Jan Vojáček

Wasn't giving any hints I'm afraid, but I'd imagine so with Byrne away aye. Wouldn't make sense to be any other position I don't think.

Faz said post-match that we'll add one more player this coming week and that'll be us done for the window.

There wasn't a great deal in that today, but given our late collapse under pressure at Peterhead I'm very glad we held on. The last 20 minutes were like the Sons side of last season, and we defended very well for the most part. With Jay Hogarth only really having to make a couple of saves and claw away some crosses. I can't remember a game where both sides passed the ball to their rivals so many times under limited pressure mind you. Especially from throw-ins. It was wild. I thought, once again, that Cian Newbury was our best player. He was absolutely outstanding in a really physical match and I don't think he missed a tackle, misplaced a pass or missed a header. He does look like a wee superstar and I love how good he is with the ball at his feet. Always willing to take the ball and take a risk. Gallagher Lennon was fairly solid. He only got forward a couple of times, but when he did he looked like he had a lot of quality on the ball. He was blowing with about 20 minutes or so to go, and admitted afterwards that's an area he's aiming to improve on. So he's not quite as tireless and attacking as Matty Shiels, but he certainly didn't look of place for an 18-year-old making his SPFL debut. Further forward the much-maligned Ryan Blair had a good game. Albeit one littered with careless moments on the ball, usually when he had time. But he broke things up a fair bit. Finlay Gray had a very positive showing and Michael Ruth was tireless, but just couldn't find a way beyond Tom McHale - who had a very solid game, aside from handling outside his box after a defensive mix-up at the far side assistant missed. Kalvin Orsi was driving me mad. He looked like he had the beating of the Elgin left-back every time he touched the ball, but then he wanted to go back and beat him for a second, third, fourth and fifth time. And was inevitably tackled. When he crossed it early we had chances, and that's what the goal came from. I think that today will do the players a world of good after an iffy run. We showed we can create chances, and we showed we can grind out a result away from home at a very difficult venue. For a defence with a 20-year-old keeper and two 18-year-olds with three SPFL appearances between them at kick off, a clean sheet and three points should work wonders for confidence. As for Elgin; I think they are a bit like us last season. When they take the lead in games, they'll win. Defensively they have looked good in all the games against us, they have a capable midfield (I really liked what I saw from Mark Gallagher in the first-half today) and then it sort of falls down up front. Dayshonne Golding got Man of the Match. And his performance was certainly eye-catching. He's a grafter, he's direct, powerful and strong. But his composure in the final third is absolutely non-existant, he lashed some wild efforts off target and he inexplicably decided not to play a totally free Gallagher in on goal in the first-half with a simple pass. Only to lose possession. The sort of player who you'll enjoy watching, right up until his final touch. I didn't think Dangana got any change out of Carlo Pignatiello either, and I wasn't surprised to see him replaced by Mitchell Taylor quite early in the second-half. Based on the three games between the teams this season, I don't think they are the worst team in the division. But with Clyde improving and splashing the cash, I wonder if they might look to reel in someone like Forfar. Who haven't looked anywhere near as capable in the games we've played them so far, and don't have that new manager positivity that City have. The relegation battle will be the one to watch this season with Stenny effectively champions and the playoff positions looking quite settled. And I wouldn't want to call it at all. I'm very glad we're clear of that. If, however, Elgin were to finish 10th I'd fancy them to be a very tough side for whoever club 43 is to face.

I wouldn't say there's a lot in it. Jay hasn't made a save, but Elgin have had a swirling corner cleared off the line. And a few times they've blasted off target when they should've done a wee bit better. For us Mikey Ruth missed a one-on-one and Tony an early header from about five yards at the far post. But it's not exactly been a classic, not helped by a swirling wind. I think if we take a bit more care in the final third there are more goals in this. But Elgin, and Mark Gallagher in particular, looked really dynamic going forward.

It's an absolute nonsense. The union rep for the EIS brought it up at education committee last month, and it doesn't sound like it has a hope in hell of being changed. Clicky Clicky 2 A similar thing happened at my school, which was only built when I started first year. We weren't allowed to use any of the back pitches (two grass, one astro) unless it was for PE (so no lunchtimes) because of noise complaints...

I can't see where the initial funding for the pitch could come from to even get near £0.5m without serious external backing. It'd the main reason why I have doubts over this whole project. I just cannot see where the initial finance can come from to even begin to get the project off the ground. What I would say though is that there is absolutely a massive need for more astro pitches in Dumbarton and Alexandria. Currently to serve the whole area from Helensburgh to the Vale and Dumbarton I think we only have five? Hermitage Academy, Argyll Park, OLSP, VOLA and Dumbarton East? That's for an area that must be around 50,000 residents (20k Dumbarton, 12k Helensburgh, 10k Bonhill, 6k Alexandria) The pitches at Dumbarton Academy can't be used because of noise concerns from residents, so we're effectively one school down on where we should be for starters. Add in the fact you've got a rugby club that use the Argyll pitches quite often, the Vale's academy teams have about 800 players, then you've got our academy teams, Broomhill (obviously). There's Dumbarton United, Renton Craigandro who we have partnerships with, and other local clubs like Riverside, plus amateurs in St Pats (who have two teams), Dumbarton Accies and others. I think it would be sold out very quickly. But none of that solves the initial issue of how we get finance in place to install one in the first place!

Exactly why I hope McIndoe might help him get back on track; good luck being brave enough to fall out with him!

Ben Stirling in at Stenny https://twitter.com/StenhousemuirFC/status/1749886783670661192?t=Ha0VV5NgbC2DIHTIgs4QTg&s=19

I see you boys have signed Callum Wilson, formerly of ourselves and Albion Rovers. Have to say. I'm surprised to see him jumping back up to League One - but maybe Michael McIndoe is the sort of frightening gaffer he needs to whip him back into shape. I think there's a smashing player hiding in there, but how you coax it out I'm not quite sure. I posted this on Albion Rovers' thread when they brought him in over the summer.

Jordan Allan in at Clyde And Keith Bray in at Elgin from ICT on loan https://twitter.com/ICTFC/status/1749824313539350576?t=hWTA0X6kY8wusXr6u_jHUw&s=19

Bottom few paragraphs here (or P30 wing in today's Lennox if you'd rather) have an update on Callum and Durnan https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/dumbarton-boss-farrell-theres-no-31917767#ICID=Android_DailyRecordNewsApp_AppShare

Declan Byrne away as well as Matty Shiels. https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/duo-depart-dumbarton/ I hope Byrne gets something sorted and gets an injury free season under his belt. I really thought he looked the part last season; strong, direct and a good finisher. But he's barely been fit for well over a year now, and is some way behind Ruth as a player. Which isn't a huge criticism given how good Michael Ruth is. Him and MacLean didn't do a great deal this season, but it does leave us a wee bit light on attacking options. Although I suppose we have Kelly, as well as Hilton and Ryan Wallace up there if needs be.

Declan Byrne joins Matty Shiels in leaving Sons https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/duo-depart-dumbarton/

I think he was just tightening up a wee bit with a mixture of the effort and the pitch. Assuming it's not stayed tight then he should be fine for this weekend, Faz certainly didn't mention anything about worrying he'd be out.

Here we go https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/dumbartons-matty-shiels-set-cove-31941627

I didn't want to mention Harry in case it put too much pressure on Shiels, but I'd say he's a similar sort of player (albeit not yet near that level). He's got the tireless running and he's definitely a big attacking threat from full-back. He's just not quite as rounded as Milne was when he moved on, and not as good defensively. But he's 23, so he's not near his peak yet I wouldn't say Doyle and Shiels will cover more distance from full-back than most players in the league I'd imagine. Two very good options there!

I'll pop a link to my chat with him online later in the week, but I think Matty Shiels should be a really good addition for you guys. I rate him very highly; both as a player and as a guy. He's very much cut from the same cloth as Mikey Doyle, and you can see why the two of them get on so well. He had a loan spell with us from Rangers under Jim Duffy in 2019 and he was fairly poor. But he returned all the better for his experience at Hamilton, and played with a real confidence and swagger about him (which he hated when I suggested, but he does. He cuts about like he owns the place on the pitch, and I love that). When we initially brought him in it was as a winger/striker. He had played LB for Accies, but wanted to get back to playing further up the pitch. He actually got hooked at half-time quite early in the season after playing as an attacker; but then injuries meant we played him at LCB in a back three. And he looked absolutely different class. He was strolling games. He will take chances with the ball at the back. He always wants to play out, he'll always look for a pass and he'll try and beat players on the edge of the box. I guess that's the winger in him. That'll probably cost you a goal here and there; But it's probably worth it for when it works, and an astro park should suit him. He can be a bit of a shithouse too and get wound up at times. He's a feisty character and had a real go at Banks o'Dee's management team after our winner against them (he was booked for running with his hands cupped to his ears at their dugout as our players ran the other way, I can only assume after some comments they made to him during the game). I joked he was a bit like John Stones, in that the way he plays sometimes overshadows the fact he is actually a very decent defender. He's excellent in the air, he's a good tackler and he rarely dives in and is left miles out of place. Even when he does, he usually has the pace to recover. After a run of games on the left-side of a back three, we lost Greig Young for the season. So Shiels was moved to left-back in a back four. And he really looked the business again. I would say he was the best LB in the division; his workrate and ability to charge up and down the flank all game is absolutely incredible. Naturally he's just a very athletic boy; tall, rangy, powerful. He was one of our biggest attacking threats this season, and arguably a bigger danger at left-back than on the wing. His best game undoubtedly came in our 4-0 win against Bonnyrigg a few months ago; he won a penalty, scored a goal and set one up. All from full-back. It's the only 10/10 rating I've given a player since I started at the paper here full-time in 2019. I've stuck the highlights below and he stands out like a sore thumb. I hope he's a success at the Balmoral and (no offence) goes on to bigger and better things. He took a big step backwards to sign for us, which was a brave move, and I hope it pays off for him. I couldn't fault his performances, workrate or attitude at all when he was with us.

It does. But in 25 years only one of those things will likely still be happening - as much as it pains me to say it. Sam was speaking to players and staff at the end too, it's not all the fan culture stuff at all. I totally get if it's not your cup of tea. But I reckon it's the sort of thing that more media outlets are going to start doing themselves as they realise they can't keep putting up the prices of print products to subsidise websites that aren't making enough money. Although that's a topic I won't wind myself up by talking about

The last SPFL roundup video has 11k views. Sam's from last night has 33k already. Granted that's because it has Rangers in it, but that's a big reach. And a totally different demographic. I have a ST and bought a ticket for last night because I wanted to sit with my family. But I get in to away games for free because it's part of my job, same with all press. And our reach - be that at the Lennox, P&J next week, Falkirk Herald at Stenny in a fortnight or whoever - will be far lower than Sam manages. If DFC charged him for entry then he simply would go somewhere else and we wouldn't get the publicity.

Yeah I feel for the kids who would've been looking forward to it and missed out. But I also know there would've been a few who maybe would've been spooked by the occasion. Not sure I'd fancy being a ball boy in front of the away end at 26, let alone 6 or 7!

Sam's a good egg to be fair. His video where he goes to The Rock, Millburn and Tontine is a very decent watch, he knows his stuff and - above all else - genuinely cares about his lower league football. He's got a big following too, so it's positive publicity for the club with the kids who are glued to YouTube. There was; but it was our youth team players rather than the wee kids. I believe it was a health and safety decision on the basis of the additional equipment, crowd and the fact the wee primary school kids have a habit of getting knocked off stools, falling over and not really paying all that much attention to the game. Which is fine when it's Clyde or Elgin, but not so fine when they potentially have 800 Rangers fans shouting at them, or hurt themselves tripping over cables for the LED ad hoardings.

It was had to be seen to be believed levels of bad. I knew he wasn't great based on what I'd seen on TV, but I still thought he'd have a field day against us. The man cost £4.5m. My brother made a comment that any decent League Two striker with the chances he had would've had a hat-trick in about 25 minutes. Genuinely switch him out for a Rory McAllister or Matty Aitken and they'd have been better off. Even his goal was completely unconvincing. He looked like a competition winner with just nothing about him at all.

It's not officially official yet, But Matty Shiels is away from Sons to join Cove Rangers. I'm breaking my own rules and adding it to the thread because the man himself told me... https://twitter.com/Fraser_Clarke/status/1748797083279093935?t=EQevTGq-1__Nz7vHcZeq0Q&s=19

Neither of our games against Elgin have been particularly good watches. The game up at Borough Briggs was one of those all too common ones this season where we've fallen behind and just never really got going. The slog at home was about as one sided a 1-0 game as you could see with us hitting the woodwork four times, but we were also reliant on Brett Long for some heroics at 0-0. If we'd fallen behind then we wouldn't have won that game imo. That being said, I think I'll be travelling feeling quite positive. We'll have Hogarth, Newbury and Kelly back. And I'm looking forward to seeing Lennon Jnr in action; speaking to people who have seen him, he sounds like a real talent. Although he has huge shoes to fill replacing Matty Shiels. Might also be the fact that I'd been dreading the Rangers game all week, so a nice dose of reality with a non-hassle trip to one of the best grounds in the country is far more appealing.

Harry will be away and it sounds like he's got something lined up. And possibly Luca Vata on loan. But that's it Faz said, will take us back to a more normal squad size. I'm sure she stays fairly local; like Helenbsburgh or something? So that would add up that she's got the local knowledge. I agree. The Dumbarton Football Stadium is an absolutely rubbish official name. Call it The Rock officially unless it's sponsored.