weeyin

The question for any youngster is "will I get more first team football at a better team or will I need to drop down a level?" There's merit to dropping down, but it's early days and they might see more playing time in the New Year.

If it's any consolation, McGhee is quoted in an interesting Scotsman article today:

SPFL season currently runs from August 1st to the Cup final on 21st of May. Almost 10 full months. If you want summer football with that length of season you either need games in December or February. The annual pitch renovation would also need to take place in those 2 months off during winter when the grass won't grow. So I imagine everyone would need to go artificial surfaces.

Of course, the other issue is that it's a bit of a lottery at that age. Not saying we couldn't do better, but there are many players who shine at an early age then disappear while others do the exact opposite. We have Thomas because Celtic thought he was too small, and guys like McHugh and Moore, who scored goals for fun in the U20s for a couple of seasons, never quite managed to make the step up. I'm sure if Erwin was still with us, he'd be on that list.

I think you're right - they do seem to get called off more often these days. Just pull up some of the youtube videos of games like Celtic vs Motherwell when Wullie P was playing, and the Parkhead pitch looks like a ploughed field. Whether or not it's a good thing to be playing on that I suppose is up for debate.

If you include the replay, we just might.

TBH, I don't really see much of a clash between our away kit and Thistle's home. Dark, mostly solid claret vs Yellow and red stripe.

Gretna were also a financially well backed side.

Revert to old school Scottish rules where it was the home team that changed kit when there was a clash.

From memory, though, McGhee didn't have a stellar Cup record with us last time around. Still think we'll win this game, though.

Love to see a cup run this year, of course, and expect us win professionally here. Climbing up the league, however, remains the highest priority.

Another goal scoring frenzy resulting in a tight 2 - 1 for us.

Of course Accies had a couple of big scores on the youth front recently, but prior to that they were scrabbling around in the lower divisions for decades. And if they hadn't done the supermarket deal, who knows if they'd have even stayed solvent. It's a tough balancing act to bring in the youngsters and I totally understand why managers are more reluctant to throw them into a struggling team. Crags seems to be pretty honest with his assessments though, and by all accounts, he thinks there is work still to be done with a lot of the youngsters, even the ones we think are ready for the step up.I'd love to see our own talent coming through, but if we end up making money by bringing in Moults and Johnsons and selling them on, that's OK too.

Given his comments in the Times recently, it sounds like he's not even sure he'll be here after January (despite wanting to stay on). I assume that's why we brought in Samson - to step in if Ripley does head back south.

I remember struggling to a draw with Stenhousemuir at Ochil View in a Cup tie. Must have been around 1980 or 81. We cuffed them in the return game at Fir Park, though. Knocked 5 or 6 past them, I recall.

Aye the European ticket panic is all well and good, but the domestic ticket panic is our bread and butter.

Sub Editors' dream rolling out the "Captain Kidd" headlines on a regular basis.

2 goals. Let the good times roll.

Familiarity breeds contempt, and all that. I know what you are saying, but I'd gladly be at the game regardless of the dross or otherwise that is served up. Even during our lowest points in the first division I still enjoyed my afternoon out with my mates. Sadly, it will just be another morning keeping an eye on the Twitter feed.

The fans can't pull out their contributions and if we get relegated, we'll just need to do what every other club does and adjust the budget. The point of the Society is not to bankroll the club. The club needs to be self-sufficient regardless of who owns or runs it.

Or maybe we replace the dead wood in our squad with someone better than them and Imrie?

McGhee said Hammell and Lasley were playing in the U20s as part of their rehab. McManus isn't injured (is he?), so presumably no need for him to play.

Only if those people exist within the membership and are willing to give up their time free of charge (and don't mind being moaned at on a regular basis).

I understand his desire to try a few combinations while he gets to know the squad, but agree that needs to stop now and the focus should turn to getting a winning team on the park. We aren't top 4 contenders, but there should be enough talent in what we have to keep us out of relegation trouble. I think you might be disappointed there. The last time I heard McGhee talking about bringing in players he said he really wanted an experienced central midfielder to cover Pearson/Las and an experienced central defender to cover McManus.

Aye, that is a sure sign of a struggling team lacking confidence. Players abdicating responsibility by punting it ASAP and hoping the strikers will do something.