The New Raith Rovers Thread

[San Starko Rover]

2 minutes ago, RRFC_Liam said:

A certain Slovenian Striker you mean? 

Can he play CB? 

[Always next quarter]

Timing is incredibly poor unless there has been a fall out and Christophe has taken that out the clubs hands. Can't see the guy refusing to pitch in for one last hurrah to see us through unless it's gone pear shaped.

If he didn't want to play the club could have said nothing like they did with McDonald.

Doesn't seem to be a story you would put out without signings first unless your trying to control the narrative. Or we could have made a shocking decision to gon with this story early but Rovers don't make media mistakes.

 

[Ro Sham Bo]

3 minutes ago, pub car king said:

Right conspiracy nuts what's went on? 

You don't just chuck a 20 year playing career where you are the only available defender at 8pm on a Tuesday 3 days before the season starts. 

This has more than a whiff of "f**k ye then" about it. 

It will become clearer in the next day or two. If we announce the signing of a couple of new centre halves then it's plausible that all parties had agreed that Berra could go once we had some cover in. 

If, as I fully expect, we go up to Cove with one or both of Liam Dick and Scott Brown playing centre back then there's definitely more to this. 

[Ro Sham Bo]

3 minutes ago, Always next quarter said:

Timing is incredibly poor unless there has been a fall out and Christophe has taken that out the clubs hands. Can't see the guy refusing to pitch in for one last hurrah to see us through unless it's gone pear shaped.

If he didn't want to play the club could have said nothing like they did with McDonald.

Doesn't seem to be a story you would put out without signings first unless your trying to control the narrative. Or we could have made a shocking decision to gon with this story early but Rovers don't make media mistakes.

 

MacDonald as in Jamie MacDonald? 

[SirJimmyofNic]

Something stinks about this "retirement" , if its down to a fall out with management how many more players maybe feeling the same way (McDonald)??, In any case I'm begining to think Murray is jinxed , we'll go far with a team full of midfielders and not 1 competent defender

[Ro Sham Bo]

2 minutes ago, SirJimmyofNic said:

Something stinks about this "retirement" , if its down to a fall out with management how many more players maybe feeling the same way (McDonald)??, In any case I'm begining to think Murray is jinxed , we'll go far with a team full of midfielders and not 1 competent defender

If you were being paranoid, you might wonder if MacDonald's absence on Sunday and the Berra news are linked. 

[San Starko Rover]

I don’t like when our forum page says “hot” these days. Nothing good comes from it this year. 

[SanStarko]

Well I for one am looking forward to our 2-7-1  formation on Saturday.  

I can kinda get the idea that maybe he's gone to free up wages for Murray to bring some guys in but it's such a weird time to release the news that he's retired that it doesn't feel like that can be the case.

I'm sure it'll be fine, surely we'll just announce we've signed 3 new CBs and a striker first thing tomorrow morning now....right?

 

[SirJimmyofNic]

1 minute ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

If you were being paranoid, you might wonder if MacDonald's absence on Sunday and the Berra news are linked. 

Just call me paranoid, lol

[lellywong]

Oh dear this season appears to be f....d before we start.  Nothing in this team inspires me to think anything other than back to League 1 and that's before we even begin the season proper. No proven goal scorer, defence a bomb scare please prove me wrong 

[RRFC_Liam]

1 minute ago, SanStarko said:

Well I for one am looking forward to our 2-7-1  formation on Saturday.  

I can kinda get the idea that maybe he's gone to free up wages for Murray to bring some guys in but it's such a weird time to release the news that he's retired that it doesn't feel like that can be the case.

I'm sure it'll be fine, surely we'll just announce we've signed 3 new CBs and a striker first thing tomorrow morning now....right?

 

Hopefully 

[McGuigan1978]

If this had happened a couple of weeks ago, I probably would have been okay with it.

Probably our highest paid player, who has looked completely and utterly done all summer coming off the wage bill, fine.

At this point though, pretty disastrous. 

I actually expected him to move on before the end of the window, if we could have found a team to take him, based on what Ian Murray has been saying after games.

His comments after Stirling Albion especially, about the defence sitting too deep and being slow in possession etc, were squarely aimed at Berra in my opinion. He can't play high and has never had great distribution, so was never going to fit into how Murray wants to play.

Berra wants to defend the penalty box, and head and kick the ball as far as he can. I reckon he sensed this was going to be a bridge too far for him, but the fact he wasn't willing to stick around even a week or two to help out seems interesting. 

I still think if we can bring in 4 or 5 who are decent, then we'll be fine. Not top four fine, but have enough to get by. If we can't bring in that amount, or we do but they're not up to the required standard, then on paper we'll have one of the weaker squads in the division. 

Be a bit of a pest if Dunfermline pass us the patter baton after getting a good laugh at them last season. 

 

 

[TxRover]

1) Berra appeared injured or done the last few matches. He knows he’s done, and the comment about getting back to the game after a break suggests injury is the issue.

2) Berra’s salary is now available.

3) Surely Berra gave IM a heads up after Sunday (or Monday morning).

4) Perhaps IM now has a line on another experienced veteran player in the Premiership who can be loaned or released to us because he won’t be starting?

5) Damn I miss Big Dave, who is reportedly doing well at QoS.

6) Musonda’s gonna haunt us now, isn’t he?

7) Damn, I even miss Bene now!

[TxRover]

Possible formation, 3-1-4-2?
 

MacDonald (or Thomson)

Millen, Dick, Young

Brown

Connolly, Easton, Stanton, Ross

Gullan, Mitchell

[Scary Bear]

You can only assume a signing will be announced before Saturday. Maybe that’s tomorrows news? We’ll be so desperate for a signing, any signing that we’ll accept whoever it is with open arms.

[SirJimmyofNic]

4 minutes ago, TxRover said:

Possible formation, 3-1-4-2?
 

MacDonald (or Thomson)

Millen, Dick, Young

Brown

Connolly, Easton, Stanton, Ross

Gullan, Mitchell

Thats about all we're left with, thats if theres no more bad news to come tomorrow 

[foreverarover]

If he's fallen out with Murray that's maybe what the manager meant by positive news in the next 48 hours[emoji1]

In all honesty I thought it would be difficult for a guy like Berra to take instruction and criticism from a guy like Ian Murray.

[foreverarover]

Definitely didn't see that coming. Big loss given the exodus of defenders who have already parted Rovers in the summer.
Your remaining centre halves are likely better than Mark Reynolds and Morgyn Neill if that's any consolation. That and you must have someone lined up before he throws the towel in like that 

We don't have ANY centre half's on the books.

[Scottydog]

Just another eventful day as a Rovers fan. 

Surprised? A bit. Upset? Nah It's just another blow in a year full of them. 

Murray binned 15 players at Airdrie last season. So far one way or another it seems we've lost 10 (11 if god forbid Mcdonald has joined Berra) of last seasons squad (Inc loanees) so maybe only another 4 or 5 to go? 

We've gone from a reasonably solid if unspectacular defence (2021-22) to a leaky defence (2022-23) to no defence (2023-24).

Edited July 27, 2022 by Scottydog

[foreverarover]

I've had a quick look at the Hearts website. It seems the B team have no manager in place. Cynical but......