lady-isobel-barnett

I know where you're coming from, Will. My own view is that it's the only game in town is difficult to defend. I was a paid up 1876 Club punter who reluctantly transferred over mainly due to the continuity aspect. I'm not personally that concerned when the draw takes place but I'm uncomfortable that the mechanics of what let's face it is just a raffle is carried out in such a manner of indifference. I'm not going to cancel my £10 a month due to amateurism but there's no way I'm thinking of going gold and doubling it, I can thus only assume that a largish percentage of the rank and file support are similar minded. I don't know if the Centenary Fund comes under the 'OneThistle' remit but if it does I hope the stagnation of what should be a simple operation is looked into pronto.

He evidently had a really good attitude when he was with us. Always impressed in the youth team.

I was under the impression rangers were one of the least supportive during our plight. Of course that could be completely wrong. I'm sure someone on here can be more infornative.

but are we talking present tense? I got the impression McNamara requires each of his squad (auld yins perhaps excluded) to be able to turn in a 90 min shift if/when required. I don't necessarily think that requirement was so high up McCall's agenda. The other ability Jackie definitely looks for in a young player is an ability to be proficient in more than one position. Fraser thru no fault of his own certainly doesn't meet the latter requirement so I guess if he's going to feature despite his age he'll have to be a ninety minute man with all that entails.

I presumed tonight's programme would largely go over old ground confirming what's been up to now innuendo and strong rumour. I also thought there'd be few surprises thrown in. Hadn't bargained for the surprises being Joanna Lumley, some sleazy porno guy and a prince albert . But then again I suppose that's why you call 'em surprises.

As I see it we're going into next season without Cairney's goal contribution. I think we're hopeful if Welsh signs and Lawless lives up to his billing of being able to go some way to matching that. We've seen signs of a tighter defence so factor that in and hopefully we're compensated for Cairney's loss.Are we any better off striker wise this time round than when the season kicked off last summer? Last season's support to Doolan was namely Stewart with Grehan & then Elliot with further back up from Erskine. I think it's safe to say that McGuigan and Elliot (a year on) will be no poorer.and Erskine has improved marginally as a goal threat. Brings me to the conclusion (if Welsh signs) that we're slightly better off attack wise than last season. I think what may happen is if a goalscorer of note becomes available before Aug 31st and he's not going to break the bank we just may sign him and loan out Elliot.

Too early to judge till we see Dunfermline's summer signings but on face value if they can't afford or justify his wage then you've got to have Jaggernaut's thinking in the back of your mind somehere. I know they're different types of players but had we not signed Murray then I could see slightly more justification for offering Hardie some sort of deal. Kind of like Big Boab, only a league up, BMMH would chip in with a good few free kicks. As for Keddie. Was he not one of the Pars top scorers last season?

24 x 60 x 7+. if he's using the blower at Firhill we'll have to sell a player just to cover the bill. I see the Glaswegian is also saying a deal is close. Fingers crossed on this one. I think Welsh would be a terrific signing.

Was thinking that as well. However a lot of the stuff we know or suspect is web based patter. There's a lot more credence and a sort of finality when something goes to print in the broadsheets or commands airtime in council telly.

Could further complicate formation. I noticed, certainly lately, O'Donnell filling in at left back when Bannigan was risking getting caught upfield and vice versa. Also a fair bit of shiftin' about in central mid as well. Not groundbreaking tactics of course but certainly a very fluid system. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I can't recall goals been lost recently where the principal cause was a player being caught out of position. I've seen the whole defence being wrong footed a couple of times but that's a different thing.

Lost me on that one If like others, myself included, you've found the friendlies at Dumbarton rather tedious why then should you look forward to two league matches there?

Ex Jags players scoring today. Chaplain (2), Grehan & Dargo so far

I read somewhere that the English leagues had reduced amount of subs to five as it is with us. What struck me odd was when this was introduced leading managers (I think Holloway was one) decided to do away with a sub keeper. Do we have to (SFL ruling) have a sub keeper on the bench? If not can you think of any occasions an SFL manager has benched 5 outfield players. My recent recollections a Jags manager has always brought in an emergency keeper rather than risk no keeper on the bench.

If it is someone will better tell Ayr Raceecourse. Third Monday in July?

I know it's ifs and buts and other teams will all have their own versions but I thought our biggest failing last season was our inability to push on when we were ahead and outplaying the opposition. Not got time to check up on stats but I can only recall one occasion where the opposition scored first and we went on to take 3 pts. And that was a home win against a team that got relegated. On the other hand there were too many occasions when we scored first and failed to go on and win. Certainly more than just the 8 pts that could have seen us second lost in those games. Get to the bottom of and cure the cause of above and we could.have a very good season. Anybody that's watched us know we can play good football, In fact I don't recall many occasions when were outplayed as opposed to outfought. Acknowledge that then there's every grounds for having some optimism.

Maybe a bit over critical, Grant. Having already spent most of the pre-season budget at boot camp we can only afford to play clubs on our doorstep. I fully expect a match in the Northumbria/Durham area again, the usual closed door stuff and hopefully get a decent home fixture and a good size turnout against better opposition. I doubt the groundkeeper will want more than the one game at Firhill and probably not till later in July. My only criticism re friendlies in general is the kick off times. I realise teams like Ayr are part time but I don't know why we play games kicking off at 7.45pm and 3pm. As for this game. Move the game back 23-24 hours and we could have an afternoon at the races (Fair Mon) and make a day of it

I'm sure it's fair to presume Paul will be playing in the SPL next season most likely with Hibs but he's not strictly able to say that if he's not offered a contract by an SPL club that he'll be playing with us. I'd sincerely hope, even if Jackie's already used up his budget, funding could be found to tie him up with us. I think Paul's the type of player who we could always use to effect even if McNamara had already replaced him. Besides I'd hate to see him line up four times against us whether it's for Morton, Dundee or Dunfermline.

I'm wanting Airdrie to win as a/ I'll save on diesel and b/ I'll be less cold sitting in their stand. That's just about all the interest I can muster re who goes up.

from Evening Times July 2012

A horse's heid?

Mark Roberts?

Sorry, but my thoughts weren't meant to be negative. I'm merely pointing out that McNamara is going about things one way and some other managers might hold fire in anticipation of numerous players of a relatively high standard being available later on. No criticism whatsoever and if you've faith in McNamara then you'll have faith in both his choice of player and his time schedule.

and Harry Lime coming up with one of the great movie statements You know what the fellow said – in Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace – and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock

If I was an unproven player with potential I'd be wanting to find any full time club asap. Nobody knows what way the rangers situation and maybe hearts as well will impact. It could well be that a glut of young players from Murray Pk and the Embra equivalent could be released. The knock on effect could easily mean other young hopefuls scrambling about last minute to get fixed up at any club (full or part time). Jackie is I believe a stickler for organisation and that would tie in with getting the bulk of signings/re-signings complete as early as possible. Other managers, eg McCall, fly more by the seat of their pants and will wait to the eleventh hour to pick up a player. Who's to say what way is best but at the moment I'm happy with the way we're going. I am tho' aware that we might be somewhat concerned when our competitors pick up relatively big names on or just before Aug 31st.

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..