Pre Season Games

Yeah I noticed that too, that Mullen was on the left wing a lot instead of centre, and he was too far apart for knock downs when a long ball was played up to Todorov.

Anyone know if there is a problem with Carrick? Don't think Cadden has played yet either.

Read Longridge had an OP during the close season but is back training, as had one of our new signings, but both will be ready to go by the time the season starts.

Supposedly signing a keeper in the next couple of days, hope it's a good one. Neil Alexander has been at our last 2 games.

Neil was in for a chat last week, nothing was signed though.

Killie 1-0 Livi.

Another defeat but sounds like we did well again and had a good run out, wasn't at the game so just popped on for a look at Callum Carson's twitter. Carrick got half an hour which is good too.

Jammy burgers hit the bar and it came back off Alexander's head and into our net, much like the Hearts game a bit of luck involved for them beating us.

We've played 3 Premiership teams and held our own against them, which bodes well for the season against Championship teams, still not had a settled front 2 yet but maybe have Carrick and Mullen on Wednesday. That's the only area we're not quite there at yet, midfield and defence/keeper is ready to go.

We did better than well; for large parts of the game I think a neutral would have struggles to know which was the premiership team.

The triple save that Alexander pulled off in the first half fully vindicated Hopkins efforts to sign him.

Both the Mullins boys caused plenty of problems; Pittman and Jacobs weren't as effective as they were in the Motherwell game mainly because they were being played further apart.

Halkett had another excellent game with maybe one drop in concentration which we neaarly got punished for.

Gallagher has one awful haircut; what was he thinking?

Knox had another pretty confident half game; seems to be really sitting in nicely.

De vita's passing was excellent again but he was far too static for the rest of the team.

Lithgow did well with one criticism; namely his constant wish always to play the ball with his right foot; delaying until he'd swapped over meant that he nearly got caught out a couple of times.

In the second half Mackin was unimpressive until about 15 - 20 minutes into the second half and then he seemed to click; battling; winning headers; chasing for the ball and winning it - he showed promised.

Toderov came on and showed exactly what we expected of him; combative; mixing it; continually winning the ball in the air etc.

However the one boy who really impressed me was Peters; he ran the right side of the Killie midfield and defence ragged. Some were getting really wound up and frustration was clearly building up.

Oglvie showed promise but Sampson and Hamilton were really on the pitch for too short a time to make any real impact.

At the end of the day we lost the game by one goal but we certainly didn't get beat.

If the strikers can start to see some reward for all their efforts I'm really starting to get quite excited about the coming season.

Hopefully they are saving the goals for when it really matters...

Really pleased with the team today. And what a pleasure to have Alexander back. He inspires confidence.

That was some triple save by Alexander, pisser it hitting off his head for the goal though, he didn't deserve that after the performance he put in, def quality signing that will save us a few points this season.
Good save by Maley when he came on too, he's a very decent shot stopper i'll give him that.




Mackin reportedly playing a lot better, hopefully the other 2 games I saw him in he was just finding his feet and he'll be a bit more lively once we get going. If we can just start scoring goals we'd be a really good looking team, and I think we'll surprise a few Championship teams too, I think we're rated about the same as Brechin by these so called experts in the media and the bookies,

Don't mind the experts rating us as relegation material, we might be, time will tell but it will make it all the sweeter if we aren't

I don't think we'll concede many goals so we wont have to score as many either, draws and 1-0 wins would do us this season. Don't know if our fans will have the patience for that though.

Took a trip along to Rugby Park on Saturday to see us. First time I've watched us so far this year, and I was quite impressed, bearing in mind it was a friendly. I can only echo the comments about the midfield that were made during the first two games - very energetic, and I think the five across the park will be a big aid to us this season. Was impressed in particular with Danny, who I thought held the line very well given he had no-one up there with him for the majority of the first half; Keaghan looks a helluva lot trimmer and sharper as a consequence; Halkett and Gallagher looked very assured against a top-flight (maybe pushing it) attack; and Alexander looks an inspired signing already, his double save was a particular highlight of the day.

The lack of goals is concerning but it's definitely not for the want of trying on our part. Mackin was unlucky with his header in the second half, once he started putting himself about he looked half decent. Can see there being a good bit of rotation up front even during the League Cup games to see who is partnering Danny.

Looking forward to the Sunderland game on Wednesday, it'll be a very good test for us against a group including international players before the Partick game on Saturday.

Not much to say about the score line other than it flattered Sunderland. Maley had a mare and the two goals after he came on were gifts. In fact we sold the first goal to them too when we lost possession with slack play in defence, Alexander made a good save but it went out to another Sunderland player and he fired it in from the edge of the box, good goal but shouldn't have happened.

Not much you can take from the game once about 16 players come on for both teams, a whole new outfield team for Sunderland. Again we looked decent against higher opposition and it was another good run out to get us ready for competitive games.

A generally enjoyable game spoiled by the single thought...

I hope Alexander doesn't get injured.

I was about to post 'or Mullen' getting injured, then I read on P&B that both him and Knox were going on trial at Cardiff next week. If we lose Mullen then I think we'd struggle to stay up this season because the other strikers we have aren't going to be good enough. Knox is looking good in pre season games but we've never relied on him so wouldn't be a loss, Mullen though, absolutely can't afford to lose him.

On the other hand, if the money is right, maybe we can't afford to not sell him?

I think we need to keep him but if another team makes a decent bid it might be hard to say no.

Yeah but look what happened to Dundee Utd when they sold their best players to Celtic, relegation would hurt us far more than not selling him.
It's more because the season is about to start that this has thrown me though, if it had been a month or so ago we'd be saying ok, good luck to him and lets see who we're bringing in to replace him, doesn't give much time now and is a bit unsettling.

We'll get an idea of what it'll be like without Mullen in our midweek cup game though, if he's away on trial we'll have to play St Mirren with two of the other strikers.

Hopkins said at the fans forum that he wants players who want to be here. If another team can offer players better wages etc then it would be hard to keep them.
As you say though the timing is crap. I was just starting to allow myself to get a wee bit optimistic there too. Been a Livi fan long enough to know better!
If they go maybe a decent loan player would be the answer but that's always a gamble too. Ah well.

I think realistically Mullen is not going to be another Buchanan. If he gets 15 goal then that would be an excellent season for him. He's good at moving the ball and winding up the opposition and at least once a game he gets the opportunity to break free of the defence and almost be one-on-one with the goalkeeper but it doesn't often end in a goal. As a player he is entertaining to watch; full of grit and fire and he would be missed.

However; from the Killie game; it does look like Peter's has the possibility of taking on that mantle. I would also like to think Carrick had as well but, all too often, he close but not close enough.

Machin has really come on since his first (relatively unimpressive) game and Toderov seems to settled as well.

The two youngster maybe also deserve a chance.

As the midfield continue to settle I'l sure they will continue to get better and better service.

Incidentally does anyone know why Creighton hasn't appeared in any of the friendlies?

Is he injured (Didn't appear to be at Killie)?

Cummings and Dobbie got 19 league goals and were the top scorers last season, so 15 would be really good in this league. I think Mullen could do it though. He's got a good variety of goals in his locker, 25 yarders and poachers goals. Pittman can score them too right enough but needs to be playing just behind the strikers.

Still not seeing what you're seeing in Mackin, he's just so slow and only has one gear to him, frustrates the shit out of me watching him.

Yeah Crighton isn't getting a look in, we've brought on trialists at the back and not seen him at all in the pre season games. Lithgow seems to have got the nod along with Halkett and Gallagher in a back 3. The trialist who came on for Gallagher looked quite good, wouldn't mind signing him up as back up, was strong against very physical Sunderland players and didn't get pushed around.

Not seen Cadden playing either, just Mullin and Knox with De Vita over on the other wing.

If Danny did go I would 100% be in favour of us re-investing some of the transfer fee in Ryan from Airdrie. Reckon he would be a good player in the Championship for us, and we need goals.

Best scenario from my perspective is Danny stays, signs a new deal at some point before January and is off next summer. He has the potential to be a far better player than one who plies his trade in this league, he's worked very hard to get to this point and deserves a move.

Would assume Cardiff are getting a look at Mullen and will likely wait until his contract runs out, he's only got this season left.

Afro wrote:If Danny did go I would 100% be in favour of us re-investing some of the transfer fee in Ryan from Airdrie. Reckon he would be a good player in the Championship for us, and we need goals.

Best scenario from my perspective is Danny stays, signs a new deal at some point before January and is off next summer. He has the potential to be a far better player than one who plies his trade in this league, he's worked very hard to get to this point and deserves a move.

That's what I expected him/Livi to do, he really improved last season with his strength and ability, but this would be his season to really show what he can do back in the Championship. Would be great if we could get him back on loan for this season if Cardiff does buy him, would imagine that kind of deal would be more likely in January than pre season though.

Ryan would've been an excellent replacement for Buchanan never mind Mullen, i'd say he'd be an improvement on what we have if that had to happen. I'd be looking at us getting a top 4 spot tbh.

IMO Mullen isn't yet at the level required to play 2nd tier in England, so if he moved to Cardiff he would likely be reserve team or loaned out. He is likely to be playing almost every week for us, so a move may not be in his best interests. That said I think he'd find it hard to turn down a move if it was on offer.

Bertie Bassett wrote:IMO Mullen isn't yet at the level required to play 2nd tier in England, so if he moved to Cardiff he would likely be reserve team or loaned out. He is likely to be playing almost every week for us, so a move may not be in his best interests. That said I think he'd find it hard to turn down a move if it was on offer.

Mullen is 22 now. I suspect speed and skills wise this is about as good as he's going to get with us.

I could be wrong but the only way he's going to get better is within the massive trining and development budget that a team like Cardiff could have. But yes; unfortunately I agree that he's unlikely to get near the first team.

At 22 he still has 4 or 5 years until he reaches the traditional "peak" years, so another year or so with us, playing regularly, would not be detrimental whereas the same time frame in reserves or loaned to a lower division or simply "riding the pine" could be.