BB_Bino

Good night at Ross’s Testimonial last night, although thought the attendance was maybe lower than I was expecting. Still, I’m sure Ross will have had a night to remember, and a good financial boost to his fund. The first 45 minutes, Darren Young went with a strong starting 11. I suspect with injuries and knocks from Saturday, it was probably the strongest 11 we could have had (minus maybe Currie, McGregor, Spence & Moore but the later 3 playing the whole Second Half). There was also the formation change to 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 depending on how you look at it, with Cammy Clark playing as the left sided Centre Back. Although Dundee started straight out the blocks and played good football with what I imagine is there strongest 11, or not a million miles from it (all the notable names were there from what I know), it was actually ourselves that went into Half Time with a 2-1 lead, Cooper and McGeachie scored the goals and it was great to see Geeks score on his big day, not a customary penalty or a consolation goal, but a fantastic finish after some good movement at a corner. We had the legends penalty shootout with some familiar faces present, most notably Alex Bone & Gavin Price, which was an entertaining Half Time. Onto the Second Half and this is where the exhibition mode clicked in. Dundee seemed to bring on a youthful looking Academy based team and we brought on Lee Hamilton (ex Bino currently at Edinburgh City for any non Stirling fans reading) along with Kieran Moore, Jordon McGregor and Kieran Curtis. Greig Spence had come on seconds before Half Time after Dale Carrick limped off, which is a wee bit worrying but hopefully he’ll be ok for Falkirk in over a weeks time, fingers crossed. A lad named Wilkie quickly made the scoreline 2-2 and that was probably the last meaningful moment of the match as it very much pittered into what it was. More ex-players took to the field, fans favourite Darren Lee Smith made a return (currently at Gartcairn) and was warmly applauded along with Kevin Nicol. I couldn’t find out if Nicol was still playing or not but he looked in good shape and had a couple of “Nicol type” challenges when he came on. Young Goalkeeper Chris White also replaced Mark Weir and with 10 minutes left Darren Young and James Creaney got involved in the action and for the remaining 5 or so minutes, Chris Aitken returned to replace the man of the moment, just in time to swing a fantastic free kick into the box. If anyone was really interested, the game finished 2-2 and it was good to see plenty of smiles and laughs throughout the second half and a good competitive game in the first.

Metallica - I Disappear

Mitski - Bug Like An Angel

The Beatles - Yellow Submarine

Which, as someone who regularly saw Marvin play for Bournemouth and Leyton Orient, is very surprising because he should have gained plenty of this kind of experience in League 1 and 2 in England (think he was a non-league player before that also) or would have had contacts that could help having been there.

Samson - Six

Think it’s hard not to be happy with the start of the season. Darren Young and his Coaches along with the lads on the pitch, really have pulled it out the bag in the first quarter. I don’t think any of us would have predicted such a good start. The next quarter is tough, but it’s exciting. I wouldn’t write this squad off, as has been said, they seem to have a unity and togetherness that is so rare to see at this level but at times, seems to be an extra man on the pitch for us and we seem to just have a way of getting that 1-0 win or getting ourselves back into games. It would be totally unrealistic to see that every week, but it’s definitely happening more times than not. The new additions to the squad have been impressive. Milne & Hilston have slotted in like they have always been there, in his 2 games, Wilson looks to be positive addition and Miller comes with some positive reviews from clubs he has been on loan at previously. Maybe the signings didn’t happen as quickly as some would have liked however, the early signs are that they do look to have been improvements. Couldn’t have been happier with the onfield progress so far, this season, let’s hope things just keep truckin’ along like they have been. Think every member of last season’s squad has went up a gear or 2 and so far so good.

Nike Sellmar - Playing The Game

Preston Frank - You Don’t like The Way I Dress

Must admit to not knowing anything about him, but I did read a couple of positive posts when he came on as a trialist last week (in the Cove thread). Let’s hope he can have the same positive impact as Milne and Hilson.

Little Dragon - Slugs Of Love

Philip Sayce - You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Saw him play twice for Stoke last season, and I thought he was very very good. Physical, strong and quick. He run the channels well but also held the ball in. I've posted it elsewhere, but for me he's a more mobile option for Clarke to replace Dykes. At the moment, if Dykes gets injured he doesn't have a like for like replacement if Brown is not in the squad. In his Hampden appearances, it's hard to tell how he actually fits in, however in the 2 games I was at when he played, I thought he looked like an asset within the squad.

Asli Tan - Holder

Fleetwood Mac should have ended when Peter Green left. Radiohead after OK Computer.

Brown will be looked as as a replacement for Dykes, he is more physical than Shankland and quite possibly more mobile. I'm not sure I would have made the same choice as Clarke but I can get what he is thinking.

"It's rock n roll........because it's rock n roll.........cuz we'ur ladz n that".....................all joking aside, I don't get it either and it p's me right off!!

That would be a great idea, and would generate a lot of interest and excitement, along with bumper crowds and a real sense of International Football engagement.........the blazers will never buy into it!!

Probably the same people that complain that there's not enough Rangers players in there.........

Think this confirms that there's been some truth in the Anderson speculation. Yeah, it's pretty much as expected really.

Si Ferry actually makes a remark about this near the start of the latest Open Goal podcast. He tells Slaney and Kevin Kyle that he looked over to the Civil Service bench the other day and there was 3 or 4 of them and he looked at theirs's and there was all sorts of Coaches and a proper Coaching team, then he said that it wasn't like last season, when he wanted extra players at Broomhill he knew the answer was no, this season the guys behind the scene at EK make it happen, no hassles and mentioned at some point they were still looking to bring guys in. Must be a Manger/Assistant Managers dream, so fair play to them, it's giving them every tool to succeed I suppose .

I genuinely don’t even think Clarke is considering him or that he is in his thoughts, I might be wrong. I think Clarke has settled on this generation of players and those that are in are the ones he wants, I think it’s the next generation coming through, getting them involved, showing them there is a pathway, that’s his focus now. In an International sense, rightly or wrongly, Gauld has missed the boat and that’s not been helped by poor choices he has made. Poor loan spells, lower league clubs in Portugal and a move to America has probably been good for him but not for his International career as when Clarke was probably looking at him as an option, he wasn’t…..if that makes sense.

I would honestly take that and I think, for any Scottish player playing now, that would go down as a successful career if he could establish himself at that level for long enough. Long term, probably looking for him to be the linchpin at the back for us, thankfully the current Defenders (Handley apart) will be around for the next 2 or 3 campaigns, but Portious should have more in him as he’s still a young lad with 10 or so years in front of him

Rory Gallagher - Don’t Know Where I’m Going

I'd say he is, but he falls under the category of a number of players at the moment. When do you call him up to have this look?? There's no friendlies at International level these days or B camps. Then you're going "is he better than what's in front of him?".....Adam, Dykes, Shankland, Nisbett, Brown or Stewart.......maybe even throw Christie in that as well.....i'm not really sure he is. If he keeps up this form then maybe he can force his way in, or if there's a few injuries it might be the time to have a look, however I just don't see it and to be honest, i'm not sure I would have him in front of the established members personally.