DumbartonTheSons

I must say that given he was offered a deal, I'm surprised Scott Gallagher has decided to join airdrie instead. On one hand he did improve as the season went on, but even then he never seemed to inspire confidence and cross balls were always a lottery. Him being offered a deal and knocking it back could be either A) He was told he might not be first choice (in which case I wouldn't be too worried, I'd like to think Stevie would be looking for a better goalkeeper) or B)) Airdrie are offering more money than us. In which case I'd be slightly concerned, but we all know the budget is being slashed, if it were a money decision from Gall then it'd perhaps be indicative of just how much. Airdrie are still a mix of PT and FT aren't they too? Might have had some bearing on the decision I'd imagine. Grant Gallagher leaves with best wishes but he was never really good enough and while he might be 'decent' for league one, even with a reduced budget, we've got to be looking to do better than him.

Firstly on behalf of us all, welcome. Any new fan is always welcome. I'm not sure about the issue of seats being taken next to yours but someone more knowledgeable than me will help there I'm sure. The ST is a book with tokens inside. The trust is £10 IIRC and is a vital part of the club. They do excellent work for the club that is very much important and will continue to be so in the coming months. There is discount for away journeys which subject to numbers, the trust organise a bus/buses (being optimistic here) and it's always great value. Very reasonable pricing and we'll have a fair few journeys to make next season so that alone is an excellent part of being a trust member. Away games there won't be an issue getting in this season, it's a pay at the gate affair. Hope this helps and welcome aboard!

Jeez. What's happened here? We can't have this all summer surely?! Anyway, my mate said he saw Craig Dargo at the fish counter earlier buying some breaded hallibut and he said to the wummin at the counter he wanted some 'more goals against airdrie' or something like that.

How true. I'm inclined to go with the standard thought that it's the manager's responsibility though. Given that it's him that gets the flak and him who falls on the sword accordingly when results are pish. The assistant usually goes too, but that's usually collateral damage. It's the manager's responsibility no matter what 'Aitken's Army' says.

As much as I'm in the 'Handling is/was poor' camp, he could and most definitely should be, a totally different proposition in League One. The players we've offered contracts to would form a very decent base of a side for that level, it's just complimenting that and adding more quality to it. I still believe that even with the players we had this season and the ones we might retain, we can be attacking and nowhere near as defensive. It's got little to do with the personnel in my opinion, and all about the tactics and instruction, which is all Stevie's remit...

I'd love to believe we would be in with a chance of signing Stirling permanently, but surely a Morton, Alloa, Ayr type side will come in for him and blow any offer we could make out of the water.

I'm not too surprised at the ones we're bidding farewell to. I did think Stevie would've kept Grant Gallagher given he seemed to be a favourite (see bringing him on on Sunday there, leaving Froxy rotting on the bench). I'd have offered terms to Hill as well, he's a solid defender, but not unsurprised he won't be with us. If, and it's a big if, Beany got himself a belting pre-season then he could do a job in the league below so I'm relatively content with the situation he's in. I'd love it, LOVE IT, if we signed Derek Lyle. In League One, if he got a pre-season with us and got himself imbedded into the team from the start, he'd easily score 12+ next year. Whether it happens or not is another matter, but he'd be a great addition I think.

I'd like to think he would enquire too. But I'd like to think a lot of things and they were dispelled in emphatic fashion yesterday, so I'm not sure if you can rely on what Stevie might and should do. I don't know what wages he'd command, but I'm not sure there'd be a better proposition for him than us, but maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic. Those stats do make grim reading. So including friendliest, that makes 50+ games our top two 'assisters' (not sure that's a word) have 13 and then it's 3. THREE. That's really poor and amply displays a large part of our shortcomings this season.

While we're all in a jovial and upbeat mood... Do we expect any sort of communication from our overlords in the coming weeks? As in, what they intend to do from here and thus where we stand? Their absence yesterday was as notable as Neil Rankine's attendance...

He's been released as far as I'm aware. He's a player I've always rated, and maybe I'm being optimistic, but would he have more attractive offers? Can you see a Championship side taking the chance on him given he's been at this level before (on more than one occasion?)? Would we not (again I'm maybe looking at it with my (albeit misty-eyed, Sons specs[emoji22]) be a decent option for a PT player?

Presumably this is based on tangible information rather than assumptions or a hope that he isn't? I just don't see it being as easy as some seem to think for him to leave.

Fair enough. But I just don't see us either having or wanting to spend money in getting rid of a manager. From what I'm led to believe we hardly have a bean, so paying off a manager (lump sum or not) is unlikely I'd suggest.

Despite this squad being the one that'll shoulder the tag of being relegated, there are some I'd want us to at least try and retain... I'd like to see us try and keep Barr (I know he's contracted but will that have a relegation clause and wage reduction in it?), Hill, Dowie, McLaughlin, Carswell and Hutton. I think it can be taken as read that all of our loanees will be back at their parent clubs, whether we want any of them or not. I'd probably be ok with us retaining Scott Gallagher, but he needs competition for the first choice spot. He's flappy on occasion and doesn't inspire confidence. He needs to be pushed to improve and another goalkeeper does that.

I don't know in our current financial plight that there will be 'means' to explore with regards Stevie's departure. And why would he go unless shoved? He's got a good managerial job and is contracted to do that? That'd leave us the option of sacking him. And with the aforementioned financial plight we're in, I doubt that's remotely going to be an option. Getting a job in football that'll pay far more than we can or will?

Absolutely gutted. No getting away from it. We were so close to pulling it off but it wasn't to be. We'll need to regroup massively and a huge overhaul is required. Now on to the post-mortem as I see it... Aitken's tactics, lack of nous and uber-defensive approach have come back to bite us in the arse. Over the two legs, Alloa were there for the taking, an average side that we troubled little. And while I say that they're average, and I think that's perfectly fair, it says a whole lot more about us that we couldn't despatch them over two legs. I understand the replacement of Walsh, I don't think he looks fully fit (and hasn't since New Year imo) but to then hook Stirling, who causes problems and runs with the ball was a mistake. Not as big an error as bringing on Gallagher. I've nothing against him at all, but he's not good enough for this level and it left us as defensive as we could possibly be with no outlet or attacking threat. So Alloa then score, inevitably, but having made those substitutions, where do we go from there? And that's something that Aitken has to take responsibility for. That said, the players have to stand up and accept that they made errors that cost us. Manage the game in the last ten minutes. Take your time. Time waste. Take the ball to the corner. Everything Alloa did once they went in front. But we didn't when Burt was away, and we've paid a heavy, heavy price for it. It'll be a huge summer for the club on and more importantly off the field, and with budgets due to be slashed massively, it'll be a hugely testing time. And for all the chat of Aitken leaving etc, firstly he's under contract and secondly, why would he? We've come very close to achieving our goal and he'll cite the old 'part time team' nonsense for our failure in the end. He's not going to walk away from a contract, let's get real on that. And breathe...

Just before I start, let me say, I do think we'll be in the play-offs. We've left ourselves too much to do and will very likely fall short. However... I refuse to accept it's a foregone conclusion or formality with the fixtures both us and Falkirk have to come. And I'll also say, I do recognise that we'd need to win almost half the number of games in the final five than we have done all season, but it is doable with our remaining fixtures. Unlikely, aye but there is a possibility so until it's not feasible, I refuse accept a play-off. Fighting back to win having been pegged back twice yesterday shows fighting spirit and we'll need that no matter where we end up, safe or into a play-off... OUR REMAINING FIXTURES Morton (A) Inverness (A) Inverness (H) Falkirk (H) Dunfermline (A) FALKIRK'S REMAINING FIXTURES Inverness (A) Dundee Utd (A) St. Mirren (A) Dumbarton (A) St. Mirren (H) PS - I accept that these sorts of stat things and analysing are Sonsteam of 08's thing, apologies if I've stepped on any toes.[emoji6]

Done. Good Luck.

I think he was just training with us to get some fitness and doing a little bit of off the cuff coaching while he was here, was he not? I certainly don't recall it ever being mooted that he might be signing for us.

Ignore if you wish, that's your prerogative. I didn't know that about him and Lennon at Celtic, seems strange that he'd have linked up with him again if true. You're probably right, a Ross County or Thistle might take a chance on him, maybe a last chance saloon at the SPL.

Well as we've all seen before to their cost, Livi appear to be flinging money about this month, he might be headed there. Would he get another SPL gig? Must say I'm a bit surprised Hibs have released him, I thought he got a game for them fairly regularly.

Great to see Andy Stirling back, that's a real boost. Hopefully he can replicate some of his second half of the season form from last season.

Is he signed permanently with us, Handling? If so, presuming his deal is until the summer, he could go down as one of our biggest wasted signings of recent times. He's starting to make Darren Anderson's fitness record look enviable.

I don't suppose anyone's seen Derek Lyle purchasing some halibut or the likes, or is that wishful thinking?

I liked Ally Roy. He wasn't amazing but he took a man on and scored a couple of important goals. He maybe lacks consistency but he's a winger, the vast majority in this country are guilty of that. I'm content enough with him leaving, and I trust that Stevie will find an able replacement. And has been said already, and it shouldn't be lost, but he's given us more in the few short months he's been with us than Calum Gallagher has in what seems like an eternity.

A cracking write-up and a compelling read So08. Well Done. I believe he's quite highly rated by Stranraer fans and was tipped for a full-time move in the summer so I'm happy with his signing. He'll provide competition for places and as has been said, he's got top team experience which could be invaluable. On John Sutton, if the rumour that he 'didn't fancy it' with us and would prefer to be getting cameos like the two-minute one he got against Dundee United the other night, then we've dodged a bullet there. We need someone who wants to be with us and give his all. Someone who prefers being benched than getting first team football (anywhere, at almost any level) isn't what we need.