afca32

Almost 48 hours since that debacle and I'm still not even sure what to say really. The club is at an all time low.

First half I thought was ok. Most of the second half was a repeat of the majority of games at Borough Briggs last season; the opposition sitting in and letting us pass it from side to side without ever really threatening much. Fortunately this time we got enough crosses into the Stenny box that eventually one fell to an Elgin player. A pretty poor game overall and both teams will have real mixed feelings.

I think most players would accept being a shit version of arguably the greatest player ever. Cane incidentally was superb and him and Savea dominated O'Mahony and the Irish back row.

A decent effort from Ireland but even the worst New Zealand team in years captained by a "shit Richie McCaw" is going to deal with a team of All Black rejects.

I was looking forward to a trip to Keith. Ffs.

Finally a couple of home games after 4/5 away in September, and we have mostly done ok at Borough Briggs. I'm worried that last weekend will have an impact on the players confidence but if we can stop conceding multiple goals in 5/10 minute periods then we have a chance of taking something.

More deflated than angry at that today. A team of mostly youngsters who may be capable players (shown by the win against Dumbarton) but are clearly incapable of reacting well to going a goal down. In our last 3 league defeats we've conceded the opener then almost immediately conceded again. I don't think the decision to put Soapy up front and Harvey out wide helps either, the former is never a striker these days.

I had a friend at uni from Middlesbrough who was a bit wild (but completely harmless) and had a cracking imagination. I haven't seen him in almost a decade but in the last couple of years I've really come to appreciate and love Bob and I think it's partly down to how much he reminds me of my pal Dan. Legends the pair of them.

This Peterhead side is clearly way stronger than the one we gubbed this time last year. Plenty of ex-Elgin interest with Davie Wilson, Connor O'Keefe and Aaron Reid all at Balmoor now. A draw would do me fine tbh.

I think we have some reason to be positive as our young team is showing signs of gelling. Clyde away has rarely been an easy fixture for us but at least it's not at Broadwood. Hopefully we can sneak a win.

Smith had only been in the door a couple of days before the game last weekeend so I'd imagine this'll be his first properly in charge. It sounded like we played well at Morton so hopefully we can build on that.

It'll be interesting to see what impact the hugely increased number of Scottish 15-18 year olds going down to play academy football in England has on our national team and indeed domestic game over the coming years. Many will no doubt get swallowed up by the enormous squads they have but hopefully plenty benefit from the higher standards of training etc. and go on to have great careers. Hopefully it creates opportunities for their peers who stay behind too. It is noticeable how few young players are breaking through in the Premiership as a result, but it's encouraging that the ones who do generally look really good. The trend of players going abroad can also only be a good thing and hopefully it increases further. I would still be keen to see a minimum 4 Scottish players per starting lineup rule in the Premiership (or something similar) depending on how legal that is but I do think our future is pretty bright.

This is extremely underwhelming. He is experienced at least and the last time we appointed a new manager with any real experience (almost 10 years ago!) we were warned how bad Jim Weir would be by countless fans of other clubs and that worked out pretty well.

Some positives to take from that. I think most of the young loanees have plenty going for them and could be good players with a few games. Mitch Taylor put in more dangerous crosses in 15 minutes than he did in his half season with us last year. Vigurs and Sutherland (both just rumours, and the latter obviously has a major caveat of coming off a serious injury) would add some valuable experience (plus hopefully a lot of quality) to such a young side.

This could be a tough watch. My hope of new signings is diminishig but a creative midfielder or winger signed in time for this game would be a big boost.

Montrose fans seem to think that's a good signing for us after a decent loan spell last year. Didn't do much at Falkirk where he was more of a squad player.

Matthew Wright any good? I believe he was more of a squad player at Falkirk so didn't do much there but looks like he scored a few for you guys.

Scott Banks has joined St Pauli on loan from Crystal Palace. An exciting move for him.

I saw a couple of beavers for the first time ever while on holiday in the Vosges in Eastern France last week which was quite the thrill. Hopefully they continue to spread throughout Scotland and this will become a more common occurrence.

Sounds a good player with a lot of potential but going by this article we'll have to pay a decent fee for him. https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/sport/star-striker-barron-signs-contract-extension-as-forres-stave-318699/ Another loan signing expected this week apparently plus Draper is hoping to confirm several permanent transfers before the league season starting.

Bavidge will get some game time for Aberdeen this season I think with them having a busy schedule, and think they'd send him to a higher league if he were to go out on loan. I'd be delighted to be wrong though. Even if Shane is half the player he was he'd be at least a solid signing I reckon.

Blair Mckenzie, a centre back from Aberdeen, is meant to be coming in on loan in the next couple of days too. Asked an Aberdeen fan about him and it sounds like he's highly rated there and a threat from set pieces. A couple of others being lined up too according to Draper.

An extremely scratch squad last night who did ok in spells but most of them aren't up to playing regularly and several looked about 16 or even younger. Cooper, Dolzanski and hopefully Harvey make us a lot stronger than the players involved so far but I still think we need at least 6 signings to compete this season. The League Cup is a complete write off and will surely be looked at as an extension of pre season.

Trying to stay positive, I think that performance should surely convince the board and management team that a whole host of new signings are needed. Very few players yesterday looked anywhere close to League 2 standard (I'd include Draper in that, he was awful) and I'd hope the vast majority are backup players at best if they do stick around. I think that squad would be mid table in the Highland League.

Happy with that, I know he is highly rated at Aberdeen but Bavidge has overtaken him as the top prospect there. It'll be his first proper taste of senior football so you never how it'll work out but he comes with a very good reputation at least.