IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

This is what we need in the half-time dressing room

If that is all true perhaps we should sign up Usain Bolt and Mo Farah. Cant remember who pointed out but tactically Robbo is responsible for running the legs off Polly and Trafford, gave a headless chicken role to Baird, linked him up with the clumsy, pedestrian Oakley, whilst saving Tremarco and excusing Vigurs. Am I also wrong in saying that Brad McKay and Chalmers did minimal attacking at Dumbarton. It is a combination of fitness, skill level and tactics.

Let's remind ourselves of the derided initial opening post

I am afraid we are probably Type 7 at the moment

Charles Bannerman significantly prolongs an interesting and applicable Dougal post

I thought Polworth did a lot of running, especially in the roving role. Trafford is a bit pedestrian like Draper but I still feels that he is doing a lot of covering for Vigurs. But neither should be whacked by the end of the game although I feel that they have more of an excuse than others.The general fitness levels are a major concern. Although the selection of Chambers and Oakley was surprising, playing Tremarco in midfield and a reluctance to take on substitutes. The pace of Baird and Mulraney should have been utilised earlier. Or perhaps they were too kanckered to be bothered.

So Dougal was correct in raising the concerns ?

Would love to see Dougal's expert opinion. Heading to 5 pages. Great OP mate.

Would you not agree that Polly and Trafford were fecked running to cover others ??

Dumbarton Football Club belongs to all of you... we, the people who play for and manage are passing through. This being football, one day we will all move on, but you will still be here, because it's your club.” Ian Murray, 4th May 2013, after keeping DFC in Division 1 against heavy odds.

Strange to see that views and conclusions are SO similar for once.

"Dumbarton Football Club belongs to all of you... we, the people who play for and manage are passing through. This being football, one day we will all move on, but you will still be here, because it's your club.” Ian Murray, 4th May 2013, after keeping DFC in Division 1 against heavy odds.

Buster, he sold the heat of the rock steady beat.

Anyone who witnessed the last quarter of the Dumbarton game would be saying exactly what Dougal was implying.

What is it like working for Tullochs ?

RIG - That actually makes us look a lot better than we were. Confirms that Warren dived though.

Tie me kangaroo down sport

I actually concur with a lot that Robbo is saying BUT he is ultimately responsible. That response is embarrassing and incredulous. He is saying some things in that article that are simply contradictive. Lets analyse a few. We needed the exact same again. Dumbarton came out fired up because of how we played and we just had 10 minutes of madness. It happens every week. - Is it not a case that Aitken sussed us. We walked the first half and looked like we were on a stroll. The Manager should be warning the feckin players. We’ve worked in training all week about marking men in the box – I’ve never seen space score a goal in my life. We leave a dangerous player (unmarked). The second one is criminal because the goalkeeper claws it out the top corner and he’s let down by a team-mate that doesn’t run in with his marker. - It is all about what happens in a game. The second goal was amateurish. It simply shows that a specific player was culpable. So from dominating a game, we’re 2-1 down. We rallied, got into the game again, could have had a penalty but didn’t get it. Even with 10 men we looked more likely to get a chance than concede a third goal. I must have been at a different game. The penalty claim was a feckin dive which left us with 10 feckin men. No, we work them hard about the opposition - Does the way we play allow us to dominate games? Yes. What a load of bowlicks. Sometimes the players have to come up with the answers, because as a coaching staff we’ve given them everything. If you had we would be top of the feckin league. If I’m the sacrificial lamb that gets axed because it needs someone else to come in and do it, that’s fine. A hint of satire but he should know that it really is the bottom line. I’m fed up of hearing how well we’ve played and coming away with nothing. Fer fecks sake. We were the better of two bad teams yesterday for 45 minutes. Dumbarton gave us too much respect initially. Then they sussed us. Over 90 minutes we got what we deserved. Football management is based on results and we’re not getting them. Despite the fact we’re giving them the right training, the right information and the right tactics, we’re not winning games. Apart from a 20-minute spell at the start of the Dunfermline game, no club has outplayed us this season. Seven games in. Had we, and it’s hypothetical, taken the chances we had in games we’d dominated, we could be sitting just off the top of the league, under the radar in a comfortable position - At this stage it is getting more embarrassing than it was yesterday. “In there (dressing room) it’s fine - Great statement after all that comes before !!!!!! I want a reaction and we need it quickly. Carl Tremarco gave us everything and we had to take him off because he had nothing else to give. - McKay, Chalmers and Oakley gave nothing all game. Polworth and Trafford ran their socks off.

Well perhaps the omens were there long before we kicked off. Glasgow city centre awash with Old Firm neds, the nice wee train journey to the Rock cancelled due to engineering works and roadworks bringing traffic chaos to the Erskine Bridge. Underground to the West End and an empty student pub. Uber to Dumbarton and quaffing in the Stags Head watching part time Old Firmers watching the game. And then a walk down to a ground that resembles a Sunday League setting and then watching 90 minutes of Sunday League fare. At the time I was quite happy with the first half performance. A superb Polworth through ball splits the defence and Bell finished well in the 8th minute and we were in charge for the majority of the first 45 minutes. Again I have to comment on the lack of enthusiasm and celebration to herald that early goal. We looked neat enough but it was tippy tappy stuff with most balls going either sideways or back. OFW did appear to ooze more confidence to those in front of them and those brave few sitting in the stands. And if Bell had notched a second when through on goal 1:1 and we had gone 2-0 up – well who knows. Trafford and Oakley both had half chances, OFW had little to do and it really should have been 2 or 3-0. There was a sense of a standing ovation, albeit muted, as the boys trooped off at half time. And very quickly after the restart it became clearer what had happened. Stevie Aitken had given us far too much respect. He had decided to sit his team deep, allow us the ball in our own half and defend deep. The elements were also in our favour in the first half as well. Dumbarton lined up like a pack of dogs looking for the fox. From then on they defended, allowed us the luxury of possession in our own half but they pressed and pressed and looked to break at every opportunity. Froxylias basically ran the show. It took them a mere 2 minutes to equalise and we never looked like getting back. Froxylias fired home in the 47th. Froxylias bent a curling free kick at our goal in the 63rd minute, OFW made a good stop, albeit over dramatically and Wardrop reacted, knocked in the rebound whilst our defenders watched. OFW looked as if he had pulled his groin or his knee and he never took any further kicks and threw the ball out if necessitated. I suspect that he will be missing in action for a few weeks. And why oh feckin why did Robbo appear to leave the playmaker role to Donaldson ? Why didn’t Vigurs drop back ? Is Gary Warren collecting yellow cards ? Hope I get him in Top Trumps. If he dived then that was ridiculous. I thought that he was practically in with a chance of a goal. Judging by his muted reaction he was guilty. That all happened in the 79th minute and Robbo had not even appeared to have considered a substitution at that stage. How Oakley stayed on after the hour stupefies me. And then to add insult to injury the decision is made to hook Tremarco and take on Mulraney. A certain poster on here gave Mulraney some gentle stick and his reaction almost led me to go on the park and give him a slap. He clearly does not want to be here. Tremarco himself also looked bemused as he trooped off. And then we leave it to the 87th minute to bring on Baird for Oakley. And we keep on hoofing to the skyscraper front three of Bell, Baird and Mulraney !! And remember the name Colin Steven. Another in a long list of embarrassing, amateur referees. He lost control and came up with a bevvy of ridiculous decisions – albeit both ways. And then it was back to the Stags Head, on to the Uber, on to the Underground, on to Central Station and home to Chorley. Travel cost me around £75 and I will NOT be spending that type of amount to watch absolute dross. I have booked for Livi and Dumfries. I am going there for the pre-match and post-match activities and I will not be considering any other games unless the team show a distinct improvement or even if they showed some enthusiasm and fight. Those two ingredients are sadly lacking. OFW - Nice to see him back. Back four looked more confident. Spectator for most of the first half. No chance with either goal but may have over-dramatised the free kick save. McKay – Back at full back. To be honest I hardly noticed him which probably says it all. Warren – Sorry but has become a luxury and his lack of discipline is shocking. And he was mighty quiet for a captain. He basically looked cheesed off. Donaldson – Who the feck gave him the playmaking. Libero role. Dzebi-Zade would have done a better job. Chalmers – Sweet left foot was noted once and then it was a case of Sweet Feck all. Polworth – Roving role again. At least he gave 100% and looked most likely to produce something. Great through ball to Bell for the goal. Vigurs – Some lovely touches but plays throughout in an area ten yards either side of the half way line. If we could afford such a luxury and have a couple of beavers beside him – well. Trafford – Dougal’s comment about fitness and diet may come in to play. He looks the part but dies after the hour. Mind you he runs for Vigurs. Tremarco – As with OFW it was nice to see him back but not as an offensive , wide player. Needs to either go back to left wing back or even central defence. And why he was not allowed to play for 90 minutes to enhance match fitness beggars belief. BELL – Starved of any delivery in the second half. No support up front. Worked his socks off and should have got a first half brace. OAKLEY – Inept and provided zilch basically. Already mentioned Robbo’s selection and tactical boo-boos.

There quite clearly is a rift in the dressing room. Players were having a go at each other, the discipline is "shot". Tactically we are shocking. Perhaps we should axe Robbo and learn from the mistake made with Foran. Only problem is that there are 5 or 6 players that should depart prior to the manager but there are no replacements for them !!

Great bet - OFW to be out injured for next game.

But Chalmers has a sweet left foot ?