Raith Against The Machine

That was Dougie Hill the colossus, as opposed to Dougie Hill the calamity.

Yeah, I do. I was a runner-up the first two weeks I played, about 18 months ago. Not a sausage since. It's a great wee thing though, gives the club a guaranteed income that they can rely on, and you never know, you might win a few grand!

Interesting to note that we played without a captain (well, without an armband) last night. I don't think I've ever seen that before. Suggests it's still very much up for grabs.

I'd be chuffed with McCracken. Sounds like we might have the entire squad signed up before the first friendly!

You'd have no chance. You really need to start from the beginning.

I don't imagine Grant Murray is sitting by the phone biting his fingernails and looking anxious. There's an offer on the table for Cardle, I'm sure we'll be on the lookout for another left winger while he's off down south. No point withdrawing any offers until we've got pen to paper from someone else.

I feel slightly uneasy about running here again to speculate on Joe Cardle's life based on his Twitter feed, but it looks like he's off down south for a trial. Back to the waiting game for Grant Murray and co.

I actually have a degree. Unfortunately, it's in Business Studies so I didn't gain any real skills. Also, due to circumstances beyond my control, it took me four years to achieve a three year degree, which looks very impressive. I'm a grumpy wee b*****d tonight!

I need to find a job doing something other than call centre work, but the only experience and training that I have is for working in a call centre.

I can't think of many other realistic targets for the vacant defenders role. I'd be happy enough with Andy Dowie.

Think so? Falkirk are probably one of the better placed teams for this, and even then you're looking at maybe £100k for Taylor, £50k for your keeper and maybe another couple of five figure sums for the best of the young lads. You're not going to make up another £250k punting squad players that nobody in their right mind would ever bother paying proper money to release from their contracts. Morton have just accepted a £50,000 bid for one of the league's standout players. You could argue Dougie Rae's negotiating tactics aren't what they could be, but the top end figure still isn't more than £100k. I'd be interested to see a list of reasonable purchase prices for any of the teams in this league that topped half a million quid.

£500k would buy any squad in this division.

Aye, the Michael Woods Sports Centre or something along those lines. Looks like a really great facility, a long way from having to bump a half hour on the astros at Riccarton or conduct top secret set piece drills in the Bevvy Park.

Fife Free Press Call off the Pratt Street Irregulars, we've got confirmation that Cardle is definitely training with the Rovers. He's been offered a contract by us, but he's got options elsewhere (as you'd expect) including down south. Playing a waiting game with that one. Looking at the other photos attached to that article, I'm not seeing anyone I don't recognise, other than the new youth boys. Good to see that they're involved with the first team right from the beginning, though.

Greig Spence, 2pm today: "Bleep/yoyo test tonight -start of level 12, yup cheers for that ????????????....???????????? #bzzzzzzn" Joe Cardle, 9pm today: "Yoyo test = done!!! Level 20.5...cant wait to get this season started!"

I'd be happy to see us take a punt on a young striker. Elliot and Spence should have goals between them, and I'm not sure a third proven striker is the best use of our limited resources.

I'd forgotten just how good Scott Davie's full time reaction was up in Aberdeen. Carry on...

Ross Laidlaw is the only player to have been given a two year deal so far. I'd be (mildly) surprised if we offered Imrie one, when it looks like that was basically the issue that meant Mensing left. That said, Imrie is a very capable footballer, if a controversial character, and would give us an excellent option in midfield. If I had to choose between Imrie and Cardle, finances aside, I think I'd take Imrie.

I wonder if there's any value in repeating the "bring enough fans and we'll give you some cash" trick for the Hearts friendly? Might get a few more Jambos through the door on a Wednesday night.

Okay ladies, who would you have wearing the armband next season? My first thought was for Davie McGurn, but can you really have a part-time club captain at an almost entirely full-time club? I could be wrong, but I believe Liam Fox was captain at Livingston, but it'd seem odd to make a brand new signing the skipper. Laurie Ellis? There seems to be an unwritten rule about coaching staff never being captain.

Callum Booth confirmed. It's a season long loan, too, which is excellent. No chopping and changing in January.

Perfectly reasonable signing. Young and cheap but with plenty of game time under his belt. I'd agree that we could do with another centre half before a ball is kicked, though. My priority would be a left-sided midfielder. I think we can make do with the defence and the attack that we have as things stand (at a push) but we really need another body in the midfield.

Finances permitting, I'd have Novo back in a heartbeat. I haven't seen him play for a few years, but he's a character, and he'd bring real interest to the games. He's the kind of signing that would (metaphorically) sell jerseys. He's also the only player other than Brian Graham to score more than 20 goals in a single season for us in the 21st century.

They were scarves. Unlucky.

I'll have a Born To Run please, Bruce.