Kmcalpin

The Rancid is reporting that Zander McCallister may go out on loan this season. I'm a wee bit surprised as I thought he could make a few starts for the first 11 this term.

I agree with many earlier comments about our hectic schedule, small squad, and burn out. So our overall assessment should be seen in this light. In summary a good result, but a poor performance. I was surprised at the bench today. Why list 3 keepers? Just plain odd. Also, we were told Thor was just about fit, yet no place on the bench for him. A bit of expected squad rotation in the starting 11. We had a decent first half and created and squandered a few chances and could have been 2 goals up. However, the midfield just wasn’t right and didn’t support our front line, such as it was. I felt sorry for TJ as he was so plainly out of position. No surprise at the half time change, as Booth simply wasn’t at the races and was battered and buffeted by more physically mature opponents. A promising prospect and good to see him get game time but maybe a loan to a Championship or first division club would be more beneficial to him this term. I thought the defence played well, especially the central pair, but am looking forward to JK returning to right back. Sparrow has done ok in an emergency with his boundless energy but you need more than that at right back. The midfield lacked creativity and looked to be a man down in the first 45. In the last 20 minutes they ran out of gas as Falkirk piled on the pressure. Having said that, they only tested Paulsen once in 90 minutes. Up front we were non existent to be blunt. Overall we probably just deserved to win and were unlucky to see thew woodwork come to Falkirk’s rescue. They were streetwise and niggly and on occasion guilty of downright cheating. However to those who know John McGlynn’s methods, that would come as no surprise. Not a good look for Scottish football (SFA please take note for the forthcoming summit). Hopefully Sparrow is ok for Thursday, but would hope that Johnny K is fit enough to start at RB.

I noticed today, on quite a few occasions, that the other players completely ignored Longelo when he was in acres of space on left; preferring instead to play on a congested right wing. A few around us commented on this.

On way out?

Almost happened to me today. Not acceptable.

I thought Chris Graham deserved a post all by himself today. He had no major decisions to make, fortunately, but had a very poor game. He was conned by an intelligent and streetwise Falkirk outfit managed well by John McGlynn. So many inconsistencies and I was just glad we escaped with no red cards. How he did not book the Falkirk player for strong arming Paulsen, I'll never know. The foul awarded to Krauhaus (I think) after his shirt pulling with Lowry was totally off the scale. He was weak throughout and allowed Falkirk players to stand in front of the ball at free kicks, even after Yeats was carded. Simple solution - keep carding the culprits and they'll soon get the message. First home game of the new league season and we're already talking about referees! John McGlynn for the Scotland job? No thank you but I wouldn't put it past the blazers at the SFA.

Well, I spent less on tickets today than I normally would and see the draw as being a donation to the Academy. It'll be interesting to see if overall takings decrease.

Likewise. Given the circumstances, I was hoping for a draw at 3pm and we achieved that. A better result than either of our 2 home games against them last season. Credit to Falkirk their good fortune didn't desert them.

I'm beginning to suspect he has a real problem unfortunately.

Williams out. However, RCC & Lowry may make it. Said back and Thor pushing for a place (on bench?)

As a digital dinosaur, I'm sticking with the old style card too until forced to change and yes, I know its coming.

So it turns out that Willy Vogt was first targeted by JBA but his departure delayed his signing. Not surprising I suppose.

Said will be back and Koutroumbis might get more minutes. Maybe an opportunity to give Knight - Lebel some gametime? That alone could freshen things up. A suggestion that Lowry went off with cramp but no idea about RCC. I wouldn't expect to see Williams on Sunday. Does anyone know whats wrong with Thor? He picked up an injury late last season and I had the impression that it was relatively "minor" but then got injured a few weeks ago. Is it connected? From AJ's comments I expected him to appear on the bench by now. Falkirk will be a tough nut to crack and last season they continually benefitted from that invaluable quality - good fortune. We'll see if their luck holds on Sunday.

A great result that should ensure a bumper crowd next week. Pleased for those who made the trip.

I find it strange that Said was not able to obtain a visa in time for this tie (and also Moses for our tie at Fir Park). Taken on its own it doesn't seem extraordinary. However, I've never heard of this problem before now with footballers taking part in cross border ties. Its never seem to have affected bigger clubs before, or we most certainly would have heard about it. So, either its a new problem, just recently cropped up, or its not, but never been reported by the media before. Apparently visas for entry to Finland can take months.

GR can play midfield and KL comes into central defence.

Williams very doubtful.

Its now being played on Sunday.

Although we don't know the terms of any agreement or lease with the Memorial Trust, there are various legal and financial risks. Its quite possible, that at the expiry of any agreement, that ownership of the buildings would revert to the Trust. Could we acquire a mortgage or loan to finance the building assuming we don't pay for it outright? Could the Trust at any point require the demolition, at the club's cost? Are we paying ongoing ground rent or lease fees? Do we require the permission of the Trust for any future phases of the development? Who comes good for the maintenance of the surrounding infrastructure eg access roads? A lot of the devil could be in the detail, to which we will never have access. Now the Trust seems an honourable organisation and I'm sure that it is. However what if ownership changes at some point during the lease? Would the next landowner be so understanding and co-operative? Now many of these concerns may be totally unfounded, I just don't know. However the above potential concerns can be summarised as having no control, over the land on which the facility is to be built. Thats my concern.

I've only seen Vogt once but I was very impressed. Once he's fully match fit I think we'll have a cracking player on our hands.

Where did you see this?

That had crossed my mind. As far as I know, GR is a midfielder first and foremost.

I see that Hearts have used Oscar Priestman's yellow card as justification for appealing Stuart Findlay's red card. Going by their past record, I could just imagine the SFA retaining Findlay's red one and upgrading Priestman's yellow.

I didn't know that. Thanks. I always thought that part of the ball had to touch the arc.

Irrespective of whether it was a penalty or not Boyle should have been carded for simulation. Hibs also like to cheat at corner kicks by placing the ball beyond the arc - for what? To gain a couple of inches.