lady-isobel-barnett

We might well do that but it is the Challenge Cup, a competition with little if any merit, and it could give Jackie a further chance to try out some of players in a more competitive game. Unless they've changed the rules we can't play trialists (maybe run the course with that anyway ) but I wouldn't be surprised if McNamara uses the opportunity to tinker about with squad.

How fast was Graham Seabiscuit Gibson? Genuine question as he was supposed to have had a remarkable 100 metres time. Unfortunately that was without a football.

What exactly are you on about? Why would we loan out our young players? I can see the point with say Burns if we signed a new forward or perhaps Scully if we signed another goalie but who else playing tonight should we loan out and why?

I'll be going but I noticed THIS for those unable to go. Wow!

There's a transfer thread on here but it would take you a good while to digest. Not so sure Dundee have been at the silly games just yet but with their slate wiped clean once again and a relatively large home support there's little holding them back from assembling a strong squad. No doubt they'll bring in a few well paid loan players in due course (work the system to the max). Falkirk have shed a few players and it's difficult to see them as title contenders especially with that galoot of a manager. Hamilton look a bit weak up front. An Accies mate suggests they're not as a club 100% committed to promotion but I'd be surprised if they're not in the frame. Two clubs that appear stronger this season are Ross Co & Morton, while Raith & Q o S are most definitely weaker. Despite that the latter two have both got good managers and are probably well prepared for a bottom of the table fight. Haven't a scooby about Livinghell but I suppose if they won the 2nd Div at a canter they won't be obvious relegation candidates. Ayr will no doubt be pleased with an 8th spot finish and I assume most folk would see them as the team least likely to succeed. Altho' I'm genuinely optimistic about this season I am by nature a bit of a pessimist. I don't think I'd be alone in thinking that our biggest fear is our squad isn't exactly full of win at any cost scrappers and a combination of that, injuries to senior players and inexperienced management could bite us hard. I really can't see it come to that but as I say I do have that pessimistic side to me. Be interested to hear others assessments of our opposition. Just a general viewpoint tho' rather than anything too forensic.

Read again, twinny. Nine league opponents plus 1 league cup opponent.

I went out in the first half for a pie. There were about no more than ten folk in front of me and it took the best part of ten minutes to get served . I never blame the staff in situations like that but something has to be done about to put it nicely their lack of urgency. No wonder the queues are so long come half time if they don't make an effort to serve punters beforehand.

singing from the same hymn sheet. Currently we are assured of 18 home games and a 50/50 split of one league cup game. A league of 16 clubs results in 15 home league matches and a mini league of of 5 clubs in the League Cup a further assured 4 home games. Furthermore that sort of template would guarantee we play at least 18 different clubs within the league and league cup as opposed to only 10 different clubs today.

Like a lot quietly optimistic but maybe looking at things from a slightly different perspective. In previous seasons we've bolstered our squad with horses for courses signings like Hamilton, Keegan, Corrigan etc and with loan players like Lennon, Connor, Adams & Gray. Fine if we knock it off but a fairly empty feeling when we end up having an average mid table like season. The difference this season is it's our young players that will have the largest say in where we finish and not jobbing professionals or on loan hopefuls. Even if it doesn't come off I feel we'll still have the satisfaction of seeing our youngsters either break into the first team or, in the case of those already there, see them improve. I'm thus very hopeful that without any personnel changes our current squad will be considerably stronger by the end of the season. It's a long time since I felt that way. My gut feeling is we won't have enough necessary experience throughout the squad to win the league but we'll be entertaining and capable of convincingly beating most teams throughout the season. There's two key players in my mind that look as if they just might be able to turn our side into serious title contenders and they're Stewart and Bannigan. If those two were to regularly play above reasonable expectations then I'd be really optimistic about our chances.

Take a look at the clubs in this year's 3rd Div. Willing to bet that the local team in towns and areas like Stranraer, Stenhousemuir/Larbert, Alloa & Cumbernauld/Kilsyth will at best be the third best supported club. Also factor in one of the ugly sisters nearly every week play on a Sunday. I'd say it's a safe bet that say a Stenhousemuir v Rangers B would draw a significantly larger attendance than a match involving Stenhousemuir and any of their current nine opponents.

Didn't know where to put THIS. For once a detailed and accurate (I think) report. Sadly I can't see us getting regular coverage like that from the usual sources for games that actually matter.

Hearts clearly could put a reserve side in a fourth tier but there's unlikely to be many others that would have the manpower to lose 16-20 players from their main squad. I doubt whether any club would want to develop their youth players in such a league. A plus side to allowing the ugly sisters to play a second string in a bottom division would be increased attendances. That would be new money coming into the game from the traditional source rather than from unsustainable TV deals etc. Having said that the practicalities might well throw up too many anomalies to make it workable. Just don't think the idea should be dismissed out of hand.

Would I be correct in saying that since Clarke scored that double against us playing for Clyde he's averaged about 1 goal in every 5 appearances in Div 1?

I suppose you'd have to have been there to know what I'm talking about but I'd have liked to hear more folk take up the chant late on "We can see you egress out".

The Club were at sixes and sevens to point that out.

I didn't see it myself but it was definitely advertised.

I'd go along with that particularly extending into May. Personally I'd rather see some Saturday fixtures in January remain (maybe two and the Cup game) but any canceled/postponed league games rescheduled for later in the season. In other words put an end to midweek league games being played December/January/February. I feel more folk would buy season tickets if they knew beforehand they'd not be subjected to turning up at Firhill on some miserable freezing Tuesday night. Also as MWM points out folk are skint after Xmas. btw I've always thought that the introduction of play offs involving 2nd, 3rd & 4th would open the way for league extension. I don't subscribe to the meaningless games theory as in a league of 16 clubs there would be fewer league games than at present and thus unlikely to be any increase in nothing to play for mid table games.

What was the AGM then advertised in a recent (Thursday or Friday) Evening Times? edited to add to be held in the Aitken Suite.

very much appreciated, Camallian

I know it's quite an emotive subject but personally I don't see a problem as long as they stay in the bottom tier (ie no promotion allowed) and their squads are not interchangeable on a whim. Perhaps not the time to discuss as there might not be an SFL shortly. Think things could be a bit clearer after next week's SPL meeting.

2/Brian Whittaker 3/Sandy Brown just an opinion

Honestly it was no more than five

Erskine crossing with his right foot . Sometimes I over-enthuse about a goal simply as I'm that chuffed we scored but Stewart's goal was indeed excellent.

Funny you should say that. A local celtic supporter cornered me in my local telling me it was no wonder we won as none of their players that have just been in Australia were playing. When I pointed out that none of our players had just been in Australia either he changed his tune and told me we had a well deserved win.

It looks to me that our fitness levels are excellent. I know McCall was never guilty of a slack pre season but McNamara seems to have taken us to a new level. I also know only three outfield players played the full 90mins but most of those subbed looked like they could've easily played the whole match. In short I'm more confident of our chances this evening than I was yesterday.