David

It was also problematic, as both of them saw themselves as first-choice, but only one of them could play. Fox is a decent keeper to have on the books, especially if he's not on a fortune. It means we have experienced cover should Kelly get injured, and can continue progressing PJ to eventually take over that slot and hopefully challenge Kelly for the jersey.

The social media grumbling has always confused me. It's not as if we're sending the players out there with cameras instead of running set-piece drills or anything. It's not an "either/or" situation. We have a really good social media team who manage to keep that side of things really busy. But that has nothing to do with the actual football. Is the answer to tell the social team to stop doing as good a job?

Surprised at so little recognition for the effort and performance by McGinley. Thought he looked good out there.

I know everyone is upset at the way we were handily turned over yesterday, but it's worth bearing this piece of information in mind: The quotes above come from a few years back as well, so there's a good chance the gulf has grown even larger. Coincidentally, the last three games between Celtic & PSG ended 4-0, 7-1, and 5-0 to PSG. So, we see what happens when the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak.

I shouldn't imagine so. But still, tiring it is. It's like watching a cat toying with a half-dead mouse.

I'm annoyed reading this back & forth between you two.

They seem to be in for him, that's for sure.

As much as I'm not a fan of "anti-football," if we go out against this lot and sit back, try to play on the counter, we'll get walloped. We need to be in their faces, pressing hard, and dare I say it, putting some added physical pressure on the likes of Hatate and Maeda if he plays. We know how good they are if they're given space and time to do their thing, but we've not seen how they react to a bit of close attention. I wouldn't pay too much attention to how the Rangers game went. That was a one-off. The atmosphere, the opponents, the chance to go top. This is still the same team that laboured against Dundee United and Hearts.

The thing with Griffiths is, if he's playing football somewhere he's appreciated and is gelling well with team mates and manager he seems able to get his shit together. That period of time where he was playing for Scotland and scoring regularly for Celtic he seemed fit and up for it. Could Alexander get that kind of dedication and form out of him? Who knows. The guy has knocked back Dundee though, which makes me wonder if he maybe has other offers down south. Getting himself out of Scotland and Scottish football wouldn't be the worst thing for him.

Have to think that's not through choice.

Depends how they utilise him really, doesn't it? Still, if we keep on keepin' on then we'll be fine.

It makes zero sense, really. Well, except for Tony Watt. He'll happily take their money and will be laughing all the way to the bank.

You do realise that his "threat" is to shut you up by booting you off this forum, don't you? Not only is that not against the law, but it's looking more and more likely every time you post. Let's get back to the football chat.

I personally think Shields has done pretty well with the chances he's been given. In fact, he could even be a potential replacement for Watt in my opinion.

Okay, the football's back, we're all looking forward to seeing our team play. Let's leave the political and Covid chat for elsewhere. Back on topic, discussing the football please.

I fear we'll see the fallout from that over the next six months or so. For many of these businesses the revenue generated at Christmas and New Year is crucial, and without that many will likely go to the wall.

Let's not pretend that our politicians are any different than other politicians worldwide. This whole situation has long been more about political oneupmanship than saving lives for quite a while now. The Scottish government took the gamble that by closing shit down when their counterparts down south didn't they'd see their Covid numbers sky rocket while ours didn't, thus providing the ammunition for our government to play the "see? This is what happens when the 'Tories run things. If we were independent we wouldn't need to answer to them at all" card. Ordinary people are just fodder to these megalomaniacs. On both sides of the border.

Well, Australia are marching to the beat of their own drum at the moment it would seem.

Well, there has to be a benefit to the loaning club otherwise what's the point in them doing it? It works both ways. They get a player out who can hopefully get some game time and develop a bit, while we get a player that the manager obviously rates and who we probably wouldn't be able to sign on a permanent deal. It's a win/win really. Unless the manager thinks this lad is better than what we have, in which case it's a very sensible signing.

I'm not actively wishing him bad luck, of course. Just not wishing him good luck. I'm happy for him as an individual, but once he leaves Fir Park for the last time I have scant regard for his professional accomplishments.

I'm not particularly looking for you to say anything, I'm just highlighting that it's not the case that Watt has performed like this before only to drop away. He's never shown this kind of form and willingness to work before. He basically existed on one goal against Barcelona for years. I certainly hope he falls away though, that's for sure. United are a competitor, and as much as I'm chuffed for him that he's landed a good financial deal I don't wish him any luck professionally, as it would likely be to our detriment.

But his history also shows that he's never actually had the work ethic he has now, and he's never attained the kind of playing stats he has now either. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't want him to carry over his performances to his time with United, with there's nothing to suggest that he won't. He seems to have matured, and with that maturity has come the realisation of what he needs to do in order to exploit his talent to the full.

My point is that there's a lot of players in a similar position, and that we really don't know how those players, including Watt, will react. I'm confident the manager will do what's best for the team.

Would you trust any of the following to go into a 50/50 with full commitment? Ricki Lamie, Bevis Mugabi, Nathan McGinley, Darragh O'Connor, Liam Grimshaw, Mark O'Hara, Liam Donnelly, Barry Maguire, Robbie Crawford, and Justin Amaluzor. Because every single one of them is also out of contract at the end of the season, and in fact, unlike Watt who has a deal in place, these guys have nothing lined up. If they get injured they might not get resigned by us or find another club, so the risk to them is even greater. Truth is, some players will react differently to others. We don't know how Watt has reacted in training since signing his deal. If his head is straight and he's still committed in the managers eyes then we play him until his contract expires or he leaves for a fee.

Oh, come on. You'd rather he didn't build a rapport with a clubs fans because he'll end up leaving one day? That's insanity. If I was a footballer and I was playing at Dundee United, loving my time there, glad to get my career back on track and hitting career-high numbers I'd be more than happy to build a bond with the fans. What I wouldn't expect is grown men and women thinking that by doing so I was signalling my intention to turn down more money to stay there. That's the kind of thing I imagine we'd need to explain to our kids who support the club, not actually deal with it ourselves. You did see that I'd said "Unless the player gives the manager a reason to take such harsh action it shouldn't be considered," didn't you? If the manager drops him it will be because he doesn't believe his head is in the game or he's not focused enough, which is fair enough. What I wouldn't want to see is a player "punished" for having the sheer audacity to take a deal that secures his financial future. What would that say to the rest of the squad? Or future signings? That we're happy to bring you in, give you a platform, but if you don't do things our way we'll treat you like a leper and force you to train with the kids and sit in the stands? Not a good look.