Happy Pebble

Mick and Ross Dunlop would be good, I thought Mick had signed for Peterhead but doesn’t seem to be playing or listed on their website.

Have really enjoyed them and great work putting them together. Danny Denholm seems like a great guy and I’ve enjoyed them all - could we have a manager’s perspective on one. I’m sure some of them may have an interesting perspective on some of the issues raised. I get that current ones may not be able to say too much but retired but recent ones may be interesting - there must be a few who would like to have their say. Keep at it and happy to throw a few quid in if you can find a way to collect easily to support this.

Couldn’t make the game today but neither signing has me really excited. Sean was quite good first time round but really looking for a striker. Jesus Garcia Tena was possibly the player we are looking for at the back - time will tell. Looked like one up front today, I see the rationale of packing the midfield against thistle but we are going to need more than Mark McGuigan up front for the season ahead.

Might be a few German players who want to get out of the country - mind you if they can’t beat South Korea how will they fare against Arbroath

Seems we only have half/two thirds of a team with the competitive games starting in less than 2 weeks, I hear there is a game on Saturday the first team v a team of trialists - hopefully Bomber is there with a batch of signing forms! Minimum of another Centre Half and another forward required, but we seem light in a few areas and very light in defense. I am sure the League have thought of it but I cant imagine there will be many at the early season cup games as July is absolutely peak holiday season in this area.

I thought Nathan Blockley was still off the pace last night and hoofed the ball up most of the time, Keeper looked a bit dodgy particularly with clearances early on, Donaldson did okay and looks willing, Paton looked way better than the two loaners from last year although Oli Shaw did okay by us. Halleran looks a decent player for a youngster and wants to play on the deck, (perhaps needs a run in the team but I heard bomber say that a deal had been arranged with a junior club to give some of the boys game time). I still see goals being hard to come by and not sure about Ross Meechan in that position wide, he is a big strong lad but not really a winger! I honestly thought Colin would be coming on for the last 20 minutes or so but seems to be a starter again or perhaps just trying to get the whole squad match fit. I hope Brown is learning who his best team is through this exercise but we still need more attacking options and in the first half had good pressure but no finish, I appreciate that we are low on the pecking order but there must be somebody out there - loaner or otherwise. My Guess on starting 11 Chris Smith Back 3 - Dunlop, Dunlop and Marsh Midfield 5 - Donaldson, Paton, Halleran, Scott and Meechan Up Front - Longworth and McGuigan (But probably Mcmenamin;-))

Interesting day today against a now full time Airdrie side , some good bits and some not so good. Fraser Kerr had a few good interceptions and hopefully him and Ross will continue to develop an understanding. McMaster at left back is some way away from first team readiness but we always knew the learning curve would be steep for the youngsters. Cook played well and I actually think Gilhaney did okay all though there was a bit of noise from some of the old timers, he does try and pounced on the goal when others were standing watching, Bomber also trusted him with the captaincy so must be a players player[emoji848]. He did have a chat with McMaster after he was involved in the SNAFU that caused the second goal and it looked good positive stuff. Too many runs came to nothing and goalie was easily beaten twice from where I sat. Will be interesting to see where we go from here, already Ciaran and Jim P out injured which is already showing our lack of depth. Hopefully another couple to come in or we are going to struggle. Not usually a pessimist but a play off place is my shout. (Not a promotion one - I am certainly not an optimist)!

I missed last night as I am away at the moment but you folks are depressing me. We were poor against Cowden and a good measure will be Airdrie on Saturday. If our finances are bad and I don't recall any further word from the board about new income etc then the squad is threadbare. No word on any of the trial it's against Cowden?

Just enjoy today. It will make the lows of the season much easier to bear.

There were a couple who looked interesting last night, the full back on the right who switched to left mid in the second half and the number 20 who was busy and direct. Surprised we haven't taken the chance to get a good understanding in defence. I get that these games are a good chance to see other players in action but bearing in mind the defence last year I would like to see us start the season with a settled back 4 and a good understanding.

Would take him back in a second.

Looking forward to the season now, great to see the youngsters being given a chance. Only time will tell but as I've said before if you can't afford to buy anyone good then youth is a better option than bringing a squad of older guys who are at the end of their careers. At least with Mcmenamin and Patterson we have some experience as well.

Time will tell on Smith but on what we saw against EK he offers something we couldn't in these games.

Soooo... 15 signed players but 2 of them are keepers and 1 has been signed for the under 20's squad. Still seems far to light when pre-season is about to start, awaiting the mass announcement any day now - have to keep the faith

I'd take a bit of pace up front, with Mcmenamin in the middle that could work. That's the guy who tore us apart against EK. Looking forward to the season now - Euros have got me back in the mood. What position does Fabian play?

Alloa have started back pre season training, we haven't got a team. Maybe we should play the 1999's or at a push the Ffit squad. Only joking - I hope - but looking forward to some news over the next few days.

If they don't get more players in soon you might have to run on the park yourself😂😂 About 5 weeks to the first cup game.

non-sequitur - that'll be the word of the day toilet paper again It follows on from the previous post about us struggling to compete financially, we have small crowds, we need to bring through youth or take leftovers, but its all about our place in football. I don't see FV Academy making any difference but there is a place for us as a club who can develop youth like Hamilton and get to a decent standard bearing in mind local population. There were way more people at the Family day than at Ochilview on a Saturday, we used to have lots of youngsters along who at least made some noise and created a good turnover at the pie stall but that has died away and they seem to be leaving Stenhousemuir to watch Falkirk. Bomber obviously has a small budget but we seem to do well with youth football but need to give them a chance and that may be painful in the early days. looking forward to tomorrows word

When junior teams can pay more it will always be a struggle. We need more youth coming through and we as supporters need to be patient with them. Hard on a miserable January when you are getting hammered but that's what happens when you support your local team instead of hunting for glory.

With Bomber heading off on holiday very soon I was expecting some news. Let's hope he has left the board with a big list of targets while he is away. Pretty crap group for the cup I was hoping for a couple of bigger names just to get some money in. Biggest crowd all season was for to family day. Thistle at home would be okay but the others😞