The Falkirk FC Thread

[Guest Caractacus Potts]

3 hours ago, Stainrod said:

Rawlings knows we are a championship club -and will be back in that league  soon -  he has decided wisely to invest in the infrastructure rather than buy in players. Long term sustainable V short term gamble .  If he feels we need a player or 2 to get us over the line it will be January for 2 reasons 

1 by then we will know if Sheerin is any good 

2 It will be less outlay 

It’s not infrastructure in its truest term though. Different if you are putting the money in to a stadium or facilities but that wasn’t mentioned. It’s soft infrastructure at best. 

If we stay in this league and they have to fire all these extra coaches etc then we’ll have nothing to show for it.

We need to get out of this league and to do that we need to have the best players and/ or a great coach. Time will tell but on paper I’d say that they’re playing a risky game. 

Edited July 1, 2021 by Caractacus Potts

[Reggie Perrin]

1 hour ago, TheScarf said:

Were you not relegated from the SPL a year or two after they left?  Them signing did nothing for Falkirk FC.  

 

Completely failing to take into account the feel good factor these guys and others such as Krull and Riera brought to the club.

It was an absolute pleasure watching players of that calibre  turn out for Falkirk.

Edited July 1, 2021 by Reggie Perrin

[Shadwell Dog]

If Rawlins has any idea 

1 hour ago, Stainrod said:

Rawlings knows we are a championship club -and will be back in that league  soon -  he has decided wisely to invest in the infrastructure rather than buy in players. Long term sustainable V short term gamble .  If he feels we need a player or 2 to get us over the line it will be January for 2 reasons 

1 by then we will know if Sheerin is any good 

2 It will be less outlay 

Surely if he had any sense he would be making sure we invested in a decent striker though. If we don't get one of them in it may take more than a couple of players to get us near the line never mind over it in January and we all know our record of bringing in decent players in that month is feckin awful in the main.   Plus how many of these players on 2 or 3 year deals are going to be good enough to compete in the top half of the championship?  If he's looking to do it on the cheap than surely one year deals is the way to go unless it's a young prospect like McCann.

[Russ]

37 minutes ago, Reggie Perrin said:

Completely failing to take into account the feel good factor these guys and others such as Krull and Riera brought to the club.

It was an absolute pleasure watching players of that calibre  turn out for Falkirk.

What a player Arnau Riera was btw. Still don’t think a lot of our fans (and management team tbh) realised just how good he was at the time.

Not the flashiest of players or most eye catching but he would just never give the ball away or waste possession. 

[Rizzo]

If we're having Reira, Stokes and Kasper back could we also ask big Aafjes what he's up to these days?

[AL-FFC]

3 minutes ago, Rizzo said:

If we're having Reira, Stokes and Kasper back could we also ask big Aafjes what he's up to these days?

Cant believe you didnt ask for Tiago or Vitor Lima

[HopeStreetWalker]

40 minutes ago, Shadwell Dog said:

If Rawlins has any idea 

Surely if he had any sense he would be making sure we invested in a decent striker though. If we don't get one of them in it may take more than a couple of players to get us near the line never mind over it in January and we all know our record of bringing in decent players in that month is feckin awful in the main.   Plus how many of these players on 2 or 3 year deals are going to be good enough to compete in the top half of the championship?  If he's looking to do it on the cheap than surely one year deals is the way to go unless it's a young prospect like McCann.

The reason for the 2 - 3 year contracts was that was what was needed to get them to sign for a club in the position we are and reputation we have.

Don't think Rawlins is that hands on and leaves it to the team management.

From what we have signed don't have a clue on the line up or formation. If we are looking at a striker they will be looking at that and not be impressed.

Suspect we will muddle along with what we have, hope to be in the mix come January and take it from there.

 

 

[Rizzo]

2 minutes ago, AL-FFC said:

Cant believe you didnt ask for Tiago or Vitor Lima

Christ I'd nearly forgotten Tiago, he was such a creative* defender.

Spoiler

Creatively wiping out the man after taking the ball.

 

[FFC 1876]

2 hours ago, Stainrod said:

Are you watching the Euros - top players miss from 12 yards in nearly every game 

My point was that with the guff Latapy was coming out with that's probably something he'd say. People who over simplify football as a means to try make their point valid. 

"All he has to do is defend"

[latapythelegend]

2 minutes ago, FFC 1876 said:

My point was that with the guff Latapy was coming out with that's probably something he'd say. People who over simplify football as a means to try make their point valid. 

"All he has to do is defend"

"guff" 

I think you sometimes forget that these guys actually get paid a wage to do these things every working day for about 15-20 years. To expect them to do it to a very high level is what fans pay money for.  Its not amateurs ffs.

Not quite sure what you mean regarding over simplying. Football is a very simple sport. Get the ball into a fucking net as often as you can and to do so requires the very simple things such as passing/crossing/shooting all to be done very effectively. You don't have to a top player to do that but if it's your job then you should be expected to do that a hell of a lot more than the times you don't. 

[Shadwell Dog]

21 minutes ago, HopeStreetWalker said:

The reason for the 2 - 3 year contracts was that was what was needed to get them to sign for a club in the position we are and reputation we have.

Don't think Rawlins is that hands on and leaves it to the team management.

From what we have signed don't have a clue on the line up or formation. If we are looking at a striker they will be looking at that and not be impressed.

Suspect we will muddle along with what we have, hope to be in the mix come January and take it from there.

 

 

But that doesn't meet the idea pushed by some  of Rawlins wanting to get up on the cheap if we're then lumbered with mediocre players with another 2 years to go on their contracts.  We've muddled along for the past God knows how many seasons and that's one of the reasons we are in such a mess.  It's actually embarrassing for us as a club that we're talking about hoping to be in the mix come January in league one. We should be looking to be well clear by then and adding a few extras to keep us fresh till the end of the season .  . 

 

[18BAIRN76]

All of this reminiscing about these amazing players we all had the privilege of watching in a Falkirk shirt at the top level does result in a bit of kick to the balls when you remember that on the current squad, we're looking like we'll begin our League One campaign against Cove Rangers with Anton Dowds leading the line.

[TxRover]

5 minutes ago, Shadwell Dog said:

But that doesn't meet the idea pushed by some  of Rawlins wanting to get up on the cheap if we're then lumbered with mediocre players with another 2 years to go on their contracts.  We've muddled along for the past God knows how many seasons and that's one of the reasons we are in such a mess.  It's actually embarrassing for us as a club that we're talking about hoping to be in the mix come January in league one. We should be looking to be well clear by then and adding a few extras to keep us fresh till the end of the season .  . 

 

Exactly. The question is then are you using 2 and 3 year contracts to encourage “Championship level” players to sign with Falkirk in the hopes that they can get you out of League One (see Season 19/20) of to get the “best” League One players hoping they can then play competitively in the Championship, if promoted, until their contracts run out (see Season 20/21). I’m really confused what the strategy is here with these longer term signings, unless Rawlins is directing longer contracts in the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle for a transfer fee?

Granted, it is still early days, but the lack of focused signings you lot are lamenting is not indicative of the execution of a clearly elucidated plan going forward. Has the Rawlins captive agency yet represented any of your signings?

[TxRover]

14 minutes ago, 18BAIRN76 said:

All of this reminiscing about these amazing players we all had the privilege of watching in a Falkirk shirt at the top level does result in a bit of kick to the balls when you remember that on the current squad, we're looking like we'll begin our League One campaign against Cove Rangers with Anton Dowds leading the line.

Could you still hide the midfield behind him, or has he trimmed down a bit?

[Bairn in Exile]

14 minutes ago, Shadwell Dog said:

 It's actually embarrassing for us as a club that we're talking about hoping to be in the mix come January in league one. We should be looking to be well clear by then and adding a few extras to keep us fresh till the end of the season .  . 

 

This in spades Shadwell!

In business there is a phrase "managing a customer's expectations". By f*ck, Falkirk have done a great job in getting us to buy into the philosophy of us only being able to "be in the mix". We are all so low now that fans on here are actually using expressions like "muddle along" and "if we need a player or 2 to get us over the line". Jesus H Christ. 

[roman_bairn]

If we're having Reira, Stokes and Kasper back could we also ask big Aafjes what he's up to these days?

Can we also ask Den Biemen? I’d take him in current condition over our current centre backs….

[AL-FFC]

32 minutes ago, roman_bairn said:

Can we also ask Den Biemen? I’d take him in current condition over our current centre backs….

While we are at it can we ask for Fraser Wishart and Joe McLaughlin, we can make do with Dixon at Left Back

[NavyBlueArmy1876]

4 hours ago, TheScarf said:

Were you not relegated from the SPL a year or two after they left?  Them signing did nothing for Falkirk FC.  

 

Absolute nonsense.

We finished 7th that season (our highest placing for over 20 years) and weren't relegated for another 3. We also beat Celtic and Rangers in the same season in the league for the first time in about 100 years, and got to the LC semi final by beating Celtic again. We also beat Dunfermline 4 times, including 2 x 3-0 wins at EEP. Two 5-1 wins against Dundee United as well. All important for the stature of the club.

Reflected in adding circa. 500 punters to our home gates the following season who stayed until we were relegated.

Basically gave us the platform for a long-term stay in the top flight before Eddie May fucked it all up 

Edited July 1, 2021 by NavyBlueArmy1876

[Stainrod]

2 hours ago, Shadwell Dog said:

If Rawlins has any idea 

Surely if he had any sense he would be making sure we invested in a decent striker though. If we don't get one of them in it may take more than a couple of players to get us near the line never mind over it in January and we all know our record of bringing in decent players in that month is feckin awful in the main.   Plus how many of these players on 2 or 3 year deals are going to be good enough to compete in the top half of the championship?  If he's looking to do it on the cheap than surely one year deals is the way to go unless it's a young prospect like McCann.

I heard they are likely to address the striker situation next week and bring in somebody from outside the Scottish leagues on loan who has a decent track record . Let’s hope that happens ! 

[FalkirkLad]

24 minutes ago, Stainrod said:

I heard they are likely to address the striker situation next week and bring in somebody from outside the Scottish leagues on loan who has a decent track record . Let’s hope that happens ! 

Why would someone with a proven track record of goals outside of Scotland come to the 3rd tier of Scottish football and join Falkirk, simply not gonna happen. 
 

This idea of going and picking someone up who’s been pretty consistent scoring goals or as you put it ‘having a good track record’ is a fantasy. 
 

We will most likely be picking up a young loan gamble I.e Rudden or hoping to wait until the end of the window and pick up someone who’s down the pecking order after pre season at their current club.