lady-isobel-barnett

I suppose it's a step up from last season but once again we're putting most of the eggs in the one basket (Doolan). Last season I and certainly if not most of us a sizable minority, thought Stewart would do the biz alongside Doolan. If not we had Grehan, Fraser, Burns (later on) and soon to join Elliot in support. My thinking, and again I wasn't by any means alone, was that by percentages we were likely to get an effective striking partnership. Well it didn't happen but fortunately Cairney and to a lesser degree Erskine scored valuable goals. I'm fairly sure it was Hebridean Jag that argued we had to sign a seasoned striker to avoid mid table mediocrity. I've no idea if that was financially feasible, probably not with the amount of forwards already on our books, but he was proved correct. I see signs of us going down that route again and I personally don't mind that much. This season coming we're going to start without Cairney so it's like we're kicking off with minus 11 or so goals. We can probably assume Doolan will score well into double figures but we'll be asking even more of our other forwards than last season just to stand still in the league..

Dealing with guys like Doolan could be a bit like rangers and rangers players taking a cut in their wage for favourable to them end of season transfer deals. We can't afford to pay the wage Doolan would likely get elsewhere if he was a free agent. To extend his contract we may have to offer a cut of any future transfer or accept a lower amount so as he can get a larger signing on fee. It's up to the player/agent to weigh up whether deferred amount will be likely greater than loss of wage in the interim. I think if we continue fielding mostly guys in their late teens early to mid twenties (ideally our own youth product) we've a good chance of holding onto them for an extra season or two. If our team was made up of guys say mainly in their late twenties and very early thirties we'd have much greater difficulty holding on to the good uns.

Ah, Mr Sekhon. The Third Man.

http://www.ptfc.co.u...o_playing_squad Two Aarons!

more info tho' not much http://www.reading.v...le.asp?a=282413

It's not always the size of the company that matters in the brewing industry. If West are brewing near to capacity there's little point in additional marketing unless they've immediate plans to add capacity..

It has been mentioned, Will, but perhaps Rowson won't be a ninety minute man week out week in. Besides, and only half joking, one of the three will be suspended most weeks later on in the season. It is tho' a bit puzzling. Even with just Paton & Rowson in front of three centrebacks I thought it was over defensive.

Sangs were put into administration by the Allied Irish (I think). I can only assume that someone else is holding the MacB purse strings. Don't even know if we got a pence in the £ settlement. Unlikely as pre paid sponsorship probably not strictly looked on as a debt.

Maybe no pity as he could more likely have been playing against us next season. Agree he looks a good player, very nippy. I know Queens fans rate him. Surprised he's staying on at Palmerston. Maybe this Lawless fella, if he signs, will be our equivalent of Carmichael?

Corgi registered? Think getting early signings & re-signings can only help along season ticket sales.

I believe Annan are installing an artificial surface. Don't know how long that takes or if needs time to bed in.

And they cut down those trees in Bellahouston Pk for who was it about thirty year ago?

Not certain but I think Lawless is a wide attacking midfielder. Maybe he can play in the Cairney/Erkine position just off the centre forward but he doesn't seem to be a noted scorer. No chance Donnelly and I'm maybe in a minority in not rating Baird as high as most. Think his impressive record against us is flattering a bit.

Yes that's a good way of putting it. Very pleased with this signing. I think at a stroke Jackie can now concentrate on bringing in young hopefuls. I thought we needed an experienced player and also someone with a real winning mentality, By signing Hugh we've got both qualities. Not sure how Murray, Rowson & Paton all fit into a midfield with the system we've been playing but I'm sure it'll come clearer soon enough.

Re-writing history a wee bit. Craigan left us for relative security because he was out of contract. Lambie's policy re make 'em sweat for a contract in that instance failed. I don't think many of us would hang about in a job that didn't appear to value your employment when another company offered the security of a contract. He obviously still valued his time at Firhill when he opted for us as opponents for his testimonial. He could have lined his pockets considerably better by getting a club that would have been a far bigger draw. Not claiming Stephen Craigan as some sort of ultimate Jags hero but he's by most accounts a really decent guy and certainly was a player who deserves our respect. That said I'm not sure given a couple of recent games we can afford to sign an own goal specialist

I would say the first thing a club like Reading would do would be to loan Sinclair out. And if that was back to us that would be a win win situation. I really want to see Bannigan being given a run in central mid. It's his preferred position and I feel he deserves a longer crack at it. If he's as successful there as he's been of late then it'll be a good problem to have. The more genuinely versatile players the better. Means we can run with a relatively thin first team squad with youth players as support.

I also managed to pick up a programme for the first game my laddie attended. Ditto re the event

Aye, but if it involves double payments surely they can appeal it twice?

At my age the liver thing is marginal (too much damage done already) but yeh I suppose the financial side is a bonus.of sorts. No it won't. Unless of course their long disappeared support return from G51. Added pressure on McNamara. With limited enjoyment of virtually all away games results will be all the more crucial.

I see we're going back to Catterick again. Would imagine geography will play a part, which kinda suggests Warrington might be out.

Changed a good bit over the last few years. Only downside is the temp away stand has a few pillars that restrict view for a few. Could also do with covering the terracing at the away end but in no way are conditions as bad as Central Pk. You can get soaked there and will still have a restricted view.

First few comments by Mr Cheesecloth were accurate. I really like O'Donnell but freely admit his percentage crossball is horrendous. He's certainly not anywhere like subject to the widespread abuse other recent players & a manager received. Also I don't think at the moment he's anywhere committed enough in the tackle for a wingback. He doesn't tho' hide in a game and after a series of poor crosses or passes he's always making himself available to try again. So that in a different way shows his commitment. Back to crossing in general and I think only Bannigan would've got pass marks for accuracy in recent months. Paton, Sinclair, Erskine & Cairney are the only others I can think of that get themselves out wide and I can't remember too many pinpoint balls from them either.

The Allan Cowan Stand has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

I understood that there was "fitness issues" and that's why he had to go. We looked a cracking team early on when Corcoran was often the stand out player. I doubt he'll ever be a ninety minute man at most senior levels but can be very useful coming off the bench. How often he plays that well is the unknown. Ironic that an SPL club can risk having him whereas many Div 1 clubs don't have the budget to gamble on him.

I thought all lino was made from sacking I still think the worst decision by a linesman happened in the year between 1965 and 1967 but I'm admittedly biased. But even when linesmen get it right there's always a nutter of a ref to overrule them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxVtScYFT6c