O'Kelly Isley III

And there we have the last two plus years for Dumbarton captured in a nutshell; this is a Stenny v Sons thread and the last ten posts (now make that eleven) are from Sons fans serving only to highlight how we have never achieved a settled or balanced midfield over that time. And therein lies the nub of the team's problems, as it's the area which protects the back line and creates for the forwards. The only thing I will add is that mention must be made of Kalvin Orsi, lovely guy but possibly the living embodiment of our inconsistency in this area. But he is a winger, and one high on the mercurial scale, so an honourable exemption may be in order.

Ryan Blair has failed to convince me over a season and a half. He cost us very badly in the East Fife game, and the only comparable incident with Malcolm was when he went on his arse against Banks O'Dee, a game we went on to win. We can agree to disagree but we both know who'll be the more likely to start at Ochilview .

Not bad Jan, but the 'Blair' should have been in front of 'Malcolm' and not behind 'Ryan'.

That list omitted the lesser-spotted Luke Mahady who scored the Rose equaliser in the opening league fixture at NDP. I doubt I've ever seen us concede to a more ungainly runner.

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You forgot this guy..... https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1879648_1879646_1879696,00.html

Thanks Moonster. Just to be clear, due to problems beyond our control we couldn't offer the previous voting process but what is now requested is for the recipient to respond to the communication with their preferred choice of candidate.

Just a reminder to any Sonstrust members on here who haven't already voted to elect a new Trust Director to sit on the DFC Board that you have until Wednesday (31st) of this week to cast your ballot. There are two candidates. If you are a Trust member and you have yet to receive an Email or postal communication then please contact me here ASAP.

I was there and I recall a stunned, sullen silence. And the walk back down to the port area where there were dozens of coaches which had brought many Scots fans to Genoa was accompanied by a single drumbeat, which made it feel like Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.

Well done Sons, a good three points at a difficult venue. Safe journey home everyone.

Malcolm has mobility to get about the pitch, Blair hasn't. Malcolm has the physical presence to win tackles, Div Wilson hasn't. Blair and Wilson have had a season and a half to convince, and haven't, whilst Malcolm has had half a season. Or am I missing something here ? And why isn't Luca Vata being considered ?

I think your last paragraph is key, and the issue is maybe another where long established political and legal norms are now floundering in the wake of rapidly-moving modern media technology - see also internet content and regulation.

Genuine question. Whether it be the UK Government or the Scottish and Welsh administrations, are WhatsApp messages legally classed as official communications ?

No match preview for tomorrow on the OS I see. Normally I'd be disappointed at that, but the way things are going at this club I really can't be arsed.

Actually, I believe the initiative was from the local Directors on the club Board and apart from providing a better playing surface with multiple usage, such an investment would lock the club in place at The Rock as recipients of any grants face issues if they move within a certain timeframe. As far as I can gather the 'charlatan owners' have raised no objections, but that may count for nothing. As may the project itself.

This is a woman, yes ? Perhaps with connections to the local authority, or a particular political party ? Apart from sounding like borderline corruption this sounds like a gross waste of public monies.

A forensic accounting firm you say....got any contact details ?

If these figures are holding in the last week of October there will be genuine grounds for concern, but we're nine months out from that and a lot can yet happen. God might even die before then.

I believe there may be a delay as ultra-narrow plastic pitches need to be custom-made in China. Expect it to arrive on the new MV Sannox.

Express and Mail you say ? Clicks 'Off' button.

Which begs the question why wasn't that the criteria this season, or maybe it was and it's been watered down. And contracts can always be renegotiated, on the assumption that there was no agreed review clause. But if it turns out as you suggest I expect a few people will find other things to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Aye, up to a point Your Honour. We will now see out this season with three loanees in Hogarth, Newbury and Lennon, and whilst the first two look very decent for this level, and hopefully young Lennon too, I doubt any of them will be here next season. We look as if we are literally limping thro this campaign, and if Hogarth were to get injured we're again up shit creek. Some of that is down to rotten luck, eg Greig Young and Brett Long, but there's a general feeling of drift about things and even if we retain a top four place is anyone feeling confident about overcoming teams we've really struggled against ? Taking everything into account over the past three seasons I would consider that finishing in the top four but remaining in League Two come May should not preclude an urgent review of the team management.

I think your last sentence is key, and as sure as dammit if the candidate HADN'T been upfront then there would have been no shortage of folk sniping about it - damned if you do and damned if you don't, but with the connection out in the open at least Trust members can now make a decision based on knowledge.

God aye, I remember that night well but with little affection. The first game at Links Park finished 0-0 with Dougie McCracken breaking his leg - hilariously described in The Reporter as a fractured labia (!). We were awful in the replay and big Jim Dempsey had probably his worst game in a Son's shirt. Montrose were decent and well worth their win with Martin 'Franco Causio' Allan particularly impressive. A wee footnote re the seething home fans. Later that week I listened to a radio phone-in when a Celtic fan was talking (familiar) pish about them being the most passionate supporters in the universe. Chick Young listened patiently and then tore him a new one, saying that the other night he was at Dumbarton and witnessed fans every bit as passionate as any other club, including Celtic, and to behave himself.

Yep, and it's only when you are actually in the abyss that you find out if you have people with the drive and commitment to get back out of it. Having been involved with the Bankies guys with Alan Findlay during their club's then death throes convinced me that they did, but boy have I been haunted ever since by the prospect of Dumbarton FC ever facing a similar fate. And that fear has heightened considerably in recent years. Anyone who thinks that these newspaper articles are sensationalist simply hasn't been paying attention.