[Nick_BCFC]

Maybe a 12.30 inspection would have been more appropriate with it being a local derby. Still would have given plenty of time for Arbroath fans to arrive.

['Steve]

Nick_BCFC, on 30 January 2012 - 12:13, said:

Maybe a 12.30 inspection would have been more appropriate with it being a local derby. Still would have given plenty of time for Arbroath fans to arrive.

I very much doubt a later inspection would have made a difference in this case. However I don't see why it wasn't arranged for around that time in the first place. Cowdenbeath had their inspection at 12 noon for the game against Albion Rovers so I don't see why ours was earlier.

[lichtie23]

Does anyone no what the pitch was like at 3pm?

[fatwull]

Is it not possible to move the game to the Sunday if the weather looks dodgy on the Saturday?

[theoriginalhedge]

lichtie23, on 30 January 2012 - 14:18, said:

Does anyone no what the pitch was like at 3pm?

Playable !

['Steve]

lichtie23, on 30 January 2012 - 14:18, said:

Does anyone no what the pitch was like at 3pm?

theoriginalhedge, on 30 January 2012 - 16:42, said:

Playable !

Then again you thought the park was playable at 11am when it obviously wasn't. Your definition of playable is considerably different to the rules laid down by the SFA. The official that carried out the inspection was Willie Ferguson who was due to run the line at the game and with it being his first SFL game since progressing up the ranks, it's safe to say he was looking forward to it.

It's time to accept that health and safety has gone mad and that any hard parts of the pitch will cause the game to be postponed - there's no point complaining that the park 'can take a stud' or debating whether the pitch was playable at 3pm. The inspection is carried out early for a reason and decisions can't be influenced on what the park 'might be like' in a few hours.

[relichtie]

fatwull, on 30 January 2012 - 15:47, said:

Is it not possible to move the game to the Sunday if the weather looks dodgy on the Saturday?

What with hospitality set up for Sat. Many couldnt take it up on Sun. Players need time off as well, they have lives and families too.

[theoriginalhedge]

'Steve, on 30 January 2012 - 18:39, said:

Then again you thought the park was playable at 11am when it obviously wasn't. Your definition of playable is considerably different to the rules laid down by the SFA. The official that carried out the inspection was Willie Ferguson who was due to run the line at the game and with it being his first SFL game since progressing up the ranks, it's safe to say he was looking forward to it.

It's time to accept that health and safety has gone mad and that any hard parts of the pitch will cause the game to be postponed - there's no point complaining that the park 'can take a stud' or debating whether the pitch was playable at 3pm. The inspection is carried out early for a reason and decisions can't be influenced on what the park 'might be like' in a few hours.

I think you've been with the council too long !! Or a certain senior employee !!

That last statement sums up the flaws in the SFA ruling ! All common sense goes out the window. All forecasts on Saturday stated a rise in temperatures as the day wore on. That is precisely what happened. At 11. 00 the pitch was in the touch and go category. A more senior official might have considered the forecast and the fact that it was a local derby with minimum travelling issues for the fans and hence given it the benefit.

I think in this case, Willie Ferguson went totally by the rule book as it was his first senior game and obviously didn't want to be marked down at such an early stage in his career. Some may argue that this is the right way to go, but as I said , perhaps a little common sense and listening to the groundsman etc as to how a pitch performs can sometimes work in your favour and help you make rational decisions through your career.

Experience is the key to life. You can never get through life going totally by the book . Maybe Willie will reflect on Saturday and think he might have been a bit hasty ...........or then again, he might just be on the fast track to the top , in which case he was totally 100% correct .

At the end of the day though the game was off and we have to accept it. Good luck to Willie and I only hope that he doesn't become too obsessed by "THE PRECIOUS " ( the rule book !!!)

['Steve]

theoriginalhedge, on 30 January 2012 - 21:17, said:

I think you've been with the council too long !! Or a certain senior employee !!

That last statement sums up the flaws in the SFA ruling ! All common sense goes out the window. All forecasts on Saturday stated a rise in temperatures as the day wore on. That is precisely what happened. At 11. 00 the pitch was in the touch and go category. A more senior official might have considered the forecast and the fact that it was a local derby with minimum travelling issues for the fans and hence given it the benefit.

Sorry Hedge but have to disagree there. It's not common sense to inspect the pitch, deem it unplayable then give it the green light just because it is due to get milder. You've got to remember that not all supporters (and particularly players & management) come from the local area, a lot of our players come from the central belt. If Willie used 'common sense' and gave the match the go ahead based on the forecast - and the pitch wasn't quite up to scratch by 3pm, there'd be a huge uproar.

Any official would have called the game off on Saturday - unfortunately the parts that were not covered were hard and therefore unplayable. May have been playable in your eyes, most of the players would have agreed to play on it, but at the end of the day there are rules and guidelines that have to be adhered to. It's frustrating but that's the way it is I'm afraid.

[theoriginalhedge]

'Steve, on 30 January 2012 - 22:46, said:

Sorry Hedge but have to disagree there. It's not common sense to inspect the pitch, deem it unplayable then give it the green light just because it is due to get milder. You've got to remember that not all supporters (and particularly players & management) come from the local area, a lot of our players come from the central belt. If Willie used 'common sense' and gave the match the go ahead based on the forecast - and the pitch wasn't quite up to scratch by 3pm, there'd be a huge uproar.

Any official would have called the game off on Saturday - unfortunately the parts that were not covered were hard and therefore unplayable. May have been playable in your eyes, most of the players would have agreed to play on it, but at the end of the day there are rules and guidelines that have to be adhered to. It's frustrating but that's the way it is I'm afraid.

We could debate this all day. If you had taken the time to help with the covers on Saturday you might have had a different opinion.

There are times when travel FOR THE FANS comes into consideration and a decision has to be made. On Saturday it was a local derby and the players and staff would be making their way to the game anyway. It is not a wasted journey for them as they could put in a training session if need be.

I still feel that he could have given it a chance , at least till the actual match referee came in around 1.30. If the pitch is still not up to scratch, then it still gives time to notify people and stop them travelling.

Just my opinion and also the opinion of many I talked to on Saturday.

['Steve]

theoriginalhedge, on 31 January 2012 - 08:41, said:

We could debate this all day. If you had taken the time to help with the covers on Saturday you might have had a different opinion.

Would have been considerably easier to help with the covers had I actually been in Brechin on Saturday morning...

The only thing I'll agree with is the pitch inspection could and should have been later, probably around half 12. Would it have made a difference in this case? Probably not.

[ross-lichtie95]

Game will be played on Tuesday the 14th of February 7.45 kick off

[lichtie23]

Hope the Glebe park pitch holds up after today. I heard it took a beating

[1320Lichtie]

Suppose my thread was pointless. I'll transfer my shpeal into here.

[1320Lichtie]

Massive game for us on Tuesday, Brechin aswell obviously but If we pick up the points it's in our hands to top the table this time next week. Solid performance at Forfar, we look strong and good everywhere just now. Innes and Samuel look to be very good signings! Innes commanding, organised and reads the game well, fit right in and made Malcolm look more confident playing alongside his experience instead of young Wedderburn and Samuel, brings something different with pace and trickery, scored a superb goal yesterday, very skilful one to. Shrewd signings by PS. Tuesday night of stay the same but shuffle the back 4 a bit.

Hill

Baxter
Innes
Malcolm
McAnespie

Sheerin
Kerr
Falkingham

Samuel
Swankie
Doris

Praying for the 3 points here lets hope we go in all guns blazing. What's Brechins likely line up and thoughts ahead of this?

Mon the Lichties.

[theoriginalhedge]

lichtie23, on 11 February 2012 - 22:22, said:

Hope the Glebe park pitch holds up after today. I heard it took a beating

Aye but Neil the groundsman will work his magic.

[lichtie36nilhello]

theoriginalhedge, on 12 February 2012 - 10:05, said:

Aye but Neil the groundsman will work his magic.

Ask Neil to work his magic and add the few feet of pitch that are missing too please, while you are at it

Seriously now! A tighter derby game expected than the one just past at Forfar, surely! That said another 3-2 Arbroath win would be acceptable! If Shagger is
about he will probably score!

[relichtie]

1320Lichtie, on 11 February 2012 - 22:31, said:

Massive game for us on Tuesday, Brechin aswell obviously but If we pick up the points it's in our hands to top the table this time next week. Solid performance at Forfar, we look strong and good everywhere just now. Innes and Samuel look to be very good signings! Innes commanding, organised and reads the game well, fit right in and made Malcolm look more confident playing alongside his experience instead of young Wedderburn and Samuel, brings something different with pace and trickery, scored a superb goal yesterday, very skilful one to. Shrewd signings by PS. Tuesday night of stay the same but shuffle the back 4 a bit.

Hill

Baxter
Innes
Malcolm
McAnespie

Sheerin
Kerr
Falkingham

Samuel
Swankie
Doris

Praying for the 3 points here lets hope we go in all guns blazing. What's Brechins likely line up and thoughts ahead of this?

Mon the Lichties.

Sammy looked a bit tired in second half. Might be a bit much to put him on from the start again, but what a subby to have on the bench. Sibby should start imo. He came off the bench, scored a great goal, and put a bit of zip back into us. Cmon lichties, whoever gets the jerseys.

[lichtie23]

I'd start

Hill

Baxter
Macca
Innes
Malcolm

Sibanda
Falky
Kerr
Sheerin

Swankie
Doris

I wasn't overly impressed with Samuel again yesterday

[relichtie]

lichtie23, on 12 February 2012 - 11:02, said:

I'd start

Hill

Baxter
Macca
Innes
Malcolm

Sibanda
Falky
Kerr
Sheerin

Swankie
Doris

I wasn't overly impressed with Samuel again yesterday

Like the look of this side. Sammy did well early on but imo tired toward the end. Sibby deserves a start.

[theoriginalhedge]

lichtie36nilhello, on 12 February 2012 - 10:30, said:

Ask Neil to work his magic and add the few feet of pitch that are missing too please, while you are at it public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif

Seriously now! A tighter derby game expected than the one just past at Forfar, surely! That said another 3-2 Arbroath win would be acceptable! If Shagger is
about he will probably score!

Surely a team as good as Arbroath don't need to worry about about a minor thing like that ? After all the pitch has only been that size for the past 93 years !!!

And you're right, Shagger will score !!

[lichtie23]

theoriginalhedge, on 12 February 2012 - 11:16, said:

And you're right, Shagger will score !!

Hopefully just a consolation tho

[lichtie23]

How much is admission to Glebe Park?

[lichtie36nilhello]

theoriginalhedge, on 12 February 2012 - 11:16, said:

Surely a team as good as Arbroath don't need to worry about about a minor thing like that ? After all the pitch has only been that size for the past 93 years !!!

And you're right, Shagger will score !!

Quite true, and I am sure Shaggers consolation goal will be a cracker too

['Steve]

Think we'll struggle in this one. Chris Innes and Collin Samuel were a couple of shrewd signings which added to an already strong squad and it's hard to see Arbroath for the title in all honesty.

Molloy is suspended so we will probably go with:

Nelson

McLean - Buist - Dunlop - McClune

McKenna - Fusco - Brady - Hodge

McManus - Lister

I would rather have Moyes in at centre back but I don't think Weir is keen on breaking up the partnership between Buist and Dunlop, despite the horrendous defending at Airdrie's equaliser yesterday.

This post has been edited by 'Steve: 12 February 2012 - 12:15