2026-27 Pre Season

[Happy Dosser]

8 hours ago, grizzlyg said:

Apparently that was pre-agreed

I thought the same: the substitution was right on the  30 minutes mark so I presumed it was planned. What did surprise me was that Thor didn't get on.

[mio]

I’ll not bring it up again as I’m not going to bully this guy but he’s not a football player. He had no idea what he was meant to do, his movement was awful and what tipped it for me was when Eli took his penalty, he stood 25yrds out looking at the east stand. He’s a striker supposedly, he should be on the edge of the box.I honestly thought we’d been duped by George Weah’s cousin. 

Anyway… on another minor point, the big lad who came on in the 2nd half? Nagunda? Or something? He’s 16yrs old!!!! 16!!!!!! I thought he was a coach when I saw him warm up at the start of the game. He actually looks like he can play but he desperately needs to shed some timber.

 

[grizzlyg]

2 minutes ago, mio said:

I’ll not bring it up again as I’m not going to bully this guy but he’s not a football player. He had no idea what he was meant to do, his movement was awful and what tipped it for me was when Eli took his penalty, he stood 25yrds out looking at the east stand. He’s a striker supposedly, he should be on the edge of the box.I honestly thought we’d been duped by George Weah’s cousin. 

Anyway… on another minor point, the big lad who came on in the 2nd half? Nagunda? Or something? He’s 16yrs old!!!! 16!!!!!! I thought he was a coach when I saw him warm up at the start of the game. He actually looks like he can play but he desperately needs to shed some timber.

 

Has MJC swapped glasses with you? 🤣🤣.  Lets give Vogt time and see how he is. Yup young Samuel that came on is a unit.  Giving these young lads game time can only benefit them.   Judging by injury list and probable sales we are going to need a few of them to be ready 

[wellfan]

On 7/15/2026 at 1:58 PM, wellfan said:

I’m afraid this season already has disaster written all over it for me.

And last night confirmed it. 

[purestate]

6 minutes ago, mio said:

 

Anyway… on another minor point, the big lad who came on in the 2nd half? Nagunda? Or something? He’s 16yrs old!!!! 16!!!!!! I thought he was a coach when I saw him warm up at the start of the game. He actually looks like he can play but he desperately needs to shed some timber.

 

Agree Ngandu looked like a football player in terms of touch and composure but physique requires a bit of work.  At 16 though he could just be in that classic growth phase. My 193cm 19yo  went through a fair few tumphy phases.  
 

only signed in July - Him and  Thompson defence of the future - while the manager still under 40 😆 

[Jonesy]

14 minutes ago, wellfan said:

And last night confirmed it. 

Fucking hell man.

[Kmcalpin]

No Zander McAllister last night? Please don't tell me he's injured as well. 

[SteelmaninOZ]

Just in case you missed this 

 

[mio]

42 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

No Zander McAllister last night? Please don't tell me he's injured as well. 

I was hoping to see him play last night, he’s the one youngster I think has a huge chance.

[Spiderpig]

1 hour ago, grizzlyg said:

Has MJC swapped glasses with you? 🤣🤣.  Lets give Vogt time and see how he is. Yup young Samuel that came on is a unit.  Giving these young lads game time can only benefit them.   Judging by injury list and probable sales we are going to need a few of them to be ready 

I take your point re the academy players, but we are 5 days away from the Euro qualifiers, and two weeks tomorrow the Premiership campaign starts, so last night should have been about getting our 1st choice 11 up to speed etc but it was a shambles.

It was a decent enough performance against a good team but, we were all over the place, 3 goals gifted to Genk by shocking defending, the new signings did not look fit especially Vogts,he looked like a competition winner getting his chance to play with the 1st team.

When you add to this the ever expanding injury list and the ongoing uncertainty over players leaving or not we are heading into the season in a pretty unprepared state. I really hope it all comes together this week and we can concentrate on getting past Havnar and into Q3, that will give us the boost we need to get off to a good start in the league, hopefully with the injury list reducing quickly.

 

[grizzlyg]

14 minutes ago, Spiderpig said:

I take your point re the academy players, but we are 5 days away from the Euro qualifiers, and two weeks tomorrow the Premiership campaign starts, so last night should have been about getting our 1st choice 11 up to speed etc but it was a shambles.

It was a decent enough performance against a good team but, we were all over the place, 3 goals gifted to Genk by shocking defending, the new signings did not look fit especially Vogts,he looked like a competition winner getting his chance to play with the 1st team.

When you add to this the ever expanding injury list and the ongoing uncertainty over players leaving or not we are heading into the season in a pretty unprepared state. I really hope it all comes together this week and we can concentrate on getting past Havnar and into Q3, that will give us the boost we need to get off to a good start in the league, hopefully with the injury list reducing quickly.

 

Yup defo a concern bud.   Thor no game time was baffling but apart from that all our first team regulars featured.  The amount unavailable is frightening.   I assume reich will be available next week also

[star sail]

I read Weeyin make a comment on this thread or possibly one of the other threads that he does not form an opinion on the team until September and I understand the reasoning behind this but unfortunately in modern football September is a long way away.

Russell Martin at Rangers had effectively lost his job by then last season. He had certainly lost a dressing room and support.

Likewise Alexander was out of a job by the end of July after the Sligo fiasco.

I think one of Askou's qualities was that his messaging was very clear and concise from the beginning. The plan was very clear. This season does not have that vibe about it although I don't think that is necessarily Johansson's fault. He has a significant rebuild on his hands.

Askou had the luxury of easing himself in with the League Cup group stage. If we remember those first few games, would last year's team have made it past the first round of a European tie against a half decent side? There is no guarantee.

I always felt that Stuart McCall never recovered from losing to Starnaan. I really worry that if Motherwell go out to HB, the knock on effect could be significant. 

I would like to think that as a support we will give AJ the first round of fixtures to stamp his mark but modern life does not really lend itself to that kind of patience.

 

 

[SteelmaninOZ]

 

[Jonesy]

3 minutes ago, star sail said:

Likewise Alexander was out of a job by the end of July after the Sligo fiasco.

 

That was a hangover from the previous season though, not from a standing start, and had been building from about March. He should really have been dealt with as soon season as the previous season had ended rather than prolong the agony. As shite as Ricki Lamie was the worst thing he ever did was score that goal v Livi or Alexander would never have made it to the Sligo game.

[SteelmaninOZ]

 

[Happy Dosser]

4 hours ago, mio said:

I’ll not bring it up again as I’m not going to bully this guy but he’s not a football player. He had no idea what he was meant to do, his movement was awful and what tipped it for me was when Eli took his penalty, he stood 25yrds out looking at the east stand. He’s a striker supposedly, he should be on the edge of the box.I honestly thought we’d been duped by George Weah’s cousin. 

 

 

In the video above of Just's penalty, isn't that Vogt toeing  the 18 yard line? Admittedly, I haven't got used to some of our new faces.

[wellfan]

Willy Vogt was utter mince last night. 

[mio]

34 minutes ago, Happy Dosser said:

In the video above of Just's penalty, isn't that Vogt toeing  the 18 yard line? Admittedly, I haven't got used to some of our new faces.

He did move forward when he realised Eli was about to take it but split seconds before it he was looking in the other direction staring at the east stand…looking oblivious to what was going on. a few of us were looking at him laughing when we really should have been concentrating on the penalty….. my lack of awareness was up there with Willy’s

[Happy Dosser]

20 minutes ago, mio said:

He did move forward when he realised Eli was about to take it but split seconds before it he was looking in the other direction staring at the east stand…looking oblivious to what was going on. a few of us were looking at him laughing when we really should have been concentrating on the penalty….. my lack of awareness was up there with Willy’s

Fairy nuff: thanks.

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

Willy Vogt was utter mince last night. 

Can't judge a guy after 30 mins.  Lets give him proper chance before we decide.

I remember telling 6 jokes and folk saying "no way is that guy a comedian"..........hmmm......🤪🤪

[wellfan]

4 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

Can't judge a guy after 30 mins.  Lets give him proper chance before we decide.

I remember telling 6 jokes and folk saying "no way is that guy a comedian"..........hmmm......🤪🤪

I’m not judging him yet. I simply noted he was shite last night. 

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

I’m not judging him yet. I simply noted he was shite last night. 

He certainly didnt make a good first impression but hopefully will come good

[FirParkCornerExile]

18 hours ago, Yabba's Turd said:

Reserve judgement, my apprentice a few years back told me he played for EK juniors, he minced around and looked awkward when he walked. Work arranged a friendly against Celtic BC, my apprentice was head and shoulders the best player on the park. 

Hopefully you're wrong and appearances are deceptive, but glass coffins etc

Looks like Don Goodman but based on that 30 mins it could be Ken Goodwin ..... unfair I know, gotta give the guy time but he does not look or move like an athletic guy.

[well_said]

1 hour ago, grizzlyg said:

Can't judge a guy after 30 mins.  Lets give him proper chance before we decide.

I remember telling 6 jokes and folk saying "no way is that guy a comedian"..........hmmm......🤪🤪

Most of us worked that out after the first joke.

[well_said]

2 minutes ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

Looks like Don Goodman but based on that 30 mins it could be Ken Goodwin ..... unfair I know, gotta give the guy time but he does not look or move like an athletic guy.

He even runs like Don Goodman.