Sweet Pete

That Edinburgh City game was a disgrace.

I was surprised McLean stayed on after his first booking, particularly when he pulled Byrne back when he was furthest up and otherwise clean through, but the ref bafflingly didn't blow for a foul when he blew for loads of others.

Indeed and it was chocker as a result. Thankfully I wisely parked elsewhere as it would take all night getting out of the club carpark. The 2nd half wasn't quite as good a quality as the first, though both keepers were tested multiple times. Dumbarton fan favourite Gregg Wylde had 4 involvements in the 2nd half; 2 misplaced passes, a dribble which ended in a misplaced pass and a corner which he shanked straight out for a GK. He was subbed for Ally Love around the 70 minute mark and though Love was only on the pitch 20 minutes and didn't make much contribution, he harried, covered defensively and punted the ball forward to the strikers multiple times, which is far more than Wylde achieved in 70 minutes. Not only does he use the ball poorly when he gets a rare touch, but he doesn't even go looking for it. Heart of a mouse as I've said time and again. Hopefully not one of those being offered a new deal. The game fell a bit flat towards the end with both sides looking knackered. Referee seemed to lose the plot for 5 or 10 minutes midway through the 2nd period and made some questionable calls. Fairly muted from the decent sized Albion support, which was odd given the chances of us overtaking them are about as likely as me pumping Margot Robbie. We looked knackered towards the end and I imagine we'll be taking the "easy does it" approach to the next 3 matches to avoid injuries before the playoffs. Kalvin Orsi or Peter Grant probably my man of the match. Really hope we offer Grant a deal for next season as he's unflappable, vocal with the others and has a great knack of being in the right place when he has to be.

Both teams playing nice stuff, particularly on the counter, though neither keeper has been worked. Div Wilson having a barnstorming first half. He's been everywhere. Dale Carrick similarly for Albion. Everything good we've done has come down the right (mainly Orsi, with some help from Lynas, but Lynas passing has been hit and miss), or through Wilson and Gray in the middle. Byrne has worked his socks off. Our left side has been mainly uninvolved and rubbish when called on so far. Wylde has touch the ball 3, possibly 4, times and each one has been detrimental to our play. McNiff has tried a bit at least, but first 45 all the play has been down our right, Albion's left and the centre for both sides. Fairly even and entertaining match so far.

Really hope it goes well for Agnew at Stranraer. I absolutely love Aggy. One of my all time favourite lower league players.

You've miscounted. That would only be 8.5 goals. Idiot.

I'd quite like to use software or a time machine to watch Chapman's division three team against Farrell's. Chapman's side was all about stylish attacking play and Farrell's is built on solidity. It'd make an interesting stylistic clash.

I'm a humble man. I don't even like being called Pete nowadays, it feels infantile. I was Sweet Pete to all and sundry for 15+ years. I'll need to adopt a new moniker or nom de plume. Or get a new tattoo that rhymes with my name like the last one.

And it's Mr Pete to the likes of you.

Chapman won us a league title using only 35 players, chasing the leaders until the end of the season and on a budget only 5 times our current one, so maybe you shouldn't judge the man.

When he first started out with us he was used all over by the Poundland Tinkerman, Jim Chapman. He played at left back, centre back, left of a back three, left wing back in a middle five, left of a midfield four and centre mid.

It's a tough employment market, you need to do something to stand out.

Steady and dependable. Not a wing wizard who'll charge up the flank crossing balls, but plays left full back like a centre half, which is really what he is. Good, unspectacular player. We knew what we were getting since he started out with us. Brings solidity and steadiness. Neither of our first choice full backs this season are guys who'll storm up and down playing like wingers, like we had in days gone by with boys like Nicky Devlin or Ryan Finnie. But both are decent players I'd be glad to see kept on.

Pretty disappointed tbqhwy. They seemed like such nice, polite young men.

Be some laugh if we win this and the East Fife game on Saturday.

You're not telling me these wagner lads are up to no good? Surely not.

I don't see the management situation changing at the club, so the squad retention is to be expected and not surprising given the budget constraints. I'd like to see the spine of the team retained, but the squad players can go in the hope of better use of the budget in the off season. I wouldn't want us to be taking the entire squad back on for the next season (or 2). We are where we are and nothing any of us on here thinks will make any difference to the situation. That being the case, if we're handing out deals, I'd hope to see Long, Gray, Lynas, Orsi, McKee, Wallace, Byrne, Blair, Buchanan, McNiff retained. Since some of those have already got deals for next season (Long, Gray, Blair), that's fair enough. I wouldn't have given deals to MacLean and Wilson personally, but again I'm not making the decisions. I appreciate Wallace, McKee and Byrne have had injury problems, but when fit they're good players for our level. Keeping them fit though is a challenge and a gamble we've seen have negative impacts this season. I'd have no problem with Grant staying on either.

I read it as 4 worthwhile players given extensions and 1 inconsistent one. Hence 4 out of 5.

Close game

Bonnyrigg are the team who've impressed me the least at the Rock so far this season, and their league position isn't a surprise based on what I've seen. However, we're mince currently and only have enough bodies for a 5s team, so it's anyone's game here.

If you use the phrase "dungfarton" then you have no right to slag other people's patter.

The pie stall staff just delivered them all straight to Clarko_son

Handbags. I was joking, yes.

Club statement https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/club-statement-dumbarton-vs-stirling-albion/

First time I've ever seen The Troubles described as "simple".