Scottish 1-2-3 Close Season News & Link Dump

[kompressaur]

BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish League | Division One ins and outs

Clyde look pretty much like last year so far to me. Theyre always hard to beat and with Hendry as manager im sure that they will be that bit harder to beat this season. I cant see them troubling..actually ive no idea who their not gonna trouble. Lets read on....

Ive no idea what the Dundee signings could be like. Isnt this Rae's first transfer window? The fans will be wanting a better season than last and the pressure will be on them to start challenging again. It wouldnt suprise me if they did.

Dunfermline seem to have lost all their loan deals which they got to try and stay up. I havent got the odds in front of me but i suppose they would be 1st or 2nd favs. Probably not with me though.

I dont know what to make of Hamilton this year. they ook stronger i presume but i wouldnt like to comment.

Livingston's new manager will have had a chance to get a good look at his team and they should be better for it. Tweed to East Fife looks a good signing for East Fife. Livi could be anything this year i suppose. I would have to see how they start. They need to improve their home form this season if they want to have any chance. Doesn't look too strong a league so far so you never know their chances.

Kieren Mcanespie should fit in well at Morton. He's a bit of a flair player and is prone to being imense and inspiring one week and anonomous the next. just like Morton were to me. It's a bit of a leap 2nd to 1st imo and i think Morton will just be lookng at consolidating themselves this year. They could suprise mind.

Partick, new manager, new team, who knows. Mccall aint no mug mind and all his signings look good on paper to me. The Albion rovers pair and especially Hinchcliff in goals. I think Partick could go well actually. I quite like the sound of them so far.

New manager at QOS to take Mccall's place. the lose of the two lads going back to Kimarnock isnt good for them. I think i would have to see 2 or 3 more exceptional signings befre..actually i just couldnt consider QOS

St Johnstone look interesting really. Daal from aberdeen coming down and weatherston coming up from Queens Park. Lost some good players in Mensing, Scotland and Halliwell. Hard to call but i think the could be worse for the transfer dealings.

Actually so i think that leaves me with fancying.....absolutely no-one I better go see some odds as thats what akes your mind up.

Dundee 8/1 skybet
Partick 14/1 betfred

look about the best things i can see but i wouldnt back either

[kompressaur]

BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish League | Division Two ins and outs

Bloody hell Airdrie have lost a few due to relegation no doubt. Dont get me wrong it looks as if theyve held onto their 'names' (of whom i forget as it feels like years since i looked at a scotttish game) Could be anything i suppose.

Alloa have lost the bulk of last years team and most of their 'star' players. Maitland the manager ois no mug though and the players he's brought in must have the ability although the Fairnbairn signing from Raith looks a bit dodgy. I can't see Alloa challenging at all and i fore a 3rd season fighting relegation.

Ayr have strengthend well and havent lost anyone of note from what i can see. Moore should be worth a few goals to them too when not suspended. Bloody hell they have Hamilton too from stranraer. Wasnt he their top scorer last season even though he's a midfielder? With the midfield talent and flair ayr already have with Weaver and that boy from St Johnstone i think they will be definate title challengers. Surely?

Berwick look better for the transfer procedings too and could go well especially early on as they seem to have quite a settled squad. I cant see them being any better than mid table though.

Brechin look an interesting prospect with these three signings-
Martin Johnston, forward (Elgin City); Adam Nelson, midfielder (Elgin City); Gary Fusco, midfielder (Cowdenbeath) Very nice. Im looking forwar dto seeing how Nelson and Johnston get on in Div 2. should be a cracking league this year by all accounts.

Cowdenbeath look like they have been raped. Relegation beckons i think.

Peterhead look relativly unchanged. I would say that they would need a few more players especially a striker to partner Bavidge. I cant see them challenging with the squad that they have so far.

Im supised by a few of the players leaving Raith especially those to East Fife (east fife must be great this season) I think the raith manager will enjoy getting his own players in and Lsoan and Borris are well proved at this level. Raith could be anything and i can see them being top 5.

Ross County with Dick Campbell thats a hard one to work out. Golabek signing is a suprise. I thought he was off to Livi. Look pretty strong on paper. Have to be there or there abouts. Either that or Campbell will be sacked by October.

Raith 7/2 favs thats a suprise to me.

Ayr 15/2 Stan James. I could like that. 1/5th the odds 1-2-3. Aye Ayr look a solid e/w fancy to me so far. New manager arrived late in the season and he'll have got to know his team and Moore and Hamilton will fit in nice.

[kompressaur]

BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish League | Division Three ins and outs

Bloody hell Albion Rovers new manager John McCormack has a job on his hands. Looks like he's lost every good player his team had and from looking at that he hasnt put his hand in his pocket yet. Ill wait and see what happens but i think i can discount Albion as being challengers at the mo.

Aye your right Edin thats a fair few players youve lost there. Montrose are your local rivals are they not? Aye looks like glum faces from arbroath fans this pre-season so far Edin. It just shows you the diff a couple of games makes. If you had went up you would have kept all your players and strengthened no doubt. Instead it looks like your playing catch up to East Fife and montrose. I think even a play-off spot looks a bit distant for you Edin.

Actually im tired. im going to bed. Baird at Montrose looks a good signing too. Im pretty sure he was retty good in this league when on loan from St Miren to errrr someone either last season or the one before. Stenhousmuir look stronger too. Finally cleared all that dead wood.

Bloody hell you guys being 2nd favs must be a joke Edin right?

East fife best priced 12/5 with William Hills.

Montrose 14/1 right im away to back them e/w for the league and i'll see you all later TDP fans

[slobic]

What about Shire ,is there any chance for them not to finish bottom this season????

[kompressaur]

by the looks of it Elgin and Albion rovers will be giving them a run for their money slobic. Still look pretty poor all in. Edin will tell you that them buying Joe Savage shows no ambition on their part. I think its gonna be tight slobic. Actually i shouldnt comment slobic as i aint all that well read at the moment.

Maybe someone out there looking in can share a few thoughts. Be nice to see some new faces about the place.

[slobic]

Thanks Komp. but they are still poorest right ,and Albion,Elgin and the rest of Clubs in this division are still beter then Shire??I am not familiar with lower Scotish divisions so I am trying to find some answers here,because you guys are the best

[kompressaur]

Truth be told slobic i go on a bit of a 'scottish-shutdown' in the summer the past 3 seasons since i took up the summer aussie game. I tend to just concentrate on that and then start heading towards the scottish stuff a week or so before with my ante post line. I always take it easy start of season so it gives me plenty of time to find out whos got who etc.

At this moment in time i would say that Elgin quite possibly could be worse than them with the 3 main players theyve lost. I'll need to reead up slobic and wouldnt like to comment too much though. Maybe someone else can fill us in on East Stirling and Elgin more.

[kompressaur]

I suppose what i am saying slobic is that i wouldnt put any money on East Stirling right now to be the worst team.

[kompressaur]

Goalkeepers

Charlie Fox
Joe Malin

Defenders

Allan Dempsie
Craig Campbell
Paul Kaczan
Hugh Dickson
Kenny Gilbert

Midfielders

David Hind
Steven MacKay
Mark Smith
Ross O'Donnoghue
David Ross

Forwards

Martin Charelsworth
Willie Martin

Don't think i've missed anyone.

So this squad doesn't look the best on paper, but we seem to have a strong backbone there with the same defence from last season and Hindsy and MacKay in midfield. I think we're ok in the defence dept, maybe a bit weak in midfield and up front it looks worrying. Not a lot of cover for Martin and Willie.

Kenny Gilbert said on teletext the other day they dont expect any more signings soon, thats surely a bit worrying. We're a few players away from having a big enough squad.

Current Sqaud

posted on the 8th of June. Regarding Mark Smith-

We've just brought in Mark Smith, a central midfielder who scored 15-20 goals a season in the highland league

and this since....

ROBBIE Williamson mourned the departure of another of his Elgin City stars this week when midfield ace Steven MacKay joined Peterhead.

City's boss called MacKay's surprise move to Buchan a "real kick in the teeth" and admitted he had a struggle on his hands to locate a replacement for the left-sided midfielder

Northern Scot: MacKay move leaves Elgin boss seething

Not looking that good for Elgin really. I reckon theyd even give me a game. Is that Willie Martin ex Arbroath ex most of the teams in the league?

[kompressaur]

oh i forgot this too-

Elgin will go with very small pool
By Craig Christie
Published: 15 June, 2007
FINANCIAL restrictions will lead Elgin City to operate with one of their smallest player pools next season.

Team manager Robbie Williamson's restrictive budget has almost been used up taking new signings like Mark Smith, Ross O'Donoghue and Willie Martin to the club.

And though he admits that he is looking to add further faces to his squad, numbers will be limited.

"With the budget I've got, it could be the tightest squad Elgin's ever had," Williamson admitted.

"At the moment I've got 13-14 players signed, and I'm looking to run with 16-18 players, along with a couple of young boys as back-up."

Discussions with Caley Thistle and Ross County about proposed loan signings have stalled with both clubs still considering their own squad-building process before making any decisions.

Veteran midfielder David Ross has not yet committed to signing from Clach but will join the rest of the pool for pre-season training when it restarts on June 26 and the City boss said he was confident the player would join up for Third Division football in the new term.

Williamson himself will miss the start of training as he embarks on his UEFA 'B' Licence course at Largs a week tomorrow.

But he warned his players that some hard sessions lay ahead.

"It's no hidden secret that with me, fitness is very important.

"So there will be a very tough six weeks for them all, but they will definitely feel the benefit when the season starts."

Northern Scot: Elgin will go with very small pool

need to look at East Stirling later. Usually some good info here-
eaststirlingshirefansforum :: View Forum - General Board

[slobic]

Thank's Komp. you have been very helpfull!!

[kompressaur]

I'll post any titbits of info from P&B that could give us a bigger picture alll round-

Which players signed by the other clubs seem like good signings to you?

I think Pat Keogh at Stranraer can be a very good signing, he was always excellent for Clyde, although he might be getting on a bit now, but he should still do a job in this division.

Brian McPhee at Dumbarton is someone every fan loves to hate, he's haunted so many sides in the lower leagues for years, this should continue although he's not getting any younger, i'd still expect him to get a few goals.

Elliot Smith was a great full back for us last season, and he should keep that up at Forfar, along with big Ovenstone who can be an important player for the Loons at the back. Martyn Fotheringham is also a player i've always rated.

Stenny's Tam Murdoch is highly rated in the junior ranks. If he can steer clear of bookings and red cards then he can play a vital role for them and their young squad. That is however, a big if. Steven Hampshire could also score a few, surely he's not as pish as his brother?

Mark Peat is a good solid goalkeeper, which is something Montrose haven't had for a while

The Pie Shop > Impressive Opposition Signings

Stranraer could be interesting with a whole new team poss. Looks like a great league this year with East Fife, Montrose, Dumbarton, stranraer and possibly Stenhousmuir & Forfar all being expected to be going well.

Sounds like East Stirling only resigned 6 players from last years squad. The 2 they got in from East Fife are supposedly beter than what theyre used to
The Pie Shop > Shire Sign East Fife Duo

Theyre being able to offer players wages this season too which could be very important. Theres a norwegian fan club started up too
norwayshire.no :: Vis Forum - English section

I hate that when people support teams because their shit. If i was an East Stirling fan i'd tell them all to fcuk off the patronising bastards. Sorry about that

A Montrose fan on the current squad-

Currently there isn't sufficient depth in our squad for us to even make the play-offs IMO, so I'd have to agree with Simon.

Probably ok in defence, though a left back would give us the option of switching from JW's preferred 3 at the back formation.

Up front Rogers and Baird looked a good pairing in the last few games of the season but Rogers temperament and Baird's relative inexperience, mean that I've yet to be convinced that they can produce the goods and there is absolutely no back up for them now that Michie's gone.

Biggest worry of all for me is the midfield which was bereft of creativity last year. Certainly need a couple of additions in that department who are capable of opening up defences.

Not sure about the young keeper McKenzie either if Peat were to sustain a long-term injury.

Hopefully the signings mentioned will materialise. Heard that 2 youngsters from a SPL side have been targetted for loan deals and would jump at the chance to have Stephen Black back.

Re lack of activity when JW was on holiday over the past few weeks, surely this has to preferable to players being brought to the club without the manager's approval as happened last summer? Thankfully I am told that JW just wouldn't stand for that.

oh and this from a St J fan-

There is a good article with Jim Weir and Kevin McGowne in the Perthshire Advertiser today. It'll appear online at some point in the next few days no doubt, when they update their website.

Says McGowne turned down a couple of full-time First Division clubs to sign for Montrose and he's taken great pleasure in stealing three players from your rivals!

The aim for the season is to make the play-offs according to Weir.

Aye sod it im behind my big pal Chalky Mcgowne. A couple of more ambitious signings and Montrose could well be half the price.

[kompressaur]

well maybe a lot shorter in price. You can get 14/1 bt i cant so i'll have-

Montrose @ 12/1 3pts e/w (1/5 odds 1-2-3) William Hill

just now and see what happens

[kompressaur]

bbc div 1-2-3 news
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Bbbcscots123

latest from a few forums
http://feeds.feedburner.com/CopyOfScotforums

[kompressaur]

Partick have got Steven Murray from Kilmarnock. He was good for new boss on loan at QOS last season. Partick are starting to look like potential challengers to me. If they can just start using their staduium and support work for them in home games this season then they should go well. All the right ingredients infact. I'll need to go through their signings again but ive a feeling i'll have an e/w bet on them sooner than later.

Anyone tell us anything about James Sharp who was at Rochdale last season?



Looks like a big no nonsense sort of player.

In contrast Brian Fairnbairn ex Raith now at Alloa looks like he's just left school


on left (ob)

Something doesnt sound right with this-

Shire manager Gordon Wylde said: "Shire fans who remember his three seasons with us know him as an attack-minded left back.

"But he has been signed as a goal-getting centre forward."

"He is not the player that left the club three years ago," said Wylde. "He is older, bigger, stronger and, more importantly, has been converted into a decent striker.

oh