Bainsfordbairn

I have no idea if we have a squad capable of winning the league, and I say that from the perspective of having seen every game we've played, plus a few training sessions. I simply don't have enough knowledge of what our players are capable of. Never mind the players the opposition have signed. Which is why I find it so annoying that people rush to judgement. Why not wait until the end of the first quarter of league games is over, or at least until a few have been played before we demand the guillotine and trebuchet are brought out? Depending on how old you are, you may well remember the "Stainrod is pish" sentiments expressed by members of the FSC supporters bus when Airdrie went eleven points clear at the top of our division. I was on it at the time and can well remember all the negativity about him. Then we got a draw at a fog-enshrouded Dens park and the bandwagon took off. It wasn't Airdrie who won the league that season. It's far, far too early to judge things will go this season.

We started last season with a playing squad signed almost exclusively from Scotland. (Peter Grant & Joe McKee were the only exceptions. And Joe came from Carlisle, which isn't exactly far from the border). In their opening 17 league games, they won twice. Once away to Morton and once in the 17th match, when they beat QOS a day before Hogmanay. Then January arrived. Hartley brought in an influx of players from England and they won 10 of the 17 league games in the second half of the season. That statistic suggests you're talking shite. The fact you think they train six hours a day proves you're talking shite. It's actually about quarter of that, plus a gymn session in the afternoon. Like all Bairns fans, I can't say I was enthralled with the result today. But the amount of OTT hysteria I'm reading in various places beggars belief.

Played yesterday in the U20/Reserve match against Morton. Had a good game too I thought.

That would be alright for an old pro at the end of his career, not for someone in his early twenties. I have no idea how many suitors he'll have just now, but if he only plays reserve football this season - or maybe doesn't play at all - then there'll be a lot less next summer.

Given how well he did at Edinburgh City I doubt Shepherd will have any difficulty finding another club. He won fans player of the year, top goalscorer and scored not far off one goal in every two games. As neither Shepherd nor Harris have been in any of the squads for the five friendlies we've played, it seems blatantly obvious that they're not wanted and won't play for our first team again. It's probably just a case of waiting while their agents find them the best deal possible elsewhere.

He had eight goals by Christmas and was I think their top scorer at that point. Then they signed Hardie / Miller and suddenly decided to punt him out on loan to Brechin. For whom he scored against Falkirk, incidentally. He's the big target man we all wanted and is coming here with something to prove. That'll do for me.

I think there was a problem with the FFC TV equipment as although Lewis & Stuart filmed the first half they weren't on the gantry in the second. I believe the club were going to get highlights from Aberdeen. They may be waiting on those coming through.

All the trialists were named on the TNS teamsheet and pictures of it were posted in various fan forums. Greg Tansey wasn't listed.

I wasn't present during the entire event, but during the Q&A bit in the dressing room he said another one or two players without mentioning positions. I took that as possibly being a striker and right fullback, given that we have one on trial at the moment who played against TNS. Having said that, we've also got a trialist midfielder who played against TNS so maybe it's just a case of whoever catches his eye. Or maybe he's covering bases and there might be more to come in if some of the current squad go out on loan. I wouldn't be surprised if the club posted an update on PH's thoughts once the pre-season games are under way. That might be one way of trying to give season ticket sales a push. Or perhaps we're due another statement from the CEO.

Bullen, McCann, & McNamara all got two year deals. McCann left after one year, allegedly because he didn't get on with Elvis so after Pressley was appointed as Assistant to May McCann then wanted out. O' Brien got a three year deal. Those four were the mainstays of Yogi's "Next Level" signings in the summer of 2008, along with Steve Lovell who got a one year deal. A spending spree that would have seen us relegated were it not for the ball deflecting off Higdon's thigh in the final game of the season at Inverness. Plus Dani Mallo, of course. May allegedly tried to get rid of all four when he took over due to their salaries being more than we could afford after the collapse of the Setanta deal. Or at least that was the story that was leaking out from the club at the time. McNamara went, the others remained and at the end of that season we did go down.

Naah. I've liked things / posted as "Falkirk FC" on Facebook and then realised I forgot to log out and back in under my own name. Easy mistake to make - and to fix. Our twitter guy will be fine.

In real life, I've often found that the best way to move on after a spat with someone is to forget about it. Leave it in the past and hope the other party does the same. I think the same principle applies to online too. The worst thing you can do is rake over the embers of who did what, whom was at fault and how you felt about it. *Warning - Stereotype sexist comment to follow. Do not read if easily offended.* Women do this all the time, or at least many of the ones that I know do. It annoys the hell out of us men. If you want to move on I'd suggest your post about an hour or so back was a mistake. Let it go. As soon as the games start getting played there'll be plenty more interesting things to talk about anyway.

It was postponed. Newport changed their training schedule after accepting the game and subsequently pulled out.

I don't think anyone could claim it was a great performance. You kind of get used to these during early pre-season games though. I mind one match at Leeuwarden in Holland when we barely touched the ball and the guys around me did nothing but moan like bugggery all game. "Paid good money to come and watch this shite" etc, etc. However, there were a few wee flashes here and there that showed promise for the future: a bit of trickery from TOE that bamboozled the defender and let him put in a good cross at the end of the FH, Froxy looking lively any time he had the ball, Luke Watt going past his man on two or three occasions, and err, Lewis Kidd being (IMO) one of our standout performers.

I've been in there just about every day since Monday, I'm off to Greenock with the Ladies team tomorrow, honestly Bairnado - my trigger finger is red raw. You'ld think they would leave me alone at least one day a week.

It is bespoke. Designed specifically for us and wouldn't be suitable for any other team to wear. You'll understand when you see it. The lady who's our retail guru has done a cracking job.

Well done sir. A sensible post which actually gives credit where it's due instead of trying to wind folk up. I'm going to do something which is almost unthinkable for a Falkirk fan, at least judging by your recent (diminishing) reputation. Have a greenie on me.

I'm sure there 'll be a fans forum / meet the manager event or something similar on once the season starts. There usually is. If you want to question, you can turn up in person and do so. We'll all look forward to hearing you report back on what the answer was.

Love and kisses big man.

Cheers Gaz. It's nice to be appreciated on here, given that the media person who did all the work yesterday was kicked off the COYB facebook page and so won't have seen any of the praise. As was I. It was during the bad results towards the end of Houstons reign. I think the justification was along the lines of "we'll ban everyone associated with the club just to let them know that we mean business". Hmmn. Quite what you achieve by removing fellow fans from a fans website was never clear to me. Hey ho, as BPM would say.

He did aye. Fittest player in the squad. I'm pretty sure last year it was Alex Harris.

That's why you should keep a spreadsheet of Falkirk stats rather than relying on memory. We first used squad numbers in 2005/06 after promotion to the top league. Andy Thomson wore 9. Though yes, Phil Roberts was the first to wear it as a squad number after that system was introduced in the Championship.

That would be a wonderful change to all the poppy / techno crap that can be heard booming out of the dressing room on a match day.

You sending the wife down RC?

I'll be in at 0830 tomorrow as I have four commercial-related jobs on, plus covering the first day of training. Then two further commercial jobs on Thursday and two on Friday. I suspect the club will give an update on the likelihood (or otherwise) of further transfer activity during the course of the day, at least if todays excellent communications are anything to go by.