Pars fans prejudging? Who’d a thunk it?

Being a Dunfermline Athletic supporter guarantees quite a few things. For every high point, you know that just around the corner, a low point awaits you. It is ingrained in you to be rather pessimistic about things, as if you dare be optimistic, it all goes pear shaped (see last season’s First Division campaign as proof).

Back in the mid 1990s when I first started attending Pars matches home and away, we had a terrific core support. Now, currently we still have a good core support in terms of number, which can hover anywhere between the 4-6,000 mark. Back then though, the crowd were right behind the team from the off- and could act as the proverbial 12th man.

Manager of the 1995/96 First Division winning team, club legend Bert Paton, noted that, in reference to the 1-0 defeat of Dundee United in the penultimate day which almost assured the Pars of the championship, “anyone who doubts our support is a 12th man should have heard the volume that day.”

Those days are still there for the big games, but Pars fans in recent years have taken on a new side to their persona, and it is one of prejudging players, or finding a scapegoat for if things don’t work out too well on the pitch.

Why am I bumbling on with this? Well, manager Jim McIntyre finally secured the signing of his top summer target this week in the shape of Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker, Graham Bayne. The Athletic paid the Highlanders £30,000 to lure the Fifer back to the Kingdom to bolster our attacking options which had been left down to the manager and youngsters such as Iain Williamson, following the departures of Mark Burchill and Stevie Crawford, adding to Jim Hamilton leaving for St Mirren in January.

Having seen him play with Caley against us before, I know exactly the kind of player we’re getting. Bayne, as McIntyre points out, will bring a physical dimension to the team. He will act as a player to link the play, bring his team-mates into it and create chances for them.

“He is strong in the air and can hold the ball up. He is good with his back to goal and his strength is his team play. He works hard, runs the channels- he is just a good all round team player,” McIntyre commented.

However, despite this, some Pars fans have immediately dismissed him as “rubbish” and “a waste of money”. Why? The only thing they have looked at is his goalscoring record- 33 goals in 159 games. Admittedly, strikers will always be judged on their goalscoring record and Bayne’s isn’t exactly prolific, but I can’t get my head around punters immediately dismissing him as a no-hoper.

McIntyre is fully aware that he isn’t renowned for hitting 15-20 goals a season, but he will be able to lay on chances for a more prolific strike partner, with the boss working hard to sign at least 2 strikers as well as a right sided midfielder before we kick off our First Division assault at Partick Thistle in August.

Instead of prejudging, I wish some Dunfermline fans would wait until they’ve at least pulled on the black and white before assessing the contributions, or lack of, a player can make to the team. What should count in the hitman’s favour is that he’s determined to come in and work hard- Pars fans love a grafter- and is a Fifer, which is another plus point when playing for the West Fifers.

I welcome Graham to the club and am sure he will be a success. It would be ironic if he went on to score 20 odd goals and have his most prolific net bulging season- the opinions of those already judging him would soon change.

Young joins Dundee as Bamba shines in Toulon

As anticipated in a previous post, Darren Young has officially left Dunfermline and has agreed a 2 year deal with First Division rivals Dundee. Young’s rejection of a new contract with the club signals the end of his five year association with the Pars and he will look to help the Dees to First Division glory next term. Having struggled with fitness in the past season, this is a move I feel suits all parties. Manager Jim McIntyre now has more room for manouver within the transfer market with more wages freed up, while Young himself will no doubt relish a new challenge at Dens Park.

He alluded to this himself, by saying ” There are a lot of positive things happening here.

“It makes you want to come here and play for them and do well.”

I wish him well up there, but hopefully not too well as we can but hope the Athletic will be chasing the title.

However, Alex Rae has been busy in the transfer market as well as signing Young. He is rumoured to be on the verge of bringing former Scotland goalkeeper Rab Douglas back to Dens. The 36 year old played for the Dee in the 1990s and his form won him a move to Celtic. Since leaving the Hoops for Leicester in 2005, his career has stalled. Loan spells with Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle have been unsuccessful and Douglas was released by Leicester following their relegation to League One.

Rae is clearly looking for experience and if he adds him, along with another rumoured target, former Kilmarnock and Nottingham Forest midfielder Gary Holt, then the Dark Blues could well be in a strong position to challenge at the top next season. A challenge which both Dunfermline and St Johnstone will look to match before the season kicks off.

But back to Dunfermline and defender Sol Bamba, who seemed to fall out of favour towards the end of the season, has been busy making a name for himself in the Toulon International tournament over the past fortnight or so. As captain of the Ivory Coast side, he has starred as they have marched all the way to the semi finals, where they narrowly lost to Chile. Bamba’s side will take on Japan in the third place play off and commentators on Eurosport, who have been showing the tournament live, have been impressed with Bamba’s play overall. During one match, and forgive me for paraphrasing, but a commentator suggested something along the lines of ‘you’d have a very hard time getting around him’.

It is good to see Sol doing well while representing his country’s under 21 side in France. Rumours have suggested that the Pars are looking to offload the big man, but if he can regain his confidence and given the right kind of coaching, he could become a good player. He has pace, is very strong both on the ground and in the air and can tackle but at times erratic play creeps into his game, leading to him giving away possession cheaply. If he works on his passing and composure on the ball, then he’ll do a very good job for Dunfermline.

But, thats for the future. Well done to Sol on having what appears to be a successful tournament and he is all set to represent the Pars in this summer’s Beijing Olympics by playing for the Ivory Coast in the football tournement. Could la Bamba have a gold medal in his pocket by September? Stranger things have happened……

To read more about Dunfermline Athletic, why not visit my Pars page? Click here to find out the history and fascinating facts about my great club.

Young off as Pars set to welcome new boys

Darren Young looks set to have played his last game for Dunfermline after rejecting the club’s offer of a new deal. The midfielder, who has considered the offer for what seems like a millenium, will be off to pastures new in the summer, with rumour rife that he will re-join former club Aberdeen.

Young has had a bit of a stop start career at East End Park. In his first season, he was a mainstay in midfield and helped the club finish 4th in the SPL and reach the Scottish Cup final, scoring in the replay win over Inverness Caley Thistle. He also netted the penalty to take the Pars into the CIS Insurance Cup final in 2006 against Livingston at Easter Road and was man of the match in last year’s Scottish Cup final loss to Celtic.

But he has had his injury problems this season and last, resulting in him missing a lot of games. I feel that he’s a good player but we can’t afford to keep carrying players spending more time in the treatment room than on the pitch, and Young’s dithering over accepting or rejecting a new deal shows he was never going to stick around. Fair enough, no problems and while I wish him well, it frees up a significant wage and allows Jim McIntyre to bring new bodies in.

And to that end pre-contract signings Steven Bell and Austin McCann should formally complete their moves to East End Park today. 23 year old midfielder Bell has signed from Stirling Albion after an impressive campaign for the relegated Binos, scoring 6 times from midfield, including one against ourselves. A neat and tidy player with a good engine, we hope that he can provide creativity and energy in a midfield which has lacked both all season.

McCann arrives from English side Notts County having previously served Hearts and Airdrie. It is his spell in Gorgie that he will be most remembered for, and a screamer of a goal against Celtic to hand Hearts a 2-1 win in a league encounter.

Hopefully, he will bring experience and solidity to the left back spot for the coming season. The defence improved as the season has gone on, so hopefully we can continue working from a solid base and move forward next season.

A 3rd name to sign with the Pars is Airdrie midfielder Graeme Holmes, who played with boss McIntyre at Dundee United. The 24 year old has been heavily rumoured to have already signed on at East End, but director of football Jim Leishman refused to confirm this. He has played 87 games since signing for Airdrie, scoring 5 goals and is highly thought of by the Airdrie support. There is more available on the club’s official website on all 3 new signings. A warm welcome to all.

And the club have announced that the Purvis Group will continue as the club’s shirt sponsor for next season. Exciting stuff eh?

Murdoch moves on

There was another move through the East End Park exit door today as Pars goalkeeper Sean Murdoch signed a two year contract with First Division champions Hamilton Accies for an unidisclosed fee.

After Bryn Halliwell turned down a new contract at New Douglas Park, Billy Reid moved to snap up Athletic’s reserve keeper, who had a loan spell there last season, making 11 appearances.

Sean signed for Dunfermline in 2003 from the Hearts youth set up, and was a regular in the Under 19 side. He was capped at Scottish schoolboy level and in 2005/2006 he went on loan to Forfar Athletic to gain first team experience. He appeared 13 times for the Loons and kept four clean sheets.

The following season he went back to Station Park for a second loan spell for the first half of the season. In February of that year, he then went on loan to Accies.

Sean made his senior debut for the club this season, coming on after 10 minutes as a substitute for the injured Roddy McKenzie in the UEFA Cup first leg clash with BK Hacken. Unfortunately, in the second half he was caught out as a long ball bounced over his head and gave the Swedes an easy goal, which didn’t help the Pars’ cause as they crashed out in the 2nd leg.

He made a further 4 top team appearances, against Livingston and Clyde in the league, as well as Clyde and Airdrie in the Challenge Cup. With Paul Gallacher making the number 1 spot his own and signing a 3 year deal to stay with the club, Murdoch’s chances were always going to be limited.

I wish Sean well with his new club.

Changes already afoot at East End

Saturday’s penultimate game of the season saw Dunfermline go down to a 3-0 loss at Greenock Morton, in a performance where the desire and effort of the team left a lot to be desired. With little to play for except pride, a lacklusture Dunfermline may have been expected not to play at maximum potential, but it is unacceptable, especially to the hardy band of diehards who followed them west. Morton needed the points in their bid to avoid a relegation play-off and were undoubtedly more up for it, but the way in which the Pars collapsed after going a goal down epitomised the season- one in which we’ve been pretty damn gutless and, quite simply, inept.

A rather damning verdict perhaps, but one which most Athletic followers would agree with. Changes are badly needed as the current squad simply will not take the First Division by storm and win promotion like Billy Reid’s excellent young Hamilton Accies side have done this year.

And to start what will no doubt be an exodus out of the East End Park exit door, on Friday it was confirmed that Mark Burchill and Stephen Simmons will leave after rejecting new deals. Scott Thomson has taken a cut in wages to re-sign for another year, a decision I am happy with as he has been excellent since returning from injury and has helped shore up our shambolic defence.

But back to Burchill and Simmons. Striker Burchill is our top goalscorer with 13 goals, and in his first season with the club netted a significant number which helped ensure we beat the SPL drop and reached the CIS Insurance Cup final. Often he has been posted missing in action though and is a player we need focused and on the pitch- he’s no use in the stand injured, which has happened throughout his time with the club. A loss he will be, but not irreplaceable.

But my biggest cheer regarding football this weekend was the news that Simmons will be leaving. Since joining the club, he has simply failed to deliver. Too often he is found missing in games as he is simply far too lazy. He does have some ability, but he isn’t as good as he thinks he is and has simply decided not to turn up this season, in a campaign where we needed all of our squad pulling in the same direction.

A clear-out simply has to happen at East End, and we need to look at this season’s deserving champions as an example. Accies have a lot of youth in their squad aided with some experienced pros, and they have played skillful, quick and entertaining football throughout.

Pars boss Jim McIntyre has to go down that road if we are to be looking at making a title challenge for next season, otherwise it’ll be a long, hard struggle.

We await the summer with baited breath and see what changes McIntyre makes to a horrendously underachieving football club.

Pars look ahead to fresh start

It has been a truely wretched season for Dunfermline Athletic, and one which the Pars faithful are glad has only four matches to run before its conclusion. A season which began with so much optimism and hope way back in August descended into one of depression, confusion and apathy. Yep, its fun to follow Fife’s finest.

Having been relegated at the end of last season and losing the Scottish Cup final in heartbreaking fashion while playing some good football, the feeling was that the Athletic would mount a serious challenge for an instant return to the Premier League with the hope that the experienced players we had, such as Stevie Crawford, Darren Young, Greg Shields, Scott Wilson and Stephen Glass, would enable us to fight our out of what could be described as the country’s toughest division. On top of that, the carrot of UEFA Cup football dangled in front of the team so the opportunity for a memorable season was there to be grasped.

But by the end of August, we were out of Europe by BK Hacken and October saw us already way off the pace of leaders Hamilton Accies. Consecutive humilations in losing 0-5 at home to Hamilton, 0-3 at Stirling Albion and 0-4 to Livingston saw us embroiled in a relegation fight. By December, manager Stephen Kenny was gone, replaced by veteran striker Jim McIntyre.

Results have improved and Dunfermline now sit in mid-table mediocrity, with only 4th place and the avoidance of an extra round in next season’s Scottish Cup left to play for. Its as low as we’ve been since I started watching the team back in 1994 but the focus is on a title challenge next term. McIntyre has signed winger Alex Burke, with the jury still out on him, as well as Stirling Albion’s young midfielder Steven Bell on a pre-contract agreement. Bell has impressed against the Pars this term, and netted a good goal in the Beanos 3-2 defeat to Dunfermline at Forthbank last week.

But one of the biggest cheers of the season could be heard this week when it was announced popular goalkeeper Paul Gallacher had signed a three year contract to remain with the club. Gallacher, or Peter Barlow as he is affectionately known by the fans due to looking very much like the ex Coronation Street character, has impressed since signing for Stephen Kenny in August after falling out of favour at Norwich City.

Much like Dorus de Vries last year, Gallo has saved Dunfermline a lot of points this season, including two crucial penalty saves in a draw at Dundee and in the 3rd minute of stoppage time in a 1-0 win at Queen of the South in October. Capped 7 times for Scotland, Gallacher’s form and general ability caused me to question Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall on Tuesday night. I went along to their game with Dundee at Firhill with the Radio Scotland team (my Beeb match report will appear at some stage on here) and in his programme notes, he described his goalkeeper Jonathon Tuffey as the league’s best.

Undoutedly, he is a fine keeper but, come on Ian, Gallacher has won praise from managers and fans of our first division rivals all season. He is a goalkeeper with international experience and should be playing at a higher level than the Irn-Bru SFL. But it is great to know we have a top quality keeper on board for next season, and shows the club look like they mean business in putting this term’s wrongs right.

We will have to wait until the summer to see how McIntyre rebuilds the squad, and it can’t come quick enough. Roll on season 2008/2009 and hopefully a fresh, exciting new start for Fife’s biggest club.