Jump to content

Walking Down The Halbeath Road


Recommended Posts

9 minutes ago, Salvo Montalbano said:

Basically - no sub keeper tomorrow, Todd out for 3 months/12 weeks due to needing surgery.

 

  Hide contents

Dunfermline are set to go into their Premier Sports Cup opener against The Spartans WITHOUT a substitute goalkeeper.

The Pars squad, it is understood, will feature only first-choice Deniz Mehmet for the trip over the Forth to Ainslie Park.

It appears a huge gamble from the East End Park club as they bid to kick off the new campaign with a win over their League Two hosts.

They are running the risk of a possible crisis between the sticks if the worst-case scenario plays out.

Should Mehmet pick up an injury, or is sent off, an outfield player will need to take the gloves for the Fifers.


Dunfermline have been running the rule over freed Huddersfield Town keeper Giosue Bellagambi during their pre-season preparations.

But the 22-year-old has not yet been offered a deal, leaving Mehmet as the only signed goalie on the Pars’ books.

Back-up custodian Max Little was freed at the end of last season and has not been replaced with competitive football about to kick off.

It is a situation that boss James McPake will be hoping is resolved quickly.

Dunfermline are scheduled to host Forfar on Tuesday and newly-relegated Championship rivals Livingston next Saturday.

Matty Todd to have operation
Meanwhile, Matty Todd is set to be sidelined for THREE MONTHS as he prepares for surgery on his broken collarbone.

The midfielder consulted a specialist earlier this week on the fracture he sustained in the opening pre-season friendly against East Fife.


It was still undecided whether the 23-year-old would need an operation.

However, after further discussions he will now go under the surgeon’s knife on Monday.

It will be the fourth operation Todd has experienced in a little over a year in a nightmare spell for the player.


Surgery to remove his appendix at the end of season 2022-23 was followed by a planned procedure on his nose last summer. He then needed an operation to repair ankle ligaments.

Also afflicted by a hamstring injury, he managed just 21 appearances last term and his absence will again be a blow to the Pars.

He is now expected to be out of action for the next 12 weeks.


 

 

Wonderful

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That trialist keeper looked considerably more assured and able than Mehmet in the 45 minutes I saw of him tbf.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ludo*1 said:

McPake desperately tried to bed in a 3-5-2 with us when he first took over and spent all pre-season and publically admitting we were going with one system and it was about other teams adapting to us rather than the other way about but we'd all need to be patient whilst the players got to grip with it.

Opening day of the season against you lot at EEP, you absolutely destroyed us and ran rampant for 45 minutes which led to us changing the formation and never going back.

Was that in TV? Have vague recollections about it. 

17 minutes ago, Ludo*1 said:

That trialist keeper looked considerably more assured and able than Mehmet in the 45 minutes I saw of him tbf.

Aye? I didn't watch our game against Dundee but I wasn't massively impressed with him against East Fife. If we sign him, hopefully he's not shite. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That Sam Fisher article has done nothing for my confidence. You don't adopt that as a general tactic. Just invites the high press and puts us under pressure - I'm far from believing we have the players to execute and we'll ship goals because of it. 

Let's just get this season started already and put me out my misery. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, HoBNob said:

Was that in TV? Have vague recollections about it. 

Aye? I didn't watch our game against Dundee but I wasn't massively impressed with him against East Fife. If we sign him, hopefully he's not shite. 

Pretty sure it was the start of the Friday night football stuff? Can't remember but I do remember you lads absolutely tore Jordon Forster a new one.

To be fair, you lot played much better in the second half when the youngsters came on and he didn't have much to do but he looked a presence. Doesn't help that my opinion of Mehmet isn't exactly glowing though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

46 minutes ago, Ludo*1 said:

Pretty sure it was the start of the Friday night football stuff? Can't remember but I do remember you lads absolutely tore Jordon Forster a new one.

To be fair, you lot played much better in the second half when the youngsters came on and he didn't have much to do but he looked a presence. Doesn't help that my opinion of Mehmet isn't exactly glowing though.

Aye it was a Friday night. Kevin Nisbet was immense and scored an absolutely brilliant goal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, DA Baracus said:

Aye it was a Friday night. Kevin Nisbet was immense and scored an absolutely brilliant goal.

Aye that was the game I was thinking of, Finn Robertson was playing for Dundee. He's a player I expect will end up with us if McPake is still here when he leaves Dundee. 

1 hour ago, Ludo*1 said:

Pretty sure it was the start of the Friday night football stuff? Can't remember but I do remember you lads absolutely tore Jordon Forster a new one.

To be fair, you lot played much better in the second half when the youngsters came on and he didn't have much to do but he looked a presence. Doesn't help that my opinion of Mehmet isn't exactly glowing though.

Aye, I don't think you're alone in that! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, DA Baracus said:

Aye it was a Friday night. Kevin Nisbet was immense and scored an absolutely brilliant goal.

Was the 2nd game against Dundee that he scored the screamer I'm sure. Also on the tele.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A lot to improve on today. But football’s back and we got the job done fairly comfortably in the end. McCann doing his usual of looking like this could finally be his year in July. Hopefully he can play like that more often.

I’d be starting Sutherland alongside McCann on Tuesday. Hopefully Bene’s over his illness by then and hopefully Breen’s injury isn’t serious.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought we started pretty brightly the first 10-15 minutes then became passive and massively relaxed which let Spartans have a couple good chances. 

Didn't like the starting formation leaving McCann isolated (who I thought had a pretty decent game), 2nd half was a definite improvement with KRH on the right and Spoony linking with Kane and McCann. 

Positives: Ngwenya and Wotherspoon looked very comfortable to me and are good additions albeit playing a weaker side. McCann was much better scoring with a great strike and made some terrific runs including setting Chalmers up on a plate... Taylor Sutherland continues to impress and should definitely be pushing for a starting spot. 

Negatives: As McPake said, I thought the team was a bit ropey at the back at times, Breen especially looked off it, was he injured or was it tactical at HT? The playing out from the back is going to cost us a lot of goals this season with the players we are trying to implement it with. We absolutely need an upgrade on Chalmers to start games in midfield. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Overall, encouraging start. That was a serious banana skin and we've navigated it well after a pre-season that had everyone concerned and anxious. Concerns about defence, concerns about ability to score goals - ticked both boxes. And with a squad that noone seen coming. 

I'm not about to declare that we're about to challenge for the league, but it would be good if folks cut the club and the squad a little slack. Some folk are complaining the squad looks shit. Other folk complaining the young boys aren't getting a start. It feels like the just can't win with some fans. Today wasn't a game to start some of the young boys - difficult away tie, substantial pressure, three games in 8 days. There has to be balance and playing the young boys at the right time. 

Genuinely think players and coaching staff deserve a huge amount of credit for today. Onto Tuesday which becomes an even more important game - really need to follow today up with a home win, where I expect to see more squad rotation. Sometimes the small wins are just as important as the big wins. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, AuldReekie said:

Overall, encouraging start. That was a serious banana skin and we've navigated it well after a pre-season that had everyone concerned and anxious. Concerns about defence, concerns about ability to score goals - ticked both boxes. And with a squad that noone seen coming. 

I'm not about to declare that we're about to challenge for the league, but it would be good if folks cut the club and the squad a little slack. Some folk are complaining the squad looks shit. Other folk complaining the young boys aren't getting a start. It feels like the just can't win with some fans. Today wasn't a game to start some of the young boys - difficult away tie, substantial pressure, three games in 8 days. There has to be balance and playing the young boys at the right time. 

Genuinely think players and coaching staff deserve a huge amount of credit for today. Onto Tuesday which becomes an even more important game - really need to follow today up with a home win, where I expect to see more squad rotation. Sometimes the small wins are just as important as the big wins. 

Agree strongly! We were solid and professional and scored three really good goals. 

We weren't anything special but we were comfortable winners.

We didn't concede, scored three goals and built some confidence.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Bene was under the weather I would expect him to replace Breen and maybe see Sutherland earlier this midweek?

otherwise I thought the second half was good today.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...