[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Courier reporting that we're "weighing up summer moves for Hibs legends Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson".

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

3 hours ago, BPM said:

How many of this current Championship would have gone through L1 undefeated? 

Well that’s a bit of a silly question because we’ll never know.

It’s a great achievement for Falkirk, but don’t forget we only lost one league game on our way to lifting the L1 title last season, so perhaps it’s not as difficult as we think. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Was at the supporters meeting tonight. Nothing major but one takeaway was that Aberdeen have been watching Fagan-Walcott at every home game (at least) since he joined which is a gutter. Hopefully their new manager doesn’t fancy him.

Decent night, Cook, McPake and Hammy spoke well. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

2 hours ago, FFC 1876 said:

Agreed

 

Winning four cup ties doesn't mean you have a Championship ready squad though does it. Last season when we won the league, we played Arbroath away in the League Cup and battered them 5-1, then went to Thistle in the Scottish Cup and drew 1-1, going out on penalties. Did those results mean we had a Championship level squad? No. I'd actually say we still don't have a Championship level squad. We have some good players but in terms of the squad, no which is exactly the same for Falkirk. Too many guys with a few Championship appearances here and there, or ones that hide when the going gets tough, something Falkirk didn't have to deal with this season.

Just had a look at the Falkirk squad, outside of Brad Spencer, Callum Morrison there's not anyone in there that jumps out at me, the boy Miller and Henderson are decent but I'd be lying if I said there were loads of Championship level quality in there. Had the pleasure of watching the majority of that Falkirk team four times last season where guys like Nesbitt, Donaldson, Henderson, Mackie went missing.

Like I said, a few additions and I'm sure you'll have a fine season, maybe the invincible season will help with recruitment and general belief but the Championship is a different kettle of fish.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Unfortunately I can see clubs who can offer that wee bit extra trying to sign Chris Kane. If St.Johnstone stay up I wouldn’t be shocked if they offer him a year as a squad striker, and if then come down in the playoffs I wouldn’t be shocked if they offer him a deal to fire them back up.

MFW has done well enough to earn a contract outside of the Scottish Championship, wouldn’t be shocked if he stays at Cardiff or gets another gig down south.

With regards to Falkirk, I think if they’d just won the league in fairly normal circumstances, I think they’d come up and aim to finish mid table next season. However, with the invincible season, I think it’ll propel them on a bit more and they’ll have a right good go next season. It would seem they already have a good spirit in the team, and the amount of late goals to get them wins or draws over the season was mad. A few handy recruits and they’ll do okay. Suppose the good thing is they were playing L1 players, they still have a lot of below Championship quality in their squad. 

[Ayr v The Pars- final Friday feeling]

4 hours ago, AyrTroopMajor said:

Unsure what I want to happen elsewhere. A toss up between a strong desire never to visit 'The Caledonian Stadium' again and also a burning wish to see Ruari Paton's career disappear off a cliff. I suppose all that really matters is that it means absolutely f**k all to every one of us gracing Somerset on this fine sunny and rainy evening.

Unfortunately I can't see any of Inverness or QP going down in the playoffs. Accies have been hot and cold and I don't think Alloa or Montrose would beat either of the two Championship clubs over two legs. In an ideal world I'd be happy to see either of them go down replaced by Montrose as they've both been involved in us being relegated (QP two years ago in the playoffs with a last minute Simon Murray winner and we exited the old SPL circa 2007/08 up at Inverness, I recall their fans being cnuts about it which didn't sit right with a 14 year old full to the gunnels with Buckfast... 

Also, Inverness's ground as an away fan is terrible and an empty Hampden is also really bad, another reason to get them down.

[Ayr v The Pars- final Friday feeling]

8 hours ago, Chubbychops said:

Canny see past a 4-0 Pars. Pressure off. McPake grows some juicy melon sized nuts and puts KRH out wide as a proper winger and hey presto!.........

Going by McPake's pre match he's going to be resting some who've been injured and had a busy few months. Could imagine Todd, KRH, Bene might not be starting, if in the squad at all.

Wouldn't be shocked to see Benjamin, O'Hallaron, Fisher, Chalmers, Holmes etc

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Should hopefully know in the next week what will be happening with boys out of contract. Notice it was 7th May last year we announced who was leaving.

 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

13 minutes ago, HoBNob said:

Didn't see anything at all from Kerr to suggest he'd be worth pursuing. 

Feel exactly the same, I think it's an area we'll look to add to, not sure if he think's Welsh-Hayes could be that guy or if he'll be available but I'd sooner have him than Kerr. One player that really caught my eye on Saturday was the boy Alex Samuel. A complete nuisance of a striker, built like a tank. Maybe not overly prolific in front of goal but I thought he was good, and has been good any time I seen him this season. Sure he scored two at Starks against Raith.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

7 minutes ago, Salvo Montalbano said:

 

 

That's the formation I think would suit us best with our personnel. We don't have a number of strikers so better playing with one up, with an array of quality in behind and wide. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

2 minutes ago, Chubbychops said:

From what I saw. MWH was right back and Hosler was infront of MWH on the right further forward. He was quite far up the park to score two goals from RWB.. Bene and MFW were two CBs. We switched to 3 at the back last 20 minutes and United had their best spell of the match.

Stand to be corrected but that's what I thought happened.

This seems to be a big issue with some thinking he played RWB and some thinking a more forward role. The further forward role is exactly what I saw as well.

KRH hasn't looked like creating much since that game. He finally got a chance to run at someone in the first half against ICT, bit of trickery and won a corner. It needs to be utilised more. He was even played in the middle (Otoo role) last week against QP. He's one of the most creative players, he needs to be given the license to do that.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

6 minutes ago, Chubbychops said:

I was really encouraged when he eventually changed the 3 at the back and moved to a 4 at the back. We got that good victory at Firhill playing that formation, we beat Ayr and Dundee United at home, then he starts migrating back to that awful back 3 with the slow passing and no width in attacking areas. He's ruining KRH and Todd with his boring style and there's simply no need for it.  

His number one priority next season is to build a cohesive attacking set-up and start  playing football that is more attacking and higher tempo. He's turning fans off and there will only one loser once the fans have had enough of it.

This.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Was just thinking, Morton probably have the trickiest tie of the final round being away to Inverness who have plenty to play for. Hopefully ICT can get the result they need and if we manage to pick up a win in Ayrshire we will finish 5th.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

3 hours ago, Wacky said:

Wow! I’ve just been talking to a father and son who said they will be holding off buying a season ticket until they see who gets released. Pretty adamant that if Chalmers, MOH and Wighton are still with the club they won’t renew. To be honest I don’t think many fans across the Pars sites are happy with Chalmers getting the deal he got, but I would still buy my season ticket regardless. 
There’s no denying we need a major overhaul in our playing squad, but I wouldn’t go as far as stopping my support because of a couple of players. 

Stuff like that is embarrassing and I hope they f*ck right off. There’s plenty under contract players I’d rather see the back of but even if they were all offered five year deals tomorrow I’d still buy my season ticket/support the team. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

13 minutes ago, Dunfermline Don said:

The performance over the last two games shows how important Otto has become to the team and how much he’s missed when not playing. 

Not sure that’s totally true. He played against Airdrie three games ago where we were largely disappointing. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Glad we’re safe but glad to see the back of it. The only improvement on last weeks game was that we scored a goal. We’ve been poor lately and a few of the players look like they’re running on fumes at the moment.

I know he’s probably struggling with fitness after missing large spells, head injuries etc but Sam Fisher yesterday played like a guy who was concussed. Gave the ball away every time, aimless lumps up the pitch. Will give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s only just came back in, might be lacking fitness but that was poor.

Can we stop shoehorning KRH into RWB, it does not work. He doesn’t have the defensive qualities and it impacts his attacking know how.

Deniz Mehmet, the cheeky bast@rd cupped his ear the Norrie after the penalty safe like he’s been unfairly treated by the support this year, then played a key part in ICT’s equaliser a few minutes later if I had a magic pot of money he’d be first paid off.

No Otoo at the moment and Joe Chalmers can’t even get a start then. Surely the writing is on the wall. Paul Allan did okay and got the assist but I don’t think that warrants a new deal, I’m sure he’ll get one though. Lewis McCann genuinely having less and less impact on games as the season goes on. Andy Tod Jnr played like someone who didn’t know what football was, and was partly at fault for their goal.

Take the 100K for Edwards. Do whatever we can to sign Chris Kake and Fagan-Walcott, try and move some on (will be near impossible) then start again.

Have to say, even though that was terrible, I already can’t wait to get back in July/August. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

27 minutes ago, HoBNob said:

He's inconsistent with it but it's certainly not incapable, he's got seven? Assists this season which is good. His attacking threat is levels above that of Miles and Comrie for example who are solid enough full backs at this level, and realistically if we get anyone on there level for the left it'll have to do. 

He'll be away, I'll be surprised if the contract extension that we triggered won't have a release clause in it though, I'm not sure there will be a bidding war. 

 

Aye, and that's good, but he can be very wasteful in some of the good positions he finds himself in.

Yeah I think so too. Reckon he'll be ready to test himself down south.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

Controversial here, but I'm not overly unhappy about Josh Edwards going. At the same time, if he signed  new deal I'd be okay with that. He has a good engine, and is rarely injured but his inability to put a decent ball in the box is an issue. He will do it, but for large parts it usually ends up in the stand or out for a throw in on the other side.

If we can get six figures for him then excellent.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

7 hours ago, Wacky said:

Here’s hoping out first new signing of the season is new catering. I’m sick to death of bridies with the filling spay painted on, and the heartburn that follows about twenty minutes later. 
Then a new strike force please, and a replacement for Mr Chalmers 

I rarely bother with a bridie or any of the catering but if I do, like I did on Saturday I find there always decent, same as if I get one from any of the shops. I suppose the problem is there just getting kept in those big heaters at East End which might impact them, however I always find the filling is fine. New caterers will be able to do nothing for your heartburn unless you're hoping Gaviscon are taking over? Might get a Rennie's in one of the lounges... 

[🦨🦨 Dunfermline v The Caley 🔴🔵]

I was quite pleased with our final three games, all teams around us and the first two being at home meaning the final game at Ayr should be pressure off. However, after Saturday I'm a little less enthusiastic. Inverness aren't bad on the road and if we don't start well, the fans get on the players back and it becomes tense. We should have enough to win, but I would not be shocked if both QP and Inverness have gained three points on us come Saturday.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

25 minutes ago, Wacky said:

I just hope James can see what roughly 5 thousand experts in the stands can see and move some players on regardless of the contracts he gave them. 
I’m not naming players here because I can’t be arsed with endless posts explaining myself, but we all have our own opinions on who we’d like to see moved on, so I’m referring to all of them. 

That’s easier said than done though. If I had it my way, I’d be looking to move on Deniz, Breen, Chalmers, McCann, Wighton, O’Halloran, yet all of them are under contract, meaning we’d have to pay them off. We’re not really in a paying off position, not for multiple guys anyway. You might get a wee agreement with one or two saying you’ll not play, find another club but again none of them are exactly setting the heather alight. Those guys signed deals which gave them security, offered by the club. Not much else we can do.

Deniz is only playing because we don’t really have a backup that will challenge. Breen has hardly played since coming back, well down the pecking order, since Hammy and Otoo have been able to play in the middle, Chalmers has hardly played, McCann is getting worse, shouldn’t play ahead of Jak if he’s fit, Wighton wouldn’t get in ahead of Kane, O’Halloran has hardly played since the injured guys came back. Essentially all squad players but I bet they’ll be on good money. 

Allan has a couple of goals and assists but I’m afraid that’s not good enough to get a new deal. Alex Jakubiak is a good player but we need to see it more, McPake said he’s almost too good for this league on his day but we need to see that. I’d be tempted to keep. 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

5 minutes ago, VinnyPar said:

Josh Edwards in championship team of the year 

Just seen it, quite surprised at that to be fair. Although I've not really thought about who else could have got it.

I noticed Falkirk had 10 in the league one team of the year, only non Falkirk player was their striker from last year, Burrell who's at Cove. Be raging if you're that Falkirk striker that missed out! 

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

The manager saying in his pre-match that both Jak and Hammy are back for tomorrow but Ben Summers season is done, he's not back at Celtic doing rehab. Great to have Jak and Hammy back, missed them big time last week. All the best to Ben Summers, I don't think he was at his best with us and I think he played through injury for a while when things were pretty bleek but I could see him kicking on. Who knows, might end up back here.

[Pars v the QP]

We've done pretty well since the clubs last met. I reckon the players will be keen to put right last week's performance and result and secure Championship football next season.

We know QP can hurt us, given they've beaten us twice this calendar year but I think this Dunfermline team is probably the best one they'll have faced. If DT is out then even better.

Home win.

[Walking Down The Halbeath Road]

4 hours ago, The Toun Clock said:

Completely agree. Since the manager came in we've had four windows and only really addressed the striking issue in the most recent one with the loan signing of Chris Kane. I'd love to see him stay permanently but I have a suspicion St.Johnstone might want him back, especially if they find themselves in the playoffs and go down. Even if we were to sign Kane permanently, I'd like to see another striker coming in.

Was just on the Thistle thread and someones posted all of the PCA and out of contract players in the Premiership this summer. Chris Kane showing as out of contract at St.J so maybe less likely he will be back there. I thought someone had said he had another year.