Livingston - all the threads merged

[EdinburghLivi]

Daily Record have us linked with a pre-contract for Motherwell keeper Trevor Carson. Apparently Aberdeen are also looking at him.

Edited December 27, 2019 by EdinburghLivi

[TheLad]

Superb. You mention that John Hughes left for 'some reason' . It was called 4x his wage .
As it turns out, they were a bit shoddy st Hartlepool and I am certain the bug man would not have left in hindsight

Start of the decade (season 09-10) we enter into administration, then we are demoted to the Third Division where we romp the league by 15 points with Andy Halliday as top scorer whilst Marc McNulty is kept out the team by Armand Oné, Robbie Winters and Raffa De Vita, with De Vita contracted to us still. 

Chairman Gordon McDougall then apologised to the other clubs in the division saying that It wasn’t our choice to have players on First Division wages in the Third Division and it was distinctly unfair that a full-time club was thrust upon the others clubs in the division. We had to apologise for being a big fish  

In the same season we thump Clyde 7-1 in the Scottish Cup where current club captain Alan Lithgow scores Clyde's 1 in front of 690 fans. While Keaghan Jacobs scores our first, both currently are in our first team. 

10-11 season we then sign Iain Russell who scores 22 in the league as we go on to record back to back promotions, winning the league with 5 to spare and an average home attendance of 1.3k. This season we first see Stefan Scougall whilst Tony Bullock replaces Roddy McKenzie as first team keeper.

In the 11-12 season back to back title winning manager Gary Bollan is replaced by John Hughes whilst Marc McNulty has his breakthrough with 16 goals in all competitions as we finish 5th and record a challenge cup semi-final. Controversial keeper Andy McNeil takes over from Bullock and eternal Livi fans favourite Rory Boulding signs for the club for the first time scoring 13 goals in 32. Mark Fotheringham also signs for the first of his two spells. 

12-13 Hughes fucks off to Hartlepool for some reason and we bounce managers about including Richie Burke and Gareth Evans. Despite this we finish 4th under Burke with Mark Burchill signing on as Assistant Manager/Player. This team was an overhaul from the previous season now including Jesus Garcia Tena and Tony Andreu with Danny Mullen and Scougall featuring frequently as first team regulars. The options we had up front were pretty ridiculous this season, Danny Mullen, Iain Russell, Marc McNulty and Burchill (who made zero appearances) whilst we persisted with Jordan fucking Morton. David Luongo also just never appears? Worth noting we had Callum Booth on loan for this season too.

13-14 Burke resigns and John McGlynn takes over and we finish in 6th. At this point we've settle into being mid table Championship fodder, just surviving. McNulty however finishes the season with 17 goals to his name, Hamilton poach Jesus and Andreu off us who help them to win the first Premiership playoff to relegate Hibs, Andreu scoring a 93rd minute eqaualiser.

14-15, now things get real. We're faced with a Championship with Hearts, Rangers and Hibs. To top it off we're given a 5 point deduction just for the fun of it. Hearts pump Cowdenbeath 10-0 as they go on to romp the league. McGlynn is replaced by Mark Burchill as manager whilst also signing on as a player. We survive on the last day of the season thanks to goal difference. In amongst all this madness is our 'Great Escape', the signing of Scott Pittman and a trophy to boot, beating an Alloa team with Micheal Chopra up front, 4-0 in the final of the Petrofrac Training Cup. You'd be forgiven for thinking this would be as good as it would get for Livi this entire decade [emoji3] 

15-16 season starts off with 1 win in 10, 4 points from 30. The likes of Spas Georgiev, Hugo Faria, Jordyn Sheerin, Darren Cole, Gary Glen and Moses Duckrell are all part of this absolutely demoralising side. The few shining lights amongst this are Liam Buchanan, Danny Mullen, Scott Pittman, Jackson Longridge and Myles Hippolyte. We also sign Craig Halkett in this period. While the likes of Keaghan and Kyle Jacobs are allowed to leave, Callum Fordyce and Jason Talbot also leave the club after lengthy spells. We land ourselves in the playoff semi finals, only this time it's the relegation one and we're up against Stranraer who pump us 5-2 in the first leg. Any Livi fan would surely put this down as their lowest point of the decade. We miraculously overturn the result and find ourselves into extra time after a 89th minute Danny Mullen goal and a 95th minute Craig Halkett goal that ties up the score line on aggregate. We then absolutely capitulate and concede twice in ET to see us relegated for the first time since being demoted to the bottom tier in 2009-10. Fans absolutely call for David Hopkin's head who replaced Mark Burchill after Christmas. Fans then get even more livid after it's announced that Hopkin will take us into the 16-17 League 1 campaign.

16-17 the club announce that they will remain as a full time club to try and bounce back up at the first time of asking. One Airdrie fan famously predicts Livi will finish no higher than 5th this season. A lot of the previous dross is cleared out the club and we sign a few players with the likes of Shaun Byrne, Josh Mullin, Nicky Cadden, Alan Lithgow and Sean Crighton. Declan Gallagher also signs on following his release from prison. We comfortably win the league by 19 points, taking top spot in week 11 and never surrendering it from there. We also exit the League Cup at the quarter finals following a few dubious decisions at the hands of Hibs with Todorov filling in at CB. Liam Buchanan scores 22 goals in his final season with us cementing himself as a true star of this decade with 41 goals in 91 appearances and a cup win to his name. Keaghan Jacobs also signs on in the latter half of the season with De Vita also returning to the club. Fans eat humble pie as Hopkin delivers a dominant and strong Livi side.

17-18. The season of the decade, one that we will struggle to ever emulate. Livi enter the season losing their top scorer, Buchanan. We enter with many predicting us as relegation fodder. We are followed in promotion by Brechin who go up through the playoffs and then go on to record an entire season without a win. A January transfer window sees long term Lion Danny Mullen leave for St Mirren whilst Livi secure Ryan Hardie on a 6 month loan with Falkirk's Lee Miller also coming in to form a lethal striking partnership. Livi's decent early season form is consolidated with a very strong second half to the season which sees us then go on to finish 2nd and book a playoff semi-final place against Dundee United who see off Dunfermline. Livi's game of the decade ensues in the first leg with the Lions running out 3-2 winners away at Tannadice. The reverse leg throws up a 1-1 draw to set up a playoff final place against either Partick Thistle or Ross County as it comes down to the last game of the season in the Premiership. Ross County finish bottom and Livi learn their opponents, Partick Thistle. A first leg win of 2-1 sees Livingston 90 minutes away from their first time back in the top flight of Scottish football since 2006. A Keaghan Jacobs goal and a Neil Alexander penalty save ensures the club win promotion and will have played in every professional league in Scotland within the decade. 

18-19 sees David Hopkin refuse a new contract and leave the club despite back to back promotions (a feat only equalled recently by Gary Bollan), and Kenny Miller signs on as player-manager. Livi also implement an artificial surface to replace the grass pitch and the club play their home League Cup games at Linlithgow Rose's ground. Miller is relieved of his duties a few months into the job and is replaced by Gary Holt who oversees Livi beating Rangers at home, Hearts 5-0 at home which prompts Craig Levein to compare the side to PSG. The club also recorded a 0-0 draw against champions Celtic. Despite a poor second half of the season Livi survive comfortably finishing in 9th place in their first season back in the top flight. 

19-20 Livi sit in the top 6 at Christmas despite starting the decade at the bottom tier of Scottish football. 


Was fun writing this up, feel free to add other memories along the way but what a fucking decade Livi. So many lows but way more highs than we could've predicted.

[ATLIS]

2 hours ago, TheLad said:

Superb. You mention that John Hughes left for 'some reason' . It was called 4x his wage .
As it turns out, they were a bit shoddy st Hartlepool and I am certain the bug man would not have left in hindsight

Probably for the best he went though to be fair, his record at Raith was stinking. Did well at Inverness but even then don't rate him as a manager

[RandomGuy.]

Apparently you're signing Glenn Middleton on loan.

[ATLIS]

10 hours ago, RandomGuy. said:

Apparently you're signing Glenn Middleton on loan.

We wanted him or Hastie on the summer, would be a proper quality signing I think. Criminally underused at Hibs

[crispy]

Would you say Middleton falls into the out and out winger category? We didn’t favour one of those last season. Would love to see someone mirror what Lawless does on the opposite side. 

[ATLIS]

All's fine and well on the park for the club, but absolutely shocking news coming out about off the park affairs. Can't believe I'm even typing this to be honest





After one appearances someone's took the Livi Lion hostage, where the f**k is he?!  

[LIVIFOREVER]

9 minutes ago, ATLIS said:

All's fine and well on the park for the club, but absolutely shocking news coming out about off the park affairs. Can't believe I'm even typing this to be honest





After one appearances someone's took the Livi Lion hostage, where the f**k is he?!  

You had me going there,  always feels like disaster is just waiting to happen at Livi, too many seasons of horrendous owners taking us to the brink of  disaster to feel too comfortable when things are going really well for us. #thoughtsandprayersforthelivilion

[ATLIS]

5 minutes ago, LIVIFOREVER said:

You had me going there,  always feels like disaster is just waiting to happen at Livi, too many seasons of horrendous owners taking us to the brink of  disaster to feel too comfortable when things are going really well for us. #thoughtsandprayersforthelivilion

Every Livi fan has some form of residual PTSD from previous regimes Always expecting some shit to hit a fan somewhere

[LIVIFOREVER]

Went on to Hibs.net for a wee look at what they were saying about our match, and saw a mention of our home form for only having conceded 5 goals (one of those was a dodgy pen against Aberdeen that was outside the box too) and hadn't actually paid that much attention to that startling stat, so it got me interested enough to check up on it and compare our away stats against our home ones. Quite a remarkable difference.

 

Home Games Played-10    Goals For-13    Goals Against-5

Away Games Played-11    Goals For-17    Goals Against-24
 

The goals for was only 4 goals in 7 games too, until we went on a goal scoring blitz in our last 3 home games to bring it up to 13 goals in 10 games. However it's the goals conceded at home compared to away that really sticks out, that is a huge gulf of a difference.

[thruthenight]

Alex Dyer's just been given the Killie job until the end of the season. That's amazing news for us.

[LogieLivi]

Raffa off to Failkirk in January it seems.
Fair play tbh not setting the heather alight for Partick and dont think hes got it left for this level.

[crispy]

1 hour ago, LIVIFOREVER said:

Went on to Hibs.net for a wee look at what they were saying about our match, and saw a mention of our home form for only having conceded 5 goals (one of those was a dodgy pen against Aberdeen that was outside the box too) and hadn't actually paid that much attention to that startling stat, so it got me interested enough to check up on it and compare our away stats against our home ones. Quite a remarkable difference.

 

Home Games Played-10    Goals For-13    Goals Against-5

Away Games Played-11    Goals For-17    Goals Against-24
 

The goals for was only 4 goals in 7 games too, until we went on a goal scoring blitz in our last 3 home games to bring it up to 13 goals in 10 games. However it's the goals conceded at home compared to away that really sticks out, that is a huge gulf of a difference.

Aye, was just saying to my dad that the home defensive record crept up on me, too. What a wee team. Consider that 4 goals at Celtic Park and 3 at St Mirren aswell. I think we’ve dropped a ridiculous number of points and have only been blown away twice (Rangers home, Celtic away) so I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season.

Re: January window - besides the usual striker chat id like to see us have the same penetration on the opposite side of midfield as Lawless gives us.

Curveball question - Devlin back in at right back and Lawson centre left mid (or do we lose control)? Holt doesn’t seem to be settled on Souda for that position. 

Edited December 30, 2019 by crispy

[LiviLion]

18 minutes ago, thruthenight said:

Alex Dyer's just been given the Killie job until the end of the season. That's amazing news for us.

Depends how you look at it. I don't think Dyer will do a great job and I'd guess he'll be sacked by the end of the season; enter Gary Holt to rebuild.

 

 

[thruthenight]

1 hour ago, LiviLion said:

Depends how you look at it. I don't think Dyer will do a great job and I'd guess he'll be sacked by the end of the season; enter Gary Holt to rebuild.

 

 

Potentially. Better that than him being taken now I guess, when he inevitably moves on then it would be much better for us if it happens in the summer.

[LogieLivi]

ATS stays till the end of the season.
Bit bizarre as hes spent just as long with us injured as he has fit.

[Afro]

19 minutes ago, LogieLivi said:

ATS stays till the end of the season.
Bit bizarre as hes spent just as long with us injured as he has fit.

When he's fit, he's a fine option. When he's not, McMillan has more than demonstrated he's competent on either flank at this level. If we can get him fit and more importantly (and seemingly, more difficult) keep him fit, ATS will be a great option at LB.

Doubt he's on a substantial wage tbh, if it comes to nothing then both parties move on come the end of the season.

[LIVIFOREVER]

5 hours ago, crispy said:

Aye, was just saying to my dad that the home defensive record crept up on me, too. What a wee team. Consider that 4 goals at Celtic Park and 3 at St Mirren aswell. I think we’ve dropped a ridiculous number of points and have only been blown away twice (Rangers home, Celtic away) so I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season.

Re: January window - besides the usual striker chat id like to see us have the same penetration on the opposite side of midfield as Lawless gives us.

Curveball question - Devlin back in at right back and Lawson centre left mid (or do we lose control)? Holt doesn’t seem to be settled on Souda for that position. 

Yep, incredible home defensive record, Celtic have conceded 6 goals, and The Rangers have conceded 5, so we've joint best home defensive record in the Premiership. Irks that the penalty Aberdeen got against us shouldn't have been given, and we'd have been on 4 goals.

Looked pretty good with Taylor-Sinclair at LB, either Devlin or Lawson at RB playing opposite him would be great. If we don't get a winger in then yeah, i'd like to see Lawson and Lawless playing on the wings, with Pitts in the middle just behind Dykes.

Something like this would be good.

                                                                Sarkic

 

Devlin                          Guthrie                      Lithgow/ Lamie                        Taylor Sinclair

 

                                                  Bartley                  Jacobs/Crawford

 

   Lawson                                                    Pittman                                               Lawless

 

                                                                           Dykes                      

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by LIVIFOREVER

[LIVIFOREVER]

The home defensive record is even more incredible when you think of the changing personel we've had this season.

Stewart started in goals, then Sarkic took over after a few games,

Lithgow CB

Guthrie CB

Lamie has been LB and CB.

McMillan has been RB and LB.

Devlin RB

Lawson RB

Taylor-Sinclair LB

Jacobs RB? (can't remember now if he went in as a RB or LB now)

Anyone else had a shot in defence that I've missed?

 

So only Jon Guthrie has been playing in the same position the whole season.

 

Oh aye just remembered another 2, Odoffin and Sevane also played a few games for us as FB's, and Pepe as a CB.

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by LIVIFOREVER

[thruthenight]

The only game I've seen ATS in was up in Aberdeen, and I felt like he was a liability in that game. Too big a gap between him and the CBs on too many occassions, and didn't seem to be showing any skill going forward either. Although by all accounts, he seems to have done well and perhaps this was just a bad game.