Coventry Saint

Outstanding news if we sign a winger, tbh, despite apparent strength across the middle of the park. I'd have Durmus as one the first names down every week, and I've got a feeling he's going to have a big season. But we may not be able to depend on McAllister and Flynn's fitness (not to mention Flynn is wasted out wide) and the jury is still firmly out on McGrath. The other consideration, of course, is whether Flynn is going to be pushed back to FB on a permanent basis, which I could well imagine happening as it would solve something of a selection headache in the middle of midfield.

I'm not sure the present participle is appropriate there pal.

Boooooooo!

This is the kind of content I think we're all looking for.

That beats my mate who knew what shirt letters we were ordering. Sadly he was made redundant.

I felt a version of Basket Case might work, too, and then realised the lyrics were already perfect: Do you have the time to listen to me whine About nothing and everything all at once? I am one of those Melodramatic fools Neurotic to the bone No doubt about it

Only today, I was mourning the fact that this thread was petering out and wouldn't reach the coveted 1,000-page mark that it clearly deserved. Then up steps the SFA and gets the meltdown into full swing again. Utterly glorious.

I hadn't realised the window hadn't opened, tbh. That's why we've not been making tonnes of ambitious signings.

Year to the day since we were given a wake-up call by Dunfermline in the LC. OK, we made a game of it in the end, but they ripped us apart in that first half. I was very surprised they didn't go on to have a better season than they did. When you look at that line-up, and that six/seven of them (Baird, Mack, Erhahon, McGinn, Mullen, Cooke, and arguably Andreu never became a guaranteed starter) struggled for game time last season and/or were bombed out altogether, I wonder if Jim made his mind up about many of them that day.

The biggest disappointment for me was the home cup game against Aberdeen. Thought we had shown we could take the game to a team at that approximate level vs Motherwell, but we were bitterly disappointing and really didn't lay a glove on Aberdeen at all.

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say - they're completely within their rights. However - and I realise winning the PR war makes no difference when it comes to arbitration - but Hearts have lost sympathy over and over again this spring/summer.

Nah, but claiming you're losing £8m on the one hand while still bidding cash for players on the other is bound to rankle slightly. Obviously rich people can claim for compensation too, but it doesn't really sit right with most folk.

If we have any potential superstar trialists, I hope they had unusually quiet games. Wouldn't fancy waving them under Jack Ross' nose.

So, we've got three defenders at the club for the kickabout at Hibs today? Assuming Flynn is a way off kicking a ball yet. Jim to pull the stripes back on?!

Most sensible observers noted on this very thread that it was a highly transparent ruse to get Hearts onside, with reconstruction absolutely doomed to failure from the get-go. Here is one such example:

Racking my brain to try to remember if there are any previous examples of them doing this.

Fingers crossed. I think he'd be a great signing.

Precisely, Hearts. And if the tables were turned you'd be telling Club 12 to get right to f**k, too. That's the problem with hypotheticals in a nutshell, really.

Aye like that small time club Arsenal Man Utd, Chelsea, Real Madrid... Utter diddies, IMO.

Apparently our friendly is going ahead. Great news: feels like a touch of normality. The great shame is the lack of fans. You can't beat hearing two sets of fans singing the same song

What I find weird is that I don't believe the fundamentals of the case are (or, should be) affected by anything that these clubs have to say.

I'll fight anyone who tells me this isn't peak entertainment!

I think that's true, but I also think the youngsters could potentially go out on loan if we manage to find more experience in those areas/have the budget for it. Ie they're providing squad cover in case nothing comes off beyond the main target areas. It's a sensible approach.

Doing better than Gregg Wylde is setting the bar about as low as it gets, tbf.

I won't lie: I utterly fucking LOVE the whole 'spot the unknown player' from the pre-season training session pics. It's a magic time of the year, and I'm not even being sarcastic.