Coventry Saint

Have you got a link to those comments at all? I was briefly in a Twitter debate with someone losing their shit over a friendly result, in which I made that exact point about strenuous training. I've always got to have the last word so would be good to dive back to that.

Fair questions. I have to preface this with the fact that I've not seen any of pre-season yet. Re the balance, I'll admit that's more of a hunch, and it may just be concern based on seeing more squad churn than we were perhaps expecting. I think we've had to go off-plan to build the defence out and, while the caveats about Robinson's excellent transfer record still apply, it's tough to see at the moment what our ideal defensive line-up will be. But that will be sorted and I'm sure it'll be fine. In terms of the width, that is a legit concern and one that is a slight hangover from last season. Assuming we stick with the 5-2-3, two of our first choice wider players in Kiltie and McMenamin are injured. Kiltie hopefully not for too long, but Conor is out for a while and it's a tricky injury to overcome. I remember it effectively retired Owen Hargreaves. Fingers crossed the surgery is a success. As you said, we've still got Tanser, and in a ideal world Rooney will do what we all saw him do at St Johnstone at RWB. But up top is a worry. Robbo has talked about playing with 'two 10s' - which gives me the fear because that's what England did and they were dogshit. I'm not a fan of inside-out wide players and I'd like to see us play with two wide forwards on their correct side, especially on the right where it'd take pressure off Rooney to do what peak Strain was doing. In Mandron we have a player who would thrive on whipped crosses and I want to see more of that. Again, as you've said, Sutherland might be an option here. I would love to see Sutherland playing in front of Tanser. I think it could be a low-risk way of integrating him into the first team without potentially exposing any defensive frailties. A starting front three of Sutherland, Mandron and Olusanya (from left to right) would be dynamic and terrifying. I suspect Idowu will be getting the nod instead of Sutherland, which is probably fair based on pre-season appearances. Don't get me wrong, I'm not being doom and gloom, I just think the combination of players moving on unexpectedly, and a couple of injuries to two of our absolute standout players from last season, has left us weaker and less balanced.

It's the big frontal lobe hamstring that affects decision-making and impulse control.

Decent summary. I'm worried about squad balance, and a lack of width in the team. Absolutely trust Robbo still, of course, but think we are in for a tougher season this year.

You say that, but have you read all the chat about ticket allocations and ballots?

Nah, it's true. Injured in a landslide.

This. The only people who should be worrying about results at this time of year are Dundee United and Morton fans.

Necessary negativity only, lads.

Not sure what our Ultras will do tbh. Those guys in the picture have already had their drum nicked.

Wonder if there's any chance of a stream of the game. Would definitely like to watch it.

Aye, it's based on quotes from Imrie. He's entitled to try and talk his team up. Will be interesting to see if they do anything this season. Should be a fairly weak Championship with no obvious 'big' team for the first time in a long time, so they should be looking to mount a proper challenge IMO.

That's a fucking big-name signing.

He's fucking shit and we really should be aiming for better. Get Robbo chased.

Fucking hell I might actually. Not the garden bit.

I can sort of see why they've changed their arm with the higher ticket price... Make more from the people who will 100% go rather than risk a low attendance at a lower price point. (Edit: I don't agree with it, but can see why they've tried it.) I don't think any of us are fans of the derby being cheapened by it being made a friendly, tbh. BUT it does make sense for us and our preparations: we need to get up to speed and quickly. Playing a team that will be properly trying to beat us, on a grass surface, will help a lot with finding some edge and fitness.

It's all good: I was doing a very obscure film reference

Sick of always being linked with The Usual Suspects.

That's a shite excuse. A lack of hands never stopped Jack Hamilton getting a game for Dundee, did it?

Fucking hell, if I've just posted something that *you* find boring it might be time to leave P&B forever.

Was going to say something about brown rhyming with down, but Encycolorpedia says it's 'a dark shade of pink-red'. So you'll have to settle for something about being marooned at the bottom or something like that. https://encycolorpedia.com/591e1f (It does list some 'closely related' colours, one of which is 'chocolate cosmos', which sounds like a bumhole euphemism if ever I've heard one.)

Yeah, we have every position pretty much covered and our scouting network is clearly better now. We don't need to splash out on taking some total unknown to Spain.

Fully away or staying as a coach? I did wonder if S McGinn's arrival was linked to Flynn perhaps knocking back a youth coaching position.

And our first choice midfield hasn't changed vs the end of the season. Obviously Baccus was either injured or out of favour, ad Kwon was injured, but CBM and O'Hara were undeniably our first choices. Will be interesting to see how the new lads fit in around that.