I think Simon Lynch played for Dundee previously.

How did you rate him?

We have him on trial at the moment. Looked like he had a few nice touches but not fully fit.

Will he be playing in tonights game?

He is a trialist at the moment so probably.

I would think so Fudge this is the last chance for trialists to impress

Good player. Wouldn't mind him at Clyde to be honest.

Looked a willing runner and intelligent player down in Blyth and also bagged a double. However, I'm led to believe he looked nothing short of woeful in his next two appearances. I'm pretty sure I read he missed an open goal in the game against Stirling from about eight yards. Not only did the ball clear the crossbar, it flew over the stadium's perimeter wall, too.

I heard he turned down a move to Thistle last week, not sure if its true.

We were told he wasn't offered a contract. I'm not sure if Airdrie would be offering more money, a longer deal or guaranteed first-team football, but I can't really see him rejecting an offer from us to go on trial at NB.

He was a cracking player when he was at Dens, intelligent runs, good energy levels and scored a good few goals for us.

i've never seen him play, so in conclusion...he's shit.

Proven goalscorer in a really shitty Dundee team.

Wouldn't mind him back at Dens TBH.

As I said when Thistle had him on trial:

He's slow, doesn't put in much of a shift, can't pass and he has a first touch like a brick wall................. But give him a chance in the box and he'll take it.
He was excellent for us in our first season in this league and I'm sure he could do a good job for most clubs in this league.
I'm actually surprised Dunfermline haven't snapped him up. He's a proven goal scorer at this level.

Lynch was told by McCall he was surplus to requirements.

Didn't McCall not offer him a contract due to the fact that he was far too similar to Roberts? I'm sure I read that in the ET.

I wouldn't mind him at Clyde, though. Sounds the sort of striker we need.

Was decent for us but not saw him for a few seasons,thought he was going to thistle but may do a job in this league.

Good finisher but not great in the build-up. Would take him at Dens though.

Decent player can score goals wouldn't take him back at the moment cause we have a better striker in negotiations. Don't ask, I'm not telling.

He's fucken pish,he couldn't even get a start at Queensland Roar

Would probably walk into the Clyde first team then.

I always liked him at Dundee and thought he was a really good player, i always thought he made the wrong decision in going accross there. I would still like to have seen him get a trial with us as one more forward wouldn't go a miss.

That sounds an awful lot worse than it is to anyone who has never been to Stirling. Given the closeness and lack of height in the perimeter wall half the shots that clear the bar also clear the wall!

Signed, he was in the stand at stenny last night

Confirmed

ooh and more news to come

Hazelly next please

bloody hell...we're splashing the cash now.....

Airdrie will need all the help they can get, they were dismal last night as we routed them 5-0. Their team was a mixture of first team players and trialists, but even then they were brutal, they looked sluggish and shit.

Even Graham "Shergar" Gibson managed a double and he also hit the bar with a Van Basten-esque volley.

4 first team players and the rest were under 19's apparently......

That would explain a lot, the only names I recognised were Kevin Watt, Stuart Noble and David Gillies.

Some of Airdrie's passing was particularly woeful, their lack of ball retention was shocking. The keeper was the worst player there, some of the headers we scored were pretty saveable.

Watt is just breaking into the first team and David Gillies has only played a handful of games for the first team (most of them from the subs bench).

Hollis is indeed terrible but not to worry he is apparently excellent in training

Only 2 recognised first team players Noble and Cardle in the team. Watt/Gillies (1st team squad players) also started. Defense in first half were all under 19's. The rest were a mixture of u 19's and a couple of no very good trialists - and yes we were absolutely crap I have to agree with Cesc on that .

However with Lynch now signed and hopefully Hazely on the way I'm a bit more confident for the new season than I was 2 weeks ago. Ball winning midfielder now needed but probably too late as any decent ones will have been snapped up.

That said, I'm pretty sure all the Diamonds fans there last night would agree that we were excellent

It looks like that ship has sailed - McKenna as first choice with MacLaughlin as back up

Liam Atkin is 21.

Excellent signing for Airdrie. In 2005/6 we were a mess and we relied heavily on his goals. Without them we'd have been in a relegation fight. It was a blow when he decided to move to Australia because we didn't really replace his goal threat till we got Curier and McMenamin in January. If we'd had him in the first half of last season he'd have been 1st choice as a striker. He was a good finisher, and I thought his build up play was good too (though some others disagreed).

I couldn't believe he didn't get a contract with Thistle. I can only imagine he wasn't really fit. If he's fit and on form then he should be one of the better strikers in the division.

Likewise, I'm surprised Fat Jobby Potter didnt offer him a contract. This could turn out to be an excellent piece of business by Airdrie. Like others have said, he really stood out in admittedly a very poor Dundee side, yet he still managed to score a fair few goals. Yes, he sometime had questionable workrate, but give him a chance in the box, and he'll put them away. Who is he likely to play along side up front? Has he got good pace?

Anyway, I'm not saying he'll be some kind of saviour, but he could make the difference this season.

Is he - thanks for sharing that with us . They all looked like young laddies (most people under 40 look that way to me anyway ) and because at least 2 of the back 4 were recognisable as Airdrie u 19's I assumed the rest were as well.

Doesn't detract from the fact that he in particular and the team in general were still CRAP.

Possibley because we have other options availible that would suit our style of play better

I thought you only had two strikers? one being buchanen and the other being roberts.

Donnelly too, Buchanan will probably mis the start of the season too, but no, we have better options to choose from on the transfer front, C'mon, Steve Lovell was training with us, you do the maths..

And apparently are getting a loanee from Everton again..

I'm delighted with this singing. Lynch looked a decent player when he was with Dundee, and along with Di Giacomo, offers a hell of a lot of experience for his age.

There are still concerns with the squad (left back and central midfield in particular) but Lynch, Di Giacomo, Noble, Gilles and Watt look like the strongest group of forwards we've had in donkeys. Competition for places at Airdrie, whatever next.

I meant to text you this morning to let you know my releif that it was mostly our Under 19s and a couple of not very good trialists

but didn't want to detract from your excellent victory

But realistically are you actually going to get lovell? For the record i dont rate him from what ive seen, but still cannot see him ever going to thistle.

I must admit, I woud have been surprised if he knocked back a contract at Thistle to sign for Airdrie as I am sure he would get more money with Thistle. I think he is more likely to get first team football with us.

Overall the comments seem favourable and hopefully he will do a good job. He looked ok against Killie on Saturday however not fully fit. He does take the position of an out and out striker, tracking back was not his thing. We are looking good up front however left back is a real weekness at the moment.

Missed this post earlier.

KB tend to err on the side of caution and play one up front in big games, but with 5 strikers in the pool this time, I imagine he'll go with 2 up this season.

I've not watched Di Giacomo yet, but from what I remember of him at Killie, he's skillful but not the quickest. Noble is very pacey and strong on the ball. He probably laid on around 10 of Allan Russell's goals last term.

The other two (Watt and Gilles) are likely to be used as cover or from the bench, rather then starters.

I cant see Lovell signing for Thistle. He has an offer on the table from Killie.

Killie probably arent any richer than us..

Are Noble and Di Giacomo not wide players though?

Yep that seems about right, i'd imagine our first choice partnership is likely to either be Lynch & Di Giacomo or Lynch & Noble. KB seems to have a thing for Noble playing out wide left as well so there's every chance he will be deployed there if for any reason Cardle or McDougall can't fill those roles.

I think our squad is really starting to take shape now and im feeling a bit more positive about the season ahead, hopefully now Haz will sign on and that solves the left back issue and Lovering can just be used as cover. Not too worried about the central midfield area as we have McLaughlin, McKenna & even Smyth who can all cover the defensive mid area if its needed.

Still think 2 more players are needed after the left back to give us a bit of depth but really looking forward to Saturday now.

Oh and I defo wouldn't read anything into last night's game. Hollis & Gillies will be lucky to get anywhere near the team this season so we only reallu had 2 first team regulars in Carlde & Noble plus wee Watt who's only ever used as a sub. I doubt the game spells our imminent doom or anything.

EDIT - BigAl: Nah both Noble & Di Gac are out and out strikers but as far as I know they can be deployed out wide. Noble in particular frequently got played left mid at the end of last season.

Possibly. Depends on whether he wants to mince around in Div 1 for the next few seasons I'd imagine.

Killie or Thistle either way he is fucked

Well Killie seem to have developed the knack of being shite, but still managing to stay up. Just

Much like St Mirren.

I heard Thistle didn't sign Lynch because they couldn't afford him. Don't know if it is true but... you'll not be signing Lovell he's be signing for a better club than Thistle. He has more than just the offer from Kilmarnock, don't expect to see Lovell playing for Thistle, it won't happen.