Jilted John

What is the state of play with it? I know it’s not been used for years but is the building itself an issue?

I disagree, I think the atmosphere at Starks has always been pretty flat except in the bigger games. Tomorrow will take care of itself but against teams like Morton, even when we were winning, it was always dull. A singing section/better atmosphere won’t fix performances in itself but it’ll definitely lend a hand!

What an effort on the ticket front for Friday given our recent form and the fact the game is on TV, especially for the Dundee United fans. There’s maybe a joke to be made about folk from Dundee not having jobs to try and get away early from but I’ll refrain

What a load of nonsense. If Murray has deemed Millen not good enough to be in his long term plans (which include us getting promoted to the premier league at some point) then he’s correct. He’s not at that level. If Millen has thrown his toys out the pram at that then it’s on him.

Let’s hope they didn’t let their kids stream football on it!

Is Ross Matthews the new Joel Coustrain? He suddenly becomes the answer to all woes when he’s not playing. As much as I like Matthews, he’s not better than Brown or Byrne. He wasn’t better than Brown or Spencer last season and he wasn’t better than Tait, Spencer or Hendry in seasons gone by either.

While Liam Dick was undoubtedly out of position, he’s certainly not the only one to blame for conceding that goal. Murray, Watson and even Millen all had a part to play.

It’s very difficult to argue with any of that. The lack of shape has been a common issue for the last few weeks whereas before Christmas we looked like a well oiled machine, shape wise. Our excellent attacking options papered over our defensive cracks and it’s only now, while our creative players all seem to be off form, that these defensive frailties have been massively exposed. Even with Watson returning last night we still looked weak at the back. Anyone that thought Murray and Watson would cure all ills are well off the mark. Watson is one of the slowest players I’ve seen while Murray can’t win a ball in the air. I feel like we won’t be able to turn a corner until the back 4 gets sorted out. Thankfully we still have time to bring in loans/free transfers. Whether we will or not remains to be seen.

This was always my fear, season ticket numbers well up but how many were ‘free’, meaning no extra actual income. That’s been well and truly put to bed now.

I did like Iain’s piece on it. We all sit around moaning that home games are dull so we have a chance to actually do something about it.

I agree with the strongest 11 thing. We need a win and the confidence that comes from it.

He captained Killie when they won this league

Where is the evidence that Liam Dick is even remotely confident at CH coming from? I remember the guys on the podcast talking about that a while ago. While I think he’s a reasonably adept left back, he’s nowhere near strong or physical enough to be a centre half for a side looking to go up to the Premier League!

Funnily enough we didn’t do badly when we changed to a back four. As for Easton, and Connolly, now we play with a front two rather than a three, they are very ineffective. Starting too wide rather than either side of a main striker.

Absolutely shambolic today. Particularly in that first half. Our next two league games are against Partick and United. For all the plaudits Murray got pre Christmas with his bold selections, he’s completely messed it up since.

Tx, can you draw up a formation that includes a front three of Vaughan in the middle, benefiting from the knockdowns from Hamilton and Rudden? Ideally with Masson and Corr delivering pin point accurate long balls from the back?

I think what you’re missing is that Gullan has left and has been replaced with another striker. Striker=Striker.

I don’t actually disagree with the fact that Vaughan is off form just now, well he’s not scored in his last 5 games if that constitutes being off form. It might actually be the longest he’s gone without scoring since he’s been with us! Who do you drop him for though? Smith/Gullan? Neither of them have been setting the heather alight either.

You’re right, it was! https://www.thefreelibrary.com/YOU+BETCHA%3B+Airdrie+1%2C+Raith+Rovers+4.-a061115606

Yes. Someone won a massive accumulator as well on the back of it if I remember rightly. I’m sure we lost 4-1

It looks as though Ashcroft has played his way back into Dundee’s plans. Even if they get a centre half in, I can’t imagine him dropping down to the bottom of the pecking order.

Well done to everyone involved in this photo. I did have to look twice though, I thought for a split second it was Tx’s choice for our starting back four on Saturday!

Are Raith TV streaming video for overseas viewers?

I think Renton’s point about being a ‘badged’ centre half is a good one. People might look at the situation and question that Murray playing a midfielder ahead of a ‘recognised’ centre half is in some way mismanaging Masson. The reality is that Scott Brown has probably played more competitive minutes as a Championship centre half than Masson. At some point Broony must become badged in that position too?

I’m happy to put my neck on the line and say that Masson won’t ever be a central defender in the professional leagues. He’s nowhere near big enough. Theres a good player in there but if he’s going to make it at any semi decent level, he will probably need to think about a positional change to either full back or midfield.