ANEWHOPE

I’ve read some utter shit on here but this right up there. Although you talk about o&b so I’m presuming your viewing a site in which players are being slaughtered because this isn’t it.

He was one of the many that I thought was going to be a great signing and turned out to be far from it.

Muirhead screaming at him or anyone is hardly an indicator of doing anything wrong to be fair. I’m also not saying he looked great, just didn’t think he was rotten and did enough for me to merit another look. Although think the fact we’ve been starved of anyone half way decent there that anyone even remotely competent looks a world beater. If we start another season with Muirhead or Kidd there it will seriously dampen my unusually upbeat temperament. As for the formation I bow to your knowledge. If it was a 3 then it seemed no one told Jordan McGhee.

That’s the man. Much appreciated. [emoji109]

Really surprised that you thought the right back trialist was rotten, I thought he was good and definitely worth another look. Agreed the other guy looked a bit lightweight, looked like a guy we had on loan from Burnley I think a good few years ago, absolutely bugging the hell out of me. I also disagree with an earlier post that you suggest we played 3 at the back but I was pretty sure it was a 4 and then we switched 2nd half.

I get that some really like his passion or commitment but his lack of skill and temperament are a concern and have been for a few seasons now. I really don’t get what people see in him, however we have discussed that point numerous times and Hartley seems to rate him so guess we’ll just have to trust his judgement. There has been so much positivity recently and I was concerned that expectations were unrealistically high, tonight gave me a little glimpse into what might actually occur and I was impressed. I’m still not ready to fully change my avatar yet but greenshoots and all that.

Up against a very strong looking Aberdeen side I thought we performed well. The defence in particular looked solid and seem to have a bit of presence. Really liked Tommy in a much more advanced role and he looked our most dangerous player. Both strikers had moments but for me I thought Turner looked the more promising but very very early days and so I won’t rush to judge. Thought both trialist did enough to warrant further investigation and it was good to see Mitchell back. The overwhelming negative for me was Muirhead, his mere presence seems to instil a sense of panic and what he deems helpful encouragement others around him seemed to take exception. You could here clearly several players telling him to shut the f**k up and/or to calm down. Can’t believe he will be our captain, never mind still playing. Overall it seemed a really worthwhile exercise but reaffirmed my desire to see the Jak back. [emoji120]

Good of the World Cup committee to organise a pause in proceedings to give me an opportunity to see our new team in action. Who knows what will happen but very excited to see what unfolds. A weird/good feeling though going to watch players that on the whole I/we have no idea what like and that I’ve not already written off. [emoji12]

Whilst I share the renewed optimism & I’m delighted we’ve stayed clear of the Championship swap meet that many others are indulging in I think this is stretching things a little. Marketing/PR & Hartley deserve plaudits and if that’s what your mean by club then I agree it’s much better, but think there some way to go for many other key players at the club to be given much credit, our Chief Ex for example. Biggest pat on the back has to do to DAFC, their signing of Flood, that really is genius. ????

That’s that settled then! Cheers for enlightening me.

Agree that it is refreshing to see what seems an apparent strategy to move away from a plan that has achieved anything really tangible. I think Hartley has more than shown he is capable in the transfer market & has made a good attempt a gutting a squad in desperate need of an overhaul. I’m very much in the Hartley we trust camp but that doesn’t mean I won’t question or second guess every decision made.

Whilst I don’t agree with the point made why does EdiBairn seem to provoke suggest hostile reactions? Seems way over the top or am I just missing something?

Finally got round to changing club calendar today and was greeted with a picture of Sibbald. One of many to have left the club that feature. The ray of sunshine is the person that is Mr July, so fingers crossed the trend continues. If this forum is anything to go by then a Hartley solo calendar would fly off the shelves.

“Still a competent GK” he miles better than that! He was a fantastic keeper for us.

Thought he could use his wage to bring in better quality. Wants to shape his own squad, with his own players. He talked about players not coping well with his new ideas & regime and he can’t have that. He changed the intensity of training, the times, days off etc and some couldn’t cope. However I’m not sure he was aiming that at Taiwo though. He did say he let Hippo go as he was not what we needed at the time. We were in a fight and although he likes Hippo as a player, he not the guy you want in a scrap. Fair enough I thought.

It went on like that for a good few minutes. Toe curling stuff.

One guy kept asking about set pieces and asking about who would be covering the front post. He wouldn’t let it go. Hartley handled it very well and injected a bit of humour. He then had numerous questions about Taiwo and why we let them go. These became moronic as he had already offered an explanation. Someone asked about Muirhead, asked what Hartley could see in him because he couldn’t see anything. [emoji23] I secretly agree but that didn’t seem to go down well in the room.

Was impressed with Hartley tonight. Dealt with some of the absolute moronic questions very well. Seemed much more personable than I thought he was. Seems pretty clear on who & what he wants. Aiming for much smaller squad size, around 20-22 and will utilise the reserve league to keep fringe players match ready. 1/2 loan players at most would be ideal & rest signings. Recognised physicality an issue and has addressed this already and will continue to do this. Negatives for me was a fairly weak answer to Sibbald fee, he said he would discuss this with the board but didn’t seem to have a clue about what would happen. Also the sheer amateurishness of the organisation was poor.

Not sure if you can read too much into it but I see Sibbald’s brother retweeting a comment that he is leaving due to how shabbily he was treated during negotiations.

Has some hijacked your account because that reply makes far too much sense from you?

Some fans think people saying well done are cretins. It is that an opinion you share? If it is I think that is harsh. However those that sought him out and directed abuse is over the top. Also think that the accusation made by a few that he is a wage thief was way off the mark. I don’t think we will ever know what happened but I suspect faults on both sides. However I do think Mr Loy would be best keeping out of things. Although I think there is much more going on there also and I am prepared to cut him some slack. A fresh start maybe best for all.

I thought United fans the most divided but we certainly give them a run for their money. Some Falkirk Fans congratulating Lee Miller & just as many hammering him. The sooner the season starts the better.

Got sent a message of a tweet saying he has signed. Turns out it was just the announcement tweet from last year. #fakenews

Heard Tam Cowan asking why Falkirk fans are signing a song about him. I’m unaware of it but was curious to discover if true? And why? He tried to offer a reason why he had a soft spot for Falkirk. It caught my attention as unusually for him it wasn’t him talking about Motherwell.

Is that wishful thinking? Or is a realistic expectation? Surely some need to move on 1st.