Josh Raring to Go

"We have boys who are not going to take anything for granted.

The cup games have come early but for Josh Falkingham all the preparations in pre season have been for the start of the league campaign that kicks off against East Fife on Saturday:-

"We have done well and taken a bit of a confidence boost from the two cup games where we have definitely deserved to win both of them. Now looking at the bread and butter, this is the campaign that we want to do well in. We know that it is going to be a tough year but everybody is ready to go.

"We are all in the right mindset and raring to go, I can't wait to go out against East Fife. We are desperate to get off to a great start and go on a bit of a roller like we did last season."

This will of course be another Fife derby. There were no fewer than eight of these last season and with the Ramsden Cup ties against Cowdenbeath and Raith Rovers there will be at least six of these this term.

"It just seems a derby every week so there will be added spice to the game with it being a cup tie and ex players of the club playing against us. No matter who you are, you always want to do well against somebody you feel didn't want you for whatever reason."

This includes Paul Willis, Scott McBride, Pat Clarke and Liam Buchanan who Josh knows will want to impress. For Josh it is a return to a park where he has played before and has great admiration for the playing surface there:-

"That will stand us in good stead; hopefully we can get the ball down, pass and play the way we want to. Hopefully we can nullify those ex players and concentrate on winning the game. I'm sure that there will be a great reception too for Ryan Wallace going back to his old club. He will want to go and show people that he has come on very well since he left.

"Hopefully he can get on and play his game because sometimes it can work both ways. It can get into situations where they end up going too hell for leather and end up spoiling it for themselves, doing something rash or silly. I'm sure Ryan will not end up getting caught up in it."

Expectations can be tempered Josh feels because of the focus of Rangers in our league and his wishes are that the Pars can work away 'under the radar'-

"Everybody is tipping us and many going against us. East Fife, Brechin and Forfar have a lot of good players who have dropped out of the First Division because they know there is going to be a lot of emphasis on this division. Clubs like Stenhousemuir have signed boys who have played in the First Division all their days. It is going to be a very competitive league.

"Apart from Rangers, people will always come up against us thinking that we are the bigger team. But we need just to get on with our business, let Rangers take all the headlines. Teams will pump themselves up and try extra hard like East Stirlingshire did last Saturday.

"We have got to expect that and we have boys who are not going to take anything for granted. That is a good thing and honestly it is going to be tough - no game is going to be easy and we need to go into the games with the right mindset. It is never going to be a walk in the park. Clubs will up their game."

Josh has been pleased to welcome all the new faces to East End Park and the positive jibes that have been maintained throughout pre season:-

"The Dundee United boys know each other well, which helps but we always want everybody involved. Ryan Scully has come in and been great. Everybody has settled in well and getting on fine. It is a good group with no cliques, that is vital because seasons are long and hard."