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airdrieman

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Posts posted by airdrieman

    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Watching the goal back is even worse than I remembered it. Wotherspoon saunters into the box and nobody’s tracking, marking or following him and nobody gets near him once he’s in the box. Doesn’t even look like any player is communicating that he’s in yards of space alone. Was reminiscent of Arbroath in that McCabe and Fordyce were both miles away from Wotherspoon. 

    Think a lot of the problems going forward is that a lot of our play starts or comes through Fordyce. For a centre-half he’s decent enough on the ball but… he’s not who you want as the fulcrum or starting point of your attack. He’s too slow on the ball and his passing execution isn’t great (obviously, he’s a centre-half!). Not sure why this is happening as at the start of the season we were playing through McCabe, McMaster, Aiken or Frizzell dropping deep all of which worked a lot better. Don’t know it’s a confidence dip or a result of other teams not pressing us and thus allowing the defence more time on the ball, but we really need to be getting the ball into the midfield quicker. Even if the opposition don’t press playing with more tempo and quicker touches and passes will naturally ask more questions and create more space. Actually think ATS has been a miss in this regard so I’d definitely be looking to get him back in the side once fit. 

     

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    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Thought we deserved something out of that second-half. But, we gifted them their goal and were far too slow in getting going so can’t really complain with how it went.  You could have ran down from the stand and you’d have reacted quicker than our defence did to Wotherspoon. The second-half was probably the best we’ve played in a few weeks, but we need to be winning games like this. Especially with a tough run of fixtures coming up. 

    Don’t really think the midfield changes worked either. Regardless of their quality we missed having proper wide players, and McGregor’s pace alone made a difference when he came on. Megwa was very good again defensively but we missed having a Ballantyne or Watson out there and their abilities or even just willingness going forward. Telfer was okay but I must admit I thought McCabe was poor. Don’t know if he’s just lacking match fitness but he was too slow on the ball and his final pass, which is ostensibly what he’s in the team for, was poor. Not sure he offers more than McMaster or Aiken at this point. Don’t think Todorov and Gal work well together. 

    Should say also that we had a stonewall penalty denied and if that had been given who knows, maybe we’d have got a different result. 

    2

    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Thought a draw was a fair result. Both teams had chances and spells on top, though neither team really looked like taking the game by the scruff of the neck and winning at any point. Our midfield weren’t in the game at all unfortunately, and Hancock had a difficult evening. Don’t think we ever really took advantage of Queen’s high line other than at the goal, even after bringing O’Connor on. I’d have personally brought McCabe on to do this as he’s probably our best option in terms of being able to play balls over the top or through balls in behind, but that’s a few weeks now since we last saw him on the park. 

    In terms of positives, I thought Megwa was very good and the defence as a whole kept Thomas and Paton quiet. McStravick looked a class act once again and superb bit of play from him and finish from Gal for the goal. Also thought Telfer and Todorov made a difference when they came on. Saw a couple of folk say Todorov should have done better with his chance at the end. Maybe he should have but I just thought it was a good save TBH. 

    Will be interesting to see what he does with the team next week as Telfer is probably due a start, McCabe could justifiably put himself back in and if Ballantyne and ATS are back fit then those two will rightly stake a claim to start. 

    Overall, I’m delighted to be 4th with 13 points after the first quarter and playing the best football any Airdrie side has played in a long time. Agreed with the previous comments however that we do need to start creating and taking more chances and evolve the style of play. McCabe has been very good at doing that and solving problems thus far so I have some confidence that he will do that as ultimately, if we continue to struggle to kill teams off he’s going to have to. 

    Inverness next week then a tough run of games to follow. A win in Inverness would be huge as it’d put us 11 points ahead of them and potentially Morton. I know some folk are looking and thinking up the way (including the manager!) but I’m still very much an ‘8th and above’ and I’ll be happy man. 

    4

    The Red Diamond

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted · Edited by airdrieman

    Thought a draw was a fair result. Both teams had chances and spells on top, though neither team really looked like taking the game by the scruff of the neck and winning at any point. Our midfield weren’t in the game at all unfortunately, and Hancock had a difficult evening. Don’t think we ever really took advantage of Queen’s high line other than at the goal, even after bringing O’Connor on. I’d have personally brought McCabe on to do this as he’s probably our best option in terms of being able to play balls over the top or through balls in behind, but that’s a few weeks now since we last saw him on the park. 

    In terms of positives, I thought Megwa was very good and the defence as a whole kept Thomas and Paton quiet. McStravick looked a class act once again and superb bit of play from him and finish from Gal for the goal. Also thought Telfer and Todorov made a difference when they came on. Saw a couple of folk say Todorov should have done better with his chance at the end. Maybe he should have but I just thought it was a good save TBH. 

    2

    The Red Diamond

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Bring Your Own Socks said:

    We're a bit touchy about our half-Hoops this year and it made me wonder why your called Diamonds when the strip is a V. Granted on both sides but as it's humanly impossible to view the front and back at the same time then spotting a diamond just can't happen. So V for vandetta it is then. And a couple of chibs thrown in for historical reference.

    image.jpeg.45aac4a713356aa1290fdb35c639b343.jpeg V For Vendetta | PosterSpy

    It works the same as hoops but it goes over the shoulder 👍 Unless you also always play in half-hoops? 

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    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Went along to the reserve game yesterday. Deserved win for Killie, who were more clinical and sharper than us at both ends, though I thought 4-1 was a bit harsh. There were periods of the game we were on top, last 10-15 minutes of the first-half and first 10 of the second-half, but we lacked a final ball or better decision making upfront. Played some nice stuff at times, and the McCabeBall philosophy of playing out from the back was apparent. Though I’m not sure some of the players have the confidence or ability to pull it off quite yet. But that will hopefully come with time and coaching. Good to have that continuity throughout our sides (assume the academy teams play the same way). Darren Barr and Alan Gow were coaching the team and were in the dugout, plus another coach I didn’t recognise (didn’t look like Ryan McStay from my vantage point). Thought Elliot Dunlop was comfortably Airdrie’s best player. Played some really nice passes at times, good touch and was always looking to go forward. You could see why McCabe signed him. Feels like a bit of a tricky one for him. He got a lot of time and space on the ball that there’s no chance he’d get in the Championship so I can understand why they wouldn’t think he’s ready or want to chuck him on just yet (and I would agree with that assessment if that is the case). But I’m not sure playing about two games a month for the reserves is great for his development either. Feels like a loan would have been ideal for him. Ally Spalding impressed too and looked robust enough that he could conceivably be on the bench and not just look like a lost wee boy. #6, I think was Willie Thomson, looks an industrious midfielder but I’m pretty sure he’s about 15/16 so we probably won’t see him for a few years yet. 

    The goals we conceded were so soft they could be called farcical. The first one reminded me of a lot of the goals we conceded at the start of last season. The Killie boy gets so much space and time to run through the middle of the park before he eventually squared it to Bobby Wales who again had so much time he could genuinely have stood on the ball before having a shot. And that was from the kick-off. The second was a lack of communication between the goalie and the defence at a corner and the fourth the defence was ball-watching. That being said, if there’d been an experienced player playing alongside them, be it an ATS, McCabe or even a Hutton, I’m not sure we lose any of those goals. I know we’ve got a game on Friday so I can understand not risking any this week, and maybe it doesn’t really matter all that much, but I do think an experienced head in defence or in goals would have made a difference. 

    Dom Kavanagh showed clever awareness for his goal and it was nice for them to break that duck. 

    Don’t think I’ll make any more reserve games this season but it was an enjoyable afternoon. There was a group of Airdrie ultras with a drum and some sort of bedsheet/TIFO type thing. A bit surreal for a reserve game on a Tuesday afternoon but endearing also. Fair play! 

    1

    The Red Diamond

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Feels like this is already quite a big game for both teams. I think Queen’s haven’t won in their last 6 or 7 games(?) so need a win from somewhere. We’ve made a better start to the season than probably anyone would have thought or hoped for and to potentially end the first quarter on 15 points would be fantastic. But while a loss wouldn’t be a disaster, this is the sort of game we need to win and if we don’t, that could be a worry. 

    Hope to see McStravick in from the start for this one. And hopefully we’ll have at least one of Ballantyne or ATS back. I’m sure he’ll come good but not sure I want Megwa up against any or all of Thomas/McKinstry/Hepburn at this stage. 

    This game could be any of a cracker/comedic clown show/tedious. Not really bothered which it is as long as Airdrie win. 2-0 Airdrie with prime #McCabeBall entertaining the millions (and millions) watching at home. 

    8

    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    It was frustrating as it’s not as if we don’t have the players to break through the lines and take risks on the ball. In the first-half we cut them open 2 or 3 times down the left-hand side with one pass. But, whilst I appreciate they were sitting deeper, I don’t think we even tried that again in the second-half. I agree with the view that we’re a ‘first goal’ team but it’s not as if we haven’t managed to come from behind this season either. We did it v Thistle, Ross County and, em, Stirling Uni, the former two being a good example of this team playing this style at their best. 

    I can’t remember who he directed it to but I heard McCabe say from the dugout ‘control the ball and we control the game’. I think part of the problem yesterday in terms of not making subs earlier or changing things up was that he saw the possession we had yesterday as control. And whilst that sentence is generally true, and has been for us a few times this season, I don’t think that was the case at all yesterday. We shouldn’t panic and rush or launch the ball up the park either though and TBF when we’re at our best there is that balance between keeping possession and attacking and moving quickly, and I still think that’s the case more often than not. As said above, McCabe has been very good at evolving the team, whilst sticking to #McCabeBall (the team that started and ended last season still played attacking football whilst being much more solid defensively) and I have confidence he’ll be able to fix or change any issues again this season. 

    A shame to lose our unbeaten run at home (especially to Ayr) but 12 points with another 3 to play for from the first quarter is a great start. Still serious about giving Willie McLaren a game btw. 

    1

    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Thought that was the the worst we’ve played this season other than Arbroath. A real lack of urgency killed us there. We’re at our best when we’re attacking teams quickly and playing with a bit of tempo. Our tempo wasn’t too bad to start with but after Ayr scored we barely played with any bar maybe a 10 minute spell before and after our goal. Ayr sat off us and shut off any space well but still thought they were very gettable.

    Ballantyne going off unsettled us and we never really recovered from that. Megwa struggled and looked nervous when he first came on and was really poor at the goal in terms of giving the ball away and not stopping the cross. Only his debut so hopefully he’ll get better with time, some coaching and experience. But if Ballantyne stays on, who knows maybe we don’t concede that first goal and it ends up being a different game. 

    Thought Hancock probably showed up best for us. McStravick too at least tried to give us a bit of impetus and go forward which we badly needed. He put in a couple of superb crosses just begging for a centre forward to get on the end of. Perfect for Todorov who again I thought should have been on earlier. 

    Worst thing about this is having to face going to work in Ayr on Monday 😕

    4

    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Fantastic achievement and opportunity for both of them. It’s only one squad but anything that can enhance the club’s reputation for developing players and proving them a platform to move up the way, can only be a good thing in terms of attracting players and suitors for said players 😉 

    Who was our last youth international? Tony Watt? Assuming they all play ATS, McStravick, Devenny and Clarke is quite the collection of international caps* for the one season. 

    I know they’re not full internationals (apart from ATS) but you know what I mean*. 

    1

    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Diamond Sab said:

    Looking at the pricing for listening to the home games audio only was previous £5 a game but now only options are £20 per month or £200 per season and the month starts when payment made but it may be that there are only 2 home games in the month and a few people may not be able to listen every week due to work etc .Pay per game for the audio would appeal to some fans Thoughts ?

    @AndyDD @el Gringo

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    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    13 hours ago, GHF-23 said:

    Alright folks, apologies I'm sure I'm not the first Hibs fan popping in here to ask, how have Murray Aitken and Josh O'Connor been doing with you? Anything I've seen has been positive about Muzz but haven't seen anything of you guys except the odd highlights. 

     

    12 hours ago, Mr November said:

    Aiken has been excellent, very good ball-winner who can progress play and carry the ball forward. It’s not the only reason why it happened but it’s telling that he didn’t play in by far our worst performance this season. It’s still early days but he has a lot of potential. 

    O’Connor has been more mixed. I don’t think he’s ever had a good game (not including games against League Two/Lowland League teams) when starting but he’s made a good impact coming off the bench, notably winning penalties against Dundee and Ross County and then scoring the equaliser against the latter too. He’s not ready to start every week at this level but his pace and work-rate make him a great option off the bench to run at tired defenders.

    Have we won every game in which Aiken has started in midfield? Apart from Ross County, and even then that went to extra-time. That’s obviously not entirely down to him but he has been a big part of our success so far. 

    He’s a good all-rounder. Good runner, ball-winner and passer, more in a link-up or retaining possession sort of way rather than in a creative #10 sort of fashion. His shooting isn’t great but he’s clearly a lad with a lot of talent who’s already controlling midfields in the Championship. I’d love to keep a hold of him but no chance that’ll happen sadly. 

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    Airdrieonians 23/24 Championship Thread♦️

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Was that Livi reserve game not before he came on at Tannadice? So whilst I don’t know, I’d doubt that’s why he’s not been on the bench the last two games. Think as others have said, it’s most likely because Telfer, McCabe and McStravick have all been on the bench so there’s not been a place for him in the match-day squad. I know Cassidy was on Saturday, but that’s, presumably, so we had at least one proper defender whilst ATS is out. 

    1

    Morton Vs Airdrie

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    6 hours ago, ClydeTon said:

    Compared to last year, when we were had the ball on the ground more, it is boring and painful to watch.

    I would say that even last year our football was poor for a neutral to watch, but we put a show on in the two home games on BBC Scotland. (Hello, Inverness.)

    Thought you played with a good tempo in the first-half, and whichever way you do that is or at least can be good to watch. You were just hampered by running out of ideas pretty quickly and a lack of creativity and quality going forward/upfront. Agree with the above poster that it’s all immaterial really as long as you win. But like I say, the ‘boring’ comments made me laugh. This Airdrie team are many things but they’re not boring at either end of the park! 

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