Piehutt

Could be a long time before we get an opportunity like that to get to a Scottish Cup Semi. While I don't agree with Imrie that we should have been in the hat, Hearts were the better side on the night, we certainly competed very well and created 3 really decent chances at 0-0. I think it's fair to say the Morton players were out on their feet at the end and knew we had zero chance in ET. Hence we rolled the dice a bit and committed extra men forward. Hearts should have scored twice before they did - albeit I think there was an element of fortune about their goal as Shankland didn't mean to lay it off to Vargas and didn't even know he was there. Still - got to be very satisfied with the performance and in getting through the previous rounds. Thought Imrie played it well with the 3 centre backs and everyone put in a shift to stay in the contest as long as possible. Good luck to Hearts and fantastic to see so many travelling supporters in the stadium.

As a Morton fan, I agree with a lot of what you've said. Problem is the biggest single source of revenue (Prem TV deal) is dependent on having 4 OF games so the reality is there is virtually no chance of a change in the current format. That said, I don't think it's a game changer to have a bigger league in terms of crowds and interest. I don't share the view that many seem to have that playing Motherwell or Kilmarnock twice a season is going to suddenly increase the attendance for that game and that fans get bored playing the seam team 4 times. Bigger issue is that the media in Scotland (& even a lot of the clubs) do such a horrendous job of marketing or promoting any team or game other than those involving Rangers of Celtic. As a neutral regarding the Premiership teams, you very quickly lose sight of the Prem teams and it's tough to maintain a passing interest in Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs etc. as so few of their games are televised and you don't know the players or the dynamic. Sky are primarily to blame as they really only televise Rangers or Celtic away from home and don't even bother with Edinburgh Derbies half the time. If Sky can broadcast Burnley v Nottingham Forest on a Friday Night, they can surely do a better job of telling the story about the other Scottish teams and actually have a strategy to build the audience through decent marketing and coverage. Personally think clubs (outside the OF) must embrace streaming of all games in order to build the audience pool. Appreciate the argument that fans will stay at home and watch on their ipad, but most match going fans will still turn up to the games. And what you do then is build up a larger fan base of armchair fans who become engaged with the team, the players etc. And actually end up attending a few games.

Interesting that Thistle interview with Scott Robinson on twitter, suggests that our disallowed goal at 0-0 was onside. Frustrating as the linesman gave it straight away and was in no doubt.

Ref's really make a rod for their own back by refusing to book players early and generally having a very high bar for red cards or 2nd yellows. By the end he was throwing yellow cards about like confetti yet I think someone could have been put in hospital and the assailant not seen red. That aside, enjoyed the game and atmosphere. I do think a draw was fair. Despite Morton probably having the balance of play & chances, & could / should have been 2-0 up, Thistle were denied a clear penalty in the 1st half and had plenty of other chances with Broadfoot letting multiple through balls bounce and turn into a 50 / 50.

Lack of turnstiles are a problem and a solution or stop gap is desperately needed. I'm sure at no point was 'just opening the gates' considered but we must give the stewards options on the day to improve speed of entry and increase flow at peak times. Incidentally, I noticed the main stand turnstiles had basically no queue. 4 turnstiles for main stand, 4 for Cowshed and I assume 4 for away end. Clearly this is inadequate for the Cowshed area that will house twice or three times the number of fans at most games. Would be interested to know if the original turnstiles are still in behind the cladding and could be opened up and used for bigger games with an operative and handheld scanner. May be a cost effective and workable solution as I'm guessing it would be many thousands for another unit of 4 electronic turnstiles, which lets be honest will barely be required for many games. Other options - allow season ticket holders in via main stand (possibly 5 at a time and walk them into Sinclair Street). Slight H&S risk, but v minimal and surely manageable, even for bigger games. Could possibly also use WDE turnstiles for home fans and have all away fans enter via main stand. Again - not a long term solution but may be an option for a league game where smaller away support is expected. Ultimately there aren't many solutions that don't involve more turnstiles & likely spending thousands. But I could see a crucial league game or playoff leg being 10x worse than yesterday.

On the subject of refereeing, I think we have a growing problem that is getting worse. (apologies for the long post) Now this may well be a problem that hasn't really gotten that much worse but is exacerbated by VAR and more and more cameras at games (especially lower league games). I don't know if this is the case, and in any event - surely we should still aspire to improve things. I think on the whole, referees are reasonably well paid and I'd question if increasing the pay or having professional refs would be much of a game changer. I believe £850 plus expenses for a Premiership game seems like a decent 'side hustle' for most people. I believe the issue is not having enough people in the pool of potential referees and so even the best ones aren't that great with v little depth below the top league. Certainly that's an issue that could be controlled at a Scottish level - issues with laws and VAR aside. My understanding is that most of the top officials in Scotland are fast tracked from a relatively young age and will become grade 1 referees at about the age of 30, setting themselves up for c.10 years at the top of the game. Not sure why or when this was decided as the best approach however I'd guess there are a few reasons; 1. serving your 'apprenticeship' doing 5 or 10 years of non-league and lowland league is probably very unappealing & is surely a tour of duty reserved for community heroes and masochists. 2. they probably don't have enough referees (esp. under 30) to have such a buffer of dozens of potential grade 1 refs doing a real apprenticeship and possibly getting disillusioned with the abuse and threats of violence for a modest reward. 3. they also don't want people getting to grade 1 in their late 30s and only having 2 or 3 years in the top league, leading to additional churn at the top of the game. I can understand the reasons for that, but at least we should have some guys working their way up and becoming top officials later in life, even if it's only for a few years. I'm of the view, if you can pass the fitness test you can be a ref regardless of age. No doubt plenty could continue into their 50s if they kept in shape. Other more general issues 1. A culture among players, coaches and fans at all levels to shout / scream and abuse the ref even if a throw-in goes against them. This is something that is clearly unacceptable yet we allow to happen, spurred on by players / coaches at the top level as well as pundits who pick apart refereeing decisions every week. It must take a certain type of mentality to actually WANT to be a referee, which goes far beyond a love of the game. 2. Absolutely zero former players ever going into refereeing that I can see or remember. This may be down to the age restrictions on new entrants to the role (& isn't a problem unique to Scotland) but it seems that it's an untapped pool of potentially decent referees who know the game and could do a good job (& earn a few hundred a week into the bargain). 3. VAR - narrative suggests that grade 1 refs have been 'used up' due to the need for additional VAR officials in Prem games and this has led to poorer standard of onfield officials (especially at lower league games). Why not have older or injured refs brought in as VAR studio people? Potential solutions 1. greater penalties for dissent either through new rules or consistent enforcement of existing rules. (remember we used to have a fair play table and potential European qualification) 2. encourage older people and former players to be referees at a later stage and promote the ones who perform well and pass the fitness tests 3. allow retired or injured officials to be VAR officials (at least as a stop gap until there is a bigger pool of officials for all games) Sorry for the long post, but just seems we are sleepwalking to a very obvious issue of a smaller and smaller pool of decent referees and I doubt if there is really anything pro-active being done about it.

fair enough. But presumably getting the player on a discount compared to what he might cost on football basis alone.

absolutely and that becomes a different issue as to whether it is worth it for Raith to sign him and make him a high profile employee (which he wouldn't be in other professions). Probably getting a PL quality player on lower level Championship money. Is it worth it? I think it's fair to say it hasn't been worth it and I assume Raith are looking at how they can roll this back to get fans and sponsors back onside and not break any employment or contractual laws. No doubt they will be eating the salary for an extended period.

I'm sure that's been covered in the Morton thread. And was part of the reason I was interested in this today. You either believe in rehabilitation or you don't. Both point of views valid, but I don't think it's valid to say, of course someone can be rehabilitated as long as he doesn't work there or over there, or near me. Of course people with certain convictions won't be working with children or vulnerable people. But where do you draw the line if they can't work in football or can't work at a club that is at a certain level? This point of view doesn't stand up to scrutiny in my view as there is always a line from what you might deem acceptable to what is deemed unacceptable . So as for Goodwillie or Lithgow or Griffiths... he takes a job at B&Q or delivering for Amazon. Is that ok? What if it was your local B&Q that your sister works at, or he was delivering to your house?

Don't disagree, but just making the point there will be other cases and other incidents that people take a different view on, and if you draw a line with Goodwillie, you surely have to draw a line with other cases. A lot of crime will have a devastating impact on people's lives and I'm sure people will have been hired and played for all of our clubs over the years with criminal records, cases that don't get to court but would if the victims were able to take it to a civil court.

but violent assault ok then?

Think it's fair to say this decision has backfired massively on Raith and they have lost all control of the story. I also think they are legally hamstrung from saying very much. As the players employers, they have a duty to act in his interests, so I'm sure couldn't release a statement referring to the civil case found against him. I personally believe in rehabilitation and if you do, you can't really take the view that 'as long as it's not in my club, my sport, my league, something I care about' etc. Without speaking with the player it is tricky to know if he is remorseful or if he is worthy of rehabilitation. I'm not aware of any statement he has made to that end. My guess is Raith may well have to place the player on garden leave. Other point - I'm sure plenty of clubs have hired people with criminal convictions, burglary, assault etc. Be they players or staff. But suddenly there is a huge red line drawn at this? There seemed to be a fair bit of support for David Martindale, for example, who did jail time for organised crime and money laundering. Who knows what impact his actions would have had on people's lives, and what else may have happened that he wasn't convicted of.

Very even game in fairness, a draw certainly a fair result on the balance of chances. 2nd half was very fractured with not much decent play from either side. Then it all came alive in the last 5 minutes as both teams were going for it. I didn't actually know when watching the game that ET wasn't going to take place. I assume this was back in place again, but very glad it wasn't. Anyway, I'd expect that is as much 'magic of the cup' I will see this year. Would be amazed if we get anything out of an away game at Motherwell.

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Reasonably pleased with Morton's play up until 0-1. Had our fair share of chances and moved the ball reasonably well. Killie play in final 3rd was clear difference between the sides. In truth, Killie fairly comfortable throughout the 2nd half with a 2 goal cushion and happy to sit and press effectively when we were in possession. Goals change games, but we didn't take any of 3 or 4 decent chances that would have given us at least a say in this game.

Have to say, not hopeful of getting through. Hopefully we can squeeze past Arbroath... but just don't see where the goals are coming from to get through 2 rounds of 2 leg ties. At least we have been reasonably robust at the back... perhaps the players and coaching staff will see that now is the time to roll the dice and take a few chances going forward. Not seen a lot of Muirhead in the games I've managed to watch, but he has to be a better option than Orsi. Amazed he didn't get 30 mins at Arbroath.

As a Morton fan, we have been very poorly run of late and it has finally cost us on the pitch. Fortunately a new dawn is breaking, even if we are in League One next year. But we only have to take a look up the M80 to see what misplaced ambition and short termism can do for a club. Falkirk's saving grace is that they still get very decent crowds, so I'd hope they aren't in any serious financial straits that can't be managed by a bit of belt tightening... but my word... on the park it is a shambles.

Willie Rennie is a competent politician doing a job that has no expectation levels. Hold what you've got, + or - 1 seat and he'll be ok. Ultimately that's his game plan. I actually think you take the constitution off the table and a lot of Scottish voters would align with the Lib Dems in terms of being socially liberal, economically moderately centre-left and generally internationalist. However despite being Liberal and Democratic... they don't seem to care that a majority of Scottish MSPs want a referendum, want us to be in the EU and don't want us to have nuclear weapons. But these choices are foisted upon us and they are just fine with that.

While it is possible that the Alba party could 'game' the system by fielding list only candidates and appeal to independence / SNP voters I actually think there is a bigger risk of missing an SNP majority. The list system is supposed to allow parties to win seats who have a good core of support across the region / country, but not sufficient to win FPTP seats. That being the case if the SNP get 50% of the constituency vote any 'list' votes would enable their candidates on the list to 'top up' in any areas they don't already have 50% of the seats (FPTP & List). With tactical voting against the SNP (which is completely legitimate of course) it is likely the SNP could still lose a number of seats they are forecast to win on 50% of the vote; East Lothian, Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Southern, Dumbarton, Aberdeen West, Galloway & West Dumfries, Ayr etc. being these seats where the SNP would be at risk of tactical voting despite current forecasts showing them winning due to increasing their 2016 vote share. This being the case, it is actually going to be v difficult for them to win a majority on the constituencies alone... without a few top up seats in Lothian, South and Highlands & Islands regions., imo. 2011 was a perfect storm of SNP winning constituency seats, but by no means sweeping the board and consequently SNP support feeling motivated to vote SNP on the list. 9 years on, I think it's probably ok for SNP voters to switch their list vote in Glasgow, West & Central regions... but in other areas the SNP list vote could be v important.

If we get Hopkin, then ultimately that will be a good outcome. And possibly we will get some kind of compensation for McKinnon and so can pay him a decent wage. However, agree about this being short term. But I'm sure, if Hopkin signs till the end of the season, he will see out the season. Ultimately if he get us anywhere close to getting promotion then likely he will definitely be off to bigger things. Although does seem strange that he didn't take on any job over the summer. You wonder what he's waiting for. Appreciate just jumping into any managerial merry go round down south is probably a poor strategy (see McInnes at Bristol, Levein at Leicester, Lennon at Bolton, a load of guys at Middlesborough).

This could definitely work out. Obviously Dundee Utd didn't work out, but they have arguably got worse since he left - albeit Lazlo probably the wrong appointment. Not convinced it is better than Duff, or so much better that it is worth the risk of getting rid of a decent manager. Also not convinced that our budget is actually going to give us a realistic chance of getting promoted, or even getting in the playoff mix.

I would agree with this. Perhaps in the case of Clarke, Killie had a decent squad being mis-managed and Clarke has just steadied the ship and after a few results, an immense amount of belief has been realised leading to so many points being picked up. It may just be a perfect storm. (possibly not unlike Jack Ross taking over from Alex Rae's shambles of a managerial style). However, I do think Clarke is a very able coach and Killie will do very well to hold onto him for any length of time. Also remember many guys get jobs in the EPL based on playing career or links with that club... not necessarily anything they've done previously as a manager. In the case of St Mirren next season, avoiding a bad manager is far more important than getting a great manager in (stating the obvious, but really 'avoid a gamble' is more the point). Some times things just develop and things fit in nicely, other times the right appointment does no better than OK (which would probably keep St Mirren up). This kind of rationale is also why I think it is bonkers that some clubs get shot of managers who have proven themselves successful at that club, after half a dozen bad games. Imagine if Burnley had gotten rid of Dyche when they got relegated? They knew he was a good manager, had given them success before and put their faith in him. Now they will be in the European draw in a few weeks. I'm not convinced by Lambert as a manager, but the guy isn't a dud and there is a bit to be gained by dropping down a level. If his attitude is right and he can find a few players, then he could easily be a success in the Premiership (Scotland). In the EPL, there's no hiding place. Every club has money to spend, experienced coaches, scouts, a bit of depth etc. So if you take over the wrong club at the wrong time, it can be very difficult to pick up points. Lambert took over Stoke - who were pretty much doomed - and made a decent fist of it . Unlucky in games against Chelsea and Liverpool (IIRC) not to get wins - ended up losing both games.

I know it is important to get the correct managerial appointment, but now becoming a little concerned about the time being taken here. I would imagine a 'plan A' has not materialised and perhaps we are now looking at other options. Pre-season is probably less than 3 weeks away and we have obviously not been able to offer any contracts to last seasons out of contract players, nor anyone else who might have been available but now been given deals elsewhere.

Fine margins indeed, but margins that Hopkin and Livvy were on the right side of. Again, in the playoffs, they got the job done against two teams with bigger budgets, bigger squads and more experienced managers. Previous season, he won the league comfortably.

Hopkin would be the best appointment we could make imo. And a real coup for the club and Crawford. Has ties with the club, very successful season with Livingston and his stock his high. Would certainly be an upgrade from Duffy. Not at all bothered with style of football. We've watched enough teams over the years to know that winning games is going to be far more important to getting folk through the gates. Clearly it doesn't guarantee success and unfortunately if we were successful, its likely he would be off to a bigger club with a bigger budget soon after.