Jute

Hoping we do not rush McKenna back and he only plays if he is fully fit. Last thing we need is him getting injured further as he is rushed back to soon. Need to find goals from somewhere and would be tempted to give Anderson a start alongside May. St Johnstone look a better team than the one we played in preseason so can see this being a difficult game. In Train then straight to ground as taking Bairn Away End Train back to capital 1-1 McGinn

Decent performance tonight but still to many misplaced passes that a better team would have punished (see Friday night). In first half we seemed to always want one touch to many and passed when maybe should have shot. Better in second half and seemed more direct and got the goals. In the end unlucky not to win by more. They and Israel will be different propositions away from home but do think we are more than capable of winning the group.

Team for tonight. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dmv9WWnWwAAWTWM?format=jpg Looks like 5-4-1 again.

I thought Fraser was one of our better players along side Robertson and Tierney. Wrong game last night as Belgium were always likely to beat us even before we decided to gift them goals. Madness to play a team of their quality when we are trying out to play new players in an unfamiliar system. Think McLeish needs to accept he cannot shoe horn both Tierney and Robertson into a back 5 and we need to back to 4-5-1 even if that means dropping one of them.

Team for tonight. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmgkyktX0AEAsr2?format=jpg 5-4-1 I think.

Kearney was allegedly the runner up to Stubbs in the original interview process.

Ferguson made his debut for Scotland U21s coming on as sub against Andorra last night. Almost got a debut goal as well.

Killie on a fucking Sunday at 12:15 is impossible to reach from Aberdeen on public transport normally but there are engineering works on the rail line from Glasgow that day with a replacement bus so almost impossible from rest of country as well.

With Devlin suspended and Reynolds and Hoban out with long term injuries it will mean we will be down to Ball and Considine as centre halfs against St if McKenna is not ready to return.

Good news. As you say hopefully he will get some starts.

Ciarney has withdrawn as injured but apart from that I don't think you are going to be far wrong with that team. Snodgrass in for Cairney maybe.

McAurthur asked not to be selected as he is dealing with back injury and wants to concentrate on his club football just now.

St Mirren fans have been saying they wanted him gone since league cup group games as they could see the shambles that was developing even then. Sacking him now however means new manager has to work with dross that Stubbs signed until January so far chance their fucked anyway.

Revised squad after all the call offs; Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Craig Gordon (Celtic), Allan McGregor (Rangers). Defenders: Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian), Kieran Tierney (Celtic). Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Kevin McDonald (Fulham), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Callum Paterson (Cardiff City), Robert Snodgrass (West Ham United). Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City), Steven Naismith (Hearts)

1st round draw is as follows; Brora Rangers v Turriff United Burntisland Shipyard v Cumbernauld Colts Dalbeattie Star v Kelty Hearts Deveronvale v Bonnyrigg Rose Edusport Academy v Buckie Thistle Forres Mechanics v Civil Service Strollers Gala Fairydean Rovers v Lossiemouth Gretna 2008 v Vale of Leithen Huntly v East Stirlingshire Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh Linlithgow Rose v Fort William Nairn County v Beith Rothes v Clachnacuddin Strathspey Thistle v Coldstream University of Stirling v Keith Whitehill Welfare v Edinburgh University Wick Academy v Auchinleck Talbot *BSC Glasgow were drawn to receive a bye to the Second Round following Selkirk’s withdrawal Ties to be played 22nd September.

2nd Preliminary Round Results Auchinleck Talbot 10 v 0 Wigtown & Bladnock Girvan 0 v 1 Burntisland Shipyard Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 3 v 0 Shortlees AFC Newton Stewart 0 v 3 Coldstream Preston Athletic 0 v 2 Linlithgow Rose Beith Juniors 3 v 2 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

McGregor was the trialist for the reserves last few weeks. Was with Airdrie last season.

Due to forgetting to book the trains for this one (£50 return by the time I remembered) I will be missing this one today. Hopefully as this one is at home we will have a more attacking formation than last week. Would expect Lowe to slot into left back and Shay starting at right back with Hoban and Ball dropping out. If McGinn is fit would expect him to come in for Ross. No idea who will start up top. It’s a nailed on certainty that Greg Stewart will score for Killie if he plays so think we will need to score twice to win this one. Thing is St Mirren aside we have not looked like scoring twice in a game yet. Oot Flat Local game probably Edinburgh Uni v East Kilbride Flat 1-1 GMS for Dons

Defensively I think we are stronger than last season but as I have said elsewhere it’s the lack of goals and creativity in the team that is the concern. Players that left scored 35 goals between them last season for us. The players we brought in scored 1 goal between them for their respective teams last year. I do think that we have missed on our main targets in the striking position as I cannot believe a striker who has managed 1 goal last season (and 10 in his career) was even close to being on our radar never mind first choice when we decided to let Rooney go. I am not convinced we have adequately replaced McLean in midfield and from Forresters lack of game time so far I don’t think McInnes does either. Maybe Wright will fill that role when fit. Have we been told how long he will be out for? If we are to challenge at top end of the table we are going to need Ferguson Flipper and McGinn to be at the top of their games every week and not to get injured. Big ask for a 19 year old who has only been playing first team football since January and consistent is never something you have been able to accuse McGinn and GMS of being previously. Thing is Celtic look weaker than they did last season and not convinced Tribute Act are all they are hyped up be so I do think there is a chance for a team with the right level of investment to have a proper run at the league. Just not convinced that we are that team.

I have been to qualifiers in recent years that do not meet the above criteria so other countries must be finding ways round the above criteria. Much like the UEFA rules for Europa league.

English window shut at 5pm so cannot sign on loan down there now until January.

When you compare the way the Tribute Act were treated compared to Gretna 2008 who were the new club formed after the liquidation of the old Grenta FC it is laughable that these cunts think everyone is against them. Grenta 2008 were not allowed to use the old name, colours or badge by the SFA, not allowed to take on the old clubs SFA membership, forced to apply to the East of Scotland league (at that time not part of the league pyramid) and most importantly not allowed to keep the old clubs honours. Tribute Act were parachuted into division 3 ahead of clubs like Spartans and Gala despite not meeting the SPL's entry requirements, allowed to play in same colours, allowed to keep the dead clubs SFA membership and the SFA still say the dead clubs honours belong to the new club.

Although the Tribute Act did arguably get an easy draw they did also however invest in their squad to get players in to help them get through while we sold our only striker who knew where the goal was and did not replace him before we were already out.

This season or last? This season the answer is none but not won any either. He was right back against Dundee and St Mirren.

Mulumbu signs for Celtic. 2 year deal apparently.