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I get what you're saying there but he's still in 'winning over hearts and minds' phase. Obviously with the fans but possibly more importantly with the players. We all saw what happened with Russell Martin at Rangers when he had a go at the players before having them onside. I think for Johansson to be negative now (particularly given the injury/transfer issues affecting the squad) would be counterproductive...

We've won more matches at Easter Road this decade than any other current Premiership ground. The only places we have a better record is Livingston and Ross County.

I miss us being in the League Cup group stages. They’re the perfect preparation for the season whilst being serious games themselves in a competition that we actually have a chance of making a scratch in. Unlike this ‘European’ nonsense which is essentially a couple of glorified friendlies which we always make a complete arse of and get embarrassed in.

I have no opinion on him yet. Far too early to tell. Being optimistic and positive is a desirable quality in a manager but not if their interviews merely gloss over weaknesses and failures that are obvious to the fans. Managers also have to be realistic.

This time last year we had already drawn with Clyde and were just about to scrape by Stenhousemuir with a scuffed SODs effort from a corner. Had everyone collectively decided that the patience offered to JBA and the team last season was a one off? Rushing out to sign a player every time someone else picked up a knock is what led us to Kettlewell's disaster if a final January window and a squad of about 200. We'll be fine.

Our reversed colour strips are completely pointless as change kit especially when they have large features on the top like the hoop and shoulders. Our away kit should be a different colour. These reversed colour strips have a 'Celtic, we only wear green' type vibe about them.

Wouldn’t mind a mostly claret away kit as long as we don’t wear it in just about every away match like we did in 2018/19. We should always be in our first colours unless there is a direct clash.

Alfred seems very upbeat. I can imagine that win, lose or draw, his media interviews are always going to accentuate the positive and focus on the progress we make. That will definitely annoy about 50% of our fans.

The good thing is that the window is open until 1st September. The bad thing is that most leagues start before then, although ours is earlier than many. So you don't really get a chance to assess the squad for the season until a few games in. Just another reason to dislike the window idea, or at least its timing.

Which one would we wear against Hearts?

Agree 100%. Our chaotic pre season preparation is down to several factors not just slow recruitment. However that is a significant concern, especially given that our first European game is next Thursday. I believe that we're allowed 2 emergency signings before then. Even if we do manage to complete deals in time, how fit will the new arrivals be? Its unlikely that they'll hit the ground running. Despite public assurances from the board, JBA's very predictable departure has completely disrupted our preparations. I'll be gobsmacked if Nick Daws hadn't drawn up a hit list over 6 months ago and has been beavering away on it. It seems that JA's arrival has put a spanner in the works. I'm also sceptical of the directors' claim that our best assets won't all be sold at once. By next Thursday the squad may be even more threadbare if Elliot Watt departs, as expected. TJ also? If we win through against HB and secure a league win against Falkirk (I'll write off the first league game in Embra) then all will be well. If we don't though, serious questions will need to be asked about our failure to recruit timeously and our injury record. I can't ever recall such a long injury list before a season started in earnest. Tonight's final dress rehearsal against against Genk was anything but.

Not seen them yet, but that's what happens when you do things on the cheap . Should have got professionals in to design n fit them . Iv still got my old seat in the back garden can I bring it along for the start of the season with a a hammer n screwdriver. Have they put in decent hand dryers in the toilets yet so you dont just dry yer hands on your coat. A tramp wi bronchitis could blow harder than them.

Apparently that was pre-agreed

Certainly not the time to be getting worried, as the real business hasn't even started, but comparing where we are today to last season, this time last year we'd signed Fadinger, McGhee, Watt, Sule, Just, Longelo, and Said. I felt like we had done a decent chunk of our business earlier last summer, and it appears to have been the case. We had lost Shane Blaney, Steve Seddon, Dan Casey, Dom Thompson, Davor Zdravkovski, Harry Paton and Moses Ebiye by this point, mind you, while this season we've lost Halliday, Nicholson, Slattery, Liam Gordon, Ward, and Oxborough. So, weighing up the incomings and outgoings against this time last season is interesting. Again, absolutely not a time for losing the plot, but I don't think anyone can deny that we need to start getting some business done. Europe is right around the corner, and that's a big deal.

I really hope I’m wrong too. Hooking him for no reason after 30 mins in a friendly though may be a sign the manager saw enough too.

Reserve judgement, my apprentice a few years back told me he played for EK juniors, he minced around and looked awkward when he walked. Work arranged a friendly against Celtic BC, my apprentice was head and shoulders the best player on the park. Hopefully you're wrong and appearances are deceptive, but glass coffins etc

Agree,seems a really likeable guy and comes across well,rooting for the guy to do well.

As previously stated hard to take anything from this 22 v 22 game tonight with the Europa game 6 days away……..hopefully the new manager knows what he is doing……nice to see the youngsters getting a chance Sorry to hear the main stand seats don’t appear to be up to scratch…..the old ones were a bit tight…..that’s why I prefer the DC

Alfred comes across as very enthusiastic and I am really hoping he does well. Tough gig following JBA but we all need to give him time

The gaffer said

Thor not getting a run out was baffling. Tells me the Manager has decided RCC is our new central striker. Good luck with that as no way is that his position. Was Thor the only unused substitute? If fit, he is clearly not rated by AJ. Otherwise why ignore him? The youngsters all did their best bearing in mind they only got promoted from the development squad last week. Some showed up well but no way are they first team ready. Needs must I guess but for various reasons we are in a mess heading into the season. Re Seating in POD. An absolute disgrace. Whoever decided they were fir for purpose clearly sits in the nice comfy padded seats at the rear of the Stand. A total waste of money and actually seem to have resulted in less room. Poor quality and flimsy. Not one person I spoke to had a good word to say about them. And someone is going to get hurt trying to let folk squeeze past. Whoever is responsible should hang their head in shame.

Tom Sparrow was captain? Assumed it would have been Fadi, but good for him. I like him when he's playing in his proper position.

I have to agree. Given the importance of the game in just 6 days time, I expected our first 11, barring injuries, to be on the pitch tonight. Maybe that was the best 11 that we could muster in the first half. If it is, we're likely in trouble for the HB match. The youths did well though.

Rumour tonight that Watt away to Portugal tomorrow for his medical for Turkish lot.

I’m normally a half glass full type when it comes to Motherwell but I really didn’t know what to make of that tonight. I do think it’s quite concerning playing that side with such an important game next week and having so many kids get quite a bit of game time. I compared it to the game v Hertha last year where I saw a style emerge and players always available looking for the ball to this tonight where at times we were trying to stumble through the opposition. I thought the players we know did fine, Eli, Said, Lucas and Oscar I thought did ok and RCC looked ok too. The new keeper looks ok-ish but quite small. Moorman I thought looked a wee bit like Liam Gordon but less aggressive. a couple of the youngsters I thought looked handy when they came on…. Not all of them. The boy Hunter scored a really well taken goal. negatives. Willy Vogts. I am never a guy to judge too quickly but apologies to everyone as I’m going to do it. That was probably the worst debut I’ve ever seen and he was hooked after 30mins. He looked like a competition winner, he doesn’t even walk like he plays sport. I can only hope he was ill and he recovers but to play this guy and not use big Thor I found utterly baffling. also Alfred screams nonsense during the game, he’s extremely loud and quite confusing. I did feel at a point in the 2nd half to shout and tell him to shut the fk up. and don’t get me started on the POD seats…. My back is breaking, there’s no space and the guy in front of me cut all his leg on the sharp corner of the plastic seat… blood pissin out the back of his leg. Unacceptable. I’ll go to bed and just hope next week we have some players back and fit. But to be honest, I’m not too hopeful unfortunately.