HonestAl

100%

As we all play the summer signing speculation game (lol), came across this website - salarysport.com. That’s May taken care of, then

Impressed with his (Mackie’s) pace - vital asset for one of the CBs. I’m slowly coming round to the new contract offer, at a realistic level. (As ever, I’m sure his current form comes as no surprise to J&P).

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. The finest I’ve ever seen him play.

Well, you knew who i meant……..

Me too, over the course of last night & this morning. As much as I detest BBC Scotland in general, their Championship & League One coverage is fantastic to watch for saddos like myself who love Scottish Football (bigot bros. aside). The lad that presented the coverage of our game is a breath of fresh air (in either language) and long may he remain out with the clutches of the Scottish Football Media Mafia. But Lee Miller was superb! Okay, clearly a Falkirk fan but called the game correctly when Cove got one back (to 2-1) and rightly predicted the feelings of Mr. McGlynn going into half time. And Jamie Sweeney came over well at half time too. Great to see.

I’m repeating the view of several others here, but couldn’t let the moment pass. An outstanding team performance with huge credit to ”John & Paul”. I want to mention a couple (only a couple?) of individuals. Finn Yeats has developed into a superb player. The hard work he has put into his own progress at what was initially a position (right back) where he lacked experience & knowledge has been astounding. A real pleasure to watch and although a RB from Cumbernauld Colts has already been signed up, I think Finn would be a vital signing for our Championship campaign. I don’t know what it would take (salary wise, I mean) to persuade the young lad to agree a deal, but from a personal development viewpoint, he shouldn’t underestimate the value of the current environment at TFS in terms of realising his own potential as a football player. Finn Yeats would be good for Falkirk but Falkirk has and will continue to be good for Finn. Much in the same vein lies Dylan Tait. On a downward spiral at the turn of the year - unwanted in the Hibs first team, and a season long loan at Hamilton terminated - he was given a lifeline by John & Paul at Falkirk. He has steadily improved his fitness and repaid Falkirk in the last couple of months when injuries threatened to impact our side. Saturday’s performance was nothing short of sensational - ball control, vision, crisp accurate passing, awesome strike for his goal - but at 22 yrs, he was directing play in every area of the park. Again, much like Finn, I hope he is aware just how much Falkirk have been in - and it’s no exaggeration - saving his career. As long as Hibs are not being silly, I hope a fee can be agreed for Dylan to join Falkirk in the Summer. A lot of words (sorry) but this is what euphoria can do.

It was common knowledge up in Rumford at the time……

Yeah, we really dodged a bullet when turning down Alex Ferguson’s application for manager in the mid 70s. Phew!

Well……all of the current starting outfield XI (loanees aside) plus a couple of others are already signed up for next season. Fringe players maybe but if it’s those fringe players who are playing, Falkirk would be vulnerable.

“Calm doon, Adam”…….

Tait is contracted to Hibs to end of the 2024-25 season. But what would it take to prise him away from that club? An old fashioned transfer fee? No idea how much (50k? 100k?). Don’t think we’d fork out anything like that. A 2024-25 season long loan? Probably more likely but there will surely be other suitors from the Scottish Championship. A tricky one as Tait is responding well (again) to the management team of John & Smudger.

Mmmnn….Mackie is a bombscare at Centre Back.

Oh John, John, John…… As @Bainsfordbairn has laid out very clearly, there are 10 players (some of whom are on the highest salaries currently) whose contracts are up or loans expiring. So, not a lot of room for bringing in new faces? Even with my “O level” arithmetic degree, I can work out that with at least the same budget as 2023-24 that it DOES leave “a lot of room” for playing squad expansion. And to compete for a whole season in The Championship, expansion in terms of quality at the very least will be required. Yes, the recognised starting XI should be there next season (with just Hogarth & Yeats yet to sign) but we’ve been extremely lucky with injuries this season. The recurrence of the ACL aggravated injury to the unfortunate Tom Lang is a reminder as to just how fickle playing staff well-being can be. Again, luck was with us when Accies terminated Tait’s loan deal early and with minor adjustments, Mr McGlynn has coped seamlessly with Lang’s absence. But if this had happened in November…….. So, either our manager is firing his first volley of managing expectations at Falkirk Fans or he’s playing an elaborate game of poker with wage demands of potential signings. Either way, the statement is a bit of a downer. Sorry, John.

“……..but there weren’t any goals”