Bluegrass Bairn

How depressing that not only was it rationalised but then the rest of the approvals committee bought into it. A worthwhile project polluted by an inexcusable aberration. Would really rankle with me too if in a parallel scenario, like Nicky Walker being chosen over Ally Donaldson, or Geordie Watson. Still not too late to get their heads on a pike IMO.

And no wonder MT; a shocker... assuming he was chosen by committee you should have had all their heads on pikes at the park gates.

Woah, steady Gaz, unless you're at the wind-up this is out of line! The last 2 Scottish Cup winners are "non events" ? (Something we've failed at 3 times in 18 years, of course). You're the one that should have a riddy...Well run, successful and upwardly-mobile clubs such as them should be (randomly) replaced by such tax-dodging cheats as Govan & Fife? Success on the park (and at the bank) should in your view be supplanted by crowd-w**k? By that thinking, is it also "about time" Bournmouth and Norwich were replaced in the Premiership by ...say... Leeds and Wolves? Bizzare, and embarrassing. And ironic. I assume you were front & centre complaining when we were denied promotion due to the state of Brockville. If I remember correctly, our mantra back then was - "its what the team does on the park that should count"... I really hope you were fishing with this.

This whatabootery is really beyond embarrassing now. You're criticising SD for being selective with the stats and then do the very same thing. What if we'd gelled on day one? What if Beck had scored a hat-trick every week? What if we'd won the lotto? You do understand that QoS & every other team in every other league could say the same. What if McCracken & MacDonald hadn't effed up at Hampden? Its gone, move on... The best measuring tool is of course 36 games, ie the whole season, not a preferred select handful, and over the course of last season's league performance we ended up where we merited. 5th. We'll soon see where we stand this season, and I for one will be surprised if we're not looking out for QoS results after our own.

Yup, that's how I remember it. Queens absolutely deserved 4th over the course of the season, as the better team, & better squad than we were. The last game at Palmerston was just confirmation of what, deep down, we already knew... There's far too much whatabootery on here from some. Can we move on please? Will they be better than us this season? No idea. But they could be. And until respective squads are finalised for this season, its absurd to write off anyone just now - or, come to that, to big ourselves up to finish above them, or StM. I have no idea how Falkirk will do this season; I know what I'd like to see (a more positive, uptempo and aggressive approach, for a start) but as things stand that would need a few more good quality signings through the team for us to have the consistency to have a good year. I'd be more interested to find out exactly where the board & management are really aiming, platitudes aside, to get a better idea of what we might hope for. (PS - COYB)

??? Of course its a rivalry; we've been vying directly with each other over the last two seasons for progressing in or making the playoffs. How idd to deny it. It may be a new rivalry, but its a genuine one now, and is shaping up to be again this season.

surprised at Biabi rumour tbh, don't think he's remotely close to that level; his too-infrequent impact moments - ie goal v Hearts & flashes v ITC - to me are offset against never looking like he's got the ball fully under control, he's not very tall, or very fast, and far too easily knocked off the ball so lacks decent 'presence'; but hey, other than that, he's a good prospect, Swansea - show us the money...

Still seems like a hell of a gamble, considering just how unfit/uninterested/ineffective he looked throughout. If he can't motivate himself to appear remotely credible when 'playing' for "The Dodgers" can any other team get him to raise his game again? Watching with interest not only because we're hoping to be head to head with you guys again, but because of course he always seemed to score against us!

was just fishing for an opinion on how QoS fans might have reacted to some speculation... Lighten up, man! So, yes clearly I believe everything I've ever read on the world wide interweb. Particularly the gossip on P&B.

Wish all the Falkirk fans could sit in our own seats and not give up half the Main Stand to the Dodgers or Hibs. Give 'em the North stand and that's all.

Really? Would you want him? Wouldn't wish him at Falkirk if he was the last man available. In the world. If he couldn't be bothered to get fit, far less kick ball or man, for his beloved Dodgers last season, what chance anyone else getting him motivated to try a leg? Plus he's a fud. Good luck with that one.

Prob only 13 - the night before will be pretty much sleepless! :-)

Yeah, I know, I know, Ned. All spot on, but every once in a while, when the press come away with something like them "standing up for the working man" line, its so grotesquely sycophantic its well-nigh impossible not to throw up. And unfortunately (in this case for me) rise to the bait. Still, always makes them losing - to anyone - all the better. Meanwhile, we've a cup final to think about! COYC-FB!!

And so it goes. Same old same old, from our scum journalist community. 'Diddy team not important' so shoehorn the Govan angle into the story. Two utter belters in the past week; (1) the story about the UEFA summit reviewing the away goals rule, ended with The Glasgow Herald reminding us that The (old) R*****s benefitted from this in...er...1972. (2) "analysing" the prices for play-offs tickets, the Glasgow Herald amazingly gushed that R*****s were "to be applauded for standing up for the working man" by offering the reduced price deal. Erm, okay, so lets not dwell on all those 'noble working men' who lost their jobs/business/outstanding debts when the Govan pestilence dodged paying their bills. Ye could'ny make it up.

Maybe not the only answer, but would help. A couple of seasons back we played Partick 7 times. (And that's obviously pre the play-offs being introduced!) It felt like we were in a two-team league. Still, some consolation. We finished second.

In Baird's absence last Friday Loy had to drop deeper and wider and overall was less effective than we would have wanted. I think its pretty clear we will miss Bairds link up play, and his energy and mobility v Hibs. That's not putting him on a pedestal by the way, just makes him better than Morgan or Biabi.

Yup would agree with this. Last season and especially those 2 terrific P/O games really set us up to pretty much go toe to toe for 4th this season. Personally I've got a lot of time for Queens, best outcome for me would be we both finish in top 4 at expense of the Govan pestilence. As for tonight, unfort I fear we'll lose. Kerr & Baird have made such a difference to the balance of the team I don't think we've got enough guile & mobility without them. Baird has shown good movement and energy, and linked really well with Loy. He may well not have been effective at QoS, but he's enhanced our style, and in his absence i think we'll struggle up front. Sibbs & Alston probably key for us - if they can really get a grip in midfield, we have a chance. Hard to see us keeping a clean sheet, so we need to be aggressive, not lightweight puffs, further upfield. COYB!

Ok agreed Dundee perfectly entitled to look out for themselves & get Loy committed before somebody else does, I get that. Its the way of the PCA world. But from our perspective, the timing is a wee bit nippy. Previous PCA 's have seen Gow & Barr get varying degrees of grief from some quarters about allegedly not being fully committed in their final 5 months - which personally I didn't believe, and certainly don't believe will apply to Loy - its this unsettling effect on the team at the critical stage of the season that could be a worry. We'll see...

Def needs a partner. He was much less effective in the first third of this season when Houston had him isolated on his own. Much more effective with Baird beside him and the two already have a good understanding. He's good with the ball at this feet, good close control, a decent shot, and a hard-worker; he's unselfish, tracks back, gets involved. But not great pace over distance, and can be easily knocked off the ball so a bit lightweight. And he def can't be relied on from the penalty spot. Will be sorry to see him go, many Bairns' POTY last season and still one of our best this. No comparison with that waster Philip 'petted lip' Roberts

22 pages and with no sign of abating, this is easily my fave thread on P&B. Ludo, a doff of the cap to you, sir, this is great fun. Its so difficult to pin it down to a solitary moment - the indignant, greetin'-faced seethe is akin to breathing for the blue bigotti - but my current fave is probably the ppfftt sound, like a wet fart, when their bubble was well and truly burst by confirming that in fact, they don't follow on, and they do, in fact, do walking away. From top to bottom, pious to the core! Only thing I'm remotely sorry about in the whole pantomime is not being a paid-up member of the 411 club - but hopefully one fine sunny day there's a 1,000,000 club, and we can all be there to tramp the dirt down. keep the comedy coming, you crazy-fool sevconian zombies! we're up to our knees in tears of laughter.

Jim Shirra & Wilson Hoggan were my dad's favourites; around about that time when we had a run of great wingers - Johnny Graham/Dennis Setterington/Hoggan/John Mitchell/Crunchie... and on up to Handbag Perry. Wonder if young Smith will turn out to be a Hoggan or a Handbag.

You're right on both counts, of course...put it down to brain freeze I guess. Or extreme old age, given I thought of Donald Ford instead of MoJo; funnily enough I don't remember that Ford played any more than half a season for us, so admittedly it was an odd one to pluck out the air. Think that was the year Geordie Miller's signing policy made the team's average age about 40.

Ex-Bairn Carl Finnigan, who in his time with us was out the team with every injury known to man except malaria, rickets and a nasty shaving cut, had tinnitus. If anyone came into contact with big Beck he'd fall over like an oak.