Squad for 2019-2020

Hi Bertie. Unfortunately a severe bacterial infection meant that I was "off-line", in more ways than one, for several month. Well on the mend now and able to use a keyboard (obviously).

Anyway, as the news is just about breaking, a reputable source reported that a goalkeeper from Aston Villa was in Almondvale yesterday to sign on the dotted line. A separate source indicates that the boy is 21 years old so is probably seen as a replacement for Pettigrew but who knows.

Good to have you back & glad to hear you are on the mend. By jings I’ve been back to the True North since we last had any banter!

Interesting developments there then but I would like to see us making progress in bringing in a front man to increase our options; okay we have Lee Miller but he’s no spring chicken, Lyndon Dykes but he’s untried at this level, Scott Tiffoney looks a prospect but hasn’t had a lengthy run yet, Dolly but he’s not really a regular goal threat & who knows the status of Hammy even though he also looks a good prospect.

Good to see Robbo extending his stay, the lad is a grafter & a decent player.


I believe Cadden has joined up with Hoppy at Morton

Bertie Bassett wrote:Good to see Robbo extending his stay, the lad is a grafter & a decent player.

And he's not a bad defender although I always think having our attacking players back defending all the time limits our options for a quick breakout.

Not much has been said about Erskine although I think I've seen him in the training videos (am I still allowed to say video?) so assume he's still around. My main concern about Erskine was his fitness although if he's been working on that who knows...

Forgot about him TBH but I don’t think he is an out & out striker either.

Erskine is another winger, much like Raffa, has a good bit of skill about him. Not much pace though.

Good news about Robbo, really good player when he's fit, works hard and has pace up front too. Thought him and Menga worked well together, but again, neither will score many goals.

Hamilton looked a talented goal scorer when out on loan 2 seasons ago, maybe still too soon for him though.

Bertie Bassett wrote:Forgot about him TBH but I don’t think he is an out & out striker either.

Think he's classified as an attacking winger - that being said he was quite often back in defence as well.

See the club have, at last, announced the signing of goalkeeper Matija Sarkic on loan from Aston Villa three days after the even but there you go. I'd assumed he was coming in as a replacement for Pettigrew but the text suggests he's going to be vying with Ross Stewart for the number 1 jersey (metaphorically speaking).

He is no doubt the first Montenegrin player to sign/play for us.

Just wondering if Lyndon Dykes will be the first Aussie to play for us since the legend that is Stuart Lovell?

Bertie Bassett wrote:Just wondering if Lyndon Dykes will be the first Aussie to play for us since the legend that is Stuart Lovell?

Jacob Esposito was on the books during the 2015-16 season but I believe he failed to make an appearance.

Wonder who the 3 trialists are, must be really interested in them to take them on our training camp trip to Hungary.

ol1vercloff wrote:

Bertie Bassett wrote:Just wondering if Lyndon Dykes will be the first Aussie to play for us since the legend that is Stuart Lovell?

Jacob Esposito was on the books during the 2015-16 season but I believe he failed to make an appearance.

I don’t think he even appeared at the ground never mind the team. I’d say he doesn’t count.

Liviforever wrote:Wonder who the 3 trialists are, must be really interested in them to take them on our training camp trip to Hungary.

Unless they were 3 Hungarians who turned up to chance their luck?

Jack Hamilton away on loan for the season to QoS.... really can’t fathom this. He has already shown he is capable of playing well in this league on very limited appearances.

Actually think it'll be a great move for him, playing alongside Dobbie. It can only be an invaluable experience having one of the Championship's best goal scorers to learn from. Hopefully he comes back to us being the better for it anyway, and gets into the team next season.

Good point well made. I just find it frustrating when we loan out young guys who have already shown promising signs.

Bertie Bassett wrote:Good point well made. I just find it frustrating when we loan out young guys who have already shown promising signs.

Tend to agree - think he would have been better making appearances off the bench in the premiership as opposed to some time in the championship. Least ways we'll properly be able to compare his performance in our team, with the support we can provide, against relevant opposition. Frustratingly he rarely got more than 15 minutes a game last season when loaned out to Alloa.

I suppose if QoS can guarantee him 90 minutes a game then maybe it'll do him some good but still a bit disappointing.

Both Dorrans and Snodgrass were the better for their loan spells to Stirling Albion and Partick Th, I think it'll be the making of Hamilton going to QotS and working with Dobbie.


He's far better getting regular games with them than the odd sub appearance with us anyway, he's still a young player developing, a bit like Hardie coming to us and getting games rather than sitting on the bench/playing in the reserves at Sevco really.

Dunno if this is the same as the Hardie situation last season though, saying it's a season long loan but actually dependant on whether we want to bring him back in January.

Liviforever wrote:Dunno if this is the same as the Hardie situation last season though, saying it's a season long loan but actually dependant on whether we want to bring him back in January.

Good point.

Incidentally shouldn't you update your profile picture?

Waiting on our new kits coming out to get one of our players wearing it. Got Lithgow on my P&B pic, might have him in our new kit if he's our Captain this season.

Liviforever wrote:Waiting on our new kits coming out to get one of our players wearing it. Got Lithgow on my P&B pic, might have him in our new kit if he's our Captain this season.

Him and Marc McNulty sharing home and away would do nicely.

You been listening to Aerosmith D?

Bertie Bassett wrote:You been listening to Aerosmith D?

Cant say I ever have - tended to go for British rather than American rock - saw most of the big ones live in the 70's.

Anyway if we cant get McNulty; what about Toni Andreau?

Andreu didn’t look half the player he was with us when we played Accies last season.

Signed for St Mirren now, hardly noticed him at Accies he was that quiet.

Notice Wylde hasn't featured in our training camp or featured in the friendlys, wonder if he's away