HonestAl

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”

Harry Burgoyne was mentioned on here a few days ago, so I checked what he’s been up to since he left Falkirk in 2019. 35 appearances in 5 seasons (and counting) for (lower mid) League One Shrewsbury Town. And he’s not the current first choice stopper. At 27 year of age, Harry has a big decision to make - an attractive salary as a back up with the odd rare appearance or a small-ish drop in salary to be the No. 1 at a club that wants him. I think if John & Paul want him, he’d make the move back to TFS. That said, a fully fit Ryan Fulton looks a safer option.

I don’t think the referee could tell one way of the other. And by the time the linesman watched the ball being kicked forward then looked at the line (where Burrell was advancing beyond the Falkirk back line), Burrell would look offside. I hate VAR but I guess that’s the principle reason for that technology. Unlucky, and as much as I detest Hartley, I really mean it.

Doesn’t really matter where Coll is - the Falkirk defender top left on the 18 yd line is also playing Cove players onside. Watching the highlights I was astonished at how many good players we now have (Tait, Ross in particular) but that poor decision takes a bit of the shine off.

Yeah, was just about to post the same. It’s not even close - Burrell a couple of yards onside, Worryingly this came from another long throw into the area, followed by an up-and-under into the box. Hard to defend really.

So why have Queens taken of their best player?

According to wiki, Alex Ferguson scored 47 goals for Falkirk

Best signing since……Syd Puddefoot.

No he won’t.

I’ve eulogised about Ross MacIver on here a couple of weeks ago (and he’s actually had his best matches for us since). I’d now go further and say he’s been our most important signing, I mean, he’s the style of player that Mr McGlynn needs to play in the striker/CF role. Quite literally there is no one else in League 1 that comes close. In the Champinship? Well, Todorov is not as good in any aspect you care to mention, Brian Graham…..perhaps but he’s mid 30s, Dowds nope, Moult & Oakley maybe. But none of this can detract from the excellent form of all of our starting outfield players, any of whom I’d be delighted to be named POTY.

Ross MacIver. I used to detest the 4-2-3-1 formation. It’s not until this season that it became obvious why. Falkirk sides under recent managers persisted using this formation despite the lack of a Centre Forward (i.e the “1”) that was mobile, good in the air, could hold the ball up (i.e. second touch NOT a tackle) and possessed a very good lay-off technique (think Jordan Allen). But MacIver changed all this, displaying all of the above qualities - and this brought our midfield “3” into the game. And what a threesome we have - Morrison, Nesbitt, Miller and Alfie & Ethan are no slouches either. The best “plays” by MacIver v TNS resulted in a couple of lay-offs mis-controlled by Morrison (in promising attacking positions) and a great pass to Miller leaving him with a half-chance on goal. Sure, I’d like to see Ross hit 20 goals in a season but there is certainly no CF in League 1 better, and not one in the Championship that springs to mind easily. But he is only 24 and we have talented coaches who can make MacIver a better player still that can spearhead our side next season (fingers crossed, in the Championship) and possibly beyond.

Doug Somner, Brian Martin and, er, Stewart Wheatley as well, although Cumbernauld Colts are not strictly a Junior side. You know, maybe we should scout the lower leagues a bit more…….