LIVINGSTON

LAST SEASON PREMIERSHIP 6th SCOTTISH CUP Fourth Round LEAGUE CUP Runners- up TOP SCORER Alan Forrest ( 11)

F A n F I L E ALMONDVIEW PODCAST @ Almondviewpod Last season was an enormous overachievement. Finishing top six and getting to a major final is something we could have only dreamt of before the season began. The big talking point among the fans is whether we can continue our rise. Form towards the end of the campaign was poor, and we’re hoping that a fresh start with some new faces will kick- start our season. This season will be different to last

because ex- captain Marvin Bartley is now our assistant manager, and we’ve lost good players like Jon Guthrie and Jay Emmanuel- Thomas. But compared to losing Lyndon Dykes last season? We recovered well then and I believe we will again. Instead of going to the football

last season I went mad for baking scones. They were rubbish, though.

I won’t be happy unless we beat Hearts or Hibs. They’re the closest thing we have to derby rivals. It’s always good to get one over them.

Our Mcmillan. most Tenacious, underrated versatile player but is Jack just never Look out gets for his Jaze chance. Kabia and Jack Hamilton: The opposition both have player great I secretly potential. admire is Hibs’ Martin Boyle. Always gets a penalty or goal against us!

The best thing about matchday at Livingston is the buzz, not knowing if you’ll see us lose heavily, or just by the one or two goals.

Our key player is frequently Scott Pittman [ below], but I’m hoping this is the season one of the new lads will step up. Maybe Bruce Anderson. Other clubs’ fans don’t know that we’re the only club in ( recorded) history to have a set of triplets and an older brother play in the same team ( the Jacobs brothers). The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that David Martindale [ above] is a funny, likeable guy. The support he’s got from both our own fans and other clubs’ after his past wrongs has been fantastic to see. If he left he should be replaced by

Marvin Bartley.

We’ll finish above Dundee and Hearts, and that’s all that matters. 11TH FFT VERDICT

Yes, Livingston could easily finish a lot higher, and they’ve been one of the feelgood stories in the Scottish game over recent years. But reality might bite hard this season: it’s hard to overlook the losses of influential players like Scott Robinson and Jon Guthrie.