HopeStreetWalker

Was never going to be cruising the league. Players dropping down a level having to adjust plus new venues was always going to be a challenge. Not helped by McKinnon's management and tactics. Far to many were predicting dropping crowds because of weekly 5 - 6 goal thrashings and the season being over by xmas. It was complacent, over confident and deluded. Those that indulged know who they are !

Long way to go and as far as the league title is concerned it's half time. Lets not get cocky, we are in not a bad position. One point off the top. GD as good as a point at the end of the season. Moral up. Core of 4-5 players with a couple of maybe's that are good enough for a higher league. So a bit less on the forum of regurgitating criticism on certain players, it's saying the same thing using different words and getting a bit boring. Back the management and the players on the park. Win this damn league and put the season behind us.

The biggest thing that will have been taken from that game will be in the player heads. Bouncing into training tomorrow, all smiles with a lets get stuck in attitude. Post match analysis on what could have been done better and what as done well and could be improved on. Should put a team on the park next game ready to come out the traps all guns blazing. On the back of a win like that your confidence is up. M&M deserve credit for their man management skills in achieving that. It's one cracking result but let's not get over cocky but its a cheery Sunday for once.

Ross County held all the cards on this. It was a seasons loan but with all these there would be a recall clause. They used that clause and negotiated in the best interests of the club. There was no conn about it and nobody should have an issue with them doing it. It is the best signing of the transfer window.

He was known to be in the 1066 bar at 5pm with the rest of the fans.

Markie - Miller - Gibson my Falkirk all time half back line. There may have been better individual players we have had in each of their positions. But together they were magnificent. What I liked about Gibson was then he had the ball and under pressure he would be able to hold the ball and pass it at time of his choosing. He lost a bit after he broke his leg and was never the same. But fond memories of a great player.

Stainrod scoring against Raith at Starks Park is my pick. Was behind the goal mid way up the terracing. He was just to the left of the penalty spot with his back to goal. The ball got chipped to him from about 15 yards away straight down the middle. God took a step back, stuck his big arse into the centre half behind him, took two steps forward. killed the ball on his chest. dropped to his right thigh what knocked the ball back up again. swivelled and hit the ball on the drop with a swivel kick into the top left hand corner. All that happened in about 4-5 seconds - wow just wow ! Raith never even knew it was a goal and to be fair half the Falkir team as well. Moment to acknowledge a good % of the Raith fans in their stand who stood on mass and applauded footballing genius. Anybody else remember that goal ? was one of his best.

Don't think its as simple as that. Judging players in different positions in a team game. To say who is the greatest it is near impossible to judge. Individual skill - vision - team player - work rate - moments of brilliance - motivating. Therefore a hall of fame is more appropriate. So as a Falkirk fan from the late 60's onward here are mine. Nobody right- nobody wrong its a matter of personal opinion and am sure there will be others that come to mind. Stewart Kennedy-Tiger McLaughlin-George Miller-Gary Gillespie-George Connolly-Brian Irvine-David Weir-Crawford Baptie-Crunchie-Russel Latapy-Simon Stainrod and of course Stokes. This is going to be fun !

65K comes to mind. There you go ! only Falkirk. If Davie Cooper had not been around he would have played for Scotland

Roasted Frankie Gray the Scottish international left back on his first game for us against Leeds in a pre season friendly. He had been doing the business for Camelon Juniors and came as no surprise to those that watched the juniors.

Gillespie was 70k absolute robbery even then it was on the never never over a couple of seasons with no sell on. The zip on the back of the directors heads must have been very obvious.

It has always been so. We are seen as the place to pick up a bargain and its well deserved. Obvious to all that saw these players that they were looking at future Scottish internationals. But first offer, don't bother waiting for a bidding war and it's a case of on you go. Stuart Kennedy to Aberdeen for 18k must go down as the biggest steal and am hard pushed to think of any other transfer in Scottish football that was so undersold. It was made all the harder to take with him joining the most despised football club in Scotland. Not a football team but an assemblage of whinging cheats. Not many sides can claim that fans from both sides at games cheer together when Aberdeen lose.

Agree ! But the club holding his contract call the shots which is fair enough. We were in the situation where it was a take it or leave it. These agreements should a be a last resort. Got a feeling he will be on his way though - hope I am wrong.

McManus was loaned to us by Ross County to give him game time and a chance to put himself in the shop window. To be fair to the guy he has done the business and showed the right attitude on the park. In particular when we don't have the ball, his work rate cannot be faulted. If Ross County get an offer then he will be off. It was always so !

He try's to make the killer pass but does not have the skill or the brains to do it. The killer pass was what drove Real Madrid in the 50's with the likes of De Stephano as its greatest exponent. It was called the 3rd pass philosophy. You get the ball - opposition player anticipates where the obvious ball should go - you don't take that choice - what's the second option and discount it - 3rd choice the killer pass. Depends on the team players being switched on and on your wave length. Think to Longridge's credit he is trying that but does not have the skill or vision to pull it off. There was a wonderful article on De Stephano years ago and if you see some of his old black and white glimpses on the web on him doing it. Joy to behold. Man City and Liverpool are good examples of this in practice now. It is maybe no coincidence that either of them have signed Longridge. If we do keep him he has to be told to play within his skill level.

The comparison to the late 70's and now is uncanny. Board with no money or unwilling to find any. Squad of full of jobbers picking up a wage. No youth team. All to look forward to in the next season was hope against hope for some gems in the free transfers. All that is needed is 5 full timers and the rest part time and there we are back to 77 ! No if's or but's we must go up this season and for the sake of the fans health - as champions !

Yep it was the wilderness years that awaited us. Made all the harder to take when past glories were still fresh in the mind. Beating Hibs in the midweek game when Cunningham turned down the Scotland job. there were about 15,000 at the game and Hibs never had a chance ( very emotional ) Putting Aberdeen out the league cup with the 3 - 1 victory. Seeing off Willy Ormond's St Johnstone 5 -3 and on and on. Great memories !

Some of the discussions pre and post match in the 1066, Railway bar, Royal Hotel Bar and the Newmarket were all part of the ritual and day out. It will become a faded memory as those that remember Brockville decline.

The Willie Cunningham era was the golden age that I have measured every Falkirk team on since. 50 years later there are only a handful of players since that would have got in the team. Exiting football. Exciting young plyers coming through. 8-9000 crowds. We could beat anybody and the opposition knew it. Jock Stein when he drew nil nil with Falkirk to win 9 in a row was asked about only getting a draw replied. Will take a draw against Falkirk anytime, that was an excellent result for Celtic today. He was right we feared nobody. On the cusp of greatness and we blew it ! oh how did we blow it.

Look at it from a positive point of view regarding what's good. Mutch-Gomis-Miller-McManus. One point off the top of the league. Massive goal difference. Signings must have the potential for being good enough not only to get us promoted but for a promoted team. The larger the squad we have to build on the better.

We are where we are is a reality check. It is a wake up call to those that expected the league to be won by xmas. Remember all these posts about decreasing crowds with 6 -7 goal victories week after week making it boring. It was always a complacent attitude for some to have. Those that remember visiting these grounds in the 70s misery could tell you that.

Agree but are where we are and there are better options available. It's a hard one to take but we are not the club that Vaulks saw as the one where a young player will get a chance. On the positive side of things Mutch-Miller-Gomis-McManus are a good spine to build on with maybe a couple of other maybes. I would like to see how Hall and Dixon get on as a centre back pairing there could be something there. Can't be worse than what we have at present.

You are right ! it can be done with astute wheeling and dealing. How often did Jeffries and Brown go on scouting trips ? It used to be near every week and look how it payed off. The success they had in the market place was not luck - it was hard work. The clever bit was adapting the style to get the most out them. Happy times !

Ownership looks like it is settled that what we have is what we are getting for as far as anybody knows. We may well get another carpetbagger sniffing around and that's about it. We desperately require a Fergus McCann type figure. Lifelong fan - Proven businessman - Financial clout - The clubs best interests at heart and a business plan to achieve it. You just have to look at St Johnstone as an example as to how it can work. To quote Pink Floyd - Is there anybody out there ?

He takes his chances but works hard to get them. He does a shift when we don't have the ball as well. If a few more of them showed the same application we would be a far stronger position. Taking him off after the third goal to protect him from a second booking was a smart move.