GG Riva

Many fans love their club with a passion and perhaps unrealistically, expect the same devotion from its players who are of course, mere employees. That's why we especially identify with players like Chris Hamilton and Matty Todd, who are also Pars fans. I don't blame Dom Thomas for moving to QP, but his timing left a bad taste in the mouth and even worse, probably contributed to our relegation via the play offs. My information is that he was an opinionated guy who didn't exactly encourage dressing room harmony. Not doubt he was a decent player when he was in the mood but he's joined the list of former Pars I would no longer applaud on their return to EEP. I go all the way back to Barrie Mitchell in the 70s. Other notable members include George O'Boyle and Andy Rhodes who both ended up in Perth.

We should be able to put out a far stronger team than the ones when we lost to the Spiders. I think we'll beat them to make them odds on for the relegation play offs. I'll be especially pleased for wee Dom. 😊

Absolutely delighted for him and for Dave Mackay. I think they have the potential to become as good a management team as Jimmy Calderwood and Jimmy Nicoll. They`re unlikely to have anything like the budget the two Jimmys had as long as they remain at the Pars. Nevertheless, I hope they stick around long enough to see us back in the Premiership.

The whole squad will be on a high, having won 3 in a row and will go out confident they can win at home. Perhaps the opening goal is even more important than usual as the confidence built in recent games could easily be dented by going behind, given how up and down our season has been. I'm going for the Pars to make it 4 on the bounce, edging it 2-1.

A draw was no good to them when we last played them at EEP but it didn't stop them constantly wasting time at 1-1. Had they gone for broke, they might have nicked a winner but obviously thought we were more likely to do that.

A draw means both clubs drop 2 pts. We can definitely beat Airdrie again now we have some key players fit again. I'm optimistic we can still finish 4th as our rivals still have to play United and Raith.

Why not email the club and suggest it, Grant? You could try Craig Brown, Pars Media Officer, craig@dafc.co.uk or David Cook, Chairman/CEO, davidcook@dafc.co.uk Nothing to lose....

The Pars Tackle Health initiative is now 10 years old. This milestone marks its most successful season ever. Since last August; 22 different players have visited 22 local primary schools in 43 different classes and engaged with *1320 P6 and P7 pupils. *Total based on all pupils being present on the day. Allowing for absences, Pars players have been able to meet and speak to over 1200 local schoolchildren, who learn how they can improve and maintain good health by choosing healthier lifestyles. Of course, the players are crucial to these visits. No Martini - no party. 😀 Every single player completely buys into the programmes aims and objectives. They speak confidently about their lives as footballers, answer questions from the kids honestly, participate enthusiastically in the games sessions, pose for photos and sign autographs, long after the end of the school day. Feedback from the kids and their teacher is always very positive. https://parsfoundation.co.uk/story.php?t=Pars_Tackle_Health&ID=2226 Just one reason why we love the Pars. 😊

I hope so, but I'll believe it when I see it. He's a real handful and Morton's results have been poor when he's been missing. Even if he's passed fit to play, I think Bene and Co can keep him quiet.

It's true that STs do not offer a huge saving at most Scottish clubs. I'm not aware of any that offer massive discounts. I think these may be more significant south of the border. I don't follow Italian football too closely now, but I remember that some Serie A clubs offered savings of as much as 40% on STs compared to walk up prices, some 20 years ago. No idea if these still hold true now. I'm sure some of you will know the respective prices in some other European countries.

An interesting article on COWS in which James McPake explains the logic behind sending some younger players out on loan and getting others in. https://dafc.co.uk/thoughts-behind-loan-deals/

I get what you're saying, but ST holders were happy to buy them this summer so it's no skin off their noses if the club encourages some extra fans to come along for these last crucial matches. It's a bit like buying something full price and then seeing it for less in a sale. Just have to accept that it doesn't leave you any worse off than you were before.

I fear blanket TV coverage of football is slowly killing the game at lower levels. In Scotland we play over the winter months and quite often, our games are in direct opposition to televised games showing CL or Premier League matches. Only the hardiest and most loyal fans will leave their homes and sit in freezing conditions, usually to watch a game which is short in quality and entertainment. I've often found myself questioning my own sanity in these situations. Eventually, as I get even older, I'll inevitably reach a tipping point. As an example, I still went to the two home games which were shown live on BBC Scotland, but it didn't cross my mind to travel to any of our televised away games this season.

Like you say, it's nothing concrete, not even like targeted advertising to consumers, who need to buy essential products. I'm with Sanguine on this one. A bird in the hand and all that.....

That's quite an understatement, Grant. I might just about go along with it if the clubs involved were able to be compensated for the money they lose at the turnstilesbefore the pot was shared out, but no chance of that happening, Too many clubs not involved in televised games would lose out.

Twice. Our best gates of the season would arguably have been the 2 games v United, with the possible exception of the New Year derby. Both on TV. The money we'll get from the BBC will not cover the loss from walk up fans on the day. We had this under the two Jimmys. It was almost always our home games v the OF that were moved to a Sunday, as they do now in the Premiership. The £55k for the home team almost coveted losses at the gate, the visitors got £45k... ☹️

I know, but you said they were awful. I say they're the best team in this league but we made them look poor on the night. They'll be promoted but the Rovers will be found out in the play offs.

Aye, when I went to speak to Bob Garmory and Ross McArthur about my idea, they couldn't have been more enthusiastic. Bob asked "When can you start?" and Ross added, "Just tell us what you need from the club to get started and I'll see that you get it." Ross said that the club's name and reputation had been badly damaged when we went into administration, not just among other clubs, but also in the local community. He saw school engagement as a great way to start repairing that damage by making our club the focal point of the West Fife community. A rreally switched on gent. Eh, how did we get from James McPake to schools engagement? 🤔

Nah, I can't agree with your opening sentence, KP. United are the best team in this league and will be promoted. That they didn't play so well last night was down to the way the Pars played. If we had sat back and admired them, they would have buried us. But we didn't. We got in about them from the start, scored an early goal. Gave our players a lot of confidence and theirs an uphill task. Our tactics were different, too. No playing sideways at the back. Mehmet launched every kickout/goal kick over halfway. In summary, you can only play as well as your opponents allow you to.

All the players totally buy in to the school initiative, EET. after last week's visit, Breen said to me, "This is great, I'd do it every week." Dave Mackay drew up a rota so that all the players visit approx 2 schools per season. I've messaged Dave to let him know that Breeny has volunteered to do any extra visits going. 😀

As a senior Pars fan, I always tell myself it`s only a game and try not to get too down after a poor result. Similarly, I try not to get carried away by a good performance and result, but I was walking on air on my way home last night, and I`m still in the clouds this morning. 😀 Schadenfreude is not the most noble of sentiments, but I can`t deny that watching the East Stand emptying after our 3rd goal induced a perverse pleasure from my head to my toes. I don`t agree with those who think United are a poor team - they`re top of the league on merit. We made them look poor on the night, which is quite different. We had no failures, but special mentions to Jakubiak (also my MOM) KRH, MFW, Bene and Todd. Training will be buzzing next week and hopefully, the players can take that feel good factor to Cappielow next week and get a positive result - we owe Morton one. As others have said above, last night shows what this team and manager are capable of achieving when he has most of his key players available. I make no apology for repeating that when we last played Morton at EEP, there were TEN players sitting a few rows in front of me and at least 6 or 7 of them would have been either starting or on the bench had they been fit. Ironically, when we beat Morton 3-1 going on 4 or 5, in the earlier game at EEP, Morton had NINE players out and were rooted to the bottom of the table. When these players started to return, their results improved dramatically and they shot up the league. Let`s hope the "McPake Out" lobby will now be permanently silenced. 🤫

I firmly believe he will keep us up and that we would have comfortably made the top 4 but for a horrendous run of long-term injuries to so many key players. I hope the owners give him a decent budget to allow him to add a few quality players to an already decent squad (when they're all fit.) There's also a great harmony in the squad (Rhys Breen replied to a question from a pupil at Masterton PS this week, that the best thing about playing for the Pars is that there are no Prima Donnas, every body gets on really well with everyone else) and this has to be down to McPake and Dave Mackay at least in part.

I don't see this game being another 0-0, but I don't think we'll lose if we score the first goal. It would give the team a great confidence boost and United might start to wobble as they must be feeling the pressure with the Rovers breathing down their necks..... 😀

Not trying to be a smart@rse, KP, but if the understudy was better than Mehmet, would he not be starting and Deniz would be on the bench? Totally agree about MWH selling the second goal - he obviously thought the ball was going out.

What makes you think that he was rushed back, KP? is it because he picked up another injury each time? I'd completely agree with you if he had aggravated the same injury, but they were totally unrelated, so we can't say he was rushed back. James McPake relies on advice from medical staff in any case. He doesn't just ask the player if he feels OK to play, especially not Bene, as he's notoriously optimistic. "It's just a broken metatarsal" he told me, when I saw him in a moonboot after his first injury this season. "I'll be back in 3-4 weeks max."