RiG

Chalmers going to County is a bit meh for me. He's had a decent season but I'm more bothered about losing someone like Welsh or Donaldson.

https://stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/inverness/187782-inverness-caledonian-thistle-recruit-arsenal-striker-philip-roberts-on-loan/ There was a partnership of sorts with Arsenal. Just not a very successful one

It's pretty simple - the QFs are not going to be on TV.

The club give away a load of tickets to schools but I don't think the uptake is as great as it once was.

The only time they would have been on TV would be when Rangers played QotS in the 3rd v 4th game?

Hearing Ross County have made a bid for our entire U18 team.

Worth noting this here but you can see the difference in prize money for being the Premiership compared to the Championship. https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-prize-pot-reaches-25m

Yup. Lose good players - results typically suffer - fans drift away - less money - lose more players - results suffer - fans drift away - less money...

P and J reporting that Airdrie are after Austin.

If County want Donaldson they will get him. We need the cash so we won't exactly discourage him from going, like Draper, then we'll paint it as the player wanting to leave the club, like Draper. As we all know County have the money, even if they don't Uncle Roy will write it off for them ("the Ross County way"), so it's happening guys. Best start accepting it now. Chalmers is an odd one though. Not overly fussed if he does go even if it's to County. Given they have about 40 midfielders it seems a strange move.

Highlights from Alloa YouTube. Having watched them back I think the first penalty is very soft.

Or at least have the info out before the previous months pay date so folk can budget accordingly if they want to take up the offer.

As @ymip says the first half performance was pretty rotten. We tried to force our way through the middle of the pitch a lot of the time which was pointless as Alloa frequently had nine men behind the ball and were very disciplined defensively and broke with real pace whenever our attacks broke down which was quite often. The likes of Polworth and Chalmers tried to force balls through to White or Doran / MacDonald cutting in from the flanks but they never found their man. Our best chance probably came when Doran chipped a ball in from the left flank but it evaded White and MacDonald. Prior to this Alloa had taken the lead from the penalty spot when Donaldson bundled over Zanatta and Trouten easily found the net sending MacKay the wrong way. We were lucky to just be one down at the break but Robbo shuffled the pack taking Polworth and MacDonald off for Austin and McCauley and going two up front with Austin slightly withdrawn off White. With this change we were a lot better and started to find a bit of space in wide areas to send a few decent crosses in which Alloa struggled to deal with at times. A Rooney header at the back post was a sign of things to come as Alloa started to struggle with our balls in from the flanks. Chalmers found himself with a bit of time on the left side to loft the ball into the area which Alloa only partially cleared and Rooney strode on to the loose ball to blast in the equaliser. White almost bagged a second goal moments later but Parry was equal to his effort. However we weren't to be denied with Chalmers again the provider. A low corner was hooked into the box by Chalmers and Trafford arrived at the near post to flick the ball into the net. Alloa nearly drew level late on when MacKay spilled a long range effort but was alert to get up and fist the loose ball away before any of the home teams players could seize on the opportunity. There then came a penalty appeal when Graham (?) fell over under pressure from McCart who was clearly incensed and his anger set off a bit of a stramash between the sides but ended with McCart going into the book. Fortunately we hung on. Not our finest performance of the season but it could be a vital win for us. The extra money from 3rd place would be very welcome as Robbo has said already this week. McCart was an absolute stand out for us and a clear MotM. We'll need to improve a lot if we want to progress through the play offs.

Ah the old "Polworth has an attitude problem" chestnut. Been a while since I read that on here. Nice to hear some of the classics getting an airing.

Given that a lot of our fans, myself included, spent the last few days lording it up over a handball against Celtic a few years back we can't say much when it comes back to haunt us. Swings and roundabouts. I'm more concerned with the fact we didn't play to the whistle. Rookie mistake.

We didn't really deserve anything from the game in fairness. A long range Walsh effort, a White header and another effort from Walsh probably should have seen us on the score sheet by half time but Safrankos well taken goal and another header off the bar could well have had United two goals to the good before United's second. If McMullan has handled it for the second then that's a bit shit as that'll be twice he's cheated to get a goal against us in the last couple of games. That said it was seriously naive of us not to play to the whistle and basically allow the guy to scamper across the penalty area before scoring. When Robbo took off Doran, Walsh and Polworth it was clear we had given up today. A really bizarre moment when MacDonald skipped clear of the United defence and cut a shot / cross across the face of goal which Austin watched go wide without really making any effort to get on the end of it. He then raced over to berate MacDonald for not passing it to him which was bang out of order given his lack of effort in trying to get to the ball in the first place and led to a loud chorus of boos from the North Stand directed his way although the constant abuse which followed was over the top. Time to rest a few players I think now that we have the playoffs secured. Chalmers and Trafford were really poor today and the attacking three who were subbed off were nowhere near as good as they have been this season. McCart did really well though and was probably my MotM for ICT.

Four years ago already...

Hamilton were trying to get Polworth as well.

Vigurs coming in via an exchange deal for Donaldson.

Normally they all get released apart from one or two. Robbo has always said that we have great talent in the youth/reserves but seldom seems willing to test them out. I see Dundee have released Cedwyn Scott who was scoring for fun in the reserve leagues. Youngsters hungry to prove they can be a success with us could be a route to go down like McCart.

And the Motherwell Twitter account as well as Polworths agency who also confirmed it.

It's a "hilarious" spoof account.

Far better to be on top than coming from behind.

Disgraceful attempts to unsettle our star player by the media before our big game this weekend.

That was my reaction too. Glad to see I've been proved wrong (again).