Durnford

I wouldn't disagree there but I'm in the minority I'm afraid

I thought that but checking the fixtures I see he played in the Morton game which was also Iron Bru cup so assume he was off by then. He also played in the St Mirren game and was okay not any better than what we had already. The likes of Knox and Robinson have already out-performed him. In my opinion Keaghan Jacobs is already light years ahead. No doubt given the chance to settle he would have got better and basically the highly recommended status given by Dumbarton and QoS fans would seem to indicate that to be the case but I'm afraid I never saw it and he's evidently not been prepared to hang around (or Celtic insisted that he starts every game or the deals off). Basically in the time he was with us he was an unused sub in the Brechin City game; started against Morton and St Mirren; then came on as a sub against Morton (again); wasn't in the TNS game so assume he was already away.

Remember the Stirling Albion match when it was Kyle and Keaghan against Devon. They were really clattering each other and getting back up and laughing about it. I remember the referee being totally baffled about what to do about it; ordinarily he might have booked at least Devon and Kyle but the fact that they were laughing about it totally stumped him.

As a rule of thumb youth players are generally free in order to gain experience. Sometimes though this will come with a clause that the player must appear for a certain number of games in the first team (not just on the bench) Nowadays out-of-favour first team players normally come with a cost (unless the team are desperate to get rid) but as you say that depends on the agreement. I imagine we probably need to pay something for Toderov; particularly as this is his second spell with us.

They've all been posting above.

Wasn't overly impressed with Peters until the Kilmarnock game when he really put in a shift; running up and down the wing causing some real problems for the Killie right back. Strange he's not really been seen since though; he didn't even appear on the Stranraer game when Mullen was out on trial with Cardiff at all and for other games maybe ten or fifteen minutes as a sub; none of which have been in the league.

Actually as a footballer I'd have preferred Jamie Install but for his ex-football activities.

Heard a rumour that Neymar wont be joining us Its only a rumour mind

And he scored all his penalties as well - yes I get the point. However we have examples of players who have managed to make the step up (White for example) and those that haven't (Calum Elliot; Jordyn Sherrin; Jordan Morton; Kieren Somerville) As far as I recall all came with impressive stats and reports either from playing in lower leagues or been on loan to lower league clubs and thats not including the host of wingers and midfielders we've signed over the years following an impressive trial but failed to make an impact. Ryan may be able to step up; he may be the answer but my question would be if he was so good why haven't one of the big spending clubs in the championship stepped in for him. The reason for that maybe they weren't playing against him last season but even so you'd think clubs like Falkirk and St Mirren were pretty on the ball. His speed and acceleration is impressive; he nearly caught us out twice within the first ten minutes during our first league game at the Excelsior but other than that his fitness was appalling for someone of his age. His fitness can indeed be worked on but you would hope that a young man of 22 who wanted to make a career out of football wouldn't need telling that fitness was important. I'm sure Hopkins could get him up to the standard but that would probably mean he wouldn't be at the level we require until at least the new year. As an aside we have Dylan Machin and Josh Peters coming in with something to prove; I'm not saying we shouldn't try to get Ryan but do not ply to much weight of expectation on the guy. In my fifty plus years of watching football I've seen too many messiahs coming in (only to realise they're just very naughty boys - sorry - couldn't resist).

Ryan is untested at this level and certainly was well below the fitness levels required. Last season he seemed to completely fade out of the game after an hour.

Yep; James Young is quite a trek. Can you park at the college again? I thought they'd stopped it for a while?

Lithgow made mistakes but not as many as Crighton. Lithgow's main problem is that he cant kick the ball with his left foot; gawd knows why we keep playing him on the left. Crighton's main problem was that he couldn't turn if he lost the ball; good enough at going forward but shite in the air and poor tackling. Also see Brechin have signed Jordan Sinclair; they have a good lad there; never really got much of a chance with us but looked promising on occasions.

He wasn't really tested to be honest. Would need another game at least before I can give an opinion. The other trialists weren't any better than what we have already on the bench.

Checking the stats he's been on the books for a number of sides but didn't actually get a game for many of them. Sounds more like he's backup for Maley.

Actually I thought he could hold his own in the championship; sure he didn't often set the heather alight but put up a competent display and could never fault him for effort. As I recall he dropped a division in order to guarantee regular starting place.

Sorry but my reply did refer to the situation regarding development fees. If the player is past his 23rd birthday then I'm afraid a fee is not applicable. The theory is that you have already benefited from the cost of "development" by first team appearances.

As he's signed a pre-contract agreement I assume he's out of contract in the summer? The alternative might be for a development fee but from what I can see rule F24 reads: In the event that a Player is Registered to another Club on or prior to his 23rd birthday, the Club to whom that Player was last Registered shall, subject to Rule F26, be entitled to payment of a Development Contribution for the youth development of that Player if he was, during all or, where it is the case, part, of any Development Contribution Year in his Development Contribution Period, Registered to or Associated with that Club. Brown passed his 23rd birthday last June didn't he? Personally I hate pre-contract agreements in all their forms; how can a player be expected to concentrate on delivering 100% if he's already effectively signed up for another team. Okay; in this case the season is effectively over but that's not been the case for most PCA's. Just seems like a sneaky way of trying to frig the system.

It depends on what changes are made to the team in the summer. Personally I'd hate to see him go; even in the championship he's easily worth 14 - 15 goals a season. Unfortunately we do have a bit of previous where we let Iain Russell (we we thought we'd signed some numpty who ended up going to Raith). Russell went to QoS and was a thorn in our side for about three years after. If he does move on I suspect it would be to return to Alloa. Despite managing to score against them regularly he still manages to have a strong empathy with a large amount of their support and would probably be welcomed back with open arms. If the unthinkable were to happen I can only hope that Alloa do not win the play-offs. I really hope we do manage to extend his contract; even at 32 I think he still has a couple of good years in him; never stops running on the pitch and often puts some of the youngsters to shame. Moving to Ayr would be a real curved ball but I seen stranger things happen

BTW Hopkins has had Buchanan; Mullen; De vita; Carrick; Orr; Allen; Knox; Sommerville and Toderov as forwards so far this season - still time to get a couple more on loan.

The only logical reason I can think of is that Dale himself asked for a loan move to guarantee first team football. Any other reason is simply bizarre.

Currently we have Carrick; Mullin; Buchannan and De Vita don't we? Actually although I've yet to see him play in the position I believe Matthew Knox is also classified as a forward.

Why would we want another striker anyway? Our weakest point is a long term arrangement for a goalkeeper.

With both Crusaders and Livi not being particularly thrilled about staying in the competition I am reminded of an episode of Porridge where Lennie Godber had taken up boxing but "the genial" Harry Grout wanted him to throw the match; another gangland leader wanted his opponent to throw the match so it was a race against the clock as to who would hit the canvas first. I just have this vision of both teams playing their youth teams or its a case of who can score the most own goals.

Not sure anyone would be that keen to play TNS. With all due respect to The New Saints playing a game on a Sunday, televised but no share of the revenue, is a guaranteed all time low gate (you'd have to be some dedicated fan to make the 700 mile round trip on a Sunday when its already being shown live on S4C). Wouldn't be surprised if the losses for having to play this game far outstripped the fine or indeed the prize money for getting through to the next round. Maybe we could play it on the field turf if we get through? Realistically it would have been better for all parties is the tie had simply been awarded to Crusaders and they could then properly prepared to play TNS. To be perfectly honest it would probably make for more interesting television spectacle anyway. The bizarre thing is that we actually played a weakened team against the Crusaders last time with the reserve goalkeeper and another fringe player starting the game but couldn't leave Lithgow out for Neill. As far as I recall there's not limit on the number of first team players that have to be played in the Iron Bru cup; when we played Hearts a couple of seasons back they only played, I think, two first team players? I know a lot of the Livi support were upset that the original tie what held on a Friday night due to an agreement with the SFA and some pay per view channel and now its being held on a Tuesday night. As far as I could see there is no way of getting back from Belfast on the same night The £4,000 fine is a sore one but frankly the management have noone to blame but themselves.

Nothing would surprise me of Wilson