Andy_P

Another Number - Cheers mate, unfortunately such is the age old browser they've got us using in work here, combined with whatever other restrictions they have in place I can't see the draw on that either. Thanks for your help though!

Same here. Ctrl + R, Ctrl + R, Ctrl + R etc. etc. etc.......

Happy enough with that. Clearly the management were clued up on what to expect but as supporters whenever we play any games in Europe the opposition are pretty much an unknown quantity for most of us. I think that adds an element of anxiousness and uncertainty which may or may not be justified. Having now seen Breidablik and taking that in account where we both are in terms of fitness then I'm pretty happy to be heading their with a lead and without anything conceded. We rode our luck a bit at the start of the second half, and once in the first where Hammy put in a great challenge when the boy seemed set to shoot but I think we merited the win over the piece. Would have been nice ofcourse to have got another goal or two - first half we just seemed to be just lacking that wee bit of sharpness that could have seen us home and dry. Was impressed with two or three of the Breidablik players - the centre forward who looked like a bulkier Michael McGlinchey and the guy on the left of midfield, and in general they look quite a tidy side. But I think we have it in us to step up a bit yet and with some further training behind us, allied to the benefits a full ninety of competitive football should bring us, then at this moment in time I'm quite hopeful we can progress.

First of the season and we start with a win. Thoughts and votes please....

Likely be our opponents will it not? Unless they've trained at FP earlier?

Stick around in here then when the game's on Bliki, usually lots of chat going on during games from a mixture of exiled Dossers and folk at work etc. Nae celebrating if you score mind or you're barred....

Indeed. I smell shite too! It's an angle I use too when we are about to face one of the Old Firm and I'm speaking to one of the unwashed hordes. Let them think they are in for an easy time and then it makes you look all the better when you get the result. Nice try Bliki!!

>>> Photos from an Ayr website

Explained on the Twitter site and elsewhere on another thread. UEFA regulations prevent them having a hoop. Something to do with the numbers. The hooped strip will apparently be back for regular games in Scotland.

A win's a win, but not quite the hoped for boost going into the game on Thursday. Friendlies are a means to an end, wins are a nice bonus ofcourse but its all really about building up fitness and sharpness for the competitive matches ahead so I'm not going to be too critical.......but I have to admit I had hoped for a bit more than what I saw today and remain a bit nervous about the game on Thursday night. Sensible team selection I thought using what will likely be the squad for Thursday and leaving the trialists aside for the moment. But I don't think we managed a shot on goal the whole of the first half and had to make two or three timely challenges in the box to prevent what would have been good goalscoring chances. Ayr's goal was well taken and I couldn't argue their lead was undeserved at the break. Second half we eventually came into it an were actually pretty dominant as the game wore on without creating that many goalscoring opportunities. We must have had close to fifteen corners but again never really made the most of them. Positives - the good workout and result apart. Nice finish from Forbes with the free-kick. I expect the debates will continue to rage about his usefulness over the season. Not a great display but that's two in two (or three if he came on at Forfar not sure) where he's been largely anonymous yet popped up with a goal of some class. Great composure and spark about McHugh for his winner too. First time I've really had an opportunity to see Jonathan Page for any length of time and I liked what I saw even though I think left-back isn't his preferred position. Flicking on to the official I see Brown has taken some culpability for the display with his instructions which may explain the display and may mean my concerns are a bit overstated. I suppose we'll only really find out what shape we're in come Thursday.

Summer football appears attractive if you do get a night like Thursday. But the counter argument is that wasn't sunny on Tuesday. Pissed down for much of it and wasn't exactly roasting either. Not much difference from weather encountered in autumn really!! Not the first time we've played pre-season's in training kits I seem to remember. Recall us playing a few games in Xara training stuff a couple of seasons back, I mind some footage floating about of Richie Foran scoring against Queen's Park at Glasgow Science Parks.

Did you not pull someone up the other day claiming they were abusing a player because they said something similar to what you've just said?

You may well be right Juan, I can't honestly remember what they were termed as.

Prior to us going into administration there were plans to have a share issue of sorts and were discussed at the AGM in 2002. I can't remember the full in's and out's but wasn't ordinary shares that were going to be issued but a new kind of share category which was of similar but slightly lesser in status in that you got to view the account and attend the AGM but voting rights weren't included. Or something along those lines. Whether those plans are still on a file on a pc, or in a cabinet somewhere in FP, or maybe even whether John Boyle issuing shares to the MST satisfied his desire increased fans shareholding, I don't know but obviously it the last thing the club had to deal with come May 2002.

It would be interesting to see your reaction when you spot the ground for the first time Barnsley It's hard to know how to describe it but once you pass Newton-on-Ayr station for about the half a mile or so its like being transferred into a 1920's How We Used to Live episode that they used to show you in primary school. Loads and of disused railways lines leading into a railway yard with decaying trains and wagons set against the backdrop of decaying Somerset Park. Doesn't paint a very nice impression but the ground itself is a pretty good reminder of what used to be the norm two or three decades ago and for that opportunity and to sample terracing again is worth the trip.

Guys, seems like the thread was intended as a mark of respect so lets try to keep it that way and maybe do the arguing and debating about the background to the conflicts on another thread eh? Just a thought.

One of the things I remember in the first few weeks of Brown's reign were some comments about fitness levels. It was along the lines that there had been some effort to improve on fitness levels and the management were pleased at the level achieved.....with a wry inference thrown in that they wouldn't know what had hit them once Archie Knox got to work in the summer. Double sessions in pre-season is nothing out of the ordinary but Brown's remarks made me quite curious to see just what Knox's programme, I assume in conjuction with John Porteous, would be involving and what differences we might see.

Good news about the decision to give Season Ticket holders a period to secure their seats if they want. Sorry if the question came across as a moan Bop but thought it required some clarification. It's a slightly different scenario from non Season Ticket games given that there's no pay-at-the-gate option on European nights. I could be wrong but it might even have been one of the sales pitches for buying a season. Anyways pleased the wee adjustment has been done and can't wait for the game.

What about season ticket holders looking to sit in their own seats? Is that not a possibility or is it a free-for-all?

Understandable really. There's not that much of a gulf between Ayr and Motherwell that would class us an enticing opponent for a Centenary for them. For such a celebration you are looking for something outwith the norm, something a wee bit special. Like Liverpool were when it was ours. It would seem a bit like us playing one of the Old Firm for our 125th.

The folks are currently managing the caravan park at Culzean Castle so a friendly at Somerset is ideal as far as the old man is concerned, so I'll be meeting up with him. Twice in three or four years now he's got lucky with a friendly at Ayr whilst they've been at working at Culzean. He also got lucky when they were stationed at Keswick when had a friendly at Carlisle when TB was gaffer. So in short, aye, I'll be there too.

Albania and the hastily withdrawn advice not to travel?

Seem to remember the jaunt to the Faroes costing £400 plus back in 1994 so in comparison to that, £385 is pretty good going. Hope there's the interest to fill the plane and give the team a bit of extra backing over there!

I remember St Mirren entering under 'Paisley St Mirren' when they played in the Cup Winners Cup a few years back. I have a long memory remembering St Mirren in Europe!

Is Iceland a summer or winter league nation? Don't know anything about the team but if they are half way through their season then more than ever we need to make sure we are ready this year.