buster.

The blog was posted on RM (boardroom section). Thread is called 'interesting read'

I think we know the MO and it seems to be running alongside other strands with a similar MO (eg. blog from Rangers supporter that appeared on another forum that made unsubstantiated allegations). Bluegates within 5 posts had attempted to discredit one of those in said blog who were pointed at.... and had made unreasonable (timescale) or sarcastic demands regards minutes from a meeting. Now C1872 have to sort things out but they don't need or deserve 'dishonest' attempts at destabilisation.

Yes but this came after the pre-season, not half-way through.....and we had everyone available. That said, just had a look and Motherwell will play their 5th friendly v Hibs tomorrow (probably be more or less the team to play us) but have had a couple of shocking results, beaten by Cowdenbeath and Arbroath !!

I didn't say we don't want to win the game or that the XI that are selected won't be bothered. It's just the game comes at a time when we will be 'undercooked' and when there are greater priorities. We'll have to wait and see how it pans out. As I understood it, MW places a lot of importance in drilling the tactical organisation into the squad at this time of year and playng 4 in 9 days simply means that you can't do both, the necessary organisation and lay importance on these fixtures.

It's not so much because it's the LC, it's about organising what is still a pre-season with an eye to being properly up and running for the Hamilton game. Because of the July dates and that we play 4 games in 9 days, the League Cup becomes preperation rather than competitive fixtures.

There will be a few who won't be ready and you'd imagine we'll be undercooked regards match sharpness. Motherwell have played several friendlies, are at home and I'd make them favourites for this one-off match but am more interested in us being ready for the start of the league in terms of fitness, sharpness and organised/drilled.

I'd contest this in that realistically we can't fall much further in terms of National seeding on the co-efficient table and subsequent level of entry to european competition. However yes, we could by going up the table improve the subsequent level of entry. There are so many below us that the later is more likely and realistic than the former. To go up the way, you'd probably need both Rangers and Celtic to start having decent European seasons. To actually have Scotland improve the co-efficient to a level that made a difference to current entry level, you'd need several seasons of vastly improved numbers. However, if you have Celtic qualifying for the CL gp stages, it'll probably make it more difficult for us to win league and get into the CL ourselves. When involved in the draws themselves it comes down to the individual club co-efficient and given it'll be more than 5 years since we played in Europe, we'll have to build that up from near to 0. This is our biggest problem in getting started in Europe and reaching any group stages because we'll be in the unseeded half of draws and be vulnerable to an unlucky draw with a strong team before our season really starts. Bert Kassie's site has all the info on this http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/

Trust your instincts and ignore them both.

I don't think that was the real point of the post from Mr.BlueGates.

Can't see this being based on nothing. Could be agitating agents have provided The Guardian with the story.

I hope you are right ----------------------------- France 2 Portugal 0

I think Budge would probably be a decent addition and one who wouldn't be scared to oppose Lawwell or anyone else. For that reason, you wonder if she'll get enough votes.

If only it were that easy.

A decent goal scoring forward from a reasonable level is always going to cost a fair wad. Even a bosman will end up expensive. If we can source the player we want and afford him then great, if not then I'd rather go with what we have (including Hardie) than take a lucky dip. I reckon Waghorn will do very well this season if given the chance.

German players can now go off and play beach volleyball, which seems to be their first love.

Hard to envisage any other outcome. It's about picking the score

Excellent game France deserved to go through as they had a striker who can sore a goal.

Anyone else think the ref. has slight 'Homer' tendencies thusfar ?

Portugal have been doing what they usually do, ie. just about enough to get past the lower to middle ranked teams. If old habits die hard then they'll lose when they come up against the big team on Sunday. I think the tournament has been pretty much what you'd expect a modern day International summer Finals to be with the added feature of more localish wee teams having a go (due to new format). Lot's of hype Some decent games Lot's of mediocre games English disaster and subsequent fall-out Germany in the semi-finals Italy showing tournament nouce/spirit Host team in semi-finals 'Oh but we used to get to the Finals when I was a lad' Revelation team(s) and focus Fan chant focus - Don't like the format and the 3rd place qualifying option. - The refs have let too many tackles go and have encouraged cycnical challenges but at the sametime you could argue there has been a better flow to games. - Lots of the big names (players) have been 'quiet' on the pitch. - Strange seeing players from Hamilton, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and none from 'Glasgow clubs'. Scotland won't but might be wise to consider 'writing off' upcoming WC campaign and instead of going with old experienced heads who have proved they aren't good enough under a manager who failed and who is now increasingly relying on spin, excuses and a friendly media...............appoint someone else with a view to using a younger set of players so as to gain experience looking towards the Euros of 2020.

Three or four times out of 48 is very occasionaly but 3 or 4 more than anyone else First couple of times was due to team news (eg. Italians playing reserves) and now if there is a change, it'll be tactical ...although you are pretty much only one Welsh goal away from the Blue jersey

Agreed Innovative idea and well done for giving it a go but doubt it'll be further explored. Looking forward, 5-10 minutes of the open part of a training session might be useful to pad out RTV news features on an ongoing basis.

Yes,..... (same predictions)........... but I always preferred page 3

Portugal 1 Wales 1 Germany 1 France 1

You'll never get 100% unity. However, if most of the problems are ironed out, group gets up and running and successful elections are held in August/September there is no reason why things can't get significantly better. You'll always have a small number of loud protestors/haters on social media because it's what they do and have done for years.

Chances of him joining are now probably significantly lower.