The Official Airdrieonians Thread - 2019/20 and beyond

[airdrieman]

On 25/03/2023 at 18:55, Passionate said:

If Kurt is Roberts is the answer, I would like to know the question.    A journeyman lower league player 1 goal in 24 games,  we had him before and he never cut it,  If the ambition of the club would be to re sign dross like that, we will be stuck in this league a lot longer.....

 

He played well last night without really doing anything , he did get the better of 18 year old McMaster who hasn't even had 10 career starts...  Can see McCabe slotting back into Midfield for the Allo a game with ATS back on defence, or that's what should happen...

 

21 hours ago, ++Ammo - Airdrie++ said:

Ah, apologies if that's the case! Sean McIntosh was one of they guys he got better with every game he never played.

Feel like Roberts was exactly this sort of player too. He has his uses and is a good runner with the ball. For 60 minutes anyway... But that's about it. As odd as it is to say as an Airdrie fan, our midfield of the last two seasons is well beyond his abililty levels. He wouldn't get a game ahead of anyone in our midfield and I find the initial premise that he could replace all of our loan players strange. Our only loanees are Stanway and McMaster and I'd imagine we have a pretty good chance of keeping the latter. League 2 or bottom-end of League 1 is his level. 

[airdrieman]

On 25/03/2023 at 11:33, CapitalDiamond said:

I was in speaking to the guy last week and he said it’s really difficult. Only 2 manufacturers are now interested in coming with Bespoke kits. 
 

I thought Umbro’s stuff had been really good and they’ve just over thought this year’s home kit. But embroidered badges rather than screen printed and really like the first 2 home shirts.

Hopefully whoever it is does a good job next year and we do something to manage the centenary of the cup win. I’ve heard a rumour we will

The standard, quality and variety of kits and merchandise in general since Football Nation got involved have been excellent IMO. We've had some cracking kits over the years but the quality, fit and overall package of the Umbro/Football Nation gear has been the best in a long time. Other than this season's home kit which is a disgrace. 3rd kit is a beaut right enough. Still don't really understand or accept why it takes so long to actually produce the home kit but from memory I don't think the home kit took as long to come out last season or the year before? Albeit still not in time for the League Cup/start of the season. 

I've heard the rumour of a anniversary kit being produced too so hopefully we can put this year's shambles behind us and are rewarded with a real special commemorative strip. 

[*marko*]

On 26/03/2023 at 11:00, Diamonds are Forever said:

 

To see people calling for us to sign a 28 year old who has spent his whole career in League 2 and mid-table League 1, who wasn't really good enough 3 years ago, is beyond strange to me. Roberts on Friday was what he always was - enthusiastic, energetic, but ultimately pretty ineffective.

We seem to have fans who pine for former players who they believe 'weren't given a chance', yet almost without exception they leave us to similar or (usually) much worse teams and it just confirms we were right to release them - McIntosh, Cairns, O'Neill, Roberts, Kerr, Russell, Watt, Bain and many more. None of them were good enough (slightly harsh on Kerr maybe, but injury record meant he had to go) when we were a side more at risk of relegation than promotion so they certainly wouldn't be good enough now. Only Airdrie fans could watch us score 18 goals in 3 games and then say 'we could really do with Kurtis Roberts'.

To be clear, at no point did I say we should re-sign him, nor am I suggesting we should.  I think everyone can see our midfield is much better now than it was 3 years ago, so it was clearly the right decision to let him go in the end. It just surprised me at the time as I quite liked him. 

[Jack Reed]

4 hours ago, *marko* said:

To be clear, at no point did I say we should re-sign him, nor am I suggesting we should.  I think everyone can see our midfield is much better now than it was 3 years ago, so it was clearly the right decision to let him go in the end. It just surprised me at the time as I quite liked him. 

He certainly was no worse than some  player at that time,

[++Ammo - Airdrie++]

6 hours ago, *marko* said:

To be clear, at no point did I say we should re-sign him, nor am I suggesting we should.  I think everyone can see our midfield is much better now than it was 3 years ago, so it was clearly the right decision to let him go in the end. It just surprised me at the time as I quite liked him. 

Fair point.  Like you I was also surprised as there's clearly a player in there, but at the same time, with his well documented fitness issues, it wasn't a shock when he left, if that makes sense.

He's probably bobbing about at his correct level now tbf, between L1 and L2

[PauloPerth]

Happy 31st March lads. 
 

 

[cb_diamond]

A great set of results for us today!

[DiamondT]

1 hour ago, cb_diamond said:

A great set of results for us today!

Very good results indeed

[FLDiamond]

21 hours ago, PauloPerth said:

Happy 31st March lads. 
 

 

Think I’m getting old… remember this like it was yesterday.  Great game, wrong result for us 

[Diamond1924]

Surprised yet thankful that McCabe didn’t win this as it’s usually a curse!

[AndyDD]

7 minutes ago, Diamond1924 said:

Surprised yet thankful that McCabe didn’t win this as it’s usually a curse!

Hard to argue to be fair; their March didn't include a defeat, whereas ours did. 

Nothing settled yet of course, but a brilliant first season in management for Rhys thus far, all things considered.

[Skyline Drifter]

1 hour ago, Diamond1924 said:

Surprised yet thankful that McCabe didn’t win this as it’s usually a curse!

Indeed. I for one am astonished that the manager with the 3rd best points return in March wasn't given Manager of the Month.

[ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds]

1 hour ago, AndyDD said:

Hard to argue to be fair; their March didn't include a defeat, whereas ours did. 

Nothing settled yet of course, but a brilliant first season in management for Rhys thus far, all things considered.

I think finishing third (if we do!) behind two teams that obviously have a bigger budget would ultimately be a success. I think given how good we were last season, and given how much of that squad are still at Airdrie, it’s understandable that some of us would’ve liked more of a title challenge, but maybe it’s a bit overly optimistic to expect a repeat of last year. Without dwelling on it too much, it’s amazing to think where we could be if it wasn’t for that horrendous spell in October, or where we might be if we’d seen out that 3-0 lead to Dunfermline and taken that momentum into the following games.

Despite being seemingly miles behind where we were a year ago, if we keep up current form we could see ourselves going into the playoffs with a similar momentum. The obvious worry in the playoffs is how easily we’ve crumbled this season when we’ve conceded or went a man down, but I wouldn’t fear whoever out of Cove or Accies ends up in the playoff (I think Arbroath will be safe) and Falkirk are on a poor run just now so hopefully they’ve lost some momentum. Alloa are a tricky side since Rice joined them but we’ve got a decent record against them so I hope it’s them that come 4th and not the dreaded Futbol Club de Edinburgh.

I am a bit worried about player movement if we fail to get promoted. Frizz and Smith will presumably have suitors, and so might Gal and Gabby given their form. Ballantyne’s got a two year deal and I imagine McCabe, Fordyce, and Watson will still be around, along with some of the youngsters like McGregor, Devenny etc. Heard from a reliable source that McMaster is signed up for next season.

[ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds]

11 minutes ago, Skyline Drifter said:

Indeed. I for one am astonished that the manager with the 3rd best points return in March wasn't given Manager of the Month.

Tbf it’s easy to forget our loss to QOTS was actually in March, and in the following three games we scored about ten million goals.

[Kenny_m]

5 minutes ago, ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds said:

I am a bit worried about player movement if we fail to get promoted. Frizz and Smith will presumably have suitors, and so might Gal and Gabby given their form. Ballantyne’s got a two year deal and I imagine McCabe, Fordyce, and Watson will still be around, along with some of the youngsters like McGregor, Devenny etc. Heard from a reliable source that McMaster is signed up for next season.

Difficult one at the moment as it's very much league dependent but we'd have a chance of keeping Frizz and Smith if we get promotion. Gal's part time status may keep him here but I'd be surprised if Josh Rae remains, even if we go up, as I'm sure he'll be off to better things.

 

[Mr November]

19 minutes ago, ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds said:

I think finishing third (if we do!) behind two teams that obviously have a bigger budget would ultimately be a success. I think given how good we were last season, and given how much of that squad are still at Airdrie, it’s understandable that some of us would’ve liked more of a title challenge, but maybe it’s a bit overly optimistic to expect a repeat of last year. Without dwelling on it too much, it’s amazing to think where we could be if it wasn’t for that horrendous spell in October, or where we might be if we’d seen out that 3-0 lead to Dunfermline and taken that momentum into the following games.

Despite being seemingly miles behind where we were a year ago, if we keep up current form we could see ourselves going into the playoffs with a similar momentum. The obvious worry in the playoffs is how easily we’ve crumbled this season when we’ve conceded or went a man down, but I wouldn’t fear whoever out of Cove or Accies ends up in the playoff (I think Arbroath will be safe) and Falkirk are on a poor run just now so hopefully they’ve lost some momentum. Alloa are a tricky side since Rice joined them but we’ve got a decent record against them so I hope it’s them that come 4th and not the dreaded Futbol Club de Edinburgh.

I am a bit worried about player movement if we fail to get promoted. Frizz and Smith will presumably have suitors, and so might Gal and Gabby given their form. Ballantyne’s got a two year deal and I imagine McCabe, Fordyce, and Watson will still be around, along with some of the youngsters like McGregor, Devenny etc. Heard from a reliable source that McMaster is signed up for next season.

I know we went 20 games unbeaten at the end of last season so this might sound a bit daft but there is a chance we could go into this years play-offs with even better momentum. After the 1-1 Cove game and then Cove getting a late equaliser at Queen’s Park the following week, we pretty much knew the league title was done at the start of April barring a massive collapse, so it was just a case of keeping the unbeaten run going as long as possible and making sure we were ready if Cove slipped up. If we keep up our current form then there isn’t really any pressure on us at the moment, so hopefully that helps. 

I’m trying not to get too concerned about departures until we know what league we’re in. I reckon Smith will be away either way but I’m hopeful we have a decent chance at keeping the majority of the starting eleven. 

[Mr November]

After Saturday I think we’ve now played seven league games with one of McCabe or Fordyce in the dugout and we’re unbeaten in all of them (Clyde 5-0, Kelty 1-0, Falkirk 1-1, Kelty 1-1, Kelty 6-1, Peterhead 7-0, Alloa 1-0). It’s a very small sample size but there’s a decent mix of games in there including some tough away ones. We’ve been crying out all season for a bit more organisation in the dugout and while I do like him as a player, I think having McCabe in there makes a big difference. 

[AndyDD]

13 minutes ago, ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds said:

I think finishing third (if we do!) behind two teams that obviously have a bigger budget would ultimately be a success. I think given how good we were last season, and given how much of that squad are still at Airdrie, it’s understandable that some of us would’ve liked more of a title challenge, but maybe it’s a bit overly optimistic to expect a repeat of last year. Without dwelling on it too much, it’s amazing to think where we could be if it wasn’t for that horrendous spell in October, or where we might be if we’d seen out that 3-0 lead to Dunfermline and taken that momentum into the following games.

Despite being seemingly miles behind where we were a year ago, if we keep up current form we could see ourselves going into the playoffs with a similar momentum. The obvious worry in the playoffs is how easily we’ve crumbled this season when we’ve conceded or went a man down, but I wouldn’t fear whoever out of Cove or Accies ends up in the playoff (I think Arbroath will be safe) and Falkirk are on a poor run just now so hopefully they’ve lost some momentum. Alloa are a tricky side since Rice joined them but we’ve got a decent record against them so I hope it’s them that come 4th and not the dreaded Futbol Club de Edinburgh.

I am a bit worried about player movement if we fail to get promoted. Frizz and Smith will presumably have suitors, and so might Gal and Gabby given their form. Ballantyne’s got a two year deal and I imagine McCabe, Fordyce, and Watson will still be around, along with some of the youngsters like McGregor, Devenny etc. Heard from a reliable source that McMaster is signed up for next season.

Start of the season I always think we're going to win it haha, but I do always look at top four as good, albeit I completely agree, with the retention we had and the strengthening we did, a title challenge did seem on, especially after that excellent start to the season. Losing Josh for as long as we did didn't help, and that sticky spell (plus you're bang on about losing the Dunfermline lead) put us back aways, but credit to Dunfermline, 1 defeat all season is even better than Cove managed last year. They have been very, very good.

It's also interesting comparing the table to last year; Dunfermline look good to secure a similar points return as Cove (they might even better that 79 points mark) but second place will be well off our total of 72 last year, it would seem. Top two last year were miles in front, whereas Dunfermline are the only ones with that kind of comfortable gap this time. QP finished 4th on 51, which Alloa already have with  5 games still to play. It looks like a much more competitive division this season, at least from 8th place up. 

That we are right in amongst the playoffs, with a good chance of finishing third (second isnae exactly out of reach either...) is testament to the work done to retain the players we retained, recruit the others we recruited and the coaching and development throughout the season as well. Not counting any chickens yet though, probably a discussion we can have more fully come season end, but as things stand, have to be happy with how we are faring. 

[Diamond1924]

1 hour ago, Skyline Drifter said:

Indeed. I for one am astonished that the manager with the 3rd best points return in March wasn't given Manager of the Month.

Take a day off haha

[Kenny_m]

12 minutes ago, AndyDD said:

That we are right in amongst the playoffs, with a good chance of finishing third (second isnae exactly out of reach either...)

Whilst I've always been very confident we'll make the play offs, and also that we'll win against Montrose on Saturday its a vitally important game that would give us great confidence and a bit of breathing space going in to our next 2 matches against Falkirk and Dunfermline.