lady-isobel-barnett

During last season I think we alone never looked likely to be either challenging for the title or getting dragged into the relegation zone. Ayr for a good time and Livingston looked possible league winners. All the clubs below us had nervous spells over a protracted period up until Accies got their points deduction. What added to what I consider a rather unmemorable season were our prompt exits from the cups. Shame as with relatively little to either play for or worry about in the league we would've been able to concentrate on cup ties. This coming season I fancy we'll have a good few more nail biting moments in the league. It would be grand to progress in at least one of the two major cups but I reckon we'll be more concerned about not dropping below mid table. Anyway with less continuity within the squad, and thus more players to bed in, we'll do well to get out of our League Cup group.

1/Ross County 2/St Johnstone 3/Dunfermline 4/Raith Rovers 5/Ayr United 6/Thistle 7/Arbroath 8/Airdrie 9/Morton 10/ Queens Park

Definitely need such a striker. BG's contribution to the attack has been unquestionable. He did tho' have a couple of obvious failings (related). Let's just say he doesn't exactly have the first touch of a Kris Doolan when dealing with long balls out of defence. Latterly Graham tended to play himself into attacks too much. Quite natural as captain/manager but as a penalty box striker not helpful. Besides a striker lying deep needs pace and/or a good first touch for lay offs.

Over and above not winning thru in the play offs the biggest disappointment for me was that the fans were unable to say goodbye to Ethan in a befitting manner.

Go along with this. I thought Mitchell would've been OK for a back up keeper. He was au fait with the defenders, which was a plus. Starting the season with two new keepers won't be ideal but if both are better than Mitchell then it will be worth it.

Somehow I read that as hangover.

I see Paul McDonald (former of this parish) is St Johnstone's new head of academy.

RIP Gordon Not with the Jags that long but played a great part in that great season.

I won't be making it up until later in the week🙂

Perhaps you're right but in doing so (partly at least) RB is heaping praise on Wilson. By indicating Mark's the brains of the outfit Wilson is getting the lion's share of the credit for performances since Doolan's sacking. And of course not everybody was that enamoured with our performances under BG/MW. Personally I thought overall under BG/MW there was an improvement in both tempo and effort. I'm not so naive as to believe all the poor stuff was down to Graham while Wilson can take the credit for the plusses. Be great tho' if that was the case.

I'm a creature of habit and have always bought my 50/50s inside the concourse. That doesn't stop me feeling rather guilty when I pass Ian en-route. Head down and looking slightly away from him, whilst often as not having a secret laugh at his patter. He receives a truly well deserved recognition of his selfless work.

What Barney said. Thanks and all the very best 👍

More or less the answer I was going to give to Lenziejag's query. I'd add by broadening the SD's remit to identifying if not a certain individual player, the "type of player" the Head Coach requires.

I'd keep Mitchell as back up keeper. I kinda like Jakubiak as a squad player.

Worth minding that Graham, but for the odd few minutes after subbing, never "managed" the team during match time. For good or bad any substitutions and tactical/formation changes were largely down to Wilson. Besides Graham due to his advanced position upfield wouldn't be able to read too much into the way a game was progressing. One observation I felt was that Mark wasn't slow in changing things about. On the subject of BG I hope our next captain will play in a position where he'll be more influential. That in itself will help the Wilson. Martin possibly would've been the pick given his deep position but I'd have thought Ashcroft would be a good choice. McBeth looks like a future captain but maybe too early for him.

Lay off of my brown suede shoes* * from his Matalan Mancini album

99 and who's counting!

It's a Head Coach that we're appointing. Knowing the league well would be an asset. The transfer market far less so. Previous performance in the league of less importance to training methods, tactical awareness etc and other attributes associated with being a Head Coach. For instance Ian McCall ticks a few boxes as a Manager but virtually zilch as a Head Coach. Personally I thought McCabe might have been in the frame as he appears to have Airdrie well coached. No way of knowing if he even applied for the job. We certainly wouldn't have approached him as he's still got a playing contract.

Often when I attended the Open I'd take along a pair of binoculars. Need to dig them out for Meadowbank.

Ross County Queen of the South Edinburgh City Stranraer

That's a good point but Barraclough will have I assume a major say in the appointment. Fair to also assume that he doesn't necessarily believe he himself is a risky choice.

If it is indeed Graham then we can expect the usual "jobs for the boys" indignation. This time tho' it's kinda different insomuch as BBG will have gone thru an interview process. Unlike Doolan, Archibald and Britton/Whyte other candidates have been interviewed. Plus we've this time got a football fella having a big say in the appointment. That won't quell the dissenters, and in truth it's all very subjective. It is tho' different from the previous in house managerial appointments.

Leaving Celtic no matter where he goes (in Scotland) Bain will take a wage drop. He's at an age where he maybe wants to get regular starts. Perhaps he won't be anyway near guaranteed that in the Premier League. Perhaps with regular appearance money, plus a good few win bonuses, remuneration in our division won't be that far behind that of lower clubs in the top tier if there's a lot of bench warming involved?

I've seen Thistle sides play at Spartans & East Kilbride. I've not even been in Elgin City's ground. The only one remaining of the senior grounds. Maybe one day!

At least next season we'll have six fewer games played on plastic.