Kmcalpin

How will fans prove if they have had a booster vaccination? Currently it's not possible to do that.

My guess, and its a total guess, is that restrictions will continue to apply for the midweek league games but be removed by Cup weekend. But who knows? Yes, infection rates in Scotland and England are very similar Iain and what little divergence there is could well be down to other factors. Certainly restrictions at football matches and elsewhere don't seem to be making much, if indeed any, difference and Professor Leitch's view (I haven't heard or read it) doesn't seem to reflect the commonly acknowledged position that restrictions are a balance between health and economy. There are always conflicting stories and you can always find at least one expert arguing against other experts and the press zero in on the outliers to generate interest, discussions, political point scoring and last but not least sales.

A good decision. GA has turned our club around since coming in and you can see progress. This will give us continuity going forward and hopefully convince out of contract players to commit.

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

So we've joined the queue for Rudden have we? St Johnstone, Dundee and now us. Maybe Thistle don't want to lose him in this window as he'll be worth more to them if he scores goals to earn them promotion? Six figures does seem a lot for a Championship player with 6 months remaining on his contract though. Is he that good? Maybe the next Shankland; speaking of which his agent is doing a damn fine job getting more exposure for him with the BBC. BBC also reporting we're miles apart with Dundee United regarding Watt's fee. Although they seem to have plenty of cash to burn on wages they've suddenly become hard up when it comes to paying out fees. Ah well, they'll get him in the summer for nought.

Hopefully the armed forces will cope with all the pressure being heaped on to them just now. Why are many hospitals not coping? Its a complex situation and I just don't know. How do the numbers stack up compared to the early days of the pandemic? I'd guess less patients in intensive care. However many staff are off sick and or are isolating so its hard to gauge. The pandemic is like the straw thats breaking the camel's back. Long running issues coming home to roost.

Yes, Shields does deserve his chance. I get the impression that Tierney is an attacking midfielder, not a striker. If we lose both Roberts and Watt then I think at least one replacement is necessary up front.

Liam Shaw now officially confirmed.

It would seem that our Covid outbreak has happened at the right time if there is such a thing. Hopefully we'll have a reasonably full squad for the game.

Great post Al. On the whole I'd say that the NHS has done well with the resources it has had at its disposal and many of its problems are long standing. Like any other organisation though there are very good staff, good staff, average staff, poor staff and very poor staff. That has come directly from family members and others who work for the NHS. It has coped very well with COVID but poorly with other medical issues. I had cause recently to visit my local hospital for a routine test (with an appointment). I had great trouble actually getting into the building itself as many entrances had been closed off to the public. Had I turned up in a car with someone requiring A & E treatment I don't know what I would have done. The overall statistics for total COVID infections to date are likely to be a gross underestimate for many reasons. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59899547 People are not reporting LFT results for example and other infected individuals are keeping quiet, but I guess that is to be expected. I find the issue of face coverings to be interesting. We go into our local supermarkets and indoor shopping malls and despite their use being obligatory (with limited medical exceptions), many folk just don't bother. The same applies to public transport. The same happens at Fir Park. When in your seating area they're not obligatory and thats fair enough. But in enclosed indoor spaces???? Many just aren't bothering. The bottom line is that we're just going to have to live with this horrible virus. I don't envy the politicians as they have the hard decisions to make but please just be open with us. Its a fine balance between economy and health. As for advisers - please advise and stop short of speaking for the political decision makers. Irrespective of the statistics, the 500 figure needs to be amended or tweaked but that is only one of many wider inconsistencies.

I've posted about this issue before Davkel. I'm not sure what size has to do with it. There's a common misconception that big guys are lumbering, carthorse like, hammer throwers. Some are of course but many are not. Size and skill/speed are not mutually exclusive. Usain Bolt, for example, is 6-4 and a little faster than average. Christiano Ronaldo and Eric Cantona are both 6-2 and have/had a fair measure of skill. Nearer to home Michael Higdon and Andy Ritchie were big guys but not short of skill.

Are you sure about that? I don't know but it seems ridiculous if so.

According to court evidence, Charlie Adam is on £3,500 a week at Dundee.

So, we'll have Slattery, Goss, Donnelly, Cornelius, Tierney and Maguire. Is Grimshaw a midfielder? O'Hara is out for the long term. Crawford - will he leave? Number of allowable subs might rise to 5. Injuries and suspensions? Would it allow us to move to a 4-4-2 line up? On paper you might be right but midfield is mix of types and skills and I can only assume that GA sees a need for another player in the engine room. Liam Shaw can also play in central defence.

It might be justifiable; we just don't know, as little or no evidence has been presented so far to underpin the decision.

Arbroath will be well aware of the rules, whatever they are, just as Falkirk were.

Barry Maguire signs a new deal until 2024.

Spot on Allan. This smacks of desperation and just like something Dundee would normally do. Not the kind of player normally associated with St Johnstone, where in past years, effectiveness has always taken clear precedence over entertainment. Yes, he was never an out and out goalscorer and is probably just past his prime now.

I don't know the actual mechanics of any likely deal but yes you're right. So, a rival club, United, want to sign one of our better players and for us to take 2 of their unwanted players off their hands and wage bill? Aye right!

Another rumour: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/tony-watt-dundee-united-fast-25834114

At no point did I say that a player shouldn't build a rapport with the fans. However Tony Watt has probably said too much or, as I said, been a bit theatrical at times. It doesn't have to be one extreme or the other. Its quite ok to have good relations with the fanbase without being OTT. It will be up to GA as to whether he plays or not and I've no problem with that. However, a conflict of interest could well arise when we play Dundee United or are neck and neck with them for a top 6 slot. We don't know exactly what discussions have taken place between the player, his agent and our management. From GA's comments this morning it doesn't seem as though there's been much recent contact and that may be a factor. Like you I don't want to see any player punished for looking for a "better deal", but this is not what its about. Its about what is best for MFC. If he doesn't move in this window and is benched or sent to train with the youngsters it will be because the manager thinks that that is best for the team, not because he's being petty, spiteful or vindictive. All the best for 2022.

I'm with Melvin on this. On paper we're in a very strong position but in reality I'm not so sure. I like what I've seen of Soland & Ojala but they do seem injury prone. Mugabi has been a constant rock this season but has yet to extend his contract. Lamie was/is injured and has yet to sign a new deal - reportedly being monitored by English clubs. O'Connor is largely untested, on loan and currently injured. Others are simply back up. Donnelly just returned from injury and O'Hara (makeshift at best) is out long term. Maguire is not a central defender and neither is Carroll. Early days but we need to get central defence sorted for next season. That said, the management team will be well of aware of issues and have demonstrated so far that they like a big strong central defence.

Two reasons, David. Firstly he has been badge kissing and playing up to the fans for some time now. You'll remember that he jumped up onto the East Stand barrier wall for example. He also said that he liked it at Motherwell. Now I'm not against anyone celebrating when he scores a goal for us, but these actions were more theatrical than most. The first time that news broke publicly about him turning down our offers and stating his intention to move on was 10 December. Talks had apparently broken down. Now these talks don't just start and conclude in a day or so they can take weeks or even months. So while he was playing to the fans its likely that he had decided to move on at the end of the season. In short he built up unrealistic expectations. He would have been better advised to tone down the rapport with the punters. In fairness, he's not the first nor will he be the last to do this. Secondly, the leak about moving to Dundee United. This occurred on Christmas Eve, just before we were due to play our final game before the break. Very odd. Now he could have been negotiating a move with United since 1 November and thats perfectly fine. Someone leaked news of the PCA to the press. Now that could only have been himself, his agent (surely acting on his permission), Dundee United or "a source close to". This has been fairly widely publicised in the press most notably by the Courier. There was no need whatsoever for this, unless it was designed to instigate a move next month. Many clubs and players sign players on PCAs, including us, but very few publicise them so well in advance unless they're trying to pressurise the selling club into an early move. Not professional or courteous in my view. Had the leak come from the player or his agent, without the approval of United it would have been very risky indeed. How would he know that United had the cash to sign him next month? He's bound to have known the fallout it would cause at Fir Park and if he didn't his agent certainly would know. It might have caused a rift with United. No, the most likely explanation is that it came from United who used the press to their advantage. Now its no secret they want to strengthen their striking department next month. Once the story had been leaked to a compliant journo before the window opened United, Watt and his agent could afford to lie low and keep quiet - job done. The leak had achieved its purpose, by pressurising our club. I'm sure there's much more to this than I know and I may have made false assumptions but thats my take on it.

Yes there are some who get very worked up at a player leaving us and I get that. At the other end of the spectrum there are those who almost, and I say almost, encourage a good player to leave us. However many, myself included, accept that its part of our business model, and players have a right to move on. My grouse is how its done and in this case it leaves a lot to be desired.

Yes. KVV may outscore TW but he can blow hot and cold, is a little injury prone and has a questionable temperament. Who steps in if he is unavailable? There's also no guarantee that Conor Shields will remain completely injury free.