Al B

Yeah of course mate, completely agree. Any more the finished article and we wouldn't get a sniff of any one from a Premiership clubs books. If he uses his time with us to help develop his game and then go on to fulfill his potential then everyone's a winner all round.

Agreed, I think by the time Ruddy is 28/29 he'll be one of Englands top keepers. I, like others can see his flaws at the moment, and there are a few... but in 5 or 6 years time I think think we'll look back and be very proud that he played for us during the turning point in his career. Regarding Duke, I think he's also finding a wee turning point and a bit of confidence that, looking at his previous record, he's never had before. I said the other day that he's potentially better than Porter and I stand by that..I think he's near enough as good at the things Porter was, while having a wee bit extra in his game that Ports maybe lacked. Someone said to me that he's only finding it easier because it's the SPL, but then...how easy did Ian Wright/Juninho/Roy Keane/Emerson etc find it...and they had all been superstars in the "best league in the world". It might be the SPL, but putting the ball in the net is putting the ball in the net regardless of where you are, and The Duke is starting to find his game for what seems to be the first time in his career.

We need to stop worrying about "sending out messages", and just worry about winning some games. 1-0 up, playing well....dont fuck about.

In what way do you consider Fraser to be a journeyman? He'd been at one club his whole career til he signed for us.

What happened at St Mirren? Did they only have 3 left when you got there?

Firstly, although im really disappointed to not have managed the win, when you look at the fact that we were without 3 of our strongest back 4, our keeper, it was an away derby match, and we were behind...to take a point is a great result in the cold light of day. Added to that the fact that we've been noticeably dire in 3 league games in particular this season (hibs, st mirren, accies), and yet only lost 1...you cant really be anything but happy with that, as you're gonna have games where you're shite...everyone is. The negatives for me were that, yet again, Ross Forbes seems to have this unshakeable complacency that is really gonna hold him back in his career if he doesn't do something about it. Every time he gets the ball he wants far too much time on it before deciding what to do. I also think he's been really lucky with his penalties in that keepers have been going the wrong way. People say he has the ability to put the ball wherever he wants with that left foot, but if thats the case he needs to start A - getting the ball further away from the keeper, and B - stop pumping free kicks right into the wall. The people who were suggesting that the Duke may be a lot closer to the Porter replacement that some folk gave him credit for, are looking to be more correct with every passing game. In fact if he keeps progressing the way he is (and we can keep him past January), he could potentially be a better front man. Wins the ball under pressure, holds it up well, manages to bring others into play when they are available, and gets on the end of things in and around the box to finish. It seems he's able to do what Ports could...plus a little extra. Was really pleased with Jenno when he came on. Always looked to me like more of a holding midfielder in his appearances so far, but was surprised to see him a few times yesterday playing the ball in to the danger area and then getting beyond the strikers looking for the return ball and an attempt at goal. With Duke's ability to hold the ball up and lay it off (as well as sutton), Jenno could get amongst the goals. Murphys goal pretty much summed him up for me. He's the kinda guy that is more than capable of things like that, it's just that for some reason he seems to feel like he doesnt belong where he is, or that he doesnt believe that he's good enough...and so end up getting caught in 2 minds with what to do, not having the confidence in his own ability and therefore gets caught in posession. Anytime i've seen him just forget all that and just play football, he's produced. Like most I thought our back line was more patched up than it needed to be. I'd have thought in that situation Page was a shout for right back, or even Lasley...but I dont imagine Gannon would have fancied that. I guess he was trying to use the pace of Humphrey to compensate for losing the pace of Yass. Personally i'd have kept the back 4 as solid as possible, with 2 wide midfielders powering forward when appropriate. Anyway first round of fixtures over, one loss, so cant really complain. My one gripe is too many draws from not being able to kill teams off and not being clinical in front of goal...but hopefully the Duke is coming into his own and he can make the most of that in the next round of games.

At the moment Coke shouldn't even be in our starting 11, let alone a combined one!

This.

Yup, same from me.

Did well to claw it back and keep in there, but generally I thought we were fucking awful today. Passes were constantly either short, far too close to St Mirren players meaning we were always stretching to get the ball under control and couldnt string any moves together, or on at least 6 or 7 occasions...straight to a black and white shirt. Sounds strange to say it in a game where we've scored 3 goals, but too often we've got nothing going forward to the point where it's hard to see where goals are going to come from. Thankfully the ball broke well for big Lukas and he bagged a couple, which can hopefully settle him and he can provide the goal threat we've been completely lacking. Also, Ross Forbes' goal tally is completely overshadowing the fact that he constantly plays as if he's got 5 mins to decide what to do every time he gets the ball. I've rarely seen a player get caught in posession so frequently. Glad we stuck in there, and it's a good sign that we've got enough fight to come back from 3-1 down away from home, but were playing very poorly up til that point...particularly first half. Still, a point away from home is always a positive result especially given St Mirren's good form, and it keeps us there or thereabouts. We'll need to be a lot sharper and a lot more focused in the cup game though, if we want to progress further.

Laddies have got Forbes first goalscorer at 12's. And McGarry at 10's

Given that his wife is a 'well fan, is there no a case for her maybe telling him not to predict a win so he doesny jinx it? Im sure we all have our wee things like that in out own 'well supporting households...no reason to think theirs would be any different.

He actually isny, he's one of the nicest, most down to earth sound guys you'll ever meet/speak to, to be fair.

Nah there just arent enough people in Feegie that can count, to be able to staff more than 4 turnstyles.

Cos its the wee scanner things they have at the turnstyles I think, so you need to have a ticket to get through them.

Im sure that guy had the benefit of being able to go home to his wife after work each day, and his wife had the benefit of the same thing!

Canny be old if Boyle is mentioning the Hibs and Falkirk games.

If Paul Slane turns out to be a card holding member of the Ku Klux Klan, and also a vampire who devours babies in the night while singing "Does yer chewing gum lose it's flavour on the bedpost over-night", then im never letting my wee granny gobble him again! Ungrateful wee shite that he is! What a cunt! Now I do admit that's a big if, but...

Aye, gid yin. McGarry played very well when he came on the other night.

Im not convinced Flow is still alive!

Any idea what kinda grub is on offer? Also, never been for the pre-match feed before, do you just show yer season book at the door?

See if the sponsors logo is falling off, has it not occurred to anyone yet that it might be the manufacture of the material thats being used for the lettering thats fucked, rather than the top? I mean, fair enough if it's sleeves that are falling off, then that would mean the top was pish quality. But if you're sticking something to something else, and it keeps falling off...surely that just means it's not been made sticky enough, and it's that which is pish quality?

Us saying Hearts are our big rivals is the same as Accies saying us. Hearts couldn't give a flying fuck about Motherwell specifically as far as I can gather.

This, +1