super_carson

As unlikely as it is to happen, this could be ideal scenario for the club. They get to change the manager without sacking him, thus avoiding the "but we finished second..." argument while simultaneously saying that they couldn't stand in his way. Bullen gets to go move on to a club with more resources and a fan-base immediately onside due to his status and he is closer to his family. I would be very doubtful if it's true, but it might be in everyone's best interests if it was...

Rose took his goal well and definitely grew in confidence after that. I wonder if he is better suited to being a penalty box striker instead of leading the line alone, Dowds may well help with that. QP played some nice tiki-taka stuff on the edge of the box with lots of shifting the ball on to the opposite foot but we mostly held our defence shape well. Reading has looked far more comfortable than he did last year. He seems to have simplified his game a bit, just get rid of the threat rather than try to over think it. I went along in hope rather than expectation but I'm glad I did; five goals and three points will hopefully lift the team. I'm still not convinced Bullen is the man for the job but credit where credit is due, we were set up to expose QP's kamikaze high line and took our chances when they came.

I drove down from Edinburgh last week for that shambles, so at least it's not as far tonight. Plus, it gets me out of spending a Friday night doing DIY so there's always that to be thankful for.

Bullen has to go now. I know the main defence for him is about finishing 2nd last year but that feat was: a) achieved on the finest of margins that could have just as easily seen us finish 5th b) due to the sheer luck of having Dipo's quality more than any tactical masterclasses C) in the past. Previously you could have defended him with regards to recruitment but now we know he has an active involvement in it then that stops being a plausible argument for me. I also don't understand that whole "who else would you have?" arguement. You cannot continue to accept mediocrity due to a lack of alternatives of you want to be successful. I like Bullen as a person, he communicates well and he clearly tried his best but the lack of seethe at full time and exodus of fans is showing me that this will be an apathy that will only get harder to rectify the longer it goes on.

Scotland were not good enough. Red card being missed by the TMO that early in the game may have changed things and we are right to feel aggrieved about that, but the inaccuracy in lineout and an inability to change up the attack to break the rush defence was the biggest problem for me.

If Bullen thinks the solution is to just run harder then he's clearly not got a clue how to fix this. That's birthday caird pish that folk who once watched Any Given Sunday spout. I could go out and "run harder" but it wouldn't change the fact I've got feet like a toblerone.

The whole process needs to be critically looked at, I don't think Bullen is the sole problem but the tactics and decision making on the park is woeful. If he is emptied then it's going to be pointless if other things don't change. The only thing I could really offer in Bullen's defence is that he's been quite clear in the type of player he wants but so far it hasn't been delivered. We are signing players from the English non-league en-mass and bar one or two exceptions they either aren't up to the standard or they don't settle moving up here. I'm all for exploring other markets but at some point it needs to be questioned as to whether or not it's worth it.

An enlarged backroom staff is all fine and well if everyone is on the same page, but it really doesn't feel like they all are. Bullen has mentioned several times about what type of player he wants but it doesn't appear to have happened, so from that point of view I do have some sympathy for him. However, he's ultimately responsible for the tactics/style of play on the pitch and it's been pretty poor for a good while now. Surely even he must understand that he's not got long to try and turn it around?

Looking like something happening tonight?

Ruptured ACL is shite. Meniscus tear is less shite but still not great.

Is Robbo the new panda?

Surgery could be anything from an ingrown toenail to a full knee reconstruction so some context would have been handy...

Science.

Why is it that every time I see this thread as 'hot', it's because it's an absolute bin fire?

Problem is that it's highly unlikely Ayr received £250k from York upfront; usually these fees are paid in installments throughout the duration of the player's contract and can sometimes be dependent on things like appearances, goals etc. Even if they did receive the cash upfront, Dundee Utd will know that Ayr want Chalmers and have money from the sale of Dipo. Regardless of whether or not he is going to be part of their plans, Dundee Utd would likely use those facts to get a better fee out of Ayr. I like Chalmers, I think he had some magic moments in the short time he was here last season but I wouldn't necessarily be breaking the bank for him. I think his position is probably one of the ones where currently have the most options. I'd rather we brought in a new fullback(s) and a midfield b*****d if it came down to it.

Jesus lads, I've been out for the evening and came back to this mess. Never change Scottish football.

Could it be argued that Dipo achieved a comparable goalscoring record to Shankland with less support? Imagine Shankland and Dipo with prime Moff playing behind them....

Absolutely. People need to accept that, while the song is not racist in itself and is based on Scots use of the word 'black' and not ethnicity, there is a racist connotation with that phrase by modern standards. It's dated and some of our support need to understand that associations with words and phrases change over time. Unfortunately there is a mornic element in our support who probably continue to sing that particular line with gusto because they revel in the controversy of it.

Tomi was a massive player for us that season. The only reasonable criticism of him was that he possibly had more potential than he showed but there could be any number of reasons for that, most probably because most of the others around him were dugmeat. I don't like the way he left, it would have been much better if he had just said he was going straight away rather than the merry dance but that's just modern football. No point in getting hung up on someone who was here two seasons ago, much more interested in this year I'm glad to hear Amartey is coming on to a game, was a bit worried after Stirling but hopefully the adaptation to full time will suit him, and very excited to see Rose play. It's going to be hard for him to avoid comparisons to Dipo so people would do well to be patient if he gets off to a slow start. Definitely still need new full backs and perhaps a more creative option in midfield, but feeling better about the season ahead compared to a few weeks ago.

Also 4-6 months is an average ballpark number, some players will recover faster or slower than others. Depends on genetics and how diligent they are with rehab.

Think they have been since about 2016? Can't remember anyone other than Moff having 7 as their number though, so 'retiring' it is a bit more reasonable than it he has just been here for a couple of seasons. I think Birmingham did something like that when they sold Bellingham, so slightly different scenarios.

Future signings to be announced via a game of hangman using the back of the shirt.

Regardless of whether or not it's Greenidge, there must be a good few players down south looking at the success Dipo has had and be fancying a chance to come up to Scotland for a year or two to try and kick on. Hard bit is making sure their more Dipo than Gondoh.

I always thought a technical manager would be less about coaching and more logistical/admin?

Well, maybe we might have more luck with a formal international from a different country... All joking aside, he may well still do a job at this level but I'm very wary about these type of signings considering how they have worked out previously. If it's with a view to being a player/coach that might be different.