weeyin

We kick off on the 15th August. Be prepared for plenty of highs and lows along the way.

Aye, but the difference in the Liverpool game is that it was their Championship team that played us. Not the best of whatever reserves are left behind on international weekend. Oh, and they were lucky to escape with a draw

And League Champions at the time. We saw a few flashes of the Dalglish/Rush partnership. Rush had amazing speed over the first 5-10 yards, and Kenny could have picked him out wearing a blindfold.

Aye, that's right. It was the centenary match. All the big names played and even Kenny Dalglish (who had only just hung up his boots as player manager as I recall) took to the field.

Typical Yank. Knows nothing about international sport but can tell you who is opening pitiching in the next 3 games.

I could, but I won't. As I said in my earlier post, a team billed as an "XI" doesn't exactly grab my interest. Friendlies against first team squads are typically uninspiring; against 2nd or 3rd string squads even less so. The last reasonably competitive friendly I can remember was when Liverpool played at Fir Park, but they played pretty much a full team.

Also remember the transfer window is open until August 31st, so players can come in after the league starts.

I think we can work out what the team will be from the 'fishul site: "As the match will be played on a FIFA designated international weekend none of Manchester United’s international players will be available but the club is committed to bringing its strongest reserve squad to Motherwell for the special challenge match..." I don't think Giggs, Scholes etc. would qualify as part of the reserve squad, but maybe I'm just a cynic.

Decent piece in the Evening Times today.

No. I'm not a fan of friendlies in general, and less of a fan playing any team that is billed as "XI".

JG, on the 'fishul site, says "My team, when it's well established, won't concede some of the goals that we are conceding in Europe." If he can sort that out, then we should have a decent season.

Beeb

BBC says 53% Motherwell, 47% Steaua possession - but they're not always very accurate.

Just the start we needed. Keep them under pressure for a while and see how they cope.

Humphrey definitely has. Not sure about Jennings.

Or "Paul Sloan" as he was billed in the Evening Times today. I think they changed his name just in case Accies were preparing a bid.

I doubt we will win the tie. However, if we get an early goal, it should keep the crowd entertained for a while.

Faxes work well as legal documents. Emails, not so much.

We wouldn't be able to afford the licensing rights.

Biggest turnaround was surely McGhee, stepping on the plane to meet Mad Vlad.

'Devine' inspiration?

Gannon prides himself in developing youngsters. I can't see him wanting to offload Murphy.

First SPL away game, by the sounds of it.

It looks like he signed a 5 year deal for Everton in 2005, so at the end of the upcoming season he should be available on a Bosman. Hopefully the 'first dibs' deal we have arranged will allow us to pick up him up for free, or close to free.

To be fair, the Scottish managers trot out that line every year our teams get papped out in the early stages. We never do anything to address it, though. The French had a 10 year plan which they stuck with even though it cost them World Cup qualification early on. They were smart enough to see the big picture and remain patient. As a result they managed to develop players capable of winning the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.