Mefil81

Very good piece of business from the club being able to bring Hursty back on loan and as mentioned it's a pity it couldn't be a season long deal instead of until January. That's Liam Kelly and Hursty twice been brought in and been used by 3 different managers at the expense of Goodfellow so the first piece of business next summer for the manager will be to find a longer term goalkeeping solution. To be fair Naysmith did try and address this issue last summer by bringing in Muir from Queens Park but it didn't work out.

Great to see Jason Kerr has been called up to the Scotland U-21 squad and not before time. as a fan of a part time, League 1 club I am not naive but it is disappointing that being on the bench for St Johnstone's 2 European ties and joining a championship club in Queens where he has only played one game so far appears to trump his near 80 games he played at Bayview playing every week and developing as a man and a player. I am delighted for Kason personally but just frustrated that he wasn't recognised while at Bayview.

Pat Slattery and Stevie Campbell were absolutely excellent January-April the season EF won league 2 working hard and providing a solid base for Smith, Wilkie, Insall and Fash to go cause serious Damage in the final 3rd. Last season he was hard working and effective in front of the defence winning 2nd balls and being tactically disaplined. Even today in the last 15 minutes he was in front of Docherty at left back providing a shield as Alloa played diagonal balls into Renton but at home with a fully fit squad can Slattery, Millar, Wilkie all play in the centre, well they can if Darren Young picks them and sets his team up in that way but if he decides to play Wilkie and another with Willis and two wide men making a 5 then he will have a choice to make regarding Pat and it's a pleasant change this season with a larger squad that their are options

The massive positives from today are the 3 points, clean sheet and after failing to do so on five occasions last season defeating Alloa. Goodfellow had a fantastic point blank save in the first half and it was good seeing him coming of his line to take control and clear with his punch in the 2nd half but his ability in terms of kicking doesn't seem to have improved and he is now starting his 3rd season at Bayview. Of the back four I was really impressed with Dunsmore at right back and thought he had a really good game both defensively and getting forward and could well have been man of the match. Millar was effective again in the middle of he park and Kyle Wilkie was excellent when he came on, the physical side of his game shutting down and tackling is their and with each game he will improve the rythem and quality of passing going forward as he had a couple of passes out to Duggan on the left which didn't find him but I am sure in a few weeks they will. When Kyle is fit I can't see him, Slattery, Millar and Willis all playing in central midfield roles so I would imagine Pat may find himself on the bench as Millar is effective at holding and he and Kyle are far superior at finding a team mate with a pass to feet than Pat. Chris Duggan could well have scored goal of the season in the first half if his close control, flick and volley had went in and his link up play was really good but unfortunately as he showed in both halves when he comes short and lays the ball into the inside right channel for a cross he can't therefore be in the penalty spot/six yard line ready to put the cross in the net. Greg Hurst looks like he knows where the net is although he could have put the game to bed when he the bar but at least EF had a forward player in the box in a shooting position. EF were spoilt with Scott Robinson as when he was fit and playing well he was excellent in just behind the striker and Paul Willis just isn't at that level as player although I thought he done well today and played his part in the goal. All in all the table makes happier reading tonight and EF can go into the Peterhead and Arbroath games over the next week with confidence and have a result to build on.

I know it was a friendly today but St Johnstone brought and played the majority of their first team squad over the 90 mins and the big plus was the performance of Kieran Millar. I can see why he was Stenhousemuir's POTY year last season and he looks an astute bit of business by the club. He has a good engine to work around the midfield area and has a good reading of the game and coupled with his anticipation he will make countless important tackles, blocks and interceptions in the season ahead.

There were a number of positives from last night games. Firstly a clean sheet against a dunfermline team boasting Clark, Cardle, McManus etc is a really good achievement considering they scored 6 on Saturday against Elgin. Mark Docherty looked really strong at left back especially defensively and you can see he is a vocal leader on the pitch, he is clearly still a championship level player so it is a brilliant signing for EF. Although his distribution up the line was poor Dunsmore at RB played well, again defensively he looked sound and won two or three important headers from crosses to the back post with a Dunfermline player lurking behind him especially in the 2nd half. Ben Reilly really impressed as well looking fit, sharp and pacy playing in the central attacking midfield role and with a bit more understanding and composure with Chris Duggan they both should have played the other in during the 2nd half but tried to take on one man to many. In the 2nd half Duggan's hold and link up play was really good but my one concern from the game was the gap between the midfield and Duggan a great deal of the time which left him isolated when he did receive the ball but this has been a recurring problem at Bayview the last 18 months as the different managers have all tended to favour a formation with one man upfront. One final point does anyone know the dimensions of the new pitch? It looked a couple of yards shorter on length and a good 6/7 yards narrower in width although it may just be deceiving looking at the new artifical pitch for the first time. I assume Darren Young as manager would have been consulted and determined what size he would like the pitch to be according to the formation and style of play he sees EF playing this season.

1- EF squad and strongest starting 11 will ensure a challenge for the play off promotion places this season especially when Pagey, Kev Smith and Kyle Wilkie return to full fitness. 2- there is grounds to say on potential starting 11 that EF will field the strongest PT team in League 1. 3- At the minute the Squad is looking stronger and in a better position at this point in comparison to last year under GN. 4- There is genuine cause for optimism and excitement looking ahead to the first game of the season.

I hope to be proved wrong but Kane playing at centre back every game concerns me as he is often finds himself out of position trying to win a ball he shouldn't be the worst example was the home cup game against Edinburgh City when Pagey passed the striker onto Kane as he ran across the 18 yard line yet he for some reason rushed 10 yards forward to try and win a ball he was never reaching and the ball was slipped into the striker who is now unmarked where Kane should be and he slots it in the bottom corner and Naysmith was absolutely fuming at him.

Hopefully he can prove to be a good addition to the squad and he can take hope from Scott Mercer who was released from his parent club at the same age and used the opportunity to play every week and gain another opportunity at full time football. I wonder what Darren Young's plans are for Chris Kane now as last season of the 3 positions he played I felt he performed best at right back.

After the home match against Raith on the 26th August may be a good time to really begin to judge Darren Young and the playing squad. By this point we will have played 9 competitive matches across three competitions and it should be a great deal clearer what formation, style of play and after additional signings the strongest starting 11 and as crucially what kind of strength and depth their is on the bench. The opening four fixtures in the league are difficult and this season I have the feeling 42-45 points may be required to avoid 9th and the relegation playoff and 55 points plus for the promotion play off positions as it is seems to be a more open and competitive League than last season as despite Raith/Ayr fans beliefs I don't think either starts as clear favourites as dunfermline and Livi had in the previously. Presently Docherty, Page, Kane (at right back), Slattery, Miller, Willis, Duggan, Smith and Wilkie when fit make up 9 players in the starting 11 who would hopefully deliver mid table safety if playing as many games together as possible.

Capped for Scotland at what age group? Tony Wallace and Mark Lamont have 5 U-19 caps between them!!

It always surprised me that Jason was never selected for any scotland U19/20 squads in his time at Bayview, especially as most squads select 3/4 centre halfs so he wouldn't necessarily be in the starting 11 but would surely have benefited from being in the squad and gaining experience in a position where our senior national team is really lacking depth. I know he has been playing at League 1 and 2 level the past 2 seasons yet the fact remains he has played in 79 games and crucially they have come between the age of 17-20 range which Malky McKay has identified as essential to a players development. Jason has become a better player with each passing month and really worked on his recovery speed and strength in the season past and you couldn't see him being shrugged off the ball as Ross Caldwell done at the start of the season for Brechin at Bayview which led to a goal now. I acknowledge Chris Mcart and Zak Jules had loan spells with SPL clubs from January this year yet the total games McCart, Jules and Iacovitti the 3 centre halves selected for the Scotland U-20 Toulon squad have played in the time Jason was at Bayview totals 41 (I had to use Wikipedia so it is probably an approx total) yet there parent clubs are Celtic, Reading and Notts Forest. I'm not saying Jason is a better player than those 3 as I haven't watched them play but like Liam Lindsay having never represented Scotland at any youth level it seems their is an inherent bias from Scotlands coaches against people who have played a lot of games although maybe at a lower level in Scotland with a preference for English parent club players who have only played academy games. Jason may have been out of his depth at this level but I have always felt his form and improvement and game time merited selection to at least one squad.

Mark Lamont very much had a mixed season with fitness issues and fluctuating form but he has shown potential as his set piece delivery is excellent and the fact he can use both feet is a massive bonus. Out on the wing his deficiencies through the physical side of the game were clear as I think I saw him win about one header all season, he isn't the most committed tackler and sometimes when receiving ball at feet and he knew the full back was tight in behind him he looked panicked stricken that he may take a kick on the ankles. I wonder if he would be better in the role Scott Robinson played just behind the striker last season as with him being able to play with both feet he can spread the play either side and he could also be getting shots away from 25 yards and opposition defenders couldn't show him onto a weaker side and it would make things more difficult for the opposition goalkeeper. He is clearly a technically gifted player who lacks the physical aspect to his game and a change of position may benefit him and the team.

I think he would be able to play at Championship level as he has all the attributes of a modern full back. He is reasonably quick, has a great engine for getting up and down the line and after having Gary Naysmith an excellent defender still but not a player who passed the half way line much it was refreshing to see a LB putting in a cross deep in the oppositions half. I felt defensively he improved with each game and was becoming more pro active at going to meet the ball both in the air and in a tackle before the attacker had the opportunity to take a touch. However, as a word of caution he is still only 18 and has a lot to learn and will have a poor game on occasion, for east fife it was the home game against Brechin I felt, but in terms of potential and the young man gaining game time at a higher level for his continued development I think it could be a win win situation for club and player.

A good quality player to bring to the club and shows real intent from Darren Young for his first signing. Page, Slattery, Kane, Duggan, Smith and Wilkie along with new signings Willis, Miller and Docherty represent the making of a good flexible squad with lots of potential for the coming season.