nude_as_the_news

I think it's fair to say that it'll almost certainly be a player who is either at, or recently released from a Championship or League One sized club.

I feel we're getting closer!

i like this design and think an Blue ~ Black~ Red would look ace

Linky cos m not good at pic thingys

I like that Errea page. Some of the kit names have obvious football connections, like Parma and Keltic, and then there's... Byron, Degas and Klimt. I think Klimt would be a bit nonplussed with that effort!

Despite all the possession, there was no real flow to our play at all. Central midfield was a non-event - Cox worked hard, but otherwise we were pretty shapeless (neither Duncan nor Stretford really imposed themselves).

As for being shot shy, I don't think the strikers got the service. Whenever they received the ball, there was still too much work to do to create space for a shot (i.e. too many Ayr players to work through).

On the flanks, both Hayes and Eagle seemed to struggle to hit the line or get any quality crosses in (Hayes tending to playing low balls that were easily cleared). Eagle seems worryingly lightweight, not holding onto the ball and not winning much when tracking back. Cox aside, the whole midfield had an off day.

Positives? I though Munro was easily the MOTM, and wonder how much it has to do with having Bulvitis in beside him. Bulvitis stayed calm today, tried to find a player with his clearances and generally seemed to care about what he's doing. Get him on a contract extension now! Nick Ross also had some nice touches when he came on.

With six new players starting, they still need more time to develop an understanding (especially players like Sanchez who are new to the Scottish game). With that in mind, shouting abuse at players in the second half (till Foran gestured for more encouragement), and the boos at full-time seemed stupid and counter-productive. Not a bad game, but a draw was pretty much what we deserved.

I'm just pleased he's alive and well! It always worries me when I see a thread in the non-ICT forum with just the players name in the title.

A good game. Except for the header just before half-time (that caused the injury to their #2), Annan rarely threatened. We took our chances well.

Allison - not much to do, but came confidently for a couple of cross balls and quick distribution from throws started a couple of moves.

Tokely - inspired second half, breaking forward a lot and putting a bit of energy into our attacks.

Bulvitis - started well, and was always looking for the ball, but faded in the second half.

Munro - solid game and looked comfortable throughout.

Djebi-Zadi - didn't seem to link well with Eagle first-half but, like Tokely, got forward a lot after the break. Nice moment of kung-fu weirdness to keep the ball in play at one point.

Cox - looks the real deal. Not one to shirk a challenge and used the ball well.

Eagle - switched from left to right and flitted in and out of the game. Definitely looked more comfortable on the left, from where he delivered one or two decent crosses.

Stratford - probably instructed to play a defensive role today and anchor the midfield. Kept his passes simple and didn't waste much. I like that he's quite vocal, too (giving Imrie pelters at one point).

Rooney - not too convincing playing as a lone striker (would've liked someone with a more physical presence), but did okay.

Sanchez - played behind Rooney. Showed a lot of good little touches to link with those aroud him, turns neatly and took his goal calmly. He also kept the ball well so, on this evidence, I don't think he'll be too slight. Definitely tired towards the end though.

Imrie - looked shocking first half. Didn't seem interested till his second assist, but then seemed more focused. Can't really argue with two assists and a goal!

Sutherland - seems to have a decent first touch and was keen to get involved.

Didn't see enough of Shinnie or Ross to really comment.

Edit:

That's me just in from the Yokohama Marinos v. FC Kyoto game (2-0 Marinos btw)

Opened a beer and looking forward to the updates :)

Was it not 3 - 0? Just gutted FCT slipped up today at Kawasaki...

I'll be going. First game for... three seasons. :splat03:

Is there anyway the club could take orders for a limited period (say one month) to try to gauge interest? If interest then fullfilled minimum order requirements, or was close, the club could order stock on a no-risk basis. They could also use that information to predict orders for a small general sale of stock in the club shop/online.

I'll buy the new away top today and would happily buy the training top too if it were availiable.

Child-me would've been drooling over the goalie top, too. Think it's worth remembering kids have both Christmas and birthdays each year to beg for stuff (a trick not lost on the old firm!), but we only have one new top available.

Just read Fraser's comments in the Herald, "It was high to the back post and the boy has got above me and headed it in. If I can come and take it then I suppose I should be doing that."

Wow. You suppose? :P

"April" by Sun Kil Moon; you should check that out.

That's a beautiful album, though everything by Mark Kozelek is worth a listen.

I reckon we'll be down to a shortlist of Knox, McDonald, Robertson and Wilson and from that will be chosen manager and No2

Surely, the number 2 is picked by whoever gets the Managers job, and not by the club.

Cryptic clues kiltarlity, cryptic clues.

Knox with Wilson as assistant? As he's 61, why not Knox with Robertson as assistant?!

Ah, they've no sub goalie. That might be something to exploit  :024:

Barry Wilson.

The jap cannot play football but he can fair kick a dead ball so to get that chance he has to cheat....................and biased referee's like to help him in that respect.

Could you have crammed more sh1te into a single post? So it's all those biased referees that made him so successful at Marinos, Reginna and for Japan?

One thing's for sure - the lad's got more talent than any of the jocks that you'll be watching next weekend.

I just think we fail to play to our biggest strength at home and that is the width of the pitch.  There's no doubt in my mind that at home we should be playing 5 across the middle so as we don't have to rely on forwards dropping back or defenders moving forward to give us control in the centre of the pitch.  If we're going to adopt a tactic whereby Hastings and Rossco are pushing forward almost constantly then we'd be as well going 3 at the back from the start and having the extra midfielder.

That makes a lot of sense to me. Only problems being that a) no two central defenders seem to have clicked with each other so far, so there's bound to be teething troubles with using three together in an unfamiliar system, and b) Zander's currently at Elgin. 

Kicked the FM habit, back when it was still Champ Man, 'cos I was forgetting to wash or feed myself.

Has anyone tried Trophy Manager, though? It's a free online game and similar to FM - nicely detailed but easy to pick up. My team, Tokyo Thistle FC, are the current Scottish Champions (and with only minor effects on my personal hygiene routine).

What he's done seems profoundly stupid and can't be undone. However, how he reacts to it and how he gets on with his life now is even more important. If he genuinely regrets what's happened and apologises to the club, then I very much hope there's a way back.

As this is a first offense, he should perhaps be allowed to show that there won't be a second.

Whatever happens, good luck Richie.

I'm definitely a stripes man myself, and like the width that they are now. That said, the white and blue stripes with red trim and collar (1997-98?) was perhaps our most distinctive shirt.

Also keen on the current kit of my 'second' team, FC Tokyo. If you get a large enough size, then that lower red swoosh nicely cradles your beer belly.

Russeldinho! Thank you, BBC live scores text commentary! Was it a misplaced pass?

Aaaargh! Thought this would be available live on the radio outside the UK. Guess Flakirk have got got some kind of UK, Europe, the world rights deal going on. Curses.

Yeah, but our season started today. Sounds like a good performance and the goals will come (just perhaps not against Celtic next week...).

Go on Martin :clapping03:

And come on Rankin! Would liked to have seen Deano, rather than Denzil...

Maybe we can borrow Martin Bavidge for a few minutes second half - he's just got his fourth of the season!

Bit worrying that Niculae didn't seem to have the confidence to shoot, even before the penalty miss.

Interesting little profile of the Man U youngster here.

Any other striker/right-backs you've heard of?! Nice photo too...

Seems like Taboga has a pretty mean rechts fuss on him.