O'Kelly Isley III

January 27

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

January 27

23 minutes ago, squeezebox-son said:

Yep, I don't particularly rate Malcolm and I think Div Wilson blows hot and cold but RB just doesn't offer enough and is consistently poor (albeit he didn't have a terrible game vs The Rangers last week at LB).

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 ?

January 27

5 minutes ago, Left Back said:

No idea about legally but on a government owned device using an app that’s sanctioned for info processing by official policy I think any right-minded person would regard that as official comms. As it’s a government owned device they own the data on it unless it’s clearly labelled as personal.

In a BYOD scenario where someone is using whatsapp on a non-government device that’s a lot less clear but the enquiry has shown (i think they had to go to court for this as well) they can compel individuals to hand this over.

One of the obvious lessons is to have a better policy on what mediums can or can’t be used to conduct official business. Compliance retention of information processed on mobile devices isn’t as seamless or mature as things like email journaling or landline call recording but there are tools available to do it.

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.

January 27

8 hours ago, Left Back said:

It really isn’t a non-story. Despite what you might think about it the notional idea of the enquiry is to understand what went on during the pandemic to learn lessons. Without access to all the information it can’t do that. Whether it has a hope in hell of achieving those objectives even with all the information is an entirely different question.

It’s brought to light a somewhat lax attitude to record keeping by the Scottish Government so the processes can’t be examined. Depending on your point of view this could be classed as stupidity, incompetence or an organised cover-up.

If it wasn’t an issue I doubt the FM would be apologising about it both in FMQ’s and at the enquiry itself or starting both an internal and external review about it.

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

January 26

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.

January 25

1 hour ago, pleslie99 said:

Dumbarton Academy has had local residents greeting for years, when I was at school and we used to play on the rugby pitch after school. Some old dick used to come moan about the noise.

@Jan Vojáček you are correct about the number of pitches in the area but they are under used, mainly due to price I think.
the vale academy is hardly used (most evenings it sits empty and there are rarely games at the weekend), Argyll and Dumbarton East are well used but mainly due to Vale (Argyll) and DU (east) who have priority on both.
If we did put a pitch down it would be used, but I don’t think it would be packed out as much as you think. Bearing in mind the best midweek let’s would be tied up by us and no doubt Broomhill, it wouldn’t leave much time for anyone else.

the initial cost is the biggest issue, like you I have no idea where this would come from and my fear is it was another empty promise from our charlatan owners

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.

January 25

27 minutes ago, Urban Spaceman said:

worlds full of them unfortunately, problem here was this was a well connected "Sad C*nt". most would complain to the council and nothing happens. This individual had the number to go right to the top and it worked. No more community bookings on a site where a school has been for 50+ years..

Needs reviewed, a check of the deeds on the original and new school build, such a waste.

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.

January 25

5 hours ago, the snudge said:

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

January 24

2 hours ago, 10menwent2mow said:

I just think that moderate Americans are sleepwalking their way towards a 2nd Trump term. The Republicans are 4/5 to win the election (Dems 11/10) and Trump is 1/33 to be their candidate.

Trump is 5/6 to be president (Biden 15/8). Now I know the bookies aren't always correct but this whole 'It won't happen' shtick didn't go too well in 2016 and can see it being the same again this time round.

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.

January 23

15 minutes ago, FifeSons said:

We’ve already been promised that by the board for next season, so I’m absolutely 100% convinced that it will most definitely happen…

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.

January 23

18 hours ago, D Angelo Barksdale said:

There's a podcast called Planet Holyrood about Scottish politics. It's presented by Paul Hutcheon, Daily Record politics editor who is usually joined by politics reporters from the Express and Mail and so on. I've never listened to it, but it sounds fucking awful tbqh. Each to their own though.

I'll second Conter which I've listened to fairly regularly over the past couple of years. Most of the better content is pay stuff on Patreon though and it's not really regularly updated. Nothing for three weeks, then two podcasts in a day and so on. While it's mainly Scottish politics focused, some of the better stuff is about UK and world issues.

I listen to The Popular Show as well. Another Left podcast, but guests from across the political spectrum, not really much Scottish stuff here though.

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

January 23

23 minutes ago, FifeSons said:

Agreed, but that's not going to happen. With a year left on his contract, I imagine at best he'll be told it's promotion or bust next season.

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.

January 23

27 minutes ago, Bring Back Paddy Flannery said:

I said at the start of the season that offering guys like Byrne a deal is just a complete waste of a wage. When he was fit and firing last season he was a decent enough striker at this level but that simply wasn’t often enough. Trimming guys like him, MacLean and Broun and bringing in the two defenders, Kelly and Hogarth is really good business IMO - deadwood gone and guys who can contribute something brought in.

Has there been any further update on Callum Wilson’s fitness/potential return?

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.

January 23

11 hours ago, FifeSons said:

I was thinking that, too… I’d probably have avoided mentioning that. I guess the rest of the Hosies have done well by DFC (as far as I know). Maybe he just wanted to be fully transparent about the connection.

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.

January 22

4 hours ago, Ivo den Bieman said:

Quite the trip down Memory Lane here & some long forgotten faces from my early days watching league football.

My first ever Montrose game was in December 1990 at Boghead- a 4-1 Scottish Cup win. The home support was seething and calling for poor old Billy Lamont's head at the end. Montrose were streets better that night against a poor Dumbarton side. Hard to believe they'd been in the Premier League four or five season before that.

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.

January 22

1 hour ago, Sweet Pete said:

They had to wander, go bust, reform at the lowest Junior level and then rebuild for 20 years to get where they are now (tier 6). So, yes, the journalist's point is valid.

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.

January 22

Some random pics.

January 21

28 minutes ago, The Moonster said:

I'm probably coming across more annoyed than I am here so I'll leave it there.

^ ^ ^

Dumbarton's answer to Jimmy Choo.

January 21

Just now, Jan Vojáček said:

Yeah I feel for the kids who would've been looking forward to it and missed out. But I also know there would've been a few who maybe would've been spooked by the occasion. Not sure I'd fancy being a ball boy in front of the away end at 26, let alone 6 or 7!

I think the club got this spot-on, and there is an obvious duty of care to the children involved, disappointing as it may have been for some of them. One distressed kid is one too many.

January 21

40 minutes ago, Jan Vojáček said:

We’re done for the window Faz confirmed. Shiels going out has been known about for about 10 days, and is why we were able to add players this month.

I’m sure Moreroom don’t exist anymore (shock…) I had looked them up the other day. That’s pretty poor stuff from Viaplay and a very basic mistake that just shows a lack of care. Almost as bad as the Dun abbreviation.

I think you'll find that MoreRooms never existed in a functional sense. There was a website showing photos of conservatories which was basically an electronic advert - no built examples, reviews or TrustPilot entries is very strange for a consumer business.

As for last night's sponsorship, well we don't have a great track record in turning shirt logos into coin, do we ?

January 20

15 minutes ago, Laurie Williams Loyal said:

And the second, as I have stated previously he is not good enough

As you well know LWL the goalkeeping position is a specialist one, and it also defines the relationship with, and confidence levels in, the defence. Whilst Harry Broun can make decent saves, especially on one-on-ones, confidence and positioning at cross balls and corners are too often a lottery and that often sees him fall short on that criteria above. I have to agree with you.

January 20

My main takeaway was of all the mediocre players I've seen at The Rock, tonight was probably the first Portuguese speaker.

January 20

Firstly, that was a great effort from our guys; in games like this all I ask is that we compete and we did that fully. Special mention to Michael Ruth who ran his heart out in a thankless role up front.

But it was a strange game. Rangers play like an AI project; all tippy-tappy and zipping the ball about to largely f**k-all effect, and it became obvious after 25 minutes that we weren't watching this season's Cup winners.

All of which makes the two goals we then conceded so damned annoying, as they were avoidable. And sadly they also confirmed what many of us had feared beforehand.

More positively we deserved a goal and when it came it was a beauty, with Ryan Wallace delivering our only dangerous cross of the game. And if that's Matty Shiels last contribution then thanks for the memories big chap.

So we pocket the cash and now move on. Tonight changes nothing where the league is concerned but at least we all saw the softest penalty awarded in Europe this weekend.

January 20

Very well played Spartans.

January 20

18 minutes ago, pleslie99 said:

I don’t think betting against Dumbarton as a Dumbarton fan is particularly strange logic. We are unlikely to win, in fact i doubt there will be anyone that thinks we will. Cashing in on what could be a big rangers win is not a strange concept. I’m sure there are a few folk with a couple quid on us at ridiculous odds, but more in hope than expectation.

I'll admit that I don't have the betting gene, and that influences my view. However, the thought of the opposition being five goals ahead after say 73 minutes and hoping that they add another couple against my team is one I can easily live without. But maybe I'm strange.

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