MrCaleyjag

Sorry once you log into the prediction league it's in 'my profile'

I will do, hopefully tonight, just haven't had time to do it so far

If you log into the prediction league and go to the settings tab you can subscribe to the new league there.

So will we get back to the topic then?

More out of want than realism I would start with 4-4-1-1 and go with the following: Ridgers McKay Donaldson McCart Tremarco Walsh Carson Vincent Doran Keatings Todorov Keatings drops back in defensive situations but when attacking he plays just off the striker moving into the space to hopefully supply the through balls or pick-up knock-downs. FBs start slightly deeper and a little narrower knowing that the wingers are closer to them in the transition between defence and attack. Unfortunately my head tells me that Robbo will stick with with 4-2-3-1 and start White up front as per the league cup games which will leave us exposed in midfield and probably on the wings as well. I'm hoping to see some improvements though and a full week of training will hopefully have given the players some valuable time together. Season opener so if they can't get motivated for this and look to avenge the end of last season then we have issues.

1st: Dundee Utd 2nd: ICT 3rd: Dundee 4th: Partick Thistle 5th: Morton 6th: Dunfermline 7th: Ayr Utd 8th: Arbroath 9th: Queen of South 10th: Alloa Athletic I do think it'll be just as competitive this season as in the past with every team taking points off each other, expecting a couple of the foreseen front runners to make a sluggish start but hopefully we can hit the ground running. There's been a big turn around of players in most teams so will be interesting to see how they fair and what impact new managers may have. My money is on the first manager casualty being Gary Caldwell, maybe that's more out of hope though haha.

Can you send me the details for this and I'll have a look, never taken part before - I've sent you a PM as well

Two days to go until the Scottish Championship kicks-off and we'll all be full of optimism I'm sure, some of us more than others, so it seems like the right time for the run down our opponents. For a bit of fun what's your league prediction from top to bottom? Also your thoughts for ourselves? Here's a quick overview of all teams in the league in terms of personnel changes and the bookies prediction for each: ALLOA ATHLETIC - Manager Peter Grant - Last season 8th Bookies prediction: 10th Ins: Robert Thomson (FWD), Andy Stirling (MID), Kevin O'Hara (FWD), Liam Buchanan (FWD), Peter Grant (Manager) Out: Jordan Fitzpatrick, Joseph Moore, Jim Goodwin (Manager) ARBROATH - Manager Dick Campbell - last season Winner 1st Division Bookies prediction: 8th Ins: Derek Gaston (GK), Scott Stewart (DEF), Robert Wilson (DEF) Out: Ryan Wallace, Danny Denholm, Ryan McCord, Darren Hill AYR UNITED - Manager Ian McCall - last season 4th Bookies prediction: 5th Ins: Sam Roscoe (DEF), Kris Doolan (FWD) Outs: Robbie Crawford, Lawrance Shankland, Michael Rose, Liam Smith, Declan McDaid, Chris Higgins, James Hilton, Stuart Faulds DUNDEE - Manager James McPake - last season bottom Premiership Bookies Prediction: 2nd Ins: Shaun Byrne (MID), Danny Johnson (FWD), Jordan McGhee (DEF), Declan MacDaid (MID), Josh Todd (MID), Jordan Marshall (DEF), Jamie Ness (MID), Jordan Forster (DEF), Luke Strachan (FWD), Out: Elliot Parish, Sam Jackson, Kyle Gourlay, Nathan Ralph, Kenny Miller, James Vincent, Kerr Waddell, Nathan Meres, Darren O’Dea, Martin Woods, Genseric Kusunga, Jesse Curran, Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Jim McIntyre (Manager) DUNDEE UTD – Manager Robbie Neilson – last season 2nd Championship Bookies Prediction: 1st Ins: Adrian Sproule (DEF), Mark Reynolds (DEF), Adam King (MID), Lawrence Shankland (FWD), Liam Smith (DEF), Deniz Mehmet (GK) Out: Rachid Bouhenna, Luc Bollan, Aidan nesbitt, Margano Gomis, Lewis Toshney, Stewart Murdoch, Archie Thomas, Kieran Inglis, Fraser fyvie, William Edjenguele, Billy King, Callum Booth, Christoph Rabitsch, Thomas Scobbie, Adam Barton, Gavin Ritchie, Mati Zata DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC – Manager Stevie Crawford – last season 7th Championship Bookies prediction:6th In: Aaron Comrie (DEF), Thomas Bragg (DEF), Gabriel McGill (FWD), Paul Paton (MID), Euan Murray (DEF), Josh Edwards (DEF), Kevin Nisbet (FWD), Kyle turner (MID), Ryan Dow (FWD), Tom Lang (DEF), Lucas Berry (FWD), Ben Swinton (GK), Matthew Bowman (DEF) Out: Kallum Higginbotham, Jackson Longridge, Robbie Muirhead, Ryan Williamson, Mark Durnan, Aidan Connolly, Brandon Luke, Myles Hippolyte, James Craigen, Lee Robinson, Sean Murdoch, Louis Longridge GREENOCK MORTON – Manager David Hopkin – last season 5th Championship Bookies Prediction: 7th In: Henk van Schaik (DEF), Nicky CAdden (MID), Robbie Muirhead (FWD), Aidan Nesbitt (MID), Kyle Jacobs (MID), Brian McLean (DEF), Calvin Orsi (MID), Sam Ramsbottom (GK), Cameron Salkeld (FWD), John Sutton (FWD), David Hopkin (Manager) Out: Jonaton Johansson (Manager), gary Oliver, Lee Kilday, Robert Thomson, Derel Gaston, Charlie Telfer, Michael Tidser, Denny Johnstone, Gregor Buchanan, Peter Grant, Jack Iredale, Jack Purdue, Rory, McKeown, Ben Armour INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE – Manager John Robertson – Last Season 3rd Championship Bookies Prediction: 4th Ins: James Keatings (FWD), James Vincent (MID), Nikolay Todorov (FWD), David Carson (MID), Mitch Curry (MID Loan) Outs: Darren McCauley, Owain Fon Williams, Liam Polworth, Joe Chalmers, Nathan Austin PARTICK THISTLE – Manager Gary Caldwell – Last Season 6th Championship Bookies Prediction: 3rd Ins: Mitch Aistin (MID), Kenny Miller (FWD), Shea Gordon (MID), Scott Fox (GK), Lewis Mansell (FWD), Ryan Williamson (DEF), Alex Jones (FWD), Tommy Robson (DEF) Out: Aidan Fitzpatrick, Scott McDonald, Blair Spittal, Souleymane Coulibaly, Kris Doolan, Cammy Bell, Christie Elliott, Ally Roy, Aaron Lennox, Euan Griffiths, Lee Duncanson, Nial Keown, Miles Storey, Andy McCarthy, Anthony Eadie QUEEN OF SOUTH – Manager Allan Johnston – Last Season – 9th Championship Bookies Prediction: 9th Ins: Kevin Holt (DEF), Lewis Kidd (DEF), Gary Oliver (FWD), Lee Kilday (DEF), Callum Semple (DEF), Dan Pybus (MID), Michael Paton (MID), Allan Johnston (Manager) Out: Gary Naysmith (Manager), Josh Todd, Kyle Jacobs, Deniz Mehmet, Andy Stirling, Michael Doyle, Callum Fordyce, Russell Currie, Nicky Low *** Sources: BBC Sport for transfers, Betfair for bookies predictions ***

Well that was grim watching and I'm really struggling to take anything from the performance other than surely we can't be that inept again,? I didn't think either team was particularly impressive but at least if you're a Dundee fan you'd see signs of promise and some good foundations. What bugs me the most is that we changed nothing, we made no tactical switch and Robbo unfortunately seems either incapable or afraid to change the system. I'd have accepted a defeat far better had we been trying something different and mixed it up a little but we didn't. Long balls pumped up high to a player who is taller when he stands up than when he jumps, I'm sorry Jordan I defended you a lot last season and yes the service was poor but you were bereft of any quality at all but also not alone. Struggling in midfield we should have dropped Walsh and Doran deeper, tucked the FBs in a little, replaced White with Todorov and played Keatings off him. At least we may have had a chance of seeing if we were more solid or not. I mean our crosses were from deep so why not have them from that area by players who are paid to do that job anyway. Yes we've lost Polworth and Chalmers but the nucleus of that team is the same yet we are all still seeing and coming on here reporting the same issues and problems, what are the coaching team actually working on with the players during the week? Whether we treat the League Cup as a serious competition or not, I'd expect some more application, some more innovation and for us to try something different. At least treat it as pre-season of old where we tried new formations, new styles of play, new link-ups and set pieces and gave younger players game time rather than this scared attitude towards losing that so many of the players seem to have. Onward and upwards as they say but a huge improvement is needed all round, this is not the type of league you can start slowly in as we all know too well.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that it's limited to 2 players between SPFL clubs in different divisions and 1 player between SPFL clubs in the same division. I understand your sentiment though but the rules must be different with Fort William being in the Highland League - I;m still trying to find that part in the rules ................................

Progression is in our own hands as they say. I actually think the winner takes all situation surrounding this game is a good thing and could serve as a good platform for the start of the season, will certainly give an insight as to how level the playing field is. Like ourselves Dundee haven't had it all their own way in the last three games and they'll be eager to prove a point that they are indeed worthy of their title contenders tag that most expect from them. New manager, new Technical Director and big turnover of players means I'm not so sure. Saying that we'll need to be on the ball and defensively a lot better than the last three games, I expect to see us start tighter but believe we need to take the game to them from the start. Don't think there will be many changes in personnel, if any, but maybe a change in tactics and approach. Cautiously optimistic

Those that were at the game can hopefully answer this as I wasn't there but against Peterhead I noted that our FBs starting position was very wide and high almost hugging the touchline. I wonder if this is one of the causes of our defensive issues? Lets be honest Tremarco is getting on a little and not the player he was and McKay isn't a natural FB so their positioning has a lot to do with recovery and moving back in to defend, against Peterhead McKay was caught a couple of times over the top with Donaldson covering leaving the middle exposed. Also their high positioning left McCart exposed twice in which he brought down the attaching player which the ref dubiously waved on. I'd be inclined to have their starting position slightly deeper and tucked in a bit meaning they can receive the ball in attacking situations further in field giving them time to control and push on, from what I saw they were pressed wide instantly against Peterhead and had no out ball and when they lost the ball they were isolated. It would also offer a bit more cover for the CB's if we lose the ball early.

That would be nice and while we should be putting a few passed them how many times have we said that previously. A professional job is required and we shouldn't go into this game thinking 'it's Cove Rangers wer playing boys', I think that in itself is a little disrespectful although I don;t think for one second the team will have that thought.

After Saturday's win it's important we keep the momentum going and while Cove Rangers, IMO, will give us a good game it's really one that we should win. If we aspire to progress in the competition then we need to win. I was busy Saturday so know little of the game against Raith but from what I've read there's plenty to be optimistic about and it was good that we bounced back after the Peterhead result. Hopefully see a couple of the younger lads at least get on from the bench, maybe one or two will start. Current table - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/scottish-league-cup/table

So after Tuesday nights result and disappointing second half performance I'm hoping for a better showing; I wasn't concerned by how the players looked physically, so don't think fitness is an issue, but hopefully they've managed to work on a few things. I doubt we'll start with too many changes but if we have any aspirations of progressing further then we need to win. Notable absence from my team below is Doran only because he wasn't on the bench midweek and I'm not sure on his current status. My team Ridgers McKay Donaldson McCart Tremarco Trafford Carson Keatings Vincent Walsh White Raith Rovers after their 3v0 home defeat to Dundee will no doubt be up for it as well and want to put on a better showing than that.

It's only the first competitive game of the season so I'm not too downbeat about the result but I am disappointed especially with the second half display, as Caley Stan said we were completely dominated. I could go on and on about where we need to improve but hopefully Robbo saw enough from the stand last night to see it for himself. On a side note to our performance, it's good to see that nothing changes with refereeing standards in our games, quite honestly the ref last night was shocking.

With a minimum 3 league cup games and 7 league games before the start of October I'd be expecting them to be at match sharpness way before then and while I expect to see an element of rustiness you eluded to in a previous post, that doesn't account for the completely abject showing in the second half last night. I'm not normally so critical but to have any real title or promotion aspirations we need to start well. Full time professional footballers, imo, do not need until October to be at maximum match sharpness.

Agreed but it all works together and one goes with the other. Investors expect this type of involvement and in part it's about spreading the name and brand as well. For what it's worth I do agree with your original post and believe there's far too much emphasis on it.

Surely if you think about it another way it should be a celebration of a club which is 25 years old and not the recognition of the two previous clubs merging? Looking at it as a recognition is looking backwards, looking at it as a celebration of the current club is looking forward. If you cling onto the past then you'll never look forward. Maybe I'm just thinking about it all the wrong way.

Taking your thoughts on the bigger issue aside and who the collaboration is with , I think the club should be applauded for getting involved. For too long we've all been on here lambasting the board and club for not getting the ICT name out in the wider community and expecting things to come to them so it's good to see a more forward thinking approach. I'm expecting now for the board to push on and get involved in more initiatives.

I actually quite like it but then I don't have an affinity to either of the clubs from the past having not supported either back in the day. I can though understand the comments above and where some people are coming from. One thing I do know is that whatever colours we wear I'll still support the team in the same way and it will have no bearing on how they play, the club has more important obstacles to overcome that we should be focusing on.

I'll bite first - I can't believe you're asking that question when a ball hasn't even been kicked in the new season yet. How about we see how things go first of all. Have you also lowered your expectations as from memory that's exactly what we achieved last season and unless I'm wrong on the whole it wasn't good enough for you. What's changed?

Could it be that the club have finally taken Alan Simpson seriously and will make him head of recruitment?

I think had you said it this way first then you wouldn't have got the response you did. No one disagrees that we need to improve to win promotion this year from the top down but it needs brought back to reality and is not as clear cut and black and white as you make out. We are where we are for a reason and it'll be tough again next season. I'm sure there will be a few new faces brought in and one or two may well leave but we have the nucleus of a good team, if we can keep them, so lets see what the next 4-6 weeks brings then pre-season.

Whether we should be expected to win the group or not, I always go into the group stage with a touch of realism and tempered expectations all down to the fact that rightly, we'll use the games as pre-season like most do. If it started a month later then I'd raise the bar but see no point in lumping pressure on the team so early on in the season. Looking forward to these games heightened by where the away games could possibly be, certainly easier for us to get to than a home game.