Team for 2018-19

I hope Jack McMillan gets a fair crack at it this season, always thought he's done well when I've seen him playing at RB. Krane has looked decent at LB too so not sure where this fella is going to play, maybe just defensive cover or a sub option for a bit of energy in the 2nd half.

That’s what I mean, the last thing we need is an inexperienced defender, we already have young defenders signed on permanent contracts that are performing well.

There is no point in signing players on loan unless they are better than what we have already got, otherwise all they are doing is filling a shirt that someone else we’ve already got could fill.

All these new signings are very well but I doubt there will be the same togetherness in the dressing room that was a big part of our success last season. Pluses and minuses I guess.

Not just last season Orco, the togetherness began after our relegation as Hoppy moulded his team out of the wreckage. It grew in that season & while we strengthened for last season it wasn’t massively. This season we have brought in a couple of experienced guys & continued with signing mainly young guys with little or no experience but the new faces need to buy into the existing camaraderie.

Bertie Bassett wrote:Not just last season Orco, the togetherness began after our relegation as Hoppy moulded his team out of the wreckage. It grew in that season & while we strengthened for last season it wasn’t massively. This season we have brought in a couple of experienced guys & continued with signing mainly young guys with little or no experience but the new faces need to buy into the existing camaraderie.

To be honest some players fitted in better than others. Miller and Hardie seemed to gel with the team almost immediately whereas Machin never really did. Players like Scott Robinson and Jack McMillen (and even Jackson Longridge) seemed prepared to wait on the bench for a chance whereas it often appeared like Josh Mullen thought himself too good to not qualify for a starting berth.

My concern about loan players, particularly where the parent club continues to pay their wages, is that there'll be an expectation that the player will get a guaranteed number of games.

Team wise it would be nice to see us bring in another striker although currently I suppose we have Hardie, Da Vita (both injured), Lee Miller and Kenny Miller (both getting on a bit) and Jack Hamilton.

Yeah we're meant to be signing another winger today (negotiations are still going on) but we are well covered everywhere but up front.

The two Millers are fit enough but over the season they may find it tough going, and wont recover from knocks as quickly as they once did either (Lee in particular takes a lot of hits playing as a target man), Hamilton is still a bit raw to be depended on, the odd game and sub appearance should be all he gets to bring his development on for next season, and Hardie is just getting back from injury. Rafa is walking about in the crowd at games but is reckoned to be out till Dec/Jan.

Scott Tiffoney from Morton on 2 year deal but going back to Greenock until January

Must be till Brown's loan deal is up.

And yet one is a defender & the other a winger

Mullin was a winger but used more as a wingback, when we play 3 at the back the wingers have to defend too.

I see Morton have now withdrawn their contract offer to Quitongo and he's a free agent, so no compensation would be paid to them now. Would still be worth signing him as we're looking light up front with young Hamilton our only cover for Hardie being out. Heard Hearts are interested in him though but i'd like to see us at least making him an offer.

I know, I’m just saying they are not strictly like for like.

Still not sure if Quitongo is all that but agree we need more up front; personally I’d prefer a bit more experience & someone we know can score.

Both Millers have experience, Hardie will get goals but isn't lightning quick, Quitongo really livens things up when he runs at defenders with the ball at his feet and would offer us something different. In any case we could do with another striker as defence is overloaded but we're light at the other end.

@CallumCarson34
41m
41 minutes ago


Been told by multiple sources that Jai Quitongo to Livingston is close to a done deal. No real surprise given he's been training with the club for a couple of months now, but appears it's close to being signed and sealed.

Good stuff, we've been desperately needing another striker and Quitongo gives us a bit of pace to run at defenders.

Cancel that, seems to be a load of shite now. He's been linked to us since the pre season but doesn't look like happening. Shame, I think he would've been a good signing.

I see we've signed Togo international Steve Lawson - https://www.transfermarkt.com/steve-lawson/profil/spieler/446767

Its strange to think that this time last year we pretty much had no one who could play right back and, more often than not, used wingers or others to fill in sometimes with mixed results.

Now we have McMillan, Brown and Lawson and yet we often simply play a flat back three. Actually I still wonder if its worth holding on to Brown although I think he's only around until January but cant see him getting much of a game if everything that's being said about Lawson is correct.

Brown will prob cut his loan deal short and go back to Millwall, he isn't better than what we have so I don't know why we signed him on loan.

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

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.

Could put that down for Gallagher too, he's played CB, RB and DM. I'd rather play players where they're best suited though and Dec def wasn't as good at the DM role.


He loks a big athletic guy, would be good seeing how quick he is getting up the wing.

Liviforever wrote:Could put that down for Gallagher too, he's played CB, RB and DM. I'd rather play players where they're best suited though and Dec def wasn't as good at the DM role.


He loks a big athletic guy, would be good seeing how quick he is getting up the wing.

Was standing next to him in reception on Tuesday night; big and athletic is pretty accurate.

F##k knows under which group I post this but....

Callum Carson wrote:BBC reporting that Livingston are looking into bringing Gavin Skelton on board as first team coach. Also that the club are close to signing Angolan international Dolly Menga, who has been on trial recently

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.

Have BBC caught up with the fact we have appointed Holt as First Team Head Coach? Or are they just regurgitating the fact Skelton was another candidate?

Would seem to be a major departure if he was brought in as another 1st team coach as that would mean Holt not working with the existing coaching staff as had previously been announced....or does it mean that Miller's departure has actually freed up TWO salaries!?!?

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?