Devil's advocaat

2 minutes ago, FDMA said:

As a young 72 yr old I still take members of a Yorkshire walking group north to play on real hills (Munro's) a few times a year!!

 

Superb sir, cap doffed. 

I never got into the munros over the festive period like I usually do, a batch of covid put paid to it.

3 hours ago, Bill said:

I've also noticed an increase in the numbers of young folk in the hills in recent years. I don't know if it's a response to the Covid imprisonments but I take it as a good sign anyway. Anyone who spends time among trees and mountains will instantly become a better person.

Spot on Bill.

Not quite, I see A LOT of young folk out on the hills at the weekend, it's great to see tbh. 

Most of the big amateur teams around here no longer exist, what's left isn't great, the Junior game is pretty unrecognisable since it was all split up a few years back. No idea what the quality is like now.

Can't bring myself to go watch either of them.

It's changed days tbh, a lot more people have hobbies that don't involve football, not like it was 30 or 40 years ago.

I wouldn't read too much into that tbh. GG has just been asked a question about one of their players, he's not gonna turn round and say he's shite, and no good enough for us, is he.

Away and chase yersel, American fitba is aboot 5 mins actual 'play' across 4 hours of drivel, and they wear bigger shoulder pads than dynasty and dallas combined! 🤣🤣🤣

Dowell hasn't travelled apparently? Wonder if he's for the off.

I watched a wee piece on social media yesterday with Robbie Fowler - what a finisher he was - and he was openly admitting that players in his day weren't as fit as now, and that's only around 20 years ago.

29 minutes ago, Bill said:

Is there any way of backing up that claim?

By using your eyes.

Look at the conditioning of your average top level footballer now. You don't get tone like that unless you work bloody hard and manage your diet correctly. You rarely see a footballer now without a 6 pack, back in the 60s you rarely seen one with one.

All professional sports, and the once amateur sports like athletics, have moved on significantly in terms of fitness. Player never even used to do any other training apart from ball work and running, whereas we now know that strength conditioning is key along with cardio work.

Joe Garner was on £18k a week, I know that for a fact. You can take it from that, that we'll have many more players over your £25k limit.

Yes, exactly. People think it was about fitness, wrongly.

21 minutes ago, compo said:

Lets not kid ourselves footballers of today wouldn't know what a day's hard work is .

Work, that's a broad word, but if you mean training, our players are far fitter than those that played during the Gullane days, no question.

Naw, I know, you played to a pretty decent level if I recall correctly, so know what I mean!.

36 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

However why does the likes of Matondo for instance not get the same treatment

I think he's shown on a few occasions that he offers a lot more than Lammers.

Tbh I'd rather we didn't give anyone such treatment, it hardly inspires them, folk howlin abuse at you when your confidence is already low.

The Tillman example is not representative of the loans we've had over the years, he helped us into the CL and we might get a few bob from a future sale, but the vast, vast majority of loan players haven't paid off in this manner.

16 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

We need to bring in players to help us win the league.  Loans are inevitable, particularly in January but we hear the same groans every year. 

 

I think some folk are still stuck in the 90s.

Not sure what you mean by 90s. Lots of folk moaning about paying circa 5M for a 28 year old Scotsman cos he's 'no sell on' value, but quite happy to spunk big wages on players that won't be here in 5 months.

January is a tough window, and loans are inevitable, but no one can be happy with our 3 main strikers being other clubs players. If they win us the league, I'll be a two faced bastard though, hey ho! 😄

24 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

All on loan, of course

That's quite depressing.

I smell shite.

Where's it from, there's a shed load of dreadful Rangers 'outlets' on social media that post any old shite for clicks.

Desailly and Boksic both in that Marseille team as well, both absolute class.

29 minutes ago, 26th of foot said:

eater of the boiled ham raw

Not to forget the wooden haddie

Aye, agreed. I took my father in law as a wee xmas present just after new year, stadium tour first, then the museum, absolutely superb value and the aul fella loved it. Tour guide was excellent, Billy was his name but I never caught his surname, sure I recognised him from somewhere.

Can't recommend it enough.

1 hour ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

I'd pay that 6 million for Sima tbh

Agreed.

3 minutes ago, Fa1833 said:

Is there even such players these days in the market who can stay injury free for that long? 

Of course there are, but injuries can happen to anyone, at any time.