[FM20] Stuniverse's FM20 Adventure

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 3 March 2021

FALKIRK TAKEOVER COLLAPSES

BairnsNews: The Board of Falkirk Football Club have lifted the transfer embargo after takeover talks with Frazer Laird's consortium collapsed.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 6th March 2021

Pre-match v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (H) - Ladbrokes Championship (28)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: After losing to Ross County last time out, you must be keen to get back to winning ways against Inverness?

Stuniverse: Yes. We must do better than we did against Ross County. We're at home today and hopefully, cheered on by Ye Bairns, the players can produce an improved performance and get the result we want.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)
Alan Forrest (hip)

Doubtful:
Louis Longridge (heel-75)

BairnsNews: Three changes today.

Stuniverse: Yes, and I could very easily have made more. Efe Ambrose returns from suspension for Gregor Buchanan. Jason Holt comes in for Ethan Hamilton. Aidan Connolly replaces Lewis Smith. 

Post-match: Falkirk (1) 3-0 (0) Inverness Caledonian Thistle

BairnsNews: That was more like it.

Stuniverse: Yes. We looked much more like our normal selves today and the performance levels were much closer to what we expect. Efe Ambrose was a calming influence at the back and we looked good going forward. Steven Boyd, Tom Grivosti and Chris Kane all scored for us. We thought we should have had two more as Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Georgie Kelly both had goals disallowed for offside when they looked onside to me.

BairnsNews: Ross County and Dundee United both won.

Stuniverse: It's as we were then in the top three then, but with one less game left to play.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 7 MARCH 2021

STUNIVERSE BANNED

BairnsNews: Falkirk manager Stuniverse will serve a touchline ban during the East Fife match after reacting badly to having two goals ruled out for offside against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Assistant Manager Jari Litmanen will step up into the technical area against East Fife.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 13th March 2021

Pre-match v East Fife (a) - Ladbrokes Championship (29)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: You won't be in the dugout or on the touchline today.

Stuniverse: No. Jari Litmanen will take over from me. It's ridiculous really, it's getting to the point where you can't say anything against the officials these days.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)

Doubtful:
Louis Longridge (heel-75)
Alan Forrest (hip-90)

BairnsNews: With Stuniverse banned, you've made five changes today.

Jari Litmanen: Yes. Jordan Marshall for Calum Macdonald, Ethan Hamilton for Jason Holt, Lewis Smith for Aidan Connolly, Chris Kane for Steven Boyd and Georgie Kelly for Jahmal Hector-Ingram.

Post-match: East Fife (1) 1-2 (1) Falkirk

BairnsNews: How was that as a match day experience for you?

Stuniverse: It was horrible, I'm not going to lie, it was horrible. I don't want to go through another game where I can't make any tactical decisions at all. I had confidence in my assistant Jari Litmanen and the players, but it was a horrible experience for me.

Jari and the players did well though. They got the win. They got the job done. Georgie Kelly gave us a first-half lead, only for East Fife to equalise before the break. Tom Grivosti won it for us with a fine header in the second-half.

I’m going to have to bite my tongue and watch what I say in future because I don’t want to go through that experience again.

BairnsNews: All of the top four won.

Stuniverse: As we were then with seven games to go.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

Edited February 7, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 16 March 2021

CUP FEVER

BairnsNews: Cup fever is gripping Ye Bairns fans as Falkirk prepare for the Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup Final against Glentoran.

[JaytheGreat]

The Falkirk steamroller just keeps on going, although it seems like it will be a nail biter for champions of the league. 

Edited February 7, 2020 by JaytheGreat

[Stuniverse]

17 hours ago, JaytheGreat said:

The Falkirk steamroller just keeps on going, although it seems like it will be a nail biter champions of the league. 

There’s seven games remaining, @JaytheGreat and it’s all about the top four. Dundee in 4th have 51 points with Inverness in 5th having 35. That’s a big gap. I’m expecting all of us to take points regularly off the bottom six sides, three points each game. 

So the key will be the results against the other three sides in the top four. We still have fixtures against Ross County (2nd), Dundee United (3rd) and Dundee (4th) so it’s all to play for...

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Tuesday 16th March 2021

Pre-match v Glentoran (N) - Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup Final

Fir Park, Motherwell

Match Preview

BairnsNews: When you won this trophy last season, did you think you'd be back in the Final again this season?

Stuniverse: No. Not at all. It's not very often a team reaches two consecutive cup finals. It's an amazing achievement, but the job's not done yet. We want to win the Cup again.

BairnsNews: What are your thoughts on playing an Irish team in a Scottish Cup Final?

Stuniverse: It's part of the charm of the competition and adds something to it.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Alan Forrest (cup-tied)
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)

Doubtful:
Louis Longridge (heel-75)
Anthony McDonald (fatigued-90)

BairnsNews: Five changes for the Final. You must have some disappointed players.

Stuniverse: Yes. Of course. Everybody wants to play in a Cup Final, but I can only pick 11 to start and seven subs.

Anthony McDonald looked a little jaded in training so Charlie Telfer starts. Calum Macdonald comes back in for Jordan Marshall. Aidan Connolly replaces Louis Smith. Up front, Steven Boyd and Jahmal Hector-Ingram come back in for Chris Kane and Georgie Kelly. 

BairnsNews: Good luck. Bring the trophy back for Scotland.

Stuniverse: Thank you. We'll try.

Post-match: Falkirk (1) 1-1 (1) Glentoran
2-2 after extra-time
Glentoran win 5-3 on penalties

BairnsNews: You appeared to have your hands on the trophy late in extra-time, but it slipped out of your hands. How do you sum it up?

Stuniverse: To be honest, you have to credit Glentoran. At times, they were defending for their lives, but we couldn't break them down enough to give ourselves the cushion of a two goal lead. Jahmal Hector-Ingram hit the post after 10 minutes. Then Jahmal gave us the lead, only for them to grab an equaliser before the break. In extra-time, Aidan Connolly went on a mazy run before smashing a stunning shot into the top corner. It was a wonderful, individual solo goal that deserved to win a cup final, but we didn't defend well enough to see it out. A hopeful free-kick, pumped into a crowded penalty area, and the referee sees something he didn't like and he awards them a penalty. 2-2 and it's penalties.

I'm not going to blame Michael Tidser for his miss; he was brave enough to step-up and take a penalty. Credit to Glentoran though, their five penalties were almost perfect and Robbie Mutch never had a chance with any of them.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

Edited February 7, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 20th March 2021

Pre-match v Dundee United (a) - Ladbrokes Championship (30)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: You're nine points clear of Dundee United in 3rd place with just seven matches remaining. A win, in their back yard, would just about end their title challenge, wouldn't it?

Stuniverse: A win would be perfect, but it won't be easy. Dundee United are a very good team, and we've not found it easy against them so far this season. We're expecting a very difficult game.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)

Doubtful:
Louis Longridge (heel-75)
Alan Forrest (hip-90)
Anderson Arroyo (fatigued-90)

BairnsNews: After the disappointment of your Cup Final defeat, you've made three changes.

Stuniverse: Yes. It was a bitter blow losing to Glentoran, when we felt we should've won, but winning promotion to the Premiership is the bigger prize and we've refocussed this week in preparation for a tough away game in the Championship. I'm starting Gregor Buchanan today as Anderson Arroyo was looking a little jaded. Jason Holt comes in for Michael Tidser. Anthony McDonald replaces Charlie Telfer.

Post-match: Dundee United (0) 0-3 (0) Falkirk

BairnsNews: A great result and it looked like you'd got the Cup Final loss out of your system.

Stuniverse: Yes. It was a brilliant result for us and a superb all-round performance from the whole team. Dundee United really took the game to us in the first-half and we had to defend resolutely. After the break the pattern of play opened up a bit more and that suited us. We made a few subs and started to get at Dundee United. Two goals from Steven Boyd and a superb individual goal from Anthony McDonald made it 3-0, which probably flattered us a bit, but we'll take it.

BairnsNews: Your lead remains four points after Ross County won at Inverness. Is it now a two-horse race for the title between you and Ross County? 

Stuniverse: The gap between us and Dundee United, in third, is 12 points, which shows how important a win this was for us, and it's difficult to see Dundee United clawing back 12 points with only six games to play... but you never know in football.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 27th March 2021

Pre-match v Dunfermline Athletic (H) - Ladbrokes Championship (31)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: Every time you've managed Falkirk against your arch rivals Dunfermline, you've won. Can you keep your 100% record going today?

Stuniverse: I hope so. We're at home, the Falkirk Stadium will be packed, Ye Bairns fans will be right behind us, and we want to give them the bragging rights again.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)
Conor Sammon (groin)
Oladapo falayo (ankle)

Doubtful:
Alan Forrest (hip-90)

BairnsNews: Two changes today.

Stuniverse: That's right. Anderson Arroyo returns for Gregor Buchanan. Jahmal Hector-Ingram has been struggling a bit for form lately so I'm giving a start to Georgie Kelly.

Post-match: Falkirk (0) 1-0 (0) Dunfermline Athletic 

BairnsNews: In the end, one goal was enough.

Stuniverse: Yes, Steven Boyd scored it just before the hour mark and it was no more than we deserved. I thought we were excellent throughout, we controlled the game and Dunfermline hardly troubled us at all. The only thing lacking was our ruthlessness in front of goal.

It was nice to see Alan Forrest come on as a sub to finally make his debut for us, after picking up a nasty hip injury in training before he cold play for us.

BairnsNews: Ross County beat Dundee United 1-0 so it's officially a two-horse race for the title.

Stuniverse: That means it's going to be some game between us in a couple of weeks at Falkirk Stadium then.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 29 March 2021

FALKIRK - REMAINING FIXTURES

BairnsNews: Falkirk will close out the 2020/21 Championship season with four league matches in April and the final match against Partick Thistle in May. The highlight is the first v second showdown with Ross County at Falkirk Stadium on April 10th.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 2 April 2021

MONTHLY REPORTS

Manager Performance:

Finances:

Dynamics:

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 3rd April 2021

Pre-match v Alloa Athletic (a) - Ladbrokes Championship (32)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: Alloa are 9th, three points adrift of safety. At this time of the season, does that make them a dangerous opponent?

Stuniverse: Absolutely it does. Alloa are battling to save their Championship status and they're at home. We'll have to be at our best to get anything out of the game.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)
Conor Sammon (groin)

Doubtful:
Oladapo Afolayan (ankle-90)
Alan Forrest (jaded-90)

BairnsNews: You've picked an unchanged team today.

Stuniverse: Yes. I saw no reason to change anything.

Post-match: Alloa Athletic (0) 1-1 (1) Falkirk 

BairnsNews: You needed a second goal today.

Stuniverse: Yes, we did. Aidan Connolly siezed on a bad pass to give us the lead inside 10 minutes, but we couldn't add to it. We created more than enough chances, but struggled to get them on target. A one goal lead is never safe and we saw that with their equaliser. Even then, we should've won it. Alan Forrest had a goal ruled out for offside, Jahmal Hector-Ingram hit the post, and late on Chris Kane put an easy chance wide.

BairnsNews: Forrest is convinced he was onside and his goal should've stood. Do you agree?

Stuniverse: I have my opinion but I'll be keeping it to myself. I don't want to say anything that will get me into trouble.

BairnsNews: Ross County won 1-0 at Dunfermline and are two points behind you, ahead of your head-to-head at Falkirk Stadium next weekend.

Stuniverse: It promises to be quite a game.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

Edited February 7, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 8 February 2021

FIRST V SECOND, FALKIRK V ROSS COUNTY

Edited February 7, 2020 by Stuniverse

[kidthekid]

Huge game

[Stuniverse]

3 minutes ago, kidthekid said:

Huge game

Wish us luck. Come on, Ye Bairns!

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 10th April 2021

Pre-match v Ross County (H) - Ladbrokes Championship (33)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: Here we go. You're two points ahead of Ross County going into this match. A win puts you five points clear, a defeat leaves you one point behind Ross County. Do matches get any bigger than this?

Stuniverse: You're right. This is one of those games where the result is far more important than the performance. We've generally had the better of things against Ross County this season and we're hoping we can keep that momentum going. It won't be easy though, Ross County have won their last eight games and will be wanting to make it nine and leap-frog us into top spot. We're ready for this game, we'll be doing everything we can to win the game, but it's important we don't panic and don't lose.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)
Conor Sammon (groin)

Doubtful:
Cammy Bell (knee-90)
Bradley James (hamstring-90)

BairnsNews: Ahead of the big match, you've made two changes.

Stuniverse: Yes. That's correct. Michael Tidser comes in for Ethan Hamilton. Jahmal Hector-Ingram returns in place of Georgie Kelly.

Post-match: Falkirk (4) 4-0 (0) Ross County

BairnsNews: Wow! That was an unbelievable performance. Congratulations.

Stuniverse: Thank you. I'm just so proud of my players today. Every single one of them was on their game today and I think  the first-half was the best 45 minutes we've played this season. Aidan Connolly and Jahmal Hector-Ingram made sure we were 2-0 up within 10 minutes. Jahmal added another one before we'd played 20 and he completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, giving us a 4-0 half-time lead. After the break we were sensible, professional, and saw the game out. Aidan Connolly hit the post so it could easily have been five.

BairnsNews: You hold a five point lead over Ross County with just three games to go. Surely you're as good as in the Premiership now?

Stuniverse: We can't think that way. Things can change quickly in this division, as we saw with Dundee United in January when they picked up just one point from five games. We've given ourselves an amazing opportunity with the result today and we have to remain professional, focussed, and make sure we get the job done.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

[kidthekid]

Awesome result.

[Stuniverse]

31 minutes ago, kidthekid said:

Awesome result.

Thanks, @kidthekid. It was one of those games you get once in a blue moon against a difficult opponent where absolutely everything goes right. 2-0 up after 10 minutes, 3-0 after 20, 4-0 by half-time. Ye Bairns fans were in dreamland.

It’s funny how things work out as well. In the build up to this game, Jahmal Hector-Ingram had been on a bad run of form and put in a 6.2 against Dundee United, so I dropped him for the Dunfermline and Alloa games but his replacement Georgie Kelly didn’t do much better. I recall Jahmal for the Ross County game and he scores a first-half hat-trick.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[JaytheGreat]

Wow, 4-0 win over Ross in what was probably the biggest game of the season! Let's get that league trophy!

[Stuniverse]

2 hours ago, JaytheGreat said:

Wow, 4-0 win over Ross in what was probably the biggest game of the season! Let's get that league trophy!

Thanks, @JaytheGreat. Given that a defeat would’ve seen us surrender top spot with just three games left, I agree with it being the biggest game of the season! Massive, massive win. The league title, and automatic promotion, is definitely ours to lose now. I don’t think Ross County can win it any more, but we can still throw it away.

Our remaining fixtures:

• H Ayr United (8th)
• a Dundee (4th)
• H Patrick Thistle (7th)

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 17th April 2021

Pre-match v Ayr United (H) - Ladbrokes Championship (34)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: You can potentially clinch the Championship Title and a place in the Premiership today.

Stuniverse: I fully expect Ross County to beat Alloa so I don't think it'll happen today but, having said that, we can't afford to worry about anyone else. We have to be completely focussed on Ayr and making sure we do our job against them today.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)
Conor Sammon (groin)
Jordan Marshall (thigh)

Doubtful:
Cammy Bell (knee-90)
Bradley James (hamstring-90)

BairnsNews: You've kept the same team for today.

Stuniverse: Yes. Everyone was superb last time out against Ross County. We gave the whole squad a couple of day off and they all came back refreshed and raring to go. I saw no reason to change anything.

Post-match: Falkirk (0) 0-2 (1) Ayr United

BairnsNews: Was that a case of one match too far?

Stuniverse: No. I don't think so. It's easy to forget sometimes how competitive the Championship is. Ayr needed a result in their bid to avoid relegation and they got it with a goal in each half. We played pretty well today, but we couldn't get a goal, they scored two, although the second one, the own goal by Anderson Arroyo, was ridiculous from our point of view, and then they defended their lead resolutely. I don't think we were wasteful in front of goal, but when the opposition goalkeeper pulls off a performance like that, you just have to hold your hands up and say well played Ryan Mullen (7.7).

On top of that though, we had another goal ruled out for offside. I'm getting a bit fed up of goals being chalked off when the goal scorer, this time Jahmal Hector-Ingram, is clearly onside but another player is marginally offside but not even in the goalkeeper's peripheral vision. We also hit the post and had a couple of goalmouth scrambles where the ball somehow stayed out. On another day we'd have scored two or three , but it wasn't to be.

BairnsNews: Ross County won 3-0 against Alloa and closed the gap to two points.

Stuniverse: We have two games left. We go again. We remain in the box seat but we'll have to find a way to score goals or else Ross County will overtake us.

BairnsNews: Ayr have survived. They avoided relegation today.

Stuniverse: Fair play to them. How Ayr played against us today, and fought for everything, they deserve it.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 24th April 2021

Pre-match v Dundee (a) - Ladbrokes Championship (35)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: On paper, this away trip to Dundee was always going to be the most difficult of your run-in. A defeat could see you lose top spot with just one game to go. How do you prepare for a match of this magnitude?

Stuniverse: The same way we've prepared for every other game this season. We're top of the league, with two games remaining, so we're not doing that badly overall. The Ayr defeat last time out was a disappointment but we go again. Fortunately football isn't played on paper and as we saw with our victory over Ross County (2nd), and our loss to Ayr (8th), it isn't predictable either.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Craig Sibbald (broken leg)

Doubtful:
Bradley James (hamstring-90)
Conor Sammon (groin-75)

BairnsNews: Just the one change today.

Stuniverse: Yes. Ethan Hamilton comes in for Aidan Connolly on the left-wing.

Post-match: Dundee (0) 0-4 (3) Falkirk

BairnsNews: Back to winning ways and in some style too.

Stuniverse: Yes. We wanted to start the game brightly and we did just that with Jahmal Hector-Ingram reacting quickest in the penalty area, twice, to give us a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes, first when their goalkeeper parried Steven Boyd's shot, and then when their goalkeeper superbly saved Ethan Hamilton's shot. Ethan Hamilton added a third with a fine header. Anthony McDonald wrapped things up after the break. Dundee are a good team, but we kept them quiet for the majority of the game.

BairnsNews: You substituted key players Efe Ambrose and Jason Holt early in the second-half. Why?

Stuniverse: They were both on yellow cards and, at 3-0 up, I saw no reason to take any unnecessary risks. We'll need them both at the weekend in what, we hope, will be our final game of the season.

BairnsNews: Ross County beat Ayr 3-1 to take it to the last game of the season.

Stuniverse: We know what we need to do in our last game against Partick and it's up to us to go out onto the Falkirk Stadium pitch and do it in front of our own Ye Bairns fans.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 27 April 2021

BAIRNS INJURY CRISIS

BairnsNews: Falkirk are facing an injury crisis ahead of their final league match of the season with three players breaking down in training - Ethan Hamilton (back), Alan Forrest (ankle) and Lewis Smith (ankle).

The news is a big blow to Falkirk's bid to clinch the Championship Title and promotion to the Premiership against Partick Thistle at Falkirk Stadium. 

There was some good news with Craig Sibbald returning to training but he is unlikely to be risked after being out for so long with a broken leg.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 30 April 2021

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE TO BE DECIDED

BairnsNews: Tomorrow is the day we'll find out whether Falkirk or Ross County will lift the Championship Title and claim their place in the Premiership next season.

An unnamed source at Falkirk FC informs us that striker Steven Boyd has rallied the Bairns players but a Team Meeting led by manager Stuniverse was less successful with a number of players feeling the manager was putting too much pressure on them given that the pre-season media prediction was for Falkirk to finish 4th.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[kingjericho]

That home loss was not in the plans. But you've been the best team all season and hopefully you can clinch the title with a win  

Do you find a P+AF combo works well? I would imagine the two roles would not interact much, but you seem to be scoring lots of goals.

[Stuniverse]

52 minutes ago, kingjericho said:

That home loss was not in the plans. But you've been the best team all season and hopefully you can clinch the title with a win

You’re right, @kingjericho, losing at home to Ayr wasn’t in the plans at all. It was frustrating because, overall, we played well but we came up against a goalkeeper playing out of his skin and putting in a 7.7 performance.

Hopefully we will clinch against Patrick. After being top for most of the season it would be heart-breaking to miss out on the last day of the season.

52 minutes ago, kingjericho said:

Do you find a P+AF combo works well? I would imagine the two roles would not interact much, but you seem to be scoring lots of goals.

That’s a very good question, @kingjericho. I haven’t really given it much thought because with Steven Boyd as AF and Jahmal Hector-Ingram at P it just seems to have worked this season. We are strong in central midfield, probably our strongest area of the team, with four or five players who are good enough and a lot of our attacks come down the wings with our wide men and full-backs getting forward, that the chances are created without the strikers needing to interweave that much. I’m not at home so I can’t check the stats but both main strikers have a shed-load of goals and I know Hector-Ingram has a good number of assists as well. Maybe Boyd too, I can’t remember...

Building my tactics starts in pre-season. I look at who my best players are and then try and select them in a formation I like and think suits the better players. My starting point is to play the players in their preferred positions and then tweak and adjust as we go.

Last season I fell into the 4-4-2 by accident. I started combinations of 4-4-2 diamond and 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-2-3 I think, because my coaches didn’t particularly rate my wingers, but then I ended up bringing them on when we were chasing games and, over a few games, the wingers were having enough of an impact that I tried them from the start. It worked, so I stuck with it, and that’s when we started to go on a good run of form last season.

This pre-season I stuck with what had worked last season and it continued to work. Boyd, a new signing in the summer, wasn’t originally in my plans as a striker but as he could only play AM otherwise I wasn’t sure how he’d fit into the system. [Makes me wonder now why I signed him]. To Boyd’s credit he forced his way into my plans with his performances off the bench and soon established himself as my main striker alongside Hector-Ingram and top goal scorer to boot.

So, long answer to your question, Boyd AF and Hector-Ingram P just seemed to work 😄

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: Saturday 1st May 2021

Pre-match v Partick Thistle (H) - Ladbrokes Championship (36)

Match Preview

BairnsNews: It all comes down to this 90 minutes. You're at home to Partick and Ross County host Dundee. By the final whistle, you or Ross County will be Chamipons and in the Premiership.

Stuniverse: It's in our own hands, or feet if you prefer, and if we do our job properly today it won't matter what Ross County do. That's all we're thinking about, our game against Partick. We need to make sure we do our job today.

Team Selection

Unavailable:
Ethan Hamilton (back)
Alan Forrest (ankle)

Doubtful:
Lewis Smith (ankle-90)
Craig Sibbald (broken leg-45)

BairnsNews: Despite your injury problems, just the one change today.

Stuniverse: Yes. Aidan Connolly returns for Ethan Hamilton (back). There's a couple of changes on the bench with Charlie Telfer and Louis Longridge coming in for Alan Forrest (ankle) and Hamilton (back).

BairnsNews: Good luck.

Stuniverse: Thank you.

Post-match: Falkirk (1) 3-2 (1) Partick Thistle

BairnsNews: Congratulations. You've done it. How does it feel?

Stuniverse: It's an amazing feeling. I said when I came here that I wanted to get this great club back into the Premiership where, in my opinion, Falkirk belong. I didn't expect to do it in two seasons with back-to-back title winning promotions. It's unbelievable.

I'm delighted for the players. They've worked so hard this season, they've performed magnificently, and they thoroughly deserve this.

I hope Ye Bairns fans have enjoyed themselves and they can celebrate long and hard this summer.

BairnsNews: The match was a lot closer than anyone expected. How were your nerves?

Stuniverse: Once again we saw how competitive this Championship actually is. Partick pushed us all the way and took an early lead. Louis Longridge came on for the injured Aidan Connolly (ankle) and took the game by the scruff of the neck by scoring our equaliser. Then Louis went on a great run and cross for Anthony McDonald to edge us in front. I was delighted for Louis after he'd been out a while with a heel injury. Partick equalised after the break, but Anthony scored his second goal of the game for a 3-2 win.

The players showed great character out there. We knew Ross County were beating Dundee comfortably and that we had to do it for ourselves. Partick made it very, very difficult for us, but we got the job done.

BairnsNews: In the end, it looks like your head-to-head results against Ross County made the difference. Would you agree?

Stuniverse: Yes. I think you're right. We won three and lost once against Ross County, that's six points in our favour. As we only finished two points above Ross County, they clearly did better than us against the other teams in the division. But it doesn't really matter how we accumulated the points, we finished top of the league and that's all that matters.

Please LIKE if you enjoyed this update and FOLLOW the thread so you don't miss future updates.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 1 May 2021

FALKIRK LIFT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE - REACTION

Media:

Falkirk FC Board:

Ye Bairns Supporters:

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 1 May 2021

FALKIRK - CHAMPIONSHIP 2020/21

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 2 May 2021

FALKIRK - 2020/21 SEASON REVIEW

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 3 May 2021

FALKIRK CLUB VISION MEETING

BairnsNews understand from an unnamed source at the club that Falkirk Chairman Lex Miller and manager Stuniverse have met to discuss the Club Vision following promotion to the Premiership.

Our source informs us that the Board expect the Bairns to fight bravely against relegation with the Board still looking to sell the club.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 4 May 2021

BAIRNS END OF SEASON BREAK

BairnsNews: The Falkirk squad have now gone on holiday until pre-season begins. The players will report back on Monday 21st June 2021.

Our source at the club has informed us that the End of Season Players Meeting did not go well. Falkirk manager Stuniverse tried to convince the squad that they could survive in the Premiership next season but the vast majority of players thought The Bairns had no chance of avoiding the drop.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 5 May 2021

MONTHLY REPORTS

Manager Performance:

Finances:

Dynamics:

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[kingjericho]

Congratulations! I imagine that was a nerve-wrecking final match  

You've been on the favourites group so far, with great results, now I'm looking forward to see how you fare as an underdog.

[Stuniverse]

3 hours ago, kingjericho said:

Congratulations! I imagine that was a nerve-wrecking final match  

Thank you, @kingjericho. You’re not wrong it was very nerve wracking. At 1-0 down to Partick, with Ross County beating Dundee comfortably, we had a 20 minute or so period when we were 2nd in the real-time league table. Then at 2-2 it was stick or twist, chasing a winning goal, knowing that conceding a goal would see Ross County go top. Fortunately, we won 3-2 in the end.

3 hours ago, kingjericho said:

You've been on the favourites group so far, with great results, now I'm looking forward to see how you fare as an underdog.

It’s been an amazing first two seasons and I have another season to run on my Falkirk contract.

Underdogs is right:

• I have a squad of 31 players and all of them except one (Anthony McDonald) think we stand no chance of avoiding the drop
• The Board’s expectation is that we fight bravely against relegation
• My Chairman is actively looking to sell the club, although with three serious consortiums already entering into negotiations, and two Board imposed transfer embargoes, negotiations collapsed each time and no deal has been concluded
• Consequently the Board either have no money or are reluctant to put any money in:
• Transfer budget increased to £181,016 (was £88,475 end of January)
• Wage budget increased to £47,030 (was £36,946)

Something tells me it’s going to be a long, hard season.

Edited February 8, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Another Falkirk Save
For those of you enjoying the Falkirk concept, @vara is also doing a Falkirk save on here: 

 

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 5 May 2021

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STUNIVERSE

BairnsNews are delighted to announce we’ve been granted permission to do an exclusive Q&A style interview with Falkirk manager Stuniverse.

If you have any questions, please send them through by direct message to @Stuniverse, clearly marking them as Q&A.

Many thanks.

Edited February 9, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 5 May 2021

OUT-OF-CONTRACT BAIRNS PLAYERS

BairnsNews: Falkirk have eight players out-of-contract this summer with two loans due to come to an end. In order of appearances for the Bairns in 2020/21, the players are:

• Anderson Arroyo - RB (on loan from Liverpool) - 30 appearances this season
• Louis Longridge - AMRLC - 19 appearances
• Gregor Buchanan - DC - 18 appearances
• Oladapo Afalayon - SC (on loan from West Ham) - 13 appearances
• Michael Doyle - RB - 9 appearances
• Conor Sammon - SC - 7 appearances
• Mark Durnan - DC - 3 appearances
• Sam Dryden - RB - 1 appearance
• David McMillan - SC - 0 appearances
• Solal Pelmard-Bassi - GK - 0 appearances

What we know...

Falkirk were keen to extend Anderson Arroyo's loan, the club agreed a deal with Liverpool and the player, but Arroyo was denied a work permit and the appeal was rejected. If Michael Doyle is released, the Bairns will have no natural right-backs on their books, although Efe Ambrose has covered there at times this season.

Sam Dryden will leave Falkirk in the summer having already signed a pre-contract deal with Ayr.

David McMillan, we understand, is set to be released.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 6 May 2021

LONGRIDGE SIGNS NEW BAIRNS DEAL

BairnsNews: Falkirk's 29 year-old winger Louis Longridge has signed a new deal keeping him with the Bairns until the summer of 2023. Longridge, who missed a lot of this season through injury, was out-of-contract this summer, but the way he came on as a substitute against Partick Thistle in the final match of the season and completely changed things around, clearly convinced manager Stuniverse to offer him a new deal.

Edited February 9, 2020 by Stuniverse

[vara]

glad to see you re-sign Longridge, been a tidy little player.

brilliant Championship campaign and finances are very positive. Top work, good luck in the SPL.

[Stuniverse]

24 minutes ago, vara said:

glad to see you re-sign Longridge, been a tidy little player.

brilliant Championship campaign and finances are very positive. Top work, good luck in the SPL.

Thanks, @vara, and thanks for the plug on your own Falkirk Career Save thread.

Longridge has been unlucky with injuries this season after doing very well for me the previous season. The way he came on as an early sub against Partick, grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, and made a positive impact to help us turn things around, made offering him a new deal a no-brainier. That and his wage demands not being too high.

It was another amazing season. More nerve-wracking than the League One campaign with Ross County and both Dundees more than capable of beating us. It was a tense run-in but we got over the line in the end. We did it!

Finances may be ok, but there’s not much in the budgets to play with. I have a good number of scouts and they’ve been actively scouting players for the last 18 months. Time to review their findings and see who is interested in joining us and who we can afford. Given our budgets, I think I’ll be looking primarily at loan players and free transfers.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 8 May 2021

ROSS COUNTY FACE DUNDEE UNITED

BairnsNews: Goals were in short supply as Dundee United progressed on penalties, after two goalless draws against their arch-rivals Dundee, to face Ross County in the Championship Promotion Playoff Second Round.

Edited February 9, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 15 May 2021

ROSS COUNTY TO JOIN FALKIRK IN PREMIERSHIP?

BairnsNews: Ross County defeated Dundee United in the Second Round of the Championship Playoffs and now face St. Mirren in the Premiership Relegation Playoff Final for the chance to join Falkirk in the Premiership next season.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 17 May 2021

FALKIRK COMMERCIAL SUMMARY

 

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 17 May 2021

DOYLE GETS NEW BAIRNS DEAL

BairnsNews: Falkirk's 29 year-old right-back Michael Doyle has signed a new deal keeping him with The Bairns until the summer of 2023.

Our unnamed source at the club informs us Falkirk have a predicament at right-back after failing to get a work permit to extend Anderson Arroyo's loan from Liverpool. We understand manager Stuniverse wasn't keen on extending Doyle's contract but, with scarce pickings at right-back currently available in the transfer market, Stuniverse changed his mind and negotiated a new deal with Doyle.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 23 May 2021

ROSS COUNTY BOUNCE BACK

BairnsNews: Ross County put last season's relegation behind them by bouncing back to the Premiership at the first attempt with victory over St. Mirren in the Premiership Relegation Playoff Final.

The Premiership lineup for the 2021/22 season is now complete and Ye Bairns fans will be looking forward to the release of the Premiership fixtures and discovering when Falkirk will play the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Aberdeen and Hearts.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 23 May 2021

BOYD WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BairnsNews: Falkirk's 24 year-old striker Steven Boyd wins the Championship Player of the Year Award as nine Bairns players are named in the Championship Team of the Year.

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 27 May 2021

FALKIRK TAKEOVER RUMOURS INTENSIFY

BairnsNews: Here we go again as Falkirk takeover rumours are growing apace once more. There's no secret that the Bairns chairman Lex Miller is looking to sell the club but, having already entered into serious negotiations with three interested parties, having twice imposed transfer embargoes, only for the deals to collapse, Ye Bairns fans are questioning how seriously the current chairman is about selling the club.

 

Edited February 9, 2020 by Stuniverse

[Stuniverse]

Game date: 31 May 2021

FALKIRK RELEASE FIVE

BairnsNews: Five Falkirk players have today left the club as free agents: Gregor Buchanan, Conor Sammon, Mark Durnan, David McMillan and Solal Pelmard-Bassi.