FullTimePint

spot on Tbf last year 51 points would have had us with the playoff place, realistically this year i think 60 or thereabouts clinches it. Its been a tougher league at the top end this year. Obviously there are still games to play and points to be won and dropped. But last year the gap between a playoff place and 8th was only 9pts, this year its already 19. Not really sure what caused the big difference, or maybe last year swas just an abnormal one.

If they brought a retro top out like that 1973/4 number i reckon you would have a top seller on your hands

Im no a fan of this latest season. The thing i couldnt get my head around was the change in Dee's face!

Disappointing defeat, crazy defensive performances, and probably the most angry i have ever felt leaving Bayview (and ive been places and done things) I cant help but feel we have needlessly thrown away a good cup run by not seeing the game away. However, fair play to Glasgow and good luck to them going forward. They wanted the win, never gave up, and grafted it out. That's what cup football is all about. The players need to show this was just a bad day at the office, and not the return of the crazy form we had toward the end of last year. I'm not pushing the panic button quite yet, we have taken enough bigger team scalps in cups that eventually you are going to come a cropper yourself, but if a few bad league performances follow i may start dusting it down.

Personally I don't think Falkirk's squad is a league winning squad, i've said this from the start of the season, however, due to the amount of cash spent, there is no upside for any manager taking that job now, especially one like DY who is trying to push on. The squad is capable but not exceptional. The fans expect to win most games - win them and you are only doing what is expected, draw or lose and there is some hefty criticism coming your way. Dont win the league/promotion, and your reputation takes a fairly major hit, a load of pressure mounts for the 2nd season response, and like most previous incumbents of the 'should've won the league last year' award - you are out your job by Christmas. Veterans of the lower leagues have seen this story unfold so many times It would take a brave man to go into Falkirk right now with the boardroom shambles, and a hit and miss squad. I suspect they are more likely to get someone who has been at a 'bigger' club before and is trying to restore their reputation, than someone on their way up.

This is a difficult one, as i agree that i think we will see a different montrose side now they seem to have found their feet this season. But, if we want to try and keep pace for the playoffs, home wins will be crucial. After this, in the league, we have dumbarton and airdrie away and then falkirk at home. A fairly difficult set of fixtures, which once we are through, i think we will have a much better grasp on where we are heading for the season. Hopefully 3 points on saturday sets us up to go on a mini win streak. I'm optimistically predicting 2-0, Boyd (2) to keep his run going

Surprised, but at the same time glad DY stays. I think FT clubs will come knocking for him eventually, and rightly so. If he can put himself in the shop window by keeping us on the promotion trail then i cant think many will begrudge him a move, whether it be this season or next. I would hope this may also act as a nudge to the board for succession planning for life after DY. I would think the relatively stable way the club is run, and the way the board stand by the manager through patches of bad form would make us an attractive proposition for a lot of managers.

Just here out of interest, but if that list is indeed true, it is hard to look past Houston or Stewart As someone who got to enjoy the Raith implosion, John Hughes should be nowhere near your selection process. You feel that once he is past the 'if i shout expletives louder then the team will play better' strategy, then he really has no other tactical nous about him. Young i think would be an ideal candidate, his record doesnt look great on paper for us, but our cup runs last year led to a ridiculous fixture pile up, which for a PT team took its toll on our form. He has turned us into a very good cup team, delivered some of our best league runs in years, and he has an eye for a player - not just over reliance on the seasoned journeymen. I would hate to see him leave Bayview, but i think he will end up in your league sooner rather than later.

I've been wanting this for a long time, with the feeling that the 433 high press style game just doesn't suit us. It inevitably turns into a deep 451 and we struggle to create anything in the opponents half. With the way modern fullbacks push on to provide width, having two upfront essentially man for man with the CBs would at the very lest give the other team problems.

I dont think Falkirk will be top come the halfway point. I think Raith are beginning to find their feet, and an effective system. I do however think Raith and Falkirk will be clear of the pack at the top after game 18. I'm relatively happy with how east fife have started. There are a few games we could look at as opportunities wasted to take all three points, but we have strikers who are capable, a midfield that is as strong as any i have seen at Bayview in recent times, and a defence that is gelling nicely. As many have said, the injury/ suspension situation will have an influence on our season, but outside of Falkirk, i think that can be said for all the other teams in the league. I am most impressed with Dumbarton if i am being honest. From the outside looking in, i thought Duffy had a tough gig at the start of the year, as dumbarton looked like they were taking a while to pull a squad together. When Falkirk ran riot early doors, i reckoned they were doomed to a relegation scrap, but they seem to have regrouped and they are only a point outside the playoffs.

Clyde 1-2 Montrose Dumbarton 0-2 Forfar East Fife 5-0 Stranraer Peterhead 2-2 Airdrie Raith Rovers 3-3 Falkirk

Falkirk are getting a little bit of the medicine Raith had to swallow when they came down. You boys are the scalp, and a point is a decent enough result for most teams in the league, so they sit deep and counter. The fact the Falkirk fans expect three points most games (rightly so given the squad) means that should Mckinnon open up and chase the winner, then he plays right into the hands of the counter attack. I always think if you boys dont get the first goal in a game, you are in trouble. There are enough decent strikers in the league that can punish you from set pieces and counters.

Of all the good wins and away days etc last season, the insanity of this photo is still a top highlight. Makes me laugh everytime i see it.

Out of the blue (for me certainly) but that’s a needed signing if the duggan injury is keeping him out for longer. Seems like a lad that needs to drop down the leagues to establish himself. the amount of chances we create he will have plenty of opportunity to rack up good numbers well done the board for backing the gaffer yet again.

Anywhere between 17-20 points off the first quarter of games is on track for championship winning pace i reckon, every team will have a wobble along the way. I think arbroath had 20/21 points after the first round of fixtures last year, then stormed it in the next quarter of games with 24, as you say your home games will probably come in handy

Clyde 2-1 Stranraer Dumbarton 2-3 Airdrie Falkirk 1-0 Forfar Montrose 1-2 East fife Raith 2-2 Peterhead

Its usually the run up to christmas and New year that shakes our league out, a lot of heavy pitches and windswept playing surfaces make it easy to drop points, especially if you get a couple of called off games/ fixture backlog. We are in a good spot of form at the moment, so its pretty important we get as many points on the board as possible. I would like the top 4 you highlight but Airdire/Peterhead should be in the mixer. I think Clyde showed enough against Falkirk that they could push on aswell.

Pretty spot on analysis for me. i think raith will be a different proposition once they get their first choice strike force back. That being said, as an overall team, you guys are not at the level of season past, and that defence needs attention. For us, I believe we are very much a team in form at the moment, so it was a good time to play the derby. Hopefully we can string results together and get out of this first quarter of fixtures still punching for a top 4 place. i do believe that on our day we are capable of beating anyone in this league

Same, the fact Lindsay cant even get in the squad makes me wonder if there is something in his game i just cant see, or if hes just been forgotten about. I hope he will eventually come onto a game, but Hanley gives me the fear. Mulgrew i can understand, as although he has lost a few yards of pace, he can at least lob an accurate pass from CB forward, and he has a good bank of experience against top pros.I hope Cooper gets the nod to partner to partner him. I will be keen to seen the midfield setup from Clarke. We have a lot of individually good players in the squad, but the balance is key. On form a central midfield triangle of Mctominay, Mcginn, and Mcgregor is a good proposition, Forrest and Fraser on either wings is probably as strong as we will get. Up front i could't pick the starter. McBurnie for me would be the call, but he hasnt proven himself in the scotland jersey quite yet, Naismith coming back from injury would surely be a good sub option if we are chasing.

This game will be tight, both teams strengths are in the midfield. We will just need to mark Raiths key man these days - Trialist, out of the game. I'm saying 3-1 east fife, Dowds to soften up the Raith CBs for our free scoring midfield to do the damage.

I managed to get tickets for Hampden game in June, but applied for all of the Hampden games and Wembley games, and got the email about unsold tickets Tickets for final at wembley left, 595/945 euros per seat. Obscene

I would be stunned if Raith broke even for the year, not just because its Raith, but you still have a pretty much full-time core, and most full time teams in Scotland are struggling to break even. I would have suggested a decent cup run would probably have helped more than convincing fans to sign up to a supporters fund, (although that would help regardless) which is why i am surprised so many managers take the league cup group stages so lightly.

Settle. Folk need to get over this ticket issue now, the tickets are sold, move on

given the 2-3 pages of chat on the Rangers cup game, i have some follow on questions about how we operate going forward. We drew Stirling in the next round of the challenge cup, how many league games do i have to go to for a guaranteed ticket?, or should i join the supporters club just now in anticipation of the sellout? Also who do i complain to if any of those trouble-making Stirling fans get into the home end.

There isn't an easy answer to this issue. Once the election was made not to move to a larger stadium (my preference) but to keep it at Bayview, then demand was always going to outstrip supply, but... why is that the clubs problem to solve? They could have come up with a convoluted 2/3 game package, or tried to ringfence tickets for those who were deemed more of a fan than others, but a £20 ticket is still a £20 ticket irrespective of whose hands it is in. I think they have done the right thing making season ticket holder, and supporters club members a priority, and i say that as a pay at the gate fan. I accept i wont get to the game, so ill get in the pub to watch it and enjoy it all the same. There was always going to be winners and losers here