Scottydog

Another very good performance going on what I've seen and been told (I'll miss this week and next through work). Great finish from Easton who seems to have a one in five or six success rate with those type of efforts. Solid performances all round and looking good. I've been critical of the much vaunted "we will not be outfought" mantra from Murray as it wasn't in evidence much until recently more particularly Arbroath, Inverness, Partick and by all accounts yesterday, looks very much like that box is now being ticked. Thought the pen looked really soft too and would agree that it looks even softer than Quitongo's at Cappielow, however the referee has a better angle and is much closer, he was in no doubt so perhaps there was a swinging elbow or flailing arm that catches Dick but we can't see from our angle? Dick certainly goes down as if he's been caught somewhere. Back to back wins, Unbeaten in 4, also only 1 defeat in the last six for 13 points from 18 possible, nice! From 7th to joint 2nd and only 3 points behind the league leaders, it all goes to prove how quickly your position can alter in this league.

Should have run this topic on Monday night, some of these names are truly the stuff of nightmares.

You should have been at Inverness, a few of them were trashing the seats in the stand and firing abuse at anyone who told them to calm down.

Remember it's only adult season tickets. I bet about half are kids and over 65s. I think there were a few glitches with that deal, my sons ticket (Adult) came up saying his email address said he was ineligible for the deal. Also I feel the Rovers didn't communicate the deal well regarding the rules. Far better if they said if you have any season ticket you can get another fan in of the same value for £5, eg adult + 1 adult or Child + 1 child or OAP + 1 OAP. I think the deal still brought in a few hundred extra though. Attendances this season have gone from the lowest gate Cove ( 1500) & Morton (1600) to Dundee (3222) with Ayr and Partick games being around 2000-2100 (app 200-300 away support?) That shows an increase of about 300-400 on the core support (1400-1500).

Thought we scored against the run of play but then we go and score again and it was only ever looking like a home win, despite having been here before (Hamilton!!). After the first two go in, things seem to go from bad to worse for Thistle as absolutely nothing goes right for them, for any other manager than McCall I may have felt a shred of sympathy for him but remembering his (and Fosters) antics at full-time at Firhill last year... f**k him! Great game management from Rovers to keep them quiet in the second half and special congrats to O'Riordan who despite his tender years plays like a veteran, what a talent that kid is. In retrospect he was my MotM. Good displays all round but I'd like to single out Millen and Connell the former for his solid play and the latter for doing a power of work that got us the 3 goals, they've taken pelters in recent weeks so it's only fair that we praise their efforts when they do well. Wonderful to see Vaughnny back, how we'd have loved it if he could have got a toe on the end of that late cross. If ever there was an example of how the importance of the 1st goal cannot be understated then this was it! Goals change games and had they scored 1st or got 1 (or 2) in the second half it could have been so different, kudos to GM and the team for so professionally seeing it out.

Oh geez a break you tedious nerd.

Irrelevant, to the conversation. Robbie Deas is a robust challenger at the best of times, his challenge was full blooded and possibly a little reckless to boot! No real football fan likes to see a good player getting injured, just as no real football fan can abide cheats.

Or alternatively. A. Send him to get a lesson from Toderov on how to go down more effectively (holding your face and screaming). B. Send him to Kurt Broadfoot and get a lesson on how to react in such a way that you can appear so aggrieved you can grab an opponent by the throat and still not get booked. Nah on reflection PoF you're quite right! Never a sending off in a million years, his theatrics were nothing short of an embarrassment! Red card? Certainly not! Penalty though? Maybe, aye probably. Although if Colin Steven had been ref he'd likely have sent him off for simulation.

Can agree or can't? With a check on the players I realise its actually 10 not 8, but here is my opinion. Having watched Nolan since his arrival he is a bit lightweight, massively one footed, more frequently than not positionally inept and has none of the composure of his junior compatriot Mr O'Riordan apart from that.... Easton is a luxury player who as yet hasn't really managed to make the step up to Championship standard (his best display was against P'head) and I doubt he will. I like Brown's aggressiveness and he is a decent squad player but better than Ross Matthews? Not in this fan's opinion. O'Neil (who I completely forgot about) as you rightly say is an unknown quantity as to a lesser degree remains big Jock Fred'sn, McBride looks like he'd struggle for a spot on the bench if everyone was fit (didn't get the nod yesterday when IM took a winger (Connolly) off. Connell and Millen's ability (or lack of depending on your opinion) has been well covered already. Ngwenya may have a future but it's early days, Kieran McDonald wasn't replaces effectively when he went and that's still the case.

Wee Sandy is just upset because he's only just discovered we share ties with his more successful derby (at present) neighbours. Raith & Novar etc, etc.

We look fairly robust defensively but at times tread a very fine line, as such Specky's comments about Millen at Cappielow and Gayfield are bang on, he was a lucky boy in both cases. Probably been highlighted already but a quick peek at the BBC stats for the ICT game show exactly what our main downfall is and where our key deficiency lays. A chunk of me is massively hopeful that Kyle Connell will do a Nisbet and come good. Sadly I too feel it's not so much about attitude(KN attitude at Patrick was shot) as ability and I'm not sure the kid has it. I'd love to sign him in the hope we can develop him over time but I doubt that's a luxury we couldn't afford just now. A fit Vaughan and Gullan and obviously this whole conversation would be null but they aren't and that we've no viable replacements is largely down to Murray's poor dealing in the transfer market. He knows the 1st Division but not the championship, as a result of the 8? Players he's brought in only I'd say only O'Riordan is a complete success at this time. Hopefully he do a much better job with recruitment for next season. Regardless I'd like to see a striker brought in at New Year, be that a loanee like Jack Hamilton (struggling at Hartlepool, likely to get binned and end up at Arbroath) or A N Other.

Seen it and heard it all before, as stated above by Rig we've all seen this before, Caley on a poor run or / and with only half a team earlier in this season and more notably last. Add in other games like a visit from a winless bottom of the league QotS who came with a 12 yr old keeper and still won, Rovers still won't win! I'd seriously doubt we could win a raffle in Inverness, not since I ran over that gypsies horse at the Raigmore interchange way back in 2000.

Impression I got was they were Rovers fans, I say that because they were the same two were denied entry at the same turnstile as me at twenty to eight. I assumed they'd then tried their luck at the home end and got in only to be escorted out again by the over zealous Gayfield SS (safety & security).

Pretty much the way I heard it. John McGlynn was going to be sacked after the home defeat to Morton and Smudger was to be asked to take over, but the board bottled it preferring to give him his cup final at The Excelsior. I'm sure there was no dialogue between the club and McGlynn until it was leaked he was going to Falkirk, then there was discussion an arse covering exercise. As a manager McGlynn certainly had his faults, chief amongst those being that he was too one dimensional and stuck in his ways (thus the terrible form last season) but perhaps his biggest failing was how he trained the team, it'll be interesting to see how many injuries we accumulate without him.

I'm on record as not wanting rid of McGlynn, I said at the time I felt there was no better option out there and I still stand by that. I then said that with JM & PS gone Ian Murray was the best of a poor lot (other than Jack Ross, I didn't see that coming at Tannadice), and as a consequence was happy to se him arrive. Now we have IM we have to stick with him for now. If the board were to sack him now they'd come across as clueless as the Conservative Government. And in any case, as with when we lost McGlynn I cant think of anyone else who'd likely do a better job, there's certainly nobody available at present. Murray is in the role for now and can only hope he get's it right and turns us around sooner than later. He promised unmatched fitness and a work effort that would see us never out-worked.... I've not been to every game but feel I'm still to see it. He promised us he wouldn't sign players if they weren't better than what we had yet he signed 2 midfielders who aren't any better than what we had,. As a former defender himself he abjectly failed to timely and adequately identify and sign a defence when everyone and his dog could have told him that should have been his number one priority, his signing of Nolan and O'Riordan reeked of last minute panic signings and Ngwenya for as good as he was against ropey old Cove was torn to bits by Jai Quitongo, is KN a better option than Young? I'm not convinced he significantly is to warrant using a loan spot. Murray has had a few issues to deal with, the club not getting Ross Matthews his Op' back in May and then Spencer (who IM apparently was not too fussed about signing anyway) getting injured made his 2 midfield signings look a better bit of business than they maybe were, had both RM & BS been fit I'd reckon most would have expected them to be played ahead of the new signings. Connell and McBride are complete panic buys and Big John is another Tade as far as I can see, he has a great touch one minute than cocks it up the next, hopefully he will go on to do as well for us as Greg did. One of the most concerning aspects is the fall from form of Ethan Ross, there is a quality player signed most likely with a hope of selling him on, yet since the new manager came in he's struggled and lost confidence. This situation isn't all Ian Murrays fault though, he has been hamstrung since day one with having so little funds available, but to be fair he was told exactly that at the interview stage and I'd guess his willingness to still come was a big factor in offering him the post. The four board members who not only sanctioned the signing of a 33 year old striker from a lower league but signed off on a 30 month contract on a ridiculous wage to boot! That sparkling bit of business is the real reason that IM hasn't the funds to bring in better even options f her could identify them. The board were blinded by the opinion that DG's wages could be paid out piecemeal over the 30 months all the while with him banging in the goals to rocket us to the Premier league, they hadn't considered what the potential outcome could be if that didn't happen. The worse case scenario being exactly what transpired, that he'd never play and they'd not only have to pay a fortune for nothing but have to find that money fast to allow the club to move on and get back the support that they'd lost. They say the discussion is closed they aren't telling us how the deal was concluded but It doesn't matter whoever it was that paid out, it's money that surely would have gone into the playing budget. I reckon Gullan will maybe need surgery and that we will end up being forced to rush back Lewis Vaughan, there's a frightening thought if ever there was one. Most of the players aren't confident, and in particular by the 85th minute on Saturday you could smell the fear coning off the Rovers defence in waves. Easton doesn't have the confidence (or ability) to take a shot with his left with the goal at his mercy. If I'm being honest other than Stanton and Connolly there's a lack of quality in general to go with the lack of confidence. We have looked great this season against : Peterhead, Hamilton, Morton (h), Cove and strangely Ayr but apart from that we've looked toothless, guileless and generally hapless in most games. Like most fans I'm happy we no longer always try to play it out from the back every single time passing through every single defender but we are still too pedestrian and far too easy to read. McGlynn's tactics have mostly gone but some of the same malaises remain, strange considering that more than a third of last seasons team (some rightly so) were jettisoned in May and June.

In amongst the usual nonsense posts I found myself agreeing with much of the above. Defensively we aren't terrible but we do lack depth and experience, all the plaudits won by Millen, Ngwenya and Dick last week evaporated as we slowly lost composure, tbf it happened in all areas but more notably in defence. The sheer panic was coming off the Rovers defence in those final moments, you just knew what was going to happen. Keeping O'Riordan and bringing in a new face or two in January is a must, someone who can play both Rightback and Centre half would be handy. Midfield has Stanton and that's about it, especially if Connolly is out of sorts! McBride is too lightweight, Ross has lost form and confidence, Spencer isn't back to what he was and Matthews cant get a look in, which is surprising given that for all his grittiness Brown isn't as good a footballer. Easton continues to confound, on his day with his confidence up he's unstoppable....well unstoppable until he is forced on to his weaker foot, clearly his left foot is only for standing on and defenders are picking up on that. No new faces required in here unless we lose someone. Up front we are so short of credible options more so with Gullan out again (Surgery needed here methinks), Big John give us something else but when he's out jumped several times by a guy 6 inches shorter than him it albeit confirms my worries, like most tall guys he cant jump because he's never had to learn how to. Very much reminiscent of the Hearts Loanee Derek Homes who at 6'2" you couldn't slip a copy of the Sporting Post under his soles when he was jumping for a header. Connel might be a loan striker bet he definitely isn't a lone striker, tbh not much of a striker at all. This is a department that needs a reboot in Jan, love to see Hamilton on loan from Livvi but he'll probably end up at Gayfield. As for an assistant I wonder what Craig Easton is up to these days?

Can’t see this chap being much good for us. According to the players page on the main site he’s 126 yrs old

Only wish it was.

Nahhh its just Ian Stewart

Transfer fee £50k + Vat = £60,000 130 (weeks) x 1000 = 130,000 (£1,100 a week would be £143k, £1.2k would be £156k). If Clyde paid a % for the remaining 15 weeks of last season £15,000 (or £16,500/£18,000) can come off that. Was there a signing on fee? Now that he's away we can only speculate how much has he gone with? (I'll bet the lass suing him would like to know too). Given the "No further comment" I guess we'll never know how much and who paid it out? My guess is Colin Smart. There's no longer an elephant in the room but I doubt we'll never forget it as long as the ongoing stench of it's being there remains.

I don't think this game was in any way a (or nearly a) halftime collapse by Rovers. It was a case of an opposing manager making some big changes and Raith battling and eventually adapting to it. I have a recollection of Raith v Brechin game back in 2008 where we went in 2-0 up at halftime. Michael O'Neil made changes at the break and by full-time we were hanging on grimly for a draw. Recent Rovers managers haven't had it in their lockers to do that plan B kind of thing, Murray may have that ability but was (is) hamstrung with a lack of options he had available on the bench, Ayr had nine subs available last week to our seven and of them only Thomson and Spencer were over the age of 20. Brown said after the game Murray had warned of an Ayr backlash and told to brace themselves for Ayr coming out all guns blazing. Lee Bullen clearly identified the potential weakness of our inexperienced centre back partnership and made 3 changes at halftime. He crucially introduced Young up front to add even more physicality to the forward line. It was a good idea and it very nearly paid off. If anything though it also gave Rovers a bit more room to operate in midfield and that helped us get more possession.

Carpet went down July 2018. Originally it was expected that it would need replaced between 4 and 7 years (dependant on use and abuse) and that the community use would pay for upgrades.

I have to be honest and admit I didn't see that win coming before 3pm, our general frailty at the back aligned with a blunt edge up front had me fairly certain this would be at best a draw and more likely an Ayr win. Perhaps Ayr came thinking the same but kudos to Murray & Co for making a mockery of that! No real failures in navy blue but some real stand outs. I think the big difference from previous weeks was the level of commitment and intensity all the Rovers players showed this week, very heartening to see to say the least. Ayr upped the ante at half time bringing on more physical attacking players and they did their best to upset Nolan and O'Riordan (as I'm sure was their remit from Bullen) but the kids did well and I'm certain they won't have many tougher afternoons in the league. Great turn and strike from Connell which will give him confidence. Also a brilliant strike from Brown who really put the laces through it 2nd time round. Got to be a special mention for Sam Stanton though who deservedly got MotM for a brilliant all-round performance topped off by a great goal, if anyone typified the commitment and intensity it was that fella. I wasn't at Partick (who I still think will win the league) so Ayr are the best side I've seen that we've faced this season. It's a poorer quality league than the last 2 seasons and we are not as strong a team as we were in those seasons but if we pick up a player or two before Christmas and maybe bring in another in January we can be well in the mix for a top 4 finish. Even having Gullan, Vaughan, Lang and Matthews eventually available will give us much more depth and options from the bench, if we can stay within 6 points of the top then who knows. Conversely all or most of these players may breakdown again and we could also lose O'Riordan and end up right in the shite but that's fitba.

For me he never put a foot wrong on the Hamilton game. I'd agree, the game at NDP was easily his best outing in a Rovers jersey and I thought he'd found his feet and could kick on, he hasn't as yet. To put that performance at NDP into context though, Hamilton were absolutely shite and that game aside he's not looked like mustard. Only 1 good outing in 4 in the cup and 1 in 5 in the league doesn't make for good stats. Some think if we were to bring in another RB for competition he could raise his game, I'm not so sure.

After watching the post match interview I feel Murray looks very downbeat. Even after defeat at Partick he managed to look positive, this week he looks as though he's realising it isn't going as he thought it would, perhaps even that he's bitten off more than he can chew? He actually looks a wee bit like John McGlynn did in that 1st apologetic interview after signing you know who, not quite broken but not too far away.