Jan Vojáček

29 shots. 3 on target. Jesus. I was thinking Carson had barely had anything to do, but I hadn't realised he'd had literally two shots to save. And a timid flick to pick up which he somehow chucked into his own net.

My Merry Christmas fact is this. We're currently averaging 1.87 points per game in the league. If we keep that up, we'll finish on 67 points. Five more than last season and the same as we finished on in 2008-09. Have a good one guys!

At least it confirms that the Blue Pound will be invested in the squad and won't just vanish. Does make you wonder what would've happened in January if we had drawn Airdrie away or something. Interesting that he also said some players might move on.

Faz is on Lomond Radio right now with Jordan and Michael if anyone's interested. https://lomondradio.broadcast.radio/

Yes Watch this video on Facebook https://fb.watch/p7VlWMOUtY/

I think his remit last season was promotion. Fairly sure it's the same this season too, iirc he mentioned it at Meet the Manager.

The early goals came in our relegation season when we were an absolute basketcase. So aye, that fell on Faz because it was trend across the whole season near enough. Regardless of who played there, and included when we made signings. That season we also had Bucky as our captain, and he was toiling massively in League One. Having a captain who can't organise couldn't help matters. Every successful team has a settled back four; from this season's Stenny to the Arsenal invincibles. I agree with you on the CB situation too. It was a gamble and looked like a worry from the start of the season. In saying that, if Stenny lost Buchanan or Jamieson to injury they'd have Edin Lunch as backup. A player most Sons fans were happy to see the back of. Our gamble with injury didn't pay off (and whether that falls on Faz, training ground, physio or just bad luck is up for debate) but Stenhousemuir's has. On our 'poor form' we've lost two games in 10. Winning seven, scoring 26. We've lost once in two months. It maybe doesn't feel like it because we're in League Two. But our form isn't poor. It's just not as good as Stenny's and therefore not as good as it needs to be to win a league.

History would suggest no. But the playoffs are a law unto themselves. In the last two seasons we've gone into them in horrendous form. When we won them in 2011/12 we weren't as good a side as Arbroath, but were in good form and that momentum carried us. Ask me in April and I'll give you a better answer. If we're flying and the battle to see which one of Tony Wallace or Mikey Ruth hits 20 goals first then I'll be confident. If Ruth is in the stand with a broken foot and Wallace hasn't scored in four months then I won't be. You can blame Faz for plenty of things. But some of the late goals are beyond his control and fall on the players imo. Heading a corner straight to Spartans' best player, unmarked, in injury time. The ball skelping a Stenny player on the arse and going in. Failing to notice a Clyde player who must be about 6'5 unmarked 12 yards out. There's only so much he can do on the touchline to prevent that.

Was looking back on old papers to write up the review of the year for the paper today, and got me wondering how our league points compare to last year. 30 points after 16 games is the same as Stirling Albion managed (we had 34 after 16, and 37 after 17 - so three less than Stenny have after 17 games right now). In a lot of other seasons we'd be far closer to the top of the table than we are just now. Aye we've chucked away silly points (yesterday, late goals against Spartans, Bonnyrigg, Peterhead and Stenny all quickly spring to mind) but we're still doing pretty well. It's just that Stenhousemuir have been exceptional. One defeat in half a season is outstanding. As much as you can point to our own issues, that actually does Stenhousemuir a slight disservice. Because they have been magnificent. Eight wins on the spin, 10 clean sheets in 17 games. One defeat in 17. That's not just title winning form, that's runaway league winners by March form. They are having a Kelty or Cove-esque season, without the major backing and 'great to see so much ambition' fanfare. I know where OKI is coming from about a season of repetition. But this season, to me at least, feels very different to last year on the park, if not in the tables. We've dropped more silly points at this stage, we don't keep as many clean sheets. But we are also scoring goals, playing genuinely entertaining football and have a team with offensive players I get excited about watching; Ryan Wallace, Jinky Hilton, Kalvin Orsi, Michael Ruth, Tony Wallace, Finlay Gray, Matty Shiels, Carlo Pignatiello et al. Do I think we'll win the league? No, I don't. Firstly because I don't think we're as good defensively as Stenhousemuir and secondly, because I think Stenny are just too good to drop the required number of points unless they have a major injury crisis. But the facts are that we're the joint top scorers in the league and have the second highest number of clean sheets (albeit we don't keep anywhere near enough). Things could (look at Clyde, my pre-season title tips Forfar, as well as last season's playoff charges East Fife) be a lot worse. That's me doing my bit to spread Christmas cheer in the greater G82 area. We've not had a genuinely major attacking threat in our side since the glorious Dom Thomas x Ross Forbes x Calum Gallagher triangle. But this season it feels like we do. Who knows too. Maybe Santa will bring a magic sponge to stop all our players breaking. Or some sort of potion that makes them concentrate for a full 90 minutes, and not just the 80 we currently manage.

Just read about David Wilson's injury. We had him on trial a few years ago (before he joined you lot actually iirc) and I was disappointed we couldn't get a deal over the line for him. Hope it's not as bad as it sounds and he's not forced to spend Christmas in a hospital bed.

Carlo should be back next week. Wasn't risked today. Durnan played 60 minutes in a bounce game midweek and should be back for next week too assuming everything goes fine in training this week.

That was a really odd game. A draw was probably fair over the 90 - Clyde had all the play in the first half, and we scored twice against the run of play. We had the ball almost exclusively in their half in the second-half, and they scored twice against the run of play. It sounds daft given it ended 4-4, but I don't think either team tested the opposition goalkeeper enough. Those conditions were borderline ridiculous at times, but both sides tried to be a bit intricate when just leathering it goalwards was probably the best option. I think the comment from David W about our drop off possibly has an element of truth in it. In fairness that was us today playing without our first choice goalkeeper, centre-back, right-back or left-back. And my goodness could you tell. Both sides looked like conceding every time the opposition went forward; the conditions played a part for sure. But us having a defence who had never played together was probably highlighted by how easily Clyde got in behind. I thought there were some good performances in midfield and attack. Finlay Gray was the best player on the park by a mile, something I suspect McCall feared hence he was booted from pillar to post for the whole game. But kept coming back for more. Michael Ruth led the line very well, and Ryan Wallace made a massive impact when he came on. A goal, a part in the other goal and he just looked to really liven us up going forward. I thought Jinky Hilton had a good game too; always inventive even if it's not always succesful. That being said, we really did look rickety at the back. Neither Sean Crighton nor Matty Shiels looked overly comfortable dealing with Martin Rennie or Connor Young, who both played well, and Kian Leslie really gave the knackered looking Aron Lynas a hard time in his 10 minute cameo. I've no idea why he didn't start, he looked superb. Blair Malcolm wasn't great either. That's two home games on the spin where he's still done well breaking things up, but has then had a nightmare of a time trying to complete a pass. If we could somehow combine his tackling, aggression and general nastiness with Ryan Blair's ability on the ball we'd have some sort of League Two Patrick Viera. But given that probably isn't medically possible, then we'll be stuck with what we've got. It was a horrible game for Harry Broun to face too. The wind was brutal and he had some really shaky moments in the first-half. Dropping a cross early seemed to spook him quite a bit. That being said, I'm not sure he was directly at fault for any of the goals. Albeit Kian Leslie's did kind of look like it went straight through him. Clyde will be absolutely fine this season based on that. They've got a boss who knows what he's doing, a squad clearly behind him and will address their lack of quality in January I'm sure. They won't make the playoffs, but I reckon fifth isn't beyond them. For us. Well a title push is now reliant on a huge collapse from Stenny. But I do quite enjoy watching this team compared to last year. There's goals, there's creativity and there's some really good football. But my God do they drop silly points, concede some silly goals and I don't trust them at all. A strange group; it feels like we've really addressed last years problems. But now our strong points are our weak points, and our weak points are our strong points. Frustrating.

Flashbacks to McCall's Ayr scoring twice in injury time when they were 2-0 down. Which still haunts me. The conditions were horrendous. But Harry didn't do his case any good there at all.

Quite glad to get in level given the strength of the wind. I wasn't expecting either penalty award to be given, just some of a handful of bizarre calls from the ref and the standside linesman. Hope we're patient in the second-half. Expect Clyde to sit deep, but hopefully we can take advantage of the wind.

On paper I can see the sense behind putting Shiels to CB, Blair at LB and Lynas at RB. But it also means we're not playing either of our two full-backs (who are our biggest attacking threats and destroyed Clyde last time) at full-back. Hoping Matty Shiels can turn in a Jack O'Connell-esque overlapping CB display.

Spoke to Jinky Hilton last week, and he said that he had worked the hardest he'd ever worked in football to make sure he was ready when his chance came along. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/dumbartons-jinky-hilton-its-hardest-31727644 I think he's a very good player. Actually, and this is rare too, I don't think there's a Sons fan who has too many doubts or complaints about him. I don't think he's particularly effective as a striker; but play him a bit deeper and I think he can do things that very few players in this division can (see his play for Matty Shiels' goal last week). We've got a good range of attacking options this year, but comments like that from Jinky are really showing the benefits of the strength-in-depth we have in the attacking positions. Last year he'd have started every week for us regardless of his form. Now guys know that they are having to really work their backsides off to nail down a spot in the team. And that can only be a good thing. I'm really hoping Ross MacLean can do something similar. It's so frustrating having someone who single-handedly destroyed the best defence in the league in August. But has barely laid a glove on anyone since.

I shall find out today and report back. In all the fun of trying to get two players, plus the manager, plus knowing I had to get to Crieff ASAP for a birthday party last week all whilst talking to Greig Young about Sam Stanton I totally forgot to ask.

I remember it like it was yesterday. And yes. This is worse. It takes some skill to keep winning throw-ins for eight minutes. And there has been no skill shown in this at all thus far.

This game badly needs a goal. Probably a Dundee United one to force Queen's Park out of their half. I'm having Jim Duffy COVID season Sons flashbacks watching this.

Bonnyrigg only one penalty behind Rangers in the league this season. Unlike James Tavernier, Neil Martyniuk doesn't miss.

Did Queen's Park sign the guy who used to be the announcer at Falkirk? Always liked his voice. And hearing it in the background is giving me flashbacks to our glory days.

It was certainly the case when we shared a league with Rangers. So I can't see it being any different here. It might also be something the club is obliged to do. I'm not sure what the rules are about charging for blue badge parking, but doing away games in the Championship with my Papa I don't think we were ever charged.

Just on the disabled fans comment. Blue badge parking holders always get to park for free. Or at least they did when my Papa was able to come to games prior to Covid. Given we have a disability access officer I don't think that'll have changed either. AFAIK you can also drop off for free. Again it's a few years since it was something I did, but it certainly was the case pre-pandemic.

Carlo being ruled out for this is what I was fearing. We just cannot catch a break with injury this year. Kalvin missing a chunk of pre-season and taking a fair amount of time to get back to speed. He gets back and then Young is ruled out for the season, Durnan is then out for a few months, Long for the season. Durnan finally fit to return and Carlo drops out. FFS.

Hospitality is a simple supply and demand situation, isn't it? We struggle shifting hospitality for home games against Elgin City and Spartans. So it's therefore cheaper to encourage more folk along. We had sold out hospitality for the Rangers game within a few hours of this draw being made. Therefore we can charge a premium; and if people don't want to pay it, then someone else will happily come along and pay it. I've no idea if there is or not, but there should be a season ticket discount. Aside from that, I've absolutely no issue with our most in-demand hospitality for our 'biggest' game of the season being considerably more expensive. Personally I'd avoid it like the plague as it'll be full of visiting supporters and would far rather have it against Elgin, Clyde, Stenny or whoever.