kaj

I agree broadly with the idea that the OF having respectable European campaigns (and other Scottish teams, as well) is a good thing. Other countries having respect for Scottish football is very desirable, I think. I won't deny I also love seeing them get their arses handed to them by Viktoria Zizkov et al, but it's also positive that they do ok... But the above is the key thing. And it's a risky little game...this years UEFA cup was just a little too close for comfort in my view. Anybody else get as far as the foreign office website with details on how to emigrate?

Two. Copenhagen Queen of the South If anything illustrates how much of a mixed bag following the Dons is, I think that's it.

I am not good enough to warrant having a 'best position', and just play where i'm told. I am eager to do well and please my team mates, in the manner of a rescued labrador who has a new owner after years of abuse and unhappiness. People give a heavy sigh when they realise i'm joining the team. I'm genuinely surprised (and delighted) when I do something right, especially if it looks good. People give me abuse for my performances (even though they're from the same town as me). I'm Stuart Duff.

71. Caley Thistle will never, ever beat us. No matter how much they deserve to. 72. Rangers fans who sing sectarian songs are very far from being a 'minority'.

"I volunteered to pay that dog's vet's fee" -

If this guy is mince (it seems highly likely, does it not?) surely Jim Leighton must carry the can? He must have a great deal of input into whether a traillist keeper gets a deal. I'd venture he would have the final say in fact, as the goalie specialist? Would hate to see Jim make a howling fuck-up...certainly never used to enjoy it in his playing days.

Unfortunate phrasing - or, as an increasing number of us feel, right on the money. So JC had two options this summer, really, for improving things next season: 1) Better football, better players 2) Same football, larger and angrier players Ah well.

Gary McDonald! Yesss! I'm delighted! And before you think it, theres not even an ounce of sarcasm in the above! He's one of my 'rant in the pub' players. That is, a player who, after a few pints, I go on about being a perfect AFC signing and how I wish Calderwood would buck up his ideas and get him. All I need now is for the world to travel back in time and JC to get Scott McDonald when he was at Motherwell and Alan Gow when he was at Falkirk in Division 1. This is genuinely spooky (and joyous) for me - I have always rated this guy highly, and thought I was the only one who knew about his ability, and thought I was being profound and clever when I told people about him and how good he was. When he scored his famous goal v Everton, I bored everyone with how he'd have been perfect playing for us and was wasted at Oldham. Well done JC! From me, anyway.

Even considering the low standard of all four of those, surely he represents the low point of that list. Can't believe he's still in the game, or the fact that he played for quite a collection of the bigger teams - Us, Hibs, United, Celtic. I remember when we bought him (that's right, bought him) I was thinking, "Well, he can't be any worse than McAllister, can he"? How wrong I was proven. Utterly dreadful.

Around about the time of Lubomir Blaha, can anyone else remember either JC or Willie Miller saying something along the lines of: 'Eastern Europe is where it's at now, they're hungrier than Scottish boys, they still play fitba when they're kids, Scottish boys just sit on their arses playing Xbox and we're going to be signing hunners of guys fae the Czech Republic and Poland from now on, we've got contacts and everything", or words to that effect but less eloquently phrased? What the fuck happened to all that then?

Eh? Strange turn of phrase, never come across that one before - from the context I'd guess he's saying "tries his best"? Well woop de doo. He tries hard at his job and doesn't succeed. If that happened in any of our professions we'd end up doing something else. Aye. The team's best players, usually. Take the hint.

Anybody remember Malcolm Kpedekpo?

Right. Let me start by saying that Aluko, and to a lesser extent Walker, look like decent players. However, I wouldn't want us to extend this policy of 'get them to the Dons for a bit before they start their proper career' to any more than one or two lads at a time. I hate the idea of us having a team full of loan players who are inevitably going to head back to their proper club at the end of 6 months or a year. I dislike the short-termism of it, the thought of being tantalised by an exciting prospect only to know that they're not really yours. To attempt a highly dubious analogy, it's a bit like having a gorgeous, but very naive, 16-year-old girlfriend. It'll be great while it lasts, but you know she's going to wise up one day, realise you're not good enough for her and piss off... To sum up my position, i'd rather have decent pros on permanent contracts, and a less attractive older woman who can make a good pot of soup.

I can hardly wait for the prospect of a team of players hurriedly bashed together by JC and his merry men in just one summer. Imagine... In goals, number one...A DUTCH AMATEUR IN HIS THIRTIES WHO WAS ONCE A TRAINEE FOR FEYENOORD! Number two...A FREE TRANSFER FROM DUNFERMLINE! Number four...A BIG, UGLY ENGLISH CENTRE HALF WHO LOOKED NO' BAD PLAYING FOR ROTHERHAM! In midfield... SOME PREMIERSHIP KID WITH A BAD ATTITUDE WHO IS BITTER AT BEING FARMED OUT ON LOAN TO THE SPL! And up front.... ... ... DARREN MACKIE!

Was there not mention of a transfer pot of a million or so a while back? I'm sure I can recall something, a month or two back, about JC being promised funds. May have been a dream. Sounds like the kind of dream I would have.