lady-isobel-barnett

How very appropriate. Instead of penalty shoot outs I'd have the respective team's chairmen draft a press release on how the game went. The club whose chairman made the most obscure reference to the actual score go into the next round.

Include me out, AJ. I get over optimistic about every season so I'm just playing to form. I was one who thought Stuart Taylor would be the missing piece of the jigsaw. I fancied Tommy Stewart for 15-20 goals this time last season. What I will say that since McCall arrived on the scene our players have looked fit & fresh but this is the first season at this time I think they've looked match fit. I hope that'll be the difference and there I go again with the optimism. But it's a different sort of optimism this time at least based on something a tad more obvious than false hopes about a couple players doing the business.

Was thinking that myself from the other angle. I don't think Black in particular has been plagued with injuries and he was a surprise release from Hearts as it is. Surely, unless there's underlying personal problems, the guy could get fixed up in the lower SPL Shades of Stevie Tosh methinks. Difference being Ugly Coupon managed to bail out well before the shit hit the fan (or maybe Gretna had more than one fan). No guarantees with sevco, so even if him and Beattie were on decent wages they could easily write off a month or so wages if/when administration calls again. And there's no obvious signs they'll have the same length of innings Mileson's Mercenaries enjoyed.

That would go someway to explaining his departure. He'd have been fourth choice right back and even further down the pecking order for a midfield berth.

DPs right about the text. Trick is to convey all of above in as few words as possible. That way you can get the message over in larger print. I've not done press releases/poster stuff for over 20 years and it shows ...... .......... "SELL OUT SATURDAY!". .......... Partick Thistle V Falkirk F.C @ Firhill...Sat 11th Aug (KO 3pm) .......Come help The Jags get the new league campaign off to a great start ........ Concessions- *All full-time Students *Youths (16-21) *Senior (65+) .................... *AND all Under 16s FREE!!! .................Support Scottish Football & Your Local Team !

From what I recall Stevenson's attitude was excellent Colin played in a good under 19 side. Iirc he played at left centre back tho' I think he was naturally right sided. He wasn't that tall but timed his headers well. Looked like he read the game well. I guess his injury came at the very worst possible time and tho' the Club were fair to him it must have hampered his development. Also when McNamara took over he was critical of the youth coaching system so it would've been doubly hard for Colin being injured when he could've been loaned out. Good to hear he's impressing. Btw was he playing centreback or holding midfield?

I said before that a couple of the officials at Blyth were keen on Spartans visiting. That wouldn't be bad shout if part of a mini tourney.

If we see a few goals of the quality of Bannigan's yesterday I'll be more than pleased. That was skillful, pacy and imaginative.

Were you at the friendly with Alloa, Alan? Just I usually have a pie and I mind getting a sausage & bacon roll instead. That was good value at £1.50 and also the lentil soup was no bad.

I take it you meant Dunfermline, Ian. If not you really have been working too hard.

Wild guess, they're practising for their olympic duties. Not much else makes any sense

There was, for want of a better word, a handful of casuals lurking about after our game. The polis did their bit and escorted them back down Garscube Rd. Doesn't explain or excuse why they were in the ground in such numbers.

Doolan had a slight injury about a week ago. That's why he didn't feature at the training day

Yeh, we've all seen good pre-season displays followed by disappointing seasons but that's usually due to gently played and paced friendlies. I've only seen today's and the Alloa game but it's apparent that the fitness levels are exceptional. Another bonus is that most of the new guys are impressing. There's very little to be despondent about. I'd be surprised if we'll suffer from lack of goals from midfield and it looks as if the defence will be OK and in any case well protected. Once again a big doubt will be whether the strikers will be clinical enough but that's always the case. Looks like Elliot will be more physical and maybe that will help up his goal rate.

Some good points made. I can't see how it could be termed value for money if a parent taking along a couple of kids would be out of pocket £35. And if there's ever a time when family packages should be taken extra seriously it would be on occasions such as today and tomorrow. The counter argument to that would be you're getting two games for the price of one and we look after the kids for 18 league games. Bottom line not being able to make a day of it and no provision for kids killed it as a crowd puller. Playing our game today second would have made an improvement but tbh I feel that would've been barely marginal. Should really add that getting folk to turn up for what's little more than a couple of friendlies is never going to be easy so I don't think anyone should be too critical. From the playing side there's that bit more edge to the two games and that could be valuable.

33 mins according to traveline.

Well don't be too quick to blame the Club. This sounds to me that Strathclyde polis have waded in big time. It wouldn't even surprise me given today's announcement re the Olympics in Glasgow if there's a connection. The Club would certainly have wanted the Aitken & Rough bars open. I don't think they would've been so silly to advertise a "Day Pass" and sincerely trust they make it plain and simple tomorrow that it's once in that's it. Btw don't take any stick off our Glasgow neighbours. If it wasn't for them and their ex rivals we wouldn't have had such draconian nonsense in the first place. I'd imagine anyone who has pre purchased tickets would be due a refund.

Any competitive games where you can play your fringe players should be welcome. I'd like us to have a fairly settled first team but the downside to that is you can have up to a dozen of your squad getting little competitive match time.

No trains. Bus from Dundee shouldn't take long tho'.

The transfer ban isn't much of a punishment anyway. They'll have enough in quality to win Div 3. I wasn't keen on a Scottish Cup ban as it kinda effects other clubs re lack of a pay day. Also the status of the competition would be reduced a bit like yon time Man Utd buggered off to South America.

I thought that was part of the plan. That's why most of them only wanted newco out the picture for one season. They'll vote to change the 11-1 structure then divi up any TV money more equally. Sadly "more equally" doesn't mean larger leagues, play offs etc. Back to the turkeys/xmas situation no doubt.

I'm sure they were called sevco earlier in the day on the SFL site. Changed it to Rangers now.

Queen's Park in particular should do very nicely. Can't see them groundsharing to get the running track in this season. Meanwhile over at Sevco Central I see, and I kid not, they've got a new investor called Guy Gisborne. I wonder when Green (should that be Lincoln Green?) will inform the SFA that he's really the Sheriff of Nottingham. Fit and proper people????

At least you're getting married in the close season .Take it you'll make the Sunday game. Congrats, btw.

I mind last year I was a bit concerned there'd be a poorish crowd for the Celtic XI game. Didn't seem to be much if any info on the celtic website Was a more than decent turnout in any case. Anyway they're giving this weekend a good punt http://www.celticfc....story?item=2801