GG Riva

Like almost every other Pars fans, I left EEP frustrated and disappointed by the team`s disjointed performance yesterday. A good number of fans were visibly quite angry, too. That's their right, but it`s misplaced in my humble one. It`s not as if the players weren't trying or McPake set them up to deliberately lose the game. The manager gave a very honest post-match assessment, and he`s not hiding from his part in it. It's hard to believe that this was almost the same team that demolished Morton, even allowing for the fact that Ayr is probably a better team. Sometimes we forget that the players are not robots or machines, and their performances will vary from week to week, especially among the younger ones with little experience at this level. Confidence is hugely important. It would have been high after the Morton game, but would have been significantly dented at Firhill. Yesterday, we should have been in front before Ayr scored. Might have made it a completely different game - we`ll never know. The danger now is that we have a difficult run of games coming up, Raith and Morton away, followed by Dundee United at home. We don't want the players going into these games thinking they could lose them. This is where McPake and Mackay must earn their corn and prepare the team so that the players not only believe they can win these games, but they are set up in a way that gives them a good chance of doing so. We have a very astute management team. I believe they can turn our fortunes around starting next week.

Best bit of business this season - and that's saying something! 👏

I wasn't able to get along myself, but I read on dotnet that it was very enjoyable. There were lots of kids there who were able to get autographs from all the players and nobody was asked to show their ST. 😁 Well happy with that. Great bit of PR by the Pars and maybe just gained a few more life long fans. 🙂

I`d be very disappointed if anyone who turns up is turned away, and I don`t believe they will. There`s hardly likely to be a problem squeezing them all into EEP. Personally, I don`t think any restrictions should have been placed on who could attend. We`re all Pars fans. Some of us can afford to buy a ST during the close season, and some can`t. ST holders already get a "perk" by paying a bit less per game, as a result of making a season-long commitment, and it`s only right they should, but to exclude any Pars fans who would like to go along, especially children, doesn`t seem right. 10 years ago, our new BoD told us the stated aim of the club was to become the focal point of the West Fife community. How can that be achieved if it excludes even a single Pars fan?

Sadly, "homer" refs are hardly a new phenomenon. 🙄 While Scotland rode their luck at times, they were treated very harshly by the match officials.

We've no way of knowing whether he and his agent played their cards well or not. He might have secured a better deal with ICT or maybe not.

And from a purely selfish point of view, I'm pleased it's off as I couldn't make it today, but I'll be fine for the new date. 😊

From the general euphoria after last week`s memorable performance, we`ve all come back down to Earth with a bump. Football has a habit of doing this to you. Same thing happened to Arbroath. A stunning win at Firhill, followed by a home defeat to the bottom side. For Thistle, it was the reverse, of course. A home win next week and we can put yesterday`s disappointment behind us. I want to see the Bunnet looking even grumpier than usual. 😀

I love the fact that all the players like and respect him and that he treats them first and foremost with consideration and compassion. I know there are folk who claim you don't have to be popular to be a top manager, but players will surely perform better for a manager they like and respect. Maybe I'm getting a bit ahead of myself in comparing him to Jock Stein when he was the Pars manager, but what I'm seeing and hearing suggests otherwise. Several Pars players from the 60s have told me Stein was a master motivator, tactically astute and a brilliant psychologist. "He made you believe we could go out and beat anybody", was a phrase used by many of his former players. The confidence McPake has instilled in the current squad, as evidenced in the last couple of games, suggests he is adopting a similar approach.

Having recently read an intimate biography of the late, great Jock Stein, I can see so many parallels with our young manager. Not only is he tactically astute, he also treats his players with real consideration and fatherly understanding, ensuring their needs, away from the pitch, are properly looked after. That`s the mark of a really good human being. https://dafc.co.uk/availability-update/ And let`s not forget Dave Mackay, who is a perfect foil for McPake and plays his part in an excellent management team. I know football can be a very fickle career, but I hope we can keep these gents at EEP for a good few years yet.....

Thanks for making me lol about a very serious topic. Last time I remember doing that was during the translation scene in Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful."

Absolutely disgusting behaviour from the lout who shouted abuse at Alister. Not surprising though, given what happened to Ross McArthur and further proof that clubs like Celtic and Rangers do not hold a monopoly on idiot fans.

I've just re-read my earlier post and it does appear as if I'm backing the club's decision to exclude some all time Pars legends from the wall in favour of an advert for a pub chain. That was never my intention and I apologise unreservedly for any upset caused to fellow Pars fans who read this forum.

Perhaps you can contact the club and ask for it, BPP? I would imagine it's not private.

If David Cook doesn't read this forum, you and others who feel strongly about this decision, might be better to email him and register your unhappiness about it.

I'm backing nothing, mate - just giving a plausible explanation of why it's been done. Not sure where you got the idea I'm in favour of it.

It's not a huge surprise, is it? Ross McArthur is a dyed in the wool Pars fan. David Cook is also a staunch Pars fan but with his background, he's going to prioritise business opportunities if the price is right. Not taking sides here,but we all get that. If we want to be competitive in this league and aim for promotion, we have to maximise our income. Sadly despite decent crowds gate receipts are not enough and our share of TV monies is risible.

Never mind the result, that's the best Pars performance I've seen in a very long time at EEP and I rarely miss a home game. Even if Morton had manufactured an undeserved equaliser before O'Halleron clinched it, I would be of the same opinion, if somewhat disappointed that we'd let a 2 goal lead slip. Some of the interplay was quite sublime and it was great to see the new signings adapt so seamlessly into the team. It was as if they'd already had a full season with the Pars. Raymie's right when he suggests that the players who are currently injured and were pretty much automatic first picks last season, will not be guaranteed to start once they are fully fit. What a great problem for McPake and Mackay to have and what a great time to be a Pars fan. 😀

USA: 36.2% (although another study puts it at 37.7%) UK: 27.8% Mexico: 28.9% Canada: 29.4% Ireland: 25.3% France: 21.6% Spain: 23.8% Italy: 19.9% Germany: 22.3% Japan: 4.3% World average: 13%

Anything less tha 3 pts would be a disappointment. Playing at home against a team below us, will bring added pressures. Winning at Hampden was brilliant, but there was no great expectancy. I would think Morton will sit in and look to score on the counter. We'll find out how good we are at breaking down a well organised side. Probably only one goal in it. 1-0 Pars.

I'm pretty sure DD included himself in that category. His claim started with the word "All football fans...." 😃 🤪

Given the number of key players missing, I'd have been more than happy with a draw. To get 3 - and well deserved at that - was fantastic. Perhaps our less pessimistic fans will start looking up the table now instead of fretting about being drawn into a relegation struggle. Once we get Bene, Matty, Kane and Deniz back, we should be aiming for at least a play off spot.

.😱

I don't think any Pars fan thought or suggested the result at Tannadice was a poor one, but the sense of disappointment at conceding so late, and effectively dropping 2 pts, was massive. Getting a point today, after looking for so long like getting nothing, induced a sense of relief in me and a good few fellow fans, I'll bet. At the end of the season, any points won against clubs going for promotion, and those battling relegation, will have exactly the same value.

You obviously want to beat the team at the bottom of the table before the game but a point away from home, after conceding first and being behind so late in the game, is a decent result in my book.