airdrieman

Scenes when it's Steve Lawson and not Scott Martin.

Brilliant to see Justin Devenny involved in the Northern Ireland U21s setup. https://twitter.com/northernireland/status/1661733861619892224?s=46&t=ei9lEQUlqVT6IyVJquw8rQ

Where have I heard that name before…

Loved how much he was getting wired into the celebrations on Saturday. Hero.

I don’t really disagree with that. But there seems to have been chat he’s signing January when if it was up to I wouldn’t necessarily have room for him in the squad.

Great to see the players away on holiday together, and wearing their t-shirts! Hope they’re having a cracker. It’s well earned

I don’t think it would happen if he were to sign, and he’s a good player so I’d be happy to have him next season. But I’d definitely sign a starting holding midfielder so that would put them, and McCabe in front of him in the midfield pecking order and possibly Aiken too (not sure what sort of player he is). So that’s 3 and I wouldn’t start him further forward either, especially ahead of Frizzell or Devenny or even any potential new additions in that area of the park. He’d be a great option to have in terms of depth but I don’t think a few months out on loan to help him develop further physically in preparation for playing in the Championship would do him any harm. Happy to have him either way though.

*Currently on the phone to the SFA asking he can cancel Scott McGill’s transfer to Raith and sign him for Dundee*.

Thank you. Whatever happens I hope yourself and the rest of the fanbase get your club back, return the name or change it to something in keeping with the fans' wishes, make Meadowbank an at least somewhat attractive place to watch football and ultimately become an important asset in your community. That's what it's all about.

I'd largely agree with that although I'd like another new centre-half and probably swap Watson for Telfer. Would also loan out McMaster, even if only for a few months.

I can't remember who it was but somebody mentioned how Gal tends to get the plaudits rather than Gabby. I think I've spoken about it on the podcast before, but I think it's worth bringing up how many times Gabby pops up with a big goal. His goal on Saturday was the most important Airdrie goal in years (maybe the most important in the last 20). But there was also the one away to Falkirk a couple of weeks ago (arguable how important the 7th goal in a 7-2 play-off final win is but you know what I mean ), the goal to put us 1-0 up v Cove, the 6th in the Montrose play-off which was actually the goal that won it even with Smith and Afolabi's heroics and I'm sure he got a lateish winner or equaliser v Clyde last season? There might be more too that I can't recall off the top of my head. He's some man. Lifetime contract please!

Likewise. I've said it before but I think this Smith has regressed from last season talk is grossly over-stated. He had a brilliant end to the season last year, and put in one of the best, if not the best, individual performances I've ever seen in Airdrie shirt. He ended last season on 16 goals. He scored 13 this season, so that's hardly a downturn at all in terms of goals scored, and in fact is probably a better contribution over the course of the season when you consider how many of Smith's goals last year came in the last quarter and in the play-offs. I suppose you could argue over which is better. But it's not only that, he's hugely important to how we play and how we attack teams. The way he carries the team, and the ball, up the park, presses and attacks defenders, brings the ball into and around the box. We'd be a much worse team and score a lot less without him. I also think he's almost always amongst our better players against teams in the Championship and above. He'd be a huge loss and I'd be gutted if he left. I'll remember that Montrose play-off hat-trick forever.

I'd be happy to keep the bulk of the squad but I do think we will need to make additions across the spine of the team. Probably two centre-halves, a full-back, a proper holding midfielder and better depth upfront have to be the priority. Agreed with @Diamonds are Forever that we need a bit more physicality, steel and street smarts in the team. Accies were well ahead of us in that department and, while we got away with it in League 1 because our team was a much better footballing side than every other team bar Dunfermline, the margins in the Championship are much tighter and we could be bullied out of games. That doesn't mean we have to have wholesale changes to our style of play. It just means we need a few players who can compete physically and win out in a dogfight if it comes down to it. Also agreed that Scott Martin would be a good signing. I also think Connor Smith would be too if he was up for playing with his brother. He's a 'cute' type player with a bit of streetwise and cunning about him while also being a great footballer so he's probably the ideal in terms of what we're looking for. I would definitely keep Rae, Ballantyne, ATS (as backup), Devenny, Frizzell, Gal. Gabby and Smith. Assume Fordyce and McCabe staying is a given! I was initially on the fence about Telfer and McGregor but after Saturday I'd be happy to have them in the squad. I thought Telfer was our best player on the ball in both legs of the final, and he added a bit of composure, control, experience and actually a bit of bite as well when it was desperately needed. And as said above, McGregor changed Saturday's game in our favour when he came on. That was easily his best game in an Airdrie shirt IMO. So quick and direct that one of the better full-backs in the Championship in Tumilty couldn't handle him to the point that he had to be subbed off. They're both up and down but if we can even get a couple of performances like that a month from both players they're worth keeping around. There seems to be chat that Dean McMaster has signed for us permanently. I'm pleased with that but I don't think he's physically ready to be a starter in the Championship yet. He's already developed lots as a player this season however so that will hopefully come with time, coaching and maybe some extended strength and conditioning sessions. Actually wouldn't mind sending him out on loan to League 1, even for a few months, to continue his development, assuming we have a capable replacement or two signed up. Deveney, Riley and Dixon obviously not good enough but Deveney in particular can leave with our gratitude. He has his faults but he's more than played his part this season and he'll forever be remembered as one of the team who finally won a play-off. Really hope he makes a good career for himself. He's certainly good enough to still be playing League 1. Bright is most likely in this category too but he's still only 17 and thus worthy of a lifetime contract IMO. He'll most likely be on buttons, so keep him around for the fun of it and you never know, maybe he will be playing for Spain in a few years time after netting us several hundred thousands! 50/50 on Watson. He can play in a couple of positions which makes him potentially useful to have in the squad. And when he's good he's very good. But he's too erratic and inconsistent for me, even within games which would get punished more frequently in the Championship. He's been a mainstay of the best Airdrie squad of the last 20 years, but I think we could do better. Big Byrd... I think could turn out to be a good player with game time and experience of the tempo and style in Scotland. Can we afford to carry someone like that in the squad though? Especially when they're probably not going to get the required game time? Also conscious that I've already said to keep Fordyce, ATS and Ballantyne so if we were to keep Watson and Byrd too we'd be keeping all but one or two of the defence that was largely useless for most of the season. Whatever happens, I'm excited to see who we retain, who we sign and how our squad fares as a Championship side! 8th place please and thank you but if we can recruit and retain well hopefully we can keep the momentum going and set our sights slightly higher.

Will watch this later on once I'm home from work but can't wait! Thank you for your hard work this season. The Fan TV has been a tremendous addition to the fan-led media and matchday experience. Assuming my appearance at half-time when I was raging at the goal we'd just conceded made the final cut, I've never been happier to age so terribly so quickly

Is fan ownership likely to be successful? Given your average support, unless there's some fans with deep pockets it seems like it would be a struggle to fund and sustain a decent team at this level. I ask that sincerely btw and not in a crowdwanking way! All the best with it though. Despite my hatred of what's been done to the place, and yourselves always beating us, it's good to see Meadowbank back in the leagues, as it was Edinburgh City until you know what.

Don’t think this was Tweeted out but in case folk missed it.

#DalzielOut Nah in all seriousness great effort. Must have been fun getting to represent the club

Hibernian 1997. Stirling Albion 2007. Clyde 2008. Ayr United 2009. Brechin City 2010. Dumbarton 2012. Alloa 2017. Morton 2021. Queen’s Park 2022. Nine play-offs. Nine dismal failures. Lost them all in just about every way you can. Ten years in League 1, playing and getting humped by nonentities in front of no one. A club going nowhere. Until now. Days, and nights, like yesterday make it all worth it. It won’t always be like this. But I wouldn’t swap my club, and this feeling I currently have, for the world. I love our fans, our town and our community. This team and manager will forever be immortalised as the team that FINALLY won a play-off. All the shit we’ve been through, we deserve our day in the sun. Especially happy for my uncle and cousin who came over from Sweden for the game and who usually see Airdrie bottle it when they do. I hope the manager, staff, board and players enjoyed their night. You all deserve it and thank you for all you’ve given us this season. oh diamonds are red

Great picture by Robert Dalzell. Similar scenes today please

Just read the STV Article, didn’t want to click on The Sun’s. He was on trial on Wednesday then on the bench later that evening? That’s appalling. He should have been suspended, or even put on some sort of gardening leave, as soon as the club knew they were legal proceedings against him. Hoping to see a statement announcing his release tonight or tomorrow morning as a minimum.

That’s Salim been convicted. Get him fucking binned. As said previously, he’d have got released anyway but he should be getting punted immediately with a strong statement from the club. Which I’m hoping to see ASAP. Would also be good for the club to clarify what they knew and when as I will not be happy if he’s been in the squad and playing with the knowledge of this case within the club (though I appreciate why they couldn’t get rid of him until the case was over).

I see Darren Jamieson has signed for Stenhousemuir.

Horrific. He was always going to get released but hope that that happens as swiftly as possible. And even more so that the woman involved is okay and gets whatever verdict she feels is just.

I know, I was tense anyway! Was watching it through my fingers at times. Delighted to be going into Saturday with a lead. Accies were well organised, physical and able to snuff us out at times, in particular they marshalled Gal and Frizzell well. It was a good indicator of what we’ll need for next season if we do manage to get through. We’ve got a team of ballers but we do still need a bit more physical presence and a destroyer type in the midfield IMO. When we did manage to get the ball down and play though I thought we looked dangerous. Telfer was excellent when he came on. We were at our most composed and threatening when he was on the ball and, contrary to popular opinion, he added a bit of dig and control in the midfield. I wouldn’t mind if he started on Saturday. Devenny has had a better season overall but it looked like the occasion maybe got to him a bit, whereas Telfer’s experience meant he wasn’t overawed by the game itself. Fordyce, Ballantyne, McCabe and Smith were our other best performers. Brilliant finish from Smith and I think he enjoyed getting it up his brother and the Accies fans after he scored Accies were probably better than a lot of folk thought they’d be. Must admit, I died a little inside every time someone would post on social media we were gonna win 3 or 4-0. Just stop! Was always going to be a completely different game. That being said, while they had a lot of territory and possession, they never really looked like scoring, other than maybe Connor Smith’s chance early in the first-half, which is hopefully an encouraging sign. An early Airdrie goal on Saturday SHOULD be enough to win it you would hope… Watson missing out is a blow. I’m not as big on him as others, but we can’t replace him without shifting around players which isn’t ideal. As is missing his height and physical presence. I’m leaning towards ATS at left-back just because I trust all the players in that permutation - ATS, McCabe, Ballantyne and McMaster - to do a job in whatever position more than I do Deveney but whatever he goes for, it’s not what you would choose going into a play-off final second-leg. Still got enough to get it done whatever McCabe goes for. Another great home crowd, and another win in front of them! That’s the first play-off final home leg we’ve won and maybe the first play-off final leg in general that we’ve won. I like where this trend is going! Praying we get the job done on Saturday. Hopefully in front of another cracking Airdrie support . Nice to see Sandy Stewart before the game too