SimonLichtie

The thought of a draw pushing Annan away onto a midweek date fills me with dread I've still not got over the trauma of a midweek trip to a freezing Stranraer last year (two years ago!?) IF Nicoll, El Zubaidi and Carreiro were all unavaliable for Saturday, then I'd go with pretty much what you've suggested in terms of straight swaps, player for player. With a weaker defence, having Hunter in for Carreiro to protect them a bit more would probably work quite well, albeit slightly limit us in the attacking department with both Hunter and Stewart appearing to be defensive minded midfield players.

With his loan ending in January, Hamilton may want to keep him as an option for later rounds of the cup when he is back at New Douglas Park. Fairly common, it hadn't actually crossed my mind until now though I'd presume Dundee will be doing the same with Carreiro, international duty or not I don't think they'd allow us to play him. If I remember correctly, the 3rd round of the cup falls into the period Carreiro is on loan and I fully expect if we do get through he wouldn't be avaialble for that game.

Aye, but we played them two weeks ago, now play them again in two weeks, then AGAIN three weeks after that! Of course we then play them on New Year and around March or so (unfortunately our eighth last game, so unless we're winning every single week up until that point there will be no repeat of four years ago ). I know it's always enjoyable playing Montrose, but do you not think it takes away from the occaision somewhat when we play them 3 times 2 months, then again a few months later?! With the league structure we have if you're in the same division as a club you're already playing them 4 times a season, whereas the clubs I listed above are teams we've never played, or grounds we've never played at (or played there once/ twice, certainly never played any of the teams four times in a season!!). Personally I think it's far more enjoyable going somewhere we haven't been before and/ or playing a team we haven't played before.... or even playing a team in the SPFL who we won't be visiting this season (obviously not possible in the second round) before I'd want to play anyone in our own division. If we were in different divisions to Montrose and/ or hadn't played them in a few years this would be an excellent draw, but as it is there are literally a dozen better draws we could have had, both in terms of on the pitch and off the pitch

Everyone Arbroath fan I've spoken to seems to be delighted with the draw......am I the only one who's disappointed?! There's 15 teams - highlighted above - who in my opinion it would have been excellent to get an away draw against for the away day, whereas now we have a game against a team we're already playing 4 times this season, and at home which is also slightly disappointing. At least out of the 9 other league teams we could have played, this is the best one. No-one else of the opinion that an away day to a ground we've never been to or we don't get to often would be a far better draw than another game against a team we'll play 4 times this season?

While I see your point, if this was the case why don’t clubs are our level just sign 5 (the maximum allowed) loan players at the start of the season on season long loans? It would essentially be 5 free players for the season! With all of our players on year long contracts, aside from Bobby Linn, there would be no difference. We’d just get 5 free, young players who’re training full time at their parent club. That being the case surely every part time club in Scotland would be clamouring to get these free, full time loan players signed up?! I’d be amazed if any loan players we had didn’t train at least once a week with us, if they didn’t how would we ever do any tactical training? You can’t prepare a back 4 for Saturday’s game when one of them isn’t ever there!! Out of the guys we’ve signed, I wouldn’t say Jack Smith, Jordan Lowdon or Adam Hunter are getting their first chance at this level, all 3 have played games at other teams at a higher level than we’re at currently. Kevin Buchan also got game time at this level last season, but of course was behind Andy Rodgers and Rory McAllister in the pecking order at Peterhead. I don’t want to start placing where I think players in our wage structure or hypothesising over figures as I think that’s a bit poor to do, but I would say that out of your list of names there are several that were playing at a higher level than we are currently and a good few that aren’t based on the east coast, which makes me think they wouldn’t sign up for peanuts. In comparison to other squads, do you not think we have the biggest squad, the most depth to our squad, probably the biggest budget and some of the better players in the division? In terms of squad size - I'm referring to first team players as oppossed to including youths. In my opinion, we don't have any youths currently, we just have first team players, as we don't have a youth system. I don't think a player can be counted as a youth player if there is no youth team, and therefore no games for them to actually play in.

What makes you think we won't be paying any wage towards Carreiro or El Zubaidi's wages? The Carreiro situation I assume you mean the deal with have regarding their u20 games being played at Gayfield? I would have thought that would have been negotiatied a month or so ago and therefore this would be seperate from that? Obviously this may not be the case, I'm just speculating. With El Zubaidi - I can't see Hamilton paying 100% of his wages.... it's very rare for players at this level to be loaned out to other clubs with no contribution being made to the parent club towards their wages. Again - rare - but it could well be the case, I just think it unlikely Totally agree regarding McWalter and Birse - but that still leaves us with 20 players (21 with Carreiro) who will be receiving a decent ish wage. Obviously guys like Lindsay, Wallace and Smith will also be on wages towards the lower end of the scale also, but the rest I would expect to be on first team wages of varying amounts. Knowing our board, it's extremely, extremely unlikely that we'd allow a manager to spend over the allocated budget at the start of the season, so I'm not at all worried about that, but I don't think a club like ours (or anyone at this level) can afford to carry a squad of 20 + first team players every season. Do you agree that looking over things, given we have the biggest squad of first team players in the division, and based on that and the players we possess potentially the biggest budget that as things stand, it is probably a failure if we aren't right up the top end of the league and if we were to fail to get promotion?

IF we signed Carreiro, I make that a squad of 23 players we will have taking a wage from the club.... Having a look at the squad, I think it's safe to assume we have the biggest squad in the division, probably the biggest budget in the division, and therefore ultimately if we don't finish right up the top end of the division it has to be viewed as a bit of a failure, no? I think if we had a squad of 16 first team players supplimented by the youths we had last season (who obviously would be on a very low wage) we would have been able to challenge for the top 4, so now with a wage budget a fair whack higher than I anticipated and a squad big enough to field two teams surely the expectations must be a good bit higher now.... Personally coming into this season I was always happy enough with a top 4 finish, but for the reasons above I think we now have to be aiming to win the division, and anything else is a bit of a let down to be honest. Never thought I'd have been saying that a month ago It's interesting that the club are happy enough for us to have such a big squad. As I have said previously, if we had a few of our own youth team making first team appearences, we would actually MAKE money from payments by the SPFL for giving youth players a chance. As it is currently, we can only play 14 players a week (11 + 3 subs) so there will be 6/7 guys picking up a decent wage each week without making an appearence on the Saturday..... I don't want to bang on about it and come across negatively, but in the longer term we WILL regret scrapping the youth teams in my opinion.

Chris Scott not out of football for long - signed for Lochee Utd...

Chris Scott has definitely left the club, which is disappointing

I was just going to point out that, although I'm obviously absolutely delighted with our start to the season, how many minutes have our own youngsters played in competitive fixtures this season? Off the top of my head, I don't think Connor Birse, Keiran McWalter or Chris Scott have had a single minute of competitive football so far? Or did Keiran come on for a few minutes against Alloa in the cup? Either way - a few good results doesn't do anything to change my disappointment at firstly releasing a group of youth players who were doing extremely well at that level (and at least two of them have ended up at teams that're in better leagues than ourselves) and secondly not giving the three from that team that we do decide to keep any chance at all of actually playing for our first team this season. We may not be regretting it now while we have, and can afford, a good sized squad with good players filling it, but it is just a matter of time before this whole thing properly comes back to bite us on the arse in my opinion.....

I thought Mr Rankine had no shares, or interest, in East Fife, why on earth are the trust speaking to him....?! :rolleyes: In all seriousness, if there is/ has been direct conversation between Rankine and the trust, while Rankine is flat out denying any sort of interest in East Fife, surely the SPFL would take an interest in this considering what has been said in the media regarding his interests in several clubs recently(which of course we all knew about years ago, like I'm sure the SPFL/ previous SFL did).

Good to hear - I hope that things progress well and the end goal of fan ownership for the club is achieved. Doesn't mean I won't be hoping you're pish on the park still What's the script with Lee Murray in this then? If he does have all of this money/ businessman willing to put funds into the club, then surely he could work alongside the Trust and help with a lot of the financing of this potential deal? Or is it thought he's just a bullshitter now, with all this hot air having come from him and, as far as I'm aware, very little money actually come out of his pocket? I'd imagine the supporters trust and it's members couldn't possibly raise the suspected substantial amount that would be wanted for the club? Due to the land value I'd have thought they'd want at least half a million (giving a return on the surposid 400k initial investment in 2000)?

The East Fife fans who were lapping up the 'revolution' just over a year ago or so must feel a bit silly now.... :unsure: Have had a wee look in to AFTN, and it looks fairly shambolic over the piece really. Seems very difficult to know who to believe, and about what. Some fans seem to still fully believe Lee Murray's every word, some seem to be accusing him of being all mouth and no action/ money.... Seems to me the club, off the pitch, has been an utter shambles for 15+ years now...

The Reading Rooms is on Blackscroft, which is a few minutes from the bus station - in the direction of Albert Street in Stobswell. I'm surprised Basshunter is allowed back in Scotland after sexually assaulting several women in Kittys in Kirkcaldy on his last visit I think going to see Basshunter would be the same sort of comedy value as a few of my mates got going to see Dj Rankin a wee while ago....

I think Dundee is able to keep so many clubs open simply due to the student population every year. We have Fat Sams, Liquid (Envy attached as stated), the Underground (may have changed name now), Dundee Union, Abertay Union, Deja Vu and the Reading Rooms. We also have a few nightclubs that have closed in recent-ish years, one of which used to open circa 3AM for after parties, and due it being rather underground, full soundsystem and visuals could be brought in no bother.... Unfortunately I'm too old and shite to be going to normal nightclubs reguarly, let alone places at 3AM to continue the party That and the toilets not being plumbed in resulting in literally piles and piles of old shite building up in the bathrooms..... :green

All this talk of Fat Sams and Liquid is pretty disgusting frankly - I thought better of my fellow P & Bers Also, skint at the Union is the place to be if you want to be surrounded by students giving it large to the latest chart music..... but I would recommend each and every one of you take a night off from these boring, wanky, studenty nightclubs and spend a night at the Reading Rooms.... I would say that it really disappoints me that students come to Dundee and don't bother to venture away from the Fat Sams/ Liquid/ Underground/ Union etc and find out what a real nightclub is all about, but I'm not disappointed at all, it leaves the Reading Rooms clear of wanky students so the rest of us can have a good time

I can't follow Peter Dow as he has apparently blocked me. Never had any interaction with him, luckily..... how the f**k has he got me blocked?!

While that is rather poor to say the least, I feel the need to remind you of Hibs signing of the 'Brazillian Roberto Carlos' who produced some stunning free kick attempts, much like the one captured below..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyGZ1gURL78

Aaah, here comes the timely return of Derrick Brown

Out of that list I think i'd be happy enough to see Liam Buchanan, David Cowan and Marc McKenzie at Gayfield.... the rest certainly wouldn't inspire me. Am I wrong in thinking these three could probably do a job for us? I presume Buchanan would have to potentially up his work rate, Cowan has a decent enough pedigree but is he past it now, and McKenzie would need to find the form he was in at Cowden as oppossed to New Bayview? Also - I'd be absolutely amazed if John Gemmell signed for anyone in the 3rd division, aside from ourselves.

As piss poor a season as we had, I have to feel slightly sorry for the East Fife fans after the utterly embarrassing pish coming out the club at the start of the season, with it ending in relegation the 'revolution' really has fallen flat on it's face.... Although I am rather amused at the EF fans who were blindly arguing how the corner was turned and how an excellent season was on the cards I assume EF fans will be wanting a large clear out and a lot of big changes teamwise this summer?

Stream for anyone who requires it.... http://www.tvcatchup.com/watch.html?c=152#152

Rather interesting that - although I must ask with them having 8 teams in their premier league (resulting in what I presume is 4 weekly fixtures), with only two football grounds in the country, how do they get these games played?!

I have decided to start using my twitter, if anyone wishes to read my mainly Arbroath FC related pish.... https://twitter.com/_FishArmy

You've added in the line I have put in bold as if it is a throwaway comment and doesn't matter in comparison to wonderful points you've argued further up the post. Infact, this sentence is the FIRST time you've managed to give any sort of proper insight into why you think (I presume, you've not made any points clear in what you've said) East Fife are in a better position than last year, and will do well this year. I'll ignore the ridiculously childish comments prior to this sentence, and try and pull some sort of real opinions, and the reasons why you think them and maybe, just maybe, this could turn into some sort of footballing debate instead of the drivel I've read so far. Do you think the players you've kept from last season were the best individuals in that squad, and by keeping them and making the additions you have you've improved the squad? Maybe you think within time you will sign 3/4 big players (like Bouzid) and the team will be a lot stronger in a month or so once they've been signed? Also not too sure how you, or I, can comment on the ability of Aimen Demai, as surely neither of us have seen him play? I can't comment on the standard of a player based on their wikipedia entry like you appear to be doing. I may sound a little crazy here, but I judge the standard of a player by how they play in a football match I watch.....