Ya Bezzer!

Now I'm not especially a fan of Jim Goodwin but he was talking there about how lower league teams have 18 player squads and can put out there strongest team in these group matches while Premiership teams have 25 man squads and they have to get minutes into players so they are fit for the league season. We also have injuries, new players we are trying to blend into the side, younger players who probably will be out on loan come the season proper and a squad who are maybe 85% fit playing on poor surfaces. You can't judge the team on performances right now especially since we've got results. Several bigger teams than us have lost matches in these group stages to lower league teams. If we have lost 8 out of 11 come October or whatever, Kettlewell will be under pressure but right now it's not a fair assessment. I'd expect us to step up next week with progress on the line against a better level team. If we don't and lose, you have your first opportunity for fair criticism.

You can call me a lot of things but happy clapper isn't one of them. It's just your position, and others, is absolutely preposterous at this stage of the season.

Noted Ewan Wilson has 3 assists in 3 matches.

You are probably jealous of Hibs tonight. 🤣 Undefeated, +5 over three matches, win next week wins the group.

He said he expected to bring in 'one or two others' so it's obviously budgeted for.

Don't know if Clyde are a step up on either. They were lucky to stay in the league last season. Montrose are certainly a lot better, you can argue the case for Edinburgh I suppose but while they were a bit of a catastrophe club last term it was in a league up the pyramid.

Good player on the odd occasion he's fit.

Another stinker. Not even sure we could wear that against Hearts so probably only wear it against Dundee United and Aberdeen.

You've literally not seen some of them play. None of us have. And turn us around from what? Being a top level side that almost always gets out the group stages of the league cup? You need to relax. Let events unfold and when players are actually fit and the squad is finalised and we've got a round of fixtures in, then you start looking at it. Sure, it's a possibility we'll be utter mince and bottom of the league but it's no more a possibility than us being middling or even being around the Top 6. However all three are speculation right now based on factors you can't possibly foresee or know and in your case it's speculation with a built in negativity and bias. Just let the season happen first. Then you can present a case on actually facts and context.

We still have about 6 first team contenders that haven't kicked a ball yet and some that aren't at a fitness level to start matches. I don't agree with the notion that you should treat these games as pre-season friendlies but you have to take into consideration that it is July. Players simply won't be anywhere near match day levels until August. We need players in but there is loads of time to do that and I'd rather wait and bring in the right person than rush a signing in to play against Clyde.

Yeah sacking the manager two matches into the season really worked swell last time.

Window doesn't close for 6 weeks. Players aren't up to speed and won't be until we are into the league season. Bit early for knicker wetting. How about we agree to wait until, say, November?

Good to see Blaney scoring. Ive heard he's attracting a few new fans. 🤣 🤣

Dundee signed Simon Murray. As a replacement Ross County signed Ronan Hale who has been banging them in in Northern Ireland, last two seasons he's scored 20+ goals.

Ross County and Dundee have brought two guys in that range in. Although in the former case it remains to be seen if he can do it here.

Montrose gave Partick a scare at the weekend. They have a few older citizens in their team - 40 year old Sean Dillon and 38 year old Michael Gardyne.

From what I understand most football stadium in Europe or part or fully owned by the local authority. Good luck getting North Lanarkshire Council to pitch in.

Ebiye had a decent record in Norway and did quite well last season given his limited opportunities.

It's possible for opinion to evolve, you don't have to take a fundamentalist position, especially in an ever changing landscape like football. Bair was rubbish at St Johnstone. When we signed him, Kettlewell obviously saw something in him, but he had no track record as a player and I don't think the fan reaction was unjustified. He was better at Motherwell and I think almost all were happy enough to judge him on his form in claret and amber. I think it will be interesting to watch his career because he's a difficult player to really judge. I'd compare him to someone like Cedric Kipre, he has an athleticism and physique that puts him above our level, but he's very raw and you wonder if he has the technique or game intelligence to really go to the top of the game. Good luck to him and hopefully we get to invest some of the fee in the team.

Not sure I can give it to a defender since I could have strolled through the game at the back. I'm going to give it to Paton just for his willingness to get on the ball. Always gives you a shift and takes on responsibility. He's never an attacking midfielder though.

We weren't even that impressive and that's probably the biggest mismatch of a football game I've ever seen. Don't think our keeper even had a cross to take, never mind a shot. First half was sluggish and a bit raggedy. Probably to be expected for the first match of the season against a side that wasn't putting any pressure on us at all. Pretty much everything we created came from set pieces, clearly the Edinburgh City manager is going to have to work on that cos I think we could have scored 5 today from set plays. The two young lads, while not pulling up any trees, looked fine. You worry though about the number of jobbers in the midfield. Fair play to Paton for constantly looking for the ball but he's not the kind of guy you want that high up the pitch. Same as last season O'Donnell doesn't really offer you any width in forward areas and I though Halliday looked laboured yet again. Goalkeeper and defence had the easiest day of their careers with literally nothing to do. Need to sharpen up, play at a higher pace, have better shape etc but you'd hope that will come with games under our belt. Think we do need maybe one or two players in though. A creative midfielder at least.

We're probably going to play 1 up front all season so it's hardly a surprise. At least a couple of young players are getting a start.

Yeah, they were a bit of a calamity club in recent times, certainly not the same level of team that acquitted themselves reasonably well last time we played them. Motherwell are literally 1.04 at the bookies. Probably the lowest odds you'll ever get for a Motherwell win!

The bookies are never wrong so they say..... must know something I don't.

Well you are either onside or offside, there has to be a line. No one would think you should give a goal if it was nearly over the goal line, why is offside different? The main issue is delays to decisions, especially after goals, and the offside and goal line technology is yes or no and works efficiently.