[Elgin City 2018/19]

First signing for next season - Andy McDonald. We had him on loan at the start of 2018 and I remember him being a solid centre half. Not the worst start to our summer!

I am delighted with that. I was very impressed with him when he was on loan. And he was very young then, another 18 months experience in him and he will be a very good player for Elgin IMO. Add that to the signing of Rory McEwan and it is actually a pretty positive start to the summer for a change.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

I guess that the logic may be that if they can get more decent local / Academy lads through, then they'll be cheaper in terms of both wages & travel expenses, & that could in turn free up some budget for some 'big name' / 'marquee' signings that could add that additional quality / X factor

That seems like good logic to me. The problem being are these young local lads going to be upto the job. As much as said above it doesn't matter if local boys are on the park as long as Elgin are winning, it certainly would make it a lot more satisfying if there was a spine of boys from Elgin. It remains to be seen if that will happen though.
Another benefit of having locals is for the next generation of fans. I have personally seen the joy on the little kids faces who go to all the holiday camps that Elgin run when a player presents their trophies to them at the end of the week. Darryl is particularly good at giving up his time for that and the kids love it. The more youngsters going to Borough Briggs the better.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

If the Highland League wasn’t part of the senior ranks when Elgin were in it, I’m interested to know what it was.

Aye I suppose the Highland League is part of the senior ranks but I think you knew what I meant[emoji6]

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Been a hell of a time since Elgin weren’t in the senior ranks.

Aye I know. But off the top of my head I can't think of a local captain in that time?
Darryl in the odd game and mabye Mo Morrison but don't think there's been a club captain.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

I believe Darryl is the new club captain and not just for his 200th game tomorrow. I think it's probably due to his will to win and communication that he has got it instead of Soapy. Soapy can probably count himself unlucky I would say. Good to see an Elgin lad as Captain of the Club again though, Is this the 1st time we've had that since we entered the senior ranks?

[Elgin City 2018/19]

For 49 against 66.  We have scored more goals than the other teams in the bottom 6 but only the bottom 2 have conceded more, with Albion only 3 more. Our goal difference is only better than the bottom 2. Nothing against the players individually but as a defensive unit they are not good enough. The second half on Saturday was a clear example, they were pulled all over the place out of position and a half fit Mcallister took them to the cleaners. The whole team as a defensive unit is poor.

I know what you mean about them being fragile at times but I do find that is sometimes partly due to the fact there is very little defensive support from the midfield, weather that be in the centre or the wide players not tracking runs and the full backs being left exposed. The defence certainly need to tighten up though.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Bronsky signed on for another season.  Happy with that. 

Aye that is good news. Hopefully we can find a settled defence next season

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Could have been 3 0 in about 10 minutes. We competed fairly well after that and should have been level at HT with the penalty, or even up if the ref had given the obvious corner prior to Peterhead’s second. In the first 25 minutes of the second period we were all over the place both tactically and physically. In this period Peterhead out thought us and out fought us. We looked miles of the pace. In the end we nearly nicked a draw which would have been robbery.
I appreciate we lost a defender to injury but at various points Darryl appeared to be playing centre forward, midfield, centre half and left back which can’t be good for him or anyone else as Mcallister looked as if he was playing against a school team. Soapy ended up playing deepest midfielder? And what happened at the penalty as Mcivor was clearly not the nominated pen taker, where was the leadership there?  Thought Gourlay was culpable at the first goal but had at least 4 stunning saves thereafter and was a deserved mom. 
Seriously worried about next season as I don’t know how we’re going to attract the 7quality players we need.

The amount of changes of formation today was alarming.
On Darryl, he was moved into centre midfield after 5 minutes. What possible reason was there to make that change as early as that in the game?
I am the same as you I am very worried about next season. I'm not sure I trust Gavin Price to take us forward.
Following a good win against Clyde with 7 defeats on the bounce is nowhere near good enough.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Frustrating game today. Shocking goal to lose In the 1st minute from the usual shambolic set piece defending.
Mccallister misses an open goal after 5 minutes I was thinking this could be double figures here.
We completed reasonably well after that and could have nicked a point but for the missed penalty.
I must be honest and say that wouldn't have been deserved though.
Kyle Gourlay has had his moments but he has made 3 saves In that game today that any goalie In the world would have been proud of. Truly brilliant

[Elgin City 2018/19]

I would also take Eadie back no problem. I thought he done a good job for us. Also agree on a good defensive midfielder hugely helping the defence. Soapy is also much more effective with more security behind him. Gives him the licence to attack without worrying to much of leaving holes behind him.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

I'm not to disappointed about Lowden leaving either TBH. He started well the 1st few games but has been very poor since Xmas.

Would like to see Gourlay sign permanently but it will be the usual route of another loan goalie next season I'm sure

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Any chance you could drag your players back from the beach and try and give Peterhead a game next week? Much appreciated.

We've not scored against them in about 10 years never mind beat them, so I think getting any sort of positive result next week is highly unlikely [emoji85]

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Yet another defeat after conceding late on. 6 defeats in a row with Peterhead to come at the weekend. Awful end to the season. Really worrying signs.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

I didn't actually realise Gunn was away from Elgin!
He was there for years as well eh?
Was there not a mad stat doing the rounds that any game Gunn scored first in, Elgin were never beaten?

Aye he left a couple of years ago.

He was there for a long time. Elgin's leading ever league scorer by a good distance.

Not sure on that stat but could well be true[emoji106][emoji106]

[Elgin City 2018/19]

If McHale is actually going to be around for next season I'd be happy with him as our first choice keeper. We need an experienced centre half to get our defence organised, I think the individual quality is there but there's no leadership. Putting our hopes on Craig Beattie was a mistake, he talked a good game and had a decent rep but his legs were gone and he was virtually silent in every game he played.

I don't think replacing Price is the answer, if he's willing to give it another season and he has the backing of the club.

I would be happy if McHale was available for next season. About time our 1st choice goalie was a signed player.

I believe he moved back to England due to losing his job with Moray Council so not sure staying in Moray is an option.

Definitely think an experienced Centre Half is a priority. A 20 goal a season striker who will stay a few years and consistently score that many would also be great rather that loan strikers who do ok for a month then that's it.
We haven't had that since Gunny lost his place in the team then left.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

same old same old for me. massive rebuild required for next season new goalie left back centre back two wide players a centre mid and. a striker. Falling crowds and growing apathy apparent. It seems that the interest of a few seasons back is starting to drop off and that another season of mediocrity cannot be allowed to happen

I agree. The apathy has been steadily building this season. The fall in crowds is becoming quite alarming. The Albion Rovers game was the worst performance I've possibly ever seen. Not just because the lack of quality which was poor on its own, but for that lack of any kind of fight.
The fact that Cooper came out after the game and said he could tell in the warm up that Elgin were going to play like that is particularly alarming.
Do we cut our losses and appoint another management team to carry out this rebuild needed or give Gav another shot at it?
I'm undecided.

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Im feeling very similar to that aswell. JP has been a good player for us. Think his legs are starting to go now but as you say his influence off the park will be badly missed I think.
I think this season proved how big a player Thomas Reilly was for us. I think he was very much under rated by our support. His partnership with Soapy was brilliant for a couple of seasons.

For next season we need to stop conceding so many avoidable goals. The amount we have given away this season has been criminal

[Elgin City 2018/19]

Where do Elgin go from here? 5 defeats in a row after the good win against Clyde at BB. Simply not good enough. End of the season will be yet another rebuild. It's like Groundhog day.