Dinsey

It’s in my best interests to have the best players possible for the way we want to play and do things, regardless who they play for. I’m sure I’d have had my fair share of cross words with a lot of the boys that were involved last year when we were on opposing teams!!

I expected us to be better as well but wouldn’t have said there was a hype about the team or anything like that. I’d probably say that most people would have expected the SAFL, Ayrshire and Central leagues to be better than us and it’s my job to put together the best group I can to beat these teams. I disagree mate, I thought about it for a while and I think it’s very doable because we have plenty time to work with until the competition starts. I wouldn’t have done it again if i didn’t think I could do it justice. If it’s not working then I’d be the first to admit it.

Scott was involved last year, know him well and I won’t be selecting anyone from that other team.

Not sure where to start with this one. Firstly, what’s the right thing? You’ll be hard pushed to find someone that takes it as seriously and puts the graft into it that Michael Smith and myself do. Secondly, it’s a voluntary position so there’s nothing to resign from. I’ve already said I’d be happy to stand aside if someone felt they can put more time into watching games every Saturday and the committee thought they were a better option. I was asked by the committee to stay on and I agreed because I enjoyed it and it was good working with different players. As it stands, Iv asked for player recommendations as always, I will try and see these players myself or have someone I trust watch them and feed back to me, we also have the trial games and friendlies to get a good look at players. You will probably be aware that I have a decent grasp on players within LEAFA aswell from previous years so some I don’t even need to see which allows more time to look at new suggestions. I’ve said before I will never please everyone, no select manager ever will.

No dates set for anything yet.

What hype? Iv said it a few times on here, every single person will have their opinions on who should be selected, what Iv found is that a lot of the time you cannot get the team you want for various reasons. Picking 16 from hundreds of players, you’re never going to please everyone. We will once again stick with the guys that impress in the trial and games and show us they are committed to it and won’t let us down. Looking forward to getting going again and hope we do better too.

Iv asked the committee to send out emails to all clubs this week to put player recommendations to me and to find out dates they can book for trials. Last year we never got together until December but Iv asked it to be earlier so I can get as many players watched before hand and more time together when we get the squad. I’m back in club football with Lauriston so I have a couple people I trust that will watch players I may not know about for me ahead of the trials too.

You’ve probably noticed already it’s a thankless job! Everybody has a better squad and you should have picked this player or that player. I’m doing the LEAFA select again this season and last year I had the same. People don’t realise that not every player wants to commit to it etc All the best mate and our paths may cross through the season.

Sandys v Meadowbank for me. ESV v CP United another decent game

Just got home mate. Never again, EH pitches only for us please!

Seen on their twitter comfortable 6-0. Any shocks for or against LEAFA teams in the Scottish today? We won 4-1 at Grangemouth who were previously unbeaten and no mugs, proved too strong on the day for them.

In their defence, Tollcross always post their results win, lose or draw. Just looked and both games you mention are there too.

You’ll do well to listen on an Internet forum mate. Your Saturday must be class to be sitting on your phone on a dug shite league forum. Good stuff.

That is a massive statement from Sandys today. Written off by a lot of people, probably a wee bit myself included, they’ve started the season superbly. Massive 3 points for us today at Newcraighall, brutal conditions meant it wasn’t a spectacular football wise although some of the goals in the game were unreal. Newcraighall won’t lose many points if they can have that squad available for selection every week.

I used to think the same about Tollcross and small parks, especially Castleview, until I watched them destroy Sandys there last season on the same pitch. Counts for nothing now but It was a quite brilliant performance that could and should have been a lot bigger than what it ended up (a result I can’t mind). They go there knowing they can play their game there though. A Sandys win would be a huge statement after their solid start. Sandys with momentum are a hard machine to stop.

At this stage, it’s good to have the points on the board I think. All Sandys games they would probably have been expected to win but even so, they’ve blown away any thoughts of them being there for the taking this year and shown they are still a force. This will be some race for the league, some cracking games ahead.

I’d love you to be right! It will be a tough game, I’d say already it’s a must win for them so they’ll be up for it but then so will we.

That’s where I’d be if we never had a game. We have arguably our biggest test to date with a league game at Newcraighall. They’ve had an indifferent start but they have assembled some top players and if they click then we are in for a tough day.

Where you having to play?

The only way we will ever know is if either the teams mentioned draw teams from the premier in cups. Personally I would relish the challenge. We played ESV and Meadowbank recently and neither beat us, never mind proved streets ahead. I get the argument about playing against better teams weekly but let’s not forget the calibre of player in both Lothian Vale and Lauristons squad, I’d imagine a lot of both squads would play for any of the top premier sides.

I think with less leagues now, it’s only really 2 seasons and you’re In the prem. There is already talk of only having 3 divisions in LEAFA next year due to lack of teams.

St Bernard’s folded last preseason, i think end of July/ Start of August 2018 so yes, over a year. I did indeed get some of them back.

What’s there to bite to? I was replying to your post and disagreeing a bit on what you said.

It is for Lauriston, and the ones that did play together at St Bernard’s have been at other teams for over a year.

Harder route to what? The only time I see both teams mentioned is when people say there are good teams in leagues below the premier and not comparing the teams. I also don’t get what you mean by having it ALOT harder than Lauriston. Having what a lot harder? We both have home parks, we both have to work equally as hard to get players in and signing for us, getting sponsors etc which I know Phildo puts a lot into . Iv brung in almost an entirely new team this summer. I’d also argue that by maintaining our own facilities, we have to work harder than clubs that don’t? More hours needed during the week to keep things running so I think that one is flawed.