Sweet Pete

My step-brother and his partner were visiting us over Christmas before going home to Tenerife, where they live and work. She made several comments about going home to Spain and it transpired that she was seemingly unaware that Tenerife is an island off the North African coast. Because it's a Spanish dependency, she just thought it was part of Spain, despite it being nowhere near Spain and despite the fact that she lives there.

Pretty much retired since I had a wean and Clarko got a new job. Need to leave the violence up to you young lot now.

Pro tip: don't get drunk on a week day during business hours.

Sons have a training game against Motherwell tonight.

Going by McNiff's comments on Facebook, I think he's been told he can find a new club.

They'll really feel it when the blockade kicks in and you can't get Black Crowdie cheese in Tel Aviv for love or money.

I'd be astounded if there wasn't already plenty of background work on-going for some time to line up a replacement for Aaron Barry in the event that we were unable to keep him.

Our intrepid Sons reporter for the Lennox is no longer with them. He does, however, keep his usual sterling standard of Dumbarton FC reporting up with his excellent blog, The Dumbarton Terrace.

It's wages day and the Christmas bonuses are in as well. Works night out is tonight and I was thinking of swerving it due to the weather, but I definitely need to show face now. Hard enough for me to get out of the night out as management are obliged to attend, but I can hardly complain about going now.

Got to love the building industry

They're recyclable though, and are themselves recycled. Not that it matters though, if you're thirstly, have several cones at one time.

Absolutely. But there's also economics to consider; paper cones are cheaper and hold less water, saving money on water subscription, cups and potentially ruined equipment from spillages.

That's precisely why they do it, so you cant stand them on your desk.

And the taxpayers of Fife get shafted once again. And the taxpayers of everywhere get shafted once again. We're getting a new house? That's the kind of thing I'd have expected you to have told me.

Just tomorrow and Monday to go and then I've got two weeks off for the Christmas shutdown.

I'm currently hovering over the "confirm purchase" button on a tattoo equipment order, trying to decide whether I really want to buy my own gun and inks.

It baffles me that Scott Smith has come back for pre-season in bad shape. He was a mainstay last season as soon as he signed and put in enough good performances that I was chuffed when he left Hibs and joined us properly. Seems bizarre that he would then rejoin us in poor physical condition. Very strange.

I don't remember him having much pace. He skinned the Brechin and Airdrie defences, but that's because the Brechin and Airdrie defences were laughably pish, not because he was particularly quick.

All good points. It's also worth noting that the various players we're discussing here are all fairly versatile, so there's no reason why we should be stuck to a particular formation or team selection as all of McDougall, Gilhaney, Kirkpatrick, Megginson and Fleming can play pretty much anywhere from middle to front. That, combined with the relatively poor form of Smith and Nish, makes it a no-brainer for me that Prunty should be starting at centre forward with the likes of Fleming, Megginson, Gilhaney, McDougall and Kirkpatrick playing wide of him or in behind him. Prunty tried hard when played deeper, but he's not a midfielder and is of more use to us up top. Edit to add: Having Agnew back partnering Turner in the middle of the park would also go a big way to getting us back on form as those two compliment each other well and there's not really any doubt that they are our recognised first choice midfield pairing and the likes of Murray, Kirkpatrick and the invisible man (Phinn) need to find a way to wrk themselves into the midfield around Agnew and Turner once Agnew is fit again, whenever that may be.

Admittedly I haven't been at our most recent few games, but I've been impressed every time I've seen Megginson so far this season. For me he gives us pace, trickery and skill that is a novelty to see in a striker at this level and I suspect that's why he's been given more of a free or wide role than the typical centre forward position. I do feel that Smith and particularly Nish haven't lived up to their early billing though and I'd have no problem seeing Megginson, Prunty and Fleming take the starting positions up front and out wide / attacking mid and moving those two on with McKerracher providing cover from the bench, though as Nish is also coaching I can't see that happening.

I don't have anything to add to the conversation, except that everytime I read this bigot's username I want to smash his skull with a brick.

Glad to see Kenny is back in the game.

Loved Finnie when he was on loan with us two seasons ago and thought he looked a really natural talent in the full-back/wing-back/winger role. Surprised he never really got into Hamilton's first team consistently. Would be happy for him to come into training so that Murray could get a look at him. Not convinced McShane could be much use at this level. I wouldn't be against us moving Nish, Smith and McDougall on next month and looking to tie Barry down for the rest of the season and get another centre forward signed and maybe another defender if at all possible.

Obviously desperate to catch last orders.