ShaggerG

So am I, doesn't mean I should get a game. (Be great if I could though)

I've been following Falkirk for approaching 50 years yet I had Farid in my all-time favourite team after just playing one season for us. I'll be gutted if you guys sign him! He left us and signed for Brentford and scored a load of goals for them before suffering an injury that almost ended his career. I don't think he's been the same player since and seems to be a wee bit injury prone now. If he's fully fit however and you play to his strengths he'll certainly help get you to the play-offs. In all my time watching us I've not seen a better player for attacking cross balls in the air although he's better on the deck than most folk would probably give him credit for too.

Still no sign of anyone coming in then, even on loan? I think that the failure to even attempt to replace Vaulks with a similar loanee may come back to haunt the BOD as a poor season could see a significant downturn in season book sales next term! False economy maybe although it's no doubt difficult trying to balance it all.

You said that Leahy wasn't as good as most of the left backs that you've seen in the last 25 years. I asked you to give me examples, other than those already quoted (who most thought were better than Leahy anyway). You've given me Tam Scobbie. Scobbie may have been a better defender although, personally, I wouldn't say there was too much in it, but Leahy is far better at the attacking side of the game IMO. So, given that we've probably had, maybe 30-40 players who've played in that position over that 25 year period, who else has been better?

I'd be interested to hear who you feel was better Gaz, other than those already quoted? (Apologies if I've missed this somewhere.)

I'm full of tricks mate! Merely trying to emphasise how long Falkirk (and our left backs) have been wasting/making my weekends.

I've watched Falkirk since 1806 and I don't remember too many LBs better than Leahy, considering I've seen probably 70 odd or whatever. McQueen, McQuilken, Kingsley yes plus Hagi and wee Tiger. There will be a few more that are comparable probably but the majority haven't been as good either defensively or offensively. There's a lot that needs improved in the side and a better LB than Leahy would be great. Don't know where we would find one though. Don't remember Jamie McGowan playing too many games at LB either?

The width would have to be sacrificed to accommodate the formation. Taiwo wouldn't be wide right as he was in a 4 and any width would have to come from the full backs which would certainly be asking a lot of them.

I think with Rankin in the team we now have the potential to play a proper diamond formation in midfield with Kerr at the back, Sibbs at the front and Taiwo & Rankin on either side.

Really not surprised that you can't grasp why that would be inappropriate. etc.

I couldn't have told you if the 1st was a stonewaller tbh. I saw Taiwo sliding in but was viewing from behind both players and couldn't see through them. We accepted that it must have been the correct decision though due to the fact that no-one contested it and Taiwo looked very despondent afterwards. I didn't see a foul at all for the 2nd but that's not to say it didn't happen. Guy in front of us said it was a definite pen. On the third, I didn't see the Saints man pulling but definitely saw Leahy pull the players jersey. My thought at the time was penalty but, if the Saints player was pulling as well, which seems to be the general consensus, then it's six of one and shouldn't have been given. I can't recall the Baird incident but, again, the general thought is that a penalty should have been given but there was also an incident in the 2nd half when Austin was held down trying to jump for a high ball. Going by Boaby's agenda on the day, that should have been a spot kick too! Thing that annoyed me the most was Madden staring out the Falkirk fans in a particularly arrogant manner as he left the field at full time. That really is not on and I hope was noted by the supervisor.

Aye, I don't think there's a PATG option. Hope there aren't loads of folk who think they can just turn up on Saturday and pay to get in?

Morton fans seem to think that he lives very close to Cappielow. Harkins would be a good addition at this level but is probably a luxury we can't afford. We need a good box to box midfielder and he sure couldn't be accused of being that.

Great guy too. Used to go in to visit big Gordy in hospital regularly and I'm sure will again.

Yea, I agree. I should have used the term 'footballer' rather than just player when comparing the two. There's no doubt though that Sibbs would become a very special player if he could somehow manage to find just a fraction of Vaulk's best attributes.

Sibbald, for example, is a far better player than Vaulks but I'd have been happier to lose him and keep Will. He was the most important player in the team due to the urgency and energy that he brought to the midfield. Combine that loss with Alston and we've lost a lot of the edge we had in the midfield area. I think we'll still play a lot of good football and will continue to keep the ball well but I don't think we'll score nearly as many as we did last term as things stand. With the current squad I think the only way that we can look to improve is via a formation change by playing with wing backs and 3 at the back. As things stand we've got very little pace in the team so maybe getting players out wide and to the byline more often would help remedy that. I haven't seen Kidd yet and, by all accounts, he's not very strong defensively but does he have the pace to get down the wing to the byline?

What a shower of fuckers.

I seem to remember reading that we got something like £40k for Murdoch from Fleetwood too?

Who else went to Bradford (other than Stewart)? Taylor and Flynn went to Sheffield, Higgie, Wallace and Arfield went to Huddersfield and Fulton, Kingsley, Biabi and Blair to Swansea. And just remembered that we sold Marc Twaddle to Rochdale! We must have taken in a couple of mi££ion in the past few years.

Well, over the last 5 years or so we've sold players to Swansea, Norwich, Huddersfield, Bradford, Sheffield United and now Rotherham. Not sure if I've missed any out?

We'll miss Will big time but not because he's the best footballer in the side, there are plenty better. We'll miss his enthusiasm, attitude and energy, not to mention his explosive shooting power. His ability to adapt to different positions was useful too and important for a club of our size. McGrandles would be the ideal replacement as he's a better player, IMO the best to come out of the academy. Obviously a big question mark over his fitness though and even if he would be as good a player following his injury.

Well it was a glorified pre-season friendly and that's basically how it played out. Some good combination play at times particularly with Sibbs and Leahy and Watson and Gasparotto looked good together. Big Gasparotto reminded me of the great George Gibson who was another that used to stroll through games. I thought Austin showed up well too although he looked quite raw and Boab took his goal very well. Saturday will obviously be a far tougher test and I'm actually looking forward to it now.

Oh aye pal, every single time. Nobody ever makes such errors on here you know.

Is that a question or a statement? The fact that the match preview on the club site doesn't mention him worries me a bit. Normally these reports would mention who may miss out due to injury etc and there's no sign of that at all. Hopefully (probably) just looking too much into things!

Whereas most Hibs fans on here suffer from bouts of misplaced grandeur!