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There are lots of different elements to the discussion. Celtic's dominance is often cast up as an apparent example of how poor our league is but it's not like we're alone here in having a supremely dominant side. I mean what are we up to in Italy now? Seven successive Serie A titles for Juventus? It's been something like 5 out of the last 6 in France have been won by PSG, not to mention a treble this season. Porto and Benfica have carved it up between them both for about the last 20 years. Basel were only just pipped from making in 9 in succession in Switzerland. Despite what you are lead to believe things aren't significantly different in Scotland to a number of other European leagues in terms of dominance and predictability of winner. There is a whole separate debate to be had about the actual quality of the football on display in Scotland but for excitement, drama and at times sheer farce Scottish football is great. The league set up is such as that in every division you will generally have very few teams that don't have something to play for as you head towards the end of a season. The battle for second place and the European places and at the bottom end looks like it will be as competitive as ever. The Championship has about 4 or 5 teams that could realistically put in a challenge for promotion. There are lower league sides that historically have performed at higher levels like Airdrie and Clyde are positioning themselves for challenges to take a step back up and the likes of Cowdenbeath (and perhaps Hamilton to a lesser extent) doggedly defying the odds again and again to just stand still. There are stories of interest right, plots and sub-plots across all the divisions, you just sometimes have to get beyond the slavish devotion to the Old Firm that you get from a lot in the mainstream media to get a flavour of them. We also obviously suffer from the geographical proximity and the gulf in size compared to our southern neighbours. How many times have you been scoffed at by English fans for only having 4000 fans or whatever. The reality is of course is that per head of population our top division is one of the best supported in Europe. That us playing Celtic is the equivalent of somebody like Rochdale or Oldham making the FA Cup Final. But that doesn't make for as good a piss take does it and the "small fry" nature of our league gets reinforced time and time again. UEFA's influence? That's a bit more tricky. The money involved undoubtedly helps Celtic get further and further away with each passing season and it would be absolutely lovely if one of us were able to deny them a third successive treble. There is no doubt Europe can be a significant benefit to them. But by the same token the Champions League and Europa League's relevance to Scottish football almost seems to lessen each year. Few make it very far and at times it actually feels a bit like a World Cup or European Championship where because you've so little involvement after the early rounds that you can almost view it from a detatched perspective and enjoy the competitions for what they are. All things considered, I'm pretty comfortable with what Scottish football is all about. By God there's lots that can be improved upon, issues that need to be tackled and what not but following the League Cup draw the other night, the anticipation of new signings, new strips, new scoreboard and the announcement of friendlies to come my appetite has already been whetted for the new season to come.

Christ, Andy_P, that's much too sensible. Looking at out football, we should never get out of bed if we didn't think we could win the league but we still do, right? I worked with an aged communist who, as a boy, saw us win the title in the 30s. He told me (I haven't checked it in the Motherwell Times or elsewhere yet) that gates were still low even then, despite consistent 2nd places and one title. We all know the dice are loaded within our football and in the MSM generally but do we fold up our tents and throw ourselves in the Clyde? In my lifetime we have never had a realistic chance of the title but I go along every year in hope of victories over the Ugly Sisters, some progression in our style and a cup run. Very few teams in Europe have ever had a realistic chance of a championship in their national leagues but so what? It's all about hope and loyalty in the face of dour reality, really, but I'm a thrawn old bastard and I'm not alone. COYW, forever.

Can we get back to the topic of young Motherwell players have been capped at full and under-21 level and how good that is?

AS Roma 18-19 pre match jersey is superb...

Ticket sales almost double compared to the same period last year.

That was the day I was working in the home dressing room, installing the steam room, the dressing room door flew open and the whole team rushed in with blood pouring from Griff's mouth.

Just call me Nostradamus...

Goodwin's already patched them. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11797/11389255/alloas-jim-goodwin-rejects-chance-to-speak-to-st-mirren-over-managers-job

I think it's great and it could help us convince the most promising young talents in the country to start their careers at the club. While the score wasn't great it's always good to see players in the C&A playing for Scotland.

These are just mock ups similar to what I have done in the past (I did notice them on Twitter). When designing kits for an existing manufacturer it’s best to use one of their recent templates as they do vary from brand to brand. No point in putting a Macron logo on a Nike template as that would be complete fantasy (unless that is your intention). I’m lead to believe that we are changing shirt sponsor so McEwan Fraser will be no more. As for these mocks ups there is far too much going on for my tastes. The away is far too Hearts and the home has too much going on design wise. Stripes, claret sleeves, and a graduated colour. Complete design overload. Also, as far as I’m aware we have no plans to release a third kit.