[Clayhole Blue]

Looking forward to my first trip of the season to Shielfield but not too sure what to expect on the pitch. This is only our second game against Berwick and the first was early in the season. Fair to say that we have improved since then and we should be going in playing confidently. However we will need to improve on last saturday's display at Montrose, especially on our start to the game.

Is it fair to say that Berwick have had a patchy season - have things settled down any with Yano in charge?

[EastLondonDan]

Clayhole Blue, on 13 January 2012 - 12:30, said:

Looking forward to my first trip of the season to Shielfield

Ours too, this is our annual day up there, did have nine coming, sadly one has dropped out....

Prediction: 2-2

[TheArtfulShearer]

Please all away fans come and stand at the ducket, don't go and sit in the main stand, it's boring.

On the game I think we could probably sneak a win, but I'd take a game resembling anything like the one at the end of last season cos that was quality!

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

TheArtfulShearer, on 13 January 2012 - 13:28, said:

Please all away fans come and stand at the ducket, don't go and sit in the main stand, it's boring.

On the game I think we could probably sneak a win, but I'd take a game resembling anything like the one at the end of last season cos that was quality!

Good shout. Get yourselves round to The Ducket for some Thommo-focused banter.

That game was quality. Scott Agnew really is some player. Heart says 2-1, head says 2-2 (Again) or 0-2. I'm confident we'll either win, lose or draw.

[HibeeJibee]

I'd mix things up a bit and go slightly more adventurous 4-5-1 <> 4-4-2:

Barclay
Notman Townsley McLean Deland
D.Smith McDonald Currie R.Gray
D.Gray Gribben

Subs: Sorley; Thomson; McLaren, Greenhill; Noble

Unusued: Walker, Ponton, Lavery

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

HibeeJibee, on 13 January 2012 - 21:38, said:

I'd mix things up a bit and go slightly more adventurous 4-5-1 <> 4-4-2:

Barclay
Notman Townsley McLean Deland
D.Smith McDonald Currie R.Gray
D.Gray Gribben

Subs: Sorley; Thomson; McLaren, Greenhill; Noble

Unusued: Walker, Ponton, Lavery

Well you've really went fucking mental there, haven't you! You are well crazy!!!!!

This post has been edited by berwick-the-unbeatable: 13 January 2012 - 23:10

[TheArtfulShearer]

4-4-2? You fucking lunatic. Someone stop this man and his radical thinking!

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

Little preview. By little, I mean a preview that is too big for the massive fixture that is Berwick vs Stranraer

[HibeeJibee]

berwick-the- unbeatable, on 13 January 2012 - 23:10, said:

Well you've really went fucking mental there, haven't you! You are well crazy!!!!!

TheArtfulShearer, on 13 January 2012 - 23:39, said:

4-4-2? You fucking lunatic. Someone stop this man and his radical thinking!

... nah even I'd be going 4-5-1/4-3-3 as I alluded, rotating Grays / Gribben between the wing positions and upfront while almost putting 3 men in the midfield to closedown on Stranraer's playmakers. Only at times sitting 4-4-2.

We've barely kept a clean-sheet in 2011-12, so my tactic would be defence through strong pressurised attack... particularly fast wing counter-attack... coupled with shielding the back 4.

Scanning through BtU's blog he's actually got the same teamline as I'd go with (if Ross Gray really is out then I'd put McLaren in); except I'd have Deland back at fullback, for Thomson, with Damon Gray in.

This post has been edited by HibeeJibee: 14 January 2012 - 00:34

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

So what you're saying is, i've not got the same line-up as you

[HibeeJibee]

Teamline. And no - but it's not far off, only 1 man.

You've this thing going on with Thomson which would preclude you from not starting him, and I appreciate that - but I felt he was poor v Montrose, and that Deland did well in that game and in the City Cup and deserves to start instead.

Thus I'd have Deland back there, and therefore Damon Gray upfront, who I feel is contributing.

[CasperJarrot]

Really can't see past Stranraer for this one.


Berwick 1 Stranraer 2

[An Sionnach]

EastLondonDan, on 13 January 2012 - 13:14, said:

Prediction: 2-2

CasperJarrot, on 14 January 2012 - 00:53, said:

Berwick 1 Stranraer 2

Dan was right!

[BerwickMad]

Good game of football, but we really should have had it won. Gribben and McLean with brilliant chances. Good performance though, but we need to start winning soon if we have a chance of the playoffs.

[TheArtfulShearer]

I was not impressed with Stranraer in the slightest. We are always made to pay for missed chances at home and today we all expected it to come with 15 minutes to go!

Hope that wasn't too negative for anyone. Just in case it was I'll end with this; i'm walking on sunshine, woah oh!

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

I do not have an opinion on today's game.

[HibeeJibee]

We'd have taken a draw before the match, IMO... though it's one of those strange ones where both sides will leave thinking they could have won it, such were the number of chances missed by both. In entertainment terms there were so many scoring opportunities one lost count.

I thought Deland had a really good game, and I was impressed by Gray, Currie and Notman (who I've always liked in midfield). Barclay also pulled a couple of good saves/blocks. Still not convinced by Walker - and both Stranraer goals came from men finding space in the RB area - and McDonald faded out of things 2nd half.

Nonetheless, good result against the league leaders at the match's commencement, and it would've been an excellent result if Gribben/McLaren/McLean had been less profligate in front of goal.

[Keez_BRFC]

Take our chances, & we'll win. Simple. Disappointed not to come away with 3 points today! But I suppose a draw against the in-form team isn't that bad I suppose. Gray was the only let down for me, apart from that, I thought everyone put a decent amount of effort in. Reasonably happy.

[BerwickMad]

HibeeJibee, on 14 January 2012 - 17:50, said:

We'd have taken a draw before the match,

No

[HibeeJibee]

Errant nonsense. We came into this tie with 1 league win in 6, facing the league leaders who had won 5 in 6 and hadn't lost since 5th November. Of course a draw is a result we should have looked at as acceptable, reasonable and achieveable. Over the next few weeks we should be looking for wins, but getting a draw today should've appeared realistic and satisfactory beforehand.

[BerwickMad]

HibeeJibee, on 14 January 2012 - 18:37, said:

Errant nonsense. We came into this tie with 1 league win in 6, facing the league leaders who had won 5 in 6 and hadn't lost since 5th November. Of course a draw is a result we should have looked at as acceptable, reasonable and achieveable. Over the next few weeks we should be looking for wins, but getting a draw today should've appeared realistic and satisfactory beforehand.

As I said, no. The manager said before the game that Alloa apart, we are as good (or should be as good) as anyone in the league. Im sure we went into the game aiming to win, the manager expected to win, and he won't be happy we didn't win. If it has come to being happy with a single point at home in the 3rd Division, then its sad days.

[printer]

HibeeJibee, on 14 January 2012 - 17:50, said:

Barclay also pulled a couple of good saves/blocks.

By breathing out?

[shaft2]

BerwickMad, on 14 January 2012 - 18:44, said:

As I said, no. The manager said before the game that Alloa apart, we are as good (or should be as good) as anyone in the league. Im sure we went into the game aiming to win, the manager expected to win, and he won't be happy we didn't win. If it has come to being happy with a single point at home in the 3rd Division, then its sad days.

We are stuck with a 2nd rate gaffer and a board who have no long term plan so get used to it.

FWIW, I totally agree with you but this is the situation we are in sadly.

[Stewie Griffin]

That was the best game of the season by a country mile. Stranraer are the best opposition we have faced they had pace and movement up front but were open to the counter attack and we came close to exploiting that.

As for BTUs new signature - why didn't you stand up for yourself in public either at meeting, in bar or at ground. Clearly you had to wait to run home to get to your keyboard to insult Trust members - well done, that will be a few of us leaving the Trust.

[TheArtfulShearer]

Nay way.