DoofersDad

Make that 3 bookings.. Chalmers now.

Don't count your chickens yet. Falkirk scored 4 in the 2nd half on Saturday

3-0 and a first goal for Jake! I decided not to go tonight because I am still recovering from a virus. By the sounds of things, having a bit of a relapse would have been well worth it. Keep it up lads!

HT 0-1 FT 1-2 ICT Polworth Opp Longridge Crowd 1892

The problem is, they are on different wavelengths.

There was talk about this last year. It would be a radical change and I can't see it being introduced without some fairly major consultation. However, it has been a mainstay of the Green Party's policy since well before the Ecology Party changed it's name to the Green Party and I wonder if a commitment to consult on this with a view to it's introduction is part of any deal with the Greens to get the SNP budget through. I think this would be a really positive development which should simplify the benefits and tax systems. A real advantage is that it allows people who are able only to do small amounts of part time or seasonal work to be able to see the full value of the money they have earned. Of course, this has to be paid for and somewhere in the middle there will be folk whose tax will need to go up by as much as the basic income they receive, whilst for higher earners it would be more. That will not go down well with many and therefore this is another reason for careful and widespread consultation.

He'll be company for Draper on the bench. It is actually quite remarkable how many players have left us for significantly more money elsewhere and then play precious little football. It's a nice little earner for a couple of years but does nothing for longer term career prospects. Back on topic, if there is a pitch inspection tomorrow then it sounds as though we are economising with the under soil heating. No bad thing if someone forgot to switch it on after the Bairns sudden return to form. Whilst it's not going to be so cold tonight, it is not exactly going to be thawing weather.

Maybe Donaldson has picked up one of the various viruses which are currently circulating?

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT Tremarco Opp Reilly Crowd 3242

I’m not sure what Vigurs first yellow was for. At the time I thought it was for an attempted tackle which the Livvi player skipped over. If so, it was hardly a reckless challenge - unlike Polworth’s and to me it seems he has been harshly treated. Prior to that incident there had been a couple of reckless tackles against us which went unpunished. There is just no consistency. vigurs was superb before his dismissal and with him on the park I think we would have won comfortably. Nice to see Raven get a good send off, but TBH he was mince today. Ridgers very solid again. A sound performance from Warren. Mulraney showed Polworth how to tackle. Doran was excellent. Austin looks like a great signing.

Came on at half time with Elgin 1-0 down. They then shipped a further 6. Doesn’t sound as though he had a very positive impact on th game!

HT 1-1 FT 2-2 ICT Baird Opp Todorov Crowd 2166 1st Yellow Vigurs

HT. 0-0 FT 0-2 ICT. Polworth Opp. Layne Crowd 906 1st Yellow. Tremarco

No idea whether it’s a justified red or not, but what a sad and unfortunate way for Dave to end his distinguished career here.

HT 0-0 FT 0-2 ICT Vigurs Opp Harkins Crowd 1484

It does seem that Tullochs have extracted some money from the club in return for what they have given it, but nevertheless this latest statement sounds more positive than we could reasonably have hoped for. I have to be the first to admit that I am clueless about business wheeling and dealing but this does sound as though this offers the stability required to allow for new investment and for taking the club forward once again.

I'll second that.

Just because Tulloch have helped the club in the past does not mean they will always do so in the future. I have no doubt that they are genuine in wanting the club to prosper and are willing to play a part in that, however, their priority will always be the success and security of their business. If the interests of the club conflict with the interests of the business then you can be sure which interest they will prioritise. I'm afraid I can't make the AGM but I will be very interested to hear what transpires.

I felt we really missed Vigurs in midfield today. Polworth worked his socks off and whilst he had a couple of decent efforts on goal his weakness were rather apparent today. He tries to play the telling through ball but too often he delays too long or simply misplaces the pass and loses possession. And for a central midfielder he simply doesn't win enough ball. Chalmers is generally solid enough. He gets into space and moves the ball quickly but rarely to any telling effect. Trafford is much the same although probably a better ball winner. I think Alex makes an excellent point about defending from the front. It was often the 3 at the front who nipped in and dispossessed the Dumbarton midfield and prevented attacks developing. Without that, and in the absence of Vigurs, there would have been a lot more pressure on our defence. Our good defensive record recently is a reflection of a great all round team effort and having a very astute manager. But we do need to create and take more chances if we are to make the play offs. I thought Mulraney did pretty well in that regard today, he varied his play well, was determined in the tackle and gave a good team performance. It seemed to me that he tweaked a muscle in the 2nd half and maybe should have come off sooner. We need to get a better understanding between the midfield and our front men as there were several instances today when opportunities to create a chance were lost. Another very commanding performance from Ridgers. All these clean sheets seem to be giving him and the back four confidence in themselves and each other. All in all, not the prettiest of games but a very important win and far more positives than negatives.

The Carl & Coll show.

This (deserved) adulation for Raven and Tremarco is a bit of a contrast to not so long ago when fans used to chant that Greg Tansey (remember him?) was "the only decent thing to come from Liverpool".

HT 1-0 FT 1-0 ICT Polworth Opp Walsh Crowd 2098

You might need to buy the stands as well.

Carl hasn't quite shown the level of form he had before his injury but clearly his return has significantly strengthened our defence. His signing is a huge boost. I think his value is not just what he does as a defender but the influence his attitude has on others.

Those are both bits of good news certainly. But one thing I haven't seen or heard mentioned regarding the Brexit vote, is that apart from it upholding the principle of parliamentary democracy, it surely helps in Britain getting a better deal? The EU are bargaining hard with the UK Government confident that a Government that is committed to leave the EU will be prepared to leave on a tough deal for the UK. Now that the deal has to be approved by parliament, the EU may feel it has to consider what parliament will be prepared to accept. I suspect that Parliament will not accept the kind of deal that the Government would be prepared to accept. The other thing about this is that the referendum is not binding in law and Parliament could decide that if they don't think the deal is a good deal for the UK, rather than leave with no deal as the Government is saying, we simply withdraw our application to leave and stay in the EU. Having said that, one often gets the impression that lots of people are saying that if they'd known then what they know now, they would never have voted for leave. However, whilst polls do now show a majority in favour of remaining in the EU, it is only a small shift in opinion from the referendum result. Interesting times ahead I think.