Poet of the Macabre

If we win 3 games in a row then our fans will want a stand named after McPake. If we lose 3 games in a row then they'll want him thrown under a bus on Halbeath Road. Would not be shocked if he ended up MOTY nor would I be remotely surprised if he was binned by November.

Anyone who pays £27 to watch their team play Dundee United in the second tier of Scottish football is agreeing that it's an acceptable price for a ticket. Don't go.

Only folk paying £23 will be the sweetie rustlers in the Main Stand. Norrie, North West and away support will all be £21.

I feel totally ripped off at the idea of paying £21 at EEP but Tannadice is somehow 28.5% more expensive.

Oh...anyone going through to Dundee and paying £27 for a game of Championship football needs their fucking head examined.

Think the post from @Chubbychops probably has some degree of truth to it. It may not be as serious as a "clash" but I'd fully understand if McPake was frustrated about not getting in the players he's been after, especially if he felt it was due to hesitation from the owners. Have to point out though; there's a reason the Germans bought us to begin with. Obviously, there were plans to bring in young talents from Central Europe and that got quickly binned due to the Brexit deal making work permits a nightmare. However it's clear they want to develop younger players and sell them off for profit. While I'm sure they understand you can't simply have a squad full of younger talent, I'd think they would need some persuading about why adding guys in their early to mid 30s was worthwhile. For what it's worth, I'm surprised anyone cares that we didn't add McGowan. I'm assuming it's just a general frustration at the overall lack of signings because the guy showed absolutely nothing last season that made me think he'd play a key part for us in the Championship. The fact he's had to drop into L1 says it all.

Jokes on you when Annan and Albion both win on Sat and we end up through as group winners... In all seriousness, I'd be surprised if a win for you guys at the weekend wasn't enough to see you into the last 16. Second placed sides in Groups C, D and E look most likely to potentially edge you out though.

16/17 - 0 17/18 - 0 18/19 - 0 19/20 - 2 20/21 - 0 21/22 - 1 22/23 - 1

There have been 26 spots available for best runners up since the group stage was introduced and 8 points has taken just four of those. In what universe does that equal 50/50?

McPake telling Courier that Matty Todd will undergo surgery next week and will be out for three months after that.

From looking at previous years, 8 points has only been enough to qualify for the next round on seven occasions and three of those were teams winning the group with 8. That means in the seven seasons since they brought in the group stage format, only four sides have made it through as best runner up with 8 points.

Good to see we won, kept a clean sheet and Sutherland managed to get himself a goal. Concerning to read that Fisher may also be hurt but hoping it was just a precaution. Our chances of qualifying: Group A - Unless Stirling win at St Johnstone or draw and pick up a bonus point, this one should go our way. Group B - Another group that should be fine, barring a 5 goal win for Falkirk over Peterhead or two surprise wins for Spartans over Peterhead & Thistle. Group C - Livingston will beat Clyde and move to 10 points & either Hamilton or Cove will finish on 9 or more guaranteed. Group D - Ross County all but certain to pick up at least three points from their games with Edinburgh & Kelty, leaving Morton just needing to beat Edinburgh at Cappielow Group E - Airdrie already have 9 points and Dundee will get to that mark as well if they can beat Dumbarton and ICT at Dens. This one could go either way. Group F - If Killie beat Raith tomorrow then we'll be confirmed in 2nd. Any other result could see us slip to 3rd. Group G - Unless East Fife get a shock result at Motherwell or QOS batter QP, this section should land our way. Group H - We need St Mirren lose at home to Forfar or draw and lose the shootout. Very unlikely. I don't know the exact percentage chance we have but I'd say it's an extreme long shot.

The idea of having "enemies" in life is something you should outgrow by the age of maybe 12?

It's 2023 and we're still trying to judge incidents based on still images? It was a cynical high lunge and it's absurd that it received the same punishment as Hamilton got for complaining about it.

I'd be absolutely seething if we got another injury on a shite pitch in a fruitless attempt to sneak through the League Cup group stage as one of the best runners up. If anyone needs even the slightest rest then sit them out on Tuesday night IMO.

We started the game terribly; Fisher was atrocious for the opener, just such poor defending. Got back into it and certainly should have found an equaliser. However, we had absolutely nobody available to give us an extra push or replace tiring bodies, showing again how big an issue our squad depth is. It is scary that we are less than two weeks away from a league campaign and are down to the bare bones when a 2 or 3 guys aren't available. The decision not to send off Murray was beyond belief. Off the ground, reckless and not in control. An absolute stick-on red. Sums up the ref though, too craven to make a big decision but absolutely determined to ensure throw-ins were taken from the exact correct spot. Impressed with Tod Jr yet again - didn't look out of place at all.

To catch up: Not fussed in the slightest if we don't sign McGowan and/or Wotherspoon tbh. The obsession over kits in this thread is baffling to me and makes me long for the league season to get underway. OS still needs a lot of work and probably shouldn't have been launched until it was ready. Latest article says Aaron Comrie has made 145 appearances for us, which I almost can't believe. Does anyone have a list of our top appearance holders for the last 20 years or so to compare, as that surely puts him quite high up?

Just under two weeks left to get your picks in folks!

Just under two weeks left to get your picks in folks!

Just under two weeks left to get your picks in folks!

Just under two weeks left to get your picks in folks!

The exact rationale of every fuckwit defending their own racist/bigoted/homophobic/sexist stance throughout my adult life. Away and mutter brainlessly elsewhere about how "woke culture" has "ruined this country" with the rest of your slavering pub bore pals.

Dundee United Partick Thistle Queen's Park Raith Rovers Inverness CT Dunfermline Ayr Morton Airdrie Arbroath

Kilmarnock and Dundee were both absolutely rubbish in the last couple of seasons and still managed to win the title, albeit unconvincingly. United will get promoted, even if it may not be Goodwin or much of this squad that eventually gets them up next April.

Todd's injury looked extremely worrying, especially when he first went down. He didn't need a stretcher, which is the only crumb of comfort I can take from it. McCann and Edwards also looked like they had knocks and MOH was missing entirely from the matchday squad. Add in KRH's surgery and you really see how threadbare our squad truly is. I am officially concerned. Thought we managed to win that very comfortably, despite not playing particularly well at any stage. Some of Annan's defending was atrocious, although I felt they looked decent on the ball at times. The number 7 Luissint was tidy first half but faded away. Would have to imagine they'd be doing extremely well to avoid the bottom two. Also, have the seagulls nested on one of the roofs around EEP? They were going fucking apeshit all evening.