weeyin

All we need to do over the next few weeks is say we don't have enough players two hours before every game until we have our left backs fit again.

While I have sympathy for Covid 19 related issues, it seems a bit strange to call off so close to kick-off. The cynic in me thinks they don't want to play with a weakened team and calling off at this stage prevents the SPFL or SFA from having sufficient time to investigate and make them turn out. Regardless, as I said after the Killie game, there needs to be a rule in place otherwise we are going to be back in the same position of having to call the season. Except it will be worse as teams could end up having played 4 or 5 games less than others.

If Robinson plans to use a back 3 I don't think he will get a start.

I can see him going with a McGinley, Gallagher, Lamie back 3 with O'Donnell wingback in front of Lamie on the right,

Official team news so far is Mugabi definitely out (obviously), Gallagher definitely starting, O'Donnell "will be assessed after playing three times in six days for Scotland" - although, to be fair, he did have to cover a lot more ground than Dec. My guess is we'll line up with a back 3, but my guesses are usually wrong.

The rule at Fir Park is that we must injure at least one player per international break.

What does that mean? Aren't the protocols supposed to keep players segregated at their workplace with everything happening in small groups from dining and training to traveling to the match and changing?

This is how the protocols should work. When a player tests positive there should be a relatively small number impacted. Which makes the Killie situation all the more interesting - I wonder when that report will be available.

I hate playing full backs/wing backs on their wrong side. Much easier to defend against (just show them the outside) and players on the wrong side naturally drift into the wrong position. One reason Gallagher and O'Donnell have played well the last few games is because they are playing in their regular positions. The main reason McTominay struggled is that he wasn't. I understand the desire to get Tierney and Robertson into the same team - it's just unfortunate they both excel in the same position. Clarke will know what we are up against, though, and he's certainly earned the right to pick whatever teams he thinks will do the business.

Just listening to the "experts"on the Sportsound podcast last night, they all wanted O'Donnell to start against Serbia. Levein fancied Gallagher in the middle with McKenna on the left of the back 3 (as he reckons we'll need some big defenders to take on their strikers). Miller fancied McKenna central and Tierney on the left. It would be tough on Dec if he was dropped (5 games, 4 clean sheets, 1 goal conceded, unbeaten), but there's a lot of competition in the back 3 when everyone's fit. He's certainly staked his claim in the best way possible.

For last week's game, Clarke said he was unlikely to be a starter. What he does now is anyone's guess.

He was a bit unlucky with his scoring streak. After the team being let out of isolation not long before the Cheltenham game last week he had the ball in the back of the net there too, but it was ruled offside. He always seemed to be more of a confidence striker than a grinder. Good to see it working out for him.

And Killie lose 0 - 3. Been as well not playing it

Suspended, like a fox.

I see the the U21s are giving him a rest today - and Maguire starts.

Is that where he was going to get us that big defender he promised us during his first stint? He was pretty adamant his German contacts would see us all right.

Aye, he's definitely suffered from being played out of position in an ever-changing line-up every week. Playing in the centre is where he is at his best. Also, Scotland are basically playing a back 5 when they're defending which suits him even more.

Forfar weren't "allowed to forfeit". They had one player test positive on the afternoon of the game and were required to liaise with the SFA and Test and Trace to establish if any other players were required to isolate. As it wasn't possible to complete that process before kick-off they weren't able to fulfill the fixture. They basically had no choice. The Betfred Cup has its own rules (because the SPFL run it) and their rules award a 3 - 0 win to the opposition.

I think it's as simple as "if you have enough players you need to play". At least in the Premiership. Cup games are more complicated due to different leagues and their protocols.

Looking forward to the game as always, eh? Václav Hladký is doing his man-of-the-match heroics at Salford City this season, so we won't have him to deal with. 3 - 1 to us, with two of them coming from O'Donnell crosses, Cole opening his account and St Mirren scoring when O'Donnell is caught too far up the park

Can you imagine Doncaster being in charge of that?

Doncaster said the SPFL is not allowed to award any games. When they requested temporary emergency powers this season, that was one of the powers they wanted. However, the clubs voted against Doncaster and his crew from having those powers - (correctly, in my opinion). So only the SFA has the power to award the game to us. This means any results of the SPFL inquiry have to be handed over to the SFA for their deliberation. The cup games that were deemed to be walkovers fell under the jurisdiction of the League and so it was easier and quicker for that decision to be made. I agree there should be rules agreed and put in place as it is very likely to happen again and the last thing we need this season is another "calling the league" situation if we run out of time to complete it.

As per FIFA, to "keep training costs reasonable", from the ages of 12 - 15, every club is considered category four. Apparently, in Europe, only England, France, Germany, Holland, Spain and Italy have Category One clubs. I read a slightly out of date article that said it's 10,000 Euros per year for Cat 4 and 60,000 Euros per year for Cat 2, but expect that's quite close to the mark.

Officially, But for the current season. Which brings us to partial World Cup qualification. TL;DR Scotland won't qualify.

If I was a youngster playing in the Premiership, I'd look for a move to a different league purely on the basis that it must get a bit repetitive playing the same 8 or 9 teams multiple times every season (plus the occasional new opponents from the Championship).