Sneckboy

England's Premier League will drop below the German Bundisliga when the new season kicks-off and the results from 5 years ago are 'dropped'. And, provisionally, in two-seasons-time, they will drop to 4th behind Italy's Serie 'A' thus losing one of their Champions League places! They can avoid this, of course, by performing well in the Euro competitions. But, yeah, I agree - it seems that it's a vicious-circle. The more frequently a country competes in Europe, the more points they accrue, enabling them to have more teams, starting at later stages...and so on! When you slip down the rankings like Scotland, it's very difficult to get back up!

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The Orkney Amateur League is a 'summer' competition, whereas the North Caledonian League is termed as 'winter', so players can play for their clubs throughout the summer and the select boys will play NCL for the rest of the year. Last season, Orkney's squad was predominately: 4 Kirkwall Rovers 5 Rendall (although Brora have since signed John Pickles) 2 Kirkwall Thorfinn 1 Dounby 1 Isles Athletic 2 Kirkwall Hotspurs They looked like they were going to win the North Caledonian on their debut last season but faltered near the end, allowing Golspie Sutherland to nick it. However, they did win one of the (four) cups available. Shetland and a Lewis & Harris select also won cups as guest clubs last season. Commendable as it is for Orkney to finish runners-up, one has to wonder how viable a league is, consisting of just 10 fixtures. Invergordon return for the coming season to make 7 clubs and 12 fixtures.

The country a club comes from has only a 20% bearing on that club's coefficient. (it used to be 50%, then 33% but now 20%). The other 80% is from that club's results over the preceding 5 seasons. As we haven't attained any points from the last 5 seasons, our coefficient (as can be seen from the chart above in post #144) is 3.58 As this is 20% of the Scottish coefficient, it follows that Scotland should have a coefficient of 5 x 3.58 = 17.90 From UEFA's country coefficients chart, Scotland are currently ranked 23rd, with a 5-year coefficient of, indeed, 17.90

Yeah, it is a bit clumsy, but as UEFA do the 2nd round draw immediately after the 1st round draw, and it does cause some confusion. Looking at the list below, we are on the right-hand-side (unseeded) and will remain there regardless of what happens in the 1st round games. The teams on the left will definitely be seeded. The asterisk effectively means 'winner of the tie involving that club'. If an asterisked club loseses their 1st round game, the victors would assume those coefficient points for the purposes of the 2nd round draw. eg if West Ham lost to say Cork City in the 1st round, Cork City would 'take over' West Ham's 16pts coefficient. The 10 clubs I've listed above, you'll notice are not asterisked, as they are definitely seeded for the 2nd round draw! Complicated? You bet!!

Thun, PAOK and Legia Warsaw confirmed as the final qualifiers this evening. That's as much as we'll know until UEFA start allocating clubs into mini groups ahead of the draw! I understand that the winners of the games involving Aberdeen and St Johnstone, regardless of who they are, will join us in the unseeded pot for Qualifying round 2. Therefore, we can face 33 clubs, 23 of whom will be the winners from a Q1 game. The other 10 potential opponents are: NK Rijeka (Croatia) FC Copenhagen (Denmark) Astra (Romania) Trabzonspor (Turkey) Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic) Charleroi (Belgium) PAOK (Greece) FC Thun (Switzerland) Legia Warsaw (Poland)

That's a staggering signing for Brora! And a huge shot-in-the-arm for Highland football. He could easily have gone to the likes of Dundee, Killie, Motherwell etc... but clearly wants to remain up here. Another indication, that the world doesn't revolve around the Central Belt.

Apologies! It must have been RiG, then!

I'm not going to pursue the 'turnover-to-points' stat as I agree you've addressed the findings there, CB. ICT's return from spending (or lack of) is extraordinary.

Actually. one of our posters, reckons Billy indeed will end up at Pittodrie...definitely a live possibility! (RossP or RiG perhaps?)

The 'still shot' from the middle video is a belter - so much raw emotion - a good wallpaper for my screen!

I think they've taken 'Eat Fresh' a little too literally!!

Observations: If we do manage to win our European tie, obviously we'll be playing in the 3rd Qualifying round on July 30th. I'd imagine our opening league fixture (1st August) would then be 'put back' to the Sunday, or a later date. We'll 'technically' be in the 3rd Qualifying round draw - as it takes place between the two-legs of our first Euro adventure. Potentially, Borussia Dortmund et al. could be waiting! Aberdeen are back underway in little over 2 weeks time! Struggling to see where our 'bounce' game against them can be played! But, if ICT are re-assembling towards the end of this month, there should be scope to fit in a couple of friendlies before our Euro game.

SPFL Premiership fixtures published Wednesday 17th June Draw for Europa League Qualifying rounds 1 and 2 Monday 22nd June First Scottish pre-season games start with Brechin v Aberdeen Wednesday 24th June Europa League Qualifying 1st round - 1st leg Thursday 2nd July (Potential opponents to watch) Europa League Qualifying 1st round - 2nd leg Thursday 9th July (Potential opponents to watch) Europa League Qualifying 2nd round - 1st leg Thursday 16th July Draw for Europa League Qualifying round 3 Friday 17th July Europa League Qualifying 2nd round - 2nd leg Thursday 23rd July (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 1st leg) Thursday 30th July SPFL Premiership opening weekend Saturday 1st August (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 2nd leg) Thursday 6th August

BBC's reporting of it included a classic blunder, along the lines of "Ryan Christie & Jim McIntyre in award scoop double for Ross County" I'll cut-and-paste before they change it, but apparently Billy plays for ABERDEEN! Northern Ireland's squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Romania has been reduced from 28 to 25 players with Liam Boyce among the trio left out. The Ross County striker will miss the Windsor Park clash along with MK Dons midfielder Ben Reeves and Aberdeen forward Billy McKay.

Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Gary Warren • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed until the end of this season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent • David Raven • Daniel Devine • Ali Sutherland • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Calum Ferguson • Cammy Mackay • Calum Howarth (Development Squad) • Jason Brown (Development Squad) • Jaime Wilson (Development Squad) • Kane Hull (Development Squad) • Struan McArthur (Development Squad) • Blair MacLennan (Development Squad) • Chris Brown (Development Squad) • Stephen Rennie (Development Squad) • Chris Blackett (Development Squad) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (Development Squad) • Alasdair Stark (Development Squad) • Andrew Macrae (Development Squad) Out of contract: • Nick Ross • Edward Ofere • Tarmo Kink

A couple of posters on a Barnsey forum hoping he's as good as Winnall.

Usually on the morning of the draw! And they make little sense!

Things moving quickly! Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Gary Warren • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed until the end of this season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent • David Raven • Daniel Devine • Ali Sutherland • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Calum Ferguson • Cammy Mackay • Calum Howarth (Development Squad) • Jason Brown (Development Squad) • Jaime Wilson (Development Squad) • Kane Hull (Development Squad) • Struan McArthur (Development Squad) • Blair MacLennan (Development Squad) • Chris Brown (Development Squad) • Stephen Rennie (Development Squad) • Chris Blackett (Development Squad) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (Development Squad) Out of contract: • Nick Ross • Edward Ofere • Tarmo Kink

Knew it was coming! Major blow to us. But good luck to him - top guy!

Great shout! I've altered my previous post to take the Turkish club into consideration. But the othewr clubs you mention, in my understanding, are not yet definite potential oppositions!

Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Gary Warren • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed until the end of this season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent • David Raven • Daniel Devine • Ali Sutherland • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Calum Ferguson • Cammy Mackay • Calum Howarth (Development Squad) • Jason Brown (Development Squad) • Jaime Wilson (Development Squad) • Kane Hull (Development Squad) • Struan McArthur (Development Squad) • Blair MacLennan (Development Squad) • Chris Brown (Development Squad) • Stephen Rennie (Development Squad) • Chris Blackett (Development Squad) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (Development Squad) Out of contract: • Nick Ross • Marley Watkins • Edward Ofere • Tarmo Kink

Cheers, caleydawson! I'll go with that......this can be the latest update: Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Gary Warren • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed until the end of this season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent • David Raven • Daniel Devine • Ali Sutherland • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Calum Ferguson • Jason Brown (Development Squad) • Jaime Wilson (Development Squad) • Kane Hull (Development Squad) • Struan McArthur (Development Squad) • Blair MacLennan (Development Squad) • Calum Howarth (Development Squad) • Chris Brown (Development Squad) • Stephen Rennie (Development Squad) • Chris Blackett (Development Squad) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (Development Squad) Out of contract: • Nick Ross • Marley Watkins • Edward Ofere • Tarmo Kink • Cammy Mackay

What we know, as fact, is that we're un-seeded and will be playing any of 33 teams in our match, as there are 66 teams in the draw. (33 seeded v 33 un-seeded). With Poland and Greece finishing their seasons on Sunday, there are still some teams, as yet unknown. However, with Aberdeen and St. Johnstone in the 1st round draw, we will be kept apart from the winners of their ties, effectively meaning we only have 31 teams that we could potentially play. 24 of the 31 possibilities are, at present, winners of [(team x) v (team y)], from the 1st round. And the 'Law of averages' would suggest we'll get one of them. But there are 7 teams who will definitely be in the opposite bowl: NK Rijeka (Croatia) FC Copenhagen (Denmark) Astra (Romania) Trabzonspor (Turkey) Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic) Charleroi (Belgium) Copenhagen would be something of a glamour tie. And perhaps ICT's previous experience of a pre-season in Denmark would help with the logistics of hotels, training facilities etc.

When we were knocking-on-the-door of the top-6 but again just missing out, I remember realising just how difficult an accomplishment it was - and hoped that one day we could achieve it. 5th place, and certainly 4th seemed fanciful - so to have achieved 3 consecutive top-six placings and a 3rd placed finish is extraordinary! But, to be ranked 2nd in Scotland over the past 3 seasons is insane! Not even a chat between 12th Man and Bughtmaster would have dared predict such! Total positions for the nine clubs who've contested all the SPL/Premiership seasons in the past 3 years: N.B. Interestingly, County have set a 'wee pattern' - could they be heading for 11th this season?!