daver

Really not sure about this one, depends on who plays and how fit they are. Aberdeen seem to be blowing hot and cold so you never know. Anyway, a night listening out for updates on the radio for me. Can't decide whether to do my Christmas cards or clean the oven while listening - the exciting life I lead!

I know he played for us but Cooper was very much a south Lanarkshire man so might not be what they are looking for.

From what I heard about their game at Aberdeen, Kilmarnock were playing fairly well until they lost the first goal and then they went to pieces. As always, first goal will be very important. We seem to have lost that determination to fight back when behind. A few draws at best.

My comment was partly tongue in cheek but my feeling is that we seem to lose quite a few of these 'must win games' but we can provide surprises now and again. It won't stop me going and cheering them on but I go to most games in hope rather than expectation - I guess I'm just a half empty kind of guy when it comes to the football!

Surely as the SFA is made up of the clubs this could be vetoed. How does this fit in besides the football schools? Do we benefit from Braidhurst being one of those?

I can see us doing it the Motherwell way and losing to Kilmarnock now that there is some expectation of a good performance and then getting something off Aberdeen.

Some strange decisions from the ref but there's no way Toure's challenge on Moult was a penalty. They were as bad as each other pushing the other before the ball came to them. I've gone for Moult for an absolute masterclass in peeling off his man. Very unlucky not to get a hat-trick in the second half when he nearly managed to nip in front of Gordon at the front post (didn't seem to make it onto the highlights though).

Does that apply to clubs in debt or just their annual in comings and outgoings?

Extremely high! Hopefully just a few hours earlier on the Saturday.

Either outcome could see them bring in a number of new players in January. How good they are remains to be seen.

Well, it didn't take long for this thread to go downhill (unless I've been seriously whooshed by banter between friends). I can see the shott term contract players mentioned leaving as we clear some wages from the club (although I'm not sure how we move on Blyth if he's still under contract) but, with crowds down, I really can't see many new faces coming in.

I think you will be disappointed. All the usual soundbites will be trotted out - there's no reason though why that should prevent us getting tore right into them.

I'm hoping for an improved midfield in January and liked the look of McHugh before his injury but he did play in that league cup game against Rangers when our midfield was totally overrun. I know that was our first competitive match and almost like a pre - season game but it's likely that this cup game could be McHugh's first game since early August.

My memories of that game are pretty vague but I do remember their attack just blew us away and, as a young boy, being just as impressed with the acrobatic goal celebrations.

Was that the day there were some skirmishes in our end behind the goals and a steward fell backwards over the benches? It was Easter Road - it could pretty much have been any game from those days!

Same team as last week and it sounds like the same formation. Can't really argue with that.

There was only a minute between posts so you must have been typing pretty much the same post at the same time. I hadn't realised he couldn't even keep a certain level of fitness through treadmills etc. He really needs the equivalent of a pre - season all over again once he's able to start full training again. Looking forward to seeing him fit again as I didtthink he looked as though he had something to add to midfield.

I went for McDonald also but was impressed by Moult. His work rate was great as always but his touch deems to really have come on. It was interesting to read he was doing extra strength and conditioning training with Faddy during the international break.

I think they're looking for excuses - plenty of options. I will be driving past Firhill and will either leave early and continue along the M8, take the M74 to Cambuslang or even the M77 to East Kilbride. Not decided yet!

He may have been able to improve but I really don't think he had enough to make him a sellable asset. I don't think we'll see him play for us again but good luck to him, I hope he doeswwell in his career. At least he gave us that win at Accies!

There's a bit of a throwaway comment in there that his lack of success with us was more due to finances than football. What? Where are they getting that from?

Didn't stop Tom Boyd. I know he doesn't play left back for the U- 20s but he has the chance to make a first team position his own and then see lalater if other positions become available.

Thistle normally bring a healthy support so I hope they're telling their fans. I'll just need to leave early but I'm always running about at the last minute so that doesn't seem likely. I don't know why but I'm quietly optimistic about this one. Really depends on which Motherwell turn up.

There's been discussion in the former players thread about Ross Forbes having the skills but not the physical characteristics to make it in the top flight. I just hope Dom isn't going to go the same way. I think defenders have learned if they stand off they can show him out wide and then muscle him off the ball and he needs to be able to resist that.

He was certainly the outstanding candidate for any renaming of the stand and at least it will raise his profile as his achievements were quite staggering.