retired_destiny1124

2.7.09
The first move to address our shortcomings at forward was a surprise as Steve McDonald agreed to rejoin us. Kilmarnock, struggling with finances, accepted my offer of 60K for McDonald and it didn't take me long to work out a contract with his agent. I don't really consider McDonald to be prime BSP forward- but he has proven he can score and that is something we need up front. It will be good to have him taking penalties again, after many debacles with them last season. It was this move that reinforced Kollat going to the wing, something the press is just starting to catch up with.

***

3.7.09
We signed a pair of youngsters immediately after their release from youth programs. Ross Hepburn is a 19 year old midfielder/forward that we have had our eyes on for awhile. As soon as we knew Celtic released him, we were there with a contract offer. Hepburn has the ability to create plays and for one so young, he has a solid set of skills. A little further from playing time is 19 year old forward Paul Blake who was released from the Everton youth effort. Blake will get playing time on the Reserves, but if he develops he could be a valuable player in the future.

retired_destiny1124

4.7.09
On the eve of our friendly with Rangers, we were finally able to complete the transfer purchase of one of the several forwards I was chasing. Markus Paatelainen is just what we needed to add up front. The lanky Finn is a proven scorer, but had fallen out of favor at Dunfermline last season and that allowed us to purchase him for the reduced price of 14K. We welcomed him to the club and he will pair with McDonald up front to start against the 'Gers.

***

4.7.09
Another late addition may considerably change the makeup of our backline. Stewart Greacen is a 27 year old center defender/rightback who I had a world of respect for after seeing him stifle my forwards and wingers over the past few seasons. Clyde accepted a 16K offer and despite my Assistant Manager's doubts- I think he is a great addition. What this may do to the backline is allow me to move Danny Black to rightback and play Greacen and Hallam in the middle. Despite adding promising young rightback Ross Harvey after being released by 'Gers- I wasn't overly happy with our depth there. Daniel Simpson had an indifferent season and Carl Laurie is now happy with a utility role, so Danny himself suggested he could move over there- since that is what he plays on New Zealand National side. With the addition of Greacen, now I can test that.

***

5.7.09
Rangers had an easy time with us, but not so easy as last season. Ibrahim Arslan did well in net, but the goals were all due to defensive mistakes by the backline. We showed little offense, in part because Markus Paatelainen came out in the opening moments of the match after running into Gary Kenneth. 3-0 wasn't a bad result, but it showed how far we have to go.

retired_destiny1124

11.7.09
Our second friendly, a trip to Brechin, was much better. Steve McDonald showed trademark finishing with a brace and James Flood added a goal as we won 3-1.

***

15.7.09
We defeated East Fife when Paul Weaver scored at the end of the first half and James Flood scored at the end of the second half. It was a solid defensive effort for us.

***

17.7.09
I have to admit I wasn't sure the appeal would do much good, but we came up in clover as we managed to get a conditional work permit for Rincon. With that we really completed our transfer purchase of him from Manchester United for 30K. The 22 year old Brazilian rightback instantly becomes one of the most talented players on East Stirling and his arrival means that Danny Black will move back into the middle.

***

19.7.09
Goals from both of our leftwingers- Miklos Kollat in the first half and Mark Torrance in the second half helped us to a win in a friendly hosting Blackpool at Firs Park. Torrance's development was another factor in the decision to let Andrew Reilly move to another club.

retired_destiny1124

22.7.09
Two more transfer additions today as we continue to round out our squad. Joining us are 20 year old center defender Robert Cavener and 22 year old Dutch righwinger Sergio Zijler. Cavener came to us from Newcastle and cost 10K in transfer purchase and could turn out to be a good player, though for the moment he will be cover in the center. Zijler cost 22K from Dundee and is a talented and dynamic winger. His arrival may spell an unhappy Kenny McLean, because I will likely trade off Ringoot and Zijler as starters. Kenny should be a gameday sub though along with Lee Sichi as their versatility stands them in good stead in that use.

***

23.7.09
We lost to Hearts 4-3 in our last friendly, but it is hard to feel too disappointed. They jumped ahead 2-0 on our poor defensive coverage before Markus Paatelainen answered with a goal. Gregor Balazic got himself sent off at 32 minutes, but Paatelainen evened the match at 2-2 as we fought back. The second half featured more of the same as they scored midway through to take the lead, but we also answered that when Steve Lewis scored. They got the match winner a few minutes later, but it was a game effort from our side.

retired_jgirl87

Looking forward to your efforts in the Premier League now that the friendlies are over, Faramir.

retired_destiny1124

Thanks Spav

***

24.7.09
As we are set to make our BSP debut against Hibernian at Easter Road, I have settled on a lineup for the match:

GK- Steven van der Deyl (Arslan played better in the friendlies, but van der Deyl is the one who got us here- so gets first shot)
DR- Rincon
DL- Adam Andrzej
DC- Anthony Hallam
DC- Danny Black
MR- Niels Ringoot
ML- Miklos Kollat
MC- Gregor Balazic
MC- Ross Hepburn (surprise development of the friendlies as he appears a very dynamic offensive player)
SC- Markus Paatelainen
SC- Steve McDonald
Sub- Steve Lewis
Sub- Kenny McLean
Sub- Lee Sichi
Sub- Stewart Greacen
Sub- Carl Laurie
Sub- Adam Tiran
Sub- Ibrahim Arslan

***

24.7.09
One last addition on the eve of the season as we completed a 95K transfer purchase of Marc McCusker from Morton. McCusker is a talented 19 year old forward who will certainly get some playing time in our forward rotation. I will have to seriously consider trying to move one of our other forwards, as I am certain there will not be enough playing time to go around up front.

retired_destiny1124

25.7.09
Hibernian (1) East Stirling (0)
We fought hard the whole match and deserved the draw, but Rincon got too fancy with a backpass in second half injury time and skittered it past Steven van der Deyl for an own-goal to ruin a good effort as we lost a closely played 1-0 match. A slew of yellow cards in the first half caused us problems and Adam Andrzej went off with his 2nd yellow card at 78 minutes. I was hoping just to survive with a draw, and that looked like the result until Rincon's ill-advised pass. They had more possession and shots in the match, but we had just as good scoring chances as them and it was a credit to Gaetano Romano that he kept us off the board. It was disappointing to lose after such a worthy effort, but sometimes those are the breaks of the game.

***

27.7.09
The book thinks little of our chances in BSP play as we have been made 1000-1 to win the title. As expected, Celtic and Rangers are co-favorites, with Aberdeen, Dunfermline and Dundee all drawing some interest as well

retired_destiny1124

1.8.09
East Stirling (0) Livingston (2)
This is not the way to start the season as we fell to Livingston 2-0 at Firs Park. We yielded a goal right away as Danny Black was called for a handball in the area and Pablo Maria Martinez Lidia converted the penalty kick past Steven van der Deyl. Rincon continued to have difficulties and his missed interception allowed Yannick Kitumba to waltz in and drill a shot past van der Deyl into the left side of the net. We managed a few chances, but Roddy McKenzie came up with a couple fingertip saves and the crossbar denied Sergio Zijler. We didn't play that poorly, but unless we start executing better we are in for a long season.

retired_destiny1124

2.8.09
It is obviously time for Plan B on leftwing. Miklos Kollat has not adjusted to it very well and is moping about not being played in his best position. With Mark Torrance inexperienced, I decided we needed another leftwinger and I believe we have a good one in 21 year Argentinean Gonzalo Higuain. Higuain cost 35K from Clyde and has a lot of potential. He has several appearances on the Argentinean Under-21 side and also carries a French passport. The difficult decision may be what to do with Kollat. Kollat does not shed markers well and doesn't have a lot of pace or strength which means he is relatively easy to neutralize in the area. He is getting marked well in set piece situations as well now which reduces his previous effectiveness. All of which may dictate me selling him while he has good value and living with Steve McDonald going from the left side- McDonald is the opposite of Kollat in ability to get free in the area and is strong enough to make his presence felt.

retired_destiny1124

9.8.09
Aberdeen (0) East Stirling (2)
We managed to stun Aberdeen on TV, as we played much better defense and leaned heavily on a fine performance by Ibrahim Arslan in upsetting them 2-0 at Pittodrie. Gonzalo Higuain delivered a goal with a smashing drive from beyond the area on a corner late in the first half to give us a halftime lead. We continued to soak up their attacks and then earned a penalty kick when Michael Hart tripped Miklos Kollat in the area. Gregor Balazic converted the penalty kick to earn us breathing space. Arslan finished out the match in fine fashion as he parried away two more close calls and we held on to give him a clean sheet in our 2-0 upset win.