The Mantis

That turned out to be a valuable point thanks to the Pars late equaliser. Both sets of players deserve nothing but praise considering the awful conditions. We totally dominated the opening 15 minutes and had a couple of half chances to double the lead which appeared to deflect off a defender and trundle in. Partick scored with their first attack of the game and it was a case of tragic failure to clear the ball. Never would have happened with Robbie Deas in there. We’re playing with 3 centre backs and nobody seems to know what their job is.
We went to pieces after that and Partick murdered us for the rest of the half. Going by previous visits to Firhill we feared the worst for the second half but it never materialised. We really dominated the last half hour and had very few clear cut chances but it was like the Alamo with Partick defending scrambles in their six yard box and we must have had about 8 corners.
However we’re still trying to walk it into the net with nobody trying to take a risk. Graham was substituted having had very little influence for once. So was Billy, for Longstaff, and he must have been frustrated trying to pull down long balls from Ridgers all day with big Muirhead breathing down his neck.
Two shockers from Grainger the ref. He booked Ujdur for a clash of heads where the Partick player came off worst, and he missed a stonewall penalty when Cammy was hauled down late on. A draw away at Partick is not to be sniffed at against a team that has 29 points and a decent squad with Milne, Graham, Lawless and Alston.
 

DUFC @1.55 please

Big hand to you guys for this bumper edition which kept my attention over 2 days and made the M8 and Edinburgh City Bypass almost tolerable. Especially keeping up a consistent standard regularly at probably the lowest point in the club’s entire  history.

The 4 guests were great and candid, and good to hear that there’s more to come from the final guest.

See yous at Firhill.

16 hours ago, IBM said:

I am sure they were happy memories  your own VW campervan!  They were very basic compared to the ones about now although you would have had all you needed.  There are still a lot on the road and if you are looking at one in perfect condition it will set you back a lot of money.  Must have been a good summer in 1968 the grass is burnt and I bet you had Fish & Chips and lots of ice cream which was likely a treat 

On the other cars a new Vauxhall Viva Mk2 an old Ford Popular and I think the black one behind is a Vauxhall Cresta.

He never had it for long as it was heavy on fuel, 1500cc I think, and it was his car for getting to work as well. There was a local guy who had a huge yard full of old cars and my dad occasionally did jobs for him. He was said to be a millionaire and he wasn’t really bothered about making a living. If you wanted to try a car you had to get loads of other ones moved first. He was a bit of a legendary figure in Midlothian called Sonny Swinton.
Actually now I remember, the driver’s door got damaged in Academy Street, Inverness. He left us kids in the back of the van for a few minutes but never shut the door properly. Each time a car went past the door swung open and closed. Then a lorry went past and it got damaged.

Thought I'd post this just to give IBM something to look at, it popped up as one of those facebook memories.

My old man, old dear and wee sister at Nairn in 1968. I can still smell the waterproofing or whatever off that wee tent that I slept in with my brother.

DUFC v RRFC DRAW @3.60 please…

Well, that was fun. Haven't seen us score 4 since Gayfield in January. Should have been much more - Billy's offside was extremely tight. Feared the worst when they scored after a comfortable 10 minutes for us. This is a team that absolutely schooled us last season - remember the 81% possession at Ochilview.
The renowned Guinness drinker beside me was berating Devine at the goal but Cammy really shouldn't have allowed the cross to go in, and after that it was a bit like bagatelle. Cammy really adds value going forward but he's weak as a fullback. You could maybe say the opposite about Duffy on the other side, or you could just say punt him. We need Carson back pronto.
I would probably pick Charlie Gilmour as MoM. Great how he's grown into it after a less than glittering career. Never even got booked this week.
Hope Dundee aren't in a hurry to get Anderson back either. A great partnership. I've always been a big Sean Welsh fan but as everybody knows he's made of chocolate so he might struggle for game time (no change then). 
The back three is fairly settled now and Niko is a great signing. Expect Uncle Roy or similar to come sniffing to spoil it for us.
The goals were quality especially the third. Spoony and Billy's legs may have a combined age of about 150 but they partner up well.
Harry came on but looked like a supporter who had won a competition. Longstaff and Brooks could have a future though.

Plus points: was staying a couple of nights at the Crowne Plaza near the SEC for the Hoolie at the Hydro. Got tipped off that ICT were stopping there for lunch so got a selfie with #bigdunc. He's big all right.
Minus points:
1) Glasgow rain. My first trip to Hampden since the Georgia game but not quite as biblical.
2) Driving back to the hotel, got stuck at a red light at the Squinty Bridge for about 10 mins while literally dozens of Rangers buses were passing through from the Govan Road.
3) QPFC catering prices = same as Scotland matches.
4) The 'stone baked' pizzas at the SEC are howling.

QPFC v ICT DRAW @3.40 please

May as well report something positive  I’ve had very few problems in the past couple of months. All the issues I’ve mentioned in the thread seem to have cleared up except occasionally on the iPad when I try to scroll back to the top of a page, it goes blank and I have to quit Safari before it’ll load anything else.

The main thing is that posting works even with quotes and images. This was a major problem before on Mac and iPad although it didn’t seem to affect my iPhone.

9 hours ago, ICTPaisley said:

First time I went to see them they were playing at Maryhills ground. 

Aye I think they fell out big time with the Maryhill committee…

This is the team that played out of Alloa as BSC Glasgow, before becoming Open Goal Broomhill (or “Podcast FC”) when they were taken over by Si Ferry, but that partnership was dissolved and they are now simply Broomhill FC. Broomhill Sports Club originally ran youth football teams back to 2004 and the senior team has been kicking around the LL in its various guises since 2014.

8 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

At home v Broomhill

Rinse, repeat…

On 11/24/2023 at 6:31 PM, The Mantis said:

 

I think benching 4 or 5 from last week is a decent compromise as opposed to playing a team of youngsters as was suggested. Sean Welsh has to start and probably Duffy. If we’re not well ahead after an hour then get Billy and Spoony on but let a couple of the young players e.g. Longstaff or Brooks have a go. 

Called it, more or less  
Don’t like missing ICT in the cup but sounded like a good one to miss. Stayed local, a few pints in the Guildford then took in Dick Campbell’s final game as Spartans knocked out a woeful Arbroath. Demos by the fans at the end and Dick has fallen on his, ehhh, bunnet. Bring on the Rovers.
 

Think we need a bit of perspective here. This team are 13th out of 18 in the LL having won 4 games out of 16. The other week they struggled to a 4-2 win at home in the Challenge Cup over Whitehill Welfare, mid table tier 7.
The last LL team we played was East Kilbride 4 years ago, and they ended up as champions but we beat them 4-0.
Cowden had a decent result in the last round, winning at Kilwinning Rangers which was maybe a mild surprise.

I think benching 4 or 5 from last week is a decent compromise as opposed to playing a team of youngsters as was suggested. Sean Welsh has to start and probably Duffy. If we’re not well ahead after an hour then get Billy and Spoony on but let a couple of the young players e.g. Longstaff or Brooks have a go. I know the Bonnyrigg game was almost an embarrassment but let’s start with a tempo and get this done.

Think the first one is near the viewpoint at Drumbeg going by this photo of mine from about 4 years back

45 minutes ago, Gringo said:

Got three more I'm struggling with. Pic 1 might be Gairloch area? As for 2 and 3 I,m struggling.

 

 

This one’s easy. Kylesku. You probably came off the ferry which has been replaced by a bridge. That’s Quinag (Cuinneag) behind. The boat is in the ferries topic somewhere.

12 hours ago, IBM said:

I loved his antic in the box when we were beating them especially when we got the last minute goal for a draw in the Scottish Cup in Dingwall and won the replay at home.  I think it was Richie Foran that scored the goal............ah the good old days 

Deek taking it well…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20474556

30 minutes ago, robbo1985 said:

I understand the thinking but for me a team of MacKay, Davidson, Duffy, Delaney, Hyde, Thompson, Bray, Welsh, Longstaff, Brooks and Sheridan should comfortably take care of Cowdenbeath and give these players some much needed game time.  At least some are likely to be needed/called upon prior to the New Year as the fixtures come thick and fast and we inevitably pick up injuries etc.    

We’ll murder Cowden.

What a weird game. We looked comfortable for 20 minutes and then the Pars absolutely murdered us for 25 minutes which coincided with all the incidents which earned the goalposts the  MoM. A back 3 of Boyes, Devine and Ujdur looks a good setup. Devine had some great challenges and if Ujdur wasn’t so overconfident of being a baller then he would be one. 
Second half was completely dominated by us but it was if the players had a bet on 0-1 and thought we could keep the ball for the full 45 minutes which nearly worked.
We are incredibly shot-shy. The stats show we had 5 shots to their 12, but we had so many touches in their box, it was as if we were trying to emulate Spain from 10 years ago and score the perfect goal. On a wet day it would have been worth a go from 20 yards, but so many times Cammy, Nathan, Spoony or Gilmour decided to check back.
Not sure why Ujdur was subbed for Duffy as I’m sure that lost us a bit of solidity and he was booked straight away. Billy was knackered but sub Longstaff never really offered an out ball, although he nearly won it with a late drive which would have given Mehmet no chance if it was a couple of feet lower. Great to see Sir Sean Welsh returning. The passing was sublime at times today and Max Anderson is a player. Great support today

Richie Foran

15 hours ago, Gringo said:

Beginners luck 

Beat me to it

1 hour ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Interesting viewpoint!  Not far out of town...

I thought Invergordon but maybe a bit ‘far out of town’

3 hours ago, Gringo said:

Could any of you pin the exact location of this pic please. It was taken on my first ever tour of Scotland in 1978 - hence the poor quality. It was one of the first shots, I think, that I took on the tour and fairly sure it's in Dumfries & Galloway. We were head for Ayr via Dumfries.

1 hour ago, snorbens_caleyman said:

Cioch na h’Oighe on the Isle of Arran!

https://mountaincowardadventures.wordpress.com/2011/11/20/arran-a-coward-on-cioch-na-h-oighe/
almost the same photo in this article

ICT please, 2.25

1 hour ago, Naelifts said:

Now now John. While I recognise that this is not a motoring thread I must take exception to your flying the A9 flag. Anybody who has spent an hour trying to get through the Inveralmond roundabout or those that waited three hours to get to the Pitlochry Lightfest will testify that it is one unholy mess. My Sikorsky is on order though

Wow. Borders man buys £500 helicopter on eBay

p.s. they also have these things called trains…