farflung lichtie

Makes me despair of these fans then. Bobby Linn is a great asset but there is little to be gained from playing him excessive minutes. My own view is he maybe needs to be taken off a little earlier since he is clearly running out of steam (tho the hope remains he can create one last chance). . Above all, we need to keep him fit for the next game rather than burning him out and greatly exacerbating the risk of injury. As Pink said in his recent interview, Bobby is 37 so game time needs to be carefully managed. It’s a long season so fans need to get real

Personally, I find these unenforced Friday evening games a pain and an inconvenience. It rules out any real concept of an ‘away day’, diminishes the appreciation of the place and ground (I quite like Ochilview) and maybe slightly disadvantages part time teams. I think this is maybe Arbroath’s only away game in October (partly a consequence of poor fixture SFL organisation which surely could have scheduled this on a weekend when Stenny were not at home. Legitimate grievances aside, I’ll be there and I’m hoping Arbroath have at least a couple more of the key missing players back and build on the more positive organisation and spirit shown last weekend. Queens were a good notch more efficient than us in the earlier fixture. We could really do with picking some points up goes without saying.

Bobby Linn is a great asset so is it not a case of maximising this? . Strong arguments in favour BOTH of starting him or as impact sub second half. Fabulous contribution against Dundee but felt he should have probably been subbed 10 minutes earlier than he was. He’s one of these players who can change the game so there’s always that hope but just spending time on the pitch when the circumstances or his own effort are diminishing could be counterproductive. Having another potential game changer on the bench would be nice.

We still look very makeshift and unbalanced. Maybe we’ve been lucky with injuries and suspensions these past few seasons, but they are biting now and the squad does not look fully competitive though the patched up defence nearly held out.. The fact Thistle had two decent strikers on the bench (receiving loan offers from fans to join us while warming up) points to the imbalance in setups at this stage.. For an ‘experienced pro’ to be sent off in frustration is really poor and it was mostly one-way traffic after that. Thistle were very ‘professional’.and patient in grinding that out and certainly deserved it. Some concerns at our holding midfielder role and in the contributions of some players and especially upfront where the final ball in and much attacking threat seems to be lacking. Tait’s showing was encouraging. Two points. Accept the sending off was justified but over a few minutes in the first half the ref unjustly booked Tait for diving after being vigorously tackled in the middle of the pitch, then awarded a corner for a ball that clearly went out for a throw. Getting the simple decisions wrong does not encourage confidence. I would not entertain any nonsense about management changes. After our aberrant season last year, we’re in not dissimilar situation to previous Championship campaigns and needing to haul ourselves into contention after a poor start. The strange thing is the anticipated hangover from last season’s heroics didn’t materialise during the League Cup but then the early stages are basically training sessions.

Do Low and Allan, very positive and creative, adequately fill the holding midfielder role in front of defence that Chris Hamilton excelled at last season. If not then perhaps only Gold does in the central area?

An amazing transformation has taken place - with the community and business sides being maximised to match the upturn on the playing side. Admirable but I sometimes wonder how sustainable. I have been amazed at how much revenue the club can squeeze out of a not-very-large and relatively deprived town/population on an ongoing basis (selling 3 replica strips every year etc. ..gobsmacked at the recent Captains hospitality package) since the brand must have only limited export capacity to markets farther afield (eg Dundee, Montrose). How much are the two other streams linked to relative success on the pitch? And success on the pitch will be an annual struggle with management and playing squad in the mature phase and ever-ambitious competition (from larger clubs/catchments or sugar-daddy sponsored outfits). The impressive aspect is that the club is building/exploiting its potential (and the latent support) and building this in a fairly businesslike and even creative way, hence apparently sound but nothing is bulletproof. The downside is how sustainable and resilient. I also note some trivial mutter that there is inevitably more focus on nurturing the customers as opposed to football stuff so getting the balance right can be tricky (having said that, I can also see some yet untapped commercial opportunities remaining). As usual, the mantra is - enjoy it while it lasts. After decades in the wilderness, we deserve this…. and I’m looking forward to us consolidating our place in this league with 8th place being the primary aim.

I prefer Stewart at right midfield where we can capitalise better on his tireless energy up and down; and prefer Thomson at right back (for both defensive and offensive capabilities). I also think Bobby Linn is better used in selective phases rather than always starting. The two departing Hamiltons will be very hard to replace. After far exceeding expectations last season, we may need to moderate them significantly this.

Clearly you don’t actually read the posts, just throw in random barbs.. We have NO problems going out on penalties. This was actually about the old chestnut re whether penalties are the best way to decide a FINAL which maybe arose again in Europe this week.

Ask the joint winners of the first Scottish league title in 1893 while lots of sports have tied series so not an entirely unknown concept. I assume the teams share a calm satisfaction over their shared achievement, possibly a more mature reaction than the increasingly stage-managed and mandated festivities. No platform, podiums or even helicopters for Arbroath promotions in the 60s and 70s. Not necessarily the preferred resolution (that would be a replay) but in many ways much fairer than the farce of a penalty lottery deciding a major final.

Not sure what the discussion about penalty shootouts ‘being a lottery’ is about to be honest. It seems bizarre to describe them as anything other than a fairly random throw of the dice, whether win or lose? And we used that very term in the second half on the terraces before it came down to that outcome. Hence, you win some, you lose some - and hope the balance of probabilities even itself out over the long run. I have no issues with us losing out on penalties the other night, some disappointment offset by relief at the bigger/longerterm picture. And I hope ICT win the final only for the self-interested reason that St Johnstone would offer local games and bigger crowds next season - plus the fact ICT are the only team we’ve struggled to make much impact on this season. I’m still really dubious about using penalties to decide MAJOR finals though not games like Fridays. Maybe still a case for replays or even sharing of a trophy rather than awarding on the basis of this lottery. And of course, the term lottery might not be entirely accurate - penalty taking and saving skills can be worked on. I hope that’s clarified it. Well done ICT for dogged defence and winning thro on the penalty lottery (rumour has it you had practised in training so maybe chances in that particular lottery was skewed - so credit for excellent preparation) and good luck in the final.

We missed our opportunity definitely but didn’t see any lack of effort, and plenty seeking to get down the wings (Stewart, Linn). ICT had maybe one attack first half, a little more with the wind before the sending off then they shut up shop. It’s difficult to break down all out defence and we’d scored only once in 6 games against them despite us being the League’s top scorers. More composure in some situations or maybe a lucky break would have changed it. I also thought the sendings off were justified so don’t quite see what the fuss was for. Maybe didn’t help since ICT closed down rather than opened up after the first. in general, I feel going out on pens, tho sickening, allowed us to dodge a bullet. Different if we’d won the title but another tedious 2 legged playoff or even a challenging single season in the Premiership, while undoubtedly an experience, might have proved chastening. Hoping we keep the bulk of the current squad, that players and management can enjoy a decent break, reflect on a brilliant season and hope to consolidate in the Championship next season. footnote - we don’t have the best historic record in playoffs after taking part in plenty.and our failure to break down a stubborn ICT brought memories of going down to defeat to 9 man E Fife in League 2 at New Bayview under John McGlashan

Personally, and speaking only for myself….no. There’s a real difference between winning a title and being promoted for one thing. But a season of struggle in the SPL has almost no appeal plus the other serious inconveniences (playing the OF, segregation) would simply drain any enjoyment of the weekly football. Games need to be reasonably competitive to sustain interest (one reason the Championship is generally preferable from any team’s perspective). Even here I miss some of the more interesting grounds and opponents of the seaside leagues. Of course no club/team can stand still so the need to evolve and progress must be present or soon enough the downward slide will set in (many recent examples of similar clubs to ours). So it all depends what you want supporting your club. A small fish in a medium rather than large pond seems fine to me. Even the management would be facing difficult decisions if promoted (or major turnover of playing squad, full time/hybrid options, finance) but this longtime supporter is suitably relieved.

Whattt? ICT barely crossed the halfway line in two of the halves (of the 4 in the two ties so dwe saw only the most fleeting glances of these silky skills you imply while of course you had the excuse of going a man down so that justified hanging on for penalties - which looked like ICT strategy from the outset. No team with Broadfoot in it can claim to be a footballing side. But yes ICT are athletic and physical. The fact is Arbroath didn’t show composure at key moments, didn’t exploit the player numerical advantage and didn’t get the break of the ball but only one team was actually trying to win that (even when 11 against 11). Winning the penalty lottery doesn’t really offer a strong platform to claim to be a footballing side. I’m relieved our great season is over and won’t bother watching the final due to its probable lack of entertainment value and football talent.

Disappointed not to convert a single chance during regular play despite all the pressure. As has been mentioned, we’re the league’s top scorers but only managed 1 in 6 games v ICT this season. ICT barely put in an attack the whole game but tenacious defending and our lack of composure with a string of chances did for us. All that said, it may be a blessing in disguise that we didn’t progress, especially through the lottery of penalties. We are probably at some kind of ceiling so even the final and if we somehow negotiated our way around that, I’m not sure the prospect of a grim survival struggle in yet a higher league appealed. If we had somehow pipped Killie to the title, that might have been different, winning it outright.. Yes, Hamilton performed miracles to stay up after going through in the playoffs but doubt we could match that without major and undesirable changes We can savour this season’s showing, which will hard to repeat but if we can compete in the Championship a few more seasons, that might be a bit more sustainable and enjoyable. Great to see Gayfield packed but looking forward to more run-of-the-mill games where there is space to watch - I was reminded of the severe limitations of standing on the terraces compared with seating. I just can’t see what the fuss - from some quarters - about the sendings-off. Both the straight red for the last man grappling a player to the ground and the second yellow for a lunge challenge seemed straightforward and uncontroversial to me. Can’t recall what the first yellow was. Time for a well earned break for fans and players alike. Not sure I’ll be watching the final on TV since these tense/frantic occasions seldom offer entertainment tho often drama.

Yeah, but we’ve got the highest wind speeds in the country.

Still showing 18-22 mph - that’s pretty windy

Looks like a big home crowd lined up plus strong winds so a different challenge for both teams. Slight risk that the wind might affect our silky passing movements and, depending on direction the distribution of the action in each half, restrict the overall spectacle (one of the unspoken downsides of segregation was that the crowd remained distant from the wind-affected action taking place in one half of the pitch - thankfully now rectified by extending the home support area to the full length of the pitch.). You can be sure TV viewers will be reminded by the minute of the wind machine and the proximity of the North Sea Added to the fact it would seem likely to be a somewhat tense and close affair in any case, we should just enjoy the occasion and the added drama of the elements. In fact Creative Scotland should consider sponsorship. Hoping also the larger crowd will lend consistent vocal backing throughout regardless of how things pan out on the pitch. After all ICT is the only side in this league against which we have a deficit of points in the four league encounters. The visitors may find conditions much less benign than our first and only home defeat to them on the opening day of the season in fine weather. C’mon Arbroath - let’s keep things rolling.

No extra pressure there, then. Certainly up there but with maybe a possible competition with the mid 70s. I think this season exceeds previous efforts As for ‘sustainable’ and momentum, definitely a number of positive measures enacted… but a fair bit of the whole package depends on form which can fickle and, in a 10 team league, precarious. As things stand, we might just be hitting some kind of ceiling (smallish town, part time/full time) - we’ll soon have some determination on that. Happy to appreciate this fleeting success while it lasts, hoping it continues for a while but surely longterm Lichties cannot escape our mixed history?

I think playoff games are a challenge for clubs unused to two-legged ties, the nearest being perhaps cup replays. What the manager said beforehand (and I’d agreed with).was we need to keep the tie alive for the second leg so that meant setting out the team to try and keep some control - unlike our last visit here when we were ragged and sloppy losing 3-0. We’ve been in playoff games going back in which the first leg score deflates prospects for any second leg turnaround. Given also ICT have been on a very decent run these past few weeks. Arbroath seemed to play with 5 in the middle and only J Hamilton upfront, a bit isolated and reliant on the energetic McKenna and Low for offensive support. Even Stewart in midfield rather than right back ventured forward only very occasionally and the two fullbacks barely at all, which is unusual. Hence that seemed a disciplined performance last night. After a promising start, ICT had more possession as expected but we continued to try and play some decent football. Inevitable that we would be pushed back second half as the home team looked for some advantage to take into the second leg. Still all to play for for both sides - so reasonably happy with that but under no illusions that odds remain 50:50. I strongly object to having BOTH legs of the playoffs on workdays both for the players and the fans. This is entirely a crass TV scheduling issue. Given the delay before the playoff final is due, not sure why both can’t be at the weekend but at least one certainly could. Apropos reasons for ICT struggling to win hearts and minds of Invernessians, I’m sure the very inconvenient location of stadium, complete lack of public transport serving it plus exposure to weather are all contributory factors.

As opposed to the arrogance/entitlement of Caley types. Nothing wrong with these fine seaside leagues either. This will be tough for the Lichties true but not entirely out of reach. That dire showing 6 weeks ago apart, I’ve seen nothing between the sides in the other encounters. That March game at the Caley Stadium was lost by uncharacteristic shoddy defending and a dire start. I’m hoping the tie still has something to play for by Friday.

St Johnstone might have too much for whoever plays them…. but that’s different from describing any league as ‘shite’. The SPL is a foregone conclusion every year from the off - never watch it, not interested. The Championship is generally a much closer fought affair, the points difference top to bottom always the least of any division = most competitive. Generally something to play for. The football on show is a mixed bag but that’s not really the point. Hope Killie stay up and allow other SPL also-rans a similar shot at revitalisation.

The great attraction of Gayfield is that the best places are standing on the terraces around most of the ground. Very few grounds at this level allow this, it’s mostly boring seating

Just shows the Campbells are decent managers. The hugely changed lineup was eager and lively. It never felt like a meaningless end of season affair. Some nice passing movements and we really should have scored a few more. Morton's young team never really threatened. Congrats to the sizeable away contingent which was boisterous throughout despite little to cheer.

I think we may as well use our best starting XI unless any have minor knocks or other issues. We need to get back on the horse after last week’s setback. There’s almost a fortnight until we play next and perhaps advisable to keep the well-tuned engine ticking over, to mix metaphors. After this we would face a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 games, all mentally demanding like last week’s, so let’s keep the good habit/good vibe going. Maybe consider more liberal and earlier use of subs to keep things fresh, reduce risk. Mind you, most recent Arbroath-Morton games have been close fought and often attritional so, despite nothing at stake, maybe no reason to expect different The playoff fixtures - all workdays - are tough on a part-time squad but we’ve shown good fitness levels in games so while undoubtedly disadvantaged, might not suffer unduly.

Almost any of the old grounds which have not been demolished or extensively converted into quasi industrial complexes and preferably where you are not forcibly confined to the same site for the duration of the entertainment. Still plenty around but get along before they vanish eg Morton, Ayr, Stranraer, QoS, Albion R, Alloa, Cowdenbeath, Arbroath, Forfar, Montrose, Brechin, Raith, Elgin, etc. Add in decent views/surroundings eg Gayfield, Recs,