TopCat

There's 6 South American teams at this World Cup. 4 of them have already qualified for the last 16, and the other 2 may join them in the next week. I'm not saying there's not elite level European teams, there is. Because we have nations like Spain and Germany etc, does that mean it should be easier for our continents no hopers like Bosnias and England to qualify than it is for exciting developing nations like Burkina Faso and Jamaica? They couldn't do any worse, could they? And they'd add some diversity to the tournament. Why this disparity? Why this accident of geography? It you're lucky enough to be close to a lot of elite teams you should get more qualifying spots? It's the World Cup, it should be for the World. It's not the European Championships plus invited guests. Edit I'd have the winner of the Oceania section - New Zealand - play off against the 6th placed Asian team.

Yes. New Zealand were unbeaten at the last World Cup, they aren't here. Would also love to see teams like Panama ( who just missed out ) and more African teams like Egypt etc. Blatter's spoken before about reducing European contingent, let's hope this World Cup makes him do it.

Think we can and will do better than him.

A European team may win the tournament.It doesn't mean there's not far too many of them in the tournament, there's 12 for goodness sake. What's the point in no hopers like Bosnia, England and Greece taking away spots from other confederations? In future I'd have: 8 Europe 6 South America 6 Asia 6 Africa 4 Central and North America 1 host 1 play off winner - play off between 4 biggest confederations. Not sure about your Germany point either. They beat another European side easily, but had to come from behind to snatch a point against an African team.

There's far too many European teams in the tournament, and they're stinking the place up. Another night, another one of them out. Spain, England, Bosnia, Portugal and now Croatia. Hopefully FIFA cuts back on the amount of places allocated to UEFA for future tournaments.

For a start, there's 42 SPFL clubs. I'm sure you don't mean teams like Annan and Albion Rovers wouldn't have him. I assume you mean Premiership teams. If so, this is just your opinion and it's based on nothing at all. He was a mainstay of a team that had a better defensive record than 5 teams in the league last year. If they wouldn't have him, they'd be pretty foolish.

Good question!

Well this is a slight improvement from having a raging go at your own teams fans for something we didn't do at a game you weren't even at, like you did last season. You take football and the internet too seriously, away and have a lie down and relax.

I would love if Nigel came back, and I expect we will at least offer him a contract. Him and Tommy got on well in his first spell here. He will get us 8-12 goals next season if we play him regularly, and that's what we missed last season.

You're having a go at people posting speculation in the speculation thread. If you don't like speculation, don't read this thread. In the mean time, remove that stick from your arse and lighten up.

Jeez, you take the speculation thread very very seriously don't you? Relax, it's only a game!

Miaow... Just some speculation from normally reliable sources. I have no idea who either player is, but I've got a gut feeling we're going to go back in for Jimmy Floyds nephew. Him and Tommy got on well in his first spell with us and he's a free agent .... We could do worse.

Medical scheduled on Monday for a striker apparently.

Lanarkshire 0-1 TC's Black and White Army We will go above Motherwell and stay above them all season ;)

A striker and a loan from Man City to be signed next week apparently..,

I don't think we will sign anyone till the first two weeks of July, when most English based players contracts expire. Patience!

Delighted with our fixtures actually. Only two pre split trips to the highlands, as opposed to 4 last season. Dundee and Hamilton at home twice each before the split...Only one trip to Celtic Park scheduled. Perfect! I've not been as optimistic about a season for a long time. I'm confident we are going to set a record high position for this century - 7th or above!

Why are we struggling exactly? Have Killie or St Johnstone signed anyone yet? Nope. I doubt they're panicking yet. I believe we offered contracts to two Scottish based players, Ridgers and Stevenson. Ridgers joined, Stevenson signed a 2 year deal with Thistle instead of a 1 year deal with us. Dundee and Hamilton have signed a couple of crocks and a couple of first division players. Should we be concerned by that? As TC said, contracts of English players typically expire at the end of June. I expect the majority of our signings will be players who played in England last season along with a couple of loans. Therefore expect the first couple of weeks in July to be our busiest time with regards to incoming players.

Is our only income crowds? No. Unsustainable? How is it unsustainable? We've been doing it for years and we're still here, and we're debt free. I don't know what century your head is stuck in, but it's certainly not this one.

Where do you think the extra money went then?

You clearly have no grasp of modern football if you don't think we're already paying players more than 1k a week.

Exactly. How can a club like ours 'penny pinch'? What goes in goes out. The more that comes in, the more that goes out. Simple economics really.

Give it up, you've completely lost the plot.

We had a home friendly against Newcastle last year? Couldn't give a hoot about home friendlies personally, I'd rather we were away from home.

Like Newcastle last year? Nah! This is a great friendly for both clubs, decent crowd guaranteed along with a relatively competitive fixture.