Casey Jones

Musselburgh started last season with a seven league match undefeated run. In contrast, the last seven league matches (yesterday plus last six of last season) saw one win and six losses. The difference is down to the complete change in the squad during the two periods and an obvious lack in confidence amongst current squad. Guys who were prepared to fight for every ball against any team. Now bereft of any apparent leadership on and off the park. From what PTB says, the manager doesn’t even know where his own players should be playing. If your back 4 is all at 6(ays) and 7(s), you know you are heading for defeat. I am not sure what our club’s aspirations are this season, whether it is to strive to top the league, remain in top half come end of season or just remain in the Premier league? What ever it is, you have to aim to win your home matches or you are in trouble. Tough match ahead on Tuesday away to Broxburn; where the best left back we’ve had since Brian Martin, (seven years ago) , is now an opposition player, and our top goalscorer from last season, is also playing for the home side and who scored 2 goals on Saturday. When things come back and bite you in the........hopefully that won’t happen!

Only one of four; (Dunbar)., who were relegated last season won one opening match day in 1st division. Probably worse one was Whitehill’s hammering at home to Luncarty. Saw Kinnoul in a cup tie towards the end of last season, and if they kept the nucleus of that squad, no shock in their away win at Camelon. Certainly no easy ride for straight return to Premier League next season for any of the four.

Or, could be best time to face them! Blackburn must be buoyed by fact they are playing Premier league football again this season, and anything goes in first match

I think if you read more of my post you are doing a mis-service to me as I countered by saying it should be by donation only. Friendlies at start of season are in effect glorified training sessions, confirmed by making 6-11 subs at half time in some matches. This is only a recent occurence In seasons gone by it was donation or pay in the bucket. I dont buy the rental agreement either. Teams often train on the same pitch pre-season and dont have fixed oncome then, so why ask people to pay for a different 11 players training on another night. This week, in Mid and East Lothian at 3 different venues we have seen £5/£3 gate money; entry by donation and free entry. As said my original post is my thought only. Obviously you think fixed costs should be charged and so do majority of clubs. Good that we all don't agree all the time.

Darren D already on the scoresheet against Bo’ness on Saturday

Rather than being a pain with your childish dots/GIFs, if you agree or disagree with my comments or anyone else’s, just put your comments in like all others.

My own thoughts registered here too. I always think I can back up any argument I make on Social media, but maybe it’s the way I tell them, that a couple of idiots red dot me, on here, even if I just say hello. However, my thoughts are, perhaps as I am old / old-fashioned, is that for friendlies, no charges should be set at all for friendlies and it should be by donation only. Then if you don’t want to pay, th team should accept, in the hope that if supporters enjoy the match, it may encourage them and more o come in regular season. I know I am in the minority as more and more clubs are charging now in friendlies, regardless of the opposition. I agree with pricing. I still think matches should be £6-£7 at most. Again, not on any committee so not privy to what discussions happen at committee level when deciding on match day prices. Yes I agree that it is up to clubs to set their match day and season ticket costs. Great if the team excel and fans flock through the gates, but if the delivery on the park is sub-standard, then expect either crowds to dissipate or fans to become a bit restless. I live in my own wee bubble, but whether St Johnstone, Hibs, Hearts, Or local EoS / Amateur teams are on your door it should matter. I moved to Musselburgh in 2001 and bought into them from first few matches I attended. I wouldn’t then care if Hibs, Hearts or any other team were at home. As all I wanted was to watch Musselburgh. Crowds have dipped and I hope that perhaps it is a one-off season. With COVID hopefully not as restricting as before and the team on the rise this season, perhaps some of the missing crowds can return.

Mr Blackburn statsman started off this great service to guys like me and in last couple of years The Faceman took over the work. Both should be congratulated on the huge effort and time commitments keeping 60, or so club attendances up to day each season. The stats do hid some facts from what you say about most successful clubs getting biggest support. Just concentrating on Premier League, Linlithgow has always been up there as most supported club at our level, and it will take some effort from another club to overtake that in EoS. Tranent went very close, but with winning the league, that should have been a given anyway. If I was a committee member at Penicuik, I’d have been envious of Linlithgow and Tranent’s crowds. Up until the bitter end, Penicuik had every chance of winning league, yet had average lower attendances of around 150-160 per week against the two teams. Musselburgh buck the trend, having finished 7th/8th (?) in league but 4th in attendance figures. But compared to pre-COVID season, think they have taken quite a dip in attendances for home matches. Jeanfield had a down/up season, but having huge potential I am surprised that their average attendances are less than 150. Only 12th out of 18 teams, yet, for me, (apart from Bonnyrigg), have been the best EoS team over the piece.

Welcome back HJ. Missed your comments these past few weeks

Pre-season training began yesterday for Musselburgh at Olivebank. Can’t remember such a short period of time from end of season to preparing again for the following season. Burgh lost a number of good players last season and the question is; can we can get same calibre in for this season. Two players announced so far. Look forward to seeing new names coming up soon.

The best signing you will make this season and Darren D will be your 2nd. Sometimes I think it is wrong when a player retuns to a club after a few years away, but Darren is certainly going to give you a number of goals this season, so all best to our top scorer for past 3 seasons or so. Jordon Orru is a class player and for me, the best left back come wing half in the league. Is always looking to get passed opposition moidfielders and defence and puts in some great crosses into the box. Probably Burgh's best signing in last 3 years. Again all best to Joe. Certainly both signings give you a better chance of finishing higher in the league this season.

Don’t think Darren had a great season but then neither did Musselburgh. He ended up top scorer on last day of season and I think he will be a loss for Burgh. A number of top players left last season and in close season. Remains to be seen if the same quantity of players can come to Olivebank for 2022-23. If not we could be in a bit of trouble.

This will be the last time I make comment on here with you. The Musselburgh page, just established, should not have crap like this appearing on it. First of all please look up charlatan in the dictionary as I am not sure you even know what it means. Its funny, cause a while ago Kenneth used the word troll a few times in tweets he sent to me. Maybe you are the man himself or maybe he is dictating what he wants to say (from you) on this page. A charlatan is someone who "falsely claiming to have a special knowledge" - Please take time to look at what Kenneth says about so called friends of his and also some tweets to people who are not friends of his. As of being a troll, I saw a tweet from someone else and made one comment about Kenneth. Haven't seen Kenneth's tweets in a long time. In fact last year I came off twitter for a period because of the abuse I faced from him. Thank you and enjoy your football this season.

Funny person you are. You are certainly using factually incorrect wrong with the examples you are quoting. Also you know me but I don’t know you yet you are telling me off? Come back when you are grown up and know your diction.

That remark is not even worthy of this response. Since you know who Casey Jones is, then you know perfectly well he was also at Olivebank supporting Mathu on Saturday and has made many a positive comment about Mathu elsewhere. Ps you obviously don’t have anything to substantiate this message, apart from trying to stir. I only made one comment about your good friend, which was factually correct. See yah!

Same here. When Linlithgow were on their long winning run, I thought they would win league, but Kudos to Tranent for never giving up, even when they dropped to 3rd. Really interested to see who the new signings will be at Tranent. Lots of good players already in the ranks but 2 or 3 more and am sure Tranent will be challenging there or thereabouts come end of season. Good luck to the Belters.

ToT - Toddle of Twat. How thick are you? A broken record who keeps of scratching the same dirge. You are alone in your own wee world. The only ones that kept the last tranch of Juniors down are the teams themselves for reasons repeatedly told to you.

Shambles if true. Those clubs that voted to allow this debacle to continue for another season should be ashamed of themselves. Voting the colts in for what? £7,500 - short term gain? Hope they get relegated one by one since the LL will probably never agree to 2 or 3 down each season. And is there no way they can vote the charlaton of a Chair out? Absolute no backbone at all.

Strange comment, from a non-West Lothian team supporter. Lots of really good grounds in WL to travel to, for watching matches.

Collectively, taking all teams in EoS League you probably are correct. However taking top teams into account since the switch over to EoS and WoS you have got absolutely nothing to back up your stance. Prime object for the bigger clubs is promotion to LL and beyond. Only one match to count on and Tranent came into your backyard on Saturday and won the bragging points and the promotion. Mock Darvel all you want, but after 38 matches they were the West Premier League champions who got beat by a better team on the day from the East. Sorry, not sorry.

Doubt it very much, but if so, why even bringing it up. Saw a few laughable remarked on twitter saying as Auchinleck beat Bonnyrigg in last weekend’s cup final; Darvel would just need to turn up against Tranent and promotion was theirs. Granted in past 10 or so years, the West ‘Juniors’ have been on the whole superior to teams in the East, but for 2-3 years there was no real gauge to this as most East clubs were no longer involved in Junior Cup Finals. But since moving over to EoS there has been huge transformation in a number of on-field personnel and off-field progress in lots of grounds. This was only achievable. By moving to EoS set up and seeing the potential for clubs who want to progress through the pyramid scheme. Much better if Lowland League / teams get their voting fingers out their erses and start at least 2 automatic regulations per season, as West/East Premier league winners should get automatic promotion. But if LL stick to their guns, stop assuming that in a one-off match that West teams will always come out top. Ain’t gonna be so one-sided these days as Saturday showed.

You sir are one boring basket! It seems you are on a one man crusade to be stupid and you have it down to a tee! Read all the other answers.

No they should not have. Had opportunities to come over to EoS set up but dug their heals in. For fairness and transparency to existing members of the EoS, it was right for them to start at the bottom of the system.

Good to see Liam pick up both awards. Took a risk a couple of seasons ago going to LTHV on loan, but this has now shown the dividends. Lots of interesting thoughts. 1. Will Mathu King still be a player at Olivebank next season, or in this, his testimonial year, will he decide that his time has come, possibly to move ‘upstairs’ into a coaching role. 2. How many other more established players who have been there for 4 or more seasons still be at Olivebank next season. Is it time to move onto pastures new or fight for a place in the team next year. 3. For fringe players, if you are not getting much match time, in what was a disappointing season, for us, should you be thinking of trying to start at another club and see if that improves your fortunes. 4. If the manager stays, has he got players who he can bring to the club that can bring much more success that this year. Is there any good calibre of player who wants to come to Olivebank, cause from here, it looks like a big re-build is required. 5. If Mathu goes, is Liam the next captain of Musselburgh? At start of this season he probably wasn’t in the frame, but it makes sense to me that the next captain is a defender, who, hopefully sees everything in front of him so is able to read what is going on in the match. Make no mistake, Mathu is a fabulous captain, both as a player and those in the team who look up to him. But, Liam seems a natural replacement (has to find his voice though). Close Season is vital that we start early and make sure squad is in place for pre-season training, which can’t be that far off, allowing for an early August start of 2022-23. Interesting times ahead.....

For some clubs, season end cannot come quick enough. Think this applies to Musselburgh. Looks like the best they will finish is in 8th, with a possibility of slipping further to 9th. I remember the feeling when Burgh got beat 2-1 at Jeanfield in 2nd last season of older times in Junior league. There was a sense of disbelief that we didn’t get the 1 point required in last 3 matches to stay in the Super League, particularly as we just beat title chasing Bonnyrigg away from home. But, in a way it galvanised Burgh as the team were utterly superb in the Premier League next season, winning it in a canter, while playing silky football that players and fans were proud of. Musselburgh are no where near as bad (league position wise), but the demise since November has been striking and I doubt that next season will be much better unless fortunes change dramatically. It is clear something has to give, once season ends. How many players will be retained for 2022-23. How many players want to be retained? Lost 4 players in season, who have gone to clubs higher up than we are. Remaining players seem to have an spparant disbelief of themselves, yet on paper, there are still a number of really good players at Olivebank. Fingers crossed that our fortunes change and we come back in fighting mode come August 22.