Hiro

I think that the topic is slightly misleading here. Nothing has actually been confirmed yet and 'broad agreement has been reached' - i.e. there is still some dissenting voices on various issues. I think that the wording from our chairman is very interesting indeed and I believe that he is hinting at (not so) hidden agendas as well as the fact some clubs are being railroaded in some way. I wouldn't be surprised if certain clubs (looking at you OF and Aberden) are perhaps using bully boy tactics to get this through. e.g. threatening to make life awkward in some way. We need to remember that any vote cannot take place for another couple weeks and therefore the fans still have a window of opportunity. If we are all serious about this then some form of organised protest has to take place and involve fans from all clubs. Whether this is a sit out, or leaving on mass after 20mins I don't know but it has to be visible to get the attention of these idiots.

Well that was crap. I had been looking forward to getting home for christmas and getting a couple of games in but thats left me slightly deflated. Frustratingly it also seems to have undone all of the good work over the last four weeks. I think today finally showed up the lack of options within the squad. All season we have really relied on just 12-14 players and they really looked tired today. I think all of the football that the small squad has played just caught up with them and it was a bad day at the office. Hopefully, we can get a couple of additions in January to freshen up the squad and provide extra opportunities for rotation otherwise we will find it difficult to maintain our lofty position.

BBC article Glad to see that we along with Killie, Dundee United and Hearts appear to be the leading dissenters to a 10 team league. Good on the board!!

A 10 team league would not solve any of the problems really. I was under the impression that one of the drivers for change was to improve the overall quality as well as ensuring that youngsters are given more opportunities. However, the proposals make a mockery of that. By decreasing the number of teams and adding in an extra relegation slot it's hardly going to encourage teams to give youth a shot considering the number of high pressure games they may be subject to (1 in 5 chance of being in the relegation/playoff zone). Not only this but the added pressure will surely affect the quality of football as there will be so much at stake. Furthmore, it can only exasberate the financial problems in Scottish football - Higher chance of relegation = maybe spend a few quid extra on wages to pull yourself out = staying up but being financially mauled/going down and being financially ruined. Not great. I also find it highly suspicious that Mr Doncaster's and Mr McLeish's proposals are almost identical. I smell the influence of the infirm.

Great first half with perhaps the only disappointing thing being that we were only one up as it was clear Rangers wouldn't be so poor in the second half. Thought we struggled with the change in formation from them with Odihambo and Hayes in particualr not playing well. Super Johnny is a smasher but I wish he would just release the ball a bit earlier as he got caught 2 or 3 times with one leading to he penalty. Odi looked unfit in the second half and the amount of times he just wandered around and let players run off/by him was getting me a little frustrated to say the least. Positives were the outstanding performances from both full backs - what a difference it makes when our defenders demand the ball as it allows us to build from the back. Think Shinnie in particular is improving at such a rate, watch how many times he intercepted the ball. If he can work on his attacking side I thnk we have a real good player on our hands. Overall great result. PS Miller and Beattie GIRFUY.

As has been said above why would he chase down every single passback like a headless chicken? This achieves nothing other than tiring him out and creates space in the area from which he has run, it would be pointless. He needs to pick and choose when he does it and as stated above Aberdeen & Raith are good examples of this. Anyway how many charged down kicks do you see??

In answer to the OP's question NO. Rooney - 4 goals in 8 games. Keeps this kind of average up and he will be on target to score 19 league goals which would be a fantastic achievement. Foran - Missed half the season and has been lpaying in central midfield due to injuries. The great pass to Hayes is hopefully an example of his return towards form. Hayes - 2 goals in his last 2 games after a slow start due to injuries. I would say considering they've stepped up a division they're doing pretty well this season. I think you need to look at the bigger picture - apart from Kenny Miller no one has set the SPL alight this season.

Football 1 - 0 Scotland. At least I can sleep easy in the knowledge that I will never have to witness such a monstrosity of a formation and lack of ambition again. Surely to god 4-6-0 will now be taken out back and shot.

Just about to post the same thing. The highlights make it appear as though we were under the cosh most of the game.

Superb, just brilliantly creative. Have a grenn dot and in return I'll have what your drinking/smoking

This could be a long night. Quite glad my link has gone down....

Can't disagree with most of whats been said. A good hard earned point. One thing, I hope McCann is back for next week. Proctor had a torrid time again, seems to really be struggling this season.

Was just about to post the exact same thing. Thought Esson was so slow to move his feet, think he could have done better, not like him at all. Also thought that some of Proctors attempted tackling was powderpuff at best. On a segment of the highlights he tried to make a tackel but then fell over, chased back and then fell over again. Ridiculous.

Well thats *****. How to burst the bubble and give us a reality check. If we're to even stay up those are the games we have to win particularly when faced with such a weakened rival. Sounds like the kind of game we need Richie to grab by the scruff of the neck.

Lots of positives to be taken from that. I know there was a lot of talk about how Celtic might not be great when you looked at the team sheet but it was still full of internationals. They were a very slick side. Don't think anyone stood out for us as being poor. Couple of comments regarding the defence but that was down to Maloney, he took up some superb positions and his movement was excellent. He kept coming off our centre halfs into the space between the defence and midfield which left Grant and Rosscoe with the dilema of whether to follow him or not. When they did this meant McCann/Gillet had to tuck in and thus the space opened on the flanks. Odihambo has improved immeasurably- was able to find space and link up with the midfield and Rooney until he tired. Ditto Rooney, looked strong and had the legs on the Celtic defence. Just a pity he was isolated at times. Once Hayes gets fully fit he is going to tear up the SPL, Mulgrew must have had twisted blood after 20mins, just a pity it couldn't be sustained. Was extremely pleasing to see us playing football in the first half instead of this lump it up the park nonsense. On this display we'll comfortably hold our own this season.

We have to remember that he's only just turned 18 and is no doubt still growing. I'm sure he'll fill out over the next couple of years and he's no different from any other young player his age (guys like Wayne Rooney are a one off) in terms of physique. I think we're missing the point here. We should be pointing out the positives in that he is a technically gifted player as that part of his game is much more difficult to develop. Th physique will come later.

Thanks for that Alex. You took the time to research this info so well done you. Wouldn't it have been better for our boys development to have entered the sections which included the Pro teams? OK we can't expect to compete against the Man U's of this world mainly because of funding (which includes employment of coaches, facilities etc)and location but what a learning experience it would be for our boys. The city of Aberdeen hosts a tournament which now attracts the likes of Dundee Utd, Celtic and even Ross County but there was no sign of us competing there. I hope I'm wrong here but I feel we may be entering tournaments we feel we have a chance of winning and not pitting our wits against the best out there. I'm sure Charlie and his coaches do their best to get our kids up to a level dictated by the funding available but the the Club really has to take Youth DEVELOPMENT seriously and find some sugar daddy who has the means to fund this great cause SERIOUSLY! The club has made considerable progress over the years but we are still not producing any more kids, capable of playing regular first team football, than we were in the 90's. Charlie's department can only do so much with the money available. Teams in bold are professional sides in the League of Ireland set-up. Crumlin United are a hugely successful Irish boys club similar to Hutchison Vale in Edinburgh or Wallsend Boys Club in Newcastle. In fact I'll think you'll find that they have produced players such as Mr A Rooney. I'm sure the standard faced by the boys would have good enough for their development.

No big deal. Looking at the starting line-up probably only 5 are probably guaranteed a start if fit (Tokely, Munro, Golly, Cox, Maybe Odihambo). It's all about fitness at this stage anyway. One thing it might highlight to Terry and Mo is that there may be little bit of a lack of cover in a couple of positions (left back, centre half and striker) and more focus will be put into resolving this over the next couple of weeks.

This. I have absolutley no problems with this signing. With the dearth of centre halfs about Butcher will be left with using under 19's or signing someone very young from elsewhere. With Munro, Tokely and now Innes we now have a pool of experience to help such a young player come through. The fact that his signing will leave some extra room in the budget helps too.

Aye thats the one. The O/H used to live in Burgos which is around an hour and a half from Valladolid. Went to a couple of games when they were in the Segunda and saw them play Celta Vigo and Tenerife. Nice big stadium and a rather fetching Purple and White striped kit.

1 Christie 2 Mann 3 Calder Although to be fair every one of the 14 who played were exceptional that night.

PS. Although I have done the reasecrh for a few years there are some mental glitches in the game. For example how Rory McAllister kept turning out to be a star player is beyond me as I made his stats crap.

All of that kind of thing is through the licensing with particular leagues and not the individual clubs. The individual clubs have no say. In terms of Football Manager the club have no contact with SEGA. All of the ICT research and data is done by myself although whenever I have asked the club for information they have always helped me out.

Although not just the clubs fault this is a bit of a joke. Never mind the larger clubs having released their new kit, teams liek Dunfermline, Morton, Dundee and even Livingston have long had theirs released. I do think that the club are really missing out on some cash flow for the summer months.

Just me or are the highlights not working for anyone else?