Evening. (Tips hat)

Thought I would begin a thread down here just to get an idea of the Alloa faithful's thoughts regarding our play off first leg at their place this Wednesday.

So, what are they?

Personally I think Alloa will give us a hell of a game. Having done some research, I find they've an outstanding home record in the second division. I see also that they play on plastic, a surface that's never been kind to us in the past. Add into the equation that the momentum is very much with them and the only conclusion that can be drawn is that it'll a very tough one for ourselves.

I must say also that I do like to see Alloa doing this well as Allan Maitland was a big favourite of mine when at Clyde. Won us promotion from the second and built us up quite a formidable side. There was a real positive feel around the club at the time. He'll certainly receive no pelters from me on Wednesday night.

as youve said weve got quite a good home record as long as we dont concede we should be ok

We really can't go gung ho in this game with Alloas fine home record.

I have seen Alloa this season and thought they were OK although they were playing an incredibly mean Queens Park side who's defence were being particularly stingy.

I remember being quite impressed by Joe Andrew and Dougie Wilson so I get the feeling they're strength is going forward, rather than defending, so I would keep the same defence that did well v Stirling, if McGregor is returning then Bestvina should be the candidate for replacement. Keep Masty in the middle, not alot got past him today.

Midfield, No point in going with 3 up front, so revert to a midfield 5, with Wilson, MacLennan and J.Gibson (assuming he's not injured) being the middle 3, put Mikey McGowan on the left and Billy Gibson on the right.

Up front, Clarke and McSwegan - McSwegan to hold the ball up and use his experience to create chances and Clarke to make the net bulge. Keep McKay on the bench to run them ragged when McSwegan enevitably runs out of petrol.

Any Alloa fans hoping to see Albertz are likely to be disappointed, not only was he terrible today - a plastic pitch will probably knacker his knees.

Wilson has had an excellent season for us but hasnt played since picking up an injury at Peterhead in March and its probably very unlikely he will be fit again this season. Andrew is normally a sub.

Its been a funny season for us. Our form in October/November/December was tremendous and we played some great football. A huge slump at the turn of the year looked like costing us but the team did well to turn it around and started to pick up good results without ever flowing like we did before christmas. The performance against Berwick today was terrible but I would hope that was more down to the pressure of expectation on the team to win and secure the play-off place. On Wednesday that pressure will be shifting onto Clyde who are fighting relegation against an Alloa team who most people probably didnt expect to even be in the play-offs. Clyde will be favourites but we are certainly capable of posing them plenty of problems.

I don't think Albertz was terrible! The tempo was obviously particularly fierce today with the nature of our task, and his aged legs perhaps weren't up to it but I thought he moved the ball about pretty well, and actually won it back a good few times with some strong challenges in the middle of the pitch. The only spell for which he appeared pretty much anonymous was when Gibson left the field through injury. We had ten men on the park & that was when Stirling began to get something of a handle on the game. Although when Wilson was introduced normal service did resume if not quite immediately.

Even if we're only going to get a half an hour out of him, I think it's probably worthwhile. I would definitely have him on the bench.

I would probably field the same XI that defeated Livingston a few weeks ago at Broadwood. Something along the lines of:- Hutton (GK); Bestvina (CB), McGregor (CB), Higgins (LB), Gibson (RB); MacKay (L/RM), McLennan (CM), Wilson (CM), Albertz (CM); Clarke (L/RM/F LRC), McSwegan (CF).

I thought Masterton performed pretty well as a sweeper today and I'm slightly reluctant to drop him as such. If Brown did field him there ahead of McGregor I wouldn't be especially bothered. You could even move Neil into the right back or wing back berth?

You could argue also, that the game will be too fast for Albertz' and so he shouldn't take park. I wouldn't disagree, but I'm not entirely certain we've got any better option? A further point could be that Michael McGowan and Jimmy Gibson both deserve starts in light of their performances today, the former more so. Again, I wouldn't be too bothered if they did feature. There's not a lot in it is there?

Gary McSwegan

Without Pat Clarke you'd fancy Alloa, with Pat Clarke you have to go for Clyde. He is such a dangerous player and pretty fast. Alloa's defenders won't keep up with him.
But then there is the plastic factor! And Pat is injury prone.This is difficult to predict.

Plastic factor and home record shades it for me. Alloa narrow 2-1, but overhauled in the second leg 2-0.

I knew a County fan would mock!

In fairness, I realise that when at County he was terrible. Really awful, but believe you me he has been nothing short of superb in his short spell at Clyde.

I concede, I myself thought it was just Brown continuing along with the old pals act when he was signed up. Pretty much an act of desperation. However since his début at Forthbank he's been absolutely outstanding. Turned in a top notch performance that day, as well Vs. Livingston at Broadwood and also against Albion today. Links up with his team mates superbly, holds up very well and is quite formidable in the air for a stout character. Really intelligent and his experience rubs off brilliantly on the side.

He's already scored one and set three up. In the space of around maybe 300 minutes or less on the field, I think that really speaks for itself.

He is still murder. Two goals in four years is wonderful form.

He's a new Swegae!

(I'm not going to deny that record is horrifying by the way! )

I dont think either of you will beat us in the final so this thread is irrelevant

As the thread is specifically to talk about the Alloa Clyde game on Wednesday Night (not even about who will go through after both legs) and there's been feck all mention of Airdrie up to this point, I can't see how it's irrelevant. It's like saying there's no point talking about Chinese occupation of Tibet because Airdrie are going to win 1st Division Play Off.

We were awful today -- worst I've seen Alloa in a good while and if it wasn't for Berwick's confidence being shot to shit and their forward line being afraid to take a pop at goal, we'd have been in real trouble. However, getting the result was always going to be more important than the manner in which we got it.

I expect a totally different mindset from Alloa in both games against Clyde. Today, we were expected to win and there was something riding on us doing that. On Wednesday, we go in to the game as underdogs and that'll suit us fine. We may not have Dougie Wilson for these games, but I've been as impressed with Kyle McAuley in the last few games and it'll be interesting to see how he rises to the occasion against the Rangers Masters team. I think we've achieved more than we could've hoped at the start of the season ... no one will fancy our chances of promotion ... the scene's set to pull another surprise out of the bag. Looking forward to it.

That plastic pitch is a fucking nightmare. Alloa to win it by 1. Do away goals count?

I hope youse get another shot on it this season.

For anyone interested in more information about Kyle McAuley

http://friars.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/mtt...ley_kyle00.html

Well thats that then, we would as well not bothering with the semi finals and just promote Airdrie immediately.

I'd be happy with a draw from Wednesday and I expect us to win at Broadwood.

I think the second division teams would have a better chance against Morton. I bet Partick lay down to them today - when was the last time Morton won 3-0 away - it was 1 - 1 last time

kunts

Correct. As second top of the league, we should automatically replace second bottom of the 1st division

Alloa support will be boosted at Broadwood by Accies fans, still a soft spot for Maitland , and we still ahte Clyde, despite the departures of Malone and Imrie.

Alloa to win at the 'Rec - although this is based on seeing Clyde only once. Strong going forward and an excellent 'keeper, add this to a big plastic pitch and I can't see Clyde getting much.

As much as i agree with that, the top 2 should replace the bottom 2, but we all knew the rules before the a ball was kicked, and i wouldn't imagine there was too many Airdrie fans complaining this time last year when they where given a lifeline through the playoffs.

I appreciate the gesture, very kind of Accies fans to to increase our takings

In all fairness Carlos, he has brought something to the team. If only his leggs were a couple of years younger!


Anyhoo, what are you doing down here? Piss off upstairs where you belong!

I don't think they do.

they don't count.

Is Alloa accessible via the rail network these days? I mean is there a station in Alloa itself not Stirling or Falkirk.

Apparently it's Stirling which is about 7 miles away. Glasgow Branch bus would be your best bet.

f**k off ya arrogant aidrie twat your lucky to even have a team in football i really hope we get to the final and beat you heavily now

hoi! At least give us a chance to attempt to do it for you.

Well said, for getting into that arrogant twat, but from a purely selfish point of view i really hope you don't get to the final.

be my guest please

No, trains don't start till later in the year despite the boards in Stirling station telling you the train is arriving from Alloa.

You have to take the train to Stirling and get a bus from the bus station to Alloa, stops outside the ground.

I don't think the plastic pitch will affect us - we've played at Hamilton and the pitch hasn't made any difference.

Similar to Sao Paulo, I'd play a 451 in this leg of the tie:

Hutton
McGowan Bestvina McGregor Higgins
MacKay McLennan Wilson B. Gibson Clarke
McSwegan

Obviously depends on McSwegan being fit. I think it's worth bringing McGregor back into the side for this one game and we'll go with a 352 on Saturday, with the same back 3 as the Stirling game. I reckon we've got enough about us to score in the game and I'm not convinced Alloa will score twice. 1-1 for me.

RRFC, Fife's great under-achievers. Remember all that talk last season about Andrews, Carcary, Pelosi, etc and how you were going to walk the league? All of it p*sh. One win over the 'Ton in eight attempts over the two seasons before this one. Just be thankful you won't have to play us next year.

But you got humped both times!!

Particularly in the 0-0 draw

I'd play that team, and I'm also predicting that scoreline. I can see us scoring first via MacLennan, Andy Ferguson will equalise

In addition to that team, I'd have Cherrie, Bradley, Arbuckle, Smith and Albertz on the bench, the latter we could throw on in the last 10/15 to try and get something if needed.


Since when did a 0-0 draw constitute as a humping?

What are the admission prices?

Hopefully there will be cheap admission prices to attract the crowd for the game. I'd imagine there will be a few neutrals other than myself going.

Having seen both teams several times this season I think this game should be pretty close. Alloa just need to sit back and counter. Should be in the Alloa end so I'm hoping for a good atmosphere.

Prediction...hmm...2-1 Alloa

As much as draw wouldn't kill us, I'd be quite disappointed if we didn't win. There is a considerable gulf in quality between the sides, with all due respect.

Word of warning clyde fans, get to the ground at a decent time if you want to be able to see the game.

No Masterton, who was possibly the best player on the park on Saturday?

Just clarifying as no-ones been explicit about it, McGregor is out for the second leg, and should we go through, the first leg of the playoff final. He is most definately available for Wednesday

That's a fair summary. We knew we were going to get beaten/ you knew you were going to win before the game kicked off, psycologically that gave you the confidence to beat us to a lot of balls, our players had no expectations



Not at all, I don't remember one ball taking a dodgy bounce yesterday, if it wasn't for the lack of divots/ bald patches and mole hills it looked like any other ground in this division. It was a thousand times better than the one at Annfield (no offence to Stirling fans, it was probably state of the art at the time, but they've improved a hell of a lot since then).

Yep, Clyde fans, get to the ground a good 30-40 mins before kick off if you want to get to the barrier. It is not a ramp, so if you don't get to the front, you can't see.

I would think that Clyde will get the railway end which is banked as well as the Hilton Road side. That would make sense. We all know that the Hilton road side is far from ideal at the moment but its pretty obvious that its being worked on.

If its raining though better bring some brollies as the old enclosure has gone.

I havent heard one fan of any team complain about the surface, bar Raith Rovers fans of course, a team that were cuffed at our ground twice this season. Take from that what you will.

I think we all know thats not going to happen.

Do you go to games

Good Luck Alloa