Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/05/17 in all areas

  1. Whilst the rest of the Dumbarton squad were taking the applause of the home fans at the final whistle today it was really noticeable that Lewis Vaughan made a beeline to someone on the touchline with a phone. From his facial expressions it was clear he was asking how the Raith v Ayr and Hibs v St.Mirren games has ended. He looked gutted. He's been an excellent player for us and he'll be fondly remembered wherever he goes. Got to give credit to him for the professionalism he has shown.
    9 points
  2. Proud, very proud. It's moments like this that make being a diddy quizzer worthwhile.
    7 points
  3. I fucking love Lewis. A total professional and a great wee player. If we go down I can't see us keeping him, which is a shame because him and Jonny Court have the makings of a great front two. Not only that, but a front two produced by our own academy. If we can get those two, Matthews and Callachan in the team then it's something I could really get behind. There's nothing better footballing than supporting "your own".
    5 points
  4. Congratulations Clyde on avoiding the dreaded play off place & thank you for all the best wishes to ourselves in that spot. Hopefully we can pull it off in any event all the best to you next season.
    4 points
  5. Couldn't give a f**k. We'll beat any one.
    4 points
  6. I quite liked it. The main problem for me is that Steve McQueen's escape ultimately failed.
    4 points
  7. It continues to astound me how many naysayers continually bring down TWD. The last season, overall, was tremendous. I'm looking forward to the return of garbage woman next month and I am more than sure that the series will continue to maintain it's high quality throughout. As for the #haterz, surely if you're not enjoying it, just stop watching maybe?
    4 points
  8. The Hollies : The Air That I Breathe
    4 points
  9. 4 points
  10. Well then. First of all, please forgive me for this self-indulgent post. I haven't fully come to terms with this afternoon's relegation, the first I've ever experienced, so I'm not sure what to make of it at all just yet. If nothing else, this may prove to be a cathartic experience for me, and probably me only. I have also updated the thread title accordingly and hope a moderator can move it when the appropriate time comes. After an up-and-down eight years in the third tier, we depart with our tails between our legs to the grimmer climes of League 2. This hasn't been a fantastic season - we were widely expected to be relegated at the start of the year and, despite the odd hopeful moment, none more so than the wins over Peterhead and Queen's Park in last fortnight, so it proved. You can handle getting bodied, that comes with supporting a small, unfashionable team, but it's the hope that kills you. While some Stenhousemuir supporters might be fairly indifferent to the club's plight and open to the challenges in League 2, I reckon it'll be a long time before we're back in this division. If we're ever to win a league title and experience any success then it's likely to be in the basement tier rather than here but I just don't think that will happen, not immediately anyway. I had intended to write a brief overview of our time in the division, from relegation favourites to sudden promotion hopefuls and back again (and there were a lot of enjoyable moments), but it's probably more important to examine how and why we're in this position than anything else. The decline set in the moment Scott Booth joined as manager. I imagine most Warriors would agree with me on this. Booth was seen as a forward-thinking appointment at the time and he did perform reasonably well to begin with after replacing Martyn Corrigan in February 2014, but his transfer dealings later that summer turned a decent squad requiring minor surgery into a bloodless, incoherent group of players. Booth inexplicably dismantled Corrigan's team, stripping out its experienced core and replacing it with callow youngsters and development loans. (It is perhaps worth remembering Booth favoured Robbie Duncan at right-back over Nicky Devlin, who he released. Whatever happened to Devlin? Indulge me, please.) The new manager overspent his budget (according to Colin McMenamin, the club paid around £3000 on a scoreboard, which was used once) on an inferior group of players that lacked character and staggered through a dismal campaign; I have no doubt Booth is the worst manager in Stenhousemuir's modern history and he achieved the remarkable feat of alienating his players, the supporters and, eventually, the board. When he was finally sacked in January 2015, the club also announced they were experiencing serious financial problems and would have to be propped up until the end of the season. This is, of curse, where the board must take their share of the blame for the current predicament - not only was Booth's appointment a failure but the then chairman Bill Darroch had completely taken his eye off the books, focusing more one his role with the SFA than his position at Stenhousemuir, and had failed to notice the trouble we were in. I have no idea how on earth this happened. Four or five years ago we were hailed as the model for part-time clubs with our synthetic surface and our focus on the community and youth teams. Now? A cautionary tale, perhaps. The spectre seems to linger over Ochilview to this day and lack of cash or resources or investment is an anxiety constantly gnawing away somewhere in the background. Brown Ferguson did well to keep Booth's side in League 1 in 2014/15 via the play-offs and, with his own group of players, he went one better the following season by finishing in eighth. If Ferguson had repeated the feat for a third time this year it might just have been the greatest achievement of any Stenhousemuir manager since Terry Christie's blockbuster team of the mid-90s, but it wasn't to be. The chronic lack of investment in the squad in the summer hamstrung us from the outset and although we were able to evetually bring in good, solid players as the season wore on - and enormous credit must go to the Supporters Trust for their cash injection - it wasn't enough when it came to the showdown, and the league table does not lie. If we had Willis Furtado, David Marsh, Oli Shaw, Connor Duthie, Mason Robertson and Graham Bowman in the team from the outset, I do not believe we would not have been relegated. While their effort and commitment has never been in question, the management and the players are also culpable for the predicament. Ferguson has a real blindspot for goalkeepers - Colin McCabe might go on to have a decent career but he let the team down with crucial errors time and again and should probably have been replaced a lot sooner than he was, just like Jamie Barclay last season. David Crawford was a minor upgrade but only till Bowman's arrival did we look competent in goal, and that was with about six or seven games of the season remaining! Ferguson's substitutions can also frustrate, with ineffective players allowed to continue on the field for too long and obvious changes ignored until too late. There is also a perception from some fans (not me, I must add) that the manager has his "favourites" and will field players regardless of form. Colin McMenamin is regularly cited, despite the fact he is still our best striker. The team themselves have only been hammered on several occasions, which was always going to be expected, and on the whole have competed well with their peers but they've been let down time and time again by silly individual errors. There are too many incidents over the course of the season to remember here but it is exasperating to have conceded so many goals from so many wacky mistakes. We lost 64 goals this term and I'd imagine over a third of them all came down to outrageous boobs. I am not looking forward to playing in League 2. While there will be some novelty in travelling to long-forgotten outposts, namely Montrose and Annan (should they remain in the league, of course) and visiting places like Ainslie Park to see Edinburgh City, I worry about who'll be turning out for Stenhousemuir next season. Ross Meechan is signed up but that's about it, unless someone can correct me. Our better players will go elsewhere and no doubt flourish - Alan Cook, Fraser Kerr, Willis Furtado and Mason Robertson could have their pick of the part-time teams - while Vinnie Berry is leaving for a job in America and Oli Shaw and Connor Duthie will return to their parent clubs. David Marsh might stay, so too might Graham Bowman and Ciaran Summers, and I'd like to think Kieran Millar hangs around because he would be a fantastic player at that level, but I don't know. Colin McMenamin might have an eye on his retirement, Mark Gilhaney doesn't look fit, Stephen Stirling seems to never be fit and the rest might not be good enough, even for League 2. The only saving grace of going straight down and not spending up to a fortnight contesting the play-offs is that Ferguson can plan immediately and shape his squad for next season. I don't know. I suppose it's days like this that make the successes all the better but Stenhousemuir never seem to have any success. Two promotions and a Challenge Cup isn't a lot to show for over 130 years of history. I look at other part-time teams with envy - Cowdenbeath are in a horrible mess just now but they've experienced more highs in the last decade than we ever have, we were once scrapping with Dumbarton in the old Third Division, and we more or less relegated Alloa Athletic in 2010/11. Where are our trophies, where are our days in the sun? A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with the guy I share the stadium announcer's duties with. He spoke about how his father, another Stenny fan, is in his 80s and his 70-odd years following the club have been largely dismal. You're 30, he told me, so realistically you've got about another 55 years of this. Jesus Christ.
    3 points
  11. I am disappointed to hear that both Higgy and Andy Dowie have been freed. Firstly, I would endorse some earlier comments that both have been terrific players for us. Higgy was great for us in our "double" winning team and then he and Dowser were the cornerstone of our defence along with Mark Durnan when we qualified for two consecutive Play Offs.Both guys deserve tremendous credit for always displaying a tremendous attitude and for their professionalism over many years. I admit that neither have been at their best this season but you could say that about the majority of the squad.In the last two games for example Higgy has been rock solid and having watched him today there is no way that he is "finished" at this level. He looked the best central defender on show today and our loss will be some other team's gain. Dowser has tailed off a bit by his own high standards but to let both go you have to be sure that better replacements can be found.There is very little that GN has done to date that inspires any great confidence so I will be very interested to see who ultimately comes in to replace them. If we have offered Tapping a full years extension with no "injury protection" in our favour then that decision beggars belief. If we have offered a deal slanted in our favour - fair enough. On the basis that Tapping is worth another chance surely Hilson falls into same category? I would like to see Danny get back to his best with us but his continual deployment wide left is mystifying to say the least. Yet again today he and Thomas kept repeatedly cutting inside on to their good foot and running into traffic. My conclusion is that we are letting some quality players disappear - sincerely hope that Manager has good players lined up because I wouldn't fancy our chances of starting to find replacements with a blank piece of paper. Be careful what we wish for.
    3 points
  12. I think it is worthwhile to thank all the fans of other teams who have congratulated the A.F.C fans and the team for winning the league. A Stirling Albion official passed on his regards as I walked over the pitch to join the fans applauding the team. That is what football should be about.
    3 points
  13. Well, relief is all I can describe today; time to get this sorted and ensure we are never in this position again or at least anytime soon. Credit to Peaso and JP for doing what they were asked to do, I'm sure they will not be managing next season but happy to see them back as player coach under a proven experienced manager with a contract bases on success that does not make him in a position where he limps on while we visibly die in front of our eyes. Over to the board now and of course the new Chairman to make this season a distant memory and perhaps a lesson in what can happen if apathy sets in. My message to the Board: NEVER AGAIN TREAT OUR CLUB AS AN EGO TRIP!
    3 points
  14. Happy to see both Berwick and you guys pull through in the end, horribly nervy end to a shite season for both clubs. The sooner MacDonald and McGovern are back to being just players, the better for Clyde.
    3 points
  15. Jings...talk about doing things the hard way!! An excellent early goal and a worldy second before a freak own goal. We ended up playing against 9 men but too often nerves took over when a simple pass was required. An excellent away support who passionately backed their team. As I said in a previous post they are a very good side and as Highland league champions I wish them well.
    3 points
  16. Rolling Stones : Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (Standing In The Shadow)
    3 points
  17. I did enjoy Willie Miller making a snide remark about Celtic getting 700 tickets less than Aberdeen for the cup final, saying that they can appeal it and it'll probably be overturned.
    3 points
  18. I've no issue with this being a national team run out. The season is over for both teams, toony needs to be thinking Scotland.... still hoping for a Glasgow win. Thanks for everything Gregor; can't wait to see you at Scotland; and I can't fukin wait to see David Rennie at Scotstoun. David fukin Rennie.... what a coup for the SRU and Glasgow
    3 points
  19. Billie Holiday - Summertime
    3 points
  20. REM - Its the End of the World
    3 points
  21. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs ft Debbie Harry - Strawberry Fields Forever
    3 points
  22. It was on Facebook. Facebook doesn't allow things to be posted unless they're true. Bill Gates is quite strict about it.
    3 points
  23. The La De Dahs - How Is The Air Up There (NZ band, this made No. 2 in NZ charts in Nov 1966)
    3 points
  24. For me, the phrase that raised questions over the article's accuracy was "The Sun".
    3 points
  25. In fairness to Aberdeen they'd need to get relegated to match that feat....
    3 points
  26. all the best boys, good fans
    2 points
  27. Thanks darling. Proud of your club for finally proving me wrong and serving a purpose. I genuinely mean it when i say i wish you the best of luck in the play-offs. I now know what its like to support a long suffering club and in all honesty id like to see your mob go up most.
    2 points
  28. Well done guys enjoy your night. Worthy Champions 11 points behind a few months ago and won it by 2 points a great swing.
    2 points
  29. This is a complex one - you see it regularly, but never pinged. Hoyland has actually flopped on a completed tackle in order to stop him scoring.
    2 points
  30. Glasgow really making a fukin meal of this
    2 points
  31. We got away with it, OK good Complete restructure of the club when you're ready. If you think a tweak here and there round the edges will be enough, prepare yourselves for years of this Hope all the lads that went up today enjoy themselves tonight, Christ knows they've earned it
    2 points
  32. I was at the game as Bryan is a mate of mines,he is a top guy and a genuine nice bloke.
    2 points
  33. Excellent season again for Dumbarton. Well done my big team Delighted. Enjoy the end of season bash tonight. Always a good laugh.
    2 points
  34. No Scott, we can't get on with the game, because it's a penalty, you fucking w**k.
    2 points
  35. Blondie - Union City Blue
    2 points
  36. Fairport Convention : Night In The City
    2 points
  37. The Band : The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
    2 points
  38. Patti Smith - Because The Night (turn up the volume)
    2 points
  39. Goes by points m9. In all seriousness it's goal difference and if that is tied it's goals scored then if that is tied the third option is head to head.
    2 points
  40. Here, any of you boys that backed Dobbie to be top scorer might be in luck today. Cummings has been ill all week and only trained on Thursday, late decision on whether he'll play or not to be made today.
    2 points
  41. Well you sent the PM to me instead of DHD, and you also included ALL the answers to a quiz posed months ago, which very much confused me. Regardless of whether we change the rules, the highest / lowest / second highest / second lowest rule was in place at the time! I've posted it dozens of time - shame on you for not reading and studying them! So AFJ with his "exact date of Everest" is relegated and Tynieness is in the play-off I really need to get myself a gavel of some description.
    2 points
  42. 2 points
  43. Curved Air - Backstreet Luv
    2 points
  44. I'm calling fake here. I've seen an elephant and no way are they that big. The turtle too now I think about it.
    2 points
  45. Parked my car outside greggs on corstorphine rd last week and when I came out some p***k had parked behind me, ignoring the parking bays, and preventing me from getting out the way I went in. In trying to avoid his car I scraped along the car parked next to me, damaging that car and mine. I left a note in his windscreen and worried about cost, insurance etc for a few days then he got back to me. His name is Andy, bless him.
    2 points
  46. They also showed one graph on Scotland on news at 10.. no, it wasn't the graph that showed an overall trouncing of all parties by the SNP; it was the gain loss graph. Thus torys were first with a higher seat gain. No mentions of totals. Utter bias by the BBC yet again. If you knew nothing about today and just watched 5 mins of that news you would have come away thinking that the torys had won election in Scotland. Disgusting bbc
    2 points
  47. He'l build a monorail, then a few weeks later he'l give it to Dumbarton for a wee shot.
    2 points
  48. The way the Local Govt elections are turning out it's unlikely that we will have a change in the running of the council which is not too great for FFC. Just who on earth has been voting for the Tories anyway? (actually it's obviously the mouth breathing no surrender unionists who have moved from Labour in their droves)
    2 points
×
×
  • Create New...