Who is all making the trip to Elgin whether it be on the Bus or by whatever means, we need a big support to get behind the team and hopefully get a much needed result.

Here is my team selection.


GK - Grindlay
RB - Geggan
LB - Brittain
CB - Canning
CB - Craig
CM - Winter
CM - McKeveer or Gentile
RM - Boyle
LM - Borris
FW - Dobbie
FW - McNaught

Only choice we have IMO, unless we fit Dornan in at left back or change the system and find a place to play Dillon, maybe behind the strikers would suit or Borris could go there.

Whatever way Mr McCabe needs to get this one right as I personally do not think that Elgin are any mugs and we will need to play very well to get anything from the match.

If Dillon plays at left back or anywhere near left mid we are in trouble as he gets caught far too often.

Your thoughts please.

Come on the rock

Even although Dumbarton are crap just now, Elgin are far worse.

0-2 to Dumbarton.

My team would be : controversially ....... Shaw in goal, sorry, Big Shay needs dropped : Geggan, Canning (if still match fit), Craig and Brittain. Midfield four of Borris on the right, though his position too is shaky, a central two of Winter and Boyle and Dillon on the left. I'm going for Dillon cos' I'd like to see if Boyley can actually do the business as a central midfielder. General opinion is that being in the middle is his natural position though two manager's disagree on this. Time to test it in my view. Dillon gets the nod although if we had an alternative to the wide left position, he'd be offski. Up front we need to stick with Dobbie - he's a loan signing of SPL quality and while he is playing 'largely' for himself, he's got to get the nod. McNaught has a lot to learn, but in the absence of anything better, also gets a start.

On the bench Ii would have : McCann for defensive cover, JP McKeever as cover for Bagan, Gentile for Winters position and as utility I'd bring along McDevitt. Shay as back-up too, of course.

Good points Ben,

I forgot about Bagan but with his last few performances you can understand why, Thing Big Stevie is the best we have in goals but has made a few mistakes which have been costly.

I would also like to see boyle in centre midfield but as we dont really have much alternatives hence the reason I put him on the wing, though through the middle I would think he would be a star, I hope I wrote McKeever in midfield as opposed to mcdevitt I will edit to confirm.

What has happened to McDevitt played against Gretna last year and looked excellent and has dissappeared since??????

He played last night against Ross County for the 19's. Had a good game too.

Just looking through the squad, we do indeed have one that is threadbare.

With Walker, Rodgers and Russell's departure, options are limited.

Agreed extremely we already have some injuries and if mnore prominent first teamers get injured we will be relying on the youngsters but if we dont give them a chance to prove themselves we aint really developing them the way we should be.

Questions have to be asked of the board and GM as to why reinforcements were not purchased when these players left.

GK Grindlay
RB Geggan
CB Craig
CB Canning
LB Brittain
RM Borris
DMC Winter
AMC Bagan
LM Boyle
ST Dobbie
ST McNaught


Looking at it on paper it isn't a poor team

Although watching it in action isn't exactly poetry in motion

Hmmm, interesting thread this one, especially the points about the squad being threadbare and the Manager and Board being called to account for the failure to replace key departures; glad to see folk are finally coming round to my view.

Sad to say, I don't see shuffling that threadbare squad amounting to too much in the long term. There will be the occasional good day but on the evidence so far a play-off place looks like fantasy. As a Sons fan that gives me no pleasure to say but maybe it's more honest than some of the blind hope/faith/optimism and general feelgood pish which has appeared here of late.

We have a collection of very ordinary players (Winters/Gentile/Borris/Gemmell), fading players (Dillon/Brittain/Bagan/Craig), strolling players (Dobbie) and some decent players (Grindlay/Canning/Boyle) along with some youthful potential. Hardly anything to get excited about, never mind travel to Elgin.

GK Shaw
RB Geggan
CD Canning
CD Craig
LB Brittain
RM Borris
CM Winters
CM Boyle
LM Dillon
F McNaught
F Dobbie (due to lack of options)

S Bagan
S Gentile
S Dornan
S McCann
S Grindlay

Anyone remember when Boyle played central midfield and Dillon played wide left and the number of goals produced thereof?

No. But the clamour is there for Boyley and Dillon to be played in those positions, so what has the gaffer got to lose? Don't know about anyone else, but I'd love to see it working.

I'd just like to see a midfield

I don't really care who is in it as long as it is winning balls and competing

Too many times the ball is firing past the midfield straight to the strikers who have to hold it up with nobody supporting, or worse, Gemmell is wide right crossing it into a space where he should be attacking.

We need Borris and the other choice of wide Man to be told you hug the touchline and you go round the Man and get the ball in.

We need service to the players instead of trying to play too tight and make a mess of it.

I think the personell can differ, it's the system we play which will bear fruits imo. If we play win geuine wide men who cross the ball in at every chance, and the midfield supporting the forwards then we have every chance of getting a result.

PS - I'll be there.

C'MON THE SONS!!!

Just turn up and you have every chance of getting a result

Some of our more negative fans could say the same to you.

Have to agree with this team selection! Grindlay needs a kick up the arse and should be dropped for this game at least. Winters hasn't been playing well but I'd rather have him in the centre of midfield than Gentile (as he can actually header and make strong tackles). People need to remember than Chris Boyle has already proved his best position is in the centre of midfield. The season we finished 3rd in the second, Boyle was reguarly playing in the centre, scoring and creating goals. He is wasted on the wing due to a lack of pace mainly.
As for calling for the managers head, well I was no fan of Paul Martin however at least I gave him until a few months in before I was calling for his head. I know McCabe is making some bloody strange decisions at the moment, but we have to give him some time, not a few games into the season.
Fair enough if we are struggling around xmas time then he shoot get the sack, as this was the problem with Paul Martin. The Alloa board appear to be far smarter than our mob though, it has to be said!
Won't be going to Elgin but good luck to the Sons.

Why have you got Boyle on the right and Borris on the left of midfield? Must be a typing error - surely?

Exactly, the league isn't won in September, controrary (sp) to what some opposition fasn are suggesting.

Oh hell, not you as well! Make sure to bring your neck braces then - this sounds awfully like us at the moment

Anyone for tennis?

Have you any idea what the problems are? I remember your manager saying last week that it is fairly much the same players as finished strongly last season, and yet they are simply not doing the business this term.

Also, if I remember rightly, you started really badly last season.

It might not able to be won this early, but it can certainly be lost this early. Just ask Simon, he'll trot out endless stats about how much Arbroath improved under the new manager.

Yes, the problem simply is Adam Nelson is injured. When you look at the stats of how much games we have won with and without him, its astonishing.

We badly miss him as he is a player of great quality, far too good for this division. With him, we are a passing side who move the ball about really well and provide MJ with alot of good service. Without him we are a hopeless pump the ball up the middle side.

The other problem (and this may shock you) is we're missing Jamie McKenzie, its true what they say about not knowing what you've got till its gone. Jamie's leadership and attitude is badly missed on the park, i'd have him back in a second.

We did start awfully last season too (not as bad as this season point wise, but the quality of play was alot poorer) but we had the excuse that we had Robertson as our manager then.

You don't need Simon for that

3rd Division under Cairney;

Played - 7
Won - 1
Drew - 2
Lost - 4
Goals For - 5
Goals Against - 13

Win %age - 14.3%


Under McGlashan

Played - 33
Won - 18
Drew - 4
Lost - 11
Goals for - 59
Goals Against - 36

Win %age - 54.5%

Although statistics are like miniskirts etc.

what did i say about grindlay all last season no one listened now your are just noticing it

I see Dobbie scored today. Did he play well, or do you still all want him dropped because of his performance against Arbroath?

If he was any good, he would've scored 3 or 4 today, his finnishing is woeful.

We are shite. That is all about todays game.

We were truly, truly awful today - only matched by a pish "referee".


A question for Dumbarton fans; Are your manager and assistant always as hyped up as that? Crikey they're heading for heart-attack city if they keep that up!

I didn't notice them getting hyped up, but they couldn't have been as hyped up as Shakehands Tom and the boys at the front of the terracing. They sang their hearts out all day.

We made hard work of it, but we got three points, can't ask for any more than that. We should really have had it won by half time, or at the latest the early stages of the second half. However, a big improvement all the same on the last two games.

Tatty you have answered your own question! Every team has improved on last season and the Elgin fans keep saying 'we are the same as last season, whats going wrong?
- thats the problem!!

It may have worked for them then but even the Shire have improved hand over fist and anyone can beat anyone in the Div IMO at the moment except Elgin who are still pinning their hopes on last seasons squad.

what a fukcing good day out
well done to all the lads (me as well) for the singing all day my voice is well fucked
need more of this at games well done to the team played well and got a good result









gerry mccabes barmyarmy

Yes, I think you're right, Elgin have stood still, and look, quite frankly, disinterested, and everybody else has improved, notably yourselves, Albion Rovers, and Montrose.

Makes for a very interesting season, and well done on your result today. I think you are going to really upset lots of people this season, and not just us.

Nananananananananananananananana SONSTEAM!!!!

We havn't even stood still, we've gone backwards. We are a hell of alot poorer than last season, we had 1 shot on target today against the nearest team above us, thats not good enough.

So what's wrong.

Surely it can't just be because Adam Nelson is missing.

I'm not being awful, but it looked like your team were just going through the motions last Sunday.

Well done to the Sonstrust for organising this. A good day out punctuated by a victory for the Sons. The game wasn't up to much and Elgin were frankly very poor. The Sons weren't terrific either but were in control of the game throughout and managed to take two of their numerous chances.

Really Elgin created nothing and the away goal was never under threat. The positional enigma continues for Sons. Although Britzo got a start at left back, Winters was again in defence and when Canning came on the expected positional switch didn't take place.

Gerry will need to get off McNaught's case. Most of the shouting and bawling was in his direction and really I don't think it helped much.

All in all a good day and a result that brings much relief to Sons but we will have to raise our game for next week.

Is that a pun, given what's happening next Saturday?

A great day all round

'You supply my cornflakes'

'You only sing when you're crofting'

He took his goal well, but about a minute before it, he had a chance which seemed much easier than the one he scored with. The jury is still out IMO.

I've no idea, theres rumours about the players and thier thoughts on Irvine, but i dont deal in rumours.

dont go dismissing the fact adams missing doesnt matter, the starts are astonishing and here they are from someone on our messageboard:

League record over the last two seasons without and with Adam.

Without Adam...

Played - 19
Won - 1
Drawn - 3
Lost - 15

Points - 6

With Adam....

Played - 22
Won - 14
Drawn - 3
Lost - 5

Points - 45

They are frightening statistics. A club can't rely on one player that much.

Indeed, Elgin are absolutely piss poor. They can't keep relying on Adam Nelson, that just underlines what a diddy team they are.

Honestly, they have contributed f**k all to this league since they came in. Apart from a good day on the bevvy, what are Elgin good for?

Answers on a post card please.

I thought 'You only sing when you're lambing' and 'I got a brand new combine harvester' just edged it.

Who was this Hamilton Guy on the bench for sons and what position does he play?

youngster on trial from livvi-plays wide right although replaced nuggs up front yesterday
looks pacy and direct-set up second goal really well

absolutely gutted i missed the trip yesterday, had to give up my seats on the bus at the last minute sounds like it was a cracking day out

Great day out for the sons fans!

Still Feel F*cked!

Elgin don't look like a team capable of taking points off of anyone right now and dumbarton improved greatly on last weeks paul martin-era performance!

what was that referee all about though!! shambles!!

SQUEAKY SQUEAKY GEES A TUNE!!

Not wanting to rub it in

But...

You missed a great away day

There are lots of problems at Elgin, many of which are being talked about on here already, such as Adam Nelson missing, and that Elgin haven't moved forward when other teams have and despite having the same team (which isn't technically true - off the top of my head - Stuart Cumming moved to Montrose top join Paul Napier and Phil Reid who'd moved there earlier in the season - and they signed Craig Campbell from Forres Mechanics and other players that I can't remember right now) but I think the off-field antics are affecting the team. Brian Irvine must be treading thin ice at the moment, there's been rumours going about about one of the major investors going to pull out - although this has been categorically denied by the club - the supporters are, quite rightly, disillusioned, and the board is a mess. They all hate each other - pally pally on match day and when they see each other, but they all slag each other off behind their backs. It's pathetic. There's no money at Borough Briggs, yet they can't seem to be able to get strips and other merchandise for sale, which is a big part of a small club's income.

A couple of quotes from people on the Elgin City messageboard:





All of this will be affecting the team, and I'm sorry to say that I can't see a resolution any time soon, and the club is in for some very very dark times.

The BBC thinks that there were 462 at the game yesterday - NEVER. We had about 100 there, and Elgin had, at the very most, 200.

It does indeed seem a very strange and sad state of affairs up there right now. There was talk of you returning to the Highland League (as Shakey and his pals sang about yesterday!) - is that still a possibility? It might well be better from a crowd point of view.

I wonder if the Elgin fans privately wish their club had remained in the Highland League.

On a slightly related topic people keep floating the idea of this pyramid system involving the juniors and other minor grade clubs. A junior player who works with me says if say a Pollok fan was offered the choice of £4 entry to a derby with Arthurlie (or even a routine game with Shotts) or £9/10 entry to a home league game with East Fife then (in his opinion) 100% would choose the former.

League status is not necessarily all it's cracked up to be, as Elgin fans are no doubt considering, and 'those in the know' should appreciate that sometimes the instinct is to remain a big fish in a wee pool, pyramid sytem or not.

What a great day out that was. The bus up was fantastic, me n the lads were singing and having a great laugh.

Some of the songs me n the lads were singing at the game were a right laugh and just made the day even better!

The game was decent and we played well enough to dispose of what was a very poor Elgin side. Dobbie took his goal very well and I think we well deserved the win.

The referee was very poor (although I can't figure out why the Elgin fans are moaning, he gave you everything! )

All in all a great day, on the bus, at the game, and on the bus on the way back.

Bring on the Stenny.