lady-isobel-barnett

I see Reid is finishing up with Celtic. Not that he was likely to attend the game anyway but it's good to know for sure that we don't have to welcome him.

the last time it was due to a delay in corporate name change. Unlikely to be so fortunate this time round.

If they bring a hundred or so of the greatest fans in the world I'll welcome their money

Barrowman signs for Pars

I've seen and partaken in many a drunken kickabout when we got poured out the Arlington. All day opening more or less put a stop to such revelry. I assume Greaves don't have a stand this year. It would've been easy and cost effective to go in with them. That said it would've been better in any case if our new strips were on view.

Yes, but at centre half.

Tade quite likely to be going to SPL. ICT have evidently expressed an interest.

Now confirmed

Looks like McCall can finally rule out the Killie job as Jimmy Nicholl looks like he's got it.

Good point. We won't have many players that could be described as "periphery". In fact with the exception of Ketterer & Stevenson it looks like all our squad will have to be first team ready from the off. Playing as many of the youngsters as early as possible would be sensible. I'd also expect us to field an "understrength" team in the Challenge Cup. Even if we went on to win that daft but costly cup I could only take pride in our success if we had played a batch of younger players in every round.

Unless times have completely changed it's arse licking that gets you a job and not arse kicking.

I'm glad if he was going that it's now done & dusted. Would have liked Paddy to stay but the worse scenario was us holding out to the eleventh hour only for him to reject us. Always assuming that Lindsay is a squad signing it now gives us plenty of time to get a suitable replacement. Btw is Boyle not signed in a position that's currently held by the Pars club captain (McCann)?

Hardly the most haud me back of a draw. Like others would have preferred an interesting away tie. Can't tho' believe anyone would want an away tie at Peterhead. That's gotta be as depressing as going to Livingston, in fact worse.

The trouble with all this dithering is it gives the SFL every excuse to keep the status quo three leagues of ten. Even if the SPL voted to keep the 12 club set up but either change to two up two down (highly unlikely) or re-introduce play offs (far more likely) then there is little excuse left for the SFL to not introduce larger leagues and retain the closed shop. My gut feeling all along has been the only real likelihood of league reconstruction that will have a positive effect on our division will come thru the SPL. The SFL who should be looking after our interests are just plain incompetent. How many season ticket allocated seats will go unsold due to the monotony of watching home league games involving only nine visiting sides?

I found that rather upsetting. Surely by this time Tommy knows that after McNamara swooped to sign him he can't be properly unveiled until he describes this move as massive. Coming to think of it even if Jackie had just snapped him up Stewart can't be properly paraded without first using the word massive.

Tommy, and for that matter Balatoni, turned up for the Firhill Cup day. Given that the playing season was by then over and he was therefore a non contracted player/ it's little things like that which suggest he has got a good attitude.

I know. They just don't stop.

Three leagues of 14. Now we know what Douglas Adams was on about

Successful as ICT's season has been if you're not getting played you'd be better warming the bench at a bigger club. Tuffey and/or his agent must surely have underestimated the ability of Essen. It's then slightly ironic we were able to sign Fox as we can guarantee him a first team place. I'd be very surprised if Fox hasn't a get out clause in his contract if a bigger club come a calling. Hopefully the threshold is as high as I was told Tuffey's was.

Of the six not re-signed players there's not one I wouldn't want to see next season. Not even one I'm indifferent about. I can't remember ever feeling that way at this time of year. Obviously I'm not saying there isn't suitable replacements out there, I'll just be sad to see any from Rowson, Lochhead, Flannigan, Boyle, Hodge or Robbo leave.

Reportedly Celtic fans can't even behave themselves going to Edinburgh never mind England. Can you imagine the reaction of clubs and home fans in Manchester, Birmingham etc when they start singing their pro IRA crap and waving their tricolours. They can get away with that up here simply because they're big fish in a small pond and very few of us will have been affected by IRA bombing campaigns. You're right about the other lot of course but then again their idiotic sectarian singing might not be seen as so offensive down there.

In truth it's much more important for a goalie to make the right move. Boyle even if he is a regular bench warmer he'll still get the odd run out and as I repeatedly say being left sided increases the chances of getting played. Possibly Tuffey could go to a championship or league one side but I can't see a club of that status bringing him in as their intended number one keeper.

Sorry to see MCGeough go. McCall had said he thought Ross better suited to a right midfield position. I assume that would be a consensus opinion and that's a position that Campbell is likely to take up plus MacBeth, Cairney and, if he re-signs, Flannigan can play. I would suggest that Paton aside we're short of a competent right back. Campbell as kni points out can play there as can Kinniburgh but that's ok for the odd game or two. Re-signing Robbo would plug that gap in the squad but for now it's down to priorities and Jackie has Rowson & Flannigan in immediate mind.

Fourteen it appears is the new ten.

Very pleased with this signing. In addition to what others have said I also think Tommy looks to have a good deal of strength about him. Not sure if having three frontline forwards(Doolan, Grehan & Stewart) plus attacking midfielders (Erskine and Bannigan) all left footed is ideal. Perhaps that's why Jackie is mentioning Flannigan ahead of Hodge. Btw I'm not sure, unless he did sign a pre-contract, Hodge will have better terms elsewhere. The guy has been out injured for sometime and I don't believe he'd be considered that much a catch for a "bigger" club to risk his fitness. As for Flannigan I feel what we don't get in directness is more than made up for by his close control. Got a feeling if we re-sign Flannigan he may be played out left quite a bit just to vary things up.