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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Sailing on the Seven Seas

I won't be all that bothered if Hearts win it, but I would prefer a 1986-style final game collapse.

I think we can cling on to the fact that things can and do change quickly in football. Indeed, Hearts this season are a prime example. They were shite last season and with the right investment used wisely they've done a 180.

Not disagreeing with the points argument, it’s irrefutable as a data based analysis. Also worth noting that a key difference to this season (re Hearts) has been their ability to take points out of the OF. That has a double impact on their competitiveness as it’s 13 points they’ve gained but a swing of 26. We’ve seen seasons before where Hearts have been solidly third by beating all the others pretty consistently but this is a game changer both for their overall points gained but also closing of the gap. Without that (ie OF being less pish) they are back in 65 point territory so can’t discount the poor form of the OF as a factor.

Much as it hurts. I can't really disagree with any of that. To suggest that Hearts have somehow only got to where they are because of the arse cheeks indifferent form is way off the mark. Unfortunately, regardless of whether they actually win the league this season or nor, and I fucking hope they don't, I genuinely believe that we are light years behind them on the pitch and will take a long time to catch up with them. Don't for one second enjoy saying the above, but being realistic I rather feel it's true, although still hoping for some more of this forty years on

Exactly this. If Hearts exceed our previous total, it would be a big achievement. When folk were going on about us aiming to win leagues and such like, I always pointed out that we should be looking at points total and setting ourselves targets over time that we could look to gradually increase. The first step would be to build a squad that could regularly hit seventy (allowing for the obvious crap season or two), then aim for 75, then 80. At 80 points, you then have a very small outside chance of winning the league on that total, or one year hitting mid eighties, giving a much better chance to win. Consistently hitting the 70 point mark is definitely the sign that your squad, and club has found that particular level, and can look to develop beyond that. Unfortunately, I don't think McInnes' version of it was particularly sustainable with us, but Hearts do seem to have a much better platform of good coach and good transfers model that has allowed them to not only hit 70, but move beyond it in a short space of time. I think they'll be able to consistently repeat it too, looking at their squad.

Spot on. I was going to post something similar earlier. The suggestion that Hearts are in the position they are because the usual two have been rubbish is greatly exaggerated. Rangers have only lost 3 games this season and are in third place. We are mince and have been for years, absolutely no chance we would have been anywhere near the party this season. Whether or not they win the title, I also don't think Hearts are going away anytime soon. They might lose a couple of their main players in the summer and will undoubtedly notice a drop off with the extra European games next season but they are generally signing good players and I don't see this season as being a one off.

I've read this a lot but it really isn't true. Hearts are currently on 73 points, Celtic 70 and Rangers 69. So the winner is highly likely to be exceeding 80 points. The best we've ever managed was 76 under McInnes in 16/17 so there's absolutely no basis to claim we could have won it this season any more than in any other. There's been no evidence beyond our three month purple patch last season that we've been in a position to garner that many points at any stage in a decade so to suggest we could've done so this season doesn't bear any scrutiny.

I'm with Ajja on this!!

I tried some Discworld stuff a few years back. Not totally my thing, but quite enjoyed them. I got 2 or 3 books in, saw how many there were, got overwhelmed, and gave up on them.

Can’t have helped playing in teams who were battling for survival (Queens and now County)

Oh well, that's you completed the genre. There's nothing further to add.

Yes! It’s the greatest of all the ones I’ve read. Absolutely loved it, right up my street! The post war and early stages of the Cold War were the best time for those types of novels. Everyone was gripped by the fear of mass destruction, some belters in that era. They made a TV series recently which wasn’t great of course.

Duncan has the attributes to be a good SPFL player. I always thought he was a central player that was continuously played wide, which didn't suit him. His biggest issue seemed to be a complete lack of confidence, and he'd be jittery as hell on the ball (which he wasn't at Peterhead). I wouldn't be surprised to see him come good in a year or two and make his way back up to the top league.

Great times

Have you read "earth abides" by George R Stewart? It's post apocalypse, from memory. It was written around the time @BigAl went to school I believe, just after the war. The apocalypse would have occurred in the nineties. Which could be true, but everyone was too spaced out on E's to notice.

Is that part of the Duck and Cover series? I’ve read about it but it felt a little too comic bookie for me. I like the rebuild society type post apocalyptic stuff more than the navigating wasteland style. That said, I’ve wasted far too many weeks of my life chewing through some dreadful zombie box sets. The Undead 26 book series was a particular dark spot but it got me through Covid

He was flying at the weekend. Created at least two of the other goals as well.

I liked Mort but I tried a few others and it wasn’t really my thing either. Have you read Post - Apocalyptic Nomadic Warriors? I’m just about to start but I canny really be arsed

Cheers. That hasn’t lifted my confidence I’ve never thought of it as my thing either but thought I should try as I’ve been told it’s worthy. Will see.

He will have seen the pic of Mandy the Y fronts and still gave him the job. Obviously it would’ve been difficult for the wee lamb to say no to his boss but it was still an incredibly poor decision.

Tried some of his books, but couldn't finish them, just not my thing. I haven't a clue what it was I read as it was many year ago.

JBA won't be Motherwell manager next season. Hibs won't improve until they get rid of David Gray. Hearts won't handle European football and league. Rangers will likely change manager again as there's already murmurs of discontent around Rohl. Open goal for us to win everything next season tbh.