The New Raith Rovers Thread

[grumswall]

Indeed.  Board members talking to fans about transfer targets and other sensitive matters over a few pints is a bit weird.

Its not weird to get talking to someone itk and they let some things slip. To have an organised meeting with someone to discuss these things would make it seem that you're in the know in the first place and should be party to what's going on.

[grumswall]

Good point but looking at the size of that port cabin it looks no bigger than the old hospitality room. Seems a waste of money imo. I remember Sim stating that improvments were being invested by him and not effecting the playing budget. I'm a bit suspicious of it tbh.

Is the debt that's being accrued doing all that not being put on to the club rather than spp?

[foreverarover]

Look here:
https://fbref.com/en/expected-goals-model-explained/
 
In short, the calculation depends upon any of a number of often proprietary models. Simple distillation (from above website):
What is xG?
Very simply, xG (or expected goals) is the probability that a shot will result in a goal based on the characteristics of that shot and the events leading up to it. Some of these characteristics/variables include:
Location of shooter: How far was it from the goal and at what angle on the pitch?
Body part: Was it a header or off the shooter's foot?
Type of pass: Was it from a through ball, cross, set piece, etc?
Type of attack: Was it from an established possession? Was it off a rebound? Did the defense have time to get in position? Did it follow a dribble?
 

Sounds like codswallop to me. Does it bring into account the shite players not at the end of the passes?

[Brashy's Boots]

9 minutes ago, CALDERON said:

Indeed.  Board members talking to fans about transfer targets and other sensitive matters over a few pints is a bit weird.

Agreed. Said they discussed the 3 strikers IM was after then,  when challenged, can't definitively name them. 

Sounds legit.

[Michael W]

6 minutes ago, grumswall said:

8 minutes ago, foreverarover said:

Good point but looking at the size of that port cabin it looks no bigger than the old hospitality room. Seems a waste of money imo. I remember Sim stating that improvments were being invested by him and not effecting the playing budget. I'm a bit suspicious of it tbh.

Is the debt that's being accrued doing all that not being put on to the club rather than spp?

The football club is an insolvent mess and SPP isn't. Make of that what you will. 

I have trouble reconciling things that have been said against the financial state of both companies. 

[Specky Ginger]

9 hours ago, Wardy said:

I’d imagine it’s the sign of the times as well, hospitality isn't exactly cheap, and I’d imagine businesses wouldn’t be willing to fork out that kind of money either.
Everyone is cutting back.

 

I heard from a very reliable source tonight that Arbroath have sold out their hospitality for the entire season already.

We started to advertise ours on the website about ten days before our opening league fixture against what is, love them or loathe them, the biggest draw in the division this season.

[grumswall]

The football club is an insolvent mess and SPP isn't. Make of that what you will. 
I have trouble reconciling things that have been said against the financial state of both companies. 

Aye that's what i think people should be worrying about. Sim isn't young and is increasingly annoyed with people who don't share his out of date views. He has said the pitch was paid for by him iirc and it was subsequently listed as a debt with the club rather than spp in sure. I hope he's just using some financial knowledge to pay less for it but unless the debt is gaurenteed, we will be fucked as a club regardless.

[Wardy]

10 minutes ago, Specky Ginger said:

I heard from a very reliable source tonight that Arbroath have sold out their hospitality for the entire season already.

We started to advertise ours on the website about ten days before our opening league fixture against what is, love them or loathe them, the biggest draw in the division this season.

But does that really surprise you? A club that’s on the up and has a very healthy bank balance apparently, compared to our club which is far from on the up.

The club deserves all it gets when it comes to things like that after what happened in January. 

I’m happy to be back watching games so long as Goodwillie isint playing, however the board/owner still have a lot to answer for. It really isn’t good enough. They say they try to be transparent but it’s all complete smoke and mirrors. 

[foreverarover]

 

So where is the team, really?

Keeper: Secure, with two, three or four signed keepers…but they won’t tell us who…McNeil, Bow, both, neither?

Center Backs: A little wobbly for now. Lang is yet to return, so his condition and quality are unknown for a while. Nolan, is sign and looks OK, if in need of development and games. O’Riorden looks the business, but is only loaned through Jan…however, if he’s playing weekly still in Jan, they might elect to extend the loan to keep the development going…may depend on Nolan’s development and Lang’s speed of return. We’ve got Dick for cover (YW, grums), plus Masson quietly learning (and out of contract in 2023…I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t go on loan).

Left Back: Starting to look like IM might not like Dick (da-dum dum) at LB, but now has to choose between Ngwenya and Dick on a weekly basis. Young got sent out to develop, and it seems likely he is playing to secure a full-time contract with Raith, or his release. Does anyone know if there are any limits on teams contacting a Young Apprentice for a PCA that are different than a regular player, because, if there aren’t, IM might be taking a risk here.

Right Back: Millen is IM’s man, and feck if I know who is backing him up…probably Brown.

Defensive Mid: Brown signed for this role, and Spencer can play it equally well on his return, Stanton is never a DM, and should be banned from that role. I guess Agnew could be considered here too.

Mid: Stanton’s true role, as well as Matthews (and Spencer plays it well too).

Attacking Mid: Easton and Arnott cut out for this role, and Ross is trying to learn it in place of winger.

Wingers: Zanatta and Connolly are classical wingers, as is Ross, really. Coulson seems to intrigue IM in the role, and Mitchell can play her or at forward. Mahady is a real unknown at this level, and looks likely to be loaned.

Forward: Vaughan, Mitchell and Gullen can all fill this role, but none really fulfill the hulking, holding forward role the fans on here seem to crave…but does IM crave one?

 

Sorry, but I don’t see IM rushing to get a striker. If one comes around, he would likely snap him up, but I suspect he’s not dying to sign one unless he’s a proven quantity at this level.

You missed out Connell?

[foreverarover]

Is the debt that's being accrued doing all that not being put on to the club rather than spp?

I'm sure Sim stated the staduim upgrades and maintainance was SPP and that was a completely separate budget and any profits from it were redirected. SPP was his project to create a staduim capable of sustaining itself,has that changed?

[grumswall]

I'm sure Sim stated the staduim upgrades and maintainance was SPP and that was a completely separate budget and any profits from it were redirected. SPP was his project to create a staduim capable of sustaining itself,has that changed?

You tell me?

[TxRover]

36 minutes ago, foreverarover said:

3 hours ago, TxRover said:

 
 

So where is the team, really?

Keeper: Secure, with two, three or four signed keepers…but they won’t tell us who…McNeil, Bow, both, neither?

Center Backs: A little wobbly for now. Lang is yet to return, so his condition and quality are unknown for a while. Nolan, is sign and looks OK, if in need of development and games. O’Riorden looks the business, but is only loaned through Jan…however, if he’s playing weekly still in Jan, they might elect to extend the loan to keep the development going…may depend on Nolan’s development and Lang’s speed of return. We’ve got Dick for cover (YW, grums), plus Masson quietly learning (and out of contract in 2023…I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t go on loan).

Left Back: Starting to look like IM might not like Dick (da-dum dum) at LB, but now has to choose between Ngwenya and Dick on a weekly basis. Young got sent out to develop, and it seems likely he is playing to secure a full-time contract with Raith, or his release. Does anyone know if there are any limits on teams contacting a Young Apprentice for a PCA that are different than a regular player, because, if there aren’t, IM might be taking a risk here.

Right Back: Millen is IM’s man, and feck if I know who is backing him up…probably Brown.

Defensive Mid: Brown signed for this role, and Spencer can play it equally well on his return, Stanton is never a DM, and should be banned from that role. I guess Agnew could be considered here too.

Mid: Stanton’s true role, as well as Matthews (and Spencer plays it well too).

Attacking Mid: Easton and Arnott cut out for this role, and Ross is trying to learn it in place of winger.

Wingers: Zanatta and Connolly are classical wingers, as is Ross, really. Coulson seems to intrigue IM in the role, and Mitchell can play her or at forward. Mahady is a real unknown at this level, and looks likely to be loaned.

Forward: Vaughan, Mitchell and Gullen can all fill this role, but none really fulfill the hulking, holding forward role the fans on here seem to crave…but does IM crave one?

 

Sorry, but I don’t see IM rushing to get a striker. If one comes around, he would likely snap him up, but I suspect he’s not dying to sign one unless he’s a proven quantity at this level.

You missed out Connell?

Yep, I did. Honestly, we haven’t seen much, but he’s a smaller forward too.

[foreverarover]

You tell me?

I don't know that why I'm putting it out there. Maybe our fans that drinks with the directors could tell us more.

[Specky Ginger]

8 hours ago, Wardy said:

But does that really surprise you? A club that’s on the up and has a very healthy bank balance apparently, compared to our club which is far from on the up.

The club deserves all it gets when it comes to things like that after what happened in January. 

I’m happy to be back watching games so long as Goodwillie isint playing, however the board/owner still have a lot to answer for. It really isn’t good enough. They say they try to be transparent but it’s all complete smoke and mirrors. 

It doesn't surprise me that Arbroath have found it easier to sell their hospitality packages given their achievements last season, but I'm willing to bet they were actively advertising and promoting their packages more than ten days before their first home league game.

I'm going to wager that Morton, Partick and Airdrie managed to sell hospitality at the weekend.

The club have a database of season ticket holders with DOBs and addresses. Why not email someone, say a month before their birthday, wishing them a happy birthday from Raith Rovers and offering them, say 10% off hospitality for a group of four or more, or birthday girl / boy goes half price if accompanied by three full paying customers.

I'm not saying there would be a massive uptake, but it would at least let people see the club have a slight interest in its fans and it frankly couldn't be any worse than announcing that the Raith suite is open to punters for a drink three days before the opening league game of the season.

 

[Wardy]

3 minutes ago, Specky Ginger said:

It doesn't surprise me that Arbroath have found it easier to sell their hospitality packages given their achievements last season, but I'm willing to bet they were actively advertising and promoting their packages more than ten days before their first home league game.

I'm going to wager that Morton, Partick and Airdrie managed to sell hospitality at the weekend.

The club have a database of season ticket holders with DOBs and addresses. Why not email someone, say a month before their birthday, wishing them a happy birthday from Raith Rovers and offering them, say 10% off hospitality for a group of four or more, or birthday girl / boy goes half price if accompanied by three full paying customers.

I'm not saying there would be a massive uptake, but it would at least let people see the club have a slight interest in its fans and it frankly couldn't be any worse than announcing that the Raith suite is open to punters for a drink three days before the opening league game of the season.

 

That what I was alluding to last night really. The club/board can sometimes be ridiculously out of touch with the fans. I think the social media side has improved over the years mind you. 

[vikingTON]

1 hour ago, Specky Ginger said:

It doesn't surprise me that Arbroath have found it easier to sell their hospitality packages given their achievements last season, but I'm willing to bet they were actively advertising and promoting their packages more than ten days before their first home league game.

I'm going to wager that Morton, Partick and Airdrie managed to sell hospitality at the weekend.

Well you have lost that wager, because hospitality was at most 50% full at Cappielow on Saturday. 

[Rovers_Lad]

Folk surprised that hospitality wasn,t sold out,really?

Theres a cost of living crisis and many no longer have disposable income

[renton]

17 minutes ago, Rovers_Lad said:

Folk surprised that hospitality wasn,t sold out,really?

Theres a cost of living crisis and many no longer have disposable income

Not to mention that it was only advertised 10 days ahead of the game. Its not really an off the cuff thing doing hospitality.

[Scary Bear]

1 hour ago, Specky Ginger said:

It doesn't surprise me that Arbroath have found it easier to sell their hospitality packages given their achievements last season, but I'm willing to bet they were actively advertising and promoting their packages more than ten days before their first home league game.

I'm going to wager that Morton, Partick and Airdrie managed to sell hospitality at the weekend.

The club have a database of season ticket holders with DOBs and addresses. Why not email someone, say a month before their birthday, wishing them a happy birthday from Raith Rovers and offering them, say 10% off hospitality for a group of four or more, or birthday girl / boy goes half price if accompanied by three full paying customers.

I'm not saying there would be a massive uptake, but it would at least let people see the club have a slight interest in its fans and it frankly couldn't be any worse than announcing that the Raith suite is open to punters for a drink three days before the opening league game of the season.

 

The club welcome fans into the Raith Suite for a drink when we’re slumming it in League 1 and then as soon as we’re back in the Championship and doing well they show us the door. It’s happened a few times and now I just avoid it.

Edited August 8, 2022 by Scary Bear

[Broken Algorithms]

10 hours ago, Wardy said:

But does that really surprise you? A club that’s on the up and has a very healthy bank balance apparently, compared to our club which is far from on the up.

The club deserves all it gets when it comes to things like that after what happened in January. 

I’m happy to be back watching games so long as Goodwillie isint playing, however the board/owner still have a lot to answer for. It really isn’t good enough. They say they try to be transparent but it’s all complete smoke and mirrors. 

While there's definitely aspects I'm optimistic about behind the scenes, at a board room level there's definitely a lack of clarity.

 

If the Goodwillie situation highlighted one thing,  it's that one man's decision ultimately dictates the direction of the club. It might seem a bit over the top but literally nobody knows what John Sim's exit strategy is from Raith Rovers. For a man who seemingly comfortable giving hot takes at ease, nobody has been given an answer to that and I'm surprised it's not more of a big deal.