W6er

I gave up on politics well over a decade ago. I think politicians are pretty much all self-serving, spineless hypocrites - though I can at least admire Ross for taking an interest in the game and having the baws to run the line. And I certainly don't think he's any worse than Sturgeon, Salmon or Yousaf. I find party politics to be tribalistic and divisive - the assertion that 'all right thinking people must think Ross is a c**t' is illustrative of this - therefore I don't like to see our club involved in it in anyway (unless a party is willing to pay for advertising boards). I would happily leave that to the arsecheeks.

I appreciate many folk don't like him. However, not all of our support will despise him as you clearly do, so in that respect it's divisive. Besides, irrespective of one's politics, I think it takes guts for him to run the line. I can't imagine any other Scottish politician having the (metaphorical) balls to do it? Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon or Humza Yousaf? Nae chance.

You're having a shocker with your apostrophes today, Antrin. As for the Old Firm, I would suggest the history is slightly different. Celtic were established as a charitable club to benefit the Irish poor of the city, based on Edinburgh's Hibs. Right from the start Celtic were involved in Irish politics, and Michael Davitt laid the first sod of shamrock at the club's ground.(1) Davitt had been a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and was convicted for smuggling arms. (2) Celtic quickly became a very successful club and was very fiercely Irish, with the club's fans singing rebel songs and flying the Irish tricolour (some 30 years before Ireland gained independence and it became an official flag) and this annoyed many Scots. When Rangers began to challenge them, Scots from towns outwith Glasgow adopted Rangers as their club, which de facto became an anti-Irish club. At least that's how I remember it from the various books I have read. I recommend Bill Murray's book on the subject, as it actually explores the social history of Glasgow and the West of Scotland in considerable detail. Personally, I don't like our club being associated with politics at all - which is why I didn't like the booing of Douglas Ross when he ran the line on Sunday. (1) https://thecelticstar.com/remember-michael-davitt-celtics-first-patron-man-who-laid-that-first-sod-of-shamrock-smothered-turf-at-celtic-park/ (2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Davitt

Not only that, but he should consider what happened to Jim Goodwin after he left for the Dons.

I have been speaking to someone in the know for a while and he says that Baccus, Strain and O'Hara are on other clubs' radars. That's obviously not something revelationary, but quite scary if all three were to go with no time to replace them! I think that scenario would give me an @elvis outlook on our prospects for the rest of the season. ETA: I had the above comment sitting unpublished from earlier. Just read about the prospect of Robinson going to Hibs, too. Now imagine he also left along with the other three! Any players he had earmarked to bring in would be scuppered, too. Why would he want to strengthen a rival club, after all? Have they all got release clauses? 🤯

It says a lot about this team that we fought back from being a goal down and are disappointed with a draw. However, we played them off the park today and I am gutted to lose like that, but proud of the team. I hope the lads can pick themselves up and get a result next weekend at Livingston(?).

All true. I would like to think Goodwin leaving for Aberdeen will act as a cautionary tale. Aberdeen fans on my train in.

If someone is able to do a dot count later, around 1 or 2 pm, you will be the second greatest person* who ever lived! (*and no, I am not claiming to be the greatest person who ever lived, btw)

What can I say? I'm a bot dotty...

Time for a final dot count! The last one is my favourite, as it's always the easiest. W1 - 82 W2 - 23 W3 - 1 W4 - 0 W5 - 2 W6 - 5 W7 - 122 Total = 235 S1 - 13 S2 - 51 S3 - 11 S4 - 28 S5 - 15 Total = 118 M1 - 54 M2 - 18 M3 - 2 M4 - 0 M5 - 0 M6 - 0 M7 - 5 M8 - 14 M9 - 51 Total = 144 Grand total = 497 tickets remaining 7,937- 497 = 7,440 tickets sold I don't think it will be a sell out tomorrow, but I reckon we can shift another 200 tickets.

We can go TOP if we win tomorrow! 😃 If ever there was an incentive to get the crowd there, then that is it, surely?

This is possibly my final dot count (though may attempt one in the wee hours). So, whilst my lunch is cooking: W1 - 97 W2 - 35 W3 - 1 W4 - 0 W5 - 3 W6 - 12 W7 - 163 Total = 311 S1 - 20 S2 - 66 S3 - 16 S4 - 39 S5 - 18 Total = 159 M1 - 54 M2 - 26 M3 - 5 M4 - 0 M5 - 0 M6 - 0 M7 - 5 M8 - 23 M9 - 59 Total = 172 Grand Total = 642 seats remaining 7,937 - 642 = 7,290 The demand for the Main Stand is almost symmetrical with very similar numbers available at each end, whilst the middle has sold out. 642 seats remaining with just under 25 hours to go. Obviously, most folk who really want to go will have bought their tickets now. How many walks ups can we expect on the day? There are always queues outside the ticket office's window on the day, but I never know whether that's folk collecting tickets or because their cards aren't working, etc. However, I know some folk definitely leave it to the last minute. Remember folks, there are activities behind the Family Stand between 1 & 3 pm: Bouncy Castle Pillow Bashing Football Darts 50ft inflatable obstacle course Target football Basketball Facepainting Highland Dancing (Plus a fight between @Warrior Saint & @DougJamie ? 😉 ) Also, the game is available on PPV - which makes the ticket sales more impressive.

Aye, W7 seems to fill up on the day and I suspect for the reason you have suggested. You're correct! I made a mistake. There are 175 seats available in W7. Well spotted, sir!

Aberdeen have indeed sold out the away end:

@waldorf34 Friday lunchtime dot count: W1 - 134 W2 - 49 W3 - 6 W4 - 2 W5 - 8 W6 - 23 W7 - 123 Total = 345 S1 - 28 S2 - 77 S3 - 28 S4 - 43 S5 - 20 Total = 196 M9 - 62 M8 - 53 M7 - 10 M6 - 0 M5 - 0 M4 - 0 M3 - 19 M2 - 48 M1 - 59 Total = 251 Grand Total = 792 home tickets remaining Official capacity = 7,937* Assuming Aberdeen have sold their allocation, which they usually do, then 7,937 - 792 = 7,145 tickets sold We usually shift a few hundred on the day of the game. With 48.5 hours remaining to kick off, I think a sell out is a real possibility. *Previously 8,023 but slightly reduced, following the creation of the platform at the rear of M1 & M2.

I recently visited the Motherwell and Dundee forums and they're nothing like this! 🤣

Some very interesting programmes, there! That Derby County one is very creepy, however.

Dot count: W1 - 144 W2 - 59 W3 - 7 W4 - 4 W5 - 10 W6 - 41 W7 - 182 Total = 447 S1 - 31 S2 - 89 S3 - 33 S4 - 43 S5 - 21 Total = 217 M9 - 64 M8 - 56 M7 - 17 M6 - 0 M5 - 0 M4 - 0 M3 - 22 M2 - 58 M1 - 61 Total = 278 Grand Total = 942 home tickets remaining

Tickets going well. I will endeavour to do a dot count tomorrow. Maybe if I cannae sleep I will do it in the wee hours...

I see Jamie McGrath's signed for Aberdeen. Is he likely to play on Sunday? I suppose that will depend on his fitness, but he could at least get some game time.

You are correct: https://spfl.co.uk/news/viaplay-cup-quarter-final-update Our game's been confirmed for the Wednesday, 27th September.

He had an off day. We all have them. I think he has proved that he has ability during his time at the World Cup; and he has been very good for us in the past.

We look a very good side. Taylor, Boyd-Munce, Hemming, Gogic - to name but a few - all had a great game. With the window open for 11 days, can we hang on to our players, though? Particularly Strain, Baccus and O'Hara?

So kit 1 was inspired by you, it would seem! Take a bow, sir.

Get your arse down there and part with £18, Scrooge!