Durnford

Its been a really strange start to the season, of several of the teams I've seem already, they still seem to be on holiday mode. Generally the overall standard has been that much lower than this time last season; several teams have been pretty poor compared to how I expected them to be. The one exception there was St. Mirren who were marginally better but that's only because I was measuring them on their performance this time last year. Going forward I think squad depth is going to be quite telling. Currently I feel we have one of the smallest squads in the league (with the possible exception of Hamilton) so keeping players fit and injury free will be really key. Obviously other sides that may have started quite poorly (e.g. Hearts and Hibs) won't have that restriction and, even if it did get to be a problem, have a fat wallet come the winter transfer window. At the moment I want us to get as many points on the board as possible to help cushion the impact of injuries later on.

Actually, looking at Ross County's upcoming fixtures, the St Mirren one is getting to be a must win one for them else they'll be dragged into the mire. Away to motherwell and Killie is going to be tough to come away with much (even allowing for Killie's less than impressive form of late).

Personally I'd doubt it but I've been wrong more times than I've been right about Livi transfers so who knows. His main contribution last season was in the Colts and reserves; this season he made a short appearance in the pre season friendly against Alloa and actually did pretty well. He'd put on weight and was a lot more physical than before hence the need to get him out for some quality game time to see if he continues to develop. I think he joined us from Falkirk at about the same time as Sibbald which probably means he joined shortly after Hopkins had left us but he would have seen the boy playing at Falkirk so presumably could make up his own mind. As far as Van Scheik was concerned he looked okay in the couple of minutes he came on in our draw against Celtic but he didn't make an appearance again for us. He went out on loan to Dunbarton but I believe the fans there weren't overly impressed. There are stories that he's been carrying a serious (career ending) injury for some time but I'm not sure how accurate that actually is or was.

Incidentally has anyone else noticed that the Friday Night Football on BBC Scotland seems like the Livingston Old Boys reunion. I think in the Morton v Partick game I counted eight ex-player (including one (two if you count Miller) managers) . At the ICT I think is was slightly less because Blues wasn't playing but still a pretty impressive turn out including the much travelled White; Donaldson and Toddy.

Recognise the name but otherwise cant remember anything about him. Three years ago? Were we in Division 1?

Hopkins is still remembers with great affection by the Crystal Palace faithful - I was drinking with one on Saturday night - an old School friend whom I hadn't seen for more than thirty years and e still remembers Hopkins and his time at Selhurst Park. Connection are very useful things; it gives you a greater chance of getting past the proverbial receptionist and actually managing to get to speak to someone with a bit more authority. Once through of course it doesn't mean your going to get a better deal than anyone else but least ways the club will have dozens of player who are probably not currently going to get a chance at even breaking into the reserves so who knows.

See Lawson's been on international duty with Togo apparently for the world cup qualifier with Comoros (I had to google that one - a group of three small islands in the Mozambique channel).

Almost certainly will win the August player of the month in my opinion. No chance he's moving unless for a bumper amount of money which I doubt Killie have at the moment.

Said we got them not that they were any good although I do recall one doing somersaults at Ibrox (Sekajja?) Pretty sure we had another one but I'm not sure if they ever made a proper appearance.

Both Souda and Stobbs can play as strikers although its a shame that we have Hamilton and De Vita out on loan at the moment. Not sure if our finances will stretch to taking anyone else in. Despite our recent success we haven't notices a particular uptake on ticket sates beyond the current norm of about 1500 - 1600 in the home end. True, we are likely to see a significant increase in away supporters travelling to our ground but we cant rely on that. St Mirren brought a respectable 850 travelling but expect the likes of Hamilton and Ross County to struggle; certainly unless they up their game. We've built our recently success on prudent financial planning and don't want to see that go; as such the only real option is a loan deal where the parent club continues to pay most of the players wages. With Hoppy in charge we managed a couple of those off Crystal Palace; not sure what contacts Holt has in that regards.

Think the squad is too small to allow player to leave at this late stage to be honest. Both Sibbald and Lawson will get their chance; replacing Pittman will only happen as a result of injury but all other midfield roles are up for the taking. Both upped their game last season and could do so again. We're obviously hoping Stobbs fitness will improve rapidly and we have the option to extend his loan if so but he seems too "route-one" for our creative midfield and will probably be up got one of the congested winger roles. Hamilton is out on loan until the winter but I'm not sure if he'd really fit in with the new look attack. Blues also showed some promise in the friendlies but again its too soon for him. I actually liked what I saw of Savane and Pepe but that was generally against lower league opposition; against premiership sides I suspect both with struggle at the moment unless they can really up their game to the speed of Scottish Premiership level. Playing three central defenders and two wing-backs might help to plug the gaps in the defence but at the cost of midfield. Later on in the season though it may become necessary as shortages start to bite.

I think you're missing my point Livi4Ever. I wasn't saying that we weren't much the weaker for the loss of Pittman and Jacobs; I fact I have trouble remembering a full league game when we haven't had at least one of them in the side. Robinson also was a loss particularly remembering the form he was in at Ross County before he had to go off. My point was about St Mirren and I though that they battled well and had far more joined up passed then any other team I've seen this season. I never liked Jim Goodwin as a player but I have to respect him as a manager in being one of those people who seems to be able to get that little bit extra out of players and his no-nonsense approach to defence will undoubtedly seem them clear this season. Sure, if they'd been up against the in-form Livi of last week they'd have been in for a far more torrid time; Pittman's bite particularly in attacking midfield would have tightened things right up but this is real football not fantasy football league when you can always pick your perfect team. St Mirren, or rather the St Mirren that came out in the second half, fought and battled far more and with far more determination that the St Mirren of 2018/19. Of course I'm only really basing this on one viewing of a team that could conceivably turn out to be another Jekyll and Hyde outfit but I dont think Jim Goodwin will allow that to happen.

Even allowing for us missing some key people I don't think there can be any doubt that they've been one of the best sides we've faced this year. Assuming that they possess the depth in squad, and Jim Goodwin continues as their manager, they should be relatively comfortable this year. I agree with the comment about complacency but looking at some of the other side's performances there are going to e several sides below County; at least until the winter break an possibly new spending given to those struggling.

Not only the team but also the bench - looks like an attacking first half and replacements defenders to come on in the second.

And why are you tasting the players "water"?

I blame Boris..... Actually I do

Indeed - current league positions stand. RESULT! Apologies to Killie...

Incidentally if the game gets to the last 10 minutes, and we're winning by 1-nil, I recommend we prorogue the game for nine minutes. They'll be plenty of time after the end to finish the game in an orderly manner.

Joking aside have you seen Bury's pitch? Its a tattie field.

Nice piece; thanks

Sounds like a career-ender if this is correct. A real shame for someone so young

That's a shame - he looked okay for the five minutes he appeared against Celtic (his only appearance for our first team) but spent pretty much the rest of the season on loan to Dumbarton who gave some very mixed reviews. As far as fee was concerned I imagine it was barely sufficient to cover the legal fees of the registration by the way the club were talking. Seem to recall his original reason for leaving his club in Holland (I think) was that he wasn't getting much assured first team action. Maybe this wasn't entirely unforeseen. He's young; maybe setting his sights lower will enable him to settle.

My overriding hope for the day is I dont have to face another couple of dozen of the scrotes at Livi South Station singing "A win away; A win away; A win Away; A win away" to the tune of "A lion sleeps tonight". It gets really grating after the first couple of minutes let alone the half hour it takes to travel into Edinburgh. "A loss away" would have sounded far better.

Lawson worries me a bit; there's undoubtedly a great player in there but he does seem to need a couple of games to get fully up-to-speed. Personally I don't think he's going to get that luxury this season with so much competition for starting places. Sibbald also must be champing at the bit to get a game. On the other games where he's come on he's done okay; it just goes to show that, under the current squad, "okay" isn't good enough. Of course this could all change once the winter injuries start to mount up.

Excuse me but I change my mind regularly over that - several of the players are so closely matched it really starts to come down to things like fitness and injury prone. Of course my opinion tomorrow could be completely different.