The Great Stagsby

Opera singer it is, then!

I could be wrong, but I’m fairly certain that’s the Cup game where County went 3-2 up extremely late, only for Calley to equalise proper dying-seconds-style to earn a replay. So I think @GreyHair Is possibly / probably making a pretty desperate “Yeah, but it’s 3-3. Why are you celebrating?! It’s not like you won!” type of point - the kind of desperate attempt at self consolation I would have made in a moment like that when I was about 16. And yes, we went on to lose said replay.

Oh totally, I probably wouldn’t disagree with any of that at all. I hope they get back on track and you turn out to be right - it wouldn’t surprise me. I just don’t have the confidence you do, based on the actual evidence up to this point, to say that Stewart and Mckay WILL get us enough goals to stay up.

100% agreed. Around the time when the reconstruction thread was in full flow and fans and pundits alike were throwing out claims that County were the biggest beneficiaries of the early curtailment of the season, I had some pretty in-depth looks at head-to-heads, best / worst runs of form over the season, last 6 games and last 10 games runs of form... it was virtually impossible to find any logical application of any of those trends which would have resulted in County finishing bottom, or even 11th. Less than 100% agreed! Base it on last season then yes, but see very little evidence 10 games into this season to convince me that still stands. Combination of lack of service and dips in their form / confidence has me pretty concerned right now. I would still think our best chance of staying up is them starting to find the net, but the longer we go without it happening, the less likely it probably is. Thankfully there still is plenty of time, and there are plenty of other useless teams out there. It would just be nice to have some glimmers of hope / encouragement sooner rather than later!

You do know that the second half of this football match took place at a later moment in time than things which occurred before the first half of the match commenced...? (You do also know that we lost both halves of this match and, as a result, the entire match?) We’ve done that kind of thing a few times already this season, and I suspect we will do them again in the future. I make no apologies when I tell you here and now: I WAS GLUM. I AM GLUM. I PLAN TO REMAIN GLUM.

"Ross County have made a great start to the season." I'm not sure it counts as a cliche(?), but it's definitely something I'm sick of hearing. Still being said by various pundits at the point where our results read WWDLDLL and we were on 3 less points than at the same stage last season

Wake me up when next season starts. Since the Celtic game (which I long hummed and haa-ed about before finally shelling out), I've cut back on watching - under financial strain as it is, insult to injury when I pay to put myself through what we're producing just now. Anyway, remind me to also not even watch the highlights - Laidlaw should be saving that opener? Vigurs - I mean, how stupid do you have to be. Wasn't even a guaranteed goal with Laidlaw closing him down - even if the boy scores at least we've 11 players still on the pitch. All of that not to mention WHERE IS JOSH MULLIN, combined with everything I have seen and continue to hear about Charles Cook. There's no way the 5 teams below us are all worse than us - as somebody has pointed out we'll have a truer reflection oce the full first round of fixtures is completed.

Yes. And again on Sunday when they do. 6-pointer, in my humble opinion.

Close the thread, we have a winner: THE ENTIRE INTERNET forgot he played for us.

I mean, yes and no. I am normally the last to throw in the towel, I'll clutch at any straw going... On "balance of play" or whatever I'd say yeah, for most of the time it was a fairly competitive game. There's undoubtedly some quality and ability in our team - we look quite good at times. In fact it was the kind of performance where we should have ended up looking back on maybe a 2-3, a 'what could have been', or even taken something out of the game. But we're looking back on a 0-5. And not a "hard done by" 0-5, in my opinion. More like a "thoroughly deserved because of our complete lack of composure and discipline" 0-5. For me, that is our problem this season and it's seriously concerning me at the moment - our lack of composure (at both ends) and discipline. Giving Celtic a completely unnecessary penalty in the 3rd minute? Vigur's assist? Our chance-conversion rate? Tremarco getting himself stupidly sent off in the previous game? Forgive me, but I'm really feeling pretty doomy gloomy right now, in a weird way almost because of the positives, if that makes any sense at all! They are just frustrating me - they mean nothing at all if we keep producing stupid lapses within games. Good performance + plenty of positives + lack of composure at both ends v Celtic = 0-5. Good performance + plenty of positives + lack of composure at both ends v everyone else = narrower margins of defeat, with the occasional draw and very occasional win thrown in from time to time. I hope I'm wrong, I hope we find that composure and just start getting some of the basics right, and that everything turns around. Right now, I'm just not feeling it. Sorry. Feel free to give me a good talking to. Equally, feel free to just give me a big warm hug

Is there a commentary option that doesn’t involve having to listen to John Hartson?

So if I’m understanding all this correctly, you’re saying ? I’m most definitely not arguing that County deserved anything more out of the game than we got, by the way. It’s just an interesting choice of argument you’ve made against somebody possibly suggesting otherwise, considering you don’t appear to have complete faith in the statistic you turned to. (Also by the way, I didn’t ask the question to try and trap you In some way - I was keen to understand it better and with your help I now do. Cheers )

I’m glad you brought this up as I’ve been genuinely wondering how some of the stats are worked out. Maybe you watched the game, maybe you read the stat somewhere - I personally got from the BBC stats that County had 18 shots in total, with a miserable 2 of them on target. But reading through the Live Text it shows the following for County: 8 ‘blocked‘, 9 ‘missed’, 1 ‘saved’ (plus the goal - which immediately follows a Gardyne “blocked” effort, where the pass was from Randall - in other words 2 descriptions of the one incident: the deflected goal). What I have been wondering, then: Can anyone who watched the game confirm (if even possible to say) that essentially all of our blocked efforts were off target (but one ended up deflecting in, thus making it into the “on target” column) - or do the BBC essentially have a default setting of blocked shots not counting towards the “shots on target” stat?

Equally, if even a couple of them (v Killie and yesterday) had gone in, County could be 4 points better off than we are. Fine margins, “ifs and maybes” and all that. He had a long break with injury last season, then not many games back before Covid ended the season. If he recaptures the form he was in earlier last season it should make a big difference to his confidence and the team’s chances, provided we keep a hold of him. Here’s hoping (if you’re a Staggy, anyway...)

If you’re actually seeking an answer to that one, he has now hit the woodwork in 4 of our 5 opening games (if you include the shot v Motherwell that Carson(?) pushed onto the bar.)

I had 732 friends round at my place for the County game last night. Charged 50p and a beer per person. I'm up £351 and have 711 beers left in the fridge. Think I'll charge £1 next time.

I've got video now, but I think only through the Away Team Video option. Wish I could help those who haven't got that far yet but I haven't a scooby now I'm logged in. This link as shred with me earlier may help - good luck guys.

I'm logged in, got 4 different link options and none of them providing me any viewing. Has it not started yet (advertised 7:20), or am I just doomed to miss it now that I've paid to watch it?

That has indeed helped and I'm all set for tonight now - many thanks. I'm still not clear how I would be meant to find it without you providing me the shortcut though. I can't see a link to PPV on the club home page, or on the RCTV page, or on the Tickets page... I'm clearly missing something?!

Having thus far failed to secure a season ticket through my normal channels, I have just been on the club site to try and work out how to watch on Pay Per View basis tonight. I've registered with RCTV, but don't know where I go from there...? Clicked on the Killie game link and all it seems to have is a countdown to the program start - but no indication of how to sign up / pay to watch. Anyone got any useful pointers?

Big game for County on Wednesday - correct me if I'm wrong but I suspect Killie fans would probably say it's a big game for them too? It's been widely discussed how well County have started the season, albeit narrow winning margins. Killie have had tougher opening fixtures - despite County's progress will they look at this game as "more winnable"? Same starting 11 for us wouldn't surprise me and it'd be hard to argue. I wouldn't object to Mullin in for Erwin though. I'd take another 1-0, but I think there'll be more goals this time. Heart says 2-1. Head says 1-1.

You really didn’t edit your initial post thoroughly enough, so I’ve helped you out a little. A couple of pretty solid performances, really encouraging all in all. Very early, but potential for more points from next few fixtures. Keep it up lads!

Thank goodness this 8games chap has returned and got this thread back on track. Allows me to share a piece I have spent the last week working on in the background: There once was a team from Edinburgh. Who were no better at football than I am at Haikus.

To be honest I’ll be happy enough if we win 5-3 most weeks with the odd 4-4 draw thrown in there. (Ross Stewart with all 5, every time. ETA would 190-ish goals in a season be a Scottish record?)

That run and 40-yarder against Rangers in the cup, by the way It was about 20 years ago but I still dream it ends up in the top corner...