D'Jaffo

No, I just noticed that some clubs down South are releasing their retained lists for next season and he was on Carlisles. I remember seeing him for Annan in the playoffs and thinking he was decent. Seemed to earn good reviews at the time. Plus Timmins coming back might mean he recommends one or two. I think Brown will have his own ideas on recruiting. I think Bullen relied very heavily on the scouting data as it was there. Brown might end up doing that as well but I can’t see us taking seven or eight punts on unknown players. One or two maybe but I think we’ll be after more established players.

In terms of new signings I wonder if we’d look at Max Kilsby. Just been released by Carlisle and has spent time out on loan at Annan and QOS. Predominantly a left back but I think he can play as a left sided centre back as well. One to develop whilst giving us some cover at the back.

If he’s signing Clarke it’ll be to be first choice. I don’t have an issue with that. He’s 19 years old so will get better with time.

AP saying Brown wants to keep Clarke, Sanders, Chalmers and Dowds and I believe we’ve made them all offers to stay amongst other players. Reckon we’ll focus on getting those four tied up as a starter then move on to other targets.

He leaves massive holes in the XI when he’s on international duty or injured.

First signing of the summer confirmed. Keep ‘em coming Mr Ayr.

Aye I bought the training top with the tartan sleeves. Felt the sleeves were really baggy compared to the torso part but it’s still really smart.

I am 100% buying the new black hoodie. That’s the smartest piece of kit we’ve released in years. Absolutely love the AUFC writing.

Aye that’s class. I dunno how we sort out the fact that every sponsor we have ever had has ruined strips but there you go.

I agree that the defence has been the issue but I think this has been compounded by not having a settled back five all season and a total lack of protection from midfield. The back four of Stanger, Sanders, McGinty, Musonda looks solid but I don’t think it offers a whole lot going forward. Neither full back can deliver a cross into the box and there’s no speed there. We’ve lacked a consistent ball winner in midfield. Jack Young looked like he was coming onto a game but his passing let him down and was very raw. Syla has shown in flashes what he can do but I don’t think that’s his game. We could really do with a proper defensive midfielder who will win tackles and can recycle the ball competently enough.

Pretty sure this was the state of play at the time of sacking. I don’t think anyone who actually watches games can say it was a bad decision. Fans saying Bullen could’ve gotten us out of it may have been right but I think they were saying that out of blind hope as there was nothing on the pitch to suggest we were about to turn a corner. I always believed we would stay up somehow but not with Bullen. Things were too stale and I think a lot of players were in a comfort zone with him and had stopped performing as well as they could have. I can’t see that ever happening with Brown.

McGinty has been better for us than Muirhead. Muirhead had an arrogance and a belief that everyone around him was at fault and it was never him. Couple that with the fake hard man image because he’ll occasionally try and stick an elbow into a younger player and I don’t see why fans ever really liked him.

Why does Bullen look like he’s squaring up to Brown whilst Brown looks like he’s been made to sing karaoke and doesn’t know the words? The stuff that happens in that hub eh.

Ftfy

The club didn’t sack Bullen because of the fans though. They were obviously giving him every chance possible but once we slipped into 9th the decision was made. The club were entirely justified in calling out some of the abuse folk were dishing out but for some reason people interpreted that as the club being forced into getting rid of him because of stuff we said.

Oh hwg…

Aye I see that. Makes me laugh that there’s Celtic season ticket holders who will be idolising Scott Brown but will never have said two words to him. Then you’ll get random Ayr punters who have a far greater chance of bumping into him if they’re out a walk near the uni when the squad are training or in and around the club shop.

Anything of interest said by Mathie, Smith or Brown?

10 years ago they were dishing out consistent pastings to us with a pretty solid squad for League 1 level. Andy Stirling, Stevie Bell, Frank McKeown, Jamie Longworth etc. All kinda went to shit when it was revealed they were massively overpaying for players and their squad got gutted under Stevie Farrell. We had loads of good battles with them in League 1 so I wouldn’t want to see them relegated as I think they’d disappear and not be seen again.

I don’t think he’s on much. I think the idea was he’d have this gig for a couple of years and then move on to another club in a similar role without the playing commitments. He is absolutely done though but I can’t comment at all on his work behind the scenes.

Aye Brian Graham gets away with it given his incredibly annoying habit of scoring against us. Muirhead is a fanny that was rightfully disliked by his own fans before he left Ayr.

He was absolutely seething when he was subbed off to the Ayr abuse. I’m convinced that man has been permanently raging since his professional career began.

We may well end up with a couple but I can’t see Browns first port of call being asking Celtic for a couple of loan deals. He’ll want players that are committing to the club. Once it gets to the end of the window then we can start supplementing what we have with a loan or two. I’ll eat my (and everyone else’s) hat if we sign an actual first team player from Celtic regardless of nationality.

I think our overall squad could look something like this next season. This is on the assumption that we keep the likes of Clarke, Dowds, Sanders and Chalmers. Might be optimistic but I think they will stay. Fans will be split on Clarke but I like what he gives us in terms of distribution and how comfortable he is on the ball. I had also heard that Brown wasn't convinced on McGinty for next season so wouldn't be shocked if he was away and replaced. Goalkeepers Josh Clarke, Robbie Mutch, Ollie Ecrepont Right Back Nick McAllister, Dylan Watret Left Back Paddy Reading Centre Back Jack Sanders, George Stanger, Frankie Musonda Central Midfield Ben Dempsey, Roy Syla Attacking Midfield Logan Chalmers, Jamie Murphy, Scott Tomlinson Striker Anton Dowds, Fraser Bryden, Mark McKenzie If the above is the case then it gives us a solid start in recruitment. We're probably still looking for a left footed centre back, left back, defensive midfielder, winger and a striker.

If you’re talking about pace then it has to be in the full back, central midfield and wide areas. I don’t think every signing is going to be a sprinter but McCall spoke about the big jump from League 1 to the Championship being pace. I have absolutely no idea who Brown plans on keeping on next season but I’m safe in the knowledge that he’ll be wanting to get a head start on planning for next season and that means getting players locked down early on.