Francesc Fabregas
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Posts posted by Francesc Fabregas
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The 2023/24 version of League 2 looks even more competitive than last season - there are no outstanding favourites, just a couple of sides who have signed a bit better than the others, and, other than Elgin City and maybe Clyde, no teams you look at and think: they're done for. There are probably six sides you'd fancy to challenge for promotion while the others scrap it out to avoid bottom,
1 - Stenhousemuir
I'm loathe to rank Stenhousemuir at first place but I think, on the whole, they look the best of a mediocre bunch, even if it's only slightly. Gary Naysmith has addressed a number of problem areas (goalkeeper, midfield) and has signed reasonably well and early. Darren Jamieson is a superb goalie and I'm really intrigued by James Berry. There's still a bit of work to be done, and a new left-back and a striker are necessities, but I think this could be a fruitful year for the Warriors. Cue another disappointing campaign and a lot of soul searching!2 - Dumbarton
Dumbarton have probably done the best business in League 2 and I look and their incoming players and think: yeah. I would have pegged them as favourites but the toxic relationship between Stevie Farrell and the support could prove to be detrimental (and it feels he's a couple of bad results away from being chased out of the Rock) and the decision to groundshare with the awful Broomhill seems plain stupid given how wretched their pitch was last season after hosting Rangers B. A lot of good in there but a lot of bad too.3 - Forfar Athletic
In Mr Raymond McKinnon, Forfar Athletic have one of the best managers in the division and have a solid, capable squad. Matty Allan and Mark Whatley are good signings, the latter especially, and if Stuart Morrison can stay fit they have a strong defence. Craig Slater is a huge loss but I'm keen to see if Kieran Inglis can perform to a similar standard he did for Brechin City last term and fill that void in the middle of the park.4 - East Fife
Business has been slow, with only two players coming in, but there's a lot to like about this East Fife team. Last season, their youngsters got better as the campaign went on and they eventually finished in the play-offs. I'm surprised Jack Healy is sticking around as I felt a full-time club would come in for him but I expect him to be one of the stand-out players this year. Nathan Austin should be the best striker in the division but I have my doubts over his fitness. I'd expect him to get about 20 goals otherwise.5 - Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic were, to me, the worst side I saw in League 2 last season but I was impressed at how they got to grips with the division over the final third and ultimately stayed up. I imagine everyone associated with the club will be taking things a bit more seriously this time around and the players will be fitter and more purposeful going into the new campaign (just look at Kieran McGachie's physical transformation since January). Paddy Martin is one of the best signings any team in the league has made so far and I'm keen to see how Josh Grigor progresses - he's developing into a cracking defender.6 - Stranraer
Stranraer were going nowhere under Jamie Hamill but have shown a degree of promise in the handful of matches under Scott Agnew. Keeping the likes of Craig Ross, Matty Grant and Dylan Forrest is huge - all three impressed me at times over the course of the season - and I think Tam Orr could be a useful signing if he's used properly (ie, everything is laid on a plate for him and he doesn't have to think). There are a few too many over-the-hill players at the club, however, and there's a lack of depth up front which could cost them a promotion challenge.7 - Peterhead
Last season, Peterhead were one of, if not the very worst, side in the SPFL, whose relegation was foreshadowed as soon as they pitched up for their League Cup ties. Ryan Strachan and Jordan Brown have dispensed with traversing the globe to sign players and instead have brought together a mixed bag. Kieran Shanks and Scott Ross are good signings; Kieran Gibbons and Jordan Armstrong are not. Arresting the club's slide is the priority this season.8 - The Spartans
The SPFL's new boys don't appear to have the quality to make an immediate impact in the division but they should have the wherewithal to stay up. Someone elsewhere described them as "Bonnyrigg without the Crazy Gang mentality" and that seems about right. Dougie Samuel has signed very well, however, and I think most clubs would have taken on the likes of James Craigen, Danny Denholm and Ayrton Sonkur - all three will add experience and quality and all will have a vital role to play.9 - Clyde
In his first interview with the club website, new manager Brian McLean said he wanted his team to be fit and energetic; the next day, he signed Ross Forbes. A weird mixture of maybe-not-good-enough-for-the-SPFL upstarts and past-their-best dumplings, I can't see Clyde having much of an impact this season. The club feel in limbo as the potential move to Crownpoint drags on and finances are tight. Keeping the Bully Wee in the SPFL will be McLean's sole target.10 - Elgin City
The decline of Elgin City over the past couple of seasons has been stark. A decent team who were often "there or thereabouts", they're the only club in the Championship, League 1 or League 2 who have failed to sign a player and if I was a supporter, I'd be concerned. At times, they were a one-man team with Kane Hester but now he's left, they seem bereft. If Ross Draper is looking to flesh out the current group with loan signings, I'd expect a very long, very difficult season ahead.2 -
Information for season tickets is here!
Delighted to say I've already signed up for the 2023/24 season and I hope to see you all there.
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2 hours ago, Brian Carrigan said:
I think we're more likely to see Forbes out on the right to swing balls in. Absolutely no way he can be trusted as a no. 10. He cannot move. I believe he played on the right mainly for Stenny last season although @Francesc Fabregas will be able to advise properly. At least if he's out there, he can tuck in to allow the overlap.
Aye, if you're playing a 4-2-3-1 system, that's where you'll most likely see Ross Forbes. He did play as part of the two on occasion (can youimagine a slower midfield than Forbes and Nat Wedderburn!) and sometimes as a false nine, which he was remarkably adept at. I've said before, he definitely has talent and unique skillset but it's just incompatible with the demands of modern lower-league Scottish football.
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On 16/06/2023 at 11:48, Francesc Fabregas said:
I was hoping the club would have announced details for season tickets for the year ahead by this point, while we're at it.
Still no word - Stenhousemuir FC, please, take my money! I want to watch you next season!
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Just now, 1320Lichtie said:
Also thought this and found it hilarious how much Ferry etc bigged him up about how good he was with his feet.
David Wilson was at Stenhousemuir the season before joining Open Goal Broomhill. He's the very definition of a "lower-league back-up goalkeeper". You know exactly the type of goalie I'm talking about - very short, about 19 or 20, only ever likely to play if the first-choice 'keeper gets injured or sent off. Wilson got into the starting XI after some horrendous performances from Ryan Marshall but it quickly became apparent he was no better than the man he replaced and he too was eventually dropped. I don't remember him being particularly good with his feet and was surprised Simon Ferry talked this quality up. I also found it hard to believe he'd turned down offers from bigger clubs to move to Broomhill because I didn't see a single thing from him to suggest he's got the minerals. Wilson said he's keen to get back into full-time football but unless every full-time goalkeeper in Scotland is struck down with locked-in syndrome at once, I can't see it happening.
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2 hours ago, Crazy Feet said:
He's a great keeper to be fair. Only thing he's lacking is height. If he was 6ft plus he would be playing a lot higher I'd imagine.
Surprised they also brought in the Darvel number 2. Thought they might go for the Broomhill keeper who Si seemed to like?
Davie Wilson seems like a nice lad and he came across well in the Open Goal Broomhill documentaries but, from watching their highlights over the course of the season, he seemed to chuck in a goal every game. He might be decent enough with the ball at his feet but what's the point when he can't "catch crosses" or "save shots"?
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I was hoping the club would have announced details for season tickets for the year ahead by this point, while we're at it.
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Clyde fans have had it far worse than most other supporters over the last 15 years or so but if you had to pick, who would make your all-time worst XI from that period?
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2 hours ago, Otis Blue said:
How did Gavin Reilly fare for you guys in his loan spell at the end of the season?
Not terrible, not amazing, I think it's fair to say. There were times where Gavin Reilly looked like a smashing player and you wondered why he was jobbing in League 2, and there were other times where he looked as bad as everyone else. The tactic of "hit balls over the top and see what happens" didn't really bring out the best of him, so I suppose Gary Naysmith has to take a bit of flak for that. You could never fault Reilly's endeavour though - he'd run and run and run all day long for the team.
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For the first time since 2006, Stenhousemuir are playing overseas!
The club have announced a pre-season friendly with Jersey Bulls, who are based in St Helier in Jersey, on Friday 28 July.
I hope to be there and I hope to see you there too. It could be an absolute cracker.
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9 hours ago, Old Fashioned Stramash said:
Regarding the new left back, I think Callum Yeats is without a club? I would gladly have him back in maroon.
Nah, I think we should be looking elsewhere. Callum Yeats is a very likable guy but he's been with us three times now and three times we've achieved nothing. That's not all down to him, obviously, but we need a break from the past couple of seasons.
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An updated squad for the 2023/24 season:
GOALKEEPERS
Darren Jamieson (signed from Kelty Hearts)
Curtis LyleDEFENDERS
Gregor Buchanan (signed from Dumbarton)
Nicky Jamieson
Jordan Lowdon
Ross Meechan (signed from Darvel)MIDFIELDERS
Mikey Anderson
James Berry (signed from the University of Stirling)
Adam Brown
Jordan Kirkpatrick (signed from Darvel)
Nat WedderburnFORWARDS
Matty Aitken (signed from Forfar Athletic)
Euan O'Reilly
Ross Taylor (signed from Auchinleck Talbot)
Matty YatesI reckon we're some defensive cover, a new left-back, a wide player and another striker away from having our team for next season!
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Michael Miller has left Stenhousemuir to reunite with Stephen Swift at Broomhill.
https://twitter.com/StenhousemuirFC/status/1668362542329262084
I'm sorry to see Miller moving on. I like him and I think he has something to offer this team but his face doesn't seem to fit anymore. He was terrific when Gary Naysmith took charge of the club In January and was playing with a real fire in his belly, but his performances badly tailed off to the extent he was no longer part of the starting XI. He began to look a little plodding towards the end and playing alongside Nat Wedderburn in the middle of the park made us look and feel slow and clunky. A change of scenery might do him good, although I'm surprised he's dropped into the Lowland League; he's certainly capable of doing a good job in League 2 (and maybe even League 1).
Good luck to him!
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1 hour ago, Pedro Cabeza said:
Totally agree about Hamish Ritchie.He was a massive loss to us being out for the whole of last season. O'Keefe and Jack Brown are quite capable of getting forward and causing problems and McKee will make up for the loss of Jack Wilkie who was taking most of the corners and free kicks towards the end of last season. The only new signing I can't find much about is Kieran Gibbons.We've signed him from Broomhill so I suppose Si must have put a good word in for him but I can't find any record of him playing last season and the only comments on here are a big negative from his time at Cowdenbeath. The photo of him on the website is an old one from his Aberdeen youth days clearing from Gary Fraser. There's a player I would love to have seen back at the club.
Stenhousemuir signed Kieran Gibbons after winning promotion to League 1 in 2018. Gibbons had apparently been the Lowland League Player of the Year with East Kilbride the previous season and was billed as an aggressive ball-winning midfielder. In the first league game of the season against Brechin City, he collected two garbage yellow cards and was sent off before half time and I think everyone immediately lost faith in him from that point onwards.
Gibbons is a real "nothing player". He's quite good at keeping things ticking over in the middle of the park but he's not a goal threat, isn't creative, is positionally unsound and easily turned over in transition. I remember he always liked to "show" for the ball only to have it taken straight off him by an opponent. We signed him on a two-year contract and allowed him to leave after just one. He returned to East Kilbride before his spells with East Stirlingshire and Open Goal Broomhill. I'm really surprised he's back in the SPFL - he might have improved in the four years since I last saw him but I think this level is just too much for him to compete at.
Signing mediocre players from mediocre Lowland League clubs is not a recipe for success!
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Certainly not the worst player I've seen at Stenhousemuir - he scored one of the best goals I've ever seen in the 3-2 win at Annan Athletic earlier in the year - but his lack of fitness, drive and application badly let him and the team down. As I wrote on the Clyde thread, his unique skillset, coupled with his unwillingness to move, make him such a luxury that it's almost impossible to find a role for him in your team. For all that you gain, you lose so much and I don't think he's quite good enough to build a team around to accommodate him.
Good luck, Clyde! Be prepared to be "annoyed"!
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1 minute ago, David W said:
Ross Forbes was a good player with a cracking left foot.
As far as I'm aware, he now can't run.
On the plus side, he might score a free kick, which is something we literally never do.
No mate, he only scored two free-kicks in his time at Stenny and those were in pre-season friendlies in 2021 against Benburb and Syngenta, two heavyweights of the game.
Everything else was skied over the bar or crashed into the wall.
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7 minutes ago, Scott-Replay said:
Ross Forbes ffs
Be prepared to see an incredibly talented footballer who can do things that no other player in the country can do, but who has zero interest in "running", "tracking back", "defending" or "trying". If you can utilise him in a way where he doesn't have to do any of these things, you could have a very useful signing but his role is so niche that it's almost impossible to accommodate him into any modern side. He also gasses after about 50 minutes.
He did score one of the best Stenhousemuir FC goals I've ever seen earlier in the year against Annan Athletic, right enough, so who knows!
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We've been drawn alongside St Johnstone, Ayr United, Alloa Athletic and Stirling Albion in the Viaplay Cup group stage, and that's interesting.
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11 minutes ago, The Moonster said:
Sean Crighton next in the door.
Hmm. It seems like Dumbarton and Stenhousemuir have just done a straight swap for their centre-backs! I liked Sean Crighton - he's a good ambassador, he's likely to be made your new captain, he really looks the part, he's a handsome big laddie and he's a smashing guy - but his time at Ochilview was probably a failure, all things considered. Sure, he can header the ball all day long and is good for about five or six goals a season but for someone of his supposed pedigree (and wage - we had apparently gazumped Kelty Hearts to sign him back in 2021), I expected a lot better. He's prone to losing concentration at the worst possible moments and he's capable of the odd howler. He's also a terrible passer and there was nothing more dispiriting than watching him amble of out defence and shelling the ball straight out of play. I actually think you might have downgraded a little from Gregor Buchanan to Crighton. I don't think we got value for money or ever really saw him at his best.
Crighton wasn't a player I was keen on keeping on and I think the change of scenery will do both him and Stenhousemuir good. He's a top boy and I hope he can do you a decent turn. A lot of Dumbarton fans on social media are commenting saying this is a "great signing" but I'd be a bit more cautious about it.
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10 hours ago, Scott-Replay said:
‘Ped’ on Twitter is former Albion Rovers player Peter Innes. He’s frequently on the wind up on Twitter, so I wouldn’t read anything into the Broomhill stuff.
"Ped" also broke the news that Simon Ferry was stepping down as manager days before it was officially announced, so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt with this one.
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"Hurricane" Dan Higgins has reunited with Stephen Swift at Broomhill.
I'm unsure if he was any good or not. His first start for the club - a 3-0 defeat at Stirling Albion where he cost us a goal before being sent off, all within the first four minutes - was the most hapless performance I've ever seen from a player but there were times he looked capable enough. If he can stay fit he might do his new side a decent turn.
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11 hours ago, Burnieman said:
Maybe a post that Dumbarton FC should be reading.
I wrote about this on the Dumbarton thread in the League 2 forum but if relations between BSC Glasgow/Broomhill and Maryhill were poor, why were both parties in discussion over a return to Lochburn Park last summer? George Fraser was interviewed on the first episode of the Open Goal Broomhill documentary where he discussed the genesis of the club and its nomadic existence. Fraser said the club held talks with Maryhill about a possible return until Simon Ferry nixed the proposal, saying the surface wasn't conducive to how he wanted to play football.
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Stenhousemuir FC will be voting no for the Conference League.
Great news all round. I'm pleased the club invited supporters to discuss the proposition and I'm pleased they've listened to how we feel about it.
Will it conclusively end discussions about colt teams? No, but we live to fight another day.
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The discussion surrounding BSC Glasgow's departure from Maryhill is interesting - I watched the Open Goal Broomhill documentaries on YouTube and there's a moment when they discuss the club would be spending the upcoming season. They looked set to return to Lochburn Park until Simon Ferry nixed the move (he wasn't happy with the surface as it wasn't conducive to the kind of football he wanted to play, and so the club went to Broadwood). It leads me to believe the relationship between the two parties can't have been as bad as was stated in previous posts!
(Not that I want to stick up for Broomhill, I think they're the most embarrassing, tragic club in the country and Dumbarton are tainted by association.)
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Stenhousemuir FC - The Warriors - The 2023/24 Thread
in Scottish League 2 General Chatter
Posted
The club have posted an interview with Gary Naysmith on Facebook, of all places (and if the media team are reading this: no-one uses Facebook anymore, please upload videos to YouTube going forward!) It was recorded on Saturday after our first week of pre-season training and it's a reasonably interesting listen, with the manager saying he's looking to bring in three (maybe four) more players before the end the campaign kicks off. He's looking to run with a squad of 18 or 19 players and with 15 signed up already, he's hoping to add quality, but that's apparently proving difficult at the moment; I reckon most League 2 sides are in the same position.
I suppose with Premiership and Championship sides having recently returned from their breaks, they'll have a better idea of who's staying and who's moving on, so maybe we'll pick up some of their cast-offs. We're still short of cover at left-back and we need another striker to work alongside Matty Yates but I'm confident we'll have a solid side in a couple of weeks.
I'll see you in Linlithgow next week!