dibble

Shame would like for him to have stayed great talent for the future. McCall wanted him at Ayr before Caldwell brought him to thistle

Ayr united chairman just said he tried to change his yes to a no vote but was told he couldn’t as per the loaded rules

McCall on Caldwell’s squad. There are a lot of good players but the team is very unbalanced. So I’m going to unbalance it so much that I haven’t a clue who to pick . Seriously I actually think Caldwell would have picked up more pints this year and I can’t believe I just said that!!

On the positive side many clubs who go down come up again in a very healthy state and challenge for promotion livi, Ayr and Arbroath to name a few

I do think this is very key issue and one Ive been thinks about. Bannigan yes gets on the ball a lot and links play together in the middle of the park - however never manages to make a defence splitting pass, never creates chances , never scores , not great In the air and is very predictable and very one footed. There are many better midfielders in the divison. thought the raith central defenders were as good as big tam I’m afraid.

Think McCall believes his on hype. We were a better team before the break no doubts. He thought that by making lots of changes he could pull off a miracle and make the play offs. Losing miller has been bad as his experience and link up play we can now see was important . Losing kakay was also a blow. I posted during the window was a big risk making so many changes. No one hear is going to tell me letting slater go was also not a huge mistake. The game last night was crying out for someone like him and replacing him with some old firm reserve oh dear. Our midfield passing was dreadful .

Also think we missed kakay - O’Connor a poor replacement

Thanks for that didn’t know

We miss millers link up play and running off the ball- no one else can play that role. Rudden signing looks a disaster. At least Miller was fit

I do think letting miller go was a mistake. In a relegation fight we need experience. Also thought although miller missed a few chances he did start off a lot of moves and linked midfield and attack quite effectively. We don’t have anyone who can do that now. If the money saved on miller allowed us to get Rudden in for example then looking like a mistake of massive proportions given Ruddens fitness and injury issues. Both against Arbroath and Dundee we have missed him.

Interesting post on P and B about McCall from Ayr fan McCall had much more of a yo-yo time at Ayr than people think. His first season he made seriously heavy weather of avoiding relegation to league 2 after coming in mid season and signing 5/6 players. 2nd season we got promoted through the playoffs but were largely awful to watch and were horribly ill prepared for the championship...3rd season was a horror show from start to relegation. I’d have booted him, but the board backed him with full time football for the first time in over a decade. 4th season was Shankland time and we won the league despite the defence and goalkeeper being consistently hopeless. 5th season was superb until Christmas when we disintegrated to the point of losing to Talbot in the cup. Obviously this season he decided we couldn’t meet his ambitions anymore and so walked away.

Yep this time last year you could see the impact of Anderson and Mcdonald. We are going g backwards. Anderson probably was as influential as Mcdonald. We have McCall and two assistants . What are they doing ???

I think we have a decent squad - many of our players would walk into most championship sides . The problem seems to be - how come other teams can ground out results and we can’t . Alloa Arbroath Morton have purls put great away wins recently. Think McCall didn’t know his best set up or style of play. Caught between building for next year and avoiding the drop this year. Should take a leaf from Alloa. Set up defensively and play on the counter- Morton get some big players and hit it long. Yes you will lose some but you will pick up points. We set up offensively but midfield can’t win enough ball and then we get exposed. Need to change things quickly as heads are going down.

And why doesn’t the rule that part time teams injuires etc take there toll apply to this league?

This league baffles me it really does. Arbroath and Alloa both winning away at moment at moment and us with a decent squad of players can’t buy a win recently. I just don’t get it. How do both those teams keep grinding out resukts?

Overall deserved to win it. With that many new players always going to take a few games to gel. We will get better as the season goes on. Thought players looked up for it which is main thing. Worst thing to do is panic.

Worth also noting that it was Archie that signed mcginty and slater

Can’t quite believe that

Think he is part time and has good job out with football so a no goer

I see Berra is going to Salford united so he ain’t coming. Definetly need a another centre half

McCall gambling a lot bringing so many new faces in. Never like to see one of our players going to a rival always seems to come back and haunt us.

So we are now one centre half short than in December with hall and McGinty going and only brownie coming in ??? Morton are turning into a team of bloody giants

Ok I do have a slight doubt about too many changes mid season. Since McCall took over we have been one of the form teams on the divison. I do think on paper the signings make us a far better team on paper but it make take a bit of time for the new team to settle and it certainly looked that way on Saturday. I do think we missed millers link up play on Saturday . So lot of his running does move the opposition about and create space for others. Hopefully McCall hasn’t thrown the baby out with the bath water . Yes he’s a good manger but it’s not to say he gets everything g right. Hopefully my doubts are misfounded! Ps. Miller could still come back to haunt us in the play offs

Really interesting what McCall was saying today about convincing the board that the team requires major surgery and to spend more than planned but that that would be more cost effective in the long run rather than chopping and changing every transfer window. Does anyone have any idea of the cost of letting players go before a contract ends . With Harkins or miller do you have to pay up the full value of their contract or do you sometimes pay a one off fee - less than that value and the player gets another contract so financially is better off? I read that miller agreed to rip up his contract ?

Still don’t trust our defence so reckon Arbroath will score and they are due to end there bad run st some pint. Will take time for the new players to bed in . Will do well to get a point but reckon 2 1 to Arbroath I’m afraid .