Toby

I should course add that for balance, Morton should be conducting an investigation into their own failings re: stewarding. Given the limitations Cappielow has in terms of facilities, there’s little that could have been done to accommodate the away fans without creating a flashpoint in the Cowshed, but it would be wrong to assume the stewards acted correctly, especially given that we’ve all got complaints about their conduct towards ourselves. Although I’d argue that it shouldn’t take the Partick fans complaining about their treatment before our security partner is held to account- there have been problems on that front for years now.

Don’t know where you heard the story about the capacity being reduced in the away end of the stand, but I don’t doubt you’re right, tbh. Can’t remember the last time I saw anyone occupy the section directly beside hospitality, it was even left empty for the Hearts game last season. Your point about reducing their allocation to 500 fans- I’d go down a different route. Morton took corrective action after the game at Firhill in February, after pressure from the police, Partick, that wee boy’s maw and the media. Now, after welcoming these people to our home, we’ve been treated with contempt by them, and at considerable cost to us as a club. Partick aren’t now in the position of saying “we’ve got a big support, you should be grateful we’re lining your pockets”. Given the outlay on security on Saturday, Morton probably do better out of a game against Ayr or Airdrie. And what return was there on that outlay? There was clearly unlawful behaviour from the Partick fans, but I’ve heard nothing about any arrests. Should Morton be paying for the police’s services without seeing something tangible? If you restrict the amount of tickets, I don’t see the problem being resolved. In all likelihood, their neds will gobble these up and leave those who behaved without tickets, which is unfair on the well behaved Partick fans. I’m certainly not in the camp of the “Cowshed Youth” in demanding we stick up for our own, rather than punishing them. But I do think we’re in the position that we can ask questions of other parties. We’ve tried to do our bit to prevent or minimise trouble at our end, what is everyone else doing? Did the police make any arrests? If not, why not? Will Partick be taking action against any of their fans? If not, why not? If Morton don’t get satisfactory answers, having taken action against our own neds, it’s about time we did likewise against Partick’s. The guy in the photo above is clearly identifiable given his prominent social media presence. Both he and his brother are seen in the video breaking the ground regulations. He was previously ejected from Cappielow for having a half bottle of Buckie and denied entry on his next visit, both in their relegation year. If Morton have lost patience with their own fans, I see no reason they should extend any further invitations to him to come back to Cappielow, and they should let Partick pass on the good news to him. As for their young team, let them turn up at Cappielow and deny entry to people with black hoodies and/or balaclavas at the away end. If they don’t like it then tough. They can email the club and ask for refunds, and get them if their tickets are unscanned. I wouldn’t let anyone into a football ground with a balaclava on anyway, there’s no reason to wear one if you have nothing to hide. I get that I’m looking at it through blue and white tinted glasses, but since the February game, it strikes me that Morton have been portrayed as the bad guys despite trying to do the right thing (and credit where it’s due to Dale for that). It’s time the narrative is changed and we start taking action and making demands of others.

Would think most folk would know who he’s referring to, yes.

Fair enough. Given that that weirdo just lifts his content from other sites I’d assumed he was going with the club’s interview. Seems he’s lifted the Tele’s content this time around.

Think it should be taken in context, and he did mention the fact he was speaking in the heat of the moment. It did however come across that he feels he’s hitting his head against a brick wall and no matter how hard he tries, the limitations he’s working with make it impossible to progress Morton any further than he has. His interview on Friday will probably be markedly different, but at present, there are two significantly bigger Championship clubs who will likely be looking to appoint a new manager in the summer in the shape of Partick and Dunfermline, and one who have been willing to throw money around in Queen's Park. I think it’s clear he’s not getting a job higher up the food chain, probably because Morton are an unfashionable club, and because he’ll struggle to shake of the reputation about his style of play, so bigger or richer Championship clubs are his best option. I spotted that hideous Transfers Scotland tweet that misquoted him to give the impression he’ll be shipping out his failing players- he said nothing of the sort. I would say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, particularly with Queen’s Park, who I see significantly downsizing, but Partick and Dunfermline will tempt him, assuming both remain in the Championship. Looking at the new ownership and spending policy at Dunfermline, it looks like a complete bin fire, that will lead to administration, while Partick also keep losing money. But in the short to medium term, both are probably more attractive to a manager than us just plodding along breaking even. Moderate success could get him a Ross County, St. Johnstone, Dundee or Kilmarnock. Until Partick make their appointment and Lennon’s future is confirmed, I’d be gravely concerned. He’s entering the last year of his contract, and if Morton are struggling to cash in on players, now might just be the time to pocket a few quid on a relatively successful manager. Sadly, I don’t expect to see him in the dugout in July.

Not necessarily relevant to his time at Morton, but Gaston scored an absolutely howling own goal against Peterhead last weekend. He was a good servant to Morton, but Mullen’s the better keeper in my opinion. Morton was the peak of Gaston’s career, we won’t be the peak of Mullen’s.

That “statement” is an absolute abomination. First tip is to make things like this as brief as possible to get your point across and maintain the reader’s attention throughout. I say that as I write a massive rant. The only reason I read the whole thing was because it was so comically bad and there are so many holes to be picked in it. I’ll ignore the spelling and grammar. Straight off the bat, “It’s been brought to our attention…” Nothing’s been brought to your attention fellas, you’ve seen some other snotty nosed collection of brats with a similarly inflated sense of their own importance whining about not getting things their way on Instagram, tell it how it is. “The Scottish Ultra scene has risen significantly up and down the country and should be supported and backed instead of classed as a criminal activity.” Why? What good does it actually do? Are these folk helping pensioners across the road? Are they collecting for food banks? (I know some are, but our wee gang certainly aren’t.) Are they doing litter collections in their towns and cities? Or are they running around, hiding their identities and as a result putting fear and uncertainty in the minds of the communities they’re entering or a part of? Is throwing a pyro at a child who is being escorted from the pitch after completing their mascot duties not a criminal activity? ”We have boycotted games due to the unfair punishments on our members…” I’m afraid this requires a bit of context. We’re aware that the club banned seven fans for up to two years, but they quite rightly didn’t comment further. If this group wish to condemn the bans as unjust and garner external support, I’m afraid they have to detail what was so wrong with the club’s course of action and let those who they are trying to convince decide. I’ve seen none of that, just complaints about how this is wrong but not why it’s wrong. Partick v Morton ”The group were targeted with stop and search and hiding in concourses…” They clearly didn’t search them thoroughly enough considering there was plenty pyro lit in that old wooden stand. ”Police Scotland and Partick Thistle stewards made this an extremely unsafe surrounding not just for the group, but also for younger kids who attend matches with families.” I’m sorry but this is absolutely mental, and the worst bit of an already dreadful statement. You threw a pyro at a child! You have no moral high ground here, get off your fucking cross. The home games could all be merged into one daft wee rant in all honesty. The police were driving at high speeds when children were about. Fuck off, if they feel it’s appropriate, they’re allowed to do that. They hit members with batons, too. Any evidence of any bruising been produced? I’d say that’s quite an allegation to make of a public body without concrete evidence to support your claims. Their entrance to the train station was closed off? Their entrance, or everyone’s entrance? Again, if the police think it’s appropriate for public safety, it’s their gift to take these measures. They were outnumbered by police? That’s on you, boys. And to be honest as a tax payer, it pisses me off that you’ve gained such a reputation that the police feel the need to spend so much of our money on people who we’ve witnessed with our own eyes committing criminal acts. That’s said, I’m just not having it that there were 3-4 cops per member of their group. More alllegations of being hit with batons and police turning off body cams is incredible. I’m sure their superiors would have footage up to the point the cameras were turned off and ask questions of exactly what happened to their officers. It just didn’t happen, let’s be honest. I’d also question the timing of this statement. The bans were a few weeks ago now, and we’ve had two games since in which we got good results and were played in front of positive atmosphere’s from a Morton perspective. These guys haven’t been missed. Could it be that there was a high profile incident at the weekend of a group of similarly entitled neds not being allowed into a local derby that has attracted a lot of media attention so this lot are piggy backing onto it? I’m sure none of that wee mob even read this forum and will dismiss the ramblings of miserable old guys like us who don’t understand them, but I’d challenge them to convince us that we’re wrong, and fill in some of the glaring gaps in their account of what’s been happening to them.

Another weekend, another Ross Forbes peach. https://x.com/thorniewood/status/1900973933819724116?s=46

Vale of Clyde have permanently banned their young team after their “derby” with Perershill at the weekend (it’s not a derby, two teams from the opposite end of the city whose weans have manufactured a rivalry because they both like a pyro). Now, under normal circumstances, we may be questioning what could possibly be going on that forced them into such drastic action, but fear not. Step forward Scottish football’s favourite overgrown ned with a selfie stick, Mr Blair McNally… I’m reluctant to share his video and indirectly line his pockets, but think it’s necessary to illustrate what this fella’s influence on kids is. I asked Dale at one of those supporters’ meetings a couple of months ago about Morton’s stance on him and he said that there’s no way he’d get press accreditation for Cappielow. But clubs up and down the pyramid should really be putting a stop to this nonsense by banning him completely. I get the need for publicity, but what he brings to them isn’t positive in the way the other guy, Sam North’s films are. Banning kids who can’t behave is a reasonable step, but looking towards the root cause of the problem could prevent things like this before they become an issue. And he certainly shouldn’t be able to make a living off of this.

Finishing off with “something that we will not accept” is an absolute belter. Open your eyes, lads. You’re not in the position to be dictating anything to anyone, here. You’ve done wrong, hold your hands up to it and work with the club in order to improve behaviour and rebuild your relationship with the club and the rest of the fanbase. On a positive note, the rest of us should now be okay for tickets to Lesser Hampden next season.

Aye, agreed. Let he without sin cast the first stone and all that. Few of us were ever complete angels in our youths, some worse than others. I suspect the bans will be announced as two years but reviewed in the intervening time, perhaps at Christmas. I really don’t like seeing anyone getting banned from Cappielow, but if that’s the route the club are going down, the kids can’t really have any complaints. I suspect that Morton are taking such action in cooperation with the police, and a ban from going to games is preferable for all concerned to criminal proceedings that could impact them in later life. Let’s not forget a pyro was thrown in the direction of a child at Firhill the other week. If you avoid prosecution for something as fucking stupid as that you thank your lucky stars, and keep a low profile. I get that it’s a stretch to say the same person got the crayons out to write that abomination of a “statement”, but maybe whoever did should show a bit of self awareness and contrition on behalf of the whole group. I get that it was written by a child of course, though. TopCat’s point about us owing some sort of debt of gratitude to these guys is a good one. None of us have requested they go on this noble crusade to improve the Cappielow atmosphere, and the novelty has worn off big time, not that any of the adults in the room were in awe of the weans suddenly turning Cappielow into the Ali Sami Yen c.1993 overnight, anyway. A boycott only works when you know you’ve got public opinion on your side. I’m afraid the kids need to read the room, here. Most folk, apart from their wee clique, realise the position the club have been put in by their behaviour, also accept the pressure coming from the police and football authorities to take proportionate action and sympathise with Morton on it. They may feel another route could have been taken, but ultimately the club aren’t being unnecessarily harsh on them. And when your behaviour becomes an irritation to those around you, as theirs clearly has, you’re howling to the moon in organising a protest or boycott. I take note of Rossco’s post, which went up halfway through me writing this. There may be an element of truth in that- I don’t know, but the club will also have an appeals process. I’d suggest getting an adult involved in such an appeal rather than trying their luck themselves. Rossco as a parent of a kid in their inner sanctum who also goes to games might be a good candidate. However, kids will generally give their or their pals’ side of the story without providing evidence that incriminates them. Not calling his own kid a liar, but his pals could’ve been economical with the truth.If of course a couple have been unjustly banned, hopefully that sorts itself out.

I’m not starting an ex-manager thread. Daft Raymond’s got the Brechin job.

McEndoe would tick all the boxes for us given the work he’s done at Edinburgh City on a similarly tight budget in relative terms. He did however sign a (three year?) contract extension recently, which would see us having to pay out compensation, though that would likely be negated by whatever we would receive for Imrie. I don’t expect Imrie to go there, though. He’s hated by them as much as they’re hated by us, and I can’t see them being able to get their fans on board with an appointment like him.

Jack Iredale, boys. What a player.

Maybe, but that would beg the question why our game with big-spending Raith Rovers is on 25th March, rather than 4th, 11th or 18th. Of course, we couldn’t play on Tuesday 11th though, because the big-spending Fifers have their derby on Friday 15th, and we couldn’t have anyone other than Morton facing a schedule like that.