ShakehandsTom - DFC

Apologies, I actually can't make it on Monday. I do intend to make a return though, I just hadn't realised I have something on this Monday. If you get numbers, Davie, text me and I'll try and get it booked.

I'm in for next Monday.

Out of interest, which one has escaped your criticism from today's display? Morton players just looked done when the second goal went in, just a knowing attitude that it's over now, a very visible 'chucking it' came over them as soon as the goal went in.

So the centre-half we've signed is seemingly Mark McLaughlin. Not the type of signing I'd hoped for, but at least it's a centre-half. It does mean that we're now very short of pace in that area which could be a concern...

I presume and hope (as I imagine everyone else will) that the 'other signing' we hope to make today is a centre-half. Because otherwise our central defensive partnership tomorrow will be Andy Graham and Scott Smith or Andy Graham and Scott Smith...

Some interesting and varied thoughts on this topic of late, so I'll add my tuppence-worth too... I don't think it's coincidental that most of our victories this season have been as a team which fielded Hugh Murray, as mentioned by Moonster. Murray has been very important for us this season, and we really miss him when he doesn't play. We revert to being the side with a soft centre, a midfield who's relatively easy to bully and play over the top of. Hugh Murray has been poorer since his return from injury, but so has the team as a whole. You can shape that comment however you prefer, but for me, we're definitely a much weaker team when Shug doesn't play. He gives us dig and is combative in the middle of the park, something which we all too often lack, and have done for long spells in recent years. We find ourselves in a bit of a slump just now, and Garry Fleming's return to the squad couldn't be timed better. I'm not one of Nish's harshest critics, albeit I've not seen as much of him as most others have, but even that said, both he and Kevin Smith aren't cutting the mustard at the moment. They're two strikers off the boil and off form, Prunty and Fleming on Saturday is what I'd like to see, albeit Garry might not be ready for a full 90 minutes yet. In that case, I'd give him an hour, and if he tires, make a change from there. As someone else mentioned, it would be good to know more about Agnew's potential return to the side. As with Murray, we're infinitely poorer without Agnew, and with Turner and Kirkpatrick off form at the moment (as most of the side is to be fair) we could really do with him returning. But who knows? At the moment, perhaps through necessity rather than choice, I'd be satisfied to continue to give Megginson a go. I think some of the criticism he receives on here are fair points, but he is a confidence player. I think when he's been 'on it' he's been an asset, and I'd be inclined to give him a chance again to see if he can show us what he can do when he's on-song. I couldn't comment on the thoughts of Dumbarton/Aaron Barry/Sheffield United on the travelling, but if he's not likely to get into their side after Christmas, I would be surprised if it wasn't looked on as a positive by all parties to extend the loan until the end of the season.

Fleetwood would have had you sweating! That was some game. I toyed with backing them but decided against it. They came through at least, but it was some game!

This is an extreme rarity for me, and hardly a ground-breaking return, but a few rogue quid double on Cambridge Utd and Dunfermline today has given me (I think) my first win of the season.

Can't be any worse than McGowan and Innes with their pottery or life drawing classes or whatever it was they were up to on Monday evenings.

I can't make this Monday, but will make a long-awaited return in the very near future. Look out motorway, there's a ball coming your way!

There's some great times and achievements in the last couple of pages, well done to all! After my first competitive 10km last year, I did my first Half Marathon on Sunday. It took me 2hrs 29mins, which was a wee bit longer than I hoped, but it was much tougher than I anticipated, so I'm pleased with that time. I also didn't do anything for the last month of training due to moving house, so all in all not too bad at all as far as I'm concerned. It's given me a bit of a 'bug' for the running again, so I'm going to try and continue my training (once my legs stop feeling like led that's been through a shredder!) and target an event for next year. Well Done folks!

They don't have anything before 9pm. I've texted David W this information, and will ask here, the same question I asked him, do you guys want a 9pm slot?

Just a small query here... I'm running fairly regularly now, and enjoying it. But aside from the expected post-run aches etc, from pretty much the start of a run (no matter what length I'm planning to run) I endure a sore foot. It's only my right foot, and it's sort of on the top/side of my foot about halfway up the foot, if that makes sense? Just wondered if anyone else experiences similar, or if anyone has any ideas what could be causing it and what I can do to prevent it from occurring? Any help appreciated. Some very good inspiration on this thread recently, gives you the incentive to ramp up the training!

A small double with rogue change in one of my accounts on Germany and England -2 is my second win of the season. Unheard of!

I think we've done good business in this window to be honest. Yes, it would have been good to have kept Fellaini, but would I rather have kept him and not brought in Lukaku, Barry and McCarthy? Not a chance. Fellaini has done a great job for us over the last couple of seasons, but it's been clear that he's wanted to go since the interest was 'made public' and £27.5m is a very good fee. I'm delighted to have gotten Lukaku. With decent service he could have a similar season with us to the season he had last season for West Brom. While Gareth Barry isn't a massive signing, he's experienced, he's a decent midfielder, and he'll give us depth and versatility, so I'm satisfied with that. McCarthy it remains to be seen if it's good business by Martinez. He wouldn't have been my 'pick' as Fellaini's replacement, but he was one of the shining lights in a woeful Wigan side last year, so we've got to hope that in a better side, he'll improve further. Overall, pretty pleased with the outcome of this window's transfers for Everton.

I've also texted the above to David W and tried to phone but just went to voicemail. Let me know ASAP please chaps.

No pitches at 8 or 8.30pm. They have 7.30pm or 9pm. Do you want either of them? I can possibly book it this afternoon, if not ill book when I finish work at 5pm.

I'm pretty pleased with both of our signings this week. Both are coming towards the end of their careers, but the wealth of experience they'll add to the squad will be undoubtedly of benefit to us. Despite his seemingly 'indifferent' rating by some, I reckon Nish could still do a decent job for us, and if we can create chances, he'll score us a few goals. Hugh Murray is exactly what we're needing at the minute, and have lacked for a fair while now. Dig, bite and power in the middle of the park. I wasn't at Hamilton on Saturday, but by all accounts our midfield was overrun. With Shuggie in the side, that'll be a thing of the past. He'll be a force in the middle of our midfield, and as well as being a grafter and digger, he can play a bit as well and could well be the source of a few goals from midfield over the course of his loan spell with us. And the fact his first game for us could be against Morton on Saturday, could make it very tasty! Welcome to the club Nish and Shuggie!

Only you would do this, Dave. Only you.

Has anyone received their pack (number etc) for the Glasgow Half Marathon yet?

On the subject, I'm not surprised that Gary Wilson didn't do much for us, he didn't seem that good a player, but Graham Wilson (the winger who played a handful of games for us a couple of seasons back) seemed like he could be a good player. Anyone know where he is now?

.Was he a young(ish), left back with short cropped fair hair? Yes.

I'm planning on making a return in the relatively near future. I don't feel fulfilled without several weekly thumps out the park and constant complaining about taking the money from DW, despite the fact it's been that way for the last 468 times we've played 5's.

Good to get through the tie today, with a clean-sheet to boot. Hopefully those who were there saw a better and improved performance from last week.

Next week, the 5th Calum Staggy Fudge