Into The Valley

As far as the game went, I can't disagree with the majority of what has been said. I thought we struggled a wee bit in the first half, with Peterhead the better team playing the better stuff. Quite rightly changing Taggart back to where he should be, Cawley a bit further up and Howie to left back certainly helped us. Although, in all honesty, given those three and where they started, I don't think there would have been many, if any, who would have had them where they were at the start of the game. Henderson used his pace well in the second half to cause their defenders a few anxious moments. Great save too to tip his shot on to the bar. Good finish for the goal as well. Although they could/should have scored right after that. I'm always impressed by Scougall. Great ability, quick, tenacious and a definite wee bit of quality. I know he's had his injury woes but, unless he's being nursed through games, I think he deserves to finish more of them than he does. All of them put in a shift yesterday and, on the second half versus the first, I think we deserved the win. Thing is, and definitely no patronising intended, when I looked over at the away support yesterday, I doffed my metaphorical cap to those that had made the journey. We all know that it isn't always easy to make what is a 300 mile round trip to see your team - especially when things aren't going too well. But as you're regularly in the Falkirk thread with your horrific 'patter', why don't you take your nonsense over there? You'll fit right in spouting that pish. Not much more to say, except...[emoji2960]

There can't be one supporter left who thinks that Ferguson can do anything other than make an even bigger mess than, eh, the current big mess he, and more than likely, he alone, has created. I apologise, there's one - Mike Mulraney. And, unfortunately, he's the only one, apart from the manager himself, who can ensure a parting of the ways. Will Ferguson walk? Not according to the shambolic results we've had, nor the Clyde fans who have experienced exactly what we, as a club, are subject to now. As has been said numerous times on here, Mulraney needs to act. And he needs to act now. Irrespective of who we play, I'm never remotely confident that we'll turn someone over. This is a team who are far and away lesser than the sum of their parts and it is utterly soul-destroying. I'm never happy to single out individual players who, by and large, go out and try their best. Whether that "best" is good enough is all part of competitive sport. However, the vast majority of the blame lies at the manager's door. I'm sure that there are many out there who would do much more with who we have playing for us than he. If he had any self-respect, and indeed any for the club, players, fans AND the man who gave him the job, then he has to go. If that isn't going to happen, then Mulraney has to give him his jotters. Part of being an Alloa fan over the past few years was seeing who our new manager would be when that time came. Who could have foreseen Paul Hartley or Jack Ross? Jim Goodwin less so for obvious reasons. The disappointments have been the ones who had already been on the managerial merry-go-round. Ferguson's record/behaviour at Clyde appears to be the 'real' him. His stint at Kelty could, as we all know, including Mulraney, be almost solely put down to the resources at his disposal. Why the chairman didn't or couldn't realise that is beyond me. I don't want to go down the sycophancy route but, apart from that being a factor, I genuinely can't see any other reason(s) why he decided to go for him. So, come on Mike, give us a bit of hope. And someone decent who won't continue to obliterate everything that has been built up over many years. I, amongst many others, made this shout both pre and post Peter Grant...Andy Graham anyone?

For all of Falkirk fans' deriding of your signings, or more accurately the lack of, I wish we were shopping in the same market you no doubt will be. Whether or not you manage to get your first/second choice targets, Goodwillie aside, I'm quite sure that you will bring in far better quality than we, and others in this league, could hope for at this stage. Realistically, your stadium, amount of fans to play in front of (ha-ha, please spare me the "navy blue pound" pish), being full-time, the chance to get decent game time and not the worst payers in the division, is not the most unattractive proposition for some - whether that be as a loanee or permanent signing. I'm also sure that you will be nowhere near the wrong end of the table come May. I obviously hope I'm wrong, but that's something, unfortunately, I can't confidently say about us.

Once more, I find myself agreeing with the majority of what@Waspie and@Oweny have written regarding Barry Ferguson - a lot of which has been echoed by others. However, one of the most telling things for me is that there are absolutely no posters who think that, not only is he not up to the task, but there is no corner to be turned any time soon. There's no hope, no light at the end of the tunnel, no allowances that are being made for any possible extenuating circumstances that are contributing to our rapid downfall. That's because there are none. There's no blame to be attached anywhere other than at the door of our 'manager'. As has been said too, Mike Mulraney has to shoulder his part in all of this. From mainly managing to choose potential, which was realised, he has got this one spectacularly wrong. I don't know what he saw that no one else in a higher league didn't. We all know that winning the Lowland League with Kelty wasn't exactly an earth-shattering achievement. Is Mulraney big and brave enough to sack an ex Scotland captain from, relatively, lowly Alloa? Our manager seems to have no redeeming features. He's universally disliked by supporters of Clyde, wasn't mourned at leaving by supporters of Kelty and appears to treat people who can only dream of being where he has been professionally with utter disdain and contempt. If these attitudes and approach were getting decent results, then he would be cut some slack. They're not, and he isn't. Deservedly so. We have certainly been spoiled in recent times by reaching and staying in, for us, the heady heights of the Championship. I wouldn't dare to suggest that's where we belong. We don't. What I will suggest is that neither do we belong where we appear to be headed. But we may ultimately deserve to end up relegated. I think Barry Ferguson will desperately want to manage a team against Celtic. I also think that the chairman will let him. All of this being to the detriment of our league position and the prospect of doing anything other than fighting to stay in this division. For any chance at making the promotion play-offs, the manager needs gone. And for me, the sooner the better. I know this is a bit of a read, and for that I apologise. But believe me I'm not even getting angry writing this. Where we are, how we are and with no prospect of getting better quickly, all I feel regarding Alloa just now are low expectations and an ever increasing acceptance of the position we're in. I'm genuinely nonplussed by the whole debacle. The answer that the chairman has to find is pretty evident. He has to realise that and act upon it soon. Before it is too late.

Ha-ha, that must be the most investigative work you've done in what, the last twenty years?

Away and don't talk shite. Totally unbelievable stuff. Any credibility you ever had has now gone. There's absolutely no way you're only in your mid 50's!!! As for the possibility of Grant, Dick and/or Hetherington joining you, I'd say they're all upgrades on what you've recently had. Speaking only about the players, both have been stalwarts of a side who have consistently been better than the sum of their parts over the past few years. Dick has been one of the best left-back's in the Championship for a while now. He's still only 25 and has made around 100 appearances for us. Very rarely has he let us down. I know he's a youth product of yours, but I think those who might not want him back are deluding themselves if they think he's not good enough now if he wasn't the first time. Not suggesting that has been said, only to counter such. Hetherington is also better than anyone you currently have in the middle of the park. He works very hard (which, admittedly should be a given for ALL players but sadly isn't), gets stuck in, has far better ability than some may think and scores the odd screamer. Is also liable to an odd booking. Or ten! I notice that some of the Falkirk fans would be pretty underwhelmed at either/both signing. That being the case, I think they'd be wrong. Personally, I would be sad to see both leave us, and I'd be pretty certain that, if you do end up signing them, they would be two of your successes for next season. And for that reason, I hope they don't.

I can only echo what has been said elaewhere regarding Ray Grant. From what I've seen he's not terrible, but certainly ineffective. More often than not, the game seems to pass him by. I know Clyde fans rate(d) him but, on his showings for us, I just don't see it. I also agree with a comment from@whereismillar on the Arbroath v Alloa thread that Ray's father has his "rose tinted spectacles" on where his son is concerned. Perhaps it's time for him to change his eye wear. I suggest he might want to look at the Ray-Ban range! I also agree with what@Waspie has been banging on about for ages, and I've said the same. We have little or no pace to threaten any team. For all of the strengths of the guys that play week in week out, being quick isn't one of them. With a midfield of Grant, Hetherington, Cawley, Trouten and Murray, we rely on Taggart and/or Dick to motor up and down more than is fair. I also don't know what the exact script is with Scougall, but he must be so frustrated when he's fit, but benched, and looking on at what's happening on the park. Does anyone known why we haven't utilised the loan system to any great extent? Other teams have brought in their fair share of loanees. We haven't. I appreciate that we don't play on a level playing field with the FT teams as far as finances go but, although they're only one place and four points ahead, Arbroath seem to have done not too bad in the loan department. One thing this team does have though is fight. It's very rarely anyone can say that the team chucked it. They just don't. I only hope that they can find what's needed and extend our stay in this division. Ha-ha, yeah, I know TL;DR.

Ironically, weren't you, very recently, chastising 'Redwedge77', in the club thread, telling him/her to grow up, act their age and not be nasty? The thing is, I don't think the intention was to insult you by saying you were the "unofficial illiterate club spokesman". I think it was more describing you. Accurately too, in my opinion. Which part(s) of what was said would you care to actually disagree with?

!ton ylsuoivbO

So, someone told you something that you believed, taking it as 'the truth', before referencing a 'suspect', who actually isn't, before discovering that it had no foundation in fact at all? How ironic! And is "my bad if not" as far reaching as your own apology will go?

I know that any answers to my questions would be posted on here, but are there any fresh rumours of who may be coming in to manage and/or play for us? Not particularly impressed with the names bandied about so far. Also, is the pitch going to be returning to its original dimensions? Ha-ha, ideally I'm looking for answers in the positive for both.

No? Admittedly, like a lot of managers, the last season with whatever team they're with wasn't great. Not being great is exactly why it's their last season. Perhaps you can tell me who was our manager for our highest ever finish in the Scottish league system?

I don't think that we should be looking to jump on the 'usual suspect' bandwagon. Shouts for Archibald, Naysmith, McCulloch etc. are ones that, I hope, don't materialise. If you look at our last few appointments, they've generally been pretty successful - when choosing someone who is new and has something about them that hasn't been moulded by, possibly, accepted methods elsewhere. Newbies Hartley, Ross and Goodwin were/are all relative successes. The 'experienced' Lennon and Smith, not so much. Personally, I would like it to be Andy Graham too. The man is a born leader, obviously well respected by the players and, probably, any manager that has had the pleasure of picking him in their team. He knows everyone who's already here, which wouldn't affect too many aims for this season or cause too much disruption. The guy has also plied his trade around exactly the bazaars that we would be shopping in, and I'm sure he has a fair idea of who he thinks could do us a turn. The vast majority of us fans, I think, would be quite happy if he was given the gig. Player/manager? Absolutely for me. We've done it before, McCann, Garner, Sullivan and Goodwin spring to mind. And who wouldn't have loved to have seen Hartley do the same? The constant that is Paddy Connolly is also there. And if he doesn't know the club's philosophy regarding management, then no one will. If Andy Graham doesn't want to do it, then I hope that we don't go for a lazy appointment. I would like to see someone who will do everything in their power to improve on what is already here. Most people know exactly where the aforementioned Hartley, Ross and Goodwin started their management careers. There's a reason for that - success. Apart from Alloa fans, football hardies and their own families, who could name Lennon and/or Smith having us as a stop on their own journeys? Not for me someone for whom this is just another line on their CV. Again, these could be all moot points if Goodwin stays. Interesting few days/weeks ahead.

Reminds me a little of yourself. Except both your music AND your patter are "utter crap"!

Having read all of the recent posts, particularly in relation to Marr and Holmes, I can only echo what has been written. Both of them have been excellent for us over the piece. That they've been with us for five and six years respectively says much for them as players and people. And I don't think that they have trotted out the usual rhetoric in expressing how they viewed the club, staff, fans etc., plus that they wanted to stay. Obviously extremely disappointed at how it all ended but, and we'll never know if it would have made any difference, I can't help but point the finger at Goodwin for leaving Spence out of the starting line-up for the first game at Brechin. This was our top scorer and, for me, inexplicable that he did so. After recording the game and watching his interview on Alba prior to Saturday's game, he was asked about that. I can't remember exactly what he said but he came away with some utter bollocks about the pitch/getting behind their defence etc. Why couldn't he play to our strengths - which was surely to accommodate the guy who'd already scored over twenty goals? I get the impression, rightly or not, that Goodwin thinks he's a little more cerebral than others in how he views the game, players and tactics. Well Jim, how did that ultimately pan out? I thought that he was trying to be clever for clever's sake. I've played in teams when similar things have happened. What it does is, instead of instinctively doing the things that have paid off for you a lot of the time, you take that extra nano-second to process and evaluate your next move. Which can make all the difference. Additionally, I would be certain that there would be a few raised eyebrows amongst the rest of the team about that decision. Yes, the manager's choice is final and he'll succeed or fail as a result of making those choices. But because he's the manager, doesn't mean to say that he's right. Only that that's what he believes to be. Sure, he speaks well and is spoken of in good terms by others. Unfortunately, that goes for many people. Including some I myself have absolutely no time for. It's all about opinions. I just hope that he gets it right in the weeks and season ahead.