The Toun Clock

Did anyone make it along to the open training session? Anything worth mentioning?

Our record against Alloa especially at East End is abysmal. I can tell you that none of our fans looked at that league opener and rubbed their hands together thinking it would be a nice winning start, especially since they drew with us on the league cup the week prior. Was genuinely shocked to see Edinburgh's big away win at Alloa on Saturday as they were absolutely rubbish against us.

Are Alloa one of the poorer sides? Managed 7/12 points from Falkirk last season, finishing above you in the table.

This goes back to the discussion earlier in the season that Chalmers is a scapegoat. Guy has had three good games yet he’s specifically mentioned. Unfortunately it’ll take a miracle for him to win fans over.

Notice on twitter SLO Drew just asked them on twitter how many we were getting and someone's said they're in the process of emailing him about it so fingers crossed we'll know shortly.

Just putting it out there. He was meant to be back last week, wasn't even in the squad this week. If he decided to patch it then I'm sure he wouldn't be getting paid the same to be a coach if he wanted to hang around. FWIW I do hope he's back playing soon, just the more we go the more I worry as he's not featured at all now this season minus a few days at the start of pre-season.

Kelty's away kit is royal blue, top, shorts and socks. I'd imagine they'll wear that and we'll be in our home kit. Wasn't at the FC Edinburgh game but he came on and got a debut goal which he took very well. Had some good moments after coming on at the weekend, laid one on plate for McCann that he could have taken on himself, McCann really should have scored. All in all he looks the part, probably take a couple of weeks to get up to speed with new team mates etc. Would imagine he'll be in the first 11 shortly.

Ah fair, I've not read/listened to the post match stuff so that makes a bit of sense, although very alarming that Wighton is required to play with injured knees. Recruits desperately needed. When does the transfer/loan window actually close? Noticed Scott Allan touting himself to clubs in Scotland this morning. He feels like he's got an asterix next to his name with his heart condition and just wants to get back playing. Wonder if he'd be willing to drop down, him and McPake together at any time, Hibs/Dundee? Likely be higher wages than we can afford but if a certain Mr Dorrans was to be off the wage bill...

Thought Montrose were decent, well organised and had a couple of players that looked good, the number 11 had a lot of good movement/runs in the first half. Ref was a joke, we should have had two stonewallers in the second half. I thought we done enough to win it. On another day we get one of those penalties and McCann is a bit more ruthless and we win that a bit more comfortably. Special mentions to Rhys Breen and Matty Todd, Breen looks like a different guy alongside Bene (who was also fantastic). Todd showing why he’s so highly thought of, if he keeps this up he’ll have teams interested. Totally take back what I said before the season that he wasn’t worthy of a start in our midfield. Wighton looked so uninterested yesterday. He’s like Berbarov without the skill and swagger. Certainly a player in there but I was genuinely surprised to see him come out for the second half. Hopefully still two or three to come in.

I’m glad someone else thought this. I was sitting at the back of the Norrie, my eyes are only 30 years old and occasionally I found the clash to be really noticeable. I don’t know if it was the overall brightness of the day, as the photos look like there was zero clash.

Alloa 2-0 Edinburgh Clyde 1-1 Kelty Dunfermline 2-1 Montrose Falkirk 1-0 Peterhead QOS 1-2 Airdrie

In terms of chippies, The Brig (Netherton) and Alaris were always family favourites. We tend to have pizzas, Chinese and Indian more often these days as my wife’s a veggie and veggie options out the Chippy aren’t always that good. However, on the rare occasion I do get one it’s normally the Brig @ Linburn Road or the Golden Chip. Big fan of the traditional fried Chippy food but in terms of kebabs the Brig do a peri peri chicken kebab and it’s one of the tastiest things that has past my lips. That with a big old bag of chips covered in broon . I’ve not been but the Chippy out at Hill of Beath is meant to be banging.

Courier reporting it too. Sounds like he's training with them this week

Absolutely is a confidence thing with RW. He was such a promising youngster with us due to his attacking side, teams couldn't handle his pace etc then he dislocated his knee cap. Came back, done okay and then within a few months he had a double leg break. When he did return the boys confidence was shattered. He had his best moments when we had a team of brilliant players, when we were winning he was unplayable but if he ends up in a team taking the occasional do in with the fans on the players backs from the get go then he'll hide.

Save me a seat

Courier confirming Mochrie a done deal, should be announced today.

Airdrie 2 - 0 Falkirk Alloa 0 - 1 Kelty Clyde 2 - 0 Peterhead Edinburgh City 1 - 3 Dunfermline Montrose 2 - 1 Queens

Todorov occasionally does something that makes me think he could go on to be very useful but I really don't think he will unfortunately. Originally I was fairly happy with our four strikers but if able to I'd look at getting one of them out on loan and bringing in someone new up top. McCann is the main striker for me, doesn't always get the goal but he's still young and his work rate is brilliant. Wighton is technically the best striker, a very good footballer. O'Hara huffs and puffs but he doesn't score anywhere near as much as he does, he's really good in the box but he avoids it, very shot shy. Todorov for me is the one I'd be looking to move on but I don't know who would be looking to take.

Courier have confirmed Crawford has trained all week, done very well and McPake wants to sign him. Hopefully get that done tomorrow and he was just doing some due diligence. Also if yer man from Dundee Utd is to be believed sounds like Mochrie isn’t a million miles away, nice to have both in the squad come Saturday afternoon.

In fairness, Edinburgh's win at NCP on Saturday was pretty impressive. Kelty's home record last season was brilliant, to go there and get a good win is a great start for EC. I think Kelty's hiring of John Potter will ne a bad thing for them. Like JP, really good guy but I think he's better as a No 2.

Capacity upgraded to 1500 before the weekend. Not entirely sure what the new stand looks like at all but certainly all Pars fans that want to go should be able to. I can't make it so haven't kept an eye on ticket sales but I'd imagine a good few hundred will go.

I know what you're saying but say Todd's goal doesn't go in on Saturday and we finish 0-0, there would definitely be posts on dotnet/here/socials talking about how poor the performance was. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see some individual posts about certain players and someone like Chalmers getting mentioned in a negative way. I noticed Chalmers wife tweeted a photo of their son in his pars kit outside the footstep of legends wall saying how happy the wee boy was being able to go and cheer on his dad and that they'll be right behind him in support this season. No doubts he's aware of the stick he's received (some of it totally warranted) but I just hope he goes on to prove us all wrong this season. Guys like Jamie McCunnie/Scott Muirhead were scapegoals as well. Aye they weren't brilliant but they'd have to have an absolute worldy just to get praise. The star striker could miss numerous chances and no one notices, yet one of the guys mentioned could play brilliant for 85 mins but misplace one pass and hear the groans from the stand. It happens all the time at East End and throughout Scottish football. Fans make their mind up on players fairly quickly.

I heard they are waiting to see if Mochrie will go first. Between them and the Pars With regards to Mochrie it sounds like Pars are in pole position but Falkirk and Airdrie both interested. Mochrie has been in to speak to McPake as has Robbie Crawford, the latter was training with the Pars last week. On Saturday the Dundee Utd rep from the Courier said if the Pars want Mochrie then it should happen.

Comfortable 1-3 win for the Pars on Saturday.

O'Hara is a weird one. He's got the pace to play wider but rarely beats a man going past them. So you get him to play through the middle and he ends up taking up wider positions. He's not the penalty box poacher I thought we might be getting after his Alloa stint. Wighton was decent when he came on, didn't do much but what he did do he done well. In terms of ability he's a very good footballer, he'll come good. Again, he played wider for Dundee and didn't become a 'number 9' until he joined Hearts. FWIW, Chalmers is a bit of a scapegoat but I thought he had a good game on Saturday.