Spain

So... yeah it might have been a while since I've had the chance to update. Anyway, we've got ourselves a new leader, @Sheriff John Brown leaps to the top. 1 Sherrif John Bunnell 420.5 2 Gypsy Joe Swanton 386 3 Ned Nederlander 312 4 Bluetoon87 243 5 Fuctifano 222 6 psv_killie 220.5 7 alta-pete 219.5 8 Billy Jean King 207 9 Indale Winton 201 10 mozam76 197 11 Supermik 182 12 Arabdownunder 174 13 DBA 171 14 The Naitch 167.5 15 Bishop Briggs 162 16 cal234ey 158 17 JustOneCornetto 149 18 Ben Twilly 145 19 Mark Connolly 144 20 sleazy 137 21 Ross. 133.5 22 Shotgun 115 23 pub car king 104 24 Cardinal Richelieu 102 25 chomp my root 101 26 LoonsYouthTeam 99 27 thistledo 92 28 10menwent2mow 89 = cdisaccie 89 = Michael W 89 = Sloop John B 89 = thelocalcat 89 = weirdcal 89 34 the snudge 88 35 Spain 82 36 Arch Stanton 78 37 lichtgilphead 76 38 Eednud 73 39 Sweaty Morph 72.5 40 Miguel Sanchez 70 41 Oddy 69 42 ToBeSomeone 67 43 50/50 Winner 65 44 Bobby Skidmarks 62 45 Enigma 55 = HI HAT 55 = Once A Rover always a Rover 55 = The DA 55 49 harry94 53 50 Bold Rover 49 = Salvo Montalbano 49 52 qos_75 36 53 Christophe 26 = Helpma 26 = lolls 26 = nessies long lost ghost 26 = sureiknow 26 58 Everyone else 0

Pretty sure I saw the two Dingwalls were 22 (Russell) & 23 (Tony)

How familiar is anyone with our development squad? Is there any chance we might supplement with them over and above the promoted youth players if there's any injuries? For example who will be the left back for the development squad this year and is he any good? At this level especially, other clubs can and do operate like that - use a youth player or sign/emergency-loan someone as and when needed if there's injuries. I'd obviously prefer to have proper left-back cover in the squad (maybe Fontaine moving over is the plan there) but just curious as to if that would be a likely alternative approach.

FWIW I also think SH is being overly harsh on Kelly. He was more than solid enough at this level for St Mirren before we signed him, and he started reasonably for us but he was never going to be Naismith standard. Is he or will he ever be Premiership standard? Probably not, but we're not in the Premiership anymore and he's more than good enough for this level.

I forgot to update this with Kelly at the time, but here's where we're at now. Signed (* Promoted Youth Players)FoxFraserFontaineKellyLindsayVigursDraperMullinMckay McManusGardyne Keillor-DunnDowDykesG. MorrisonT. DingwallR. Dingwall * Grivosti * McIver * Munro * Wallace TBCDavies (sounds all but gone)JOB (no word - although rumours at the end of last season suggest he was going to go)Schalk (sounds all but gone) GoneNaismith (sold)Routis CurranMikkelsenChowN'GogMcCareyTumiltyMalcolmFodenS. MorrisonAshmoreKyle JohnsonTanseyKaitMelbourneSouttar

Updated now that Naismith's gone, and Dow apparently has signed on his reduced terms. Signed (* Promoted Youth Players)FoxFraserFontaineLindsayVigursDraperMullinMckay McManusGardyne Keillor-DunnDowDykesG. MorrisonT. DingwallR. Dingwall * Grivosti * McIver * Munro * Wallace TBCDavies (sounds all but gone)Kelly (hasn't been mentioned once, anywhere by the press)JOB (no word - although rumours at the end of last season suggest he was going to go)Schalk (sounds all but gone) GoneNaismith (sold)Routis CurranMikkelsenChowN'GogMcCareyTumiltyMalcolmFodenS. MorrisonAshmoreKyle JohnsonTanseyKaitMelbourneSouttar

Surely has to go. Only came to us in the first place as an opportunity to forward his career. It should be a no-brainer to go to someone the size of Sunderland who should be aiming to push back up the leagues.

Having just welcomed back David Quessenberry last season from non Hodgkin lymphoma (after 3 years out), Andre Hal has now been announced as having Hodgkin lymphoma.

Anyway, we're still very short on defenders. Especially if Naismith goes. A starting LB and another defender for cover and that might be us for now. But I wouldn't be surprised to see more.

Apparently the boy Munro is very highly rated, so not sure we'll sign a back-up goalie.

Could have included the Indian Rupee and the Costa Rican Colón if he could have been bothered too. Just lazy IMO.

I would expect you'd more likely see Fraser at RB if Naismith goes, rather than Mullin. Can't remember where I read it but they very much view Mullin as a midfielder.

Updated now that Fraser's staying on: Signed (* Promoted Youth Players)FoxFraserNaismithFontaineLindsayVigursDraperMullinMckay McManusGardyne Keillor-DunnDykesG. MorrisonT. DingwallR. Dingwall * Grivosti * McIver * Munro * Wallace TBCDaviesKellyJOBDowSchalk GoneRoutis CurranMikkelsenChowN'GogMcCareyTumiltyMalcolmFodenS. MorrisonAshmoreKyle JohnsonTanseyKaitMelbourneSouttar

Hopefully any midfielder playing under Ketts & Fergie would have the powderpuff mentality knocked out of them pretty quick. Getting out from under being Woods' understudy has hopefully done McShane some benefit.

For the Commish himself, aye.