Rover the Moon

Half of Arbroath’s points total in that period is against us.

Really good win in the circumstances - both weather and coming off the disappointment of last week. Line-up was much stronger and should be the template for the remaining matches, with Rudden coming on with his energy to press late on. Delighted to see Hamilton score as he was unfortunate to lose his place after a good run of finding the net in January. Obviously a bit annoying seeing the United score but they can win 5-0 every game for the next 3 weeks and still miss out on the last day with a draw against Thistle, assuming we keep grinding out victories like yesterday.

March 2020: Football is nothing without fans. March 2024: Let’s make it almost impossible for fans to attend.

Club whose home attendances have doubled this season, playing in a top of the table clash 7 games from the end of its best season in nearly 30 years, in a ground just 30 miles away, having already taken 1,900 fans there on the last visit 9 days before Christmas… Aye, I’m deluding myself.

Absolutely. I reckon we would have taken 3,000 given the magnitude of the game (the same as we did in 2010 at Dens for the cup QF and in 2011 at East End). Shame we’ll never find out.

United can’t really save face from here. If they double down then they look petty and tinpot in the eyes of the vast majority; if they back down then they look weak. PR disaster for them.

United and Goodwin would play this behind closed doors if they could, just to pretend it’s not a big pressure game.

Managed to get tickets for me and the wee one - both ST holders. Best of luck to everyone else trying to navigate this unnecessary shambles. If the Pars were happy to have 3,000 Rovers fans at the title showdown at EEP in 2011 then I’m really struggling to understand United’s stance here - especially as the seats will just lie empty.

The ‘not playing in the UEFA Cup next season’ jibes in the programme amused me and my old man for years. Outstanding work. The one about Norrie McCathie having a fine moustache always sticks in my mind. Just wish we’d have won the title that day against them. Would have been the perfect end to the season of all seasons.

Poetry that Dunfermline’s best player and the final score were one and the same. Otoo.

I like the new website but they need to sort out the Honours page. Challenge Cup above the League Cup? League One title above the First Division ones in 92/93 and 94/95? Come on now.

From being all but certain of Ashcroft’s signature to dreaming of Paul Hanlon to this. You lot just keep giving

Fact: Rovers 3-0 Pars. Opinion: Pars did alright for a bit. Happy to help.

Glad the Pars can still take solace from being “well on top” in a 3-0 cup defeat to their then lower league, “wee team” neighbours.

Potter in action…

Find it amazing that Jim Spence, who comments on anything and everything from old shops/pubs/flats in Dundee to photos of Junior teams from 19-canteen, hasn’t mentioned Friday’s game once on his Twitter feed. However, he’s felt able to discuss cameras in the Brentford dressing room, Motorbiking Sikhs and even reposted an Essex Police appeal about an incident in fucking Colchester. Lying low, Jim, after United’s ‘Invincibles’ were beaten again?

If Jim Goodwin has a problem with our players and fans celebrating victories over United then he could, y’know, maybe work out a way to beat us instead of being a bottlejob, fraud of a manager. Until then…

wHy dO rOvErS aLwAyS bLoW iT iN fRoNt oF A bIG cRoWd?

Eh? Since when? Might as well shut down P&B then.

Section N0rth We5t heading back to the Seaside Leagues.

Just like English top-flight football only started in 1992, Rovers’ history only began this century… I’m all for the new board blowing their own trumpets but this is nonsense.

Glad someone else recognises this as I said it at the game yesterday. He did it a number of times in the first half, just barging into the back of Samuel when he had no chance of getting the ball and inviting more pressure on us with a free-kick. Ridiculous stuff from an experienced CH. We hear lots about what great team spirit we have but you can see how pissed off Vaughan and Hamilton are as our inevitable defensive collapse unfolds. They are doing their bit (4 in 6 for Hamilton now) - you simply cannot be needing 3/4/5 goals to win every game.

Ah, more ‘Best XI’ line-ups with either Vaughan in midfield or dropped altogether for a less-than-prolific striker in Rudden. Dearie me.

Genuine question: who was the last youth player we mishandled* or released on a free that we ended up regretting? I honestly can’t think of one. If they were good enough, they would be playing for us or excelling in the lower leagues. * not counting Vaughan’s Dumbarton loan. Shudder.

In terms of Murrayball, I think there is a more of a middle ground to find at times. I don't remember many, if any, instances of it this season where launching long, 60-yard diagonals into the box has resulted in a goal from a knockdown or whatever. But that seemed to be the approach on Saturday and was more akin to last season's efforts. The numerous late goals we've scored have come from the chaos of having attacking players on the pitch but still playing football to get into the right areas. For example, Jack Hamilton's equaliser at Hampden came from moving the ball around before finding McGill in space on the left to put in a good cross; Stanton's winner against Thistle came from good movement in the inside-right channel for Smith to cut the ball back into a dangerous area; and even Mitchell's equaliser at Firhill on the opening day came from good work by Ross dribbling to the byeline before pulling it across goal. For me, taking off someone like Mullin when chasing a goal was a mistake as he is one of the players who can deliver a telling, meaningful cross between the defence and keeper that can be attacked. I would rather we brought on just one of Gullan or Smith so that we could keep Mullin on for his crossing - or, if they did both come on, I'd make a more like-for-like change such as Vaughan or Easton coming off. Easton was probably the likelier candidate to be subbed on Saturday as he was running the risk of a red card for a long time. Still, there was always going to be games like this where we would stumble. No need for the massive over-reactions of some fans on here. Onwards and upwards.