R.R.FC

Agreed, I’ve been quite impressed by the improvements in social media output in recent weeks, seems the new appointment has made a difference. Yeah we all know tonight is a dead rubber but I don’t think there’s anything embarrassing about the club trying to drum up some form of excitement and boost sales even a tiny bit. It’s unlikely to work, obviously, but no harm in it.

Picked from McGlynn’s first spell onwards because otherwise it would likely just be a Anelka/Dalziel select. Goalkeepers: Connor Brennan, Graeme Smith, Andy McNeill Defenders: Nando Mendy, Nathan Cooney, Ross Perry, Reece Donaldson, Craig Wedderburn, Joe Dingwall, Kevin McHattie Midfielders: Scott Roberts, Chris Johnston, Juan Guerrero, Martin Scott, Rudi Skacel, Craig Winter, Joe Dunbar, Scott McBride Attackers: Stephen Reynolds, Denis McLaughlin, Lee Bryce, Craig Wighton Special mention to the likes of David Syme, Robbie Crawford and David Goodwillie who would undoubtedly make a worst signings squad but because none of them ever kicked a ball for us, they don’t make this team. I thought before I did this that the likes of Adam King and Blaise Riley Snow would be in with a chance of making the cut but underestimated the sheer amount of guff we have had in midfield over the years.

Probably just a coincidence but we had the same issue with Hughes, the difference in results away from home compared to at home was wild. In his 13 league games in charge of us, our record was: Home Played: 6 Won: 4 Draws: 2 Lost: 0 Goals for: 10 Goals against: 4 Away Played: 7 Won: 0 Draws: 0 Lost: 7 Goals for: 3 Goals against: 17 His away form with you seems pretty decent by comparison!

If John Sim didn’t listen to fan pressure to not sign an actual rapist then I’m fairly certain it won’t be a deciding factor in his choice of manager.

Looking at it purely from an on the pitch point of view, I can definitely see both sides of the argument in terms of McGlynn. I have chopped and changed my mind several times in recent months. The recent wins, although ultimately too little too late have at least given me hope that McGlynn has stopped the decline and we won’t be going into next season on the back of 1 win in 19 league games which it seemed we were on course for. We’ve won 4 out of our last 8 games in all competitions and should probably have taken more from the Inverness and Morton home games so there is at least something positive to build on. However, we have still thrown in some horrendous performances in recent months (Killie away, Ayr at home, Pars away). Ultimately, this season has been a massive missed opportunity but I don’t think it can be called a disaster (on the field anyway!!). We have finished 5th, won the diddy cup and the only cup games we have lost were at Parkhead to the best team in the country. We have only had 3 better league finishes in the last 23 years. McGlynn mentioned in his post match interview yesterday that we have perhaps been victims of our own success, in that if we hadn’t done so well as a newly promoted side last year, people wouldn’t have been expecting play offs again this year and 5th might have been viewed more positively but I don’t agree with that. It was McGlynn himself who constantly stated in interviews throughout the season that we were going for the title and it was a great opportunity. Injuries or not, if you say that halfway through the season and then finish 5th and 17 points off the champions you are going to be criticised. It’s a poor league and we were the worst team in it for good amount of time. Looking at the points breakdown by quarters of the season, we accumulated the following: Q1: 17 Q2: 16 Q3: 6 Q4: 10 (so far) If we had matched our Q1 and Q2 points totals we’d be level points with Killie after next week. So it’s not like any team has kicked on and pulled away from us, we didn’t have to improve from where we were the first 2 quarters, we just had to maintain it and that’s frustrating. Obviously, injuries have played a part, the bottom half teams have improved resulting in less easy games but our record against the bottom teams in the first two quarters wasn’t perfect anyway so I don’t think it’s as simple as that. McGlynn has to take his fair share of blame for some poor player and formation choices. Confidence and momentum is obviously a huge thing in football too, once we lost that, it highlighted the shortcomings of the squad that weren’t obvious when we were riding the crest of the wave. The late collapses aren’t a fitness issue in my opinion, it is a result of the psychological damage caused by the opening day of the season. I think McGlynn deserves credit for lifting the team after that and having a strong start to the season but the mental impact when we have been defending leads is obvious. I am hopeful that will be sorted next year a few new faces and a fresh start. Didn’t mean for this to be as long winded as it has turned out. If you had asked me 2 weeks ago, I’d have said McGlynn definitely had to go but there is evidence now he may have stopped the rot. With a few injuries back and some good summer additions I could be convinced he is the right man to take us forward. I don’t think he could have any major complaints if he was let go though given the collapse of the season for which he has definitely been culpable. As said elsewhere, I hope the decision is confirmed this week so that if he does go, he can get a good send off on Friday, and if he’s staying we can get planning the squad for next season as soon as possible.

Yeah that’s fair and would agree on Saturday. 1-0 down to an early goal knowing what was at stake with a win was a big test of nerves and character but was passed easily.

Surely the pressure for Arbroath is that this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for the club and this group of players to win the league and play in the Premiership? I appreciate this wasn’t expected by Arbroath fans pre season and what you’ve done is fantastic and off the park you’ll be in a strong place no matter what happens but on the park you’re absolutely in a position to make history and surely there would be a massive feeling of ‘what might have been’ if you fall short, knowing that you’ll probably never get as good a chance again? That’s certainly how I feel about our unexpected title challenge in 2010/2011.

That’s the one that I instantly thought of too. Spencer’s late equaliser at East End Park too. That’s about it.

what a lot of nonsense. You are entitled to think Falkirk may have eventually beat us to the title. The fact is, nobody will ever know. The teams were evenly matched, 1 point between us and 3 draws in our league games show that, it could have went either way. However, to use our record at TFS in the Championship is completely irrelevant. Falkirk were a good Championship side for most of that period, they’re not anymore and weren’t when we shared a league in 2019/2020, it’s no more relevant than us turning up and winning at TFS this season after playing most of the game with 10 men, the clubs were at entirely different points than they were in 2019/2020. FWIW, I wouldn’t renew McGlynn’s contract with us. 1 win in 16 league matches in a poor Championship is dreadful as good as the 2 and a half seasons previous to that were. However, any Falkirk fan turning their nose up at him when they are 5th in League One and closer to 9th than 4th needs their head checked, he would be a good appointment and certainly better than Brian fucking Rice.

League table since our home win over Killie: Least points, least wins, least goals scored, most goals conceded. To further put into perspective, Dunfermline's diabolical start to the season, they still had 13 points after their first 15 games (in fairness their 2 wins came in game 14 and 15). But whatever way you look at it, it is spectacularly bad form and without any turnaround in the last 4 games I can't say I would agree to McGlynn's contract being extended, his recent record would not justify it.

I wonder what percentage of the fan base are in the McGlynn out camp now? I am a huge fan and always have been, he has been a fantastic manager for us but 1 win (against the bottom side) in 15 league games is absolutely abysmal whatever way you look at it. For me, it’s time for a change. I get the argument that there isn’t a manager with as good a track record as McGlynn based on his whole time with us but looking at the fixtures we could very easily finish the season with 1 win in 19 league games, you can’t possibly start a new season with that person in charge. I really hope he can turn it around with a few wins and strong end to the season but if not, it saddens me to say, he has to go.

Aye fair play to the Pars, well worth the win. I don’t think they ever looked like carving us open from open play through their own build up but they were fantastic in terms of their organisation and pressing out of possession and created plenty opportunities from it and 2–0 was the least they deserved. I would be very surprised if they don’t finish 8th ahead of Ayr, seem to have hit form at East End Park at the right time. In fairness to John Hughes, his home record with us was very good too, never lost a game (excluding penalty shootouts ). We were dreadful, I posted before the game about how we changed style of play from Partick at home and seen improvement but we reverted back to everything bad about us this season tonight, a real tough watch.

I don’t think that’s fair, I think there has been a very clear change in our style of play from Partick Thistle at home. We have went a lot more direct. We have still seen some nice passages of play in the opponents half but we aren’t seeing the same slow, patient build up play we did last season and for the first half of this season. How much of that was enforced by personnel available and how much was down to instruction and change of plan by McGlynn is obviously up for debate but with playing two up front we have definitely been trying to hit the strikers much quicker.

Agree with this unfortunately. Home advantage, 11 days rest and preparation for the Pars compared to us playing on Sunday and still struggling with a few key injuries, I would be surprised if we take anything from tonight. Also, despite league position, current form would suggest there isn’t much between the sides right now. Dunfermline were impressive in their last two home games against Morton and Partick and I can imagine Lawless and Thomas, in particular, getting a lot of joy against our full backs. On us, there are steady signs of recovery. Bar the diabolical display against Ayr, our performances have been much better since the 3-0 defeat at Killie. Not at our early season best but enough to suggest we may finally be emerging from our rut. 8 goals scored in our last 3 games and with two central defenders on the pitch for 90 minutes (hopefully) for the first time since our clean sheet in Dumfries, we should hopefully be stronger at the back as well. We have also won 3 and drawn 1 of our last 4 games away from Starks Park. Assuming Berra isn’t fit, I would bring Bene in for Mackie and move Dick back to left back. Zanatta in for Varian and stick with the 4-2-3-1 we finished with on Sunday. I think it is definitely more of a ‘must win’ for the Pars than us, I wouldn’t be too disappointed with another 1-1, it would still be in our own hands to get 4th albeit we need to go to Firhill and win. However, my head says 3-1 Pars.

Think Ross said in his post match interview it was a bit of cramp so he should be fine, hopefully. I’d still bring Zanatta in for Varian, we were much better after the change of shape yesterday. Agree that Bene should definitely come in to replace either Dick or Mackie. The fact Berra wasn’t fit enough to play the last 5 minutes instead of McKay makes me think he won’t be available but he was perhaps being saved for Wednesday. If Berra is fit then McGlynn has a tough decision on whether to go with Berra and Bene or Berra and Musonda, I wouldn’t even rule out Berra and Bene at centre back with Musonda at left back as a possibility.

Seriously mate, how can you go from this pre match and after 60 seconds to then raging at the team and manager for only getting a point? Yeah, it’s frustrating to throw away a lead but we were playing a 5th choice centre back and a left back in the middle of defence, given the defence it was entirely reasonable to expect they would still struggle to hold out, even with a lead, against the top scorers in the league and a side that haven’t lost at home since the opening day of the season. A point is a good result in the circumstances. I’m all for constructive criticism and the manager deserves to come under scrutiny given our run since December but you can’t be that negative pre match about our chances and then state after the game that you think a draw isn’t a good result, it just comes across as over the top and needless negativity.

Agreed, I actually thought Dick was the better of the two centre backs today but neither were anything other than emergency cover. McKay partly at fault for the first goal and the second goal. Poor header for the first right to the Arbroath man to put another cross in and got totally dragged out of position by another strikers run for the second leaving a massive gap, he should have held his position and passed the runner onto another defender. Tumilty didn’t tuck in nearly well enough on that goal either tbf. Nothing against McKay though, he tried his best and did some things well but he looked every bit the 5th choice centre back he is. I don’t think he’s good enough to be kept on and a run of games at League 1/2 playing every week will help Dave too. Obviously frustrating to throw away a 2 goal lead today but it doesn’t happen if Berra and Bene/Musonda are in there IMO. The goals lost are exactly what you expect with a makeshift defence, it was an encouraging performance and a good point in the circumstances and plenty to build on. Key thing is we need to actually build on it, we’ve had too many false dawns since this bad run of form began where it looked like we were turning a corner only to fall flat on our face the next game.

Proper old school McGlynn shitfest in that second half. Great effort from the team to bounce back after last week and with so many players missing. Back 4 were excellent, don’t really remember MacDonald making a save. I would be so frustrated if I was a Queens fans with all our time wasting in the second half but as a Rovers fan I am delighted with how we saw that out.

Mine is fine unfortunately. Queens used to have one of the best commentating teams in the league but this is hard to listen to.

Just what you want on an 11 game winless run, a squad decimated with covid/injuries! Starting line up doesn’t look too bad given the circumstances although it looks a little unbalanced and if it isn’t working there are no real options to change it. I make it Dick, Tumilty, Lang, Matthews, Spencer, Ross, Zanatta and Vaughan missing? Obviously Lang and Vaughan are long term that we already knew about but it’s still 8 players that would probably all be starting in our best 11.

I may be misreading things completely but after watching Paul Smith’s interview, with the way the questions were framed, I’d be surprised if Aaron Arnott isn’t starting on Saturday. Hopefully we really freshen the side up. There really couldn’t be many complaints amongst the starting 11 from last Saturday if Musonda, Spencer, Arnott, Zanatta, Gullan and Varian all came into the side, it’s impossible to say what our strongest side is anymore. Everyone has had a spell out of form.

Thanks. Awake at that time due to a baby that won’t sleep rather than any drunken night out unfortunately!

Well done to Ayr, an excellent result and performance for them. They were everything we weren’t, organised, defended pretty well, a real handful going forward and pretty clinical with their chances. With Ashford, Adeloye, Murdoch, McInroy, Muirhead and McAdams they have enough about them down the spine of the team to avoid the drop. Also fair play to Lee Bullen, he had obviously done his research, noticed our weakness down our left hand side and brutally exposed it time and time again. Liam Dick was hopeless and rightfully subbed. The fact that Mackie was already stripped and ready to come on at 2-0 and whilst he was waiting Dick got done again for the 3rd says it all. However, I do have a degree of sympathy because he received no help from Ethan Ross who was constantly losing the ball in bad areas or failing to track runners. It should also be said Mackie was equally poor when he came on and doesn’t look like the answer long term to our left back issues. The Ayr front two caused all sorts of bother, not seen Berra bullied like that all season, he was dreadful. That was the Berra I feared we were getting when we signed him rather than excellent and consistent performer we have had. Hopefully just an off day possibly from 3 games in a week at his age but he’s been a little off it since he returned from injury IMO. I feel like we really miss the pace of Tom Lang in the centre of defence but Bene and Berra proved at the start of the season they can be a solid enough pairing so hopefully today was a one off. The blame for the result is mostly on the shambles of a defensive display but once again we wasted several good openings and we don’t have a single number 9 who offers enough. We’ve only scored in 1 of our last 6 games now so problems at both ends of the park. On to John McGlynn, you will struggle to find a bigger fan of his than myself but he could have no complaints if he was sacked this week. He’s been a fantastic manager for this club and that credit in the bank is the only reason he is still here. If you combine the Goodwillie debacle with no league wins in 11 and a 4-0 home defeat to a side that started the day in 8th, I don’t think any other manager could survive that. 11 games without a league win equals the worst run the Claude Anelka built side of 04/05 managed. The board should be starting to put the feelers out for a potential replacement. The sentimental side of me would like to see McGlynn get the cup final but if we don’t get a positive result in the next couple of weeks, I don’t think that’s possible, as much as it pains me to say. Obviously, the board may not want to pay him off with just a few months of his contract left (added to the other expensive pay off they are working on…) but the thought of writing off a season where we are still only 1 point off a play off place and in a cup final just because we should have enough points on the board to not get dragged into relegation trouble doesn’t sit right with me. If McGlynn can’t turn it around, which is very much looking the case, we need to bring is someone that can. The season is still very salvageable at this stage and a new manager getting a couple of months to asses the squad and build momentum and positivity around the club going into next season could be very important.