Hopeless Unbeliever

Good point re: Robertson, I genuinely had no idea and had him pegged about 28+. I thought he looked very cumbersome early in the season but overall I think he's done enough to earn a new deal, albeit I'd still like to see another centre half added if Jackie intends to go 3-5-2, although I suspect he might see Paton's future here given we have Murray and Rowson in central midfield. Would give us someone who can actually distribute the ball from defence with some accuracy, but a defence of Paton, Robertson Archie would worry me from a pace point of view. Would rather have Robertson than Keddie certainly, not sure about Canning. Saying he had to put up with playing with Scott Boyd looks a bit silly when Boyd has just been one of the stand out players for a team who walked the league.

Anecdotal of course, but my father was selling 'Save The Jags' pins in our local pub in 1997. Upon offering one to a patron of the Orange persuasion, he was promptly told that said patron did not give a f*** about the Jags. He did then offer to sell said moron a 'f*** the Jags' pin instead, but that didn't seem to work either.

Can certainly see why Hibs want Cairney on this evidence, although unless they make big changes they're going to be in another relegation battle next season, especially assuming Griffiths goes back to Wolves.

Just make sure the payments are being made, I wouldn't expect anything until the usual sending out time for season tickets which is in July. As if by magic after mentioning it yesterday the first payment was taken from my account today.

Same, sent 4 post dated cheques a few weeks ago, first payment was due to be taken 30th April but nothing so far.

Mark Corcoran has played significantly less in the first division this season than Tommy Stewart (Corcoran has played 843 minutes to Stewarts 938), who I wouldn't say has 'featured much' for us this season (although most would say too much before the usual jokers get in). It's not a completely unreasonable assertion that he hasn't featured much, especially given he's played so little in such a small squad (only 3 players have played less, most of whom have been injured or frozen out most of the season).

Does that mean we are no longer pursuing Welsh and have switched our attentions elsewhere or we are also talking to someone else (Murray?) in addition to Welsh?

Have to admit to being slightly concerned by this, they have always been very approachable and I've never had any doubt that they had anything but the good of the club at heart. They have acted as a reassuring factor in the gradual Europa takeover at Firhill and the fact that they are leaving is disconcerting, however time will tell. Hopefully it's just a case of them feeling they've served enough time and their departure is wholly amicable. Saw THW Twit tweeting that they would be no great loss, I would heartily disagree and hope that there is nothing sinister to this and they are recognised appropriately for their time and commitment to the club over the years.

I think Alan's team is spot on, I'd probably go for Balatoni ahead of Kinniburgh just because I think he'll be closer to full match fitness but other than that I like that team.

He turned 21 2 weeks ago, calling that mid 20s is ridiculous, as is saying if he hasn't fulfilled his potential now he never will. I was not a fan of Balatoni at first but you could see the improvement in his game week on week, especially when he got a bit of confidence. I think he certainly has the potential to be a bottom half SPL player at worst for most of his career, needs to work on his strength a bit perhaps but his distribution and positioning are excellent. Centre half is usually a position it takes players a bit longer to blossom in, look at David Weir or even Phil Jones, for all his ability going forward he is still a bombscare at the back. I would take him back in a heartbeat, he is only going to improve and he is already better than any other option we have at centre half (Kinniburgh possibly excepted). I'm not convinced he is going to get an SPL contract or a contract down south at this moment though, I think he might be best signing up at Firhill until the end of the season.

Is it bad that I'm jealous of the passion their situation generates amongst their fanbase as ours dwindles with apathy? http://www.darlofc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15733&p=194220#p194220

His goal against Celtic was a Roberts-esque 25 yard effort, he scored a well taken goal against Berwick but it wasn't that similar to Friday's goal, not sure he has scored any others this season.

You were talking in your opening post about the end of the season. For Celtic to consider McNamara after 1 season of football if they've sacked another rookie manager, I think Jackie would have to win the league by about 20 points and have very good runs in the cups for him to catch Celtic's eye ahead of other more experienced managers. It's good tongue in cheek speculation, but it has no basis in reality at this point, nor will it have at the end of the season.

Not now.

They were both truly memorable but that was 05/06 (I think?), we've already lost 2 out of 7 league games this season to last minute goals. Most teams' fans are going to think they get the short straw in terms of last minute goals but I think we've got more of a case than most.

Fox Paton Balatoni Archibald Sinclair Campbell Cairney Rowson Flannigan(/Erskine) Doolan Stewart Subs: Scully Robertson/Lindsay Elliot Bannigan Erskine(/Flannigan)

It's worth saying in their defence that they were up against the best defence in the league today.

When are you getting the job?

I think Robertson is just slow, but he did ok with it today, never going to do much with the ball but closed down well and was a physical presence. Think Riley might have been offside for the goal, came from Sinclair taking a touch too many but it was a terrible terrible decision. Have to agree with Fearchar's assessment of the game although I think both the Dundee centre backs are actually relatively decent with the ball at feet.

It looks like a template app which they would make for all teams, and would only give you links to Evening Times articles and results and other stuff you could just as easily find on here or the official site, wouldn't bother.

Pretty sure it was Dooooolan.

Done. Ian Flannigan's top from last season is sitting proudly at the bottom of my drawer.

Any news?

McNamara did mention on the OS that the team would be full of trialists and fringe players. I appreciate not everyone reads that but there was always a good chance given it's five days until our first competitive game, it was certainly why I never bothered heading along.

Can I just get this straight, people are refusing to buy the new strip because of this photo? Can anyone explain the rationale behind this because I'm genuinely perplexed.