weeyin

Reading slightly between the lines from Robinson's interviews, Dunne and McManus are both a bit behind in fitness because of their enforced extended layoffs.

Presumably that's why we have a shutdown in January.

A couple of his coaches at the U20 level have hinted it too.

I'm not sure if a back 3 is Robinson's preferred approach or of he just felt it would allow us to push up in the expectation we would dominate possession. I guess time will tell. A little slow out of the blocks, but can't complain about the final result. Was great to watch another summer game bathed in sunshine. But enough about the weather here

Selling Moult, getting our Plan A target and in mid-July, would be ideal.

I'm not sure it's just one up front if we have Frear, Tanner and Cadden in the line up. Unless we are trying the old 3 wide players strategy. Maybe an attacking 4-3-2-1? Regardless, like I said in an earlier post, I fully expected today to be competitive, but still include some pre-season experimentation.

Aye, as much as I would have liked Thomas to succeed with us, he seems to have the same attitude as Brian Kerr. Some players overcome their youthful arrogance, but even the massive egos like Ronaldo succeed because they put the work in too.

As Robinson pointed out, we'll get about 600k or more if Cadden leaves at the end of his contract. Added to the fact he still has 2 years left on his contract, it will need to be a sizeable offer.

Having watched us lose multiple times to Queens Park in cup ties over the decades, it wouldn't be that much of an upset to me. I expect us to win, but there are so many variables at this stage of pre-season, it won't necessarily be straightforward.

Not showing up on any of my usual football channels so I think we are out of luck. If you want to check the channels where you are, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Soccer Plus, NBC Sports and ESPN are the usual places to find BT Sport games on the telly. Be hunting for a stream on the internet.

According to the UEFA website, . So it seems that we need somebody in place to perform that role to meet UEFA licensing requirements. Not quite sure what we have been doing since 2012 right enough (presumably someone from the club was perfroming the role).

Loosers!

Agents are bad enough, but a huge chunk of the TV money goes on players' transfer fees and wages. Which again inflates the salaries of even the worst lower league players, making it difficult for the Scottish game to compete. Our own League's underselling of our game is an additional factor.

I think 90% of this situation is due to the ridiculous amounts of money that are spent in English football. Obviously it starts in the EPL. but that has a knock-on effect where 3rd and 4th tier clubs are desperate to get a share of the spoils and throw money at their team to try and buy success. My "wee" team at Forest Green Rovers is an example of that. When I used to watch them in the late 80s/early 90s they were a typical non-league local team. Now they have a new owner pumping in money to try and get them established in the senior leagues.

This, plus a cut from a big money transfer for Marvin, and the signing of a replacement for Moult that we can sell on in 2 years - would be ideal. This owning a football club is a doddle.

You have to admire his ingenuity, however, to con all the coaches and managers he's played under that he can play left back. He better hope nobody at ICT reads this, or he's been rumbled.

I think he'll do just fine as left back at that level.

"probably doubts over the quality of his team mates" is the kind of baseless speculation that makes this place great. Moult's agent (and Moult himself) will be well aware of who is and who isn't interested in his services next season, regardless of who has actually made a formal bid at this stage. It's the agent's job to gauge interest. It may be that Aberdeen is the only club who wants him - in which case they need to pay the asking price. If there are other teams who have expressed an interest to Moult's agent. however, he'd be mad not to sit tight for a few more weeks and see what transpires.

TBF, at least some of his fans were impressed by his U20s performances where JJ used to talk about his 'continental feet'. Was a shame he couldn't produce that level of performance in the first team.

Sadly, football talent alone doesn't make a good pro. Like every other team in the country we have had our fair share of players who had the talent but, for whatever reason, couldn't quite cut it. Years ago, it was Paul Mills and the boy (Paul?) Tracey - both of whom were tipped to be the next big thing. Then there were guys like Brian Kerr who had bags of talent, but never look interested in using it. More recently, guys like McHugh and Moore who scored goals for fun at U20 level but struggled to reproduce in the first team. Thomas is probably one of the more talented youngsters we've released in recent years, and I think we messed up his development by keeping on the fringes of the squad instead of loaning him out, but maybe a change of scenery will do him good. I wonder if he'd have stayed if Blyth hadn't got himself injured and tied up a wage.

Is Greg Stewart not a proven goalscorer (at least before he headed to Brum)?

As one of the owners of the club, I'm happy for it to be known given the positive impact it has on the quality of the players we can attract.

Maybe, like other before him such as Moore and McHugh, he couldn't bridge the gap between his success at the U20s and the First Team. We'll find out soon enough, but good luck the boy as it's unusual for us to release someone that goes on to bigger things.

The entire point of signing Moult was to sell him on. The only disappointment would be if we don't do that. He's done a great job for us and himself with his performances (and seems like a good guy), but next season it will be some other team who are waiting for him to return to fitness after a groin op. Looking forward to see who we have lined up to replace him.

More likely he doesn't want to alienate half the potential customer base for his football school.