A_Rover_In_The_Burgh

Harsh? He could potentially now be out for a good few weeks dependant on the report put forward by the ref.

PS well played Millen, your fan club will all love you the night

We need another forward with height and able to hold up a ball when Hamilton isn't playing. Smith and Vaughan upfront is like watching two midgets running around like heidless chickens. That loss is on Murray today in my books. Hasn't learnt anything from our previous 2 games and was found out again today. The two in midfield were never going to cut it. Byrne was uncharacteristically p*sh today. I don't understand when bringing on 4 subs and we didn't even change shape? Surely that was the queue to go 3 at the back? I feel that loss has been coming. Scraping almost every game isn't going to last forever. It's really worrying how easily we can be dominated in games.

Well that was absolutely abysmal and completely Murrays fault. Every game this season we've played Airdrie we've been bossed and nothing changed. No change In tactics, formations nothing. Our front line without Hamilton is dreadful, offered nothing. You could go on and on about it. Well played Airdrie, made us look like a lower end of the league team. Scraping games isn't going to last forever.

Good to see Watson on the pitch again

On a football note, away from all the other s*ite going on. I actually feel for you guys, we've been through crazy injuries and it's not fun, and completely f*cks your season. I'm not a par but in my eyes there's not much McPake can really do. Injuries happen but when it's large scale, it's an unenjoyable roller-coaster. On the other note, there were approx 6,500 thousand pars fans at the Derby, you can't tar all of them with the same brush. It's a bunch of clowns who will get their comeuppance. The police need looked at here as well, barely any presence on Halbeath road. Rovers fans gloating, Pars fans pride hurt had the recipe for disaster and I seen 1 wagon? Crazy but hey ho.

Well Vardy went from conference to winning the English league title. Anything is possible. He's been our standout centre half over the last 6 weeks and actually gave us a threat at set pieces which none of our other centre half's have. The 2 goals against Dunfermline aren't clouding folks view, he has been a really good acquisition by Murray and would start in my defence ahead of anyone at present.

Totally agree. We have a lot of CB's but are any capable of a step up if it comes? They've struggled at this level and Dabrowski has made a huge amount of big saves, so could have been more conceded. If O'Reilly is signed surely we have to put someone out on loan as 7 possible Center backs is too much. Maybe send Masson out on loan to get more game time? If all fit, I can't see Corr getting any game time either unless the others form, is poor. At this point we really should be investing in players who are going to push for positions and improve the squad, especially as we are very much in the title race. Maybe moving on McGill as well if he is not going to get a look in and free up another wage? I'm just hypothesising.

Bought my ticket the other day. I can't say I'm eagerly awaiting this game. The Diamonds have had our mark in both games and Id say have been the better team in both. If Dabrowski isn't fit, don't play him. Airdrie will take shots unlike Dunfermline. I do believe this requires a 5 man midfield and I doubt Murray would start with 3-5-2 so maybe a 4-5-1 with somebody else in midfield McGill, Connolly? I'd say Matthews but not sure he's fit enough yet to start, with Hamilton up front. I'm also not sure how Brown is? He definitely picked up a knock on Saturday so who knows if he'll be fit to start? Watson can't be too far from returning as well? Team selection will be interesting in this one. If we get it right, 2-0 Rovers.

Did I at any point say McGill should start in front of Millen? Not quite sure what your point is here? Man

I don't think McPake fucked it. He played his usual 3-4-1-2 and it was Murray who changed formation and it was the 5 man midfield, which we had only played in the last 10-15 minutes of chasing games. Clearly 4-4-2 isn't working that well as we wouldn't be having to chase games nor conceding 25 goals in the process. The one game we played a 5 man in midfield we won 3-0, bossed the game, won by more than 1 goal and a clean sheet. I know that wouldn't be the case in every game but we would definitely be a lot tighter and probably concede a lot less goals.

Didn't realise Millen was the Roberto Carlos of our team We played fine without Millen earlier in the year when McGill deputised there. As I said my choice of team, yours and everybody elses will differ. That's the nature of football.

I'm sure I did say about a 5 man midfield as well. I still don't understand how people don't see this? Every game we've won when chasing or pushing has been 3-5-2. Dunfermline 3-0 game 5 in midfield an totally bossed it and kept a clean sheet. Only game really that we've won by a clear margin and kept a cleansheet.

A back 3 of O'Reilly Watson and O'Riordan would have been a cracking combo.

Why? Dick was brilliant earlier in the season when Murray wasn't fit. He's a good fit in there. Something isn't right in that defence, the goals against tally doesn't lie. The goal against Dunfermline should not have happened. That's why I state for 3 at the back and 3 in midfield. That gap, wouldn't have been there and someone would have pressed sooner. O'Reilly Watson Murray might be great I'm just going on what I've seen this season.

As an overall I think if we could look at a left back. Dick is good at the heart of the defence and would be good with O'Reilly if we can sign him up. I think a pacey right winger would be a good shout. Mullin throws in a good ball but he is woefully slow on a counter attack, which was evident against Dunfermline on a couple of occasions and lost possession in good positions. It would be good as a different option. I also think we need another centre forward to rival Hamilton. When Hamilton isn't firing on all cylinders or is injured we really struggle. I don't think Gullan is upto much to be honest. He tries but he just isn't the same since his return from Hibs. I feel McGill is under utilised at times but when we have Brown, Stanton and Byrne all fit then midfield will be very difficult to break into as I think Rossco will find out as well. We have an embarrassment of riches on the left with Easton, Smith and even Connolly if we actually tried him on the side his foot is made for. Fully fit at the moment, my team would be; Dabrowski O'Reilly Watson Dick Mullin Byrne Brown Easton Stanton Vaughan Hamilton You could make cases for Connolly, Millen, Murray, Smith to start as well. Really is an embarrassment of riches but we need to get it right as these riches are back firing at times. I've made a case all year about the huge gap in midfield at times and not controlling games and every time we've went with 5 in midfield, either pushing for an equaliser or winner we've looked brilliant. They 3 in midfield I believe would be the key to us maintaining our push. At present My midfield would be; Mullin Byrne Brown Connolly or Smith with Easton playing behind the front 2 of Vaughan and Hamilton. I'd really like to see Easton in that creative spot and full freedom of the pitch. Sorry for the lengthly post

Granted this season has been great but we need to sort out the defence. The goals against column doesn't lie. We should be finishing games, like Utd do. We have the players to be doing it so what's going wrong? That second half was pretty appalling apart from the goal. Dominated by a depleted Dunfermline team. Draws against 2 teams we should be beating. Playing Dabrowski today was absolutely crazy? The guy could barely walk. We are lucky Dunfermline don't know how to shoot. I will stand by the 3-5-2. I also don't think Murray is playing very well. Sometimes having lots of options isn't always a great thing. A win is a win but the goal difference is absurd.

Will say it time and time again 3-5-2 and that breakaway goal wouldn't have happened. Our goals against column is enough to give any team against us hope, abysmal. Kev definitely needs to go off. He's probably no even 50% fit.

I have to say, sitting top of the league and derby day at New Year and haven't sold out our end? I get folk might be unwell etc but still, if ever there was a time to sell the away end out I thought it would be today. I mean we took 1900 up to Tannadice.

I'd like it to be 3-5-2 Dabrowski McGill O'Reilly/Murray Corr Mullen Byrne Brown Smith Easton Vaughan Hamilton Not Sure if O'Reilly will still be here but I'd start with him if he is. What I think it'll be.. Dabrowski Millen Murray Corr/Brown Dick Byrne Brown/McGill Connolly Easton Vaughan Hamilton Again depends if O'Reilly is available? Who knows it's a bloody mine field guessing out starting 11!!!

That has been coming. Our defence is absolutely rank rotten. 2-0 up and drawing with a team playing their sub goalie up front absolutely embarrassing. Arbroath deserved that from the last game, cause we definitely shouldn't have won that one. Never mind a fast winger in the transfer window, a decent centre half would be a shout!!

Taken the win in and it was an amazing day. It's been a long time since you felt Raith were capable of beating a bigger team, but I went in fully believing we could. The buzz around the whole club is just amazing. I was around in the 90's when we won the league x2 and the cup and this team has that feel of potential and a family unit once more. I hope we win the league and Vaughny gets the chance to kick a Premiership ball with us. Nobody deserves it more than that lad. I won't be at the home games as I'm in New York for my 40th and Christmas but will be back for the Derby on the 2nd. Hope we sell out the home stands at Starks for the next two, the team deserves that at least.

Absolutely true but they aren't going to chase someone for a tenner where as 24k is well worth the court proceedings. Either way it's a notice not a fixed penalty. A fixed penalty you should pay as its a government fine and will in time pay it one way or another, a notice isn't a govenment ticket so to be enforced it has to be taken to the courts, in which case they have to pay for court proceedings. Anyway back to the footy. I thought we would have sold out the away end by now. Especially after beating Arbroath. Still time but I thought we'd maybe take 2,200-2,400 as only just up the road.

No such thing as private parking in Scotland. Only council's can enforce parking. Simply don't pay it and they go away.

Huge game and hoping for the 1st time this season we can put a whole 97 minutes in Team, what I think it will be.. Dabrowski Millen Murray O'Reilly Dick Connolly Byrne Brown Easton Stanton Hamilton or Vaughan What I'd like it to be.. Dabrowski O'Reilly Murray Dick Mullin Byrne Brown Smith Stanton Vaughan Hamilton