The African

I always thought McAlister had the potential and Mauchlen was a steady pro already. Was it a quarter million for the pair? Selling cheap again.

I think I would have more respect for our Board if they were prepared to look at the bigger picture and realise that there is more to any deal than just the bottom line. Is it outdated to consider such concepts as “goodwill” when negotiations over such contracts take place? There is value in the trust built up over time in a long term business relationship. It is also true that a good deal is one that works for all parties involved, rather than one that screws a business partner for the short term benefit of the other. Maybe old fashioned and unfashionable thoughts, but there you have it. I would add that I agree regarding the quality of recent Umbro designed kit, though I have no real complaints regarding what Macron have done for us.

No point in trying to be too clever here. Same again with regard to selection and see where that gets us. We can think about Kellie on Monday.

Hastie will either stay or go. No point losing sleep over it. The club has stated that it has made their best possible offer and it is on the table for him to consider. I believe them. The risk in “ pushing the boat out” to get his signature is twofold. Firstly, send up spending money we cannot afford and secondly, we upset and unsettle others who have already signed up for lesser amounts. Our offer has to be about more than just cash as that is an area we cannot compete on. We have to be seen to be offering a career development pathway that will improve them as players while with the club and allow them to make the move for bigger and better things when the time is right. David Turnbull must have seen it in that light so hopefully Jake Hastie will do likewise.

I had one of these kits asa child in the late seventies. Loved it. The itchiness of the material was character building.

With regard to PSL, they seem to be doing a very good job so I would be loath to see us change. Change for changes sake is generally not a good idea. As for our kit in general, I believe that we may be missing an opportunity in failing to take advantage that our traditional colours and design offer. Keep it simple, keep it traditional in design, don’t change it every year so that we can save our true fans a few bob, and save any alternative design ideas for our away kit.

We have to see this as a chance to get one over them. Hopefully our youngsters will not have their heads turned by the news in Saturday’s Record that they are up for a move to the tattie bowl. At least we shall not have the unedifying scenes of Scott Brown kicking our boys for ninety minutes,without meaningful sanction.

Wear what you like guys. As long as it is not overtly offensive and it makes you happy. You are a long time dead.

Excellent news to wake up to. And all the better for being able to watch the whole match later as it is being shown on a channel over here. Special thanks to Steelmaninoz for letting me know it was being broadcast. Off to work with a smile on my face.

I see that other results today haven’t really helped our cause and we are back in eighth place before we have kicked a ball. A salient reminder that it is what we do that matters and we just need to keep our heads down and concentrate on our next match. Hopefully we can keep the run going and make it six in a row. I have to admit that it will be all the sweeter as I have no affection for Hearts and haveway too many grudges against them to ever see that changing.

Really like that. They do some interesting stuff. Good luck to them.

It is a modern phenomenon. Back in the day, a footballer might end up with a testimonial andmakeenough money to buy a pub and then drink himself into an early grave. Newsagents shops or sports shops were also popular options. Now, at the top end,there are so many players on silly money, many could quite feasibly earn enough to be in a position where they never have to work again. As such, this is now seen as the industry norm rather than an option for the nth percent at the top of the game. Thus, if someone plying their tradein the SPL or say League One ( Third Division inold money) in Englanshire, isn’t getting themselves into that sort of financial position then they, or their agents, begin to think that something is not working quite right for them. The reality is that not that many are ever capable of reaching these financial heights and many that could get greedy and lose out with ill advised investments and tax avoidance schemes.

1:15am on Monday morning here in NZ. Might give it a miss asIhave anearly start for work.

There is no denying it is a great save. Greatest ever thoughis pure hyperbole. Still, that’s the English for you.

The longer we can keep the run going,the better. We have had a rest and should be seriouslyup for this. A game we can win. Do so and we keep the feel good factor going for another few games. In terms of selection and tactics, same again please. We have found a way that works for us and see no reason to muck about with it for this fixture.

Cheers. Living out of the country for a few years makes it difficult to keep an eye on the bigger picture with regard to Scottish football, though one of the sports channels now shows an SPFL highlights show and the odd live game. You can get wall to wall EPL but it is not really my cup of tea.

Agreed. If his contract was up this year, you wonder if he would be getting a new deal. Unfortunately he has not looked the same player post injury.

I think that the picture regarding next year’s squad is becoming clearer, but that it does depend as much upon what the out of contract players wish to do, as what he club wants to do. It seems pretty obvious that ATS and Newell are going. I would offer new deals to Gorrin, Grimshaw, Main, McHugh and Cadden., on the assumption that not all of them will take up the offer. The players on loan are a different situation. I would love to see us sign up Aldred andthink that we have seen enough in Ariyibi to at least try and get an extension to his loan period. If we manage that, then we may not need Frear. McCormack would need to get fit and prove himself this season before Iwould consider extending his stay and, while not a hater, Sammon will surely be gone as soon as the loan period is up. The Tanner situation is all dependent on his recovery but, if he passes the necessary physical tests, I would be pleased to see him offered a new deal, both on the grounds that we know he has potential and the moral standpoint of helping an injured employee get back into the game. I forgot about Mbulu. I would say he has potential so, as long as he is happy to be patient and learn his trade, he is worth another deal.

My Dad told me Johnny Aitkenhead took the p*ss out of Corky Young at Ibrox in this manner in the early 1950s. Different game then, only posting to prove to my Dad that I was listening.

Seems an odd place to be strengening unless others are moving on. Is he any good?

Anything is possible if we an keep our run going. We have a small break now to regroup and try not to get too far ahead of ourselves. Eight games until the split, so one game at a time and see what we can achieve.

We have a series of tougher fixtures coming up, soI would suggest that any talk of sixth place is premature if not fanciful. Having said that, we are now surely safe and can hopefully pick up enough points to finish well away from trouble. I also think that we can see that the decision not to take a knee jerk reaction and change manager mid season has even vindicated. Am I right in saying that all the teams now below us have all ditched their managers this season?

Great result. Good character showing to come back and score the winner so quickly after their equaliser.

Important fixture ( aren’t they all?) and we need to keep our feet on the ground and get a result. Our good run has been against sides around us or below us in the league. This is tha last of these before we start a run against sides higher up the ladder. If we can keep building the momentum of the past few games, who knows what we may achieve? The wheels will come off at some stage, but hopefully not in this fixture.

If both fit and well, probably Carson. A decision will have to be made in the summer though, as I doubt either will be happy to play second fiddle for too long. Will we be able to secure a nice fee for either? Not the worst problem to have though.