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.

Would love to see Yantorno, been really impressed with what I've seen of him this season. Bit of flair! Imagine! Other possibles for midfield: Kevin McDonald (Dundee) - Have been hearing good things about this youngster from people. Seems to score and create goals. Ian Murray (Norwich) - Ok, former Hun but was a cracking player for Hibs before he sold his soul. Probably on a fat contract and not worried that he's not playing much. Darren Young - HAHAHAHAHA, sorry, just joking, couldn't resist it... but now, if that actually happens I'm going to feel sooo bad. I mean, he took Derek back I think our main concern with Hart going is to find a replacement right-back. David McNamee is still at Coventry but don't think he's playing much either, could be an option. But of course, there's always plenty of these faceless Dutch journeymen amateurs that Jimmy's son seems intent on finding work for. They'll do!

Sparta where? PRAGUE? Bayern, Sparta Prague, Fiorentina, Copenhagen. That'd present some pretty pleasant travel opportunities.

Totally bizarre. I'm an English teacher. Now, if my headmaster told me he was going to experiment by putting me in Maths or Science for a few days, I'd calmly and rationally explain that that was not where my skills lay and that, as a professional who knows my job, I should be used properly in the role that I spent several years becoming accustomed to and building up my skills in. Can footballers not speak up in similar fashion? They have spent years training as professionals - surely they better than anyone know what their best position is? Of course, Jamie Smith actually can't speak up. He could always write it down though - "Boss. I'm a right winger. From Jamie." Alternatively, JC could get a copy Football Manager and have a quick check. Whatever, I wouldn't suggest it's an insurmountable problem!

Regardless of which goalkeeper you'd rather have in the team, which is something akin to having to decide between burning or drowning, there's a seperate issue here. JC made a big hoo-hah about Langfield's breach of club discipline, throwing his usual negative soundbites all over the media, all that pish. He insisted that no replacement would be signed and Soutar would be number one this season. So it sends out a piss poor message if a month or two later you forget such ardent proclamations and let Langfield slink back into the team and basically kick Soutar in his metaphorical bollocks. If you're going to kick up a big stink about something, make a controversial decision, make an example of someone, you have to have the courage of your convictions and actually stick to it. Otherwise, you damage your authority and make yourself look pathetic. Having said all that - probably won't happen, it came from the Record after all.

Er...just noticed that reads incredibly badly. I was referring back a sentence or two, very clumsily, to Hart's transfer 'desirability'.

I think Hart and Nicholson both probably could get a decent move away, especially if they both enjoy good seasons this term. They've certainly both made promising starts. I would find it hard to imagine that Hart, especially, isn't on the radar of bigger clubs (and in monetary terms rather than stature, that is - i'm thinking low Premiership/high-to-mid Championship), as he is a wonderfully consistent full back who would have been capped by Scotland by now if he had been with a Glasgow or even Edinburgh side. I'll stick my neck out and say that I think he'll make that breakthrough this year, as Neilson isn't guaranteed a game (and isn't as good) and Alexander is getting old. Thus adding to his desirability. Nicholson, I think he will be well represented and has a decent reputation, including international caps. I'm sure he could get a 8-10k a week contract at some nondescript Championship club, Cardiff or Preston for example. Clark - well, i'd say his qualities are more commonplace (although still highly valuable) and he may not be so sought after. I'd guess that we'll keep him, on a significantly improved deal.

From P&J online: For the sake of continuity more than anything else, I'd like them all to stay bar Clangers and Byrne. However, I'm wondering if our success of last season might make demands unrealistic (from the boards POV) and that we may have to resign ourselves to losing a few. I'm worried that the three key players mentioned may be at the stage of their careers where they're after a big payday to set them up. What do you want to happen? What do you think will happen?

Agree. The cup form has been woeful recently. Not suitable for a club of our stature at all. But then I'm sure you all know that. As for beating Thistle - we should be able to do it, but we shouldn't underestimate them. I mean, we snap up guys they give frees to.

Indeed we shall. Remember when Zander scored with his cock against Rangers? I thought that now a couple of years down the line, his cock would have played about 100 further first team games. I even hoped his cock might be on the verge of the Scotland set-up. As it is his cock seems to have stagnated and developed a dubious attitude. It's terrible when a cock fails to live up to it's early promise.

Would we fuck! I'd love to be more constructive with my comments, but thats about all I can manage on that one. Did he really say that? Was he pissed? He must've been. Interesting seeing Jimmy's work at the club summarised like that. Looks none too shabby. Makes me wonder why i'm so fed up with him... ahh yes the stupid team selections, insane tactics and Derek Young. I'll take him to Leicester myself, in a rickshaw.