edinburghhonestman

160k for Falkirk District, about 110k for South Ayrshire. They also draw support from places like Linlithgow which adds about another 13k. It's bad enough on here with Falkirk fans crowd wanking without DKBs doing it for them.

The current first team squad has 7 academy graduates in it so I'd say it's improving over the years as Forest, Crawford and McCowan all seemed like one-off at the time.

Marco Reus wears Marco Rus pyjamas.

Great to hear Watret's parents say that he had other offers but they chose Ayr. Great endorsement of the Academy.

I think this season might be the hardest to call in a few years as there's not much between many of the sides and injuries, suspensions and luck will play a huge part. With that caveat, here goes. Raith Rovers. Plenty of players who were part of the side that did so well last year and some decent additions. I don't think they'll get as many late results as last season but I think they'll nick it. Partick Thistle. Decent squad depth especially in midfield plus Brian Graham's goals. Might hit a sticky patch if BBG gets injured as the drop of in quality is an issue. Ayr United. Recruited well and of all the sides who were much of a muchness last year I think we've improved the most. Will look to play out from the back but, as the Falkirk game showed, can go long if pressed. Look out for Marco Rus. Livingston. Not the best side to drop down in recent years but will have enough about them not to sink. Falkirk. I think the next 3 sides will be close but as they have the most settled side I think they'll pick up enough early points to nick 5th. Airdrie. Seemed to be doom and gloom a few weeks ago but look to have recruited well enough. Will stick to their play out from the back approach so can be picked off Morton. Big turnover of players means they're likely to make their habitually poor start but Imrie has shown before that he can build a solid side. Queens Park. Losing Paton is an issue and I don't see Rudden contributing as many goals. How long can Dom Thomas keep digging them out? Dunfermline. Recruitment has been poor and McPake has been getting his excuses in early. I suspect they can't afford to sack him. Now that ICT have gone I think they just pip Queens Park as the worst run club in the league. I think they'll just pip Accies. Hamilton Accies. Don't think they'll be pushovers and made a couple of decent signings. The step up might be too much as everyone bar QP and Dunfermline could be better than last season. Completely prepared to be massively wrong on what looks to be a really interesting season.

Falkirk 2-1 Queen's Park Airdrieonians 1-2 Raith Rovers Hamilton Academical 1-2 Ayr United Livingston 2-0 Dunfermline Athletic Partick Thistle 3-0 Greenock Morton

This 100%. Our signings feel much better than in previous seasons. I've recruited enough folk in the last 40 years, though, to know that every new hire carries an element of risk for both parties.

I'm a bit surprised that there's been as much negativity on here in the past few hours. We went in to our first competitive match of the season against a team expected by many to challenge for the top 4 without 3 starters in Murphy, Musonda and Dempsey and dug out a win. That wouldn't have happened last season.

Must be unusual, even in these days of wacky squad numbers, to only have 3 of numbers 1-11 starting.

So we have 7 players for 4 roles. Definitely need some more cover.

Based on what I've seen of Ayr so far and what I'm reading on here that's not a bad shout tbh. If QP really are replacing Paton with Rudden I think they're definitely going to struggle. Don't think there will be nany points between Falkirk/Morton/Airdrie/Dunfermline.

Well seen it's the school holidays. Maybe need to take geography when they go back as I'd assume most Killie fans would be coming in to town down Whitletts Road rather than hanging around the White City

He's not going to deliver some of the flashy stuff Chalmers can, but I don't think he'll disappear as much so it'll balance out.

We arrived about 7:10 and walked right in. The gound was fairly empty, though, and I did say to my wife watch what happens in the 10 minutes before kick off. The woman on the turnstile did say that she was having a problem with the sunlight hitting her screen. Not a problem we'll have often and easy to fix with some screening.

Agree with all of that. Stanger would have been my MoM. I was impressed with his pace at the back.