Am I a bit wandered or is it possible that the standard of fitba in our division is higher than it's been for a long time? I've watched a lot of games this year and, with the exception of the bottom two, I reckon there's some good teams in this league and better players as well. if so, what's made the change. any thoughts?

Can't agree. I'd say we are considerably poorer than last season but (happily) are still second.

Many evenly matched teams though, making for a competitive league.

Jim McNally

Think the standard is well down from the last time we were in the 3rd division. In season 05/6 the top 3 of Cowden, Berwick & Stenny were miles better than any of the sides currently in the 3rd.
Sums it up that we are currently joint 2nd although we haven't played that great in a lot of games.

I would agree with that. Granted I am watching Berwick gams but it as bad a I can remember the third being in recent years. The only positive is that teams do seem to be trying to play a bit more football rather than just humping the ball forward. I can't say I've been very impressed by any of the teams I've seen.

I'd tend to agree with the above. I can only talk for Dumbarton but in our case it's a combination of a better manager and better players - bleeding obvious I suppose!

Jim Chapman wants to play a passing game and in players like Gordon Lennon, Stevie Murray, Derek Carcary, Paul Keegan etc. he has signed players on the fringes of 1st Division clubs and taken them down a few levels where they can shine again.

Obviously in contrast ive only seen Shire games so in my opinion the standards improved greatly on recent years but some of the teams i expected to be good have been largely disappointing in terms of the standard of football that we have seen from them

I have to agree Stewie no one is much better than anyone else, bar perhaps the bottom two, all the rest seem capable of getting points off each other on their day. In a way it is perhaps good however as the race for the championship and play off places will be a tight one and could go right to the wire and keep fans interest alive right to the end.

I would say that some teams are better, some are worse. Stenny are better than they were for example, and Montrose are worse.

I would agree with the league being far more competitive than what it was.

What team's he with like?

Or did you mean the manager of your team, Jim McInally?

Football we're playing is far superior to the past few seasons, but we're not getting the points our play deserves. Our young team are a bit naïve at times but I'd honestly much rather watch this Rovers team loose than watch some of the other team in this division win... If that makes sense ? I'd happily pay my tenner in to watch guys like Marc Pollock, Bobby Barr, Harris etc play entertaining football.

tk

Berwick/Cowdenbeath/Montrose/possibly Dumbarton fans will all say that the league is weaker this season. It's always the same.

I'm sure it would be completely different if they were sitting top of the league.

For the record, I would say it's still too early to be talking about things like this but on paper at the moment, no games look easy from our perspective. Every team looks dangerous especially when you are sitting top of the pile, everyone wants to take you down a peg or two.

For me, the quality at the top is weaker, and the quality at the bottom is stronger. I think the Berwick, Cowden and Stenny teams of 05/06 and the East Fife, Berwick and Queens Park teams of 06/07 are all better than anything in this league.

Albion and Shire are far stronger now than they were.

CORRECT!

I haver to agree. Consistency seems to be non existant for many of the teams in the league. I dont think Montrose have been convincing at all this season, and on paper we have a great squad.

I cant really say much but if the standard this year is lower than last year the team that gets promoted better get alot of quality in , we are a million times better and are struggling at the bottom , to be fair though its only Raith , Ayr , Brechin , Peterhead and East Fife who are much better than the rest in the league , everyone barr them is very similar.

Who is the best team in the 3rd division , looking at the table it is definetely Stenny but the league doesnt always tell the truth.

Thats like the shire, if you look at our team you wonder why we dont get 4 or 5 goals a game and how were conceding so many goals, tully, forrest, bolo and richardson and then up front youve got cramb, graham and rodgers

Its a very debateable topic. 05/06, the last time we made a challenge, I think saw a higher standard of attacking football, especially from Stenhousemuir. That isn't to say that the overall standard of play (and player) is better though. IMO we have a better standard of squad this season. I also agree that this season the league is as close as its been for years.

I find it hard to judge because my team is very different to what its been in the past 5 years. One thing is obvious - the league is a hell of a lot more competitive and, as one poster has said, anyone can beat anyone else `on their day`. So what is better for the division? 2 or 3 teams with quality fighting it out at the top and the rest making up the numbers or a dog eat dog situation that we appear to have now? Answering my own question I suppose you will be happy with the 1st option if you support one of those top teams!