Parscelona

What a difference a year makes. Last year in April we faced Queens and ultimately lost at EEP in a match that consigned us to the relegation play offs, which ended up in us deservedly getting relegated to League 1. That season was genuinely the worst in my time supporting the club and we have had a few stinkers! We had to sit through a campaign where we were led by not one, but two pit stains of Scottish Football and the worst thing was that as fans, we knew they shouldn’t have been here but the board didn’t care. Ultimately it led to a total disconnect between the fans and the board and it seemed like all positive relations that had been built up since the fans saved the club had disappeared. Fast forward a year and under a new Chief Executive in his first full season, the club is on a real positive track. The bond between the fans, the management team and the players is as strong as I have ever seen and that’s a credit to David Cook. His appointment of James McPake has proven to be an excellent decision. In the game against QOTS that I mentioned earlier; Chalmers, Edwards, O'Hara and Todd started that game; Breen, Comrie, McCann, Mehmet and Todorov were all on the bench, while Wighton was stuck in Arbroath. Fast forward a year and McPake and his coaching team have improved every player. They are realising the potential of Matty Todd in an advanced midfield role, they have helped change Joe Chalmers from being a scapegoat to a fans favourite, they have turned an error making goalkeeping like Mehmet into a clean sheet machine and they have made Craig Wighton remember that he’s actually pretty fucking good at this game. One defeat in 33 league games is truly astonishing. The club is in a really good place to go on and be successful in the Championship next season. Of course, we need some additions for a higher level and there will be a few who aren’t ready for the step up just yet, however under McPake and his team with the backing of an enthusiastic support behind them, I think there’s more good times ahead.

Only in May and it seems Johnston has already managed to lose two of our key players to our main title challenger next season. Why the f**k are we not offering 2 year deals to the likes of Aird and Clark? Absolutely laughable.

Mate of mines is a Dundee fan so went along to see them play Raith on Tuesday. El Bak certainly wasn't playing with the same confidence he showed with us, one of his key attributes used to be his ability to trap a ball, yet he just constantly kept giving it away each time. The Dundee fans don't seem to enamoured with him either.

Meh. Really surprised he's stayed in all honesty, Johnston didn't exactly play him much.

Probably will be Shankland, he's played upfront with McManus in the past.

So three signings, two of whom were part of a side who got relegated from our league and a dude who hasn't played in a year... Awesome.

Raith are clearly going baws out this season. Could be financial turmoil if they don't go straight back up.

Looking at the squad, i think Murdoch, Ashcroft, Morris, Higginbotham, Wedderburn and Clark are players of the quality for a side pushing for a promotion play off spot. No clue how M'Voto will fit in, the likes of Talbot and Williamson are average enough, though i had hoped the latter would have progressed a bit further than he has. Can't say i'm fussed about McCabe going, in fact i don't think we should have kept any of the players who have left so far. Paton's the only player whose future still needs resolved, yet is he good enough if we want to move forward as a club? For me, the likes of Martin, Cardle and Hopkirk aren't cut out for this level, how Hopkirk managed to get a two year deal despite not even being a regular when we were in League 1 is bizarre. Still a long way to go if we're going to have a team that's good enough to push for a top four finish.

Someone just score a fucking goal plz

What a f**k up

Tony Andreu has done f**k all in any of the televised play off games. Now that i've said that, hopefully he does something.

Pleased Moffat is gone, as mentioned, he was signed to score goals, yet his league goals record for two of the three seasons he spent here was very poor, with only four goals last season, i'm glad AJ has realised that we need someone better if we're to push forwards as a club. Can also see Geggan going, he probably prefers playing in central midfield yet he isn't likely to get that at us anymore, plus Ayr will probably offer him a 2 year deal that we're unwilling to do.

He should improve working under a decent manager tbf

Put him in central midfield with Big Nat.

It all makes sense now, M'Voto signed a deal with us and deliberately fucked up to send the Rovers down to make himself an instant fans favourite.

Is there any Pars fan who actually rates Reilly? Shame AJ never got him in on loan until January like McMullan/Herron as you would think he would be back at Tynecastle by now. Hoping we can bring in a new forward and a proper right back before the window closes.

Pleasing.

You would have to be pretty naive to think otherwise.

He's third choice now, he'll soon be fourth if El Alagui signs. Not sure what the point in keeping Hopkirk was either tbh

Looks like Johnston has realised Moffat's not up to scratch in this league so the signing of Clark is a very welcome one. If we can bring in El Alagui as well that would be pretty ace.

If Higdon signs i get the credit for being the first one to suggest him lads. Edit: In regards to Lafferty, he's got to be for the U20s otherwise that's not a very inspiring signing tbh

He fumbles every shot at him if it doesn't go in.

I reckon someone like Michael Higdon would be ideal for us. Currently a free agent, has a good scoring record up here and played in the same Motherwell side as Higginbotham.