HopeStreetWalker

Any signings must not only improve the team now. But be a basis to rebuild the squad to be competitive if ( and its a big if ) we get promoted. Who do we have that is good enough to be competitive in a promoted side ? 4 with a maybe on one or two more. Would prefer quality over quantity that would give us a core of 7 players that the future can be built around.

Markie and Miller -peerless ! There may have been better individuals that played for Falkirk but as a center back pairing they were magnificent.

Read a good book at Xmas The Three Kings - Busby Shankly Stein and the way they wanted the game played. These principles are just a relevant now as they were in the 50-60's. Nothing smart about it, football is a simple game made complicated by the players ( Bill Shankly ) Basic skills - Control a ball and Pass a ball if you have that then everything else can be taught. Awareness, Fitness, Team spirit and the way you play the game. Liverpool and Man City are examples of that doctrine in practice.

Agree it not good. Look at it from the reputation if gives the club when recruiting players. These guys know each other and if they are thinks of signing for Falkirk they will make a few calls obout their potential employer. Well plenty of folk to choose from then and don't think there will be many glowinging testimonials.

Didn't know he was at Stenny ! a well then exposed as being out of touch as usual -- haha

See Connor McBride has been loaned to Stenny from Celtic for the rest of the season. Looked a player when at Falkirk and will have improved since then. Missed a trick there - could have done a job for us.

These attributes are badly needed and you never know if he does well it could be the making of players around him. More importantly its a young player motivated to do well as his career is at stake at this level.

Unless Mutch is being sold !

Don't think it will go the Third Lanark situation as that was an asset stripper. FFC don't have any assets to strip. We are a minority stakeholder in Falkirk Community Stadium Ltd which is worthless. If we don't go up then its part time football and those that endured the mid 70's Miller-Little-Hagart era can tell the you about the misery and despondency that went with the 500 crowds we got. The club is no longer the go to team for ambitious young players like Vaulks and Lyle that knew they would get a chance and had confidence in their ability to prove themselves. Individuals like that have now got better options than FFC. We are a home for journeyman players picking up a wage. It's going to be a 5-10 year journey back but that can only happen with owners that have a plan and the ambition to do it. Who we have at present ain't going to do it and no interest from anybody that wants to buy them out. Get promoted - Academy - Buy the stadium outright - 4th stand with hotel/leisure income stream in that order. Until that is done we are a mid place championship club at best. It's being so cheery that keeps me going !

Somebody along the lines of Rudi Krol would do nicely !

Game time is what will keep improving him and he is our only sellable asset. Is it not ironic that we have no confidence in our defence but yet they are the best in the league.

Felt a bit sorry for Brough. Was not a bad defender if a bit slow on the turn. Would not have objected if he had stayed.

Oh how the mighty have fallen a loan deal from Livingston, unfortunately that is our level. The standard of player we are looking for and that is available will be getting better offers. Hopefully he is one of these signings that get more out of the player beside him.

From what I understand of the Falkirk Community Stadium Ltd is that the investors-stakeholders that have put in funds, do not own the building their money was spent on. Like any other investment in a concern it is converted into a % share of the company.

The concert cash has to be put into perspective and not the cash cow people think it is. Its a marketing event by FFC but a good chunk of the cash that is generated goes to Falkirk Community Stadium Ltd where FFC have about a 30% stake and the Council who own the parking and get every coin from that. No 4th stand until the club buy the stadium and surrounding facilities outright..

What we do in the transfer market players in and out in the next few weeks will not only define this season but seasons to come. We require players that have a future and the team can be built around. Not only this season but the next two. Sign the right type, and players around them can be like new signings. Who would be good enough if we did go up ? Mutch, Gomis, McManus, Longridge and then one or two maybe's and that's it. So the new signings should not only help get us promoted but give a squad of 7 to 8 to build from in the higher league. The problem is that the type of player we require and would be available would have more attractive offers than FFC. As for Part Time be warned ! If we did even with some of the squad then its the slippery slope and near impossible to change. Believe me I lived through it in the 70's in the Miller , Little , Hagart era and it was turgid decline and attendances down to 400-500 and no hope no future. We lost generations of supporters and they never came back.

Or there is some background baggage they don't like. It's the only reason I can think of why we or nobody else has signed him.

Agreed ! But the problem is that there are better options than Falkirk for the players we would want and who are available. We ain't the desirable gig that tempted the likes of Will Vaulks and Lyle Taylor to kickstart their careers with us. Look at it from the point of view of someone we want to sign. Ownership ? Team management ? Clubs future direction ? It's these unknown factors that will influence if they sign or not. The only countermeasure to these negatives is a longer contract and money and that is not a good position to be in. Its going to be an interesting 2 -3 weeks.

At the start of the season with the players squad we assembled. I expected a bold attitude and a dominant style bossing the game. Bit of a case of ' this is how we are going to play try and stop us ' It just never happened - why ?. I suspect some players did not click together and with the opposition trying to make a point we just have never got going. Add in the McKinnon effect and we are where we are. Hopefully we move 3 -4 on and bring in 2 -3 to change things for the better. Fresh start and treat the first game in January as the start of a new season. I live in hope and expect the unexpected !

Billy Stevenson is up there with Stewart Wheatley in the ' What you playing at letting them go ' stakes when the club freed them.

Connor got sent off for spitting on Roddie Manley. Right in front of the linesman and he knew 100's of people saw him seeing it. He had no choice and he knew it. The look of absolute misery on his face as he raised his flag to report it told you everything about the way Aberdeen manipulated things. The spittle on Roddie Manley's face and strip gave the referee no choice. We did not get one decision for the rest of the game.

The 3 -3 game against Aberdeen was the nearest I saw Brockville to having a riot. Everything that is nasty about the game was encapsulated in that night of shame from them. Spitting-Punching-Kicking opposition players off the ball. Diving. Pressurising referees to such a degree it was obvious it was from the training ground. Will never forget them walking off the pitch after the 10 minute of extra time penalty. Smiling clapping each other on the back with a job well done. With their fans cheering on every one of their antics. Have despised that club with a passion ever since and cheer on any team that plays that whinging cheats 11 to this day. ( you will have gathered by now I don't like Aberdeen Football club )

It was a cracker right enough. Crunchie was one of only a handful of Falkirk players that got you on you feet every time he got the ball. What made it that extra bit special was that he was a Falkirk fan himself.

It was early 70s. Did you miss the bit with the pool ball flying through the window and hitting someone walking past! Ah those were the days. Simpler times when merriment involved disfigurement Don't remember that ! but there was a lot happening and was doubled up laughing at what was going on.