sbcmfc

I think an element of the Rangers support have taken issue with Butcher as he said in his autobiography and has said in his interviews since that he is ashamed/embarrassed at getting sucked into the sectarianism when he was at Ibrox. I’d applaud him for it.

While I’m realistic enough to realise we are unlikely to challenge Celtic, Rangers and probably Aberdeen, if you can’t have a bit of optimism about a cup run and/or a top 6 finish in August, whats the point? Our 2 league games have been against Celtic who will win the league at a canter and Livi who are very strong at home on a tricky surface. I’m not going to write us off as relegation candidates based on those 2 games, nor have us winning the league because we beat Annan and Dumbarton... I think we could be most improved team this season. I don’t think that’s unrealistic.

Thought the same, especially given previous interest. Although apparently Fraser Forster on loan is the favourite...

Hearts look utter dung and Hibs don’t look any better. I think not only can we beat them tonight, we can finish ahead of them in the league. Naismith is their best player by a mile and he’s had rotten luck with injuries.

I think people mistake stewards for security staff. Stewards are paid minimum wage to point you to your seat, tell you where the pie stand is and politely asks you to behave. They will act as a deterrent to bad behaviour, but the reality is they can’t, won’t and shouldn’t do a thing about it beyond a request to behave.

Were they behaving offensively? I think there needs to be an element of live and let live. It’s not like the Green Brigade were given the main stand. I’ve taken an unused season ticket for games at Parkhead and Ibrox and nobody had a problem.

I didn’t think there was, but they upgraded Carroll’s last week. It was a 50/50 ball and Bolingoli shat out it. It’s not why we lost yesterday, but we got nothing from Walsh. Whilst I thought our penalty claim was on the soft side, 3 times in the game he gave Celtic a foul for similar incidents, 2 of those he gave a yellow card with. One of them lead to the ball coming up the park for the foul on Griffiths for the 2nd goal. The handball by Bolingoli in build up to 4th was a clear handball under any interpretation of the laws, old or new, his hand was straight up in the air. I didn’t see much if any contact at their penalty either, but would need to see again. Its hard enough up against them.

I don’t really have a problem with fans of other teams. I live amongst them every day. If they aren’t causing any bother and just want to watch their team I wouldn’t get too worked up about it, they’re just football fans that prefer a different team. Club have done a great thing cutting the main stand tickets at a 6 figure cost across the season. They can’t individually vet every guest that comes with sponsors etc.

Anybody else think that said pitch invasion at first. Wonder how they will behave today? They might try and take the moral high ground? Or more likely revert to type. Overcrowd the front of south stand, set off pyro, go on the track if they score, sing about the IRA and smash some seats. Can see clubs like us and Killie having to cut their allocation further, as it’s clear the police aren’t willing or able to control them. Either we’ll decide it’s not worth it, or something serious will happen and the decision will be taken out our hands. h**s at Killie last weekend could be considered a warning/near miss.

I don’t even think they booked anyone for leaving the field. I’d be quite happy if they relaxed that rule, but feel it would’ve been appropriate in that instance. No yellow cards No yellow card yellow card

This is exactly why Celtic and Rangers win almost every appeal, no matter how frivolous. The SFA know they’ll lawyer up and drive a bus through the holes in their case.

With their midweek game, they’ll be knackered by 5pm. :p

Saw a rumour on one of the FB pages that Esteban Casagolda is on trial at Killie.

On the whole loan debate, generally have no issue with it, it’s open to everyone. Does seem to be getting used as a way round FFP, loans with transfer later to move into new season etc. Celtic do also seem to use the loan system to troll Rangers, did they not flood hibs with loan players when they were in championship with Rangers, then start loaning to Aberdeen when they were competing for 2nd/3rd....

Think players have started leaving decent sized South American teams to go to the MLS. Whether this says more about the decline of South American football, I don’t know. Most of the best players are in Europe as teenagers now. Its no longer just a retirement home for star players though. Cadden isn’t going to play in La liga or Serie A. So MLS is a great opportunity. No language barrier, good lifestyle etc....

Was there not something about us getting Trevor Carson from Hartlepool for less than we should’ve due to them being in admin or something?

Yeah, be interesting to see if there’s any intention of him heading over there??

I like Hartley, but he looks a bit of a bomb scare at times defensively. He gifted Dumbarton 2 decent chances last night with slack play. As my mate commented, it had shades of McManus at Edinburgh City a few years back. He’s probably better suited to no nonsense backs to the wall defending than no pressure playing out from the back though.

I wonder if he recovers quicker as a professional athlete (and 19 year old) or if it takes longer to get back to his level than it would take your average guy in the street to get back to what would be acceptable for playing 5s once a week? Maybe the 2 factors cancel each other out?

I’d heard months ago that Cadden was keen on a move to America. So it may be he fully intends to go out there in May and have a crack at it, and why not! I wish I’d done something like that at his age, before I had kids and a mortgage. (Obviously not as a professional footballer!) If he never sets foot in Ohio, it’s a different story...

I think getting good money from Paddy Power without having their name plastered across our shirt is the best of both worlds. Although as others have said, I never bought a car from Ian Skelly or flew to Canada on zoom airlines. If I was in the market for a car or flight to Canada, I would’ve been aware of the companies and considered them, but I didn’t learn to drive to buy a car from Ian Skelly, so I’m not going to take up gambling because we’re sponsored by paddy power, although those who do gamble might take their business there?

I remember Rob Newman playing centre half that day, not sure who with. Vaguely remember him hitting a volley off the bar in front of the away end? Whats the capacity at the new ground? Seems a fair interest in the game, combination of form so far and a potential new ground....

Oh yeah, we’re going to recoup a few thousand quid tops. (Pun not intended) Although given there’s a decent chance kids strips will ultimately need to remain sponsorless anyway, just get them out...

I tend to buy them half price when we’re knocked out the Scottish cup. Only advantage of bringing first round proper into December. And bit me in the arse when we got to final and shirt became a classic. Can see for kids etc. having them out early is surely a must? We had literally thousands of extra kids at our last home game, hundreds at the open day, can imagine there would’ve been folk at both who would have considered a kit if available... I remember going back years not getting kits until well into the summer. IIRC the fluorescent yellow one from mid 90s wasn’t available to buy until October.

Let’s be honest, you’d bite their hand off for that in normal circumstances. Probably put him in our top ten transfer fees received and he had 5 good games.