RiG

@RedCard spoke to all round lovely chap Gary Warren to pick his Best XI. Plenty of ICT names feature and there's a couple of good stories about some of the players as well thrown in for good measure. https://thewynessshuffle.podbean.com/e/best-xi-gary-warren/ Also available on places like Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts etc.

Of curse we still have to sort out the Duncan Shearer tournament...

TBF anyone playing that game getting over 4 would probably be doing well. It was utterly horrendous.

Safe to say he's not exactly covered himself in glory so far but he was pretty ropey when he started for us.

I'd be surprised if he's ever going to be fit enough to get near the starting XI.

He also fits our budget in that he is available for nothing and we can pay him slightly more than nothing to sign for us. I don't think he is very good but the reaction to this signing is a bit OTT. I'd probably have him as our third choice CB behind Deas and McHattie.

I got an email today saying my shirt has been dispatched. Looking forward to struggling to fit into a medium in a few days...

He played as a striker in the top flight with support from Ryan Christie and others. Now he is played wide right where he struggled during his time at Aberdeen and Partick. he did play up front for us last season against Dundee in the league or League Cup (I forget which). Didn't have too much of an impact but maybe worth trying again.

This assumes that we don't move anyone on. If we get the chance to jettison players like Mckay to improve the defence (which already needs strengthening regardless) or some of the lacklustre forwards we have then we should take that opportunity. Robbo isn't perfect but the transfer market is an area I trust him so if he can bring someone in but it means we need to move a player on then we should absolutely do it. We should always be looking to upgrade the team and get rid of those no longer worthy of a place.

A rumour that Shaun pedalled come through Lazy assumption based on the fact he's played predominantly as a CM - he is a replacement for Trafford.

There has been a MEWP doing work on the Hibs ground recently. Might ask them if I can borrow that for later in the year

As I said above even though the draw is predictably dull, save for East Fife potentially away, if fans can't get in I am happy with that as I won't be missing out on any decent matches. I've already been looking at Google Maps to see if you can stand outside the ground to watch a game at East Fife

The games have been postponed. https://spfl.co.uk/news/coronavirus-joint-response-group-10-august-2020

One good thing about the group is that we don't have a Premiership side in it. Those teams you'd imagine will be fully up to speed by the time the rest of us pull on our boots for the first time. Everyone in Group A is starting "cold" to come extent.

Thank f'ck we've been drawn with Raith again. only the third year in a row that's happened and now we get to play them in the league as well. Third year in five we face Cowdenbeath and of course we've got Hearts in this competition as well as the league. Utterly dull. And if East Fife is away I'm going to be raging as that's one of the few grounds I have left to visit in Scotland...

It's because of the seeding. The following teams are seeded first for this competition: St Johnstone ,Ross County, Hibs, Hearts Killie, St Mirren, Hamilton and Livingston. Of these eight teams the four most "northern" teams are the first four so that's why the two Edinburgh sides are in the "north" section.

Given that fans are unlikely to get into these games and the club are likely to treat them as friendlies I'm hoping for the most boring draw possible full of rubbish away days and teams we have played, or will play, way too many times over the next few months. Saint Johnstone and then any three from Raith, Cove Rangers (only at home), Peterhead or Cowdenbeath.

He's been on a few pods recently so it would seem rude for us not to talk to John Hughes. Have a listen on your favoured podcast player... Apple - https://tinyurl.com/yy4wds3v Google - https://tinyurl.com/y4rbonqt Podbean - https://tinyurl.com/y3hk87vq Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/yxqqfx67

Someone on P & B mentioned he was the nephew of Paul Deas.

Why shouldn't we be looking at a CB? Just because we already have some? If Robbo can get someone in who is an upgrade on the ones we have, and they would be within our budget, then I don't see why he wouldn't at least consider it. Not sure about Meekings coming back but he'd be an upgrade on someone like Mckay for sure. Agree we definitely need a right back.

I'd be lying if I said I knew a lot about this guy but he played a lot of football for Alloa last season as a CB and he didn't get booked that often. Suggests that, even for 20 years old, he's very good in timing his challenges to void giving away too many fouls. Alloa fans were hoping to get him permanently so for us to bag him on a 3 year deal after turning down other clubs seems like an excellent piece of business. Looks like a big lad. Here he is scoring a late equaliser against Morton last season:

Some good news for the youth set up... https://ictfc.com/ictfc-academy-update?fbclid=IwAR0RqPLvTFzuu1gJC0snDivaaPMAPjYT4AZi3ack3mPUSDAFCYg5i0w8RVQ

I'd be happy even with a transfer rumour or two to tide me over until October.

That seems awfully low considering the figures banded about previously. Is that definitely all of the costs associated with the Progressive level of Project Brave?