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Sturgeon's tone has been shocking for weeks. She's got zero willingness to address the huge elephant in the room, which is schools being open and instead just blames every other aspect of society. Opening schools was a political decision, they said they would be safe but anyone who has family/friends who work in schools know this is a nonsense. Wish they would just admit the huge surge in cases is due to the schools/uni's being open and for once be honest. all this circuit breaker nonsense will do more harm than good, as you'll see it end just as furlough ends and plenty of businesses will not open back up. She's spent all summer telling folk to book staycations and is now about to ban them just as the October holidays start. Talk about shafting tourism here. All these hints were given today minutes after she announced ZERO deaths in the last 24hrs. I'd love to see their plan for the next years for economic recovery as I'd stick money on them not even being able to write it on a fag packet. And I say all this as an SNP voter for the last decade.

The bottom line is that safe or not, you have as many people complaining about their kids being at home and off school as you do about them being open. There is no right answer. There is no answer to this pandemic. We are treading water until there is some kind of significant change, I.e a vaccine, and trying to keep things down as much as we can so that health services don’t get overwhelmed. Half the country is questioning why things aren’t back to normal whilst simultaneously moaning about cases rising and things (that they don’t care about) being open. That’s why we can’t have a fucking adult conversation - because half the UK don’t have the ability to think like adults.

What a mewling pile of shite. Nobody said opening the schools would be safe. It's managed risk. It's not about "blaming" other aspects of society. Before schools opened people were warned that some of the loosening that we saw over summer might have to be rolled back again. Schools going back and infections going up meaning pubs have to shut doesn't mean politicians and advisors are blaming pubs. It means you can't have both and you have to choose which one goes. I don't remember anyone imploring people to book October staycations. As far as I can tell hotels were doing record business in the summer. Hopefully the unregulated private lets have taken an absolute shoeing and continue to do so. As for economic recovery plans. I'm fascinated what you think they should come up without borrowing powers or even the courtesy of a budget.

^^^ Me irl trying to get into The Shed 5 minutes after a KB

He’s 48?

Removed the economic recovery but as I agree with that point. On the rest though, disagree. Obviously they didn’t say they would be 100% safe, but you are being disingenuous suggesting they’ve made it clear that they knew opening schools would be a spreader and have made a political decision to open them. They’ve done the opposite and repeatedly refuse to acknowledge it altogether, whilst instead shifting the intense focus onto hospitality settings that evidence so far suggests are far less likely to spread it. If they were just honest about needing to keep schools open I think it would’ve gone a long way to keeping people on board. I’m desperate to stay on board, but by treating us like children and continuing to ignore the elephant in the room it’s pushing people like me away. On the last bit, you’re being a bit obtuse. They clearly didn’t specifically say “take a staycation in October” but they did tell people not to go abroad and to take staycations. For a large section of the public the only time they can do this is during a school holiday period, and for the hospitality venues themselves they’ll be desperately clinging onto the hope of getting much needed income during these peak periods. To then cancel this with a circuit breaker that’s weeks too late, just so that it means schools aren’t affected (whilst still pretending schools aren't an issue), would be a huge slap in the face to everyone involved.

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It's the constant hinting of measures in the days before implementing them that really pisses me off. If there's a problem, then just implement the bloody things rather than stretch it out for a few days. What do they realistically think is going to happen? That people who had been breacing the guidelines/law will just stop doing so and we'll see a 30% drop in cases in 48hrs? It's just downright irritating. We all know where it's going and that nothing is going to change in the short period of time before the new restriction happens, so just get on with it and stop treating the public with contempt. At times you also genuinely believe nothing has been learned from the f**k ups in March. How long did we got through the "restrictions coming soon" dithering back then? The results were also disastrous.

Santa's already answered my letter from late last year with the magnificent signing of Sir Charles of Adam. Biggest signing for various different reasons since CC 33, imho. With the young lads who are highly rated now being signed on longer contracts plus a 15 year old in Ewan Murray dominating the friendly with Peterhead last week, what's not to like? The real praise though at the moment should rest with our owners' continuous financial support to our club, considering the other additions already added to the squad. Real hope now for this season, priceless to us all. Regards

Storming in at number 19, with 37 goals and many many more memories from his time, it's a total legend of the Scottish game. Mind you, looking up the list they pretty much all are (for us at any rate). 19 - 243 Appearances In two spells from 1984 to 1993, he very much symbolised FFC at times. Of course it's Crawford Baptie.

"So we pushed renewal of some proper software license to the side, Gareth just punched some numbers into Excel and we fucked them over by charging 45 million quid"

The last few pages seem strange as I seem to recall the First Minister promising way back in the spring an 'adult discussion' with the Scottish public on restrictions and why they would have to be imposed - rather than floating shite policy on Twitter and stating blatant lies about the safety of their utterly failed full-school policy.

This is what the vast majority of people are saying and is why it’s so frustrating when it’s pointed out that schools are clearly a major factor in the spread, that people (especially on here) react with ‘SO WHAT DO YOU WANT?! THE SCHOOLS CLOSED?!!1!1!’. No, just some honesty please that it’s been decided that it’s too important to keep them open despite the fact they are a major spreader.

My missus has been tested 3 times. Her only comment was "If you're given the choice, take it in the mouth and not up the nose". Funnily enough she isn't as forthcoming when I have made similar suggestions in the past.

Douglas Ross found.........

Don't think Charlie will make the wall, but he is more than welcome to try. Edit - Seeing how cruddy things have been recently, I'm entirely up for passing this onto another dee. I was lucky enough to get it from an old neighbour that was moving. Think it could pick up another fan. If anyones old man was a fan or was themselves, let me know. I know free stuff is tempting, but DM me if you genuinely think it could make a difference to someone. Thanks.

Starting to regret the massive lump sum I put on St Mirren to finish top 4

Bad as we are on the pitch, if it reflected our off field performance in the last 18 months we'd be in the Juniors. Absolute fucking shambles of a club right now. What purpose does the petted lip 'we tried to keep him but he wanted to leave....boo hoo hoo' pish serve anyway? The boy has left for his own reasons, whatever they may be. Thank him for his services and efforts in a dignified manner and move on. St. Mirren FC are a professional football club, it's high time they started conducting their public affairs in the manner of one. Top 4 and Top 6 was always very much tongue in cheek from the supporters perspective (hence my updating of the thread title) but I get a lot of stick from our own fans for historically saying Fitzy ought to shut the f**k up and get on with it 'och, he's a dreamer, let him dream', folk will tell you...but shit like this is WHY I say it. The Kearney shambles and the way that played out in the media was another example of this. Rather than going for easy targets like Kearney and Magennis, why not dig the process that allowed a game to be played with no goalkeepers when it clearly should have been called off? Of course, because that would risk sanctions. Kearney and Magennis can't hurt us when we get lippy but the SFA/SPFL can. Fucked right off with this club just now.

Seemingly not.

Transfer deadline day and our fans are arguing over whether our FM looks more like Wee Jimmy Krankie or Wee Burnie - you couldn’t make it up. Do you think given she’s the in the midst of trying to support the management of a global pandemic she actually gives a shit ??

21 - 230 Appearances. 40 goals over two spells. THE GINGER GOD. THE GAS METER. Peter Houston.

5 sleeps till East Stirlingshire FC ruin my Saturdays again and I can't wait so lets get the predictions in for the year. 1. Kelty Hearts - Despite losing some key defensive players they've kept the bulk of their team from last season and made some shrewd signings. Jamieson is one of the best part time goalkeepers in the country and although they didn't make any eye catching defensive signings it should be a solid enough back 4. Higginbotham adds more firepower to their already feared attack and it would be a shock if they didn't win the league. One thing i noticed though is no LL team has played in the Betfred Cup and won the league in the same season, the games against St Johnstone and Dundee Utd might take a bit of the legs so will be interesting to see how they respond. 2. Bonnyrigg Rose - A solid unit last year and you'd expect more of the same. The other teams that finished in the top 4 last year have made changes to their squads but Bonnyrigg have signed everyone on and added the versatility of Andy Mair from Civil, another solid team so you'd expect him to fit in easily, defensive depth in Bob Wilson and the goalscoring ability of Jordan Smith from Tynecastle. I don't think they will be as close to Kelty this year but I think they might still be one step ahead of the rest. The downsides would be the loss of Euan Moyes and the effect of behind closed doors games. New Dundas is always a fiery place to go and the intimidation factor might not be there this year with no fans. 3. East Kilbride - Good old Kilby have invested heavily this summer but its strikingly similar to the Shires failed attempt of last year. Scatter gun recruitment of players that don't really know that they are letting themselves in for. The way Aitken conducts his interviews also give an air of complacency and they might be in for a shock when they go to Stirling Uni on Saturday. However, if it all clicks then they will be strong challengers for the league and will give Kelty a strong fight. One of my pals is a Morecambe fan and said that Steven Old is a very commanding defender and a huge threat from set pieces while you'd expect Paul Paton to have a similar influence to Nicky Low. Chris Erskine imo could be one of the worst LL signings ever but we'll wait and see on that one. 4. East Stirlingshire - I think this has been the Shires best summer of recruitment since our first season in the LL. Keeping Tapping, Low, Dish and Brown at the club was great business and we look to have strategically signed players to fit a tactic. Barclay was past his best and has been replaced by Ross Connolly, yet to concede a goal in pre season and looks a good addition. Gregg Wylde will add a bit of quality in defence while Kieran Gibbons will add stability to the midfield and allow Low more freedom to work his magic. Hadden and Henderson are two young wingers but appear to have a lot of pace and might add the direct wing play that we were missing last season and Kearney and Brown will be a very physical front pair. I think we'll be a very good team to watch this year but we are a long way off challenging for the league. The clubs defeatist attitude in big games denies any shot of winning them so it will no doubt be another season of ifs, buts and maybes. If it all clicks we might challenge the top 3 but in the same breathe I wouldn't be surprised if we finished in 7th. 5. BSC Glasgow - Like Shire I really like the signings BSC have made this summer but their is a lot of the unknown this season regarding the squad, something there hasn't been in previous years. Marshall was a solid, experienced keeper and he has been replaced with an untested younger goalkeeper. The loss of Collins and Orr up top will surely be a huge loss and are almost impossible to replace. Because of this, there will surely be a lot of pressure on Declan Hughes to drive the team forward. However, in Stephen Swift they have probably the best manager in the league who will have drilled the same ethos into the new players. They'll be hard to beat and if as clinical in attack as they been in recent years they'll be a hindrance to the teams at the top and could easily sneak into the top 3 again. 6-14th. Trojans, Edusport Academy, Borrowstounness, Cumbernauld Stallions, Gala Unicorndean, Stirling College, Berwick Celtic, Dalbeattie Circle, Civil Service Amblers. There is literally no way to separate any of these teams. Spartans have made good signings but are still no where near the force they once were. Edusport have made some decent signings too and with the strike force of McLaughlin and McNeil they are a good team on their day. They just lack the consistency and a shaky back 4 doesn't help that. I can't see Bo Ness having the same impact Bonnyrigg did in the league and the quotes from their manager suggest that a period of stability and adjustment are the aims for the season. Cumbernauld came out in Januray saying they had a bit of cash to spend this year but all they have done is sign Queens Parks under 20 team. Shire had two players on loan from them last year, both decent players but no where near the quality to push into the top 5. Can they take points of Kelty for the third year in a row? I quite like Galas team, Galbraith and Rodgers are very good players for this level and will comfortably keep them out of the relegation fight and their aim will be trying to be the Borders premier team for the second year running. The covid crisis has probably had the harshest impact on the uni teams as their ability to get new players has been hindered but you would expect them to be comfortably mid table again. Angus Mailer will be a huge loss for them though. Berwick are doing a lot of great work of the field but on it is a different story. They managed to get rid of Walters, who was perhaps one of the worst goalies i've seen at this level, this can only be a positive. Lewis Allan will give them firepower to push up the league slightly you would imagine. Vale of Leithen first game will give a big indication of what is to come. Dalbeattie made a few eye catching signings and that looks to have pushed them away from the other 3 struggling teams of last year. A possible outside chance to reach the top half. I literally have no idea what to write about Civil, I think they've passed their peak as the other sides around them seem to have improved while they've stayed stagnant, there is not much on their social media so I guess i'll see on Saturday when they inevitably shitfest a 1-0 victory against the Shire. 15th. Gretna 2008 - The Gretna team that was defeated 9-1 by the Shire was the worst side I have ever witnessed so this year surely can't be as bad as that. Rowan Alexander is a great appointment as manager and i'm sure he'll improve them. They got some good results in the cups last year and if they can translate that to league form they should move clear of the bottom 2 but I dont't think they have the quality to reach any of the clubs mentioned above. 16th-17th. Vale of Leithen and Edinburgh Uni - Both stick ons to go down but I don't know in what order. Vales luck will surely run out and i'm sad about that because I never made it down to their ground for a game. They seem to have lost a few players to the East of Scotland League and their 4-1 defeat to LTHV in pre-season doesn't bode well for the season ahead. No clue about Edinburgh Uni, they were already close to the drop and the covid situation will have put more pressure on the management team to sign up players. Both look goners if 2 teams are relegated this year.

Wait, is this the statement everybody's ranting about? Personally, I see nothing wrong with that, and I cannot see why it wouldn't be true. As others have said, what player wouldn't reject a new contract when they have the opportunity to play for a bigger, more successful club at the other end of the table, and almost certainly for more money?

This one was in the rules, not made up afterwards.

The commentary kit was fitted today and after a good test everything was running smoothly and could hear everything nice and clear so all going to plan you should hear @Jan Vojáčektomorrow bringing you your action.

Your account has been emptied and transferred to a Nigerian Prince.

I'd have absolutely no problem if someone in power stood up and said "we know having schools open is a massive risk, but ultimately we need pupils to learn and we need parents back at work". It's the whole 'the virus stops at the school gate' chat that I find absolutely baffling.

All Torys are c***s. Without exception. Here endeth the lesson.

2020 has peaked IMO. Now at the stage of having a new player photographed through a hotel window due to having to isolate https://ppapix.photoshelter.com/gallery/St-J-Sign-Guy-Melamed/G0000D3Itw6dhtCA/C0000.8lTrX7cIk8

The government no longer lying to us and instead being honest and admitting that schools are being kept open despite the evidence showing that they are major contributors to the spread, whilst other industries that are lesser contributors are kept closed/planned to be closed because they are not deemed as important as education. It’s an acceptable stance to take, but the brazen lies are not.

Well no, the answer is to start imposing restrictions on a priority of public health risk and setting universal applied precautions to all environments instead of just pretending that you can have thirty weans in a classroom without masks all week because snippy parents. This current attempt to balance handling the outbreak against keeping going what the government deems to be important was tried once already in March and it failed spectacularly. They're now doing it all over again. Greater Manchester now has 495 positive cases per 100k of the population. It has also been under a local lockdown for the best part of two months. The ridiculous measures being imposed on their everyday lives clearly don't work then because when you make massive exemptions for work and education for a respiratory disease outbreak in fucking autumn then you are leaving an open goal for the outbreak will exploit regardless of every other diktat that you make. You'd be as well ditching everything and going for a free for all rather than this latest, gubbins halfway house.

I would be really surprised if there wasnt. Its really the only way Hibs can afford to buy young Scottish talent and if he shines and moves on then we all benefit. p.s. In a related vein, Buddies and Hibs fans knew that John McGinn was a player, I always enjoy reposting this just for the shits and giggles.........

Quite fitting for P&B:

Never delete, never apologise.

Back October 16 going by the advert on TV last Friday.

24 - 204 Appearances Definitely a popular defender, played all over the back line from 1991 to '99, scoring 4 times. Who can forget his 88th minute equaliser in the '97 cup final that led to our victory in extra time. Neil Oliver.

Sometimes it takes me 2 weeks to get 50...

Sunset from Tokavaig Beach on Skye a couple of weeks back

Cheers. I just need to buy a laptop now.

Man, all this because he got a few red dots ae. Fucking hell.

Depends on how they were entering the results (1 result per column) then yeah, it could be possible......but you would have to be woefully incompetent to have it set up like that.... (regardless.....using a spreadsheet software for a database is completely inappropriate)

It’s fine if you’re used to deep throating........!

The criticism of McMullan is way over the top. I'm sure there were always reservations about his ability to cut it in the top flight (and those reservations will no doubt remain given that he's had about 15 minutes this season) but he did a good job in the Championship.

Pretty much how I expected the game to go. 76 minutes gone, Villa pressing for an 8th goal.

Not really anything falling down on my side my man, because schools are open, I am receiving my full quota of that beautiful state sponsored childcare. The government of both the UK and Scotland clearly felt that the cost of going down that route was too great, otherwise they would have done it. Broadly, the same argument as I have made all along. Its actually your arguments that have continually fallen down throughout this, on the basis that nothing that you are shrieking for is happening, because.... well you are completely wrong. There will be no blended learning because we do not have a society in place to support the model, and if they shoe horn in this half arsed attempt at it at any point, it will be when everything else has also been shut down again because we are back to 4 figure deaths per day. Currently, there are few signs of that happening, and various people posting evidence of the second wave tailing off. Yet another thing that doesnt square with your bullshit about schools driving infections. Whatever it is that has been taken from you that you are raging you cant have back, it's not the fault of school kids m8.