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Hearts fans highlights this season: 2 gifs of their players going through Hibs players in Derby defeats, making us wait slightly longer to secure European football and some Hibs fans not liking the new Hibs kit Such a strange bunch.

Begbie modelling the new home kit.

Actual goings on at Ibrox= comedy gold Attempts to spoof goings on at ibrox=tragedy

Yeah, I'd already edited my post to reflect that before you replied. Cheers though. Either way based on what he actually said the guy's comment completely ignores that there's a clear gulf in quality between that level of football and our Premiership. Off the top of my head we released Craig Clay from a 2 year deal because he wasn't good enough, Hearts binned Cole Stockton, Inih Effiong lasted 2 games at County after he signed from Woking and from what I've read on here the jury still seems to be out on Roarie Deacon after a full season at Dens. There are probably as many, if not more, examples of players who have been signed from non-league in England who have struggled as there are who have been stand outs. Which doesn't really square with the comment your man made or what he's inferring. We (Motherwell) had become something of the poster boys for recruiting from the non-league market but it's telling that none of our signings last summer were from that level. Since the 2014/15 season we've signed 8 players from non-league in England: Josh Law - Alfreton Town (released to Oldham Athletic) Marvin Johnson - Kidderminster Harriers (sold to Oxford United £650k plus % of £2.5m to Middlesboro) Louis Moult - Wrexham (sold to Preston North End £500k) Ben Heneghan - Chester (sold to Sheffield United £300k) Richard Tait - still at club. Extended to 2020. Craig Clay - released summer 2017/18 Ryan Bowman - still at club. Extended to 2019 Elliot Frear - still at club We obviously had success with Moult and Johnson but even in Moult's case it took him a while to adjust and make the step up and the player we sold 50 goals later for half a million absolutely wasn't the player who arrived. Heneghan struggled for large parts of his season here (not helped by playing in a defence with Craig fucking Samson behind him I'll grant you) but we 100% won a watch with United wanting to pay us cash for him. Of the 3 who are still at the club only Tait is an undisputed first pick and it took him a full season to adjust. The season he arrived he was getting utterly reamed by Jonny Hayes and Scott Sinclair. While he may have ended the season our top scorer at the club Bowman's our 3rd (possibly 4th) choice striker and Frear spent most of the season on the bench with Tait playing ahead of him at LWB. Contrary to belief Carson's never played non-league. He signed for us after Hartlepool had been relegated. He never played for them at National League level. So, to follow your TDB guy's logic Kettering and Yeovil-level players should be swanning up here and seamlessly fitting in. To use us as an example, that's not the case. In fact, quite the opposite, Motherwell released Alex Fisher from a 2 year deal to sign for Yeovil having scored 0 in 19 appearances. He's scored 6 in 19 for them in League 2 since his move. Some have worked out, some haven't. However you can say that of any recruitment in general. As has often been pointed out Joey Barton was named in the Championship team of the year prior to signing at Ibrox while Bruno Alves is going to the World Cup both were made to look like absolute huddies by bottom 6 sides during their time at Rangers. There are individuals who can move from National League level and stand out but they're the exceptions rather than the rule. It's also down to scouting and good recruitment rather than it simply being a case of the two leagues being a comparable level. To broadly say that Yeovil and Kettering players are the equal of anything the SPL (sic) has just doesn't fly IMO. Yes, there will be players at that level who "could do a job" but that doesn't make the two leagues comparable. FWIW: absolutely none of that is comment on Nathan Ralph. For all I know he may well be the next Ashley Cole but I'm very much in agreement with RossDee01's point that it's an absolute fucking nonsense the number of fans of clubs down there who seem to think that the Premiership is a lower level than the fucking National League. As I said, it's a properly Brexit mentality.

So are we...

63 days until the new season starts. The first road trip by car across the US in 1905 took 63 days

Well yes. I hate it though when any fans, particularly OF ones, pretend that expenditure on players is just to do with transfer fees, ignoring the dominant role played in the modern game, by wages. Those running Gretna, used to make the same gormless noises. It's important in scoffing at Rangers, that we don't fall into the trap of seeming to side with Celtic. Remember that they're wankers too. In fairness, they do like to offer reminders.

Is that permanently, or just a one-off game?

The fixture man who is on here does an absolutely fantastic job for the LL and EOS, a clever individual who I’d trust 100% to get things right more often than not.

Just like the Lowland League and East of Scotland League... albeit those leagues were finished a month ago rather than the annual fixture farce that is the juniors due to them not wanting to use floodlights to allow catching up during the dark nights.

He is correct, the junior cup has caused chaos fixture wise for years as well you know. Logically it should have been played August, September, October and resumed again in March to reduce the effects of poor weather. Instead we had clubs sitting idle for weeks every season. Madness.

I don't think anyone disputes that the core product within the Juniors is there, unfortunately those who run the grade have sat on their laurels whilst the world moved around them and when clubs have decided they want to move with the times they have been decried from on high. IMO there needs to be a mass cull of those in charge of the Junior game, thankfully it appears steps are being taken for this to happen, but it all might just come a little too late. It'll be interesting watching what happens in the West next year, if pyramid entry isn't delivered at Tier 6 as promised. There are progressive clubs who will want to reap the benefits that those in the East will begin to see, the thing is those clubs might not be the top West Superleague clubs, just ones with ambition, and if a few of them are willing to take the risk the whole house of cards is likely to tumble. Had there been somewhere for them to go for the 18/19 season it would probably have already started.

I’d go one further and say it pisses over the entirety of English football, especially the EPL. Football for tourists.

He's taken the heat off you, which I didn't think would be possible.

"Maw, let me take a picture of your injuries for the lonely alcoholics on the internet, that I give fashion advice to."

On the subject of Rix and Thompson I have actually used it to point score and even sang songs about them and Hearts, which is totally not on and in my defence it was a while ago. I’d never dream of doing that now. And to be fair I did have a few bevvy’s last Friday.

No sooner said than done! I think I preferred this thread when people were at each others throats, being called "Nazis" or "dinosaurs" supporting "mediocre" teams...

Can't imagine too many treasurers are happy with the amount of midweek games though and speaking as a former committee person, they're a nightmare to administer too. Fans can turn up 5 mins before kick off, not so the volunteer helpers.

Every player in the conference is at a win-win coming up here to play as a) more exposure being on tv b) more money c) playing at a higher level d) playing at bigger grounds e) bigger crowds. Scottish Premiership pisses all over the conference and pisses over that tin pot league 2 as well.

How does remoteness affect lighting?

Speak not of the devils illuminations!!

Is there an obscure French version of O’Halloran? If so, we’ll take him. Thank you.

Why are Rangers fans always obese, bald guys?

Yellow away strip plz xoxo

The ten minutes before your mates arrive in the pub when you're there first are some of the most important minutes of your life. A time for quiet, reflection and Tennents lager. PS f**k the Hibs

I'm not saying there are no pro-pyramid people who are disrespectful to juniors, but it happens on both sides. There was some great excitement in the juniors today, last week and other recent weeks, I'm the first to admit that. But I do get annoyed when some of the junior fans say that this kind of excitement is something exclusive to junior football, as it happens at all levels. That's why I replied previously to you in the way I did. You said you'd miss this excitement, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever that it would ever disappear from the game so no reason to say you'll miss something (excitement) that's here to stay in non-league football.

Quite right, a lot of the guys we would presumably be after are still at other Clubs technically till the 1st June, so we've just got to wait. It's just been a bugger that the 1st has been at the start of the weekend otherwise I'm sure you would have seen some business being done!!! Confident that phone calls have been made and meetings have been arranged and we'll start to hear stuff happening soon!!! Tbf, we have done brilliantly so far with our early signings, can't remember the last time we were this far ahead!!!

You really do come across as a pathetic individual.

the signings will sort themselves out. long time to go, every close season is the same. the BIG issue is going to explode onto the scene soon, probably with a post by someone's mum on the COYB facebook page... the " there's only 4 weeks to go till the season starts and my wee laddie's season ticket still hasn't arrived through the post, WHAT'S GOING ON FALKIRK??!!??" it'll all kick off then!

Pleased that a valuable contributor to the 2012/13 promotion season has finally joined up.

Remind me again how it's taken nearly ten months to play 22 league fixtures in the West?

Luck of the draw plays a big part in the smaller teams getting a cup run too though. In Wishaw's case, Arniston, Downfield, Forth and Yoker before the Quarters. Beating KRR their major result. Hurlford getting to the final also illustrative of this - they've only won just over a quarter of their league games this season. For me, it's why league football trumps the cup (in general). Take nothing away through from the teams highly consistent and strong in both (e.g. Talbot).

Did you win?

It's the same being a Shire fan. EK looking the strongest again but Spartans showed last season you can win the league and avoid beating the big teams. The fight for top 4 will be interesting, I just hope we actually start the season when we're meant to this year and not in November like the last 2 seasons. It would be good for the sake of the pyramid if Kelty came up and became a big player straight away. Having a league where 5 teams will be on the tip of every tongue when asked for a winner will prove an exciting season. It's also nice to see you've about doubled the Lowland League PnB population [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

At least it shows the EoSFL's heart's in it. Everyone = 32 teams that's a perfect number, 2x16 parallel leagues. EoSFL = Nah, we can do better than that. Still room on board! Everyone = Fine, 36 teams. 2x18 parallel leagues. A lot of games but look at that symmetry! EoSFL = Nope, more the merrier! Everyone = 39 teams? That's an odd number how's that going to work? EoSFL= 3x13 and we'll seed the cups in a way that conferences go against each other to help prevent clubs sitting idle as much as possible.

Sevco fans really scrapping the barrel in setting records here. “25th most YouTube views in Europe”

Wide Arse Tight Panties

Just like Talbot

As far back as I can remember I've always preferred the film.

Sorry about the mix up everyone. Still, nobody lost a limb so that can be considered a success. Let's do the league tables in reverse since they are Australian after all. LincolnHearts has scooped his first ever medal in the P+B quiz league in the SWL. They'll be dancing on the streets of Lincoln and Heart of Midlothian tonight. But LOOK how close it was for 2nd place ... Not 1, not 2, not 3 but FOUR (FOUR) teams tied on 29 points. Our old friend, QD, has decreed that up goes ArmadaleKillie, and wasteco Tynieness returns to the comforting bosom of the Premiership, with Leeds Saint. BWV is actually in the play-offs. Down below, down goes German Jag and play-off administrator Slippery P ... Ross is indeed in the play-offs. And AFJ is the top dog, edging out Alang1993. Down goes NJ2 - the World Cup organiser (proving it's difficult to participate and organise stuff as well) along with The_Kincardine ... Aidan is in the play-offs. What an absolute clusterfuck that was. Sorry guys.

The facts were out there - and unsure / hesitant clubs could have contacted the EoS directly to ask "will you accept all applications?" or contacted LR to ask "do you intend (or have you already) to apply for EoS?" That some clubs allowed themselves to be conned / misled by what we currently term 'fake news' propagated by those with a spiteful agenda... whose fault is that? The EoS have had 3 deadlines already I think? The clubs that have stood by the withering Junior grade as each of those has sailed past them should now stand by their collective decision. Look, it's just an opinion at the end of the day but 2nd and 3rd chances have already been granted and passed over. More fool them. If they limp in next year, it was through their own action / inaction in a process of reassessment that began a year ago when Kelty departed. Maybe the EoS has more of a heart than me and will roll out the extended welcome mat!

Think you'll find we've sorted the front post issue and see to be honest Bri, that's all that bludi matters x

This is a bit random and off topic, but after reading various fans forums such as Woking etc. it's absolutely staggering that so many of them seem to think the Scottish Premiership is a lower level than the Conference down there. It's all down to c***s like Charlie Nicholas constantly talking our game down.

Big fan of the mass avatar change that has taken place today, tremendous effort. It really has made my regular P&B visits a whole load sexier x

The mass avatar change this would cause would break P&B

On merit we are where we are and Livi are where they are. Infrastructure wise, they have good corporate facilities etc. A fan base that is smaller than ours and were the joke of the spfl till we took up that mantal by hiring Gary fucking locke! Livi are still a franchise though and we are yet to shaft anyone out of their money, so we win?

i dont even think of my missus when im riding her

Going to the strippers is tragic, dickhead behaviour at any time, but doubly so for a stag do.