The African

Am I alone in almost revelling in the common sense of a first round European tie taking place in the middle of September? Oh for the happier, simpler days when European games were not only about increasing the revenue of the already bloated clubs at the top of the game. Is it a bad case of nostalgia which makes me think that the European tournaments of my youth were simply better? Scottish teams with involvement beyond Christmas Were possible and not just the domain of the old firm. I feel real sympathy for the kids of today and more recent years who have been told that, in the current reality of football, that level is not for them or their clubs because “they cannot afford it”. The people responsible for this state of affairs should hang their heads in shame.

We will play worse than that and win this season. The number of chances we are creating gives me some hope that we will have an improved season and are heading in the right direction. I think we were always going to miss KVV’s goals and that criticism of our summer recruitment is an easy but lazy option. Who were we supposed to be bringing in to replace him on our budget? Two tough fixtures coming up where anything gained in terms of points will be a surprise and a bonus. Hopefully we come out of these games without too much damage to our confidence and can get back to accumulating points in the matches against our financial peers.

Hopefully we can continue our good run of results in the league for at least another week. This is a game we should be looking to pick up all three points from, though the league cup tie shows that the teams are pretty evenly matched. Forget about talk of revenge and settling scores though. We don’t need the distraction. A focused, professional display will do nicely with a win at the end. I can see this being close, and would not be surprised with a draw, but home advantage makes me hope that a two one win for the ‘well will be on the cards.

Just typical nonsense from the ugly sisters and their minions. Apparently everything is about them.

Pretty happy with both designs for our home and away kits this season. Macron seem to be continuing to do an excellent job in that regard. I would only add that the poster who suggested an all white kit with a claret sash, I think it may have been Ontheftinges, may be onto a winner. Despite the unfortunate events at Córdoba in 1978, I have always been a fan of the classic Peru strip.

The problem I see with an all claret away kit is that it defeats the purpose of a kit designed to avoid a clash when the sides we normally change against (Aberdeen, Hearts) play in a similar colour. Having said that, it seems that these days teams use their alternate kit almost on a whim, so maybe it doesn’t really matter? If we are looking for something slightly different for a change, how about avoiding black (for referees and Eastern European goalies only) and grey ( just looks wrong and has an unlucky track record with other clubs) and try something new. Sky blue anyone? Or forest green?

Very nice looking kit. I agree with those who reckon it would look even better without the sponsors but also realise that they are a financial necessity. Congratulations to all involved on a job well done. Now, if they can bring themselves to stick with a mainly all white away kit, I will be a really happy camper!

I think the dignity with which McGhee handled the events after the tragic death of Phil O’Donnell is an abiding memory of his tenure. He was rank rotten in his second stint in charge, but even then, some of the abuse he took was way over the top. Alexander seemed to go from being a decent appointment to being bereft of ideas as soon as he signed his contract extension.

Are we guilty of taking our eye off the ball here? All the chat of KVV scoring a few and breaking records and the supposed snub by their manager might be a great laugh but the real crux is that we need a win to be sure of seventh place and the financial benefit that will have for the club. We had a chance to achieve this on Wednesday against ten men for more than half the game and failed. We have a pretty poor record against United this season and will more than likely be missing a few key players who have been responsible for our recent turn around in form. Let’s just concentrate on doing the job in front of us and securing the three points.

Hopefully the manager takes notice that without Casey and Butcher our bad habit of losing cheap goals from before his tenure returns. I would also add that our performances against sides who find themselves down to ten men are, professionally, an embarrassment. It can happen occasionally but for us it seems to be every time and we cannot continue to be so generous next season.

This could be a very tricky fixture. The team with very little to play for versus the team fighting for their survival in the league. It will require a very professional approach and a desire to win the fight which County will undoubtedly bring in order to take the win. So far, the manager appears to be aware of this and is making all the right noises. If the team he puts out has the same attitude and application on Saturday then we are more than capable of getting a result. Anything less and we could struggle. I hope for the win, but think this looks like a draw, 1 each.

Indeed. If the object of the exercise was simply to provide a better pathway for local talent then neither of the gruesome twosome would really be interested. They never have been in the past. Their agenda is to continue the precedent of their B teams existing within the structure of the Scottish league system so that they have an insurance policy once the opportunity arises for them to bugger off to whatever future international football circus will take them.

Hard to argue with success. As such, players who are unhappy about not making the team have two options, take the hump or do something in training to grab the attention of the manager. While waiting for their chance they just have to remain patient and believe that the chance will come. When it does they need to be ready to grab it with both hands. It really isn’t a bad position to be in from the perspective of the club.

Transfer speculation tends to do very little for the form of the player involved. If the offer is genuine and the player wants to go then, in this instance, I’d get the deal done now and move on.

Liam Kelly is a decent enough goalkeeper but unfortunately, for any international aspirations he might have had, his form has dropped off just as a window of opportunity, in the shape of injury to the incumbent, arrived.

Really? You leave a country for nine years or so and it all goes to pot. Something in the recesses of my tortured mind tells me that they were known as Ready on mainland Europe in the 1980s.

A twix perhaps? Autocorrect is not always our friend!

Perhaps viewing from a distance gives a different perspective, but is it justifiable to seem to condone the use of abuse and threats against anyone who simply might hold a differing opinion?

In both cases I think the spelling is an affectation too far.

I think “mocking” is a little strong but if you feel that way that is okay. I personally believe that both spelling and grammar are important for any form of written communication. They are necessary elements in getting the meaning of your message across correctly..

I can almost forgive that one. The misuse of the apostrophe is so common these days that you wonder if it is taught in schools anymore. The use of “of” rather than “in” before “a collective voice” grates more in my opinion. I’ll also quietly add that the least said about the misspelling of influence the better.

What can I say? I am more of a grammar guy than a spelling guru.

I appreciate that I might be in the minority (possibly even of one?) but the use of “an” instead of “a” before “wider project” irks me somewhat. I am all for enhancing the match day experience and creating a better atmosphere, but this together with the inherent inability to spell “boys” may just have pushed me over the edge.

If nothing else, the fact that most politicians are polarising would point to a lack of judgement, especially when in the process of applying for new positions. I’d say the same if he’d gone round to Jeremy Corbyn’s for tea. Should it discount him from being appointed? No. Should it be mentioned within the bounds of that consideration? I don’t honestly see why it shouldn’t.

Guilt by association? Nigel Farage being considered quite poorly by a proportion of he populous.