Ancipital

It's a nae-bog double decker bus sadly, and a total dog of a journey, despite the fact it says X for Xpress it stops at every lamppost in Northumberland. here's the bus timetable, also bear in mind it's 10 / 15 minutes walk from Central to Haymarket bus station (or 2 stops on the metro, either green or yellow line). If there's enough of you in a group it might well be worth phoning a private hire taxi, guessing it would be about £20/25 but the bus is about a fiver return from Newcastle anyway and it would save about half an hour, which is a lifetime when bladder pressure is starting to build.

What's the script with Ryan Conroy? He's no world-beater but he'd do a job. He must be out of contract at Darkheap now. If we sign all of last season's players JM is in talks with except Boyle, then we're probably a left back, a centre half and a striker away from the squad being complete. Hopefully Jaggy is better with loans than the last manager.

So are we better getting the old Deliverance express from Central or the new one from Queen St low level?

The guy behind Bodog has invested into Ayr (a sponsorship deal at least, who knows what might follow) and they could have a bit of moolah behind them next season. I'm naturally quite pessimistic, so I'd rather have the safety net of Brechin in the league if Jaggy Mac doesn't cut the mustard than potentially an Ayr team that could be mid-table or better. Sorry Marko. Glad Cowden are gone though, was nice as a one-off but not somewhere I'd want to go regularly.

5 years ago today, that game.

Have a look for the new Motherwell top, done by Puma (I'm on my phone so posting links is a pain). Very similar to our centenary top with the retro badge and the Puma logo being the same colour as the shirt so that it's only visible close up. A 1971 style top like that would be brilliant. Suppose the issue comes down to where the sponsor goes.

I always thought he was a workshy waster who flattered to deceive. He had to retire through injury last season though, which is genuinely a shame.

Good stuff- does show our current strip would have looked a lot better with black shorts and socks.

Can't believe folk are going on about Jackie's demeanour. I have two words for anyone that thinks a raving madman on the touchlines equates to success: Gerry Collins. Yesterday was a massive borefest, can't wait for the season to be over.

Aye. I remember my dad taking me in there a couple of times post-game to see the scores come in (on the BBC vidiprinter, Jeff Stelling hadn't been invented yet)for me, and for him to get a quick pint before dropping me off with my maw- was pretty spartan decor inside, spit and sawdust type place. Sort of place I would have loved these days for that purpose, actually

I wouldn't say Hodge would be a great loss, he might end up being one of these guys that does unexpectedly well at a higher level, but like Cairney I've always thought he was carrying a bit of excess baggage. After signing Willie K up I thought it was pretty clear we were only going to keep one of Robbo and Archie, Robbo might be the more versatile of the two but I suspect sentiment if nowt else will see Archie get the nod. Although it might also be to do with coaching- does anyone know if Sid / JM have got the relevant badges yet? I don't think either has much to offer in a playing capacity anymore and as someone said above it might be time for them to dip their toes in the management water, with Archie and maybe Rowser (although his twitter page suggests he's looking outside football for a career when his time's up) moving into the player / coach roles. I think we'll keep Paddy but Paton will go elsewhere- I'd obviously try and keep them both as they've been our best outfield players this season. I would get rid of Flannigan, flatters to deceive. MacBeth's an interesting one- I assume he'll be kept on, otherwise I don't see why we would have loaned him to the gypos, but he is injured a lot and has plenty to prove. Don't know too much about the out-of-contract u19s, Burns seems to have fallen behind Fraser and McGrotty in the pecking order though, which doesn't bode well for him as he's older than both of them.

Now we can get the weans on

hope that doesn't come back to bite you.

Partick Thistle mythbusters #27- we never score from corners. That's (at least) the 5th this season:- Boyle at Ross C(league) Kinniburgh at Ross C(cup) Doolan at Stirling (league) Doolan at Raith Balatoni tonight Might even be others I've forgot.

I've said it before but IMO Paddy Boyle is the cleanest striker of a ball at the club.

Massively in depth tactical analysis from a county fan

2 wins in the last 9 league games (the unbeaten run was 2 wins and 6 draws).

Dundee back in front.

Our away record is so, so, bad compared to our home one. Why is this?

Both sides are sick of the sight of each other- 2,400 for me.

If Morton hang on, we'll have the worst away record in the league.

My link Fair enough with MacBeth but unless the gypos are paying Halliwell's wages then not sure of point of sening him out when he's not going to be here next year.

Signed for Dunfermline. Not fussed, he can't stay fit and we're better saving our money for next season and giving guys like Campbell and MacBeth more of a chance.

Great draw but increases my pessimism over Tuesday now, first time we've had a decent draw in years in the cup.

The same Mark Roberts that had scored 3 goals in his last 36 games for us (and none at all in his last half season) before we let him go? Don't get me wrong, the guy was brilliant for us and he's still got a bit of magic as his goal on Tuesday showed, but letting him go when we did was the right decision, as is letting Liam go now. Liam's stats for the year 2010 were 5 goals in 33 games, so he didn't miss much of the last 12 months injured. No doubt he''ll score against us before the season's out, but that's football.