The Great Playoff/2nd place Hunt

[RossDee01]

12 hours ago, DA Baracus said:

Just shoot from distance and you'll have a great chance of scoring.

We’ve got just the man

[RossDee01]

2 hours ago, Empty It said:

Hope its Raith or Dunfermline. Actually anyone other than spineless Dundee would be fine by me.

Still seething

[ayrunitedfw]

I don’t think we will be troubling either playoff this season. I’m fairly certain we’ll finish between 5th and 8th which will probably be labelled as a disappointing season however given the strange circumstances around this season i’m willing to write it off on the understanding that we make a really push for promotion next season. 

[Stellaboz]

Got a sinking feeling we'll fall out of it with Inverness, Dundee and the wee team making up the rest of the top 5.

[RossBFaeDundee]

13 hours ago, Gorgie greatness said:

With DUFC in free fall these last few weeks had started to imagine the possibility of a Dundee derby for the playoff 

if asked who do you want to win I’d confidently say I’d like the c***s  to win

Which team is the c***s? I know Hearts fans don't like either of us.

[Gorgie greatness]

7 hours ago, RossBFaeDundee said:

Which team is the c***s? I know Hearts fans don't like either of us.

You seem to have answered that one yourself ! It’s an unlikely outcome, I’d be happier the playoff was a highland derby, certain you know who needs medicated here! 
 

Anyhoo I’m hearing ITC are inundated with the maroon pound...probably won’t be as much as the green pound you snake b*****ds received

[Crawford]

44 minutes ago, Gorgie greatness said:

probably won’t be as much as the green pound you snake b*****ds received 

 

Edited February 8, 2021 by Crawford

[Mexico]

Genuinely pissed off that the game was allowed to continue today. Clearly would only benefit the team that plays there every second week. Never seen anything like it 35 years of watching football.

Nice attempt at deflecting attention from your own team just being shite on the day.

[Chubbychops]

8 minutes ago, Mexico said:

 

Nice attempt at deflecting attention from your own team just being shite on the day.

 

If you think that's conditions to play football, then you'll accept any old pish.

[RossBFaeDundee]

On 06/02/2021 at 21:58, RossBFaeDundee said:

Dundee are planning to meet Ayr United at Dens on the third attempt on Tuesday evening, though considering the state of the Dens Park pitch today, I wouldn't put money on the game going ahead this time either.

Shock horror! The game was postponed. Maybe one day we will see this epic battle.

Hopefully tomorrow's game at Caledonian Stadium goes ahead, don't know what the conditions are currently in Inverness but from what I can see from the weather coming up they have a few hours of snow and very cold temperatures.

[RossBFaeDundee]

1 hour ago, RossBFaeDundee said:

Hopefully tomorrow's game at Caledonian Stadium goes ahead, don't know what the conditions are currently in Inverness but from what I can see from the weather coming up they have a few hours of snow and very cold temperatures.

 

[topcat(The most tip top)]

Points per game and the equivelant if the rate continues over 27 games)

Raith 24/14 = 1.71 Pts/Pld (46/27)
Dunfermline 24/15 = 1.60 Pts/Pld (43/27)
Dundee 20/13 = 1.54 Pts/Pld (42/27)

-------------------------------------------------
Inverness 14/11 = 1.27 Pts/Pld (34/27)
Ayr United 17/14 = 1.21 Pts/Pld (33/27)
Morton 17/15 = 1.13 Pts/Pld (31/27)

Inverness may have a potential 12 points from 4 games in hand on Dunfermline but form so far suggests that five or six  points is probably a more realistic expectation

At the current rate of progress Hearts should have the championship sewn up around game 22 which is Queen of the South Away on 27th of March

I think it's mathematically certain that Dundee's visit to Tynecastle on 6th march is going to be a meaningful match for the hosts
 

but if it's offiicial before March is out then then Dunfermline will have brighter prospects on the 3rd of April when they come to Tynecastle for game 23 (Especially if we make it to the cup semifinal).  

For the final two games (Hearts vs Inverness, Raith vs Hearts) if our opponents are dire need of a result then I'd expect them to get it.

Dead Rubber end of season games are always a bit weird but a dead rubber games in front of empty stadium would be weirder still.

 

 

Edited February 9, 2021 by topcat(The most tip top)

[RossBFaeDundee]

Well thank f**k we have games against other opponents I suppose.

[RossBFaeDundee]

23 hours ago, RossBFaeDundee said:

Hopefully tomorrow's game at Caledonian Stadium goes ahead, don't know what the conditions are currently in Inverness but from what I can see from the weather coming up they have a few hours of snow and very cold temperatures.

... Welp! No games this mid-week, frozen pitch up north. Hopefully the snow will abate enough for some games to be played at the weekend. Again, here's the table, nothing has changed obviously.

Here are the games that will (hopefully) be happening on Saturday the 13th. We have three scheduled games of interest, with all 6 parties playing someone else involved in the hunt.

At East End Park, it'll be 3rd vs. 4th as Dunfermline are scheduled to take on Dundee. Despite their strong start to the season, Dunfermline have only won 2 of their last 10 Championship games, and the massive win over their Fife rivals looks to have been somewhat nullified by their inability to handle the elements at Gayfield. Stevie Crawford desperately needs to pick up form, as Pars fans know all too well the streaky nature of his managerial tenure could well be rearing its head again in a negative way. On the other hand, Dundee are coming off losing their 8 game unbeaten streak with a deflating loss against Raith, and any momentum from said streak looks to have dissipated with the many, many call-offs due to the tortured Dens Park pitch, as well as the long-term injury for key player Jordan McGhee. Right now, away games are the only way James McPake's side are seeing any real action, and the club's record away from home - 1 win in 7 in the league, and 2 wins in 10 all season - makes it quite an unappealling prospect, particularly against a team that pegged them back at their best in the previous game at Dens. The positive however is that new signings Jason Cummings, Paul McMullan and Malachi Fagan-Walcott will have had plenty of time to get used to their teammates, and could bring a new breath of life for the Dark Blues. With two of the least convincing managers in the division in Crawford and McPake, this game (if it goes ahead) could well go either way. If Dunfermline win, their question for second looks back on track with a bigger scalp taken at home, whilst for Dundee it would be a great return to their prior form and reignite their own charge. A loss threatens the Pars' challenging of Raith, and for Dundee could give the teams outside the playoff places a look in.

Concurrently at Caledonian Stadium (which of course isn't playable today, but maybe on Saturday?), Inverness take on Morton. The Greenock side have played more games that most teams around them, and really cannot afford any more setbacks on the pitch if the playoffs are a true ambition of theirs. Like Dunfermline, their form of late has been far from impressive, being winless in their last 7 games, and naturally with this form their fans are more concerned with the relegation playoffs than the promotion ones. Inverness meanwhile just can't get a game on to save their lives, and even when they do they can't take advantage, as Morton know full well. Caley have only played 2 games in 2021, an unimpressive draw away to Arbroath last week and prior to that a draw away to the Ton, who came back (despite being a man down for over an hour) from behind to earn a point. If ICT's first home game of the season goes ahead this Saturday, both teams can end their disappointing forms of late. For Morton a win if anything allays fears of being caught by teams like QoS, Arbroath, and indeed Caley, whereas if the Highlanders win they could go up to 5th over Morton and Ayr United, with at least 3 games in hand over both to boot, which would fully reboot hopes of fighting to make the top 4.

Lastly, the Honest Men of Ayr take a trip to Kirkcaldy to face 2nd place Raith. The Rovers' form has been up-and-down of late, with a win away to Hearts negated by a battering from them in the reverse fixture, then a strong win at home to Dundee, then a shite away loss to rivals Dunfermline, and finally an unconvincing but still invaluable 3 points away at Cappielow. Whilst their form has been spotty in that respect, compared to their playoff rivals' forms it looks not too bad at all. Meanwhile, since their win against Dundee in November, Ayr United have only managed 2 wins in their last 9 league games, both of which coming against bottom side Alloa Athletic. Against playoff rivals in that time, Ayr have been stout at least and seem relatively tough to beat when they're focused, but love a good capitulation now and again, as QoS know. The last meeting between the two was a dull 0-0 draw at Somerset Park, but both teams will be ready to grab more than just one point this Saturday. Mark Kerr's frustrated side could well be 4th come Sunday morning should they grab the points and Dundee loses at East End Park, whereas a win for Raith only further strengthens their status as leader of the pack, at the very least keeping level with Dunfermline with better GD and a game in hand, if not gaining ground on them.

Hopefully we get all the games on despite the shitty weather, or at least one game so my next preview doesn't have to use the same league picture!

[QoSinPerth]

Oops - I'm on the wrong page. 

[RossBFaeDundee]

On 10/02/2021 at 15:41, RossBFaeDundee said:

Hopefully we get all the games on despite the shitty weather, or at least one game so my next preview doesn't have to use the same league picture!

Well, Dunfermline v Dundee and Raith v Ayr didn't even get the honour of a pitch inspection and are already off for tomorrow. For the love of god Caley, get that pitch ready please...

[RossBFaeDundee]

1 hour ago, RossBFaeDundee said:

For the love of god Caley, get that pitch ready please...

[RossBFaeDundee]

Well, one big sexy game on Wednesday that will hopefully be the first game of relevance played since I made this fucking thread. It's the 'span of Scotland' derby as Inverness invite Queen of the South up on the over 200 mile trek to Caledonian Stadium.

As stated before, Inverness are the wild cards of the play-off hunt, with so many games in hand. The few games they have played have left them disappointed with a lack of wins, and Caley need to fix that. Queens are on some run though despite their injuries, with them being unlucky to not take the scalp of league leaders Hearts on Friday, and are maybe a couple of wins from being included as a contender. It won't be easy for Caley, but these are the games that they need to win if they're to justify their inclusion in this thread.

[clashcityrocker]

On 10/02/2021 at 15:41, RossBFaeDundee said:

At East End Park, it'll be 3rd vs. 4th as Dunfermline are scheduled to take on Dundee. Despite their strong start to the season, Dunfermline have only won 2 of their last 10 Championship games, and the massive win over their Fife rivals looks to have been somewhat nullified by their inability to handle the elements at Gayfield. Stevie Crawford desperately needs to pick up form, as Pars fans know all too well the streaky nature of his managerial tenure could well be rearing its head again in a negative way. On the other hand, Dundee are coming off losing their 8 game unbeaten streak with a deflating loss against Raith, and any momentum from said streak looks to have dissipated with the many, many call-offs due to the tortured Dens Park pitch, as well as the long-term injury for key player Jordan McGhee. Right now, away games are the only way James McPake's side are seeing any real action, and the club's record away from home - 1 win in 7 in the league, and 2 wins in 10 all season - makes it quite an unappealling prospect, particularly against a team that pegged them back at their best in the previous game at Dens. The positive however is that new signings Jason Cummings, Paul McMullan and Malachi Fagan-Walcott will have had plenty of time to get used to their teammates, and could bring a new breath of life for the Dark Blues. With two of the least convincing managers in the division in Crawford and McPake, this game (if it goes ahead) could well go either way. If Dunfermline win, their question for second looks back on track with a bigger scalp taken at home, whilst for Dundee it would be a great return to their prior form and reignite their own charge. A loss threatens the Pars' challenging of Raith, and for Dundee could give the teams outside the playoff places a look in.

Concurrently at Caledonian Stadium (which of course isn't playable today, but maybe on Saturday?), Inverness take on Morton. The Greenock side have played more games that most teams around them, and really cannot afford any more setbacks on the pitch if the playoffs are a true ambition of theirs. Like Dunfermline, their form of late has been far from impressive, being winless in their last 7 games, and naturally with this form their fans are more concerned with the relegation playoffs than the promotion ones. Inverness meanwhile just can't get a game on to save their lives, and even when they do they can't take advantage, as Morton know full well. Caley have only played 2 games in 2021, an unimpressive draw away to Arbroath last week and prior to that a draw away to the Ton, who came back (despite being a man down for over an hour) from behind to earn a point. If ICT's first home game of the season goes ahead this Saturday, both teams can end their disappointing forms of late. For Morton a win if anything allays fears of being caught by teams like QoS, Arbroath, and indeed Caley, whereas if the Highlanders win they could go up to 5th over Morton and Ayr United, with at least 3 games in hand over both to boot, which would fully reboot hopes of fighting to make the top 4.

Lastly, the Honest Men of Ayr take a trip to Kirkcaldy to face 2nd place Raith. The Rovers' form has been up-and-down of late, with a win away to Hearts negated by a battering from them in the reverse fixture, then a strong win at home to Dundee, then a shite away loss to rivals Dunfermline, and finally an unconvincing but still invaluable 3 points away at Cappielow. Whilst their form has been spotty in that respect, compared to their playoff rivals' forms it looks not too bad at all. Meanwhile, since their win against Dundee in November, Ayr United have only managed 2 wins in their last 9 league games, both of which coming against bottom side Alloa Athletic. Against playoff rivals in that time, Ayr have been stout at least and seem relatively tough to beat when they're focused, but love a good capitulation now and again, as QoS know. The last meeting between the two was a dull 0-0 draw at Somerset Park, but both teams will be ready to grab more than just one point this Saturday. Mark Kerr's frustrated side could well be 4th come Sunday morning should they grab the points and Dundee loses at East End Park, whereas a win for Raith only further strengthens their status as leader of the pack, at the very least keeping level with Dunfermline with better GD and a game in hand, if not gaining ground on them.

Hopefully we get all the games on despite the shitty weather, or at least one game so my next preview doesn't have to use the same league picture!

When's your next novel ?

[RossBFaeDundee]

As for next weekend, we have a full card planned, and all 6 currently involved have an involvement in each of them.

Raith travel to the miserable pitch of Gayfield, against a frustrated Arbroath side who should have given themselves more breathing room in Saturday's only Championship game against Alloa. Everyone knows how hard it is for their teams to play their best football away to the Lichties, but Raith can consolidate 2nd if they perform their usual graft this season.

Ayr welcome Caley at Somerset, with both teams needing to kickstart some positive form. Ayr need wins against their fellow play-off contenders, and Inverness need to catch up with the pack. All things going to plan, Caley will have some football in them on Wednesday whilst the Honest Men will play their first game in a fortnight. Ayr again can look towards a potential 4th place spot at the end of the day with a win.

The tortured Dens Park pitch gets another chance as Dundee are set to play at home against Queen of the South. Dundee haven't played at home since their tumultuous win over Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup, but are yet to be defeated there this season. They come up against a Queens side with just one win away from home, but are also on a decent run of form that could be even better come Wednesday. The Dee need a win if they're to continue the fight for 2nd place and stave off Ayr and Morton.

Dunfermline play host to bottom side Alloa, and really need to be winning this if they are going to claim the runners-up spot. As mentioned in prior posts, the Pars' form of late has been much more spotty and needs to be brought back on track, and a win over the Wasps would be a good start to that.

Finally, Morton get the tough ask of the weekend and visit Tynecastle. Hearts have dropped points only to Raith at home this season, and have averaged 3.5 goals a game in Gorgie. The Ton need a couple of wins to stay in the hunt, but this will be as hard as it gets to find them this season.

Here you go @clashcityrocker x