Jan Vojáček
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Posts posted by Jan Vojáček
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Good news! Sons are back in League One, and so is the big transfer thread!
Confirmed signings only; keep me updated and let me know what I've missed so far. Have tried to kill off all the loan players returning; but will likely have missed a couple. Or some other very early business.
Alloa Athletic
In:
Out: Taylor Steven (St Johnstone, loan expired), Ally Roy (East Kilbride, loan expired), Bobby Wales (Kilmarnock, loan expired), Ethan Sutherland (St Mirren, loan expired)
Annan Athletic
In:
Out: Ethan Mitchell (St Roch's), Dominic Docherty (Clyde), Jacques Heraghty (Queen's Park, loan expired), Oscar MacIntyre (Hibernian, loan expired), Kai Nugent (Carlisle United, loan expired), Josh Walker (Stranraer, loan expired), Aaron Brown (Kilmarnock, loan expired), Michael Ndiweni (Newcastle United, loan expired)
Arbroath
In: Calum Gallagher (Airdrieonians), Gavin Reilly (Queen of the South)
Out: Max Boruc (Hibernian, loan expired), Charlie Reilly (Dundee, loan expired), Adam MacKinnon (Ross County, loan expired), Connor Teale (Fleetwood Town, loan expired), Michael McKenna (Falkirk), Derek Gaston (Released), Ricky Little (Released), Kyle Robinson (Released), Darren Lyon (Released), Jess Norey (Released), Kenan Dunwald-Turan (Released), Keaghan Jacobs (Gala Fairydean Rovers), Zak Delaney (Released), Jay Bird (Released), Ali Adams (Released), Scott Allan (Released)
Cove Rangers
In:
Out: Cameron Stewart (Ipswich Town, loan expired)
Dumbarton
In:
Out: Cian Newbury (Hamilton Academical, loan expired), Jay Hogarth (Rangers, loan expired), Gallagher Lennon (St Mirren, loan expired), James Graham (Rangers, loan expired)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
In:
Out: Cammy Kerr (Dundee, loan expired), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (Leeds United, loan expired), Sean McAllister (Everton, loan expired), Aribim Pepple (Luton Town, loan expired), Max Anderson (Dundee, loan expired), Morgan Boyes (Livingston, loan expired), James Carragher (Wigan Athletic, loan expired), Alex Samuel (Ross County, loan expired), Samson Lawal (Livingston, loan expired)
Kelty Hearts
In:
Out: Brad McKay (Falkirk, loan expired), Lewis O'Donnell (Dundee United, loan expired), Reuben McAllister (Hibernian, loan expired), Alfie Bavidge (Aberdeen, loan expired), Joe McGlynn (Hamilton Academical, loan expired), Brody Paterson (Hartlepool United, loan expired), Jason Thomson (Retired), Liam Campbell (Released)
Montrose
In:
Out: Luke Graham (Dundee, loan expired)
Queen of the South
In:
Out: Gavin Reilly (Arbroath), Max Kilsby (Carlisle United, loan expired), Kyle McLelland (Hibernian, loan expired), Alex Ferguson (St Johnstone, loan expired), Harry Stone (Hearts, loan expired), Joel Mumbongo (Hamilton Academical, loan expired), Paul McKay (Clyde), Jordan Houston (Clyde), Efe Ambrose (Released), Gordon Botterill (Released), Cammy Logan (Released), Harvey Walker (Released), Jay Burns (Released)
Stenhousemuir
In:
Out: Edin Lynch (Released), Jordan Kirkpatrick (Released), Ben Stirling (Released)
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Should go to a public vote each season imo. East Kilbride? Nah. Linlithgow Rose? Come on up!
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2 minutes ago, accies1874 said:
I watched the first leg and bits of the second and thought he slotted into midfield nicely. Not expecting him to start for us - not immediately, anyway - but I hope he'll be given the opportunity to prove himself as Scott Martin's backup.
One thing that Zengin and Martin Mulligan deserve credit for is that they've been pretty good at sending players out on loan. Owens has come back from Kelty and had an incredible half-season, and it seems their fans have quite liked McGlynn too. Unfortunately, it sounds like McGinn's loan at Clyde has been unsuccessful. Kalala, Lane and potentially Redfern are the three who I think could benefit from a loan move next season.
Well your old pals in G82 will happily take them if they are half as good as Cian has been. Hopefully the Sean Crighton connection (and our promotion) means we can get someone in to benefit both clubs. We’ll need some reinforcements next season with the three loanees plus Michael Ruth and Finlay Gray likely moving on.
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Hi guys. Congratulations!
Just thought you'd like to know that Cian Newbury won YPOTY for us last night. He was also MOTM in the first leg win against Spartans, and was superb in Friday's final second leg. If you didn't manage to catch either on TV I'd recommend watching the first leg on the iPlayer if you're at a bit of a loose end. It basically summed up how good he's been for us in a 90 minute nutshell.
I think he could step into your side in the Championship next season and do a really good job. But if you're not wanting to risk that, then send him back to The Rock and we'll give him 36 games in League One next season.
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Brett signed a new two year deal in August of last year, so he's signed up.
So I think this is how we look so far.
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9 minutes ago, Vanderbilt said:
Still be a housing estate in a couple of seasons
You replied with the wrong account m9. 'Greenmachine' was tagged.
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25 minutes ago, MonTheClyde_MonTheBullyWee said:
congrats to Dumbarton. Was secretly not wanting yous to go up because of @Jan Vojáčektransfer thread, will be missed this summer
I'll hand over the baton. I've every confidence someone will be able to take it on.
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On 22/10/2023 at 10:35, BallochSonsFan said:
We don't have a reliable double digit goal scorer in the team - I'm not convinced that Ruth is that striker - and that puts a massive amount of pressure on us not to concede first.
Turns out we didn't have one reliable double digit scorer. We had two
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23 minutes ago, 1320Lichtie said:
Happy for you @Jan Vojáček
Must’ve been 5 year since last meeting with us, pretty sure Calum Gallagher scored that day too. Maybe his last game for Dumbarton?
Anyway hope hangovers not too bad and see yous next season.
Cheers mate!
He did indeed. The game where Cammy Ballantyne made one of the best saves I've ever seen
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Last night was incredible. It was largely 93 minutes of torture. Followed by the biggest outpouring of emotions I think I've felt. Annan and Airdrie were a party. That was an emotional rollercoaster. And one which felt so, so important given how strong League Two will be next season and our financial situation.
There's no point in me trying to say anything objective about the game. I spent it pacing around trying to enjoy myself but feeling like a cardiac arrest was imminent.
What I will say though is, that this team thoroughly deserved that. We've had better sides quality wise - the 2008/09 group were exceptional for that level. 2011/12 had some of the best players in part-time football. But this group are as good a team as I've seen. In the sense of working together, working their arses off and being a united force on the park. There's such a strong spirit in the group, and that's what has got us over the line.
Fair play to Faz and the coaching staff for signing players with the right character in that regard. Last season we signed some good players but it didn't ever feel quite right. This group grew and grew; and despite setback after setback (losing a tremendous young full-back for the season, then losing our captain for five months, then losing our goalkeeper for the season, then losing the exceptional young full-back who had replaced our injured exceptional young full-back) they have just kept bouncing back.
Every single player in this squad is a credit to the club and a credit to themselves. They are guys that will be superb role models for any young Sons aspiring to be them (just as I aspired to be Jan/Ross Forbes/Aggy, and now Michael Ruth). I can't say I've seen a team who could beat them for sheer grit, bravery and determination. And they are led by the best skipper we've had since Andy Graham. With no disrespect intended to everyone who has come since then, Mark Durnan is a tremendous leader who really gets the most out of everyone around him. It's no coincidence how much Gallagher Lennon and Jay Hogarth have grown in stature, confidence and their reading of the game since Durnan came back. He felt like a captain everyone could rally behind, and I thought he was superb last night. Just as he has been in every game since returning from injury.
No player deserved to be our hero on the night more than Mikey Ruth though. I'm proud to say I was hyping him up from the start, but his progression and growth this season has been exceptional. He's the best striker in League Two. And his performance last night genuinely must have him up there as one of the best out and out forwards in part-time football. I'm sure he'll get a full-time move if he wants it, and fair play to him. Almost a bit like Jim Lister, if that's him done in a Sons shirt then he will leave a hero after just one season.
You couldn't have asked for anything more from him at all. He gave everything every single time he pulled on a shirt, and even when he was struggling to find the net - he didn't once let it get him down. The longest run he's been on without a goal all season was that run at the start of the year (six games). He's been consistently scoring since then. Admittedly it's a much lower level; but he's combined Christian Nade's link-up play with Chris Kane's work ethic. And last night he showed Kane-esque predatory instincts. It's like a striker you'd design in a lab.
In January Spartans brought in Marc McNulty and Callum Booth. We brought in Gallagher Lennon and Cian Newbury. Two 18-year-old kids who I knew next to nothing about. The growth in Gallagher has been tremendous to see, and the way he responded to a really tough start has been exceptional. It speaks volumes of his character because, at 18, it would be very easy to sink. But he didn't.
Newbury meanwhile is arguably our best loan player since Dom Thomas. On his debut at Peterhead I messaged my brother at half-time and said 'This boy will play for Scotland'. It was semi-joking. But you'll be hard pressed to find a better 18-year-old midfielder than him in the country. I honestly believe that. He's unflappable, technically superb, a hard but really good tackler, someone who reads the game like a veteran but has the body and athleticism of a teenager. He should be starting for Hamilton at the very least next season, and I'd be fascinated to know if any youth coaches who worked with Lewis Ferguson could talk about how they compare at this age.
A wee word for Aron Lynas too. Who has been in and out of the side, and went through a rocky spell when he was having to play at centre-half all week. He came on, after not featuring for a while, and was up against the top scoring striker in the country who is about a foot taller than him. And he dominated him. Aron's obviously out of contract now, so who knows if he'll be staying or not. But he's a real scrapper and a top guy who has never let us down.
Since I started covering us we've lost a cup final in injury time, been relegated in injury time, gone from League One favourites to relegation battlers in the space of three months, had to contend with Duffyball, a season where we scored just 12 goals, been humiliated and relegated in the playoffs, chucked a double figure league lead and then got humiliated in the playoffs again. It does leave you wonder why you do it at times. But last night made all the pain, all the horrible afternoons, and all the horrible evenings writing about defeats worthwhile. I was up on four hours sleep to get the match report and reaction written up for Monday's paper. And it feels really special finally being able to cover a promotion.
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Can confirm that I have hugged Michael Ruth and it was every bit as good as I hoped it would be.
What a buzz. What a group of players. They have burst their balls for that and thoroughly deserved it.
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1 minute ago, Skyline Drifter said:
Not suggesting otherwise, just highlighting that a manager with a past relationship to him who has signed him before and may potentially be working in a higher division next season, might speak to him again. I'm not certain how well they knew each other before he joined us though and, given how well it's gone for him at Dumbarton this year, and that Annan won't have money to offer a significant wage rise if at all, I don't think he'd go there either. Dumbarton's also far handier for him obviously.
Rarely got a look in for us last season under two different managers, subbed before half time on his last outing, it's slightly surprising how well he's done at Dumbarton but maybe just one of those players who needed a little faith put in him and to be "the man" for someone.
Trust me, as someone who watched Kevin Nisbet play for us I know that feeling a wee bit too well!
I think you're spot on though. I met him the day he signed, and was really impressed by how he conducted himself. He was very, very focused. Very serious and very determined. You could tell he knew this was maybe his last chance to make an impression in the SPFL. And he felt he hadn't really had a fair shot at Queen's, Falkirk, Arbroath or Aberdeen. I think he'd started 25 league games in his career prior to joining us. And hasn't scored a league goal for two years.
We put absolutely all our eggs in his basket. As in we have no other strikers. And he seems to have thrived knowing that the pressure is all on him to perform. It's like this was the opportunity he was desperate for, and he's absolutely embraced it.
I've said before that I think he's the best striker in the division, and I stand by that. Blair Henderson is a better goalscorer. Jordan Allan too. But in terms of all round play, nobody tops Ruth. And we've seen him growing in confidence and learning about men's football week by week basically. He's been pleased with how he's playing, he's still a very focused character, but he's definitely came out of his shell a lot and I've enjoyed getting to know him.
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14 minutes ago, Skyline Drifter said:
Not sure it means anything, and he didn't play him much once he had him, but Wullie Gibson was the one who signed him for us in the first place and is now obviously manager at Annan............
Lloyd is turning into a really good referee. Young Lloyd was a bit pompous / officious but as he's got older and moved up the ranks he's got far better at it. He's still an absolute stickler for the rules but I don't see that as a bad thing. He's decisive and consistent. That's pretty much all you can ask. He's sent off two of our players this season. Both deserved it.
I think Ruth will (again with no disrespect intended given there's a good chance they'll be a league above us) go on to something bigger than Annan next season. Although him, Goss and Aidan Smith (if they can keep them) would be a tremendous front three. A bit of everything in there.
On Wilson, his consistency is absolutely first class. Not just in game, but on a game by game basis. You could disguise him for a match and I reckon I'd be able to identify him just by his officiating style and decision making. He's very firm, but he now looks like he's refereeing with a nice mixture of confidence and authority. It's not a surprise that we don't get him all that often, he'll be spending his career covering games at a far higher level I reckon.
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Just now, Beachcomber said:
I find the best way to deal with these emotions is a large whisky, I accept this will be of no help to you in you current situation !
Will be watching tonight as an interested neutral, good luck !
I don't drink. But this is making me reconsider that. I could be totally plastered in about 10 minutes and not have a care in the world. And that's an appealing option right now.
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I can't remember when I last felt like this for a game. I'm a bag of nervous excitement. I keep catching myself daydreaming about celebrating promotion, and then have to instantly crush it by working out how I'll feel if we lose, and how I'll come to terms with that.
I've checked the clock about 78 times since starting work this morning, and it never seems to move either. I'm glad we're not in tense promotion deciding battles more often. I can't cope.
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15 minutes ago, QoS99 said:
Was Finlay Gray not close to joining us last year?
Yeah you boys had a couple of bids for him turned down. I'd imagine he'll be a stick on to go full-time this summer and (with absolutely no disrespect intended) I reckon he'll be looking a bit further up the divisions. He's improved a lot over the last season.
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Dom Docherty is a tremendous signing for League Two. If we'd gone up (and assuming Finlay Gray moves on as we all expect him to) he was someone I was hoping we'd be after. So fair play for getting him to drop down a division.
The Bull¥ W€€ imo.
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If someone who played for Kilmarnock (for example) or maybe, let's say, Dundee did that in their last game then it would absolutely be punished and he would get a ban.
But given that nobody outside a few hundred Sons fans care, I doubt anything will happen. I think for a retrospective ban all four officials would have to say they missed it? Steven Kirkland has clearly seen it and decided it's not a red. So that's probably the end of it anyway.
I'll be a seething mess if he plays a big role in getting Spartans promoted on Friday night. But unfortunately I think we've just got to suck it up and move on.
This weather has me doubly excited for tomorrow. Nice weather, a decent enough ground (Ainslie Park gets a tough time because it's a bit soulless imo. I quite like the grassy hill behind the goal) and the chance to watch a Sons side win promotion for the first time in 12 years. What a buzz. I'd forgotten how good/nervy this felt.
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54 minutes ago, Sparticus said:
Poor refereeing in alot of matches i’ve seen in league 2 this season.
Stonewall pen not given for Spartans last night for sure.
The first leg v Peterhead was worse. Ref booking anyone for anything and perhaps the most stonewall pen i’ve ever seen not given for Peterhead in the dying seconds.
I hope whoever gets promoted on Friday doesnt win because of some poor refereeing decision.
In the spirit of fair play I think it's only right that you guys leave Sonkur and Russell out the squad for Friday night now
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17 minutes ago, WattersIsGod said:
His right foot clearly landed on the ground and then the stamping motion is with his left to the players body. Intent is clear.
Having watched it again.... I don't think Sonkur puts much weight into his left foot...maybe had a split second of clarity and thought better of it. That's maybe why so little reaction from the player fouled.
I think this is 100% it. The red mist comes down but just at the vital moment he decides better of sticking his studs in. It's still a red card (obviously) but it was just a moment where he was pissed off at being rinsed by the same guy and lashed out. Somewhere we've all been I'd imagine (even someone as mild mannered as me).
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3 minutes ago, The Moonster said:
Do we know who the ref is for Friday?
Grant Irvine. Hasn't taken charge of us since beat Clyde 2-1 in a dead rubber in the 2021/22 season.
I should say as well (seen as I didn't mention it at the time). I thought Lloyd Wilson was excellent at Forthbank. Every time I see him I'm impressed. He's really firm, takes absolutely no shite, but generally manages games well. And I thought he did that again on Saturday. It's probably quite difficult to be really strict and not wind everyone up, but he toes that line well imo. And was miles better than the guy who did the first leg.
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5 minutes ago, Waspie said: FFS
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I had to remind myself that that's the first time Spartans have lost since they last played us. Because it did feel a bit weirdly deflating at the end.
I think it mostly stung because Ayrton Sonkur shouldn't have been near the pitch in the second-half. Steven Kirkland and his fourth official both saw it. So to decide that wasn't a red makes me ask serious questions of their ability to take charge of games as important as this.
That being said, 2-1 was probably a fair scoreline. For the first 10 minutes of both half we couldn't get near Spartans. In the first-half the goal made way for some of the best football we've played all season. And we were unlucky not to be further ahead. In the second-half the game dipped. Spartans looked happy with a 2-1 and we weren't sure whether to stick or twist. And didn't really do either.
In terms of performances, Cian Newbury is absolutely sensational. And I'm so glad he did it live on TV in such a big game. The wee man is a class act who is going to have a long and successful career at a far higher level than ourselves or Accies. He reads the game superbly, he gets around the park well. He's a tenacious tackler. Good in the air. He's the complete package at 18.
Michael Ruth's first half was classic Michael Ruth. His play for the second goal is the sort of stuff we've seen all season, and it was nice that someone was on the end to finish it off for once!
Ruth is my favourite Sons player in years. I've developed Bryan Prunty-esque feelings for him and I want him to fire us to promotion so I have an excuse to hug him. He's just everything you want in a striker. The hold up play of Christian Nadè with the workrate of Chris Kane. If he doesn't have his pick of part-time clubs (and some FT offers) I'll be shocked.
I think the comments about Forthbank taking its toll are spot on. Gal, Orsi, Div Wilson and Carlo all looked leggy at times. And I was surprised not to see Blair Malcolm introduced when we were starting to lose a lot of second balls in midfield. His energy wouldn't have gone amiss. I also thought we'd see James Graham about 15 minutes earlier than we did, and I'd fancy his pace to cause Spartans a few issues.
If you're a neutral Friday is set up perfectly. And, again, I'm looking forward to it. These are two good teams, very evenly matched, who are capable going forward and (by and large) solid at the back.
For Spartans, I really rate Cammy Russell and he went on a few runs where we couldn't get near him. I thought Marc McNulty had a good game down the right too and caused Gallagher Lennon some issues, with Newbury having to do a fair bit of covering. We didn't really give Blair Henderson a sniff tonight, but it's the guys around him who scare me a bit more. I'm hoping Friday night doesn't prove a stretch too fire for a few tired looking souls in our side.
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9 minutes ago, Beachcomber said:
It's a penalty
I was talking about the foul about a minute before.
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Broomhill
in Lowland League
Posted
Zander is a Dumbarton B(h)oy through and through. He's been coaching at St Pat's FPs for the past couple of season and they've got a few really talented young players. It'll be interesting to see if any of them follow him and if they're able to make the sizable step up.
Martin Mooney being involved might lead to one new fan mind you, eh @The Moonster