exiledjag

Is there any chance the two head bummers running the SPFL, the President (what's his name - Mc something) and Doncaster will call the leagues with us sitting in 5th, 2 points behind 3rd & 4th but with a game in hand! Might have been better to have tried really hard to play tonight's game! Don't want history repeating do we? BTW agree Killie v Morton result was a good one for us but being greedy a Morton win would have been better.

I suppose its easy to judge people in every situation if their particular way of seeing things or their actions are contrary to those of the majority. Some people are trypanophobic (fear of needles), others have religious beliefs which don't allow such treatment and others just refuse to be vaccinated for whatever reason. There are ways to deal with the fear of needles, religious reasons are more difficult to address but I have to admit the latter do cause me a problem. I would simply ask those who refuse to be vaccinated and who fall into the latter category to think of their potential impact on and consequences of their position for others. The impact of course could be a short or prolonged period of ill-health or in fact a fatality. In the latter case the impact, like the virus, multiplies, spreads to the victims family and friends in terms of bereavement and the loss of a loved one. That's a hell of a responsibility.

I meant Harkins but didn't spot the prescriptive text change. Yes that was a crazy signing. I also agree with all the comments about the automatic selection of Bannigan and Docherty. I would have no hesitation in playing Turner in Central midfield and putting either off the two mentioned on the bench depending on their current form. I think though I would favour Docherty.

I wasn't unhappy or surprised when Amoo left to return South. I was disappointed when we let Ade Azeez go. I felt there was a player in there and I thought for a big man (not exceptionally big) he was quick, strong and gave us a good physical presence up front. I would liked to have seen him and Doolin forming a striking partnership. He took a lot of criticism when he played for us which I thought was unfair as he was still a relatively young man learning his trade. After he returned South his career was blighted by injuries and he is now playing for Dartford.

Thank you for this. I recall seeing him in a number of games but the one which stands out was a 1- 0 defeat at Ross Co which if I recall correctly prevented us getting 6th position . He ran up and down the right touchline all afternoon and not once did he try to take on the full back, cut inside or play a cross into the box. On the few occasions he touched the ball he passed it back or inside the longest pass being about 5 yards. Totally infective and looked completely disinterested.

I wasn't able to get to today's game and that's why I took the time to read about the game on both Club websites and also listen to McGlynn's interview on Raith TV. I think though that there was no protest from Berra says it all!

I can't think of any of our players who hide but I can think of some players over the years who 'faded or fell out' of a games. In our great promotion winning team Forbes often fell out of games, also our African right winger who did the Cruyff Turn at St Johnstone (can't recall his name), and more recently I felt Cardle was prone to falling out of a game. In the current team I suggest Smith has similar traits. I think though saying they hide is a bit harsh. I suggest the more accurate description is that the players concerned are off form or perhaps just not good enough to play at the level the team has reached or to do what the managers is asking them to do. I can't imagine Docherty allowing players to hide.

According to the match report on the Raith Rovers website Tiffoney hit the post. Nice to see that RR's fans and Manager are saying we deserved to win the game. However McGlynn is also saying from what he could see the Berra tackle on Smith wasn't even a yellow card never mind a red! Also said condition of the pitch was poor!

Seems red card was for a high tackles on Smith!

Why was there as much as 6/7 minutes added time? Did the Ref have a long friendly chat with Berra before giving him a red card?

Thanks for this. Thought we would have been somewhere around 2/3 pts adrift of top. Agree with this. Would be even better if the relegated clubs included 2 from Dundee, Ross Co, or St Mirren. Would have included Dundee Utd but to do so is probably unrealistic given their current league position

I know this is a stupid question but how many points do we have after today's game? I thought we started today 5th in the table with 29 pts. I see that after today's awesome victory the BBC table shows us 4th with 29 pts. Is this correct? All the other clubs seem to have their results updated!

I would go with this but have Graham in for Smith. Really like where you have Turner as I have suggested this for sometime now. If we really go for this today , that is, front foot and right attitude we can win.

This is what I am hoping for - a great second half to the season! I don't think we are too far away from having a decent squad. A couple of astute signings in January adding some 'bite and physical presence' to the midfield would be positive. Also giving Turner a run of games in a central midfield role and if this proves to be successful it could at the least get us into the play-offs!

1 - No (but everyone else does) 2 - No (signings are funny - Hawkins on a two year deal) 3 - No (team selection and tactics would suggest he doesnt) 4 - Definitely a No (have consulted Chesterfield & Wigan FCs) Great signing for Hibs though if they go for Mahoney and Caldwell!

Best of luck to Hibs they are going to need it. Pity Arbroath don't need a manager Caldwell would be great for them and it would virtually assure us of a play-off place!

I agree with all of this. I have been saying for some time that our midfield is a problem area but more from the perspective that it rarely dominates a game. This may be due to both the lack of physical presence in and creativity! Assuming we address both these problems in the January window by signing at least one heavyweight midfield player the question then becomes who do we drop from the current midfield? There will be conflicting views about this but IMO that would be Bannigan. Sorting out our midfield goes beyond simply adding some physical presence we also have to reorganise and for me that means playing Turner in a more central role.

I am really not surprised by todays defeat for two reasons. Firstly in all the games I have seen against Arbroath since they were promoted fron League One they have been bigger and stronger, out-played us, clearly the better team and we have been poor. Secondly the timing of this game coming in a period where we have been getting results but not playing well suggested to me that our unbeaten run was probably going to end. In summary I saw nothing to suggest our dismal form against them would change. I am also feeling there will be more of the same next week against Raith - another team I can't recall us beating. We will need a Hamilton type performance to win this game. As far as January signings are concerned two big strong players required with at least one in midfield.

Your probably right re the above especially about not playing particularly well. However as I said in another thread if the team actually turns up tomorrow and has the right attitude (an AuldJag phrase) there is no reason why we can't win despite the bogy nature of Arbroath on the Jags. From a footballing sense we need two things to happen. The defence/midfield must get a grip of McKenna and the referee must keep an eye on the two Arbroath central defenders. IMO they kick everything that moves, Graham in particular, and get away with it!

Arbroath beat us 3-1 the last time I saw them play us at Firhill. We were totally out-played. It felt like I was sitting in the Halls of Moria.

Referring to final sentence - "so say we all"

Although I think this is the best squad we have had for sometime I am struggling to think of any player, not including loanees (Mayo & Akinola), who could play in the SPL. Bannigan, Graham, Foster and Holt have SPL experience but I doubt a current SPL club would try to sign any of them in the January window. With the possibly exception of Tiffoney, I think the rest of our squad in work in progress. In terms of who we might sign Connolly (QotS) and McKenna (Arbroath) look good but doubt if either will be available during the window.

Thanks gor this.

What wascthe weather like and did it impact on the game.

In which case they didn't hit the target!