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My take away from it really: Since covid and WFH initiative, I work for a company based in Edinburgh and previously worked for one based in London. I'd have never commuted that far to either job without the possibility of WFH and I (thankfully) now do so full time with only infrequent office visits needed. I would never have commuted through to Edinburgh 5 days a week. Also the big difference in our life, my partner sitting out the back around the June of 2020 and lamenting the fact that she didn't want to go back to the shop as it had been an utter shambles for years. She had to go for a couple of operations prior to covid and each time was more of a struggle for her to face going back once her recovery was up. She sat one pleasant Saturday and asked out of nowhere how I'd feel if we built a summer-house type deal and made it an independently functioning hairdressers for her to start her own wee business, she had the customer base and the knowledge to do it - I was raging that I'd never thought of it in all the years we'd been together. 2 and a half years one and she's happier than she's ever been. It's literally changed her and my life from being in a stage where everything we ever had, we really had to bean-count for it (and would have been in a dire situation over the last several months) to having a healthier household income. I still don't think she'd have ever thought about that possibility without the events of covid happening, so whilst I don't look back on that period with any fondness, there was at least a personal benefit of the situation for ourselves on a professional level at least. Really fucked with my mental health for a long time though.

This probably ties in with ICTChris' theory that we should just lock up anyone who looks dodgy but there can't be anyone on the planet who sees someone with that bald-on-top-ponytail-at-the-back hairstyle and doesn't have suspicions about the man sporting it.

I'd feel fucking fantastic. I mean, it's not going to happen but if offered the devil's deal of 12th and winning the cup I'd sign right now. These guys wouldn't be revered like 91 but for various reasons we're never going to have a team like that again and if a bunch of no-hopers somehow fluke the cup while passing through Motherwell I'd be utterly thrilled.

Hats off to the 200 Club and the Jim McMillan Club.

Magnificent weather. Pubs shut, golf courses shut, everything bar supermarkets shut and my dog getting a terminal diagnosis. Had a really great time with him but equally all the time thinking ‘if this is what retirement looks like you can fcuking keep it’. Felt like a total outlaw by going out for more than an hour at a time to walk the legs off us both with no one, not a soul, about and getting a magnificent tan in the process Loved my boy. He made it to 2yrs 9 months. (and no, it wasn’t the covid that got him).

He'll need a little time.

Finish 11th. Win the cup. Deprive 5th place St Mirren of Europe. Lose the playoff. Go down. The greatest season of all time.

Ran out of legs at the end did the baby cabbage. Great run and representation from last years league winners. Something all the other clubs could only dream of

Hibs U19 1-2 Borussia Dortmund U19. UEFA Youth league match at Easter Road. Hibs didn’t disgrace themselves tonight and made Dortmund work for their win. In the end Dortmund’s superior fitness told and they won with a nice finish. Crowd of over 7,000.

Please add “this thread” to the options.

I heard from a current player that goes to the same water aerobics class as me that Stevie Hammel likes playing with matches, and also has a weird dislike of hotels.

I quite liked McCabe at the Pars. Joined us halfway through the season when we last won League 1 and added something different to the midfield, we had Falkingham and Geggan who got stuck in, Byrne who showed nice moments but maybe a bit too young at the time. McCabe had a lot of composure, was brave enough to take penalties, free kicks etc. Sure he scored a late winner away to Cowdenbeath, could only have been a few games to go, we're facing dropping points to the team at the bottom and he puts one in the top corner from about 30 yards with minutes to play. Scored the winner from the spot against Raith the following season in the Fife derby. Fordyce is another who I liked, took a really bad injury in our title winning season in the September but made it back to make a cameo appearance and lift the trophy with Geggs. Hope to see them go on and do well, just not for the next two weekends. Not ruling Airdrie out as title contenders as who knows where we could be after the next two weeks but I think a playoff finish for McCabe after his first season as a manager would be a great achievement. Also had no idea until McCabe was appointed Airdrie manager that they were cousins.

fourteen goals in an absolute dogshit team and the myth of him being some sort of lazy grifter will never die. For some reason.

I'm biased I suppose but I love the guy. Was comfortably one of our best players last season and he's making a really good go at management. Funnily enough when it was announced, we all talked about how he seemed to be coaching his teammates through games at times last season already. Crucially he seems to have real buy-in from the squad; not only did he have the confidence of a lot of guys from last year who will have had options to go elsewhere to get them to resign for this season, but they all still buy-in to what he and Dycey are trying to do now we're into February. I think it's fair to say a lot of us were happy to try something different rather than just plucking some 'experienced', out-of-work dinosaur jobber who would no doubt have needed to start from scratch and would not have been able to retain the likes of Frizzell et al. In the here and now, I don't think any of us would go back on that feeling, either.

Everyone seems to hark back to that replay v Aberdeen at Dens Park but mistakes like that were few and far between in the round. We really have been blessed with some great keepers in my era and Billy was the first that really stood out for me. Way more fantastic games than that one night in Dundee.

Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Almeria Getting less random as now the third time I've been to Rayo this season. A decent game with both sides playing nice football and Rayo just about deserving the win. Pushes them up to 5th and just three points off the Champions League places. Big concern for them though is the manager possibly departing for Leeds - he has done a fantastic job at Rayo. 15 Euros a ticket as well, which is magnificent.

Latest episode of the Falkirk Daft podcast - Episode 29…Limbs! - is out NOW. Where we; Review the HUGE win over Kelty Hearts ️ Preview Alloa Ath (A) on Tues Discuss the latest news from The Bairnabau ️ How to WIN 2 x Free tickets to Falkirk Football Club Speakers Night on 3rd March And we preview the BIG Scottish Cup tie in the company of @darvelfc manager @Mickkennedy1904 Apple: apple.co/3PX3l02 Spotify: spoti.fi/3PCiXGJ Youtube: bit.ly/3b4R4YH Thank you to this weeks sponsor - Falkirk Supporters Society

Was in Bali when airline cancelled flight without telling us, then refused to get us back. Paid £3,000 for the two of us to fly back. Landed Saturday, lock down on the Tuesday. Took 7 months to get my cash back. Quarantined for a week then redeployed (as did all our team). I started working in a care home with dementia residents for the next 3 months (never done anything like that). All you saw on TV were people dying in care homes and hospitals. Humbling experience. Only went to the shops 3 times in 3 months. Twice to get something for residents and a card for Mrs SA 40th birthday. June, went back to my normal job of supporting 16-24 year olds. This meant door knocking during a pandemic wearing mask, gloves and sanitiser to try and help them navigate through a pandemic. How can you do jobsearch or college applications when everything is closed? Sitting in the middle of a park socially distanced in a mask trying to help their mental wellbeing was the most important thing I could. Did this right up until the December, it was shit but just wanted to do my bit and sport those less fortunate. As well as my normal job I was also involved in the covid response team. Delivering foodbank parcels, meds, nappies or even hot meals to kids off school due to isolating. As things eased, I was also took on the role in helping people submit the correct documentation for Isolation Grants (while still doing my normal job). Finally I got involved in the vaccination centre when it opened up. It was amazing to see the relief and joy on faces when they got their first jab...people started seeing a future rather than focusing on the now. Oh yeah, and for a few Thursdays at 8pm I dressed up like a daftie and ran along the street just to make my neighbours laugh. Three things struck me while all this was going on. 1.How amazing a job people in care homes do. 2.What great work colleagues I had and how lucky I was. 3.How great Mrs SA was, while I already knew that, the pandemic reinforced it. Nae PS4 or daytime TV for me...ya bunch of jammy sods

Far too many changes for me, one possibly two max tonight would've been my thoughts on it. We go again Monday probably revert back to previous 11 with maybe only Donaldson the only change, it's a marathon not a sprint

Add me to the list of posters who quite like this cup. I felt the 2002/03 final just a few months after promotion really extended the feeling of a "purple patch" and the scenes v Partick in 2013 were excellent viewing. The Challenge Cup also had a big part in Derek Lyle becoming our most decorated player. Just checked and Queens are one of only three teams to have reached five finals (along with ICT and Ross County). A win tonight would make us the only team to have reached six finals. It is most definitely a diddy cup, but as a fan of a diddy team I quite enjoy the memories it's given us.

Again he was excellent against our two big defenders as a lone striker when we played them scoring twice and ran our centre backs ragged. This idea of starting with the same team then waiting till we're a goal down and bringing the subs on to win the day isn't for me I'm afraid. It's a hell of a gamble . I mean why buy a striker if your just going to keep Oliver as the starting striker when his goal threat is virtually non existant. We should learn from the last time we played alloa and not just start the same side hoping that if we struggle again the subs will pull us out the mire once again. Different if the team we have been starting with was blowing teams away but that's not been the case.

Good on him. Footballs fickle and if he had have scored that gilt edged chance he had in his 1st game it might have been different. Don't think the period he was at the club was conducive to anyone succeeding.

We’re now three years into a stadium farce. We’re now three years into the club being unable and unwilling to answer serious questions around the stadium and structure of the club. We’ve just been kicked out of the Scottish Cup, costing us dearly both on and off the pitch, as both a club and a support. At what point does the “let’s wait and see” and “it is what it is” stance expire? We’ve been told numerous times that communication would improve. We were lied to. The thing is, that it really doesn’t need to be this way. It’s an active choice to operate this way by a highly paid individual. It’s contemptible.

The more time passes, the more I come to think that answers to these questions don't exist.

Better mind The Steppes...

I'm a fan, feel he's done well considering we had no real squad depth the first half of the season. The club said when he was appointed there would be a structure in place to help him but he's had no other coaches come in that weren't already here bar David Hutton who mans the touchline. Real leader on the park could see that last year that he's well liked and respected, hope he gets another go next season regardless if we go up or not.

It's fair to say he splits opinion but mine is that if you give a 30 year old the Manager's job then you must be prepared to give him time, and by that I mean at least 2 full seasons before considering any review of his position. Yes, he has been a bit naive at times, the first Edinburgh trouncing especially, but does seem to command respect amongst the players. Still good enough to play, not the quickest but reads the game well and rarely gives the ball away, apart from Clyde last Saturday, and hits a mean free kick. I'm all for sticking with him wherever we finish this season but there is lot of "the player/manager role" doesn't work continually mentioned from fans, football people & pundits alike.

When he signed for us last season I thought he'd be decent but didn't think he'd be one of our most influential players. During the Covid season we were lacking creativity in midfield so it made sense that Murray signed him as he's good on the ball. Watching him at the games last season he was the loudest player on the park and in constant communication with his team mates, basically coaching players during games. I never thought when he signed he'd be the type of player or character to go into management, thought he was your typical ex old firm player who didn't make it and would drop down the divisions. Although this season has had its ups and downs I think he's done a really good job considering the circumstances. Losing Murray and Easton was a massive blow and he's managed to retain majority of last seasons squad. I think finishing in the play offs would be a successful season for McCabe and Airdrie.

Should a meet and greet go well tomorrow (having successfully passed the home-visit at the weekend), I'm hoping to have a new addition to the thread in the very near future.

There are people out there who open P&B, see the name VincentGuerin and skip past the post.

Another excellent show gents, thanks. Really good guests in Stuart Adam and Mick Kennedy. As always Stuart Adam spoke brilliantly, I was really pleased to hear him address the massive elephant in the room, that is the relationship with the Council. IMO this doesn't get addressed enough by the club and is the biggest hindrance to progress. Hopefully this will be something that continues to be addressed more frequently. I genuinely believe we will get the opportunity to take back the stadium at some point in the future from the council, whether its by us negotiating bit by bit ownership or the council realising its a very saleable asset when they are cash strapped, either way it will happen at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Joe and Gerry Baker. They were brought up in Scotland, with Scottish parents but due to laws at the time were unable to represent Scotland and played for England and USA, respectively.

Jackson? That h*n balloon doesn’t know anything that goes on north of Cumbernauld. He is to journalism what Kate & Gerry McCann are to babysitting.

We’ve been favourites for relegation for most of our time in the Championship and somehow dodged the bullet. The Board have pushed the boat out in January with some good signings. Every team in this league is beatable and we surely have the players capable of putting in a winning run. Saturday was disappointing but considering the conditions and the new mix of players it was hardly a disaster as some people seem to consider it. Mon the Lichties.

Hi folks, I knew nowt of this thread until this morning. To be honest I usually only post with comments regarding all things Dundee FC. Our world changed direction for the worst on Saturday when our beautiful companion, a fourteen and a half year old Shih Tzu named Bailey died after a short illness with a quite aggressive cancer Lymphona. Such a gentle personality, beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, difficult to measure or explain the grief we are experiencing. Anyway, felt the need to celebrate her by posting a few snaps as reading the posts on here really brightened my day. Thank you for reading, all the best.

Alrite this is my thread. Check this thread for regular updates. Ta, P-Bovvy xxxx

Tbh, it's this realisation that nudged me from a vague "I hope he turns it around" position to "absolutely f**k that guy". Generally speaking, good managers delegate (I guess that's true in industries other than football too). Identify your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. If something's not working then explore options to find a fucking solution. Instead, before the board sanctioned signing The January 9, we had months of Hammell's "we need to do better. Defensively not good enough" chat but zero solutions just doubling down on the same shape and running a team into the ground. Aside from the fact that improving the players is literally his job (and one he's broadly been failing at) ruling out getting help in on a self-preservation basis and making it a red-line is a weird move because, you know what actually keeps you in a job Steven? Winning games of football.

Sad to see the lengths the authorities are having to go to stop us winning in this competition.

Self respect is great, but mortgages are a b*****d.

I could be wrong but I’m sure Queen of the South fans also said they never saw McCabe as a potential manager. I can’t remember ever having a player as vocal on the pitch as he was last season though. It wasn’t just shouting for the sake of it, it’s clear instructions on where to be positionally, encouragement when players try something that doesn’t quite come off. I don’t always agree with what he says in his post match interviews (you can’t always blame the forwards for not being clinical!) but he’s a very good communicator. As others have said, if we can finish in the top four then for a very young manager I think that’s a successful season. Ultimately our budget is nowhere near Falkirk and Dunfermline (and probably even smaller than Queen of the South) so to challenge for the league we need to overperform and them to underperform, and as we saw last season even that isn’t always enough. He has his issues as a manager but I’ve seen enough to know that he’s worth persisting with. Him and Fordyce are good ambassadors for the club and their families seem very settled here. While some may still be skeptical about how good a manager he is, I think it’s fair to say everyone is behind him and would love him to be a success.

He decided to eat dog shite in front of them.

It was in their manifesto in 2016 and the bill was first introduced in 2017. They'd already spent far too many years delaying to pander to legitimate concerns, and had they not done so it would have been passed before a culture war had been whipped up to the extent it has. Failing to deliver legislation you believe is right which you've had as a manifesto commitment when winning elections twice because it's divisive would be total cowardice, particularly if the rationale for doing so is "the rights of a vulnerable minority are trumped by constitutional politics."

LTTs are great fun to watch....I remember one frosty morning seeing a big load of them exiting a nest box we had set up where they'd obviously been sleeping....looked like one of those videos where you try to cram as many folk in a VW Beetle as possible....must have been 15 or 20 of them scrunched up in there for heat.

The late, great Billy Thomson. I can remember Thomson playing for Dundee United (by which time Hamish the Goalie had departed for Raith Rovers) and what I can remember of seeing him live and on the telly he was a pretty good goalie. Wikipedia says he played once for Partick Thistle before going to St Mirren.

Mikel Arteta...

An ariel view of Hampden during the 1938 Scottish Cup Final apparently. Found it on Pinterest.

Sad to hear about Billy T lads, a cracking keeper for you guys and the DABs. Condolences to his family and all at St Mirren