Howlin' Wilf

There are posters around town for every game. Asda will have a policy on posters. I think Morrisons used to put them up until their policy changed.

The club is to be congratulated on the pricing move. It's an ambitious one right enough with 20% off the walk up price. For this to have a neutral financial effect, the walk up crowd will have to increase by 25% (12.5 admissions for £200 against 10 previously). To stand still on season income (comparing only on a full price ticket) sales will have to increase by 8% If it as goodwill gesture to the support, then it has already worked. The more difficult task will be to justify the decision financially.

Alloa are the form side. In their last four games they've beaten Raith twice, Ayr once and had a further draw with Raith, scoring six and conceding two. FWIW I still think we can stay up but I think we have to take something in midweek.

I just watched the Raith v Alloa semi from yesterday. Alloa's first goal from an edge of the box free kick by Kirkpatrick and a calmly taken finish by Stewart from a long ball for their second. I was just thinking that had Dumbarton had those opportunities yesterday then the guys who might have taken them were actually sitting watching the game. We'll need to improve significantly to have a chance of taking anything from Wednesday's first leg. You have to love the commentary.

Doesn’t it go into the SPFL pot? I think it does and the money shared out. That’s what happens generally with Alba.

I agree with you in that I don’t normally like the negativity. There is one guy in the row behind me who loses it completely at least once a game and yells a whole paragraph laden with expletives at a high rate of decibels. However, yesterday was a frustrating experience watching both our team and the referee kill the game as a spectacle. We were, not to put too fine a point on it, rank rotten yesterday and we had players on the bench who should have started the game. I’ve supported Steve Aitken 100% but I think he deserved the criticism yesterday.

I don’t think that’s the reason. He started the three games directly after the final and also started the 1-0 home defeat by ICT. I find it pretty baffling that he didn’t feature in either of the Arbroath games, not even as an impact sub. The accusation is that he doesn’t work hard enough. He’s a flair player, an attacking midfielder who will get you a goal if given a chance. Maybe we’ve just got too many players like that. [emoji23][emoji23] I sincerely hope that whatever our status next season that I don’t witness another game where we absorb punishment on the ropes in a home game for 80 minutes against the likes of Arbroath. If the Lichties had carried any real goal threat, we’d be down.

Ah yes. Pretty much this....

To be fair, Garry Fleming was more than good enough for the Championship for 5 seasons.

Great guys but Aitken released Graham soon after he arrived because he (correctly) identified that he was too slow for the Championship. Garry Fleming is one of the best players I have seen in a Dumbarton shirt. 100% effort every time. Great guy. Unfortunately there was a lot going on in his personal life in his final season with us which affected his approach to his game. I'm delighted for Garry that he's doing well at Alloa and wish him all the very best. Except this week of course.

I see it’ s Beanie up front on his own. We have to assume C Gal is injured.

I'd agree with most of that. The reality though will be Hutton, Carswell Handling and Stirling with one up front (C Gallagher). Stewart, Burt and Froxy will probably be on the bench with the latter not featuring.

Proven technique then......

Thanks, good to hear that. Seems positive all round, long may it continue. The type of guy who it is better to have on your side than against you. In that respect probably a good choice as Chairman.

Is he trustworthy in your opinion? I had a business transaction with him in 2013 where he was acting for the other party as solicitor and everything was fine. Any contact I've had with him in recent years has been via DFC and on certain social occasions. I've had no reason to doubt his trustworthiness. He is nephew of former DFC Chairman Douglas Dalgleish.

I've known John Steele for nearly as long as I've supported the Sons. I must admit to being a wee bit surprised at the new getting down with the fans spirit he seems to have embraced. John's a smart operator and he probably realises that this is the way to get the supporters onside for what looks like stormy waters ahead. Good.

I remember too a festive jingle at a game v Rangers (to the tune of Deck the Halls) "Derek Johnstone is a fairy! na na na na na na na na na! He's got baws but they're no' hairy! na na na na na na na na na! Right enough I can see there'd be arrests today if that were sung.

I quite liked the implied menace of (to the tune of the Bonzo Dog Doo Da Band's "Urban Spaceman" ) "We're the Mental Sonsteam baby we've got class......Mental Ya Bass!"

Ok, but there seem to be megaphones involved with the so called "Union Bears" at Ibrox and "Green Brigade" at Sellick Park. The Malaga guys really added to the match day experience for everyone - there was always something going on. No need for steamers there will be stuff that will be permitted - you just need to use imagination. I'm sure some of the misty eyed old farts here will like me remember average crowds of more than 4,000 at Boghead and the "choir" numbering about 500. They had several songs specific to the Sons too. Happy days.

I was at a Malaga game (v Real Sociedad - La Liga) in Spain last week. Because Malaga are already relegated there was only a 14,500 crowd in a 30,000 plus capacity stadium. The atmosphere though was amazing. The Malaga "Ultras" (A section with maybe 300- 350 fans) had two leaders who started songs off with microphone assistance. They had practised routines with call and response, every song went to conclusion, There were call and response chants, there were flags and there were streamers. It was organised and choreographed. It really created a terrific spectacle and atmosphere. The nearest I have witnessed to that at a Dumbarton game is when the Swiss Sons come over. Of course they are a massive club compared to Dumbarton but the principle of creating an atmosphere is only one of scale. Thanks to the magic of Youtube, this was the very game and the events I'm describing. Click on 3 mins 30 secs to get a flavour.

Funny how we see things differently. I thought we had a decent first half but were pretty much in a siege situation after Arbroath drew level. I felt they dominated play for maybe 15-20 minutes after that with a succession of corners and Gallagher doing a Grindlay! We battled away though and finished the better side with Barr’s goal a nice little bonus for our midweek journey. If anyone can tell me how Handling gets 90 minutes please let me know.

Just to say, I have a lift. Thanks for the offers!!

I didn't think I'd be able to go tonight because I had an eye op on Monday. Feeling fine noo but no seats on the bus. I'm not allowed to drive yet, so if anyone has a spare seat I'd be happy to chip in for the fuel.....