Don't think we were "completely outplayed" by either Airdrie or QotS.
There's no doubt we were outplayed yesterday though; it doesn't help when you concede two soft goals in the first fifteen minutes, but Falkirk were clearly reacting positively to their recent run of poor results generally and the FC Edinburgh home defeat in particular. They played very well and we would have needed to be at out best to take something from the game, and we weren’t.
Rice is right to highlight how poorly we defended for the third and fourth goals. Taggs being out was a big miss, bigger than LD imo although he was a loss too.
I agree with the opinion that Sammon and McIver as a pairing doesn't work particularly well, but IIRC those two started together in recent games against Falkirk when we have played well.
Based on their performance yesterday, I still believe Falkirk are favourites for the playoffs and I give them a decent chance in the cup semi.
Next week's game with Montrose is now huge. I'd hate for us to go into the Dunfermline game needing even a point from it. They may have nothing to play for, but I'd still expect them to beat us.
If we do make fourth, then IMO that's a successful season, irrespective of how we do in the playoffs and Brian Rice should be given credit for that. Either way I think he's done enough to merit another year in charge.