Happy Dosser

My first season was 1963 (unfortunately I missed both St John and Quinn). It's very, very difficult to gauge relative levels of playing excellence or even competence over the last sixty years (gulp!) but we were very poor when relegated in the late 60s (watch the YT vid of our defeat at Dens Park that year for example) and when we spent three years in the second division (along with Hearts). Can't imagine what people would have said then if there had been social media. No point in listing the many lows and disappointments since then but I was given hope by last Tuesday night's victory and still think we will scrape up this year. The whole of Scottish football is circling the drain, though, mainly because of the perennial incompetence of our footballing authorities and the colossal finanncial imbalance in the UK caused by the huge amounts of money pumped into the game down south, including gambling industry money (which I find particularly disgusting since it exploits the most desperate in our society). Given that, I'm not sure what kind of quality players we can afford to attract to a fan-owned club of about 4,500 hard-core fans without some rich investor chipping the odd million in. It can work for Hearts because they have a large support but we're trapped like many in an economic bind. Best we can hope for short of a Sugar Daddy is unearthing a Turnbull or Milller occasionally who will then be snapped up for relatively small change when the time comes. Loanees are a short-term option which may tide you over but can bite you on the bum, as we saw with Mika. Perhaps after about forty years in the top flight our time has finally come and the bullet can no longer be dodged but I don't actually think so. I appreciate that the brave souls who travel from far away may be close to breaking point after so much disappointment and some of it may be age-related, although I have two neighbours in the POD who remember Baldy Shaw and Andy Paton and they still seem up for it. Admittedly, they are locals and I doubt I would be travelling regularly down to FP if I lived in Perth or Inverness and we all have to decide what's worthwhile for us and our families. Living in Hamilton, I'll be there next year if we go down, if only to avoid going around Asda on the weekly shop or watching endless re-runs of Midsomer Murders on the TV. Also, I hear the FP chicken chasni pies are good, although at my age I don't think I'll risk them. I think wellgirl's positivity has rubbed off on me too. She seeems to have been through a lot for a a young person already yet still shows great commitment both to her studies and the club. Keep the faith if you possibly can, dossers. You could support West Ham......

Yes, Feed The Blair. Mind you, Bair might have had a hat trick. Hope he just keeps making those runs.

Yes, it ended well eventually but we struggled for quite a time before TM gradually sorted things out on a shoestring budget. IIRC there was one game in particular when ageing warhorse Andy Harrow was paired up front with baby-faced Andy Walker, so short we were of suitable players. There was a lot of discontent from the fans at the time.

As some of the older/vintage fans have said, it would take a lot to beat Wallace or Hynd, although Bobby Watson comes very close 😱😱😱.

Yup, summarised my thoughts on The Cheeks perfectly. The Rangers fans' break-in at Fir Park was sheer intimidation and yet went completely unpunished by the authorities. Rankles to this day. 'Nuff said.

Welcome back!

Against the West Kirk Girl Guides? Yup, a belter!

Loved that Dettol zzzzzzzzzing! I see Kirktonholme park actually has grass on the pitches now.

To add to those joys I would mention a grit-encrusted Mouldmaster ball blasted at your face or thigh on a sub-zero July day in EK.

Casey was on crutches and was wearing a moonboot in the POD yesterday so that's a certainty. Think he said he'd be out for about six weeks.

Pretty much how I saw it. I have to say that, poor as we are at the moment, I would find it hard watching St Johnstone on a weekly basis: a cynical and musclebound team with zero crativity who look as if they are following the Desperate Dan training programme. They seem to reflect Levein's "values" perfectly. Gent an upgrade today and Davor unexpectedly combative for a tiny guy. It would be sweet to start our revival in Paisley next week.

Agree couttsy: George Gent was excellent. Amazing what happens when you get played in your position. He's fast and can cross.

I thought the same at the time and so did a few of the intelligensia around me in the POD and yet it wasn't mentioned on Sportscene either. As for Paton, it looked like he was focused on the high ball but a fractional late. There was no malice in the tackle and none of the 'Dee players reacted to it at the time. I may be clutching at straws but Wilkinson's goal was surprisingly well taken and he was unlucky with another two efforts so he may be finally getting up to speed. Either that or I've taken too much cough mixture.

Yes, he seemed to have 360 degree radar where the opposition was concerned and had great awareness and so much time on the ball. He wasn't suited to Ange's frantic style and I'm not sure Rodgers is getting the best out of him either. Even his penalty against us on Saturday was a beauty, tucked right in at the post.

Dan's The Man right enough: great attitude. Wouldn't like to spill his pint.....

Way things have been recently I'm fearing the match abandoned after a downpour with us up 0-1 🤣.

One for you, MJC *lights blue touchpaper and retires*

Have to agree. I once had to get the train from Hamilton to Airbles and got caught up in the Green Brigade as they matched from the station under police escort to the ground. It was a grim experience. They abused the police verbally, even the policewomen, and behaved like a lot of thugs-in-formation, rounding it off with an obscene song about Stuart McCall, yet no arrests were made. There's not a Rizla between them and the worst (and numerous) elements of The Grayskullers but the authorities seem ultra reluctant to do anything about it. The latter's pitch invasion in 1978 at Fir Park (3-5) because they found their team 2-0 down was anarchic intimidation of the worse kind and yet the result stood and no action was taken against RFC.

You really need to stop spouting such rational and sensible comments: this is a fans' forum, after all. Have a word with yourself!

I've actually been fighting optimistic thoughts like this myself in the past few days but I thrashed myself with birch twigs this morning and successfully extinguished all hope.

Saw Theo Bair in the cleaning products/bleach/toilet-roll area in Hamilton Sainsbury's yesterday so select whatever metaphor you wish. Will he be flushed with success by 1650 tomorrow? As regards tomorrow's result, if anyone can, Kettlewell can.

Didn't we just get beaten in a league game yesterday?

Paton just for me. Pocket battleship kinda player: can tackle, pass and cuts attacking channels. Not bad for a freebie and a good spot from SK. Still think Miller is an amazing CM for a teenager: such awareness and a great range of passing, despite getting kicked by the opposition. Hope he holds up physically.

Thought that was the best we've played in ages as far as passing and moving were concerned. Obviously we need a cutting edge, like SM's left-back 🤣. They were brutal and shared out their fouls nicely to avoid the red-card treatment from the ref. Dunne's simulation was really pathetic and deserved a card, imbo. They'll get fun' oot over the length of the season though and as our forward players return (Biereth in particular) I'm sure we'll surpass them in the league. Lennon Miller is quite incredible for his age. Jim McLean would have had him on a contract until 2035. A sore one today but no time to brood with games against THe Ghastlies coming up.