Girth

I completely agree with you. I’m thinking McCann is maybe someone who has some contacts within the game. My ex workmate’s son has been on trial at Liverpool, Everton and City. This lad is 5. Very quick and small but hard to tell at this age if he’ll make big time at that age. He often plays against older, quicker and stronger lads and does well. The difference between huge clubs and everyone else is that huge clubs start looking for future players aged 5 and upwards. Other clubs do not have the facilities and network to operate like this. The other issue is location. When you have a lot of biggish clubs in a smallish area (North West England) then there is almost a hierarchy for dibs on a player: (1) Man City (2) Man Utd (3) Liverpool (4) Everton (5) Burnley (6) Preston/Blackburn etc. (7) Rochdale/Bury/Oldham ( Accrington/Macclesfield Happy to chat by PM if anyone is interested (in case I’m blocking up this thread).

You’d be surprised that even some English Premiership clubs have a very limited scouting network. Burnley for example essentially have one head of scouting who gets contacted regarding offshoots from other clubs (old mates as clubs are so close to each other). They had to cut budgeting looking at kids (5/6 up) as they cannot compete with Liverpool, Everton, Man Utd and Man City who’s facilities are insane. In the SPL aside from Celtic (who I know have decent scouting facilities) and Motherwell and Hibs (decent systems) I have no idea what the average team has in terms of facilities. I’d imagine most teams have something equal to or worse than Burnley. In terms of Championship English teams I know that Birmingham City have a range of contacts who operate regionally across the country. These guys are basically part time workers who have regular full time jobs. It’s hard for scouts to get into places even voluntarily. It’s generally bad/no pay and clubs want someone who had played footy to a reasonably high level or has some connection to clubs. I’ve met a few scouts at games and (not to stereotype) they are largely old men who have amazing contacts and knowledge and work to keep themselves busy. I don’t know how much help this is to anyone but I’d be happy to volunteer for Dundee.

Is Hartley still a one trick pony or is he now a no trick pony?

No sale to the IRA. Thank you.

Unlucks mate. Terrible attitude AND he’s a Hearts fan.

Hendry seems a top lad. I’d like to think he’ll stay with us and develop until the end of the season. If he does go then I hope it’s to England. On the plus side, if McCann does get £500,000+ in Jan then we should be able to get a striker, CB and CM.

What a burn eh!? [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Loan or perm? Either way, that would be a cracking signing if true. I can’t picture it mind...

Merry Christmas you sound bunch of cuntos. [emoji481][emoji481][emoji481]

Apparently Inverness want Vincent back! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106] Does he need a lift?

I’d like Bain to sign for Forest Green Rovers where he’ll be forced into a vegan diet and be playing in front of about nine Gumpers at away games. Delicious. Thank you.

Imagine the scenes if Moussa plays and scores in the World Cup...????????????????????????

I agree he should stay. However, no more Slops at Dens please Lord McCann. Thank you.

Where you reading this mate?

I’d be a bit annoyed if O’Hara left. He’s promising as a CM. However, I understand McCann needs to move a couple of players on and ideally get money for ‘em. Could be he has 2/3 potential additions he’s eyeing up for Jan. I’m thinking GK, CM and ST. Bain, couple of defenders, striker, Wolters and Vincent are those he should be punting. Thank you.

Yeah. Weirdly, I don’t fancy her in anything else. Same as the Mum in Friday Night Dinners... Must be a word for this phenomenon!?

Apparently they got half a million for Moult. Yeah, really poor not to get players tied up early. However, I would say Motherwell is more a sideways move unless they’re chucking more money at him which is likely.

Motherwell and a couple of other sides apparently want O’Hara on pre-contract which means f**k all money...would be a shitter. Can we flog ‘em Vincent instead!?

Really good mate. Read similar books but this is way ahead of them. The writer has written a few books. Will be checking them out.

How we doing my fine Arbroathian bredren? I've been reading the book 'Stramash' in which your fine town gets a glowing review. #girthneedstoreturn.

Sometimes my right hand gets tired.

Quick big up here... My Irish mate was over in Saturday night and he was wearing a green scarf. I said ‘Is that a Hibs scarf?’ He said ‘Yep. They came over to a Cliftonville match a couple of years ago and were a top bunch’. Well played boys. [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

This thread is tremendous. Top stuff! :-)

Still some decent English finds. I see ex Hereford United Manager Martin Foyle is your head scout. He was a shit manager (awful football) but did find the odd good player. Explains the Bowden/Moult spotting for sure.

So who we ideally shipping out and shipping in in Jan chaps? Ideally for me bin Bain, Vincent, Haber/Moussa, O’Dea and Low. In: Striker, keeper and CB. We should Defo be looking at English non league players a la Motherwell.