RiG

Regardless of their recent history we made them look gang by dominating them over the two legs. We just couldn't score. We were by far the better team over the tie but a lack of composure in front of goal saw us fall at the first hurdle. Astra were lucky to get through the tie. I think that gives us enormous credit. The top of the EPL is strong. I'm not debating that. But out with the Big Four, and others like Spurs and Liverpool, the likes of Hull, Sunderland, Aston Villa etc. are distinctly average bordering on very poor indeed.

Dundee perhaps? Maybe to replace Clarkson.

The West Ham result doesn't say anything to me about Astra. I thought they were utter gang against us over two legs and only poor finishing from ICT stopped us going through. As Alex Jones says it's more down to the amount of garbage in the most over hyped league in the world. Outwith the top 6 - 8 teams in the Premiership pretty much all of the other sides are much of a muchness.

I dislike Aberdeen probably more than anyone on here having lived there for so long but even I can't bring myself to deny the fact that they have an excellent squad of players and a superb starting XI now. The Dons thoroughly deserved second spot last season. Our one poor spell was basically three months without a win in the league - there is no way you can expect to secure second spot with that kind of form. Their team is excellent and they showed that on plenty of occasions last season - their long unbeaten run, often coming from behind to win games something previous Aberdeen sides hadn't been doing, winning games despite not playing well etc. Aberdeen appear to have improved on what they achieved last season with some of their signings and some strong showings in Europe whereas we have lost some of our best players and it can be argued that they've not really been replaced though time will tell on that one. I'm away to wash my hands. I feel dirty after typing up a positive post on Aberdeen.

Was Draper really that poor against Astra in the first league? Aside from giving away the free kick from which they scored from what else did he do wrong?

I think we will be around the middle of the table. No real shame in that. I think it's a fair and achievable target for ICT. The top two will be Celtic then Aberdeen and I think that Hamilton and Partick will likely bring up the rear. Everything else in between is up for grabs and I don't see too much between a lot of the teams. Will be interesting to see how County do this season. Instead of handing out 1 year contracts they are going for longer term deals so with a bit more stability in the side we might see a bit more competition from the other side of the bridge.

I'm Shona. I'll send you my details DBJ so you can pass on the prize money....

Can't say I've been impressed with Lopez with the one game I've seen him play in the flesh and the other via a dodgy feed on TSNYs laptop. However I don't think he's a striker and he's merely filling a space until we get one (or two) proper strikers in. Hopefully soon. Anyone fancy giving Ofere another call?

You could hear them pretty well at times on the stream that I was watching with TSNY and ICTChris.

Should be looking to win this second leg at least 7 - 0.

For the goal yes but he pulled off a number of great saves in the game to keep us in it. Sadly they are all too easily forgotten.

The club are a lot more tolerant of fans standing in Section E as this seems to be the unoffical signing section. It's been like that for at least two or three seasons now so hardly a new thing.

Must admit that I thought the home strip looked better in the flesh.

Away top looks a bit plain to me and I'm not convinced about the home shirt. I wasn't a fan of the home shirt from a couple of seasons ago but that grew on me. Would like to see them "in the flesh". What will the sizing be like compared to Erra?

What about Blu Ray? Ross Draper in glorious HD....

I will be all over that.

Not really a fault of the club but given the amount of industrial development down that part of town I always wonder why Stagecoach don't run a bus down that way especially during match days. Obviously there'll be a lot more thought that just "send a bus down there" but I wonder if it could have been a nice wee earner for them and make it easier for some fans to get to the ground.

Never saw that coming (!)

Some interesting comments on P & B from Falkirk fans regarding the departure of Latapy from Falkirk which left Hughes and Rice in charge. Not exactly reassuring. However, it's fair to say a significant number have been wrong about Hughes in general (myself included) so I guess we'll just need to wait and see. Regardless, as many have said, this whole situation seems very odd indeed.

When my mates come and visit me I often get them to come into my place of work and start helping me out with my job. Nothing unusual there.

Yeah I mind that if we got drawn against a big side then, when tickets went on sale to Season Ticket holders first, it was often the case that you would hand over Voucher A in return for your match ticket.

So we've still no confirmation of what the situation is one way or the other? Hopefully someone from the club can clarify what's going on.

Good point. I had forgotten about that mainly because I can't get to Romania and I am trying to pretend that game isn't happening.

Any chance of the SPFL sorting out what games are going to be moved for TV? They've done the first week but nothing for a couple of weeks now and I wouldn't be massively surprised to see some of our September home games get moved for TV depending on what other matches are being played.