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Straight from the horses mouth

Now there's something I can get on board with! Indeed, my head this morning is telling me that I did participate quite fully at the pub last night.

No mention of Billy in this ,are we keeping our options open in case we haven’t recruited at least one centre forward (preferably two) in the next week or so. A couple of more defenders for cover wouldn’t go amiss either.

📅 2026/27 Fixtures Our spfl William Hill Championship fixtures will be released today at 12pm Last time we entered the Championship (1st Division) from League1 (Division 2) we were pumped 4-0 by Dunfermline at East End Park and had a man sent off. League Match Saturday, August 7th, 1999, 3:00 PM at East End Park, Dunfermline Attendance: 4,865 Referee: S Dougal The reality of the First Division hit Caley Thistle hard in this opening league fixture as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat. They were hit by an early injury to Barry Wilson and Andrew Allan was ordered off in the 66th minute for a tackle on Brian Reid. Caley Thistle were only one down at half time to an Andy Smith penalty, but were overwhelmed in the second half. A Brian Reid low drive in 61 minutes made it 2-0 then came the ordering-off. Scott Thomson made it three in 81 minutes and Stewart Petrie completed the rout on the final whistle. Match report written by Ian Broadfoot Starting Eleven Westwater Shields McGroarty Tod Reid Dolan Thomson May Smith Coyle Petrie Subs: Graham Ireland French Les Fridge Ross Tokely Mark McCulloch Bobby Mann Stuart Golabek Charlie Christie Mike Teasdale Barry Wilson Paul Sheerin Graeme Stewart Scott McLean Subs: Andrew Allan Barry Ronson Martin Glancy First round of Fixtures Rd Day Date Kick-off Opponents Venue 1 Saturday 01/08/26 15:00 Dunfermline H 2 Saturday 08/08/26 15:00 Arbroath A 3 Saturday 22/08/26 15:00 Partick Thistle H 4 Saturday 29/08/26 15:00 Stenhousemuir A 5 Saturday 05/09/26 15:00 Raith Rovers H 6 Saturday 12/09/26 15:00 Ayr United A 7 Saturday 19/09/26 15:00 Livingston A 8 Friday 25/09/26 19:45 Morton H 9 Saturday 03/10/26 15:00 Queen’s Park A

Fixtures are what they are - we have to play everyone home and away twice, but to start at home, finish at home and be at home for the new year fixtures is good news.

I get nervous when they play that way, but it's a question of balance. Yes, they are likely to get caught out from time to time but the advantage is that by drawing in players to press them, it leaves the opponents stretched defensively. You've got to be good to execute the tactic successfully and England were good last night. England have good attacking options down both wings and through the middle. I think it is a good tactic for England but it was a bad tactic for ICT when big Dunc tried it.

I tend to agree with this. No, probably not. But, with the bloated tournament such as it is, the next game against opposition of the quality of Croatia or better is not likely to happen until the last 16 and momentum by then might (or might not) give the confidence to overcome. Personally, I'm struggling to get into this WC so far. As yet I've only watched two full matches (England & Scotland) and the second half of Brazil v Morocco. I've seen the goals from maybe half a dozen other matches. Maybe when the group stages are over it will grab me a bit more.

They will get caught out pitty-pattying around in and level with their own box. Came close to calamity a few times last night. Are they always going to be able to score more than the opposition?

England are looking good! As usual they have a truck load of great players but to date have never realised their potential at big competitions. The way they played in the second half against Croatia is an indication that things could be different this time around. Happy for Tuchel. It would be ironic if they win it with a German in charge 60 years after they last won it. Sporting life tends to throw up these kinds of serendipity from time to time.