ThickAsThieves

No, maybe, yes.

Killie have binned Ashcroft, Connolly and Slater. Saw a wee rumour of Slater to Aberdeen, but I'd definitely take Connolly as a replacement for Seaborne.

There's no chance relegation for Kilmarnock would be positive in the slightest. Their finances are terrible as it is. They'd be competing against similar clubs looking for a 'fresh start' in Hibernian, Dundee United and St. Mirren and so would most likely be stuck down there for the foreseeable future. Much better to stay up and have that fresh start as a top flight team. Their squad isn't terrible in the way Dundee United's is, so no real need to "clear the decks". A few signings are needed, sure, but it's not too drastic. The hit they would take financially would be.

No thanks to either of them.

On paper I can see your point but they've been playing well and getting results. I reckon they'll do it. Vaulks, Alston, Sibbald are all very good.

We budget for 11th, don't we? So although it's a position down from last season, it's still good news in that sense.

If we could come to some sort of mutual release for Welsh, McDaid and Pogba I wouldn't be too disheartened. Just not up to this level, I feel. If Miller, Frans, Seaborne all sign up then we probably don't need to bring in any defenders. 3-4 additions needed. We need a replacement for Bannigan. We need a replacement for Lawless (if he doesn't sign). We need a replacement for Nesbitt. We possibly need another striker. With, as previously mentioned, Pogba going or Nisbet heading to the Championship on loan.

Scully Miller - Frans - Seaborne - Dumbuya Welsh - Edwards Amoo - Lawless - Nesbitt Nisbet

It was a great day - very well organised with good speeches from Beattie, Maxwell, Archie, Gerry and...Kevin Nisbet...

Happy with this and after reading Beattie's statement, I take that to mean an increased budget for next season. Hopefully we can now convince Osman to sign up.

I think we'll go with: Scully Miller - Frans - Lindsay - Dumbuya Welsh - Osman Amoo - Nesbitt - Lawless Doolan 1-1 draw.

He's just being honest. Plus he sees it the exact same way we all do. If he's fit, he goes, if he's not, he might stay. I don't think anyone's under any illusions otherwise.

Cerny Dumbuya - Miller - Seaborne - Booth Welsh - Osman Amoo - Edwards - Lawless Doolan

I've said this before about Booth but it bears repeating: he's got a terrific reading of the game. When he's rampaging forward, he knows when to try beat his man, when it's best to play an intricate one-two, when to swing it into the box or even take a dig himself. He's one of our best at retaining possession and contributing to our attacking play. Which is an essential quality in our full-backs. To have him until 2018, or 2019, is fantastic. Cerny Dumbuya - Lindsay - ? - Booth It's a great back line to have sorted for next season already. Would love Seaborne to sign up though - I think he's been brilliant this season.

If Dundee United stay up then I'd imagine Lawless will go there. So with them going down, it would help our chances of keeping the wee man. Therefore, let's pump them 4-0 tonight.

To accommodate Doolan and Pogba, I think you could go with a diamond, as long as Dumbuya's back to provide width... Cerny Dumbuya - Lindsay - Seaborne - Booth Osman Fraser - Edwards Lawless Pogba - Doolan However: A] Does Amoo deserve to be dropped? B] Should we be arseing about with our system in a crucial game like this? Probably not.

It would be good to see one or two of the more promising U20s getting a bit of time on the pitch as the season winds to a close. I know there's a big difference between places so we can't go mental, but if we could find an opportunity to put the likes of Penrice, McInally, Docherty and Nisbet into a few matches - that'd be great.

Was today the day Pogba triggered his one year extension? Would be a nice way to mark the occasion.

St Johnstone - Dundee United (H), Kilmarnock (A) Motherwell - Inverness (A), Celtic (H) Ross County - Dundee (A), Us (H) Dundee - Dundee United (A), Ross County (H), Celtic (H), Hamilton (A) Inverness - Motherwell (H), Hearts (H), Dundee United (A) I'm going to predict that St. Johnstone will get 4 (WD) points, Motherwell will get 1 (DL) Ross County won't get any from their match before us, Dundee will get 7 (DWLW) and Inverness will get 5 (DDW). Which would leave it as: St. Johnstone 47 Dundee 43 Motherwell 42 Inverness 41 Ross County 40 If all of that happens (which it won't) then if we win the next two then we'll make it with 43 before the County match. If not then we might have a classic in store at Dingwall.

I thought Pogba played well against Aberdeen and normally I'm not his biggest fan. We'll probably trigger the extension but ideally I'd still like another striker for next season - with Nisbet going out on loan. We need to target - like most clubs - a striker with goals in him. Doolan is probably good for 10 or so next season, but Pogba can't seem to find the net. I'd start Pogba against Celtic tomorrow.

Haha, how did I forget that? Cheers DD.

Why is this an early kick-off? I'm sure there was a reason but I'm struggling to remember it right now.

I think it's fair to say we've both improved since that 04/05 pre-season friendly.

I'd be disappointed if we didn't take at least 9 points from the 24 available before the split, which would leave us in a very comfortable position. We'd have to really blow it to get relegated/finish 11th now. We may have poor performances but they're usually isolated or in a wee spell of two or three matches. Onwards and upwards.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/#ooid=d0NDE5MTE60NoVBPpXitFRGQnaFC0Z65