Yid_in_Exiile

I was critical of O'Connor last week, with his final ball being so poor. Well, hats off to him - yesterday he was my man of the match - unplayable at times and really made the difference. Tomi providing the anchor for the wide men to play-off was obviously also a critical tactical change. Pleased for Fjortoft too, and to get his goal with a progressive display. Could have possibly earned himself a start next week as his confidence will be high and he is relatively comfortable with the ball, which we badly need at the back. Spoke to him at the shirt sponsors event yesterday, mostly reminiscing about enjoying watching his Dad's partnership with Juninho when they were both at 'Boro visting WHL, and he came across as a thoroughly nice bloke too..

I'm telling you he wasn't fit yesterday, however it might appear to you. I leave you to figure out how I can state that as a fact. If he was fully fit, I would agree he has to start. It's up for discussion how you get the best 45 to 60 min max out of him, and more importantly the team, by starting or bringing him on later? I am probably in the latter camp, but I can understand those who want to go for it and hopefully have a lead to defend once Tomi has to go off. I'm just not confident we are capable of defending a lead either. What we need to fix is starting so slowly and conceding so lamely, then subbing to grab a winner rather than rescue the game would surely be the better plan? It's not an easy fix with what we have fit and at our disposal in this unbalanced squad, if it was it would have been fixed.

Well, the BBC stats suggest we had 13 shots, 6 on target. Now those stats are not reality but nor was our goal our first and only shot on target. I can recall one tipped over the bar and another at the near post - so maybe three. The other of the BBC's six must have been made up of soft taps forward that were so easily gathered we didn't notice. You're right though that Hamilton did work to a game plan, at least until they chuck it in the bin for the strategy of time wasting instead.

Agreed. O'Connor flatters to deceive - okay he can go past his man on the odd occasion but what's the point when his final ball is so poor. He found his man exactly once and so was not surprised he was pulled. Mackenzie doesn't really try to go past him man but I think he was probably told his was the more defensive wing and O'Connor was going to be the outlet first half.. Packing the midfield and lumping it forward was certainly less attractive but was probably marginally more effective - we did just about have the best of the second half, and just about deserved a point even if we didn't create a hell of a lot. Always funny when you try to time- waste and cheat your way to the whistle and it bites you in the arse. Hamilton got exactly what they deserved. Oh, and for those that thought it was the worst home display you have seen for years - well either you haven't seen much of Ayr this year or you have the memory of a goldfish. We don't chuck it nowadays and play the full 90+ and are getting rewarded for that alone.

His defence? He'll be the plaintiff not defending anything. If they take that stance and he takes them to court with a civil case for breach of contract then I am pretty sure that he would easily win his case and get his costs awarded to him. It is highly unlikely he would get any punitive damages awarded to him (as it is a civil case in which they are virtually unheard of) or get any additional compensation for loss of reputation (he has no reputation left) but they would still be theoretical risks and all it would do would be to increase the ultimate bill they have to meet. It's not going to happen. Okay, Goodwillie would probably have to fund the case, but given it would a trivial win with his costs awarded, that is not a huge risk. If he was still a PFA Scotland member he could even get them to fund his case, although I suspect they will have thrown him out of the players union already for bringing the organisation into disrepute.

A second-hand Piper Cherokee Six can be had for less than USD 100,000 I understand, the rub being it costs about the same per year in running costs to own one. It's like owning a classic Ferrari or a small yacht - a hobby that somebody compared to "standing under a cold shower tearing up £5 notes". But it is less high end than it may seem for successful business people. But a single engine aircraft is not the safest mode of transport and the weather for Sunday's return trip is not the best, I just hope our Board don't make a habit of it as there is a big "key man" risk for the Club right there - our precious eggs in one basket. We don't want to be picking up the Ayrshire Post and reading about another Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha/Leicester City-type air crash on our hands Safe travels everyone,; Board, team and fans. Would have been there with you, if I hadn't come down with bloody CV-19 yesterday. COYA!

Everyone held hands and breathed deeply?

All my exposure to football violence was back in the 80's but down south. Certain Clubs had a reputation for it - Luton Town, Millwall (obviously), Chelsea, Cardiff City, Brighton - and obviously certain fixtures, , mostly Derby matches. I used to have a season ticket to White Hart Lane but never saw that much trouble at home games, and was too young and poor to get to many away games. The worst I experienced personally was the foolish decision to go to the Aston Villa v Birmingham City game in the away end with my fanatic Birmingham City flatmate whilst at Uni in Cardiff, would have been 1983 or '84. Violence was in the air all day, there was a stabbing before the match and many arrests, compounded by fighting between the players in the tunnel and headbutt after the final whistle. Villa won 1-0 and City fans were kept in the ground for 30 mins after the game. Despite that we were jumped by Villa fans and chased across Villa Park by casuals carrying baseball bats that they must have stashed in bushes or something for the occasion before the game. Fortunately back then I had a turn of pace and we both got away but I stopped going to games after that for almost ten years. The only time at a game I felt in fear for my life.

Lukas Podolski - the man who came up with the genius observation that, "football is like chess, only without the dice".

Finally home (Edinburgh) not long back after 2 hours - that after taking 2 1/2 hours to get there due to two accidents M8 and the Blue Nose/Hibs traffic and missing both first half goals. Weather absolutely shocking east of Glasgow, thought we were going to get stranded as we dropped below 20mph in nose to tail traffic and a car or two spinning out. But despite spending three times as long in the car as the match lasted, absolutely buzzin' for this team. Felt something was building last weekend, despite the disappointing result and just so glad to be shown to be correct. Thought we just might get a point, but didn't expect a fully deserved win like that. Could and should have been three, but could equally have been all over if it wasn't for at least two top class saves to keep us in it. I think McGinty fully enjoyed his moment responding to all the criticism (much of it fully deserved, if he were honest) but with a functioning midfield in front of them our defence looks so much better - unsurprisingly. First time at Rugby Park since following Ayr since 2006. Pleasing. Best performance and result since that game away at Dundee Utd - could prove even more valuable come end of the season. Still plenty to do to ensure Championship football next season; we simply must build on this result.

Away to the DKB v Ayr match thread for this shite. Eye bleeding read the last few pages.

Ticket is not obvoius - if you go back in and go the your Profile then there is a tab next to Purchase History called Digital Ticket, hit that hit the green button and then hit view digital ticket and you can save the mobile PDF as a file and email it where you want. You don't just get an email automatically with the tickets attached like most site would provide.

That was the worse display all season by a margin. At least against Partick we looked vaguely competitive for most of the first half at least. Now we are getting put away without a whimper. Something has clearly happened in the dressing room as we have moved from being "shite but at least hard working and hard to beat" to now being there for the taking from the off. And when we go 2-0 down we immediately chuck the towel in. It is hard to know what has been the catalyst - it's probably a combination of things. But if it is true from reading above, that Moff was taken all the way to the match and then not named on the bench points the finger at Duffy. I mean empty shirts like McGinty and Salkeld being named ahead of Moff?! If him leaving to head back to Ayr means that is him out and then off in January then we really are truly f*cked. We at least have been building a reputation in recent years as being a Club that treats player fairly and gives them the opportunity to build or rebuild their careers and doesn't stand in their way if they wish to move on the better things. Now it looks as if even that is crumbling. I really have the fear for the Club's future. Who would touch us, manager or player, with a shitty stick right now?

Er, yeah. Have you performed the same calculation for the other teams in this League? I would not expect our to to be particularly below the average.

Moffat won't last more than 70 mins now, and I would rather have him on when the opposition have had the edge taken off their legs - that's why he seems much more effective. Starting the Moff would be less effective. If we are ahead or drawing when he has to comes off we have less on the park to control the game and see it out for the last 20 mins. Coming on as a sub with a good 20 to 30 mins is perfect for him. If he gets you ahead (or drawing from behind) he also has the intelligence, ball control and experience to manage the game. Despite not being a particularly young squad we lack a bit of leadership that Moff provides.

Up their with Fir Park as my favourite away game of the season. I heard rumour that the Bell Rock chippie is a shadow of its former self as under new management? Any truth in that you Lichties? May consider going off to the Marina for our pre-game fish tea if so.

We went four at the back when Fjortoft came on - that was the difference rather than Fjortoft playing a blinder. That said, he did nothing particularly horrendous either so as long as we stick with 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 I'll be happy enough. We're not going to make this one so will probably be a high scoring classic. Our problems at the back still exist but at least we are creating now and playing the ball on the grass. If we score first should be a comfortable win.

Peter Murphy - if we were fishing exclusive in that lower league pond.

If you want to be in the Stand though I think you need to be a season ticket holder, I think they have gone with the number of season ticket holders with reserved seats from two seasons ago and limited the stand to that. So if you weren't in the Stand whilst 2019/20 season was running you won't be let in the Stand, if you were early birds get given best seats by stewards. Arrive early.

Please hit it, like the rest of us have. If nobody engaged with the clueless dipstick he would soon bore off somewhere else.

The absence of people around was just the impact of your humorous banter and winning personality. They were just avoiding you, as you promised to avoid us. Please just delivery on that last promise and stop posting please.

Disagree. The Rangers will surely just buy the finished article like they always do, especially if they are serious about challenging Celtic for next years title. Much as he has done a great job in the Championship, I don't think Shankland is quite that yet. Maybe in a year or two. Can't see that move, and if it happens would not expect him to have more than a bit part to play next season there. Much better for his development to head south.

Actually, I think Sunderland would be ideal for him. Should get enough starts to continue to learn facing better defences in a side with a decent chance of going up to the English Championship. If he went to say Swansea, one of the names he was linked with, he'll find it more difficult. They already have Oliver McBurnie on their books . If we wants to start every week top end League One is his best level, with every chance of proving himself further and going up. English Championship is a really competitive level - no reason he cannot play there but starting every week and keeping on learning should be his priority, which pleased to hear he and the people around him realise.

Agreed. He's a inconsistent player for sure, and on one of his rank days he might make somebody's list, but he's nowhere near a Jobbers XI. Agree a strange choice for an Arab who must have surely watched Deci tear them a new arsehole on that 0-5 Friday evening?. Also, if rumours are true, he may be playing for Dundee Utd next season.

Ah, VirginTon plays his usual game. Quick to have a pop, but dives back into his burrow until the dust has settled if you hit him with a zinger! At the risk of mixing my metaphors here, a one-trick pony with zero football knowledge and no backbone but like a scolded puppy you just know he'll be back for more. Bless.