Sloop John B

After a quick google, we apparently last won there in April 1958.

It wouldn't be a massive money maker and I expect we'd get beat. Doesn't really tick any boxes for me to see it as a positive draw tbh. They'll mostly likely pull a 10k + crowd which will be in the upper end of the teams in the draw so it will be decent enough crowd, plus a game against the 2nd best team in the country last season so there's a lot to be excited about, considering the range of potentially horrible draws, this is quite an intriguing one. Stone Cold Stenhousemuir will dispatch of them anyway.

If we're looking at 72 goals in 92 games playing under Naysmith and 2 golden boots as an underachievement then I can't wait for him to finally hit form.

Derek Lyle was a better player than Dykes, especially when it comes to being a goalscorer (obvs) but you could see with him and Dobbie against better sides having a strike force aged about 70 odd meant that they'd have zero pressure on them as they physically couldn't press, so you weren't able to play your two better players especially when Rankin was nearing the glue factory in behind. If you are a defender against us last season, you could play a high line as neither of them would be beating you very often in a sprint (Unless you play for Falkirk), which puts even more pressure on us as they can push up against a crap midfield. The move we've made has eventually replaced a pretty old team with guys that are able to push out and counter quickly. Defenders can't double up on Dobbie as much if you have multiple supporting runners, like Dykes or Todd. It also helps that if Low is on the ball in deeper areas rather than Dobbie as we can get him the ball where he should be getting it. The mistake we've made a lot since he's came back is thinking we can combine Dobbie with either older players with quality or talented but lazy players which in a five aside is fine but considering the finite time you get in possession with the first thought often being give it to Dobbie, we just get more of the negative about those styles of player than the good.

Few questions: What football match are you part of where you are able to have a cup of tea in less than 15 mins and then play the second half without any issues? Are you arguing that we could replace Dykes with Graham’s Weir or Stuart Kean type player and we’d be fine? Do you think that the opposition now trying to close Dykes down more is part of a big plot to put his confidence up. Just because his finishing is not good doesn’t mean he is a scrub. And to underplay his actual footballing abilities to suit your long held view is so blinkered. Even using your own argument, to be In a position be called ‘a worker’ he has to do the running of 1 and a half players, win every header, lead most breaks and press the opposition for usually the full match. Do you realise even that is something that is incredibly demanding to do physically and what is being asked of him is a lot more than a lot of the strikers in this league.

i like the notion that if we get rid of the only forward/midfielder over 6 foot that does the majority of the running and the majority of the creative play we’d be a better team. Makes sense to me IMO John Rankin is tearing it up in league 2 would you like him back as well?

I’d guess it’s most likely a falling out but it would take a fool to see Harkins play style, list of clubs and think that at a team with minimal depth could depend on an aging maverick no matter how good he is. He did seem very much like the antithesis of just about every other player Naysmith has brought in. So we’ll see whether actual depth he brings in to replace but I’m resigned to Harkins going to Falkirk and keeping them up.

Thanks for the likes is a heck of a way to show you are really sorry for the whole committing a crime thing. Once again proof that the internet is very serious business.

Comfortably the most significant birth in the month of december.

The second worst draw would be a good premiership team without a big crowd like St Johnstone or Killie. They've won one game this season against Premiership or Championship sides lets not act like half a window and a winter break is going to to turn that side into world beaters. It is inherently winnable.

Certainly will be looking to pursue an aerial offense... To be boring I suspect if they do interview her they already have a HC in mind and it will be to get around the Rooney Rule in the least discreet manner possible.

Cleveland Browns are interviewing former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice for vacant HC position because of course they are. https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1064180915679707138

If I was to compare myself to a cricketer, I wouldn’t have chosen the one who was convicted of domestic abuse, being roundly disliked by his teammates, made several rascist and sexist remarks and playing style that is incredibly outdated.

The difference is that Northern Ireland has a binding multiparty international treaty in the Good Friday agreement that neither the EU or Ireland will ever back down from. Scotland has a convention which the government has little obligation to follow.

I'd also add that even teams who have been similarly mediocre (aside from simply being bigger clubs in general) can bring in casual fans for derby games even if they are on a very bad run. It's a bit of a treadmill we operate on really, if we admit defeat and accept we're shite and go part time, nobody will want to watch that, however we are one of the smallest full time teams in the country so unless you sacrifice depth you aren't getting the better players so unless something miraculous or terrible happens we achieve exactly our weight. Players will go to clubs if they pay them well or offer stability, have a solid core squad, the potential to win games and the opportunity to play in big games. We probably are able to offer one of those things in a solid core squad (plus Dobbie is the best recruiting tool we have). Even with the momentum of a promotion we still weren't getting significantly larger crowds so winning is not a guarantee of anything.

Was there meant to be a load of rookies cut yesterday?

I'll take Stockholm Syndrome if it's free

Going to Kendrick Lamar on Wednesday at the Summer Sessions, anyone with previous experience of going to concerts a Bellahouston Park, what's the best way to and back from Queen Street for the last train back at half 11?

Good luck with the season guys, can't say I'm particularly optimistic with my gang of scrubs and rookies but you never know... As this was my first Dynasty game, I do enjoy looking back at some truly awful decisions that I've made (Personal highlight was drafting Eric Ebron with the 4th pick, over literally anyone else in 2017 as I thought I needed a tight end to be competitive again). Being terrible last year has probably made me become more of an anorak at this but that can only be an improvement.

At least Crusaders shouldn’t be nearly as problematic as our last Northern Irish visitors. But in the spirit of the occasion, Saladin did nothing wrong IMO.

On the positive you could be in line to win a free case of Samonella or psittacosis. Like the deluxe draw but you get time off work.

He's apparently down to 221 pounds, somebody needs to get him to waffle house immediately to get that extra thiccness back. Genuine question, has Alex Smith played a season with a mediocre RB? it's not a knock against him but he's done well to have played with Frank Gore, Jamaal Charles, Kareem Hunt throughout his career.

Can't wait for a season of Alex Smith check downs and R Kelley trundling for 2 yards.

How many rounds are we doing for this draft?

P&B's reaction when Northfield posts literally anything