Declan Gallagher returns to Jail

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/1341445-footballer-sent-back-to-prison-after-conviction-appeal-refused/

Gutted as he was by far the best defender we had.

Massive lost and definitely one of the best defenders we've had in the last ten years since relegation from SPL. All the more for getting Sives back in who I think is a better defender than Ben Gordon. Sives and Hackett should be the partnership once he's fit.

Oh dear, was hoping he'd last the season before the outcome of his appeal was heard. Can't really comment on his sentence, would like to believe he wasn't the one with the baseball bat but he's been dent down for it and will just have to do his time now.

Yep, good confident player on the ball, I fear the worst for us if Cole steps in as CB, hopefully it'll be Neill and/orf Halkett. Halkett is confident on the ball, Gordon and Neill aren't, so would be good to have Halkett in as one of our CB's as we could do with a player that will take the ball out of defence like Gallagher did.

Kakay is primarily a RB anyway (although looked good at LB too) and Longridge is doing fine at LB.

LiviCub wrote:Massive lost and definitely one of the best defenders we've had in the last ten years since relegation from SPL. All the more for getting Sives back in who I think is a better defender than Ben Gordon. Sives and Hackett should be the partnership once he's fit.

I don't rate Sives. Much prefer Gordon.

Gordon flatters to deceive. Sives is a far better footballer

orco wrote:

LiviCub wrote:Massive lost and definitely one of the best defenders we've had in the last ten years since relegation from SPL. All the more for getting Sives back in who I think is a better defender than Ben Gordon. Sives and Hackett should be the partnership once he's fit.

I don't rate Sives. Much prefer Gordon.

In my opinion, Ben Gordon is just Simon Mensing with hair. Fine at intercepting and heading but he's a glorified part-time footballer. Late in the tackle and he's got away with a fair bit because ref's must know his background during his Dumbarton and Alloa days. Technically, he's poor at passing and although he was made vice-captain at the start of the season, I think he lacks the communication skills as we've seen with some of the poor goals we've conceded this season.

People don't rate Sives because he looks laidback. He's a much better defender and footballer overall than Gordon and he thrived when he was paired up with Gallagher.

Much prefer Gordon to Sives... Gallagher is going to be a huge loss for us.

forzalfc wrote:Much prefer Gordon to Sives... Gallagher is going to be a huge loss for us.

In your opinion, why do you think Gordon is better?

I prefer Gordon to Sives too, don't rate Sives at all, he is slower than treacle going up a hill and got caught out a lot before he was injured, I think folk are just forgetting how bad he was because they've not seen him playing for months. Sives is far better going forward than he is in defence.

Gordon aint too quick either and isn't a ball player, but he's made a few goal line blocks and tackles. He has his limitations but he knows it and doesn't try to be clever with the ball, he just clears it.

TBH they've all made blunders, Neill cost us a few games with his too, and Gallagher let the ball bounce past him a couple of games back and gave up tracking the player for us to concede a goal, and as our goals against shows we're far from perfect in defence. He's confident on the ball though and was our main player for getting it out of defence without booting it up the pitch.

I think Halkett could do that type of thing, imo he'd be the best replacement for Gallagher.

Callum Carson ‏@CallumCarson34  · 3 hrs3 hours ago  
Opinion on Gallagher at Livi nothing to do with guilt/innocence. I wouldn't sign a player knowing they might not play large chunk of season.


Think he's giving Livi too much credit that they knew that, they're not exactly renowned for knowing what is going to happen. Irrespective of that though I disagree, i'd rather have had Gallagher for half the season than not at all. No different from Jan signings to try and make the team better. Gallagher stuck out like a sore thumb in defence with his imposing presence and skill on the ball.

I agree LF. If we hadn't signed him and the appeal was then upheld he'd probably be so far behind in fitness he wouldn't be worth taking on. Or someone else would have signed him...and just because we're Livi, the appeal would have been upheld

The fact we are even discussing Craig Sives starting at centre back just shows how bad we really are this season. Laughable.

We're beginning to get a bit of a Millwall/dirty Leeds reputation now eh! Employing crims, those chavs kicking off at Dumbarton last weekend. Whatever next? Dirty Livi, Dirty Livi!

Hope we resign him when he gets out!

Although the club stood by Declan,i would imagine by the time he eventualy gets out a bigger club than ours will be waiting in the wings to snap him up.God only knows where our club is gonna be at that time!Despairing Sigh!!!.

Unless he keeps himself very fit he is unlikely to get picked up by anyone of a higher level than us. Also, there is a doubt over him finding a club at all in the same way Ched Evans has served his time but been unable to resume a promising playing career. Different crimes but very similar circumstances.

He put himself in a position where he could be found guilty and is now having to pay the price for that folly/intent by way of the court system.

Separate to that and the main thing that should be concerning Livingston Football Club and it's supporters should have been the undoubted clause in his employment contract which would refer to certain standards of behaviour demanded of a representative/employee of the club.
By his own admission he was present during a vicious and serious assault and did nothing to stop nor end that assault.

Personal feelings shouldn't come in to it, his contractual commitments to a family friendly club do.

He wasn't at Livi when the assault was committed, he was at Dundee. AFAIK his behaviour on and off the pitch whilst at Livi has been exemplary.

I doubt he'll have a problem getting back into football Bertie, violent crimes don't have the same stigma as sex crimes and he's not shown any signs of being likely to repeat the violent incident. Doesn't have a rep of being a troublemaker at clubs and has shown a good attitude on the pitch whilst at Livi.

A season back at Livi and getting himself in the shop window for better things wouldn't do him any harm.

Declan is now out of jail, and going by a post on P&B (not always accurate I know) he's keen to come back to Livi.

Would certainly welcome him back!

Not sure if he's out or just in an open prison that allows him home weekends. On another forum a Dundee Utd fan said a mate of his visited him in Castle Huntly open prison.

He also said Dec was playing for Lochee Utd to keep fit but I've checked their website out and can't see anything about him on it.

I would not object to his return but while I think he may be more accomplished as a player I'm not sure he would blend with either of the current central defensive pairing, who seem to a general understanding of each other's play (not surprising for obv reasons)

I'd take him back immediately. Far better than any of the centre-halves.

Declan and Crichton at CB would be ideal!

I had heard that Gallagher was away on trial at Slovan Bratislava. Not sure how true that is given he is just out of jail and what not, but Mark Burchill is that assistant manager there, so maybe some legs to it?

Afro wrote:I had heard that Gallagher was away on trial at Slovan Bratislava. Not sure how true that is given he is just out of jail and what not, but Mark Burchill is that assistant manager there, so maybe some legs to it?

I mentioned on P&B that he had an offer of a trial there. A Utd fan told me that on the EF forum, also said Raith were wanting to sign him but were waiting till his sentence was done.