Goggles & Flippers

There does seem to be big geographic holes, Killie makes sense, either us or Accies makes sense but not both. No presence in the Highlands, Perth or Dundee. Falkirk with their facilities and track record overlooked and Partick with what they have on the horizon could rightly be very pissed off. While selfishly I'm glad my team has done enough to qualify, on an altruistic national level, I think the game has been let down by those who have steered this. I can't help but feel that the biggots in town could fund this themselves therefore giving more to the smaller teams and potentially improving the competition and standard, but they'd never see that as viable.

Meant to quote On The Fringes and cited you by mistake. I was agreeing with his post. Getting back to the final, after today, I can see something like this line up on the day. The dilemma is going to be 3 players in particular I reckon McHugh, not performing well but is club captain, so a big decision to drop. Rose, unglamorous role but those who don't ball watch notice his influence. Bowman, do you drop a successful duo to play one up front to gain an extra defender or midfielder against arguably a team with so many strengths going forward? ------------- Carson -------------- Tait -- Kipre --- Hartley -- Dunne ------- McHugh ---- Bigi --------- -- Carswell - Campbell - Rose -- -------------- Moult --------------- If it's purely on form then McHugh would drop out and our best performing player from January till May in Frear wouldn't get a look in because he has no form to display because he's got nowhere near so far. I haven't seen enough of Petravicius or Tanner for them to warrant a start. Bigi and McHugh on paper are defensive midfielders but the above leaves Moult exposed, but I expect our defence will be run ragged by Tierney and Forrest so need cover. I have no fear Campbell can compete with Brown but I think he's naive and not as street savvy. Does Grimshaw got more about him in training than McHugh? Would you go with Bowman up front with Louis and stick with Bigi as cover when a lot think he's more an impact player? Will Tanner or a number of the other fringe players do enough over the next few weeks to get a look in? I like everyone else would also like to see McHugh get his mojo back. Is Grimshaw's tenacity maybe what we need from the start? and hopefully Plummer can stake a place as I think Dunne needs competition. Big Cedric just needs to put some Vicks on his shirt to keep him switched on. Personally, I think our best chance is below (subject to no injuries or other players emerging). Bigi or McHugh would be a toss up for the start instead of Grimshaw but we know what he's capable of (from 18 months ago) issue is getting game time between now and the final, plus big game and young head opposed to experience may count against him. We know who the manager will tend to favour: ------------- Carson -------------- Tait -- Kipre --- Hartley -- Dunne ------------ Grimshaw ------------ -- Carswell - Campbell - Rose -- -------- Moult -- Bowman --------

Your boss leave early today?

I've had this discussion with a few friends, would I swap our league places in the past 10 years, splitting the old firm, best of the rest, and European qualification for silverwear when the likes of ICT, St Johnstone, St Mirren and Killie have all managed to pick up a cup? Likewise, in a heartbeat.

I can understand Thomson who is a former player and also has an affinity for another team of approximate size located roughly the same distance from Glasgow city centre as we are. But English (who seemed to be the organ grinder) and a host of others did not show any empathy to where Bowman found himself. They focused on the broken nose. Two players could feasibly go for a 50-50 and one ends up with a broken leg. No malice involved, just what happens. This incident was no different.

I can't understand why the hacks and pundits were allowed free reign on the witch hunt without anyone calling them out. To be fair the only one who mentioned the Louis eyebrow in the first half was Hugh Keavens, so kudos to him for that at least.

Didnt the last one in 2011 cost £1,200 Dee? The starting point is now £4.5

Tom English is a bell end, looking at the result rather than the background. Riling up the BBC panel too.

3:30 onwards, what a clever response and the mock look of surprise. I'm thinking I may alternate between him and Louis for bedtimes cuddles from now on. #manlove

Didn't know that about Bowman, maybe opt for a 4-4-2 as they will be expecting a 3-5-2. Tanner, Frear and Rose could all be interchanged. Big decision to rest McHugh as club captain but I put him in retrospectively as Campbell got hooked with an bump on Sunday to protect him. If Hammell or Tait bomb forward McHugh drops back to give defensive cover in makeshift back three. Lets not overlook Grimshaw too. --------------- Carson ---------------- - Tait - Kipre - Hartley - Hammell - - Cadden - Bigi - McHugh - Rose - ---------- Moult ---- Frear ----------

Press Conference this morning ..... "Pedro doesn't need to concern himself with the final" ..... Yasssss Next showed how well briefed he was and shows how the media team and Flow anticipated the type of questioning especially from that STV hack in particular. "Ryan Bowman has played 45 games in Scotland and been booked 3 times, is that a dirty player?" "In 5 years he's been booked 9 times" "Rangers have committed 115 fouls so far, we have made 106" It's all about context, hit them with facts and their agenda is quashed. Finally he said something pertinent "I think a number of people didn't want us there" Fantastic

I think he'll go with Carson Kipre Hartley Hammell Cadden Bigi Campbell Rose Tanner Bowman Frear

we're 5 points behind them and Aberdeen, and Scottish Cup hasn't started and we're on the up. Nothing to stop us doing a Leicester and doing a domestic treble .........

Another appeal for anyone who is technically minded and has the BT coverage saved, please upload the post match stuff. It is delightful to watch.

The Cry was Nose Surrender

If any of you get the chance to watch the post match chat on BT sport there is no other word for it other than "delicious". Let me set the scene, Fat Sally and McCall looking like Chris Sutton has just had a go on their respective Mrs' then Sutton decides to goad them (albeit with valid questions) but its the manner in which he does it. I've never seen McCoist look like he was going to lamp anyone since he had his little spat with Lennon at Parkhead. It was a thing of wonder and I will cherish the memory of this interview as much as Louis' second dipping under the bar and that extra second it took to resonate among us all it was in. The defining moment was Sutton uttering .... "They won't be singing Tina Turner on the coach home!" ... cue me bringing my thumb, index finger and 2nd finger together and kissing them Italian style. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bilLyLdz8lg Sheer joy. If anyone can put up the full post match, I will be forever indebted.

Great result ..... however one of our worst performances of the season, second to every ball until midway through the second half. Moult was excellent after his head knock and the difference, it seemed to focus and drive him. Exact opposite of Aberdeen in last round. If we play like that against Celtic, we'll be 3-0 down by halftime. If we are going to take the silverwear home then we need to have everyone on song and playing to their full ability. Harry the unwashed as soon as they get it, get the ball to feet and play football opposed to head tennis and get crosses beating the first man and we have a chance. Plus the planets aligning and Celtic exhaustion from PSG hopefully. Encouraged by the heart and drive of our team. Really hope the SFA don't impose any retrospective shit. Bowman was clearly watching the ball and Moult did kinda lash out after he was kicked.

Anyone know if its possible to still get a seat on a fischal bus?

You're a clever cookie, what do you think it means and I'll tell you if you've won a cuddly toy

Still a startling number of keyboard warriors from the past few years who have the balls to put their hands up. Just goes to show, for every good guy in C&A, theres two dicks. Still a better ratio than any other team in the league.

half a million down, you can understand that

Happy Days .... is this where he turns shite?

Maybe Les cause a few more problems than anyone wants to admit. But he did play a part in the evolution to where we are now.

2017 .... its a cynical place we now live in #newnormal

I'll put a caveat at the start that I know him personally and I have defended him on here in the past when I felt too many were unfoundedly sharpening their knives or stepping over a line in the sand. However I have also been critical where it was merited but when I have done so I've tried to offer an viable alternative. I think it would only be the most downhearted Well fan who would not be pretty happy and optimistic of where we are at present and the potential of where we can go. Yes under his tenure he's made a few mistakes, however none in the media as he's very adept at that and crucially gets on with most of the press corps. Maybe he should have stood up to McGhee a bit more or advised Les to wind in the spending but when you are new in post, people citing your age as a hinderance and ultimately dealing with very strong and opinionated people I can understand why he may have been steamrollered. In the same, for all we know he may have stood up to people putting his job on a shaky peg. We have a manager who sees a happy dressing room as key. We're seeing it pay dividends as players like Bowman have been a revelation and 3/4? others have penned extended deals. News today of Campbell is what prompted this thread, a 4 year deal in this age is astute and a nod directed to both player and management for reciprocating faith in each other. Our U20's are performing really well under Craggs, Las seems to be fitting together with Robinson like a glove and we have a first team where we've still really to see 3 players involved that on paper could turn games. A good summer with 80%ish (for now) success rate on signings. Financially we're healthy (ish?), 4 guaranteed OF games, Hibs back in the top flight, Cup Semi with the TV and ticket kickback, Marvin's money and Henegen's improved season ticket sales and more astute commercial department that for me has injected a degree of professionalism into what was a bit haphazard. A pitch that winds awards and a new roof on the Hunter for free. Scottish Cup still to come in January. Be aware most of the appointments now in place were made with Flow at the helm, under his stewardship and his influence. Maybe some of the naysayers would like to comment why they still hold a negative opinion or perhaps offer an apology ...... Credit where credit's due. But the PA system is shite and the scoreboard doesn't work, so P45 in the morning Burrows you wage thief.