HopeStreetWalker

John Perry was one of the most frustrating players I have seen in a Falkirk jersey. You would get moments of magic then trip over his own feet. Non stop running, covering, tackling all over the park then if he became any less mobile he could take root. He could win a game and lose it for you in a few minutes. He did have skill but just could not apply it for 90 minutes.

When this mess unfolded, I judged success for the manager would be 6 points behind 2nd bottom come the transfer window. So well done McKinnon.

The Willie Cunningham era, is the Gold Standard that every Falkirk player and team should be measured. If we have a problem and oh' boy do we have a problem. Then just look back to that great manager and think. What would he have done ! It's just setting a standard to measure they players and team on the park. I do not take you comment the wrong way, we all have the Clubs interests at heart.

The type of players we want that are available will be in demand. Partick and Alloa will be in for them as well. Wages will be an important part of course, but length of contract the potential of the club will also be a factor. The Bairns used to be known as a club that would give players a chance to kickstart their career. Will Vaulks testimonial as to why he approached Falkirk summed it up. That reputation is shot, gone and it's a big loss. We are in for a battle to sign the right player. Getting a leader in the right position that will make average players around them good players with hopefully one or two of them turn out to be key players is crucial. One player in my time watching Falkirk that did that and made such a difference was George Miller in the great Willie Cunningham side. His presence transformed the team not only with his skill but with his positional sense, teamwork, organisation and his talking on the park.

You make a good point old journeymen ain't good enough. Somebody with a point to prove that knows they are going at the end of the season or don't get a regular game but have something to offer at a lower lever. The type of player that can put their foot on the ball and dictate play, Liam Craig at StJohnstone for example does not get a regular game and would be the class act in midfield we require. The great Willie Cunningham did just that in the early 70's Alex Totton full back, George Miller Centre Half. Alex Scott and Andy Roxburgh in midfield with Alex Ferguson at centre forward. They made average players around them good and good players great so it can be done.

It is a case of who we are signing in the transfer window that will be the deciding factor on who goes out the door. There will be some that are not in McKinnon's plans that will get a pay off to go and find a club that they can get a game at. It's a spine we require. Goalkeeper , Centre Half , Midfielder , Centre Forward any other positions are a bonus. Problem is available players will have Partick and Alloa after them as well and they can scare them off Falkirk with SFA sanctions that could be coming our way.

Heads most roll at Board level for this. There are strict procedures in place and this matter should have been cleared by a lawyer step by step. It's basic FFS ! due diligence in such matters is the least you would expect if you are in charge of a company. Eamon Bannon got sacked for getting paperwork wrong it cost him his managerial career. The clubs future is now at stake, Fine , Transfer Embargo , Points Deduction ! perm any 1 of these 3, or we might even get a prowl of 3 the way our luck is going. Merry Xmas and where is the whisky.

You make a good point that new recruits in January will sort everything out. Thistle and Alloa will recruit new faces as well. McKinnon has done a great job with very little to work with. Must be hard for the players knowing come January they could be out the door but still put in a shift. When McKinnon arrived I judged success as being within 6 points of 2nd bottom come the transfer window would be a job well done. So McKinnon deserves the support not only on the board but the fans. If he gets us out of this mess and keeps us up then he deserves a few seasons to see what he can do.

You have never been to the Barnyard at Coatbridge. Bad enough having to go to an Albion Rovers game. Walked into what can only be described as the Coatbridge version of the Star Wars Bar was surreal. Gave me the Dry Boak while in there and the Wet Boak later on in the evening !

That is an example of the wrong type of experienced being signed. You just have to look back to the Great Willie Cunningham era to see how it should be done. Cunningham rebuilt his side on signing the right players in the right positions. Alex Totton , George Miller , Alex Scott , Andy Roxburgh and Alex Ferguson. Experience and class that was the spine of the side. Players who were in teams with them improved. You could see it as games went on. They were as good as new signings and heralded in a golden era in being a Falkirk fan. Many a time I walked down Hope Street after a few pints in the Royal wondering how many goals we would score that day. Get it right and you will get teams like that.

Over the decades I have seen old hero's return a shadow of the player that left. Never doubted their effort and commitment but it was always sad to see. Many fans would remember these performances rather that the game winning displays of their prime. Will not name any names as I have too much respect for them.

Goal a game Graham. One of those players that there was a sense of anticipation when he got the ball. Will be fondly remembered by those that saw him play.

All we needed was one multi million pound sale. Kilmarnock , Motherwell , Hamilton , St Johnstone , all clubs of a comparable support and size have done it. This has given them the financial strength to stay in the top division. Failure to produce one major sale since the academy started can only be seen as an abject failure of the whole academy structure. If the club do start an academy again. Then it has to have the right people from top to bottom, scouting , sport science , coaching all with the aim of getting players good enough for that big sale that will transform the club.

If I had to live in Greenock I would bitter and angry as well.

This is as big a mess the team has been since George Millar was the manager and it took near 10 years to recover. The aim for McKinnon is to be 7-9 points behind 2nd bottom come the transfer window. Oh how our expectations have changed. We cannot defend. We cannot dominate the middle of the park. We cannot score goals. McKinnon is no mug and knows what he has got to work with and so do the support. Go defensive ? nope we cannot keep a clean sheet. Go all out attack ? nope we cannot score goals. Our only option is to stifle the middle of the park. Cuts down the chance to score against us but leaves the chance for the odd breakaway. If that means reverse sweeper and man to man marking then so be it. Dig out draws and the fluke win and hope !

I feel sorry for the players, what a shitty situation they find themselves in. These people signed on in good faith and found out that they were a class below what is required. Am sure they try their best and it can't be good to know that they are getting shipped out, if not in January then at the end of the season. Getting shouted at and slated will not help matters. The Board and Hartley are the people that must take the blame. So what to do ? Get a formation that is hard to score against. 2 banks for 4 on the 18yard line and hit on the break. Grind out draws and the occasion fluke win and hope we are within 3-6 point max to 3rd bottom come the end of December. Never thought I could think of such a thing as a Falkirk supporter since the 60's but it's pragmatic. Trying to match any team on an expansive game gets us nothing. What a mess !

Morton and their support will be up for this game today. If the boot was on the other foot you could be sure we would be baying for blood and dishing out 90 minutes of non stop abuse. That's fair and it will be on of these games that could be a memorable encounter. So come on you Bairns and play this as a blood and snotters cup tie.

Must have been both chants then. He will fill your shoes with shite was definitely chanted .

Was at Dens Park of all places when he made his debut as a sub. Super Stainrod was sitting in the Dundee directors box and I was just under where he was sitting. McColl started to warm up and the Bairns fans started 'He's blue ! He's white ! He will fill your shoes with shite. He's Ian McColl !He's Ian McColl' the Dundee fans started as well. Hilarious Super Simon being the god he is was laughing as well. One of the few times in all the years I have watched football, where 2 sets of fans all laughed and joined in with the joke. Jeffries, Brown and Houston in the dugout ( not exactly a cheery line up ) were even laughing as well. Great memory of a good time to be a Bairns fan.

You make a fair point and think McColl regrets how it ended. I believe he meant what he said at the time but the situation changed. Am prepared to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

Everybody has their price. Put yourself in his place, turns down the job then they come back and offer ? lets say 20k signing on fee 20% more on the wages offered + improved bonus. In the real world its a case of ' where do I sign ' I don't hold it against McColl and it's a case of what if he had stayed. His team was one of the most attractive footballing sides since the Willie Cunningham era and that is a big compliment.

The rub is - the players that were left did not keep improving, they went backwards.

Will settle being 3-5 points behind 3rd by the January window. Grim but realistic.

Suspect McKinnon is being fair and straight with the players, Unlikely to get a game so better to take a pay off and try to get your career going elsewhere.

Problem would be that these players would not pass the ball to him. If he got the ball and they were more than 5 yards away he would not find them with a pass.