Coventry Saint

I wonder if their lawyers are still "watching"... fucking clowns.

Successful Business Hag Ann Budge's behaviour over the last months is deserving of a very different kind of necklacing. Pearl?

No gender was implied, so I'm going to report you for misogyny.

I suspect it's going to be a tough one for Hearts to swallow.

The correct question is: Are Hearts still down yet?

Just a placeholder article. They'll have one with the opposite news on, too - it's just that they've accidentally made this version live, and once the metadata pulls through, it tends to stay there for a while. Obviously that is all irrelevant to the JKB conspiracy melters and flat-earthers who will see this as proof of khdlhvdskdsfj;a....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Based on today's development, I literally see no reason why it can't be on.

It's understandable that the process is prone to human error at some point. The whole thing - not just @ SMFC - is relying on non medical experts to carry out large batches of tests and, apparently, get them couriered to England. The good news is that we are erring on the side of caution and, as a club, clearly acted correctly in response to the (false) outbreak.

St AyingUp

St Mirren squad isolating as a precaution after several positive Covid tests among backroom staff. WhY cOuLDn'T THeY fINiSH tHe SeASoN.

That's shite. But it's also the testing system doing its job. Here's hoping they've contained it, that everyone who's got it is safe, and that no players develop it so the games can still start.

I'm not sure if the five subs thing is going to offer the advantage people think it will. When you watch any friendly match, sides always lose their way and shape when they make too many subs. Also, look how often teams go without making the full three subs they're currently able to. Could be wrong, of course - I guess we'll wait and see. And I agree with the rest of your post.

I'd agree that's probably our most likely starting XI if we were playing a game this evening. Big season for McGrath, tbh. Not every player is going to hit the ground running, and I'm prepared to give him some time, but he should be settled in now. As has been discussed a million fucking times, we need goals from beyond Obika: McGrath, Durmus and McAllister have got big chances to claim those positions in the bank of three behind the big man. But they need to chip in more. That might be harsh in Ilkay, tbf, and I think he's definitely on for at least seven goals this season.

You're not far off, though Flynn did his cruciate as well and won't be back for a bit. If we can find a left back, we'll switch Tait to the right. I also suspect Morias would start on the bench in favour of an extra midfielder - probably Cammy McPherson. That's quite a negative middle three but Gus McPherson's transfer strategies loom large over our squad. There is talk of us going 3-5-2 but that'd be crazy against Livingston, IMO, and also we don't have any wingbacks available at all. It would totally strangle Durmus to do that to him.

Are Hearts still relegated yet?

I like that Accies home top. Crisp, unfussy. The way shirts should be.

And McGarry was really a midfielder...

Turns out they really were just getting warmed up, embarrassment-wise.

Sorry mate. Slacking.

I think all of that is spot-on. With a left-back in place, we have a decent-looking first XI with a fair amount of experience at this level. It's the defensive depth that is most concerning, especially while Flynn is still out. I wonder if we'll end up going down the loan route for a striker. I think we'll see a lot of clubs - all countries, all levels - sticking rather than twisting with their squads this summer, and picking up surplus players on loan might end up being the best route. As you said, everyone will want to be assessing what they've got first. Then again, Jim was talking up Morias the other day... maybe he'll click this season. Stranger things have happened.

I honestly don't think we will, but you know how it goes on P&B: chief exec makes bold/ridiculous prediction; fans of club rise to that by ironically claiming it will come to pass; it gathers momentum; we scrape 10th place; everyone takes the piss and spends whole of next season claiming all Saints fans were 100% convinced we'd finish 4th. It's the circle of life and I'm happy to play my part.

Far too early, etc etc. 1. Celtic 2. Sevco 3. Aberdeen 4. Motherwell 5. Hibs 6. St Mirren 7. Livi 8. St Johnstone 9. Dundee United 10. Killie 11. Accies 12. County

Thanks for ruining my excitement.