Team for 2018-19

Liviforever wrote:Looked Dolly Manga up and his wiki page stats aint good, 57 appearances for his last 4 teams without a goal, then 4 goals in 18 appearances before that. Not sure what we're looking for here, unless he's like Lee Miller and is good at the physical side of things and more suited to providing goals. Apart from Hardie though we're not exactly blessed with goal scoring strikers.

Interesting one with Skelton though, both he and Holt were in the running for the manager's job, didn't expect us to sign them both up.

Yes; his actual goals scored against performances is pretty poor; he's actually more effective on the international stage but not a huge amount in it. He does seem to have quite a number of "assists" to his name though.

Bertie Bassett wrote:

Durnford wrote:

Bertie Bassett wrote:Lawson is predominantly a defensive midfielder according to Martindale, don’t see how that affects right back?

According to his profile he's a right back first and foremost but he can play central defence or midfield.

Actually I believe that's Brown's description also.

Which profile are you meaning? I've quoted Martindale...are we saying DM doesn't know his RBs from his DMs?

Frankly I wouldn't take anything Martindale says as gospel although his knowledge about some things as significantly wider than mine but that's another story.

I was going by one of the European soccer sites which quoted him as preferred right back; a lot of player change in their career e.g. McPake started as a forward/striker and Craig Barr also change positions. Sometimes but necessity and sometime they find they're better in this position.

Having looked at the clips of Dolly Menga it does look like he's very similar in position and playing style to Egil Kaja. His scoring record is pretty poor, in spite of some sites classifying him as a forward, but the clips seem to indicate he's more of a winger (right side) and has a pretty impressive number of "assists".

If he does sign up that will mean we have two internationals in the side; I cant remember that since we had Davide Xausa and Marvin Andrews (or perhaps Andrews and Toure Maman Cherif( (sp)).

EDIT - actually Didn't I read somewhere that Kaja was also a full international although I think he was an unused sub so not sure if we can really count that one.

Looks like a replacement for Mullin then, hopefully see Pittman getting further up the pitch for his crosses into the box, Pitts is pretty good at scoring goals from those kind of balls.

Durnford wrote:Having looked at the clips of Dolly Menga it does look like he's very similar in position and playing style to Egil Kaja. His scoring record is pretty poor, in spite of some sites classifying him as a forward, but the clips seem to indicate he's more of a winger (right side) and has a pretty impressive number of "assists".

If he does sign up that will mean we have two internationals in the side; I cant remember that since we had Davide Xausa and Marvin Andrews (or perhaps Andrews and Toure Maman Cherif( (sp)).

EDIT - actually Didn't I read somewhere that Kaja was also a full international although I think he was an unused sub so not sure if we can really count that one.

Kaja was called up and an unused sub... for Albania U21s

Menga doesn't seem to have great reviews, but neither did Iain Russell, Alan Lithgow, and I'm sure a few others down the years.

Dolly Menga signs on a 2 year deal, looks very quick and skilful, could be a very good signing.

Well hello Dolly. http://livingstonfc.co.uk/hello-dolly/


Starting to get a song theme going with our latest couple of signings, who's next, it'll be disappointing if we can't make a song out of his name.

Bobby Burns on loan from Hearts. https://livingstonfc.co.uk/lions-land-burns/


Seems like a utility player, unless he's absolutely brilliant I can't see who we'd be dropping for him to play.

And we've apparently been linked with Cammy Smith from St. Mirren who has apparently had a fall-out with Stubbs and has been told he can leave.

We are limited to only playing eleven per game (plus subs) aren't we?

I really don't get the point of loan players unless they are better than what we have - surely they are loaned out to get game time & if that is the case they need to be better than the guys already here.

Bertie Bassett wrote:I really don't get the point of loan players unless they are better than what we have - surely they are loaned out to get game time & if that is the case they need to be better than the guys already here.

Have to agree 100%. We saw the case several times last season with our players being kept on the bench whist we were playing loanee's that were barely any improvement on what we had already. The notable exceptions to that were obviously Hardie and possibly Penrice.

This season obviously Brown has been highlighted as a player for a position where we already have significant cover. Maybe the parent club are playing all of his wages but if that's so I would imagine they were expecting him to play a certain number of games. McMillan in particular has shown glimpses of becoming a really good squad player; its hardly fair to keep him out for someone who's being developed on behalf of another club.

Kaja is one I would probably argue for; although we have several wingers; whenever he's come on he's managed to really shake things up (bit like Josh Mullen used to do in his early days before going off the boil with all the paper talk). He does seem to have a lot more impact coming on as a substitute as opposed to starting so can easily co-exist with Lawless and Cadden.

Not sure about Burns but was shaken when I looked on his twitter account to see he was celebrating getting his exam results in (2A* and an A level) - makes you remember how young these kids really are (coming from a guy who will be getting his concession season ticket in 2022).

I read that Brown has gone back to Millwall and that he was up here as a favour from Kenny Miller because he is a friend of his agent. Walked straight into the team against Celtic too. It was all about Kenny Miller. Tae hell with the team. Well rid!

orco wrote:I read that Brown has gone back to Millwall and that he was up here as a favour from Kenny Miller   because he is a friend of his agent. Walked straight into the team against Celtic too. It was all about Kenny Miller. Tae hell with the team. Well rid!

Yeah the more you read about things with Miller the more relieved I am to have got rid of him. And just on evidence of what I was seeing on the pitch I was getting despondent with him in charge.

Read a few articles about Burns now and think he could be a decent signing, seems to have a Toddy type attitude on him and a real drive to do well. Not sure where he'll play yet right enough but can fit in anywhere down the left hand side and in midfield.

I said from before we gave him the job that Miller was not the right man for the job. Apart from his goal against Annan, assist for Hammy against Berwick & clearance off the line at Parkhead his most significant contribution was claiming & taking a throw in before the Lino had even flagged it out of play. But the biggest thing for me was his insistence on picking himself.

Holt has come across as much more in tune with our playing style.

Interestingly, there is no sign of James Brown in the playing squad...and Ryan Hardie has been switched to the recently vacated number 9 shirt from the number 19 he seemed to have assigned to him.

Sibbald had a hernia op and should be back with Hardie for the Hamilton game.

Almost took a funny turn when I saw this headline on the BBC website. Kilmarnock sign Byrne and Enobakhare

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45372402

Brilliant news, A win today will make this weekend magical

http://livingstonfc.co.uk/pitz-staying-put-till-2020/

Absolutely brilliant news. He clearly enjoys playing for the club as he never seems to have any issues when he gets offered a new deal. He has been outstanding for us since joining & seems to be capable of playing to a very high level with an equally high level of consistency.

Bertie Bassett wrote:Absolutely brilliant news. He clearly enjoys playing for the club as he never seems to have any issues when he gets offered a new deal. He has been outstanding for us since joining & seems to be capable of playing to a very high level with an equally high level of consistency.

Seem to remember reading his dad (or was it his agent/someone else?) was annoyed at him for signing his last deal so early as he should have waited until we were promoted so he could get a better deal or something like that. Love how he wasn't thinking about that and just wanted to stay at Livi.

Fans love a player who wants to be at the club and gives his all, makes it better when they're great players too. He was playing in the same team as Darren Cole as well, two completely different people.

Interesting piece on Dolly Menga from one of his previous managers:

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dolly-menga-profiled-former-boss-13357826

Our 'big agricultural hammer throwers' aren't living up to their rep. Only team in the Premiership not to have had a red card.

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There have been 18 red cards in the #SPFL Premiership so far this season.

Rangers 4
Hamilton 3
Motherwell 2
St.Mirren 2
Celtic 1
St.Johnstone 1
Hibernian 1
Dundee 1
Kilmarnock 1
Aberdeen 1
Hearts 1
Livingston 0

Haven't had a penalty either.

Should've had one for Menga being pushed about but instead Lamie got his goal chopped off. Halkett should've had one against Celtic in the season opener too, and there were a couple of shouts in the Sevco away game. Instead we have Celtic and Hearts getting dodgy pens against us, sigh!

We need a Danny Mullen type if we are to get penalties. Our guys are a bit too honest sometimes.

orco wrote:We need a Danny Mullen type if we are to get penalties.  Our guys are a bit too honest sometimes.

Prefer the honesty to be honest