madball

The cynic in me says that this may be agent driven and it may be the case that he'll get a better deal in terms of a sign-on from a new club in a years time when that club wouldn't be due to pay compensation to us as he's over 24.

Would it not be the case of the 25 points this season, and potentially 25 points again next year if they went into admin and weren't able to come out of it by the start of next season. I seem to recall that was part of the threat hanging over Hearts that if they didn't formally come out of admin before the start of next season the points penalty applies again in the following season also.

To keep Dumbarton up, and then convert them into a mid-table 1st division side is a pretty impressive achievement. If he was to be the successor to Lennon when his time is up I'd be happy to move to a mid-table SPL team... no worries from relegation and flirting with the top 6.

I'm intelligent enough to know what a vote for independence means. Personalities are coming into it though, they always do. I side with no party, and always vote based on my perception of the candidate's calibre in my area. This has actually seen me vote Tory once in my life - for Annabel Goldie, who I thnk is an astute and able politician. I once needed my MP to fight on my behalf for a just case against a local authority - and my MP came through for me. He was Labour, I voted for him the next time there was an election. I voted Lib Dem up here in Cumbernauld because their candidate was a local guy who had been in the marines, worked and lived in the area, and looked like he had a bit of dig about him. I have also voted SNP a few times, again, based on the individual candidate.
I am very happy in my own skin at the rationale I apply when voting, and never blithely vote for any party time after time, even if they put up a monkey rattling a tin drum as a candidate. I have been in the company of Alex Salmond through my wife's work, and had him down as a smart cookie, a clever politician and a smooth operator... I now happen to think he's losing the plot somewhat and (my own opinion!) I think once you go beyond Salmond and Sturgeon, the SNP are sorely lacking in substance.
My heart tells me independence. My brain tells me 'need to hear more facts'. I feel Salmond and Co are actually shitting it that the 'yes' vote wins the day, and that the whole thing is driven by ideology, and deep down he knows we will be walking a razor's edge under independence.
Fortunately, to assist me in making up my mind, I can count on the advice of maybe six or seven people I know who are, or were, at the sharp end of massive organisations which are extremely political beasts, and these people have no alliegiance to one party or another.
I'll listen, and make my decision, then get on with living my life under whatever we end up with. No matter what we end up with, at least I know I voted based on a belief garnered from listening to, and being influenced by, people who I've known for over 20 years who know what they're talking about.

Whether Mehmet could do a job or not now, I'm not sure... probably too many years away at pretty inferior leagues to easily decide.
However if we look back on his time with us, he was the best we had at the time and his goal return is pretty good going considering he was pretty much isolated most of the time, and he had to deal with Mr Happy's shitfest tactics and long balls into the channels in most games. Indeed on the last point his best games were often when we actually did try and win games as opposed to avoiding defeat, so our current way of playing might suit him better. And another thing to throw into the mix is that Thommo wasn't really prolific anywhere else in his career, the combination of playing for a team he loves and the style of football has brought the best out in him...who knows, maybe this might happen with Billy too.

Whether Mehmet could do a job or not now, I'm not sure... probably too many years away at pretty inferior leagues to easily decide.
However if we look back on his time with us, he was the best we had at the time and his goal return is pretty good going considering he was pretty much isolated most of the time, and he had to deal with Mr Happy's shitfest tactics and long balls into the channels in most games. Indeed on the last point his best games were often when we actually did try and win games as opposed to avoiding defeat, so our current way of playing might suit him better. And another thing to throw into the mix is that Thommo wasn't really prolific anywhere else in his career, the combination of playing for a team he loves and the style of football has brought the best out in him...who knows, maybe this might happen with Billy too.

Whether Mehmet could do a job or not now, I'm not sure... probably too many years away at pretty inferior leagues to easily decide.
However if we look back on his time with us, he was the best we had at the time and his goal return is pretty good going considering he was pretty much isolated most of the time, and he had to deal with Mr Happy's shitfest tactics and long balls into the channels in most games. Indeed on the last point his best games were often when we actually did try and win games as opposed to avoiding defeat, so our current way of playing might suit him better. And another thing to throw into the mix is that Thommo wasn't really prolific anywhere else in his career, the combination of playing for a team he loves and the style of football has brought the best out in him...who knows, maybe this might happen with Billy too.

My little one has asked if she could go to the Panda Club this weekend, since she turned 5 recently. Anyone know since it's an earlier kick-off if they provide food for them? Panda Club starts at 10am so it's too early to eat before. Sent the club an email and waiting on a response.

Little one had a great time at the Panda Club, she was the one running about like a loony at the bottom of the Family stand at the Panda Club end. From what I saw she watched about 2 minutes of the game, but was very well looked after and wants to go back Big thanks to those involved.

Little one had a great time at the Panda Club, she was the one running about like a loony at the bottom of the Family stand at the Panda Club end. From what I saw she watched about 2 minutes of the game, but was very well looked after and wants to go back Big thanks to those involved.

Little one had a great time at the Panda Club, she was the one running about like a loony at the bottom of the Family stand at the Panda Club end. From what I saw she watched about 2 minutes of the game, but was very well looked after and wants to go back Big thanks to those involved.

Little one had a great time at the Panda Club, she was the one running about like a loony at the bottom of the Family stand at the Panda Club end. From what I saw she watched about 2 minutes of the game, but was very well looked after and wants to go back Big thanks to those involved.

Little one had a great time at the Panda Club, she was the one running about like a loony at the bottom of the Family stand at the Panda Club end. From what I saw she watched about 2 minutes of the game, but was very well looked after and wants to go back Big thanks to those involved.

My little one has asked if she could go to the Panda Club this weekend, since she turned 5 recently. Anyone know since it's an earlier kick-off if they provide food for them? Panda Club starts at 10am so it's too early to eat before. Sent the club an email and waiting on a response.

My little one has asked if she could go to the Panda Club this weekend, since she turned 5 recently. Anyone know since it's an earlier kick-off if they provide food for them? Panda Club starts at 10am so it's too early to eat before. Sent the club an email and waiting on a response.

I wish we could take out a contract on some of the members

I wish we could take out a contract on some of the members

I wish we could take out a contract on some of the members

Kwang Tung (sp?) on George Street is very good

I seem to recall that there was a situation with Everton-Newcastle where a young player who hadn't been offered a new deal for more than his current left with no compensation being paid. The jist of it being that when a young player leaves to go to another club in the same association at the end of the contract then there is an entitlement to compensation, but with no formal contract, with increase in wages, being offered then the player can leave with no compensation i.e a proper Bosman.
So with that in mind he surely must be offered current contract + nominal amount to protect an entitlement to compensation.

I seem to recall that there was a situation with Everton-Newcastle where a young player who hadn't been offered a new deal for more than his current left with no compensation being paid. The jist of it being that when a young player leaves to go to another club in the same association at the end of the contract then there is an entitlement to compensation, but with no formal contract, with increase in wages, being offered then the player can leave with no compensation i.e a proper Bosman.
So with that in mind he surely must be offered current contract + nominal amount to protect an entitlement to compensation.

It wasn't the greatest of debuts as he looked pretty rusty and seemed too eager to sntach at a shot at goal rather than delay and either look for a man or look at the target, and certainly wasn't helped with some of the long balls which were too short as he was looking for them to be over the head of the defender. However as mentioned not the worst debut by a long shot, and a few positives to take from it...linked well with Thommo (got onto the various flick-ons a few times), has a reasonable turn of pace, physically strong and held off the defenders well.
Lets see how he is after a couple of weeks training alongside the squad when he knows the players better

Try Richer Sounds too for tellys, they will price match and if you want to see different models they will set them up in the demo room to see them properly. Been shopping there for years now for both Hi-fi and Tellys and they've been brilliant each time.

Try Richer Sounds too for tellys, they will price match and if you want to see different models they will set them up in the demo room to see them properly. Been shopping there for years now for both Hi-fi and Tellys and they've been brilliant each time.

Ok... got back yesterday afternoon and spent most of yesterday catching up on sleep and doing laundry (muds is actually easier to clean off than the fecking dust). Without responding to all the things raised by others I'll pick up on a few points.
I'm 38 and have been to TITP for a number of years, but this was the first time I actually camped out as previously did the commute daily back and forward from Bonnybridge (clean bed and warm showers!), but living back in Paisley we decided this time to go camping. The campsite is not for the faint hearted and yeah there are a good number of idiots there, but more so the 30 somethings than youngsters in my experience. We'd ended up camped next to a group of about 10 guys from Killie, all between 17-20 and they were great, noisy and partied all night but did no damage. The biggest problem were the adult with disposable incomes who behaved like twats and wrecked tents, or set fire to them on the Monday etc. For anyone taking a phone, or anything of any value, there were on site lockers (with charging points) which are great to avoid getting stuff nicked. The booze is over priced, but we did several early runs back and forward to the car and Sainsbury's in Kinross to top up, and did a fair bit of drinking in the camp site between bands... next year we will be better prepped at smuggling drinks into the main site!
On the music side I get some of the comments about Calvin Harris, I was pissed off as it wasn't flagged as a DJ set (had been in previous years) and was a bit of a let down for me. However I would argue about Chase n Status, and Labrinth, Disclosure, and Rudimental, as I saw all of them over the weekend and they all "played" live, and yeah for some bits that means elements of pre-recorded loops and drums, but much like rock and indie gigs it's as much about being part of the communal experience of being around others who enjoy the music. For the "dance" acts (the latter 3) I saw in Kig Tuts tent the audience was really well mixed in terms of ages ranging from the young kids of 30 somethings, upto and including folks in their 40s n 50s. Highlights for the weekend for me was Miles Kane, looking forward to seeing him in September again.
We'd a great weekend and will definitely be back next year