JAG1970

A description that could equally apply to Diack unfortunately. We really need two strikers in before the season starts

Initially thought Lawrie on the left, then Forsyth, but don’t think it’s either? Then Strachan, Campbell, Rough, Gibson, Bone, Tommy Rae…..

I’d be very concerned if we now rely on loan signings to fill all the gaps. We have it seems just 13 fit players for the start of the season plus unproven youngsters. Diack is our only striker and it seems his loan spell with Airdrie didn’t exactly set the heather on fire. So we need two additions for up front, a right back, cover for central defence, the ever elusive decent defensive midfielder, and probably another attacking midfielder. That’s 6 needed. Throw in a second keeper (a loan one probably makes sense) and we would have 20 plus 2 injured. Realistically maybe 2 of the youngsters add to that. But relying on up to 7 loans (if we are actually allowed that number?) would represent nearly a third of the squad and our record in the loan market isn’t great.

A player several Jags fans hoped we would sign last season, Dom Thomas joins Ayr

Given that Barraclough’s initial online introduction was less than clear on his specific roles and responsibilities - something that was commented upon by many posters on this forum - even to the point that Barraclough himself didn’t seem entirely sure, then maybe BG wasn’t 100% clear until his interview.

Confirms he wasn’t comfortable with the sporting director oversight, although I do wonder if he would have taken it had Falkirk not called. All in the past now. https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/falkirk-fc/brian-graham-reviews-falkirk-move-and-partick-thistle-exit-5186100 scroll down to Graham reveals why he left Partick Thistle for Falkirk “Don’t get me wrong, it was a big decision to leave Partick Thistle,” he said. “I was offered the head coach role and Mark (Wilson) was going to be the assistant. I wish them well next year, it’s no hard feelings. I wish Mark and the players who are still there and whoever comes in a really good season next year. But when I said at the tail end of the year that if I wasn’t taking the manager’s job or I wasn’t getting the manager’s job, it was going to be really difficult for me to go into the changing room, I still stand by that. And when I got the opportunity to take the job on, then there’s a few things that... It’s head coach, you’re not actually the manager, you’re a head coach and I don’t think that was for me. That’s one of the reasons why I decided, do you know what, I want to just go and play for another year.

And what will be the Imrie grudge/revenge/I didn’t want your stinking job anyway match in between. Boxing gloves for him and Rae on the touch line.

Rae wouldn’t be my choice but thankfully I’m not the manager. Both will be judged on results and if they’re successful that’s all that matters.

With Bannigan and Graham away some folk on here will need to find a new scapegoat! Clearly Wilson wanted Bannigan to stay but Ayr put a higher value on him and maybe have a bigger budget too.

Penrice going to Morton would be a let down 😁

Since we have no signing news of our own yet… ”Isaac English to sign for Celtic” is a headline I’d never have believed. And not just because the one who played 147 times for us (thanks Archive!) is in his 50s now. But I wonder if the 17 year old moving from Morton to Celtic is any relation.

I don’t buy the notion that he left us simply to play (possibly) a limited number of games in the premier league. My guess is he saw the draft budget which = mid table mediocrity, going nowhere, and perhaps after hearing the boards thoughts + sporting director inputs, thought “nah, these guys don’t know what they’re doing”. Certainly the prep for the looming season looks amateurish so far.

Unfortunately I think the general view of us failing to reach a playoff spot is reasonable and I’m sure the board will be relieved if that’s the general expectation throughout the support. The only way I can see us doing better is if Wilson/Baraclough turn out to be particularly successful in recruiting fresh but relatively inexpensive talent in the next few weeks, and Wilson can blend them and some youth quickly. I’m already writing off the new season as a rebuilding one and anything other than that will be a bonus (excluding fighting off the bottom two places of course).

No surprises in the update. Wilson has spoken highly of Bannigan since he became co manager. The inevitable departure of Graham and speculation that Chalmers is leaving will free up some of the budget but that may only accommodate - or merely narrow- the gap to the new budget ceiling.

What they both said 🤙🤙