The Toun Clock

Sounds like guff. We do try and play out, definitely did a lot last season through Benedictus but with our current availability list I don't think playing out from the back is top of the boards wish-list. More often than not you'll see the attempt to begin playing out but it's not clicking at the moment. And when we choose to go direct, we don't have the players to win it/hold it up. I don't know about official objectives and measurements that the board set the manager, however at a fans Q&A night at the end of last season McPake and McKay both talked about wanting to finish as high as possible, however were realistic that the aim was to stay in the division and if they were offered 7th place at that time they'd take it.

Christ that is bad. Are they all long term or do you reckon any could make the weekend?

Just looked him up on Twitter, over 100K followers so he's not some troll talking guff but I think it would be very easy to put 2 and 2 together and come out with that story. If this was a weeks time and we'd just lost at home, for the third consecutive week I would say he might be on to something but I don't think that's the case. I'm supportive of the manager as well, I think if we had the injured players on the park or even half of them we'd not be anywhere near this mess. Not challenging for the title but mid table, picking up points here and there. The last two weeks have been outrageous. I was so frustrated after the Scottish Cup defeat to Raith, we looked gash but the last two weekends were very poor. As soon as we concede the heads go down. I'd be livid if we went down but mainly because of the crop of talent we do have, they'd all want away. We'd be accepting offers for Todd, Otoo, Edwards for starters, someone would take a punt on guys like Hammy, KRH etc. The manager has another game to prove his worth. Not only do we need to win the game on Saturday, there has to be something in the fight and performance. A scrappy one nil might be enough to keep the wolves at bay for another week but if we're hanging on then that won't build much confidence. Win on Saturday and we could go up to mid table if things went our way, sounds brighter but the reality is where does the next win come from? Unless there's change in tactics, formations and personnel we're going to get picked apart.

Who's actually missing for you mate?

Would make many a Pars fans day but I can't see it. Funnily enough, McPake's coat peg probably isn't all that shoogily at the moment. Our board really don't pull the trigger easily, I think they might have been planning to let Yogi stay when we got relegated two years ago but he resigned once the dust settled and they kept Peter Grant for a long longer than they should have. I personally want him to stay and have a fair crack at it without nine first team injuries all season. We also didn't train at the usual time last Monday after the 0-5 battering from Morton so can only imagine they are all up in the players lounge at East End doing analysis.

Noticed the boys weren't training again this morning unless they're elsewhere. I'd imagine after a scudding like that it'll be video analysis up at East End for hours.

This is going to be a shocking game of football. Two nervy sides flinging sh*te at each other for 90 minutes. Fortunately I'm away down south on a stag-do so won't be there, the last two weekend have been dreadful. Rumour of us getting two "experienced" signings this week. Won't hold my breath although I'm fairy sure there's a wee bit of panic in the boardroom for the first time in a long time and they need to listen to what the manager actually wants. We still have nine first team players missing with injuries, six of which would absolutely start, this has been fairly consistent all season so I'd say our injury woes are every bit as bad, at least your sub goalie has scored a goal... Hoping there might be some guys closer to returning but one thing for certain is they won't be rushed due to the number of repeat injuries we've now had. The three week break might help Arbroath, it certainly helped us in January before we went to Tannadice and got a point, however our arse has completely fell out of our trousers since. Realistically, we should have enough to win the game but the squad's confidence is lower than a snakes belly at the moment, the fans are already well on the players/managers/boards back so if Arbroath can cause us early problems I could see another collapse. Not a 0-5 or 0-3 but I could still see Arbroath taking the points if we don't sort out sh*t out early doors.

Honestly not sure mate but if there's a new law saying you can't park up on pavements then I'd assume there's no special conditions for Halbeath Road. I might be wrong, but I thought Edinburgh were the only ones to have actually enforce this? Edit - Just read on the STV news website - it said "the ban won't be enforced in Fife until work to identify exemption areas if completed and approval is given by members". So you'll be fine for Saturday.

Deary me, played under Callum Davidson as well at St Johnstone. I suppose there's a chance he doesn't just walk into that team in place of Paton, whereas he'd be that automatic start for us. St Johnstone fan on the QP thread making it sound like he's likely Glasgow bound due to the link up with Davidson, however did say he was a top flight level striker a couple of years back when St Johnstone were going through that really good spell, cup double etc. Good player, I think I made some crazy claim that he would be a Scotland international within a year when St Johnstone were going through that purple patch but hey ho...

Sorry chief, I read the post then went away from the page and didn't see the response.

That’s not true. Wotherspoon’s agent advised what he was after. We offered it, then he was advised to hold on and see if something bigger came in despite getting what he wanted whilst training with us. We couldn’t wait any longer so made some other moves, he then came back and asked for more, we said no. Then he came back a while later and asked for the same deal, which was now off the table. The reason David Wotherspoon isn’t a Dunfermline player this season is down to David Wotherspoon/his agent and not the club.

I thought the calls for the managers head last week were miles off. I’ll admit I’m still part of the “McPake In” camp but I no longer think that calls for the managers head are that outrageous, the stats speak for themselves. We all wanted the reaction today, first half wasn’t much in it but concede out of nowhere and our arse completely collapsed which we’ve became pretty good at. McPake even touched on it after the game and said that we need to not just fall to pieces when we concede. I think he’ll get the Arbroath game, but even with a win there I think a lot of the support are past the point of no return and will be waiting for us to drop points again. I feel sorry for him, I think he’s been let down by the board in the window. The injuries are freak but we all know this is a results based business. As mentioned by Auld Reekie, everyone around us has improved and we haven’t, and as you say we’ve probably regressed. Lewis McCann looks like some sort of professional athlete in the warm up then is absolutely done early doors. He quits regularly when the going gets tough and he’s not clever enough to play as a striker. Doesn’t know when to jump and when he does jump at the right time he’s not scoring with the chance. I’m fed up of watching Allan and Chalmers. Absolutely shite. Chalmers was like a man down in the Championship two years ago. He was allowed a lot of time on the ball last season and looked better, got assists and we were flying, but he’s not Championship level and he cannot deal with it when the going gets tough. Paul Allan got an easy ride because he was a local boy, came through the academy but he’s torture to watch. Summers came with all this bright future talk, he is talented but runs like his f*cking shoe laces are tied together. I know he’s just a kid and has done a lot more than the other two I mentioned but still frustrating to watch. Infuriating watching the injured players down by the tunnel at half time, Tod, Bene, Breen, Wighton, Todd, Fisher, Kane, Jak, Fagan-Walcott. Six of them start, when though is the biggest issue. Hopefully the experienced signings McPake mentioned post match so happen. I’m missing next week but it has to be a win. Fail to win and the noise from the support will increase and be unavoidable for the board, and I’ll be honest as pathetic as this may sound I’m a wee bit gutted about that. McPake done well with us last season and had us all feeling positive about the club, won a league title and is part of the clubs history but time is running out for him to turn it around. After Arbroath next week it’s away to Thistle, away to Inverness before Ayr at home, honestly couldn’t see us scoring in any of those games let alone winning. Can I just say, I thought Otoo was a bit of shining light today. Gets stuck in, strong on the ball and looked interested. Others done okay but he was our best player.

Good evening Saints! Wee rumour that we’re bringing in Chris Kane on loan. James McPake did an interview after our 0-3 deafest to Queens Park to say hopefully some experience would be sorted in the next week. Likely story or very much part of the plans in Perth? But If it is true, what kinda guy are we getting?

Someone on dotnet saying Chris Kane from StJohnstone. Goal return isn’t outstanding but is a grafter to be fair.

Decent day out there now for football. Rain completely stopped and no wind. Noticed McPake’s interview he said “one back two one”. We know Wighton is out but who else? I wonder is Comrie the one back?

I’ll tell you what he can do though, stop playing a back five with three centre-backs. That way we don’t need to have Hammy and/or Otoo in the defence. FWIW, yes I would have Hammy in there from the start just for a bit of leadership but this back five thing can go, it’s been rubbish all season.

Shut the f*ck up

Morton comfortably putting Motherwell out the Scottish Cup here, making me feel a little less angry about last week.

Aye it's been wet, rain on and off and windy since later last night but no snow. Light rain and fresh breeze according to the BBC between now and noon then dry for the rest of the day so hopefully it's on. Hopefully it'll be on, really want the chance to see the manager/team put that sh*tshow from last week behind them.

Yeah I'm not surprised to be fair, we have some complete whoppers in our support who enjoy a good pot stir. Maybe my mate is the whopper, but unlikely. Time will tell...

Sorry I should have expanded, I was more meaning what is happening with money they've invested.

Sounds like there might be a loss going by what people are saying, however hiring three managers and sacking two of them was always gonna be costly, coupled with a season in L1 so maybe not to be unexpected. Added in the training ground work. I'll add again, my mate who attended the patron eveining mentioned people's financial questions and the news from the club on that night was "the club was on sound footing and the owners were as invested as they've ever been". They acknowledged a lot of scaremongering which in my opinion has been an issue with our support for some time now.

The guy I spoke to who was at the Patrons night said there had been an annual medical budget put aside, I'm sure this is something done every year. Apparently 50% of the annual medical budget was used up in one single week.

I know we can't look too much into this but I hardly think we're skint if we're knocking back 6 figures for a player. Bad year after paying Championship wages in League one, quite possibly but I don't think it's collection buckets outside East End. Suppose we'll wait and see. I wonder if they purely knocked back the Edwards move because 1) he's an important player 2) we might be able to get a bit more in the summer if he does well between now and then.