Blame Me

Thats one of the misgivings about Rennie - I don't doubt his credentials and ability but he's used to cultures where dedication, deference, infrastructure and mindset are totally different. In the US/Asia, foreign coaches are valued whereas in the UK the perception is possibly inverted.

There's making a stand and then there is building a stand

How ironic would it be if it transpired that Holt was the stick-in-the-mud holding Falkirk back from signing DG and his departure this morning paved the way for his signing. Caveat Emptor!

The finish certainly was but I'll be harsh and say in an alternate timeline he wouldn't have got it! Had the defender not misjudged the flight of the ball, in the expected challenge he'd have come out 2nd best. He just doesn't have the nous for me.

... and the chalked off goal against East Fife. There's raw materials to work from whereas I've never seen it with Ruth.

We'll agree to disagree then! Keena has shown that he has something different and can conjure a goal from nothing. Service needs to be better but I don't think there's ever been a downing of tools even when Sheerin treated him abysmally. Like everywhere we need consistency.

Depending on other moves he'd be 3rd choice at best behind Keena - who Rennie has praised - and hopefully an in-form Dowds. Add to that Wilson and Ompreon are contracted we probably don't need another. It's at the back we need reinforcements.

Cove? Wasn't John Sheran performing that role

Upside is he's gone and we can move on from the seemingly endless debate about what he does and whether he eats children... Downside is we've again binned a "plan" that has invested resources and time and another review. Enjoy the euphoria of the news and get signed up to FSS folks. I look forward to the next few windows where we try signings by committee, drawing names out of a hat or a January window where we convince SPFL clubs to do transfers like a Secret Santa and see what we get!

At last something we can agree on The excerpt above is from Holt's hiring announcement so based on him only being one year in to the 5-year plan that's why he hasn't been dispensed with. He's restarted the youth and talent pipeline and must have a hand in recruitment. I can imagine Holt will manage the roster and based on the managers needs will buy, sell, loan or promote players based on criteria. As described at the infamous Q&A he is tasked with cultivating "assets" either via the talent pipeline or identifying guys like Wilson - who it's obviously hoped - can become valuable over time. Hence why they've gone on loan as Sheerin preferred Ruth. Rennie's (or any manager in situ) role is to work with Holt to identify positions and types of player to bring in and Holt does the dirty work. Some plausible examples of what might be at play: You're not in the managers plans and need game time - Holt facilitates your exit, temporarily. You're saleable and you've got a youngster to take their place - Holt facilitates your permanent sale and said youth is given a chance. You're short in a position - Holt works on a shortlist to bolster or backfill. You want an experienced head at the back - Holt works on a shortlist but in some cases X has to go before you can sign Y. There will be an element of horse trading going on so the manger might not get everything he wants but the manager ultimately decides on who comes in. Holt does the leg work and keeps the roster within whatever strategy the club are pursuing. The above is all conjecture based on what I know of similar roles discussed in the media and gleaned from statements made by Sheerin/Rennie and Holt himself. The success of other areas are obviously less visible.

Agreed. The FSS update is quite refreshing and credit where it's due - a good summation of where we are after the recent upheaval. However, anyone not seeing that this should have came from the club and not the FSS, FB or elsewhere is missing that fans shouldn't have to seek this out. Let the FSS publish the same or select snippets where their input as the 3rd-stool brought benefit but it can't be acting as the defacto board. The club is *the* definitive voice on Falkirk FC and the FSS can be the definitive voice for the FSS! They're not the same and shouldn't be in my view.

In-person. Regardless of anyone's view that is not an option for some in these times but folk still want to have an interest in club matters.

The board and the FSS are distinct entities though, aren't they? I think it unreasonable for the club to sub-contract dissemination of information to an external group who's membership is small but thankfully growing. Fans have already paid once to the club and not twice via membership for basic info.

Again your talking about the DG situation and that's not what some are criticising. That's a sideshow imo and I agree doesn't need a statement. Whenever there is silence the void will be filled by speculation and that's exactly what is happening.

That's conflating two different things with what some posters are actually asking. "Skeletons" doesn't preclude small improvements to the running of the club which, by now, should be rippling through. As it is it there is no discernible difference from before and after the AGM.

Anyone proof reading these? Hoping COVID isn't still a thing come July!

Isn't that what we employed a DoF for? The club "employs" a lot of staff yet there appears to be a heavily centralised management structure in place. Who ultimately sets the direction and who is the public face of the club - Jamie Swinney, Chairman X, Rawlins duo? Let's be honest, the new board weren't taken by surprise by their appointment as they'd lobbied for their inclusion previously. I dare say they didn't base their position on a wing-and-a-prayer so must've had a plan or vision ahead of taking the roles. I understand there has been compromise but what have they managed to effect so far based on their aims?

I think our media team might be avid readers of this forum

There's putting a value on a product and then there's plucking a number out your ar*e! Alloa have gone for the latter. Have they done this to discourage home fans from buying PPV?

We're definitely behind other clubs with smaller resources. With so much of our lives having been led at a distance theses last few years, the club could engage better using the platforms they have. We appear to have two media officers yet the output is very formulaic. Credit where it's due you can set your watch by what we get but club shop opening times, match highlights and how to watch are the bare minimum of fan engagement in my view.

What's the title?

This is the downfall of possession based football. It makes sense to retain the ball and stretch the opposition by either making them disjointed or tiring them out so that spaces open up for the attackers to exploit. However, when your attackers don't have the quality - more often than not - or you find a team who are organised and deny the space the tactic isn't worth sh*t. I'd rather very short, quick phases of play to outnumber teams when attacking than high retention with no threat as we have now. Would also help if our midfield were able to win 2nd balls instead of relying on Keena or Ruth winning it far from goal.

I have no issues with this right now!

File this beside Ray McKinnon's phone book - Months of compiling stats and producing profiles of players and we manage to pull one out who worked with the DoF at his last gig. Are they related?

Don't know too much about the AT-S but the one thing he does have going for him, from what I can see, is height. Agree I think he'll play left of a back three and doubt we'll see much more of Lemon this season. Dixon - when fit - will probably go back to LB and McCann to be used further forward. Hopefully AT-S can organise a defence and help Hall and McKay regain some form. Also agree with other posters that there are other, more pressing, areas of the squad to address but he's free and available so seems like an easy position to fill.