Walking Down The Halbeath Road

[da_no_1]

If Lafferty gets us promoted I'm in. Make it happen 

[The Toun Clock]

I’d be shocked if we were even in the same sentence as Lafferty tbh. He wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I’d absolutely take him if it was possible, again I think that’s not the case. Wonder could he end up at Queens Park? Simon Murray has just moved to Ross County, they’d be able to throw plenty cash I’m sure.

[The Toun Clock]

That better be his poker face. Very irritating him talking about the summer, won’t matter worth a f**k if we’re still playing league 1 football.

[CallumPar]

Craig Cairns reporting any activity at East End tonight is unlikely. But to watch out for loans (that may become permanent) in the next few weeks.

[Stellaboz]

Hardly a stretch to report that at this time of day.

[The Toun Clock]

Just now, CallumPar said:

Craig Cairns reporting any activity at East End tonight is unlikely. But to watch out for loans (that may become permanent) in the next few weeks.

Just read that, pathetic. Sick of hearing how hard they’re working behind the scenes. Be class when players arrive at the end of February when we’ve inevitably dropped more points. 

[DA Baracus]

13 minutes ago, The Toun Clock said:

Just read that, pathetic. Sick of hearing how hard they’re working behind the scenes. Be class when players arrive at the end of February when we’ve inevitably dropped more points. 

Unless you know what has happened, how is it pathetic? As said before, they could have offered multiple players deals but have been turned down.

[CallumPar]

5 minutes ago, The Toun Clock said:

Just read that, pathetic. Sick of hearing how hard they’re working behind the scenes. Be class when players arrive at the end of February when we’ve inevitably dropped more points. 

Not going to lie, happy to wait if they’re worth waiting for. But we need reinforcements and we can’t wait too long. At some point, we have to compromise a bit.

Also kind of wondering what’s going on with this German investment. Clearly none being spent on first team budget. Training ground also seems to have stalled. As far as I’m aware, they haven’t even started the work required to get the planning application approved for the artificial pitch. Never mind starting the actual work to have the place fully functioning. Must be costing a lot of money and be a pain for the players to be all over the place for training facilities.

[The Toun Clock]

18 minutes ago, DA Baracus said:

Unless you know what has happened, how is it pathetic? As said before, they could have offered multiple players deals but have been turned down.

Because, it’s been the same crap all through the summer window and now all through the winter window. Trying to get players in, has to be right etc. Will 100% cost us.

16 minutes ago, CallumPar said:

Not going to lie, happy to wait if they’re worth waiting for. But we need reinforcements and we can’t wait too long. At some point, we have to compromise a bit.

Also kind of wondering what’s going on with this German investment. Clearly none being spent on first team budget. Training ground also seems to have stalled. As far as I’m aware, they haven’t even started the work required to get the planning application approved for the artificial pitch. Never mind starting the actual work to have the place fully functioning. Must be costing a lot of money and be a pain for the players to be all over the place for training facilities.

Yes and no. Plenty games to play between now and the end of February, potentially even the rescheduled Falkirk game. Waiting until near the end of the loan window closes could cost us dearly. Everyone else manages to make signings  and improve their squads, we’ve lost one and not replaced, a failure of a window.

My thoughts exactly. Went along to the PSC meeting hoping to hear an update about the training ground and Dave Cook said straight away that there was work being done but little updates to share. Meggle was actually there sitting in the crowd along with other board members, didn’t say a word. Be nice to hear a bit more from these guys. I know Dave Cook plans on doing an interview this week that will be posted so he might have more to share.

[DA Baracus]

But, again, how do we know they haven't already offered deals to multiple players but have been knocked back? How do we know McPake hasn't already approached his targets, ones he feel will add quality, but they don't want to sign for the club?

It could of course be possible that McPake is being picky though and trying to wait for select targets whilst other potential ones move elsewhere, and if that is the case he should be getting test by the board.

As for the investors, pretty sure it's been said from the start and many times since that they were never here to chuck cash at the first team.

Edited January 31, 2023 by DA Baracus

[The Toun Clock]

4 minutes ago, DA Baracus said:

But, again, how do we know they haven't already offered deals to multiple players but have been knocked back? How do we know McPake hasn't already approached his targets, ones he feel will add quality, but they don't want to sign for the club?

As for the investors, pretty sure it's been said from the start and many times since that they were never here to chuck cash at the first team.

Surely if he has say five targets they’re not all rejecting deals to come here? Or to twist it, has he not got a plan B if only focussing on one target? 

You’re right about the investors not just spending on the first team, but they’ve spent little money on anything else, oh apart from the pay off for the massive disaster that was Peter Grant and possibly Yogi both of which were entirely their fault.

Edited January 31, 2023 by The Toun Clock

[DA Baracus]

1 minute ago, The Toun Clock said:

Surely if he has say five targets they’re not all rejecting deals to come here? Or to twist it, has he not got a plan B if only focussing on one target? 

You’re right about the investors not just spending on the first team, but they’ve spent little money on anything else, oh apart from the pay off for the massive disaster that was Peter Grant and possibly Yogi both of which were entirely their fault.

We're a League 1 club. It's hardly the most attractive prospect. Perhaps the players simply got better offers elsewhere? Any Championship club would probably be a better prospect if they could match or better wages.

 

Regarding the investors, I must have missed them plugging big gaps due to COVID and paying for the academy players etc, not to mention the outlay for the ground at Rosyth and, when they can finally build on it, the actual facility itself. Also is the board simply just the investor group now if you're claiming they are entirely to blame for Grant and Hughes? Could have sworn there were more guys on it. Pretty sure we used to have a chairman who was actually the main driving force behind the Grant appointment.

Actually, only two of the investor group are on the board, which comprises 8 people. Are we to believe these two, and these two only, make all the decisions at the club now?  

https://www.dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=DAFC_Board_of_Directors&ID=3615

I've seen it elsewhere but seems like you're lashing out at the investor group for various things due to lack of signings. Why do the rest of the board, and the chairman, get off with any blame here? 

[The Toun Clock]

15 minutes ago, DA Baracus said:

We're a League 1 club. It's hardly the most attractive prospect. Perhaps the players simply got better offers elsewhere? Any Championship club would probably be a better prospect if they could match or better wages.

 

Regarding the investors, I must have missed them plugging big gaps due to COVID and paying for the academy players etc, not to mention the outlay for the ground at Rosyth and, when they can finally build on it, the actual facility itself. Also is the board simply just the investor group now if you're claiming they are entirely to blame for Grant and Hughes? Could have sworn there were more guys on it. Pretty sure we used to have a chairman who was actually the main driving force behind the Grant appointment.

Actually, only two of the investor group are on the board, which comprises 8 people. Are we to believe these two, and these two only, make all the decisions at the club now?  

https://www.dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=DAFC_Board_of_Directors&ID=3615

I've seen it elsewhere but seems like you're lashing out at the investor group for various things due to lack of signings. Why do the rest of the board, and the chairman, get off with any blame here? 

Maybe not overly attractive but also not the most unattractive. I’d say players wouldn’t hate the idea of joining Dunfermline or Falkirk with a a realistic chance of a league winners medal or promotion then a crack at the Championship.

Well obviously they’ve helped pay for more things than paying off two failed managers, but let’s face it, the Rosyth facility doesn’t look any different to what it was, windows all boarded up. I know there was issues with planning etc but there was no clarity in the recent meeting, just a quick move on from the chairman. 

Yes, there’s more people on the board than the Germans but it seems to me like they had the say with the chairman. What’s the point in me going off at McCarthur, he’s gone. I actually do think the Germans with Cook have a bigger say about what goes on. Meggle is supposed to be the sporting director, where’s the European players we were supposed to be looking at in previous windows. 

None of them are getting off without blame, manager, chairman, board, investors are all at fault. It’s a disappointing window for a number of reasons, some out with our control ie Nisbet, however our closest rival in the league has hit some good form, binned duds and strengthened and we’re pissing about hoping that some sort of superstar is going to fall into our lap. Needs to be better than what we have, let me tell you, what we have isn’t that great, we’ve rode our luck a number of times this season and that won’t last.

Edited January 31, 2023 by The Toun Clock

[DA Baracus]

So it wasn't the investors who were entirely to blame for the appointments of Grant and Hughes then? And the board apparently don't vote on things but just leave it to three people?

I've seen plenty of games this season. You don't need to tell me anything. I know fine the situation.

Edited January 31, 2023 by DA Baracus

[The Toun Clock]

9 minutes ago, DA Baracus said:

So it wasn't the investors who were entirely to blame for the appointments of Grant and Hughes then? And the board apparently don't vote on things but just leave it to three people?

I've seen plenty of games this season. You don't need to tell me anything. I know fine the situation.

Well we know how much Meggle wanted PG following our 1-4 thumping of them. I’d be shocked if other board members had the same opinion, never mind a majority.

Listen, I’m just venting, fed up with how the window has gone, I know there’s hard work going in everywhere behind the scenes. Lose a key player, don’t replace him (yes I’m sure we tried), dropping more silly points. We can’t really afford to wait until the end of February to recruit, four games minimum but potentially five if the crunch game with Falkirk gets announced.

[We Are Pars Fans!]

Have the Germans even invested any money yet? Certainly haven’t on the pitch and this new training facility isn’t exactly up and running. 
we had to strengthen, we are maybe 5 points clear but haven’t exactly been great this season and a few players could have pushed us over the line but we have again failed. We have signed Bene, Hamilton and a backup 19 year old keeper on perm deals since relegation, the squad is ridiculously thin and a couple of injuries would leave us at bare bones. 
mcpake and the squad have done fantastic to be in the position we are in and credit to them but I feel a bit of improvement was required to sustain it

[DA Baracus]

Are we just ignoring the financing from the investors now and blaming everything on them? Are we ignoring the multiple interviews and articles where they clearly said they won't be chucking cash at the first team and the ones that have explained the hold up with the training ground? Of course it still remains to be seen if it will happen, especially if we fail to go up this year.

The rest of the board and McPake are getting away with it then and it's the big bad Germans (only two of who are German incidentally, and only two of whom are actually on the board) who are completely at fault here? That seems to be the narrative I'm seeing across the various boards and social media (I've even seen the daft old conspiracy theories rolled out again).

I seem to recall an interview with Cook in the summer saying it was proving more difficult to sign folk and that McPake and his staff were trying to sign guys from the English Premiership and Championship (amongst others). Perhaps McPake is overreaching with his ambition? It's League 1, we don't need top, top players, especially for cover. Just get someone semi competent in to help us try to win the league. I think he's over-thinking things and being too picky and it could cost us, because we clearly need a couple of folk in.

[da_no_1]

I see no agenda against Gmbh - I see a very supportive fanbase who turn up week after week supporting the team/players & just want to see some sort of ambition to get us out this shitey league.

We're currently running with 2 fit central defenders & a 16 year old as back-up. That's just not good enough I'm afraid. 

[CallumPar]

Not ignoring the finances at all. But having our own academy and training facilities will not be sustainable if we don’t earn promotion from league one. McPake has given the board no reason to doubt his credentials/ability to get us out of this league. However, it doesn’t seem like he’s been given resources to bring in players he feels he needs.

I’m glad we haven’t gone out and signed lots of new players. But it’s definitely disappointing that the squad is weaker than it was at the start of January. I was hoping we‘d strengthen. Instead, we’ve lost a key player and brought in nobody. If we see a decent CB come in over the next few days, I’ll be happy enough. Until that happens, I think it’s fair to question the lack of investment in the first team. 3 permanent signings in 2 windows combined doesn’t really suggest we’ve done enough to try and bring players in. 

[DA Baracus]

Are we saying that the board should be signing players now (or the two German guys on it as some seem to imply)?

Do folk genuinely believe the board are withholding funds form McPake and lying to the fans about it? Why?

Why would the board not support signings? Even though they have indeed supported signings in every window. They supported Crawford, Grant and Hughes to make plenty of signings. They supported McPake in bringing in 7 players in the summer.

McPake (and his staff) is getting away very lightly here. For me the vast majority of the blame is on him for this. Even then that might be harsh if they've been doing the work and players have simply turned them down, but there is the suspicion that he's being too picky. As stated, it's League 1, we don't need top players. We just need enough to get out of this league. If we can achieve that then in the summer more signings can be made, and the club is a more attractive one to sign for too.