The African

Great result. Whatever happens in the fixtures up until the split, it has been an amazing turn around in performance and results since the winter break. Who would have thought we would be competing for top six rather than fighting for survival?

The Manager of the Month award gives me the fear. Also, I wouldn't pick Hastie, or have I'm in the squad for this. Two reasons. Genuinely, he will not be focused because of all the contract talk, and, tongue in cheek, give him an idea as to what next season will be like on Saturdays if he decides to leave.

I do hope not. As for what it would mean if true, a poor return for us and talent probably wasted at a poisonous club. The one thing that needs to be said though, if this comes to pass, is that all the usual suspects who will blame the Club need to be told to wind their heads in. Young players at our Club are offered an opportunity to improve themselves as players and then go on to make the most of their careers. We can offer no more than that. Ifyoung players do not see it as such and choose to move on, their is precious little we can do about it.

Still, a better result than the one I saw. We lost that 4-0. Both our fullbacks scored own goals. My memory may be hazy, but we may have played in white shorts that night. We were well beaten,but our kit looked great!

If that is the four nil game under floodlights, I was there. Wishart got on the scoresheet but I seem to recall John Philiben’s was a real cracker.

Fair enough. They cannot be held responsible for the weather.

Disappointing outcome, though I suppose a loss would have been worse. Not much we can do about weather, but we had a decent work out and kepta clean sheet against a top six side. Hope they can arrange the fixture for the weekend.

Robinson is quite right to leave things as they stand. You should only fight battles that you can win.

I think we are in the fortunate position of not having to take chances with injured players. If we lose on Wednesday we can regroup over the forthcoming break. Aldred has a role to play beyond this game so not worth the risk.

Would like to think that we can take something from this game to try and get back on track after Sunday. Not going to be easy though. Kellie are a decentside and we seem to be running out of defensive options because of injuries. Right now, I’d take a point and move on.

Well at least that is James Scott off the hook. The f*ck*rs now have something else to get their sanctimonious knickers in a twist about. Good news as I wouldn’t want to see a promising youngster havehis prospects blighted by such a minor indiscretion.

James Scott, in the hope that it makes him feel a wee bit better given all the nasty things that some people may say about him. Congratulations on your first start.

Stop playing silly little games. Do it properly and start learning the flute.

This would be my plan B.

They don’t need much of an excuse. If he gets too irate, you could perhaps ask him, in a quiet and reasoned manner, how he feels this outrageous incident compares with say the abuse of children at Celtic Boys Club? Might bring a little perspective and pour some oil on troubled waters.

Sounds like young James Scott got it wrong. A mistake, but an honest one. He just wants to do well for himself and his team. I am a supporter of fair play and in circumstances like that, we should be giving them the ball back. Robinson has said as much, which is fair enough. The lad will learn from his mistake and, with the support of the club over the next few days, hopefully be stronger for it. As for the rest though, “let them score a goal to make up for it” etc. From former and current professionals like Boyd and McDonald, utter hogwash. Did they get up after winning a free kick or a penalty with a cheeky grin on their faces and say, sorry, it was a dive, have the ball back? Did they let other teams score after they got a dodgy goal that was a mile offside? Aye, sure they did. The most annoying thing about this is that it happened against the most sanctimonious bunch of self perceived victims you will ever have the misfortune to meet. We will hear about this incident until the cows come home and yet any semblance of them retaining the moral high ground lasted as long as it took their fans to jeer and abuse one of our players as he was stretchered off the park with a serious head injury.

So basically they are well overdue? 2-1 to the good guys. Sincere apologies. I got up at 3am to watch the rugby. I had planned on going back to bed but then had to deal with a wandering cow in our garden. I have since been drinking a lot of coffee and am now feeling a little lightheaded.

I always thought McAlister had the potential and Mauchlen was a steady pro already. Was it a quarter million for the pair? Selling cheap again.

I think I would have more respect for our Board if they were prepared to look at the bigger picture and realise that there is more to any deal than just the bottom line. Is it outdated to consider such concepts as “goodwill” when negotiations over such contracts take place? There is value in the trust built up over time in a long term business relationship. It is also true that a good deal is one that works for all parties involved, rather than one that screws a business partner for the short term benefit of the other. Maybe old fashioned and unfashionable thoughts, but there you have it. I would add that I agree regarding the quality of recent Umbro designed kit, though I have no real complaints regarding what Macron have done for us.

No point in trying to be too clever here. Same again with regard to selection and see where that gets us. We can think about Kellie on Monday.

Hastie will either stay or go. No point losing sleep over it. The club has stated that it has made their best possible offer and it is on the table for him to consider. I believe them. The risk in “ pushing the boat out” to get his signature is twofold. Firstly, send up spending money we cannot afford and secondly, we upset and unsettle others who have already signed up for lesser amounts. Our offer has to be about more than just cash as that is an area we cannot compete on. We have to be seen to be offering a career development pathway that will improve them as players while with the club and allow them to make the move for bigger and better things when the time is right. David Turnbull must have seen it in that light so hopefully Jake Hastie will do likewise.

I had one of these kits asa child in the late seventies. Loved it. The itchiness of the material was character building.

With regard to PSL, they seem to be doing a very good job so I would be loath to see us change. Change for changes sake is generally not a good idea. As for our kit in general, I believe that we may be missing an opportunity in failing to take advantage that our traditional colours and design offer. Keep it simple, keep it traditional in design, don’t change it every year so that we can save our true fans a few bob, and save any alternative design ideas for our away kit.

We have to see this as a chance to get one over them. Hopefully our youngsters will not have their heads turned by the news in Saturday’s Record that they are up for a move to the tattie bowl. At least we shall not have the unedifying scenes of Scott Brown kicking our boys for ninety minutes,without meaningful sanction.

Wear what you like guys. As long as it is not overtly offensive and it makes you happy. You are a long time dead.