O'Kelly Isley III

We lost 5-2 with McKerracher and Kane scoring for Sons. As far as I can gather it was a patchwork team with Kevin Smith starting and Aggy and McDougall taking part for some of the game. Interestingly, a tall centre-back trialist had a run out for us and apparently looked none too bad; pretty sure I know of the guy as described to me but I’ll keep schtum in case I’m wrong

Jeez....Martin McNiff, the dubious legend lives on. And it IS a legend, we've moved on now from guys like him, Creaney and Chizzy all of whom did their bit but it's now time to concentrate on the here and now. And if that means Mark McLaughlin tutoring Joe Coleman into the first team squad then fine by me. Or bringing in another centre-back. One thing's for sure, there's no room for sentiment in the Championship, especially for guys who were never that braw in the first place.

Let's hope A) no-one gets clattered, and B) there are some potential new players in the mix.

Welcome aboard Chris, I'm liking the look of this lad

Hugh Murray has not been brilliant, but he has made a significant contribution during his loan spell here, as has Aaron Barry, and if these guys depart in January then there will be gaps for sure. Nish has just not cut it for me; lots of nice laying-off but it's all with his back 40 yards from goal and we need much, much more from our strikers than that. The problem is, now that BP is being shunted around to accommodate two underperforming squibs in Nish and occasionally Smith our goal threat has virtually evaporated whilst we are still conceding at the other end. And for it's worth, I'm not at all convinced by Megginson either but he seems to fly below the critics radar on here - just why is that ? The occasional good goal apart I just don't think he is contributing enough. It goes without saying that the next few games are becoming vital, I just wish I had more confidence as they approach.

Jamie Longworth at Stranraer seems to know his way to goal, what's the script there ?

Apparently several bookings had given addresses as Hiram Walker's Caravan Park, Glasgow Road, Dumbarton.

Absolutely spot-on Jordo, this planning application, if granted, will simply be used as a vehicle for Brabco to achieve their original aim of selling the land for housing. 'Denny Homes is their decoy; it will not lay a brick but will offload the site to one of any number of parties, although the land would not reach the original valuation in the current climate. This all dovetails with the hints and whispers of 'parking problems', 'bad neighbours', etc., bizarrely mostly emanating from within DFC; it has been the equivalent of taking a hatchet to your own floorboards. In other words there has been a concerted effort to talk DFC out of a perfectly fit for purpose, if modest, facility in order to turn a coin which will enable a new ground to be built whilst leaving profit to be skimmed off. Now I don't know about you guys, but the first bit of that equation, eg planning and consent and sale of land looks a whole lot more doable than the new facility bit. There is already wild talk of a ground near Kilmalid with retail facilities and a hotel complex - has no-one looked at Kilmarnock's woes - and I really fear that the elephant on the DFC badge could very soon turn out to be white.

Anyway guys, to a matter of the utmost importance, we need a really strong uptake on this....happy to respond to any queries.

Not harsh BBPF, idiotic. Nothern Ireland and Wales have historically been pretty pish - did that make George Best and Ryan Giggs diddies ??

I have nothing against this lad, but I am bemused at the reputation such a one-paced and one-footed defender has acquired with some of our fans. We are looking to establish ourselves in our current division and I'm afraid that requires a certainly quality of player - I don't want him to feature this season, as simple as that. For every game he 'saved' I'll give you two serious mistakes, many of which have been costly.

So, McNiff off to Annan again according to OS. Better hit Asda whilst there's still champagne left

Just been on a Blades fans forum and one guy says young Barry reminds him of Phil Jagielka, that would do me

On paper that looks like a very attractive rabbit that's just been pulled from the hat !!

Aye, you could well be right Moonster, but we all need to remember that we have a managerial team here, and from what I hear Jack Ross is becoming quite influential; apparently he advocated Owen Ronald's signing and we know he was instrumental in McDougall joining us last term, so maybe it's a joint call. All well and good providing we end up with a reasonable squad, but I'm a wee bit worried that as of now I don't see a settled starting eleven. Where does/will Megginson play ? Is it to be Phinn or Kirkpatrick, or both, or neither ? Prunty from the start or not ? All will be revealed.

Scott Linton is an experienced player, so why we he be put out on loan ? Isn't everyone rushing to judgement very quickly on a guy whom the Cowden fans rated highly ? I mean, FFS, we had to endure way more of Creaney than was good for us so let's at least give the lad a chance. As for centre-mid I've already suggested that having both McDougall and Gilhaney in the same line-up is a luxury we cannot afford, so here's another suggestion, a midfield of Gilhaney, Turner, Phinn and Linton. See what I did there, I left out Aggy who I don't think gives us enough in the all round sense. I don't want another season of teams passing it thro us. That would obviously see Smith return to left back and the addition of a central defender but I thing we're all agreed on that anyway.

Aye, and maybe we should really park this Ian Murray and Hibs guff. He has a job at Dumbarton, and whilst he deserves to have credit in the bank after last season, the honeymoon is effectively now over for him and Jack Ross and we start again with a blank sheet of paper. Finding a reliable centre-back and a means of stopping the midfield being over-run are I think the immediate priorities for the management team.

Aye, at face value this looks a strange one but perhaps Murrinho realises that as the season wears on we are likely to need someone who can hit the ground running as opposed to having sat on a bench or in a stand. However, for that to happen the lad will have to overcome the strong tradition of guys being loaned out never to be seen in first team action again. And have we sorted central defence out yet ??

I'm not seeing anything here - WTF ???

I'm not seeing a lot of physical presence here. Is Ross Smith still in the frame ?

Back to the fitba......anyone know if a loan has been arranged for the Ross Smith laddie, and not having seen him, how do we rate Jordan Kilpatrick ?

No-one should be getting bent out of shape before the season starts but we are looking a wee bit lightweight it has to be said....

Jee-sus, that's put me right off my pint of Deuchars No harm to the lad, but I hope his inclusion today isn't a precursor to a signing offer.

So, what have we heard ?