in the past (early 70s for example) whereas others, whilst relatively successful, tended to recruit tried and trusted older players who were familiar to them (much of the 80s in various spells). Difficult to see where we are going right now but perhaps it’s safe to assume that there might be a pre-disposition toward younger recruits.

I suspect at least half (if not more) of any signings will be loans - inevitably done very close to the start of the new season - so it might be difficult to assess how things are going to develop until after the transfer window - by which time it will either be too late, at least until the January window, or we will have struck a winning formula and be walking away with the league by early December (I fear I know which scenario might be the more likely).

I fear this has the potential to descend into the time honoured "happy clappy" v. "doom-mongers" bitch-fest.

For me - and this is only a personal observation and possibly a statement of the bleedin' obvious - the problem with Firhill is the JH stand being quite so big and probably taking up most of the maintenance expenditure with the inevitable result that the rest of the ground has become a bit squalid (for want of a better term). The JL is adequate in a basic 90 mins a fortnight type of way but the Bing and the Main Stand are - as been said on here already - a bit of an embarrassment. Hindsight is 20-20 but the development of the ground in the past 30 or so years was dictated by prejudiced SPL rules at the time (which subsequently were ignored and led to impoverishment and relegation). Not sure of a viable solution but a new ground might work - or even a total rebuild on the same site with a couple of years ground sharing? Problem with any solution is that it is absolutely beyond the financial means of the club both now and in the short, medium and even long term so we are effectively tied into the existing situation and will probably just have to make the most of it.

It will be interesting to see the age and type of player(s) (if any!) are recruited this close season. The conventional wisdom seems to be that, given the financial situation at the club, winning the league, or qualifying for the play-offs is almost certainly out-with the potential capabilities of the squad that is being assembled (or, if you prefer, dismantled). In that respect the development of a squad that could challenge nearer to the top of the league in future years would seem to be a priority - quite how this can be achieved remains - at least to me - a huge challenge and I do not envy Dools (and the rather anonymous Board) that task.

Pre-seasons just aren't the same anymore since the demise of the Highland Tours

Just had a look at it "in the flesh" as-it-were. Seems rather dull - red is almost maroonish and the black stripes, arms and shoulders are obviously less than colourful - mind you its a lovely bright day and everyone seems to be wearing bright clothes so perhaps on a wet Tuesday November evening at Cappielow the strip won't look quite so dull.

Given past evidence they might try to get their B team into the English Premier League now..............................

Three stripes (deck-chair?) - basically the 22/23 Barcelona strip with yellow replacing blue - as well as perhaps a slight disparity regarding the ability of those wearing them.