The Toun Clock

Aye I’m surprised too. However, could it be that he’s thinking about the other areas of the pitch that desperately need recruitments. Deniz has chucked it far too many times since coming back, and Sharp has also been error prone when given the chance. I think Deniz is suffering from a lack of Bene at the back. However I think McPake will keep playing him. Sharp won’t be play if Deniz stays fit, or he starts having even more consistent howlers.

I'd be absolutely willing to stick with the goalies we have until the end of the season if it means we can get in a 2/3 outfield players. In fairness, he's already said he wants to keep Sharp, Deniz won't be going anywhere, I can't see us having more than three first team goalies on the books unless Little is offski. I did notice he ran round the front of the Norrie to the North West just as the teams were coming out on Tuesday from HT and gave his gloves to someone.

With regards to Mahon - Really good guy, enthusiastic and enjoyed being here but not what we need right now I feel. He was very much an impact player. He would come off the bench at times and look good, then would get a start the week after for his reward and not take the opportunity. If I'm being honest, and I know this is very unlikely but I'd rather see some experienced guys in to help than guys with very limited first team experience. For example Ashcroft and May, both been linked with us. I'd take them both.

Just noticed as well as the managers pre match interview there’s also an interview talking about other players, including the loanees. McPake is hoping Sharp, Summers and Moffat are all with us until the end of the season. Suppose that puts any recall for Sharp to bed.

McPake interview with the Courier... Fisher has multiple fractures to the nose, required seven/eight stitches below the eye. Breen will be out, Bene refused surgery to continue playing but I think that was before the Ayr injury. Matty Todd will see a specialist today about a hamstring issue. McCann won't make tomorrow.

Hopefully McPake will give his pre match today, and we can see who's in and who's not. I only really expect Paul Allan to feature that didn't on Tuesday. Unless some sort of miracle comes back on the scans with Bene, Breen and Matty.

I think we've done okay given it's our first time back in the league. Last season we had great fun, clean sheet records, long winning runs which led to a title win. It was never going to be easy coming up but a good home win against Airdrie and a point at Tannadice (nearly three) and things were looking good. However, it's been very inconsistent and stop start. We played Morton at East End, winning 3-1 and looked like we could have a real impact at the top of the tree. The following week or two we played Thistle at Firhill, got emptied 3-0 and looked like we'd be scrapping around the relegation playoffs. Been said a million times and not saying we've had it any harder than others, but our injury record this year is dreadful. Mehmet was out for months, Bene and Breen out for months, came back and are both out again. Todd and KRH both out for months, came back and now both long term injury again. Fisher's been in and out with injuries, and Lewis McCann. We have Ben Summers who's looked great when available, but also missing for weeks at a time. O'Hallaron and Jakubiak took a while to get going. I think everyone in the squad apart from Edwards, Comrie and Chalmers have missed out due to injury at some point. Mehmet, Bene, Breen, Todd, KRH, McCann, Summers would all likely be starters so to have them all repeatedly missing is tough. However, was that poor planning by the manager/board? Who knows, no one could foresee the injuries. KRH for example has had three different surgeries on three different parts of the body, since thee end of last season Matty Todd could be about to have a fourth surgery, again all unconnected. I think the general feeling is that we didn't sign enough or add enough quality in the summer. McPake always talks about not signing for the sake of it, and only adding if they'll improve the squad. Great approach, but in hindsight a couple more squad players wouldn't have done any harm. I'd go as far as saying I'm disappointed with the summer window. We got some good young guys in permanently from Premiership clubs but maybe not enough experience and quality. We also didn't address the striker issue. We weren't big scorers last season, and knew something had to give with Wighton, McCann, Todorov and O'Hara. I'd have kept Wighton, McCann and Todorov but we only kept the first two and didn't really replace them. Jakubiak is a good player, but it was all very last minute and he's not an out and out goalscorer/striker. Good hold up play, but two goals so far isn't what you need in this league. I've been impressed with Raith. Good team, a lot of quality and plenty pantomime villains (from a Dunfermline point of view). Off the field stuff has been good, on the field has been better. Hasn't been enjoyable getting defeated four (for now) times but these things don't last forever. The rest of the division kinda speaks for itself. Maybe didn't expect QP being at the bottom after last season but I don't want to talk too much about that in case they give us a pasting tomorrow...

Possibly, and that would make more sense. However, when the notification pinged at 9am I did think... here we go!

I think more aimed at Section North West mate. Things being thrown, flares, pyros whatever. I wondered if the club would eventually address this, however after what has happened I think they might now. Again, I'm not connecting SNW to the incident, but unfortunately a lot of non Pars fans are. I don't think the club will do another statement on the attack until the Police have concluded there investigations. Then they'll know who was involved and who's getting banned.

To be fair, the Raith Vs Dunfermline games tend to have a very heavy police presence, especially at Starks. Whether that's Police at the stations at both Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy, Police on the train, Police in between the pubs and the ground, it's usually swarming. And after the game too. I'm sure it'll be even bigger in March when the teams meet at Starks. I walked back to my car parked in Garvock after the game and passed the away end on Halbeath Road just as the away support was exiting. Very vocal, and rightly so after a derby win. However, a group of say 15 young men, well in their 20's surrounded and started battering the windows of a service bus that was stuck in the traffic. Was busy with old people, women, children etc. I don't buy that there was people not using public transport at ether if the train stations due to safety. Short walk with a couple of hundred other people, to a station that is policed.

Was having a glance at the comments/reaction on Facebook to the clubs statement and also Section NW's statement. I can't remember if it was the one for the club or the group, but in the comments, two mothers of the kids accused, names plastered all over social media have been proven not involved in the attack by the Police. I'm not sure exactly how serious, but I think it can be a fairly dangerous game to be plastering names of people all over social media, accusing them of things, especially given their age. I have Twitter notifications on for the club. A new one came through at 9am and I was gobsmacked it wasn't a bigger statement. Instead some sticker/card collection game.

Main story on the STV News, what a great 24 hours for the club...

I was skim reading your post and thought you used to take a bag of wine into East End in your jacket hood. Realistically there's about 30-40 guys that go every week from SNW and they all know each other. There all well older than the age of the people involved in the incident. I think what they're saying is there not really part of that group. Most of these guys are mid 20's, the boy arrested was what, 17/18? Aye they might have managed to get a ticket in that section. Regardless, Jason is a great guy. This has nothing to do with him, and realistically it has nothing to do with SNW, however they released a statement anyway, because people were linking the incident with them, and even offered to pay for some damages, when they didn't have to Go on any of the Pars pages on Facebook and go through profiles, you'll see loads of people with Section North West photos, a lot of them sit in other sections of the ground. The background on my phone is of a display they did last season against Falkirk, I sit in the Norrie. Anyone can buy a hoodie. They're available online from a Fife based sports kit retailer which is owned by the same guys who own Raith would you believe.

Was exactly the same as you mate. I was delighted to be fair. I was at the Scotland Vs Norway game in November, three queues going into one turnstile. Everyone asking if they could open more gates or the fire exit, never in a million years did I think stewards would but yesterday they did. Outside the corner of the Main Stand/Norrie was as busy as I remember for some time, it was packed. One queue for the Norrie started away round at the club shop. Another in Aldi car park.

Huge game, we had a nice bit of cushion on those below us but it's gotten smaller in the last fortnight. I've heard snippets that Matty Todd won't kick a ball again this season. I can't see Bene making it, or Breen, or Fisher so there's our three main centre halves out the picture. McCann won't be ready for this week, but possible the Airdrie game a week on Saturday. KRH and Andrew Tod still long term absences. Then we have the chances of someone just randomly not making it, like Paul Allan yesterday. We'll need to go for something a bit different, because Hamilton and Otoo are the only two that could really go in and play there. Perheps move to a back four unless we plan on making any signings before Friday, very unlikely I'd imagine. I'm not entirely sure of Sharp's contact, when he's due back at Dundee but I'd be tempted to chuck him in, or even Little. Mehmet's a liability.

Aye I'm not overly fussed about the defeat now... used to it In all fairness, didn't expect much from yesterday with our form/injuries. But the fall out with the incident/video is worse, putting us on the map for the wrong reasons. I was on a work call this morning, 15 colleagues, only me and one other from Dunfermline, everyone else Edinburgh and it's the first thing we spoke about, everyone asking me, someone said they heard it being mentioned on the radio news.

It's a shame, because the guy who arranges the TIFO's and displays is a top guy, really well known at the club and one million miles away from that type of behaviour. He's in there with his dad every week and honestly, they must be tearing their hair out. They're trying to do a good thing. There's a group in there that are purely about the songs and atmosphere but it definitely is a magnet for fannies. I used to sit in that section before but moved before the start of last season as at the grand old age of 31 I felt I was ready for my seat in the Norrie to sit and "enjoy" the football. I couldn't help but cringe when they kept lobbing flares after we scored. I actually was looking at the players, they were fed up, McPake was fuming. I have a feeling the statement the club put forward about the incident won't be the only one they make this week.

I see we've released a statement condemning the incident, working with Raith and Police Scotland, will ensure the fan has any support they need and any supporter found to have been involved will be banned. Can't really ask for more than that. I noticed also that Section North West released a statement via their social media channels, again condemning the attack, saying that these people aren't actually members/involved with the group. However, they have offered a direct apology to the victim and offered to pay for damage. Club Statement | Dunfermline Athletic Football Club - (dafc.co.uk)

First away game at Starks that I went to was a 1-2 game, Craig Wilson last minute OG winner. There was bother between the Penny Farthing and Starks that day, first time I’d ever actually seen it in the flesh. I’ve made most of not all of the away days at Starks since and it’s always been there. Admittedly not as much as that first day. The police didn’t expect it that day, it was like 50 on 50. As a 16/17 year old I remember thinking it was insane. Bottles, fireworks, and proper men punching each others pan in. It’s always been there but I think with social media and the “ultra” scene it’s became bigger for the younger ones, which is a problem as they don’t tend to think before they do. 10-15 years ago I couldn’t have told you anyone from rival teams, but with Twitter it’s easy. See them in the comments, can even see where they might drink etc, then a DM to arrange some pavement dancing and away it goes.

That video is awful, really bad to see. There was a photo of them all standing and I can’t say I recognise any of them but then again they’ll probably be in the North West stand and a good 15 years my junior. The kind of wee bams that turn up when we’re playing Raith or Falkirk. Hopefully the club dish out bans for this. From looking at the video it looks like it’s opposite the Kwik-Fit, just passed the railway bridge. Traffic was heavy then, I’m sure there’ll be plenty dash cam footage. I never understand why groups of guys fight each other and video it. Most important thing is that the victim is okay. Good to see Raith, some Rovers players and Chris Hamilton tweet about it. It’s just not acceptable.

Geez peace man. Mind only a matter of weeks ago your own fans were lobbing flares about, burning clothing, could have been far worse. Every club has them.

McPake said in his post match that he has a bad gash on the face, a broken nose and is concussed again for the second time in three weeks.

Just listened to McPake’s interview. Breen going to need a scan, Fisher broken nose and a nasty gash to face, also a second concussion in a fortnight, Matty Todd has a serious hamstring issue, involving the tendon, waiting on specialist, Bene needs a scan on his thigh. Lewis McCann should be ready for the game a week on Saturday. Paul Allan suffering from a “fatigue” issue but will be available on Friday. Can’t get a break from injuries at the moment. He was asked about movement, said work is being done, but given we’ve now lost another two defenders we might need to do something.

I’m sure McPake feels pressure himself, but I genuinely don’t think he’s in any real danger. The view at the end of last season was stay in the Championship, ideally not involved in relegation playoffs etc. McPake, McKay and Cook all said they’d love to be up the top end of the league but ultimately he’d take 7th if offered. We’ve sat in the top four for a while now (somehow). Regardless of four defeats against Raith, I don’t think the owners/board will be looking at that. Raith have done very well this season, it’s not like we’re both mid-table and constantly getting dicked off RR. They’ve been at the top and are unbeaten against the team everyone tipped to win the division. Another thing is the injuries. I have a good idea of who would be McPake’s starting 11 and they’ve not played together once this season. The knee jerk idiots that every club has will be getting a bit twitchy, but I think his job is safe. With regards to the game, I thought we started well but then another Mehmet mistake for the RR goal. Great finish from Summers and at half time I thought we’d come out and go again, but Raith scored and for all the half chances I didn’t think we’d score. If we’d managed to get a point I don’t think there could be too many complaints. Breen and Fisher both injured again, genuinely couldn’t write it. Massive game away to bottom of the pile Queens Park. Get Sharp back to Dundee, free up a loan and get some business done.

We're either getting dicked, worse than the 0-3 in the Scottish Cup, or we'll put a gutsy effort in and get a draw. Suppose we don't know until 2pm and the team lines come out.