Phil McGuire Post Carlisle

Each game we seem to be getting stronger and against Carlisle we played well and made their keeper make a few saves, which is good.

Phil reflected on the game asgainst Carlisle United:-

"I thought it was good to be honest. We passed the ball around well and created a few chances. We probably should have got a penalty, I don't know what the referee saw there. It might have changed the game as it was a definite penalty when Burchy was through. After that it was just a couple of slack passes and they scored. The second goal was a great goal, the only thing the boy (Kev Gall) could do was put it in the top corner.

"Overall although we did not score, we passed the ball well and it was a good fitness test for us. These are the games to make mistakes, rather than next Saturday. Each game we seem to be getting stronger and against Carlisle we played well and made their keeper make a few saves, which is good."

Phil McGuire was just one of several new faces trying to gel into a team. Of the eleven players who started the match against Carlisle only three had been at East End Park for more than a season. He felt that things were coming together nicely although he harboured fears for the squad in particular upfront:-

"It just takes a bit of time. If we can get a starting eleven and keep them fit it will be important. We do not have the biggest of squads and maybe need some more in the striking area. Everywhere else we are covered if there are injuries but if we get an injury to Burchy and Big Jim (McIntyre) then we might struggle."

Evidence that Jim Leishman shares Phil's concerns came in the shape of Noel Whelan on trial:-

"I played with him at Aberdeen, he is a great player, he has to a good touch and experience. He brings us something else but it is up to the Manager but I would definitely sign him. He has great link up play to feed players in and with an eye for the goal he can finish. Why not take a gamble?"

Phil provides the kind of versatile player that Dunfermline might find very useful and he reckons the small squad means that attention is always focussed on who is not available:-

"I can fill in at centre half, I can play centre midfield, just as long as I play I don't care. You just protect the players in pre season, if there are any knocks you are not going to risk it. The bottom dollar is next Saturday when you need everybody fit. "

The season opener is against Hearts at East End Park and although Phil McGuire hasn't played against the Jambos in their 'post revolution' era the opposition holds no fears for the 26 year old:-

"To me it is just eleven v eleven, it doesn't matter who they are Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen - it is what we do on the day that counts."