Auld Heid

Agree, Shire are the poorest team that we have played in a long while. After Tuesday today's opponents were perfect to help us get back some confidence. Unfortunately today maybe only papered over a few cracks and we are still way short until we start getting players back from injury. The return of Gary Thom did help to steady the ship and provided some much needed leadership.

Which player of this 3 are you?

Very true, unfortunately last night was the game where our injury hit season caught up with us. That said, all credit to athletic who were excellent and took full advantage of our dismal showing. Moving forward, at this moment we don't have many choices on how we can change things. So it's really up to the available players to respond in a more positive manner than last nights performance.

Sad that any supporters feel its acceptable to shout abuse at a player being stretchered off with a broken ankle. But then again the last time it was homophobic abuse, so it didn't come as any real surprise. As for the inflated admission prices, you should really remember as a team on the decline, you shouldn't still be charging league prices.

Consistency is key to success. That comes with ability to pick strongest starting 11. Unfortunately our injury situation alongside suspensions has meant we are asking available players to fill positions not natural to them. At times you will get away with this for a few games but eventually you will come up against opponents who take advantage. My concern is why we are constantly picking up niggling injuries - many aren't from tackles - that's the real problem we need to resolve.

Who mentioned either Gala or Cumbernauld? The point is the original LL was joined by application not ability. As such, only recently has the standards improved. I think most people realise that there are teams sitting in both WoS and EoS who would add much to the overall standard. But with 3 feeder leagues and only 1 relegation spot, that change won't occur overnight.

It's a strange as many games are against teams we have no history against. As such, many games lack atmosphere. Standard is mixed and agree with Fuzzy Broomhill away has been the only game where we didn't look competitive. Injuries have been a real issue and probably our biggest issue. At present it feels like a league that won't be really good for 5 or 6 years until we see more of the stronger teams from EoS / WoS arrive.

So are you saying the other posters are making it up and all the incidents referred to didn't happen?

Another weekend where our injury woes continue to dictate a selection far removed from our strongest. So despite making things difficult at times - there was also plenty positives from today's performance. As Fuzzy suggests, the St Peters support were not the most pleasant bunch to have visited Linlithgow.

Wasn't at the game, but simple observation of yet another big occasion where we have lost a very winnable game.

Congratulations to Whitburn the best team on the day and the team who played it as a cup final. The Rose team sheet clearly reflected availability / injury woes. That said the team selected should've been good enough against a team 2 leagues below. Whilst LL is the priority such opportunities to win a trophy shouldn't be missed. Very disappointed.

Linlithgow showing continued growth in their support and all credit to the committee for their efforts in making the MV Commercial Prestonfield Stadium such an attractive place for watching football.

I can understand a player missing with injuries from games. However a lot of our injured (same) players, seem to continually pick up random injuries. That is concerning and isn't helpful for selection, as players continue to be asked to cover unfamiliar positions due to lack of numbers.

Our injury list is a serious concern. We have quite a few who seem to regularly pick up injuries.

If memory serves me correct, Linlithgow and Whitburn have met before in a Centenary Cup Final? I believe the game was held at Tynecastle for East Region Juniors Centenary and Whitburn won 2-1

Surely there was more risk playing 45 minutes on an inadequate carpet than yesterday? McKenzie is a right footed winger, struggling out of position and we do him no favours in continually doing so. Quite simply we need Cammy back playing.

Herdy was always going to freshen up selection last night. Binnie, Ogilvie and Heaver were the only real absentees from recent selection and 2 of them came on. The others with exception of Sneddon are currently injured. Last night's starting 11 was decent enough - Docherty, Cunningham and McMinn were all strong changes.

They also brought a bigger support than your mob normally bring.

From the unacceptable to the unbelievable. After the first 45 minutes there looked like only one winner as the Big Beggars totally outplayed a very poor Rose. Who were defensively very poor. Whatever was said at half-time worked, for me the big difference was bringing on Ogilvie who provide stability in midfield, which was sorely missing in the first half. Actually for once agree with Fuzzy that the Big Beggars 8, 9 and 11 were decent Paterson with 4 against his old team including an absolute screamer and 1 from Baxter provided what looked an unlikely victory at half-time.

That's what forums are for, voicing an opinion - it's your honest view, so fair play.

If you listen to John Miller interview after the game, he pretty much says the same. No I don't expect Brazil 1970 and no unlike some I don't make criticism of individual players. A well organised defence can be worth a good few points, especially from tight games - a point John Miller alluded to in his interview and how competitive the LL will be.

And I will continue to moan until we stop gifting goals every single game. Not every game will be this easy, so to lose 2 goals is a real blemish on what was at times a magnificent attacking performance. Yes we were missing key players, that's an easy out. The defenders we had out today were still more than capable.

A very good summary. We didn't adapt to the game content to play ourselves into trouble. I felt for McKenzie who as a natural right footed attacker again was murdered at left back. Sometimes it takes more than a great attitude. Tactically we weren't a match for Broomhill and albeit a better 2nd half, they pretty much dominated the flow of the game. Physically it also looked a bit of a mismatch, which was worrying. We have to learn from games like last night and hopefully that's what happens. Fantastic Rose support, who probably made up 80% of the crowd.

3 points to our LL campaign, Job done. We started at a blistering pace with a well worked opening goal. Stirling Uni then to a grip of the game and exploited our frailties to equalise. A penalty given away by a rash foul was excellently saved by Binnie. Rose went 2-1 up through Ogilvie and we went in with a half-time lead. Defensively we looked uncomfortable at left back with a right footed McKenzie struggled. Also at times Stirling opened us up at ease. 2nd half we looked much improved and settled. Jamie Allan scored a cracker to make it 3-1. Overall more pluses than negatives. McKenzie struggled again out of position at LB, which was ludicrous given Webb on the bench and Gillespie which would have provided us with 2 more natural full backs. Allison and Skinner both had solid games. McMullan and Allan were solid and Paterson looks an excellent addition.

Allison, Webb and Skinner would all be in front of Shyngle at present. Add Thom when available. As for Thomson are you writing him off on the basis of a single mistake against Petershill? Shyngle made a worse mistake against Whitburn and that was against poorer opposition. Shyngle I think we both agree is undoubtedly a prospect.