The Lotw Diary- A Doumbe Double???

It was a where were you moment? Maybe, not quite up there wie the shooting of JFK but one you will remember, if only for the oddness of it all. When Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe joined the ranks of such luminaries as McGarvey, McAvennie and Miller wie the worst winning goal since the 2005-cup final and one that ranks alongside the deflected effort in the 1980 riot cup final.

Now, while Dunfermline have been getting bummed up like they were Brazil 1970 by sum quarters, the bottom-line is they never had a shot at goal in the whole 2nd half. Which is amazing considering that Jim McIntyre that world-class journeyman was giving Elvis a torrid time. Elvis had his worst game in the hoops, which is saying something.

But I suppose the meeja have to dress the showpiece end of the season up. Hampden has a reputation of throwing a party and the DJ’s choice of tunes reflected this. “Song 2” by Blur was looped for the teams coming oot and Slim Shady’s “Lose yourself” got the same treatment before the presentation. Both were meant to be fore brooding and build the tension and expectation up like a John Barrie musical score. Both failed to do their joab. Both like the meeja coverage can be accused of trying to hard.

As the game wore on and the hoops took control there was only ever going to be one winner. We were keeping the baw, being patient and for the 1st time in months the expectation of us scoring was at ease wie oor support. Well, some. The Irish fella who wanted GS sacked for taking off Lenny was quickly shouted doon and told to behave.

For me Lenny going of was the watershed moment. A moment that changed the game. The Pars weren’t troubling us and the baw needed to get moved quicker from the middle through the channels for the beats pace to exploit a creaking backline. Enter Gary Caldwell to do just that. Sometimes it didnae work and his baws failed to reach their targets but at least instead of going sideways the baw was now travelling forward doon the channels for the wilder beats to charge onto.

This tactic is something we have been looking for. Something we hope will be there next season.

We won. We partied. We danced to the Pogues and the Frattellis. We celebrated saying cherrio to team 2 and hoping for better fair performance wise next year. We wish the same yield of two trophies and a guid run in Europe mind you!!!

Overall, we do deserve the double. 28 games unbeaten during the season is testimont to a team better than the rest. Over the last few months it has been poor but as I said on Friday we won’t remember that in years to come. Nostalgia and selective memory loss will see to that.

Player ratings and blurb aboot how I think they done…..

Arfur- Looked guid in the new top and didnae get his new shorts dirty. So a 6 out of 10 for that.

JJPD- Match winner, look uncomfortable in the 1st half. Looks ok going forward, defending I’m not to sure aboot. Could be a guid squad player will do well in the SPL but Europe I don’t know. 7 out of 10 mainly for the goal and having the guts to be in the opposition pen box wie 4 mins left.

Elvis- Terrible. Bit part player next season surely? 0 out of 10. ok, then 1 for turning up.

Mick-Elvis gave Mick- a torrid time. But he was solid and Mick like. 5 out of 10.

Naylor- great run and shot in the 2nd half. Crossing poor, looks tired to the jack in the box of earlier on. 5 out of 10.

McGeady- Never in the game. Again failed to show up when the chips where doon. One decent run and cross but the pars defender had to take him oot his pocket so he could collect his medal. 3 out of 10.

Paul Zico Hartley- eh, had a decent game for me when Lenny went of. Tracked back well but still has to do more. 5 out of 10.

Lenny- Correct decision to take him off. Disappointed as he would have been the change worked so he can’t complain. 4 out of 10.

Naka- quiet, tidy on the baw looks a shadow of his former self. 3 out of 10.

KM- Was oor best forward. Pace troubled the pars back line and he was tidy in possession. Should have scored when he injured himself. Scary thing is he maybe done enough to get kept on next season. 7 out of 10.


JVOH- Big man done nuthin bar chase scraps all day. Nae service but when he did get service he was well marshalled by Bambi and Skint Wilson. Questions remain aboot his ability and whether is he is worth the price tag. 4 out of 10.

The Beats- surprising choice instead of Riordan. But, KM was troubling the Pars backline wie pace so GS went like for like. His directness gave us purpose but I couldnae help thinking that he was looking at Burchill and seeing a similar career path..6 out of 10

Caldwell- as I said in the blurb thought his forward passing and baw retention ensured that there was going to be only one winner. Quicker mover of the baw than Lenny but long term future in that role? Unsure. 6 out of 10

GS-Nae rating for the manager, as i find it hard to give a manager a rating, but credit where credit is due. He called his subs right. He picked a team and bench that showed guts. Says a lot when Jaro and The Grav are nowhere to be seen. Ballsy decision to replace Lenny.

His team was set up to win the cup by being capable of grinding oot a result. There was no attempt to recapture form, or to attain fast flowing fitba. He trusted the 13 he put on the park to do just that. What that say’s aboot the rest of them then we will find oot in the next two months.

Forza The Double Winning Hoops