JFK-1

Would definitely agree with that if he is indeed coming and the signs appear good that he is. But it's also nice to know that he's still good enough to be selected by the European champions.

Fantastic achievement. After finishing 19th last time out their new German manager in his first full season and on a budget of less than £12 million brings in a dozen new players and they hit the jackpot. Best of luck to them.

All of that appears to be exactly what they're doing. While Pedro is still somewhat of an unknown quantity I think we have to give him credit for knowing what's required every bit as much as we know it. It's looking like back, middle and front are all going to be spruced up so to speak. And as I have said before I think what's happening providing it all comes to fruition could be good enough to leave the rest trailing in our wake. And since I don't think the main opposition are very special either they can be taken providing we consistently beat the rest.

Agreed, full half an outfield right there putting steel into our defence and midfield plus a forward thrown in and we still have Rossiter and Niko to come in which also will be like two new players. Get all this stuff over the line and we're going to be up there challenging. They may still have an edge on us but we only need to be good enough to flatten the rest of the dross to be challenging. They weren't so good against us last season we were simply not turning up in most of the games. Beat the rest and it closes the gap to games between them and us. Add to that the fact I don't see them getting so lucky this season and will drop points here and there and it's a whole different race.

Would prefer he wasn't doing all that but let's look on the bright side. Barring injury he will arrive match fit and sharp after facing international class competition.

One thing that concerns me is the lack of time we have to build a team with pre season beginning a week today then the Europa draw 2 weeks later and the first game just 10 days after that. As far as I can see the first qualifying game will be 29th June with the second leg a week later than the first leg of the second qualifying round just a week after that. I'm hoping for a good result in the first game to nail it down in that first leg to give us something of a breathing space in some ways. Though while fretting about the time constraints it's also exciting in a way that we're going to be back in competitive action just 31 days from now.

The SPFL has today confirmed that the fixture lists for the 2017/18 league season, sponsored by Ladbrokes, will be published on Friday 23 June. On that day the full fixture lists will be revealed for all 42 clubs across the Ladbrokes Premiership, Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2. It will start the countdown to the opening fixtures of the 2017/18 league campaign which take place on the weekend of Saturday 5 August. The announcement follows the news earlier this week that Ladbrokes has extended its title sponsorship of the SPFL for another season. SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said: “The announcement of league fixtures for a new Scottish football season is the most keenly-anticipated moment of the close season and this year will be no different. “While there is still plenty of drama to unfold this season, we’re pleased to be able to advise clubs and supporters of this key date ahead of the next league campaign, adding to the positive news of Ladbrokes’ continued support for Scottish football.” Key dates for 2017/18 Opening fixtures - Weekend of Saturday 5 August, 2017 Premiership play-off final - Thursday 17 May 2018 and Sunday 20 May, 2018 (There is a contingency in place should a club be in both the Ladbrokes Premiership play-off final and the Scottish Cup final) Ladbrokes Premiership Winter break - 1 January until 19 January 2018 (return for Scottish Cup R4) Final fixture (R38) - Weekend of 12 & 13 May, 2018 Ladbrokes Championship, League 1 and League 2 Final fixture (R36) - Saturday 28 April 2018 http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/201718-fixture-release-day-confirmed/

I would actually call 8/1 pretty stingy odds given everything that happened this season. Suggests the bookies think that mhank united aren't as good as they want to think they are and only looked good in comparison to the typical dross they had to beat. If things work out well for us this window we're going to be a whole different proposition next season. We have been let down before but i'm encouraged by the activity that appears to be going on and there does indeed need to be some urgency given we have just 4 weeks to get everything in place for the first Europa league tie. Hoping that goes smoothly and we emerge well prepared for the opening day of the league on August 5th. Regarding that hoping for another opening day home tie and a far different result from last years opening day.

If any of you have a tenner to spare on a long shot or maybe some free money after signing up to a betting site. Rangers to win SPL (2017/18) 8/1 Sheep 12/1, Edinburgh sheep 80/1, Edinburgh exuberance utd 150/1, wont bother mentioning anyone else.

Rumour mill.

I feel Benitez may prove to be a turning point for Newcastle. I expect them to be minimum mid table comfortably above any relegation battle and making decent cup runs.

I don't care where they come from if they do the job to a sufficient standard. I don't care if they sign an African pygmy who dresses in a loincloth and speaks an unknown language if he can net 30 goals a season. We would soon all be chanting his unpronounceable name.

We can't afford to have the best of British with the EPL behemoth sitting just across the border sucking up everything of any kind of quality. Plus all season how many of us have been complaining about buying the scraps left over down South and that we should be looking further afield to get value for money?

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are seeking a new manager after parting company with Richie Foran following relegation from the Premiership. Speculation about his position heightened after a change of chairman. New chairman Willie Finlayson told his club website: "Richie has been a great servant and put 100% into his job as manager and previously as a player. "We all thank him for his service and wish him and his family all the very best for the future." More to follow. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40086952

It would appear we're going to get the hardening of the central defence all have been complaining of throughout the season. No disrespect to Clint Hill who did a good job. This all on it's own can make a massive difference.

And a lot of speculated CB's as an example before we finally ended up with Hill and Senderos? I was content with the three you mention too but in the end up they weren't in the picture for one reason and another. Hopefully we can get a more or less settled line up from the outset this time. Scrap our way into the Europa group stage and be looking at another good window in January with that windfall. Even the current probable dealing should propel us comfortably ahead of the rest this time round and there will be no further debate about who the two best teams are.

The hounding of Wenger has been shameful. They didn't spend the money to keep up and I would guess that's not his fault. What manager would turn down money for players if it were offered.

To be fair this time round you get the feeling a lot of this will actually come to fruition rather than the speculation then let down of previous recent windows.

Hopefully this is over the line very soon and we have them in Glasgow settling in. We have just 31 days before the Europa first qualifying round. All new faces are going to have to hit the ground running.

Not entirely meaningless as it is in Scotland. Three points for a win on the final day of the EPL can even mean jumping several places up the table which can mean millions more in revenue just for the placing. Those few places alone can mean more additional revenue than any Scottish club will get for winning the league and the entire seasons TV income combined.

Halftime 0-0 and it could go either way. Maybe Accies have an edge because they're accustomed to digging in and waiting for a chance on the break.

Top class boxers are the ultimate athletes. It takes strength, endurance, resilience to prevail while being pounded on by another highly trained athlete in superb condition.

Let's hope Pedro speaks Spanish. Presuming he does after his time in Mexico.

They couldn't even fill a 14,200 capacity stadium for such an important game but want to be seen as one of the 'big' teams. Attendance: 9,386 And Accies totally matched them on the night statistics wise. Possession: DU 51% - Accies 49 Shots: DU 7 - Accies 8 Shots on target: DU 2 - Accies 1 Corners: DU 8 - Accies 9

I never predict a loss or even a draw because it just goes against the grain to do so. There is nothing at stake here so I simply predict what I would prefer the result to be even if I have doubts.