TFW

Sensible decision.

Are you sane?

We had Alan McCluckie at left back last night, and he's due a bus pass in the not too distant future. We had two fit subs last night, one of whom was the goalkeeping coach.

Again, it harks back to what I have said numerous times before in that things are cyclical with successful teams. There's no doubt that in the noughties the East were the dominant region, likewise this last decade it's been teams from the West, and especially Talbot. The fact that nobody from the East has won since 2009-10 is significant. I miss the teams from the East as we always had good days out whever we went, but the fact that they don't compete en masse now hasn't diminished the quality of the Cup, just lessened the amount of teams in it.

Missing last night were Gordon Pope, Craig McCracken, Willie Lyle in defence; Gareth Armstrong, Kieran Healy in midfield (Stephen Wilson played the last 5 minutes despite not being fit) and Mark Shamkland and Graham Wilson missing up front. Samson went off suffering after scoring. These aren't bit part players. Healy apart they're all Super League winners and Junior Cup winners.

That's crap, and you know it is. The prestige hasn't gone, it's the Eastern Juniors who've gone from it and they'd offered precious little in the last decade.

Considerably more than the home support. Great turn out for what was basically a nothing match.

Could be a struggle for the game to be played should we lose any more players.

You want an onion pie flying out Jim?

The whole BREXIT shite was refreshing by comparison to this.

No.......it's too much to digest Jim. Some interesting points raised, and some surreal ones re the biccies. I note that the number of cases in the UK trebled overnight on Saturday, including the one in Scotland. It would only take a few days of the above happening for squeaky bu, time to appear. Apparently a lot of stores are currently already out of hand gel and facemasks. Good to see the British resolve kicking in. Sorry that should read panic buying....

I see that there is talk already of looking at postponing games where there is an expected crowd of more than a thousand. That being the case, there is the opportunity for the non league game up here to carry on, unless there's a blanket ban throughout the UK. That would have an obvious impact of Cup Finals, League positions - especially titles and relegation - that would need to be somehow managed, especially with potential Scottish Cup places up for grabs next season, and in a wider context promotion to and from the Lowland League and the SPFL. I really don't suppose there's any contingency plans in place, given it's a recent phenomena that is rapidly developing, but I think it will make interesting reading to see what the various administrations come up with? Thoughts, anyone?

Bless you my child.

All the rain'll run off the bottom of the hill.

Eggs Benedict tomorrow?

Kello Rovers FB site saying Bellsdale looks eminently playable. Think there could be a big crowd there if the other ties don't make it.

9am. Trouble is there's torrential stuff due after it according to the BBC weather site!

Was up at Beechwood this morning and although the ground was being worked on when I got there at 8.45am I can not see it being on. It's a sponge.

I know when Talbot played at both Dundonald and Camelon this year, both gates were very good and that wasn't purely down to the travelling support although it was considerable. Do these two gates still remain their highest this season? If Bo'ness were to play either at the end of the season would they bring sufficient numbers to beat the Talbot crowds if promotion depended on it? How do other clubs Scottish Cup gates compare to their league ones, as I assume the novelty of being in said Cup does bring out the fans rather more than it does for the league?

It's an amazing amount of work put in by these clubs to get their licence, o very well done to everyone concerned. We've had our own floodlighting to sort out at Beechwood, and are hopeful everything will be ready in the not too distant future. The fundraising was amazing, especially from our fans, hence the appreciation of other's efforts. I simply can not wait to see our first game under floodlights when it does happen.

The original post was about league form, that's why I didn't mention the Junior Cup. We had a fairly decent record in it between 1986 and 1992 as well though? As I said, these things are cyclical, and it was another 15 years before we won it again.

The table doesn't lie. When Pollok won four out of the five first Super League titles they were generally applauded for their efforts. When Irvine Meadow spent heavily to ge their three titles there was a lot of resentment, and catcalling of Talbot from their fans who accused us of being "only a cup team" because we couldn't win the Super League, having had only the one success in 2006. This League is an old one though as it doesn't include last season's win. These things are cyclical, but because we've had five recent successes we are now too good for the existing grade? We've only won one more title in the current run than Pollok did in their heyday and there were no calls then saying similar about them.

I think we've expressed a wish to be participating in it....

Re Berwick, they're definitely struggling. Sixth from bottom having won 6 drawn 6 and lost 12 of their 24 league games thus far.

Just as a matter of interest....are there any other clubs currently in the EoSL and / or LL that are spending disproportionate amounts of money in trying to secure promotion? Kelty are the obvious ones, Fergie certainly won't come cheap, and I understand East Stirling had a "war chest" this season as well. I realise we couldn't get into any kind of situation whereby there would be a Financial Fair Play set up, so what do folk feel the likelihood is, in the not too distant future of clubs not just scrambling to join the Pyramid set up, but then putting themselves at financial risk by trying to fast track promotion? Any other clubs currently in the pyramid set up spending more on players than they ever did before?