Mr Toon
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Posts posted by Mr Toon
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14 minutes ago, Dunning1874 said:
While I'm not making any judgement on where Imrie's head is at just now in terms of how comfortable he is with his budget or whether he's going to apply for every other job under the sun unless we get out of the League Cup group stage to allow more signings, this phrase suggests there was a genuinely credible chance of him going to Hamilton and he was definitely interested. Hamilton appointed Rankin on 28 June, we didn't get the Dalrada announcement until 19 August.
We've had plenty of credible information about last summer, both from what Imrie was saying at the time and from the board since, to know the club was in a difficult financial position and Imrie was unhappy about his budget. We've had nothing to say Imrie going to Hamilton was ever a credible prospect: that rumour entirely emanated from fans on twitter and forums panicking when rumours of Taylor leaving them started because Imrie used to play for them. There's never been any reason to believe there was more to it than 2+2=5 from panic merchants.
Many managers, some from the very top clubs have played the 'I'm unhappy with the budget card' so it is understandable that fledgling managers will do the same. However after last season Dougie Imrie's reputation is on the up and how he manages this season will indubitably be significant as to his future prospects. We can speculate endlessly about what might or might not have happened last season. He is with us and under contract and if he wants a successful career in football management he needs to match or improve on last season.
I'm sure he knows that!
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On 19/07/2023 at 11:54, AyrshireTon said:
I was hoping that he just went up the tunnel to check on Baird. Was noticeable that he wasn't on the park at the end.
He did the post match yesterday . Generally positive and upbeat but giving is the news we didn't want that Jack Baird is out for two months. He said what we all know, that we need someone in pronto.
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17 minutes ago, Scosha said:
Something definitely up!
Like what?
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8 hours ago, Dunning1874 said:
I say this every year, but this season is harder to predict than ever. There are at least seven teams in this division you can put in any order and no one could reasonably question it. As ever though I'm guessing before the League Cup starts to not be a shitebag.
Picking Dundee United to win the league is boring as f**k, but I think their transfer business has actually been good. There was a lot of murmuring about why they're signing solid Championship players: that's exactly what they needed to do this summer, rather than going full McKinnon/Laszlo and signing a load of useless Dutch ringers in the hope of striking gold. The supposedly underwhelming signings of Holt, Docherty and Grimshaw all get a game for every other team in the division. If Watt and Middleton are both staying, a front three of those two and Chalmers pisses all over the rest of the division's strongest attacking options. Assuming the new goalkeeper has functioning limbs unlike the A-League goalkeeper of the season, they're going to have comfortably the strongest XI in the division.
I think Bullen gets a lot of unfair stick: if he was as much of a dud as he's made out to be Ayr wouldn't have finished second. What is a fair criticism though is that they were more reliant on one player than any other team, and assuming Akinyemi does go at some point this summer (today possibly) that could leave them in bother. Eventually the marquee centre forward signing from the English non-leagues is going to be a Hartley's Falkirk level of dud rather than an Adeloye/Akinyemi gem. If that happens this summer with Amartey it could lead to a collapse, while they still have guff full-backs and Sean McGinty. Central midfield is still quality though, and if Mathie has somehow done it again with the centre forward or Akinyemi doesn't go they're right in the top four mix.
Queen's Park are possibly the most difficult of these teams to predict. An excellent season overall last year, they've made impressive signings already and we know they have the financial clout with more recruitment to come to make more big signings. On the flipside they already went downhill massively after Murray left, they'll probably not have Savoury for much of the season either and they have a total unknown quantity as a manager. Great pedigree as a coach but that doesn't always translate to managing a team effectively. Although I reckon they are going to be very good again, they're one of the teams with the most question marks of that playoff chasing group of seven.
Rumours of Partick's demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated. It's just been a case of a few of the out of contract highest earners leaving, who were probably all going to be moving on anyway after not being promoted, with proper replacements coming in on not quite as big wages as those leaving rather than resorting to throwing untested teenagers straight into the team. They've also retained some excellent Championship players with two quality full backs and Graham still scoring double figures every season. Even at that though, very few teams at this level can lose four players the calibre of Holt, Docherty, Turner & Tiffoney in one summer without going backwards the following season. This is a huge test of Doolan to adjust to getting weaker and pick the squad up after the playoff capitulation.
Of that group of seven playoff contenders Morton are a lot of people's choice to fall away to 8th or worse, and I can fully see the arguments for that: smallest budget, least depth, best player in Grimshaw away, no upgrades on last season. I can see a fairly strong counter argument to that though in continuity. Keeping nine of the strongest XI from the second half of the last season (we'd effectively lost Strapp already in January to injury) is a massive positive. We only took 8 points from the first 8 games last season, with the squad nowhere near complete when the league started and we pretty much needed a whole new team to gel over the first quarter. Now we have the core of the team staying together, that could be a platform to have a much stronger start and if we do that we're in a good position to beat last season's points total, which would already get you in the top four more often than not. This is heavily dependent on actually signing a right back before the league starts though.
Inverness were massively derailed by an injury crisis last season but despite basically having 2 months of the season being a total write-off from mid October, they only missed the playoffs by two points. They've lost some big players in Allardice, Henderson and Deas, but they have an incredible knack of getting results out of average as f**k players anyway. If they avoid such a ridiculous injury crisis again and with the Scottish Cup money enabling them to continue making a six figure loss for another few years they should be fine for a top four challenge.
It seems since Raith got promoted a lot of struggles they've had have been down to lacking a proper number nine. The one season they actually had two proper options there they made the playoffs, otherwise they've been dependent on only one competent player who can play there or trying to turn someone like Gullan into a proper striker when that clearly isn't his game. If Jack Hamilton stays fit all season he should go a long way to solving that problem and that alone makes them look a considerably more threatening attacking force, before considering Mullin being a good signing as well. I'm still really not sure about that defence though.
Predicting Arbroath for the bottom two is undeniably as boring as putting Dundee United first, they've heard all this before. Ultimately though that squad just isn't any stronger than last season as it stands and while he's reined it in a bit Campbell still seems set on persisting with the unearthing diamonds strategy, which only uncovered a load of shite last season. Even where he's going back to picking up known quantities, it's a player like McIntosh who you can probably put in the Donnelly/Hilson bracket of just not quite being good enough for this division. As that defence gets older and doesn't get strengthened the foundation of the success they've had over time in this division is getting weaker. It's not at all unrealistic to see them safe in mid-table, but on paper they're simply not as good as any of that group of seven I'm having above them.
Dunfermline have a lot of momentum and it's important to remember that Cove being guff last season was a real outlier: generally the champions of League One walk straight into the top half of the table. There is a question of how much they actually needed to strengthen though. They've basically just made the loans they had last season permanent and added Michael O'Halloran, who looked utterly finished in this division last season. When you've won the league at such a canter with plenty of players with Championship experience that lack of strengthening shouldn't give many worries about going straight back down, but I do have to question how likely a proper playoff challenge is unless they have some more quality signings to come. While some of the younger players probably are going to turn into good Championship players as well, Dunfermline have been here before the last time they were promoted after strolling to the title with some players who were great in League One just not handling the step up.
There's the huge caveat with Airdrie that there's a lot of business still to be done, but as it stands they simply haven't strengthened and - unlike Dunfermline who were 21 points ahead of them and have players who've more recently done well in the Championship - until that happens you can't really see them finishing anywhere other than 10th. Two or three good signings can completely change that outlook and they've still got time to make them before the season starts, but as it stands their only additions to a solid League One squad have been a centre forward who was also in League One last season (though has shown he can be a decent Championship player in the past if used correctly) and a few teenagers who've hardly played first team football before. Some of the existing squad will inevitably rise to the challenge and handle the step up well, but the likelihood is that more of them won't. If they actually go into the season with the likes of ATS and Telfer playing regularly then it's hard to see how they can survive.
So then:
1. Dundee United
2. Queen's Park
3. Inverness Caledonian Thistle
4. Morton
5. Raith
6. Partick
7. Dunfermline
8. Ayr
9. Arbroath
10. Airdrie2nd-8th is total guesswork really, you could flip those seven round and it would be an equally reasonable prediction. Those sides can all realistically target the top four and any of them would be very disappointed to end up in the bottom three, but someone has to.
Some students have got a PhD for a less well presented argument.
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32 minutes ago, DaftTon74 said:
No deal for Frankie Deane.
If true I hope it is because we have something else in the pipeline. He looks like a very good midfielder in the making.
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1 minute ago, Mon eh Ton said:
We took eight points from the first eight games of the season, after exiting the cup in the group stages with defeats to seaside league stalwarts Clyde and Falkirk (on penalties). We eventually went on a good run after getting pumped off Partick, but last season could just as easily have been defined by the bad streaks we had.
Maybe I am just being pessimistic. I don't think we're a weak team, but I also don't think we'll be challenging at the pointy end next season and that's absolutely fine.
I enjoyed games at Cappielow last season more than for a long time. I think with the core of the team already in place we are in a far better position than at the same time last season. I am always reluctant to make predictions but will be disappointed and surprised if we don't continue to improve.
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14 minutes ago, Mon eh Ton said:
A strong squad would have taken more than two points off Arbroath last season. We did well given the low budget we started with, but we did little more than stay in the mix as the teams around us conspired to shoot themselves in the foot.
I'm less optimistic about next season, but would be happy to finish middle of the table whilst others throw money they don't have for a playoff push.
I think that given the start we made that analysis is a bit downbeat.
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33 minutes ago, Shooter McGavin said:
Every manager will have their team fighting for everything. Can't imagine many managers giving a team talk saying, "don't bother fighting for everything today lads."
No, but it is obvious some managers motivate their players better than others and that's what makes the difference. So far Dougie Imrie seems to be very skilled in that department.
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12 hours ago, DaftTon74 said:
can’t look too much into pre season but I thought we looked really organised against a pretty much full strength st mirren side.
O’Connor adapted well at right back, but has to be starting centre back for me during the season. It’s his standout position.
Feared the worst when we made all the changes tbh but it the extra energy actually benefited us against a very average st mirren side.
Very impressed with Frankie Deane when he came on. Very composed on the ball and assist was outstanding.
As for the cult hero Brandon. Not much to do but anything he did have to do he dealt with well. He seemed to love the occasion though and was pointing towards the badge at full time when the cowshed was in full voice.
It would be interesting to know how many who have seen Frankie Deane play would want him to get a contract. Seems from here and Twitter there are quite a few.
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2 minutes ago, Colkitto said:
Aye that was him. Looked good and played a fantastic ball for the goal
I thought that Jon Scullion when he was with us was probably the best footballer at the club. Came on and changed games and never disappointed but was always judged ultimately on his size and was released. Maybe Dougie will be more open minded.
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Just now, Mr Toon said:
Was the wee number 11 Frankie Deane?
Just been answered, thanks Clydeton
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3 minutes ago, Colkitto said:
That game was well worth the money! Pretty bold move by Dougie bringing all those trialists on in the one go!
Total embarrassment for the Midden playing against players who are doubtful to be offered contracts.
Of the trialists the wee number 11 looks really decent and in my opnion should be offered a contract.
Our keeper actually impressed me and would feel confident going into the season as our No. 1
Boyd looked good too.
What a goal it would have been if big Robbies screamer had hit the net.
Happy days..
Was the wee number 11 Frankie Deane?
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2 minutes ago, GiGi said:
Not want to have a guess first?
I would guess that he is suggesting St Mirren weren't very good or we were very good but there are other possibilities.
Who started at right back or any other relevant info would be of interest.
Irrespective 2 - 0 is a good score.
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3 minutes ago, TheGoon said:
Piece of piss.
Care to elaborate?
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26 minutes ago, Jamie_M said:
Who may have not wanted another year with that role in a squad or who would have commanded a larger slice of the budget...
Perfectly possible on either count. Maybe we will find out in due course albeit it's only of academic interest now.
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54 minutes ago, Jamie_M said:
Experience and pedigree.
Dougie has been very clear on what attributes he feels Broadfoot adds to the squad dynamic. Setting standards. Leadership. Experience.
I am also far more likely to take his option on Broadfoot's current level than someone who had maybe seen one first pre-season runaround.
Anyway expectation levels around game time matters here. The expectation for the 'Efe' role in the squad is for limited game time. Broadfoot is fine. Expectation around the competition/cover for fullback game time is far higher therefore the hope is for better than Doyle.
The best person for 'the Efe role' might well have been Efe but he has gone. I wonder where he will turn up next. Immensely popular and good man to have around and on the bench but never going to command a regular place. Such players are of limited value and I suspect we will struggle to do better than Efe.
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9 hours ago, AyrshireTon said:
Killie fan at work had heard that they are wanting to sign him.
I wouldn't be at all surprised.
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2 hours ago, Rudolph Hucker said:
Pointless comparison.
Lewis Strapp did well for us, but like it or not he doesn’t play for Morton any more.
Let it go.
It's not a pointless comparison insofar as he doesn't play for Morton anymore because he was told he wasn't being offered a new contract. Imrie has done very well for us and his signings have done well but I think letting Strapp go is a mistake. That's all.
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14 hours ago, BishopLenBrennan said:
I'm fine with Broadfoot coming in as backup, but I'm hoping that we have someone coming in who can play left back and cover centre back when required to make sure that Broadfoot is fourth choice at CB rather than third choice. I'm hoping that, with a relatively young defensive unit at the club, Broadfoot's experience is going to help them develop. Waters is a known quantity, absolutely no issue with him staying either.
I have no issue with Waters staying but he is not a better player than Lewis Strapp.
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12 minutes ago, Dunning1874 said:
If he's coming in to fill the Efe role I'd rather have just kept Efe. We could still do a lot worse for a third choice centre back though, as long as that's all he is and there's no plan to use him as full back cover which would now be a disaster at his age, but we're going to need some versatility in the remaining defensive signings.
He has signed a one season pre contract with us today
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14 hours ago, Ayr145 said:
And your point is? Mcgintys now worth 2 million
You wouldn't get close to 2 million pence for him!
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On 08/05/2023 at 16:40, btb said:
Bit of revisionist theory from Ton fans here, one of the sites stattos went thru the prediction thread and you were generally predicted to finish 7th/8th - congrats anyway on finishing 5th!
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Based on everyone's predictions, the league table looks like this
1. Dundee
2. Partick Thistle
3. ICT
4. Raith Rovers
5. Arbroath
6. Queen's Park
7. Morton
8. Ayr Utd
9. Cove Rangers
10. HamiltonMost predicted place for each team
1st Dundee (68)
2nd Partick Th (40)
3rd ICT (45)
4th Arbroath (27)
5th Raith (28)
5th Queen's Park (20)
8th Morton (22)
9th Ayr Utd (30)
10th Cove Rangers (24)
10th Hamilton (44)That may be an accurate reflection of opinions on this site, however before the season started Morton were the favourites with various bookmakers for relegation.
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2 hours ago, The Ghost of B A R P said:
Last night's late winner for ICT has finally done for us, I think; hard to see them or Partick completely blowing up from here... and little Ayr are better placed to capitalise if one of them does.
Draws at home to Ayr and ICT and a win at Arbroath would have had us on 52 points going into the last three games; even after that, hanging on for the win on Saturday would have been 50 (put both together and you get 54, which would have us still in the frame for the title [insert greeting emoji]).
Not to be, I'm afraid.
Looks very unlikely but still mathematically possible and stranger things have happened.
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5 minutes ago, Cowshed said:
Dougies changes making an impact right away love to see it
Great to see , yes but why is McGrattan not starting?
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Group D - The Famous Greenock Morton, R. County, Edinburgh, Kelty Hearts, Stranraer
in Domestic Cup Football
Posted
Although it is not posted on the Morton website there is a pre match interview with Dougie Imrie available:
https://t.co/bZYqzDJ7kW