CrossgatesCynic

Some folk really do need to give themselves a fucking shake. Its the same names, every time, making an appearance to revel in every last failure on the pitch. Why the f**k do you bother turning up? Will you ever be happy watching the Rovers? Too many folk thinking fitba is played on paper via a spreadsheet.

When James Brown signed, he certainly wasn't the defensive addition I was hoping for at the time. When the whole Ross Millen episode occurred however, I was mightily relieved. Brown has barely set a foot wrong. He isn't an attacking full back - he literally told us as much in his interview when he joined. He's definitely improved the defensive side of things though, which is essentially what he's being paid to do. Aye, you can get into debate about how him playing on the right flank impacts the likes of Connolly negatively but it's all semantics at this point. He's the best realistic option available to play, by some distance (don't bother talking about Matthews or McGill playing there for the remainder of the season, even at this stage).

Fell away from this big style over the last few months, despite really enjoying my previous Champions Leagues hunt. Started a new save earlier, to see if it has any legs. Essentially a European journeyman save, avoiding the top leagues for as long as I can bear it. Would be delighted to pick up a few titles and cups in the likes of Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and even the likes of Belgium, Portugal, Greece etc. before looking to take on jobs at the "big clubs". Started unemployed, with no coaching badges or footballing pedigree. First stop? Standard Liege B...

Much happier with the way we played with two sitting in the midfield. Matthews & Byrne holding allows Stanton to play far more freely further up the park. The wind was tragic but some of the football Rovers were trying to play was encouraging. I’d certainly be happy with the same starting lineup on Tuesday night against Airdrie. Not sure if I’m being overly critical but, penalty aside, I felt Hamilton was off it yesterday. Almost certainly didn’t help that the wind rendered any high balls an absolute lottery, at best. Very possible it just wasn’t the game for him.

Your average punter is surely more easily able to make a decision in the boozer to buy a ticket online, via their phone, & go to the game? Digital ticketing isn’t some scourge on the game that’s seeing clubs lose out on money left, right & centre on match days.

Last night’s result presents a massive opportunity today, no question. Let’s not lose the fucking run of ourselves if we don’t come back along the M8 with three points though, eh?

I think my cynicism over the Las Palmas game is rooted in my fear that if it were confirmed, I’d neither be able to afford, nor be allowed, to go. The FOMO would kill me.

Based on nothing at all, I’m not convinced there’ll be any game against Las Palmas. Nice wee bit of PR between the clubs earlier in the season & a nice wee buzz around the away kit launch but I just cannot see a La Liga side going out of their way to arrange said friendly.

Still talking about Dunfermline? I’ll come back later.

Never in a month of Sundays. Todd had a brass neck complaining about his yellow card. A ridiculous dive.

Dunfermline fans going out of their way, to tell us how little they care about Raith Rovers. Never not funny.

The club has previously been interested in Ashcroft. I’m curious which aspect of the poor luck that saw him pick up an injury in his debut would mean he’s not good enough to play for the Rovers?

I’m absolutely not in the mood for starting players, in a derby, to hook them after half an hour if they’re shit. Corr probably should have had a chance before now. It should have been back in January, if not earlier. The ship has all but sailed for him, I suspect.

Some folk going full self-preservation already for Saturday. I’m not entirely sure what it is about Chris Kane that we should be particularly worried about? He could score a brace on Saturday & my opinion on that won’t change. Beyond that, folk getting themselves really worked up over the ifs, buts & mibbes of the rest of the season. Rovers will drop points between now & May. So will Utd. Surely more worthwhile to just get behind the team & enjoy the games that are left, eh?

I do quite enjoy that when folk don’t know Kev’s height, they just make it up.

A performance not without its frustrations or deficiencies but, my word, a vastly improved showing of character. Across the park, the team looked more settled, more focused & - particularly in defence - more effective. Still a little frustrating that for long spells the long ball to Rudden/Hamilton was the aim, despite Utd not having the run of the midfield you’d expect. However, the team (for the most part) proved itself more than capable of resetting to defend again & again. Hamilton’s challenge on Walton was the catalyst for the win, IMO. It send a current through the players & the stands. The immediate aftermath to that was greeted almost as ferociously as the goals. Murray got the subs - & timings - spot on last night too. Not changes simply for the sake of it but introductions that changed the game in our favour. A performance bursting with fight. It’s easy to throw clichés about but that’ll do wonders for the players & coaching staff. Onto Ayr next weekend with renewed optimism. Meanwhile, the shadow of doubt looms larger than ever over Goodwin in the eyes of Utd’s supporters & (surely) board. Oh, & Dabrowski. As someone who’s loved the big man since he came in, I’ve been delighted to see him develop through the season. Last night felt like a coming of age, of sorts. He was a colossus. An incredibly well deserved MOTM for the big handsome b*****d.

I am being selfish but I’m happy to see the singing section relocate to the back corner of the stand. I genuinely think, in the short term, this might well be the best place for them & I hope this trial is far more of a success than the previous.

Megwa’s been getting a game for Hibs. As things stand he’ll no be playing Championship fitba next season.

I honestly don’t know if it’s genuine attempt at self-preservation, if it’s persistent pessimism or if it genuinely is just folk losing the run of themselves but you’d seriously think Rovers were mired in a relegation battle. There exists an ability to be concerned - even deeply - about the current run of form - & all its attributing factors - without making yourself out to be (consistently) an arsehole. Ian Murray does have questions to answer. Questions he appears to be struggling to answer right now. One thing I am sure of is he’s no needing advice from no-mark jobbers like us on the internet. Opinions are fine - they’re like arseholes, blah blah. It doesn’t mean you have to desperately try to prove you’re right in predicting a Rovers apocalypse at every turn. You’re screaming into your own echo chamber & assuming that proves you right. It’s boring.

The catering revenues up considerably, despite the fact I'm rarely able to get anything. That's about four games in a row now, I've gone to get the wee man a Capri Sun either before kick off or within 15' of it. No dice. Selt oot. Probably for the better. The fucking straws rip my knitting anyhow.

Get back to basics with the formation. Rotate the squad slightly, with a focus on getting players in at their natural positions. Could easily go either way, regards the result, but that's no surprise. Would like to see Rovers make another final. Won't lose a minute's sleep if they're out come bed time Friday.

I don’t doubt his agent was whispering sweet nothings to the ‘papers and/or clubs. Every chance that was purely to talk his way into the Dundee team though.

Cannot see Rovers bringing in a defender now at this stage. Disappointing but, with Watson coming back, it’s not a disaster. Come what may, we need to be going to a back four & - where possible - keeping it as consistent as possible. Football at Championship level isn’t difficult. Just get back to doing the basics right.

I honestly don't see a massive difference in gameplay from one to the other. The new introductions, such as set piece coaching & more fine-tuning permitted there isn't something I've personally used. From this save's point of view, this is the first time the J-Leagues have been included, so that's obviously pretty huge.

I actually enjoy managing in South Africa - I've had success there in recent FMs - but, by God, the quality is such a step down having recently been in Japan.