C&A not the shop

Oh yeah, him....

Big Dunc would be great fun, might go wrong nit it would be good fun. First player to play against us in a cup final that has ended up managing us?

Huge appointment. Someone with experience of making do with what's available (like an international manager) would be ideal. Levein would be a great shout I think. As would Strachan if he was interested in managing again. If there was an ex well player with the credentials I'd be delighted for them to come in but I can't think of any other than Lambert. In fact he's been out of work for 18 months, he's probably a decent shout. Ipswich binned him after he got them relegated and wasn't looking like taking them back up but he's got a load of experience and has a connection to the club. He needs a success somewhere to get a big job again so maybe we're the place to do it....

We need to win this one. Simple as. I'm definitely a happy clapper, one of life's optimists and willing to give players and managers a chance to turn things around far past the point its sensible but if we don't win this Alexander is doomed for this season. The mood is against him in a way that last seasons league finish isn't going to placate. A win here and a good performance next round is the minimum to give him time and then a good league opening and a league cup run makes him unsackable. Which I'm happy enough with, results that make the manager unsackable are great for me.

I think this year there will be 3 sets of 4 teams bunched quite close. Rangers and Celtic obviously top 2 but I think Hearts will be closer than any team has been for a while. Not in danger of finishing in the top 2 but close enough for it to be a thing for a bit. Aberdeen also I expect to have a good year. The middle group, fighting for top 6 and the last euro spot will be United, Hibs, Killie and us or County (I think Malky for all he's an idiot has done very well there). Last group St Mirren, St Johnstone, Livi and the other of us or County. Anything above 9th will be a decent season for us. If we make top 6 it'll be a great year. I'd take 10th if we won the league Cup (and definitely for a Scottish cup)

Aye, not a great draw. Sparta Prague the fun trip that's doable travel wise but on to a hiding. The North Macedonian side/Latvian mob could be a winnable tie. Wouldn't fancy Astana or Istanbul (actually Istanbul is a cool place but it will be stupidly hot and I don't fancy going to a match over there).

And what's the real difference between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1? If you think of the forwards dripping back and the midfield 3 being a triangle with Spittal at the top of it it's effectively the same position he's playing in with a similar role.

Spittal is clearly capable of creating in the SPL. Tierney is a young lad I've high hopes for this season and Morris has shown he can create in league one and two down south. I don't know what level of player you expect us to sign?

I thought he'd played there abit but I may be mixing him up with Stephen McGinn... Aye, Saturday should answer some questions. Although I won't be there, swore off friendlies a long time ago.

Could play a 4-2-3-1, think we have the personnel for that. Slattery and Maguire/McGinn as the 2. Spittal, Morris, Tierney, Shields, Efford, Goss could all work as part of that 3, obviously KVV as the one.

Are they a full time side? I'm assuming they're bottom half championship level, the sort of team we should put away buy will have enough about them that can cause us problems if we're not at it or miss a few chances. Basically it's Morton but a bit further west. So how do we line up? That's the big question. Have we changed shape from last year or are we going out the same 4-3-3? I'd say Kelly, Slattery and KVV are guaranteed starters regardless of formation but after that I think every other position is up for debate.

I think its because TNS got pumped out the Champions league and Newton got through so there are three Welsh teams in the conference league but not enough uefa grounds available

Yup. But only if Bala win, if Sligo win then its as is.

Just saw the P&B thread, Newton won so if Bala win we are away first now....

Into extra time. If Bala win is the other results that move the away game to Tuesday still in play?

So we'll find out who we're playing tonight and who we could get in the third qualifying round on Monday. One of the Dutch or Belgian teams would be decent in terms of being accessible, fairly glamorous but also competitive. Let's see what is on offer (and we pump Bala/Sligo)

For all I want Hearts to lose most weeks I do think Tynecastle is a good ground and its a good away game generally. Easy to get to on public transport, feels like an occasion and a team it's good to beat. Far better away day than Hibs IMO. Disappointed that the Turnbull to West Ham rumour has died, would love to see him move on from Celtic, mostly for the fee I think we're due...

On Woolery, I always thought there was a player there about to break out, I think Alexander thought the same and it appears this Turkish mob also think the same. If we move him on for profit after a half decent season then that's great. With the goalkeeping situation, you'd expect that Kelly will have admirers. We've brought him on what will be a good wage for us and possibly for a substantial (for us) fee from QPR. I imagine the plan was always to put him in the shop window and move him on for profit, which again I've no issue with as he's done great on the 50 or so games he's played for us. Fox is here because he's happy to sit on the bench and not draw a big wage, he's seeing out his career but can still do enough of a job if required. No idea about this young keeper we're linked with but it makes sense to do some contingency planning in case someone stumps up for Kelly. Defensively I'm hanging my hat on Ojala being like a new signing this season. We have a thing where players get better the longer they're out injured in our minds but if you play through some injuries (which I'm assuming Ojala has) you get slated for being useless or totally done and past it. This could be wishful thinking on my part but it makes sense. We were shipping goals and bringing in an experienced steady hand would fix it, even if he's not 100% he can use his experience etc... now it didn't work but you can see why the manager would have done it. I'm strangely optimistic about the new season, probably cos I'm excited about going to a meaning game next Thursday rather than the half competitive game half pre season of the league Cup group stages.

Saw your post on P&B about McGhee, that makes perfect sense. (For those not reading two forums basically we looked at him but went with mcginn instead)

Fair comment, but could this be a reverse of Tom Hately, he thinks he's a right back but he's really best in midfield?

Seen on the P&B thread someone linking us with Jordan McGhee at Dundee. Got to assume their new gaffer is saying he can find a new club to free up some wages or he had a relegation release clause as I couldn't see us paying for him. Although most likely it's just made up nonsense. However I do think he's the sort of player we'll see come in, a "defensive midfielder" with plenty of running in them. Hardly an exciting signing but I can see the logic in it. Though as I said above, probably bollocks.

That's all I've saw announced but I assume there will be some behind closed door stuff with other SPL sides. Theres probably a question over how valuable pre season friendlies are anyway.

I think one of the key questions for this year is if Ojala can be the player we all hoped he would be. I'm going yo give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was always playing through something and he'll be like a new signing this season. Maybe Sondre will settle now he's been here that bit longer and avoid the stupid stuff. I do think there will be another couple added to the squad but I don't imagine they'll be at left back or centre half.

I think O'Donnell is a good player, I don't think he's been great for us but I don't think he's been shite either. May be fair to say he's not delivered as much as I'd hoped he would but he's been generally okay. That being said said I'd assume he is one of the higher earners and I think we can get performances better than what he's given so far for less money.

I think this is actually an opportunity for Max as I think this means O'Donnell is moving on. If we can get more in terms of performance from McGinn than we got from SOD for less money this a good move, the fact its a one year deal suggests we're looking for someone (Max) to step up next year and become the first choice right back. I think O'Donnell will be left to find a new club for no to minimal fee to free up the wages. Lots of ifs and buts in there and some wild assumptions but it's what I think is the plan with this.