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Waiting for the big kick-off

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Chris Jardine | 15:01 UK time, Wednesday, 22 July 2009

Hello once again, everyone.

Preparations are almost finalised for our first competitive game of the season in the at home to on Saturday.

As pre-seasons go, it has been one of the most enjoyable and also one of the quickest I've ever experienced.

It's hard to believe it was more than five weeks ago since I, and I'm sure many of my team-mates, got that first feeling of dread as we stepped on the running track on 15 June.

MG ALBA trophyTwelve hard sessions and six games later and we are hopefully ready for the first big test of the new season.

We are certainly fit enough, that's for sure, so we just have to hope that we perform and get through to the next stage of a cup competition since we first entered the Scottish Football League.

Defeats by , (on penalties) and knocked us out of all cup competitions at the first hurdle last year.

So, while the trip to face Inverness might not be marked down as an away win on many coupons, we have a real chance to show Queen's Park that they could be in for a tough season in Division Three.

It's just a shame the match isn't at Hampden, but that time will come.

The weekend saw us host our annual tournament when Newcastle Benfield, Dumbarton, Queen of the South and their supporters descended on Galabank.

In all honesty, it was a bit up and down for ourselves as we finished third when we should really have been facing our near rivals in the final.

A narrow 1-0 defeat by our English friends was followed up by a penalty shoot-out victory against Dumbarton.

Unfortunately, due to work commitments I was unavailable for the Sunday, meaning I don't know too much about the performance.

But, while we were disappointed to lose some poor goals over the weekend we should be taking positives from coming back from 3-1 down to defeat Dumbarton.

Another pleasing aspect throughout pre-season is how easily the new boys have all gelled with the players on and off the park.

Most of the boys have had a weekend away together, which helped them get to know each other and this has shown in their encouraging performances in the games.

The manager never allowed the boys a beer on that trip but, hopefully, we'll get the chance to have a quiet few this weekend at Lee Hoolikin's engagement party!

The club made one further signing this week when returned to the club after being released by Kilmarnock.

Scott scored a couple of goals while on loan with us last season and is another good addition by Harry and Degsy that will further enhance the squad.

I was writing the names of all our players the other day and I really don't envy Harry trying to whittle them down to 16 for his first squad of the season.

There will be some very disappointed men in that dressing room come Saturday afternoon.

I might need to kick a few on Thursday night at training to make sure I'm not one of them.

Talking of disappointed players, just how disappointed must be right now?

Not only does his club want to swap him with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but they also want to part with £38m to make sure it happens.

If there are any regular readers of my column out there then you may know that I'm not Zlatan's biggest fan but this deal, in my opinion, is just so hard to believe.

I think the self-proclaimed Special One might just be telling Mr Moratti to bite Mr Laporta's hands off - or words to that effect.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Unfortunately due to my own work commitments I will be watching the scores via the bbc website for the opening game of the season. I'm really starting to look forward to the coming season and seeing how, with last seasons experience and the new players, we can push us for that elusive playoff place. C'mon the black and golds!

  • Comment number 2.

    Due to work I have missed this week's training (thank God!) so have been putting the effort in down the gym. My season doesn't kick off until early September so I still have a fair few gruelling sessions left yet - and I play Rugby League!

    Best of luck, hope you make the 16 and I'll keep an eye out for your result.

    Oh, and for what it is worth, I'm not a big fan of Zlatan either.

  • Comment number 3.

    Always read your blogs (follower of the welsh premier league whose team has just avoided relagation for 2nd year running), always interested in your comments.
    Shame you were an unused sub for the win over queens park, what attendances do these games get?

  • Comment number 4.

    Great read as always Chris.
    Shame you didn't get on at the weekend but a very good result and a decent draw for the next round too.
    I imagine everyone at the club will be rather happy with that.

    Also agree with you on Zlat

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