weeyin

We've often got the best out of players by playing to their strengths. Then when they move on, their new teams try to squeeze them into an existing system with less success. I'm not saying that will happen with Spittal, but it certainly happened when Sutton left us for Hearts and even - to a lesser extent - Faddy at Everton.

And Ross MacIver almost matched it, except for a quite incredible save from the keeper.

Was he not one of the players you used to slag off on a regular basis? Also, we didn't get rid of him - St Mirren signed him on a pre-contract. I liked O'Hara, but he never played as well for us as he does for St Mirren. Better fit with Robinson's style (a style you also used to slag off on a regular basis - with good reason, because it was pretty brutal at times).

Good luck editing SK!

It's not 100% clear, but I thought " I wish the new Club Chair and Board every success in what will be an exciting next chapter for the Club." suggested he was stepping away from the Board too.

Pretty sure professional sports coaches understand that. The facts still show, however, that rarely (if ever) have we released a 17 year old that went on to play at a higher level than us when they were in their 20s. Of course, there may be an exception from time to time, but I'd struggle to think of any youngster we released in the last 20 years that proved us wrong.

Can't beat untested software being released into the wild.

Maybe they were watching the youth players that were playing in the first team? I don't think it's that unusual to see all the coaches watching a first team game on a Saturday afternoon.

I'd also add that the Covid seasons put a huge dent in the progression of some of our youngsters. Many clubs scrapped their academies at that time, there were even less training and competitive match options for them, and little chance for being loaned out. I don't recall who it was, but I remember one of the coaches saying it basically put them about 2 years behind and their would be an inevitable drop in the number of players able to step up for a few seasons.

There are definitely a few we have lost through poaching, but none that we let go that have gone on to better things. Getting meaningful game time is the challenge and the league doesn't have the spine to make clubs participate in a reserve or youth league. They'd rather let Hearts and the OF have B teams in the lower league at the cost of developing academy players from other clubs,

They did - and their complaint was valid. Just never going to get anything other than an apology from the authorities.

Agree. People say this every season when we release some youngsters and without fail, none of them have ever ended up playing at a higher level. It's only the ones like Johnston who choose not to stay that sometimes succeed.

Not surprised. They have a legitimate complaint, but the authorities never have games replayed.

Does he let flats?

The Crawford Baptism, as it's known in the trade.

Now we know what our starting 11 shouldn't be, take your pick... (an even weirder penalty situation than the Man U v Arsenal one last night)

One of the first changes he made when he took charge was to play another striker beside van Veen. Mostly Obika, until he got injured.

Steelmen online. Where any fabricated thought is unashamedly stated as a fact, then used as a source of complaint.

The Spittal that we signed is not the same Spittal the moved to Hearts. He only became that good through the efforts of the coaching staff. If we follow the same model, one of the new signings could end up being as good, but won't be starting off that way.

Hasn't Stuparević been slated as a number 10?

No tractor, no signing.

Every team in every cup competition is a loser. Except one. The fact that upsets happen is what makes them entertaining. If it always aligned with seeding we can give Celtic the trophy now and get back to our preseason.

For the Danzaki fans, Newcastle Jets finished in 10th last season, one spot above Danzaki's team. Of course, that is totally meaningless, but I have seen a few other signings insta-judged on their previous team's performance.

It's important, but I think fixing (or not) the defence is going to be the biggest factor this season.

It's funny that after all the years we've been playing this League Cup group format, some people don't quite get we need to treat it, at least in part, as pre-season. Players are at all different levels of fitness depending on injuries, being out of the game, coming from different leagues etc. and the gaffer needs to balance finding a team that will win, a team that will give players needed minutes and a team that doesn't add to the crock list. Having said all that, I'm not a fan of Casey and Blaney in the same team. They were at the heart of many of our defensive lapses last season, and not convinced they will be any better together this season. A win's a win, though and that is all that matters in a cup competition. Just ask England.