ThickAsThieves

The man answered a call to help us in our time of need, I don't think we should really be calling him a diddy. Fox is superior though, obviously. Delighted with this news. I'm a big, big Fox fan. Sometimes he doesn't get out to meet the ball as quickly or as often as I'd like, but he's still young, particularly for a goalkeeper, and he's a fantastic shot-stopper. It's good to have stability in goals for the coming years.

Well I wouldn't want to go mental with the extra cash and get back into a mountain of debt again. Our board seem to have their heads screwed on and I don't think we'll go down that route. Plenty of SPL clubs do. If you look at the SPL, I think it's fair to say every club will be paying more than us next season. How they do it? Well they've already got the SPL prize money, the majority will have bigger average attendances and they're charging higher ticket prices. And they seem to turn a blind eye to their debt, for the most part. Celtic - obviously paying more. Motherwell will look to strengthen for Europe, and could finish 2nd, with the prize money that brings they'll be fine financially for next season. Ross County are backed well. Aberdeen will look to strengthen under McInness although they've got big debts - they always seem to have youth products coming through. Hibs likewise have been underachieving and so will throw money at top six. Dundee Utd, although cutting costs will be paying more and will be getting healthy transfer fees for Mackay-Steven and Russell. Inverness, well I've no idea what wage they'll be paying but they seem to cherry-pick good unknown English talent. St. Johnstone, really not sure about their financial state but seem to have a big enough squad so will be paying more. St. Mirren, debt free? Kilmarnock have big debts, I can't imagine they'll be paying big wages - instead relying on their youths. Hearts - fecked? It will be interesting to see what happens with Hearts over the summer. We could be going into next season looking - dare I say it - stronger than them. I think they're certainly the team we'll be battling relegation with. Kilmarnock too, maybe. With a few big departures and a reliance on youth, it could be a case of our youth vs. theirs. I'd welcome that challenge. We'll see over summer! We'll pay slightly higher wages but we'll be sensible about it.

They can do all that at the Jags if they stick together.

I've managed to whittle it down to either B, C, D, E, F, G or J... ...this could take a while.

Nothing much more needs to be said really, that sums it up. I'll just add something about Welsh. We've lost five matches this season within 90 minutes. Welsh didn't start any of them. It's a simple equation. Start Welsh = won't lose.

Fox O'Donnell - Balatoni - Paterson - Archibald Lennon - Paton Erskine - Hardie - Bannigan Britton Arthur, Muirhead, Welsh, Doolan, McLean.

The grounds I've not been to: Aberdeen. Dundee Utd. Hibernian. Ross County. Particularly looking forward to Tannadice, our meetings with Jackie will be very tasty...

More television money, more prize money, selling players like Goodwillie and soon to be Mackay-Steven.

I think both Erskine and Paton - if they leave - will be leaving with a heavy heart. They both seem to have great affection with the club, and no wonder: we've been a big part of their careers. But this season has seen far and away the best attitude and sense of togetherness at the club for a long, long time. They'll only choose to leave because of money, and to try further their career, not because they're desperate to leave the Jags. Even if they go to Dundee Utd, I'd hope we wouldn't boo these magnificent servants.

No need to look back in a few seasons, like you, I feel this way now. There's no way we would've got 38/42 points with him in charge, I 100% believe that. That's taking nothing away from the great work he did - and no matter how much we now hate him because of the compensation fiasco - he did a great job. But Archie's stepped up to the plate in a way no one thought was possible. Massive credit to him.

onethistle guys, any chance of a quick video/poster for Tuesday's game? Try get as big a crowd as possible for the potential title winning match...

I would absolutely love that kit next season.

Yep, no SFA law against it.

What about bringing in Queen of the South's Carmichael if Erskine leaves? Looks a player and is only 22 (23 in June...so no need to pay any compensation, I think I'm right in saying).

Can't confirm but just to throw another name out there - Gus MacPherson was in the crowd.

Yeah, I think Forbes should be retained as a squad player. We've a small squad as it is and will be losing players on top of that, so we'll be recruiting, but there's no need for this complete overhaul; getting rid of Craigen and the like. We'll need a goalkeeper. I'm fine with Fox as our number one but we need someone to push for his place at least. FOX, NEW SIGNING. If we offer retain the services of Dowie, McMillan and O'Donnell then we're pretty set for defence, too. Maybe another centre-half, or someone who can play left-back. Ryan Conroy is out of contract at Dundee and his versatility means he could be a back-up left-back whilst pushing for a place in midfield? O'DONNELL, MCMILLAN; MUIRHEAD, BALATONI, DOWIE; SINCLAIR; NEW SIGNING. We'll need a couple of midfielders in. A definite replacement for Paton anyway. If Murray was on a one-year contract, I doubt we'd offer him another one. BANNIGAN, WELSH, FORBES, CRAIGEN, MURRAY, NEW SIGNING, NEW SIGNING. It looks like Erskine's off so he'll need replaced. And we should probably add another wide man. LAWLESS, NEW SIGNING, NEW SIGNING. On the striker front, I'd keep Doolan and Craig. Again, if McGuigan was on a one-year deal we'd be wishing him all the best. Our best bet with him is a season-long loan to a First Division side willing to pay his wage, then if we do get relegated offer him a one-year deal if he's impressed. He could turn around and say no right enough. DOOLAN, CRAIG, MCGUIGAN, NEW SIGNING, [MAYBE ANOTHER NEW SIGNING?]. So, on the basis that Paton and Erskine are off and Elliott & Scully aren't given a new contract, I think we'll need at least 7-8 new players brought in. Whether we could afford that or not is debatable. Looking at the squad, 5 additions will be a certainty though.

And if McNamara ******* pays up.

If it's wrapped up for the Dunfermline match, I'd like to see him bring himself on for the last few minutes to soak up the applause. And he wouldn't be depriving anyone really since Muirhead would still be out.

Just a word to the wise if we do go up, the SPL have their own official highlights package available on YouTube and their five minute videos are better than the BBC's.

Well, they don't take payment details yet, it says they'll ask for that in the summer. So chances are your season ticket will be bought by the time they ask, and then you'll be able to upgrade from there I'd imagine.

Yeah, I was thinking that about the cup final/Morton match. So many fans there, if they each had a leaflet about season tickets, we'd reach out to an extended audience. Although, I reckon the uncertainty surrounding our league status probably put the brakes on that. I'd imagine season ticket prices will increase for the SPL? I'll be getting one for the first season since 05/06, I think. I've missed two or three home matches a season since then so haven't bothered.

These rumours are just that: rumours. Getting pretty sick hearing about Paton and Erskine leaving, now there's more names being bandied around. We get the message, they're probably offski. We already know this. I remember the Bachirou to Killie rumour last season, he was pretty much signed, sealed, delivered. What's the point in discussing this, really?

I'd keep the stripes. Apart from that spell of 3 kits between 04-08, we've produced pretty good kits in my lifetime. I was a fan of our last SPL kit.

Just got my tag number.

I saw him at the 2-2 Morton away game, too.