farflung lichtie

All very exciting of late but I think we should get back to thinking one game at a time - an approach that stood us in good stead all season. At least, we won’t get distracted by updated scores from other games. Great to see ground improvements going ahead - and the Board ‘repairing the roof while the sun shines, financially speaking. That might see us through leaner times ahead. A couple of suggestions. I’m assuming the sound/PA system might get upgraded? Only audible in certain parts of the ground. I also think some levelling work is needed on the pitch in the close season - the surface is kept in good nick but over the years some sections (eg along main stand, in goal areas) there is unevenness. It’s the wrong time of year for planting, but windbreaks along sea and harbour ends (extra-heavy standards) might help a little in years to come. I’m fully aware that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.

Would have loved too, but it’s a long journey back. The celebrations seemed slightly hysteric at full time but I suppose the fightback and late winner built up the drama. Well done. Not confident we’ll be playing you next year. I personally like to see stronger regional clubs that could once again take points off th Old Firm and maybe deny them the odd trophy.

Well that was certainly an occasion for Lichties to savour. We were somewhat steamrollered second half - and you get the impression we ran out of aforementioned steam and didn’t construct that much second half. But Killie were determined and created some decent attacks so the pressure told eventually. Only our fifth defeat of the season. Great away support and the stand was rocking all night but in the end the laws of physics asserted themselves and made for a memorable finale for the home fans who were becoming a bit anxious as the game wore on. Finishing second gives us a slight breather so I think we could be competitive for at least the playoff semifinals. Still a great season and a fantastic effort tonight.

Mind you, a minority of us more seasoned supporters harbour a slight nostalgia for years/decades of fairly dismal lower league games when there was no challenge to find a comfortable viewing spot anywhere on the terraces. It was great yesterday to be able to revert to the customary migration and watch the game from behind the opposition goals in both halves. Anyway, it’s been an unimaginably positive season, far exceeding expectations - and, as a lifelong Lichtie, I have been thoroughly schooled in expectation management.. Even this crucial Friday game is an occasion to savour, regardless of the outcome. I just hope the away support are vocal throughout - that is seldom the case.

Agreed. I’m always happier with JT at right back, rather than a makeshift back. That allows Stewart further forward and they link up well. I think JT alone is actually one of our better attack platforms and think we miss both qualities when he’s out -strong and clever player. He’s been troubled by injuries this year though and wasn’t on the bench on Saturday.

I vaguely recall him as a tall, solid older style centre forward. I have recollections he scored a few in an enjoyable 9-2 home win over Forfar

Bloody playoffs - ruining (or at least cutting severely short) what used to be, as an Arbroath supporter, my favourite part of the season, the summer break. Only the juniors used to be playing into late May .....if we were fortunate enough to progress. Well that just does it - it's going to have to be 3 straight wins to finish top (hoping the current leaders drop something long the way) so we can avoid this nonsense. Until 10 years ago when we won our first championship in League Two after 133 years in existence, all our previous promotions were as runners-up, apart from the playoff win at Stranraer in what 2008. (?). To be fair, the playoffs keep interest in these small divisions alive till the end of the season but, that one success apart, we have never really performed that well in them.

As solid as ever throughout, but rather stolid, unadventurous and a bit disjointed first half. Accies had better chances. Much better second half from the whistle and could maybe have won more comfortably so overall a fairly professional performance. Accumulating a few points in the last three games could even sew up second place - and we’re doing the whole league a service by not allowing the current leaders a procession.. Good number of away fans but terribly quiet until the team started showing something - shouldn’t we be geeing them up a bit from the off? No view of the tedious/amusing little distraction between fans towards the end, well done Lichties. Accies much improved from when we played New Douglas in November and spent the entire game time-wasting but, in general, it’s not easy to score against our defence (what is it - 16 clean sheets now, ie half the games?} and so the first goal can be critical.

The pitch and the laissez faire referee are creating a health and safety hazard.

It’s a bit sad to see Killie fans on this thread but I suppose that’s the insecurity cum condescension peaking through. Anyway, can I just say ‘haven’t the boys done well’. Incredible to be so deep into the season having lost only 4 times. I’m sure we lost a good few more when we won the lower leagues. Phenomenal. And yes, maybe we’ve drawn too many but a fair number of them have been achievements in their own right. Looking back these last 3 seasons in the Championship, there have been sections of the season when we’ve accumulated many more points than at other times. Remember last season when I don’t think we managed a win for the first quarter, then went on a run. It’s always been a funny, closely contested division so that might be part of the reason. As an extremely seasoned Lichtie, I have never bought into the hype that’s crept in these last couple of months. A nice frisson of expectation is lovely but then getting distracted by other scorelines is an utter bore. It’s a nice, and perhaps unusual feeling, not to be worrying about a relegation threat. And, after a period of low scoring games, the Raith game was top notch entertainment - and incredibly, we seem to still the top scorers in this league which maybe doesn’t say much for the others. Hope we can keep this upbeat thing going until the end and even into the playoffs - tho that’s maybe raising expectations too much. A season to remember.

That was a lively game and credit for the fight back.. Seems we have gone more direct in recent games - long balls forward and then every throwin launched high into the box. Is that because the double striker arrangement leaves less scope for a wide player? We have a proper footballing team that can make some lovely passing combinations so mixing it up more would be preferable.

I had assumed the Morton game was being televised when initially planned envisaged as a possible relegation decider. Things change. Interesting the Campbells have been around AFC for 6 years - that is a very LONG time in any managerial setup but I must say it's gone by quickly, an eventful and entertaining era. Carry on like this and they'll be challenging the legacy of St Albert Henderson. On the downside, I recall regularly abusing Dick Campbell on the touchline as manager of Forfar, Brechin, etc so almost disappointing that opportunity has been lost. Long, long way to go this season and lots of tough games in a league which has become almost crowded/claustrophobic. I'm still determined to concentrate on OUR OWN games (not other teams'), minute-to-minute and game-to-game, and sincerely hope the team does too. Anything else is mere background noise

I thought that was a livelier showing by us than of late. Yes Thistle did press second half but there were chances we missed out on. Look at the game stats - we certainly didn't deserve to lose that. Satisfied with a point Perfect weather, a very decent crowd (1600+) and a noisy away support. And Bobby Linn came so close to scoring twice in his testimonial week

fantastic goal-line clearance from Ricky Little in the final minutes. Arbroath seemed second best for much of this but we battled away. didn't create much and didnt make the most of the few opportunities that came our way. Queens looked solid at the back and created more openings and will be disappointed with only a point. Glad to avoid being at the wrong end of a 'new manager bounce' and when we were without a few key players. i thought the commentary on the stream decent and very fair. The pitch looked a bit too lively

And I was thinking Stan was one of the more sensible, if ironic, posters. I suppose the bar is set rather low We were second best most of the match v Hibs, though things could have been different if we'd taken one of these chances early second half. We looked a bit leggy too at times so I wonder if a tough game on Wednesday took its toll especially in the conditions. Since we were not going to win the cup, it's back to more important business. We have done well in the latter stages of the season these past two years in the Championship so I'm hopeful we won't run out of steam in the remaining fixtures. Only one more midweek game, tougher for the part-timers, to negotiate. On the plus side, perhaps being part-time alleviates some pressure of being league leaders since attention is focussed on other matters in between games I wonder whether Arbroath games being televised two weekends in a row will remain an alltime record. One downside is that rival managers get a great opportunity to analyse how we set up and play. I suppose that's the inevitable outcome of doing well Also, at live games and on this board, I get p*ssd off at hearing results from other games being relayed interminably. A halftime score is plenty and then after the game with the latest standings is enough. Let's keep our eye on the ball in the game we're playing.

Great statistical analysis of our season so far https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/2942697/stats-suggest-arbroath-win-championship/ Still a long way to go in the season. As in most previous years, the gap between top and bottom in the Championship has closed significantly as the season progresses. The top team in the Championship has accumulated only 2.2x the points tally of the bottom team compared with a similar ratio of well over 3+ for the three other divisions. I think we see this increasingly as more points are dropped by the top teams than earlier in the season. Basically there are definitely no easy games - any team can beat and certainly draw with any other in this league. So Dick and co are right to concentrate on the challenge each game poses. Definitely more uplifting to be challenging in different playoffs than we were hoping for at the start of the season.

Well, hitting 41 points probably makes us safe from relegation. We were definitely the better side - a solid professional showing and real determination to win the individual battles. Might have struggled with all our key scorers out but Nicky Low's return was influential. Not sure why Raith have gone off the boil since they looked a very capable outfit in the two previous encounters

All very entertaining and diverting in a cold midwinter. I’m certainly enjoying the best Arbroath team since the the early/mid 70s. The style of play has been admirable - some quality interplay, solid defence and a commitment and athleticism which is superb. Still - ‘ye cannae change the laws of physics’. Arbroath is approx the 27th most populous urban area in Scotland. A third season in the Championship is already exceeding expectations and it looks very like we’ve almost mathematically secured a fourth (the continued stated aim of manager and, according to recent McKenna interview, players). After two decades in the lowest tier (until ‘98), then an entertaining rollercoaster for the next two decades (we ended second bottom of League Two 5 seasons ago), the current dizzying heights and performances have been hugely enjoyable and greatly appreciated in a way larger clubs might never appreciate. The transformation of the running of the club in the past few years has been critical and looks to be the basis for a more sustainable operation. But why bother with the hassle of considering full time and thus probably jeopardising the functional model we’ve established - probably to do no better on the pitch than at present while creating financial risk? Why build castles in the air on the basis of an outstanding streak? As general work patterns and the economy change, maybe the small town/ part-time arrangement backed by major community and business involvement can be the new way forward? The Brechin and Cowdenbeath examples (much smaller town clubs playing in higher leagues than us for a good few seasons) shows how quickly club fortunes can change. I expect gravity to reassert itself (it’s happened to Arbroath in very recent seasons with a bang post New Year) sooner or later. I hope to enjoy the ride (‘trip’ seems to be inviting the wrong analogy) and maybe build on the strengths of our currently successful arrangement rather than imitate a tired, conventional and precarious template used elsewhere.

Disagree on every single point here and some are just factually inaccurate not to mention wildly overstated. The fact that every country in the world and the entire medical profession in the U.K. urge greater caution and enforced restrictions is not based on the ‘zero sense’ observations of ignorant laymen. The vast majority of the public have followed guidance. The issue of infection rates, and likely surges with impact on NHS capacity is not mentioned (and that same NHS, staff depleted thu infection, long covid, is expected to handle the majority of non-covid admissions and treatments) - coping with the peaks.. The reason the U.K. Govt has not followed the devolved administrations is that B Johnston kowtows to the libertarian right faction of his own party’s MPs - based entirely on callous right wing ideology (the same one that pushed Brexit) and political calculus. yes, I would maybe agree that the limitations imposed on sporting event attendance in Scotland and the other devolved nations are maybe a little overstrict but I appreciate the application of the precautionary principle. It’s always controversial where to draw the line. No such limits apply in England but look at how the fixture! list has been decimated. Football is still part of the entertainment industry and while tough - especially on younger people for whom this average all-age assessment may be less threatening - I’m quite satisfied with the assessment of overall risk to the general public, and the NHS and the guidance here. I do not seriously believe any Govt takes these decisions lightly but perhaps you’d recall the Swedish experiment in 2020 when they were forced to reverse their ‘let it rip’ approach - ok the vaccine has changed the game but the impacts of omicron are still being studied so no definitive assessment is yet possible. Sone winters, Dec/Jan games would be lost and of course in many leagues there are winter breaks. I’d rather attend games but we’ve even got the live streaming alternative now so happy to see AFC have the opportunity to continue their current run whether I can attend or not. One last point - those fans fortunate enough to attend need to make more noise. Far too many Arbroath are taciturn or maybe only become vocal at high points. Make your voice heard even 500 can give the boost (and exert pressure on opposition and officials). Your duty is clear

Couple of points from the post match interviews. Mike McKenna mentioned that we’ve almost reached the points target for the season (notionally 40 is absolute safety). This focus on each game at a time remains sensible. He did say that we could maybe relax a bit and also that we generally finish the season well. Encouraging prospect maybe for the second half as long as the absence of creative tension doesn’t work the other way. Also Pink made the point about how they always try and maintain, though longer contracts, a good nucleus of players implying that maybe some other clubs have too much turnover and this stability also helps the few new players coming in. This large batch of contract renewals lately emphasises that.

Failed to login, but the BBC stats showed Dunfermline apparently dominating possession for 40 minutes but few corners, attempts by either. Conventional wisdom has two up as a tricky scoreline so I expect a hard run second half.

Yes - problems logging in. But, since this is a Sunday game, is it also available to folks here in England?

Surely only 3 or 4 (we’re Tier 2 and Brechin now Tier 5). Definitely looking to win but so were Hamilton, East FIfe and Clyde on Saturday against teams at similar levels and the Lichties have plenty of cup failures against lower league opposition in recent memory. I think the team have to be ‘up for it’ and ‘at it’ every game, league or cup to avoid the risk of similar slip ups. I would t be looking beyond this next round just yet. Plus the only minor blemish over the superb management record of the Campbells has been the strangely poor cup form.

….. and yet we only scored 3. Despite all that dominance, the final ball in was generally abysmal. With our loan forwards returning to parent clubs, this was an opportunity for others to get on the scoresheet and especially since DC fielded a strong squad. Expected a much tougher game but I was encouraged by our approach, carrying on from league form and not taking anything for granted. But our attacking threat was blunt.

Informative discussion and a lot of factors are involved. Without being too determinist/ just stating the bleeding obvious, it used to be local population catchment (hence economic base) that would give the likeliest indicator of ranking in the league (yes hugely overgeneralised). Arbroath are around 25/30 largest settlement in Scotland which would mean competing between tiers 2 and 3 on a long term average. Then of course, dodgy money and sugar daddies entered so upended that formula but I’d still expect longerterm the population-economic predictor to hold sway. Now , after 4-5 decades in the relative wilderness, Arbroath have been enjoying a period in the sun (all the sweeter for being in the shade so long) but would seriously question whether a consideration of going FT is sensible, The club has shown ambition (a commercial director!, community trust etc) but faces the same basic limits to growth. The current management and playing squad will also evolve and bigger clubs in our league and the one below have struggled when setbacks strike. So the retreat from the sunny uplands seems inevitable sooner or hopefully later. No club, company, charity can really stand still - its vital to stay afloat and seek to thrive recognising competitors are often doing the same.. Hence maybe necessary to keep the longerterm realities in mind (eg avoid excessive debt) in terms of club setup and commitments so there is a stable future. Unless a sugardaddy out there pumps in funny money so we add a National honour maybe Scottish or League Cup title to our Qualifying Cup triumph a mere 110 years ago.