cmontheloknow

Joe Miller recalls his World Cup experience...

The bizarre thing about the Joe Miller story is that he and Derek Whyte were only on AFC's books together for part of 1997-98 with Miller moving onto the Arabs in the summer of 1998. They hardly played many 1st team matches together let alone a friendly so wondering when this game was supposed to have taken place?

Decent youth set up based in Kilmarnock, churn out a lot of lads from 21s that go into the Juniors at a good level, some going even higher - O'Ware a recent example at Morton. have their own pitch and clubhouse in the town with plans to redevelop.

He was with them til 15 but not sure that counts as being a trainee! Good old press.

Considering the pressure he'll be under to get them back up and the Championship's reputation as being the league with the shortest shelf life for managers in the UK, he will be taking a massive risk going down. Ok financially it's a no brainer but for his career going forward? Unless he fancies the Sevco gig once yon Portuguese fella makes a meal of it. Easier move to go from A to C via B.

U20 games just now often kick off in the afternoon so no floodlight costs. They are often played in grounds where only one stand is open so reduced stewarding costs. There will be increased costs to running them and depending on the club's margins, it could be an issue.

Just a hunch but an awful lot of OF fans read the Record.

The point that needs to be made over and over again is the quality of players that flesh out the u20s at any SPFL side. There is only a finite amount of players that will be good enough / motivated enough to sustain a decent career. Look at where the ones that don't make the cut end up. This is turd polishing.

The source explains the poll.

The membership of the South of Scotland League would be nowhere near the level they are (tier 6) if the pyramid was built from scratch. These are small clubs ran mainly on an amateur basis in a rural part of Scotland with low population. I love the SW and follow the league closely, going to games there when opportunity arises. However, in terms of on-field standard, it is no better than the Ayrshire District League - some good sides, some dreadful ones. I actually think the SoS membership would support being bumped down as none of them seem to have LL aspirations because of the financial burden. Threave have tried and failed twice to play in an Edinburgh-focused league. Wigtown don't seem to fancy the step up, St. Cuthberts, who knows? Anyway, point I am making is that using the SoS as a vehicle for promotion into the LL for an increased number of clubs from the Greater Glasgow area is flawed. I would predict the more that come in, the more SW sides leave, either for oblivion or the Sunday amateurs - the SoS has been their geographical league for over 70 years! In terms of Bonnyton Thistle coming in, the original league line-up included teams from Ayrshire so I guess that's a bit like going back to roots, but Killie and Ayr's reserves had gone by the 3rd season and only Girvan hung on from outwith the 'southern counties' once they were admitted in the early 50s. What has changed a bit as the SoS has evolved is the increased number of teams from the Dumfries end of the region. Annnan's admission in 77 was the first time a team had come in (and stayed... Heathhall did a season early on) from beyond Kirkcudbright. Ayrshire teams travelling to Newton, Tarff, Wigtown etc a bit diffierent to travelling to Dumfries.

Poetry in motion! https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/aberdeen-fc/aberdeen-development-squad-released-deals/

We announced who was leaving the U20s ages ago: Jamie Henry, Aaron Norris, Robbie Mutch, Dylan Thomas, Joe Nuttall.

It's always on ALBA these days. Think your top scorer played for two Junior teams.

With their training base being at Lesser, why not there? A decent enough Lowland league venue I'm sure.

Adding a seated stand seems a bit excessive to play in the Borders amateurs. Seats to follow I understand.

Maybe two less if Kelty win the East Super and jump the fence.

For EoS and SoS sides outwith automatic qualification, there has been a new pathway to Scottish Cup entry added to provide parity with the Juniors who also have two avenues to qualify - the winners of the Alex Jack Cup and the winners of the Alba Cup now play off with the winner qualifying for the big Scottish. Those two cups are what the SFA Registered Members in EoS and SoS (for them a new cup for this season afaik) enter. The first final (I didn't notice this happening last year, that is) was Lochar Thistle vs. LTHV with the latter winning 6-1 and securing qualification without winning the league. Lochar won the Alba Cup by beating Nithsdale 4-0 back in December's final at Palmerston and LTHV won the Alex Jack Cup by beating Tynecastle at Oriam in October.

3 and one came back.

http://www.edusportacademy.com/en/

I would guess there's a separation between what Edusport Academy does with the French lads day to day and what team gets put out on a Saturday etc. The team is very much dominated by French players but their squad used this year is listed here (over 3 pages). http://www.southofscotlandfootballleague.co.uk/PlayerStatistics?age=all&div=all&category=all&team=145470 Morgan Reid and Regan McLaren came from Stirling Albion U20s on loan afaik. Ryan McCann is the Ryan McCann and is a coach as well. Would be guessing on Craig Johnson and Andrew McDonald, while Colin Cameron is the CC and coaches their 20s. Gerard Lunday was on a few SPFL clubs' books when a little younger.

It's not true to say 'no Scots' - they have a number of home-based players in their squad and have also taken youngsters on loan from Stirling Albion.

Not sure you can watch anywhere there apart form the 300 seater main stand? There's a bit of banking on either side of the stand but I don't know how accessible it is for supporters.

Angus Gunn at Man City could yet be capped if he has a change of heart surely?

Thought his pop moves were superstaresque, Beyoncé perhaps!

The other flaw of commercial phone ins is that the presenters often take a contrary view in order to generate calls, Adrian Durham being a prime candidate. I find the only times these things are worth listening to is shortly after England have lost a game. The collective seethe is soothing.