unitedbino

Shite patter you say?

We'll certainly have a chance, but all season it's been the same story - we can't grind out results (with the exception of the first few games of the season) and we've always got a defensive mistake in us. Not a good mix for the playoffs.

Anyone checked the forecast for Tuesday?

Dunno about the first part. Thought we were quite comfortably the stronger team over the piece. However, I've said all season Annan are better at playing the percentages than us. They're good at what they do. They knew what they had to do today and did it. We, on the other hand, have nice moments, but can't sustain it. Annan maximise their talent and deserve to stay up. Can't begrudge them (even if some of the time-wasting and play-acting had me pulling out my hair today).

As for the ned section of our support, I defended them at times last season because they're young and we all did stupid things when we're young, but it's gone way too far now. They're an embarrassment to the club.

Microcosm of our season, at least in an attacking sense. Lots of huffing and puffing, but a real lack of cutting edge. I predicted we'd finish ninth a couple months ago and took some heat for it. I'd be surprised if we came through the playoffs.

Aye, so you were...

This lot have a title to celebrate today and are still going with this nonsense. Sad sacks.

We are a shambles when it comes to promoting matches.

Don't think there's any chance of that. It usually takes our Twitter account until 24 hours before the game to actually post ticket information.

No chance we get what we need next week. Annan have had our number all season - and even last season, they gave us more trouble than any other team in L2.

Most gutting win of the season. ffs Falkirk

I feel like a lot of these comments on McPake have been determined by his performance at Kelty. That was really the first match for us where he hasn't had an influence. Until then he'd been terrific in most matches. I raised the point last week about him potentially making us a poorer team as a whole - and that point still stands. But that's only because our attack is generally so futile that we have become a team that looks for McPake too often. That's not really a comment on him as an individual. I'd be shocked if he's still at SA next season, even if we stay up.

McPake clearly has a lot of talent, but I wonder if he has made us a poorer team. Our only attacking idea these past few games has been to get it to him and ask him to beat two or three defenders. There's next to nothing else going on in the final third.

And so we're finally ninth. It's been coming for weeks. We are a team who struggle to create chances and make bad defensive errors. Not a great combination. Obviously it's not over yet, but I'd be surprised if we clambered out of trouble at this point. Annan have had our number all season. The QOS game is a must-win.

I've been on here for weeks saying we'll finish ninth.

Was that the same person?

Some assorted thoughts after a dreadful afternoon... - Defensively a shambles again. However, so many of our problems come from midfield. Runners get through so easily. Leitch simply doesn't offer enough on the defensive side at this level. How he stayed on for so long today, I don't know. - We actually created a decent number of chances (granted, a lot in the second half when Alloa might have eased off). But so often we make the wrong decision when it matters. McPake, for all his dribbling brilliance, also guilty of this. - We're stupid as a team. Alloa figured out the wind in the first half and kept looking for the far corner knowing it would hold up and they could get a foothold high up. We, on the other hand, kept overhitting long balls and set pieces without any recognition of the conditions. Other teams play the percentages much better than us. - If (big if at this point) we stay up, we must prioritise the signing of a 'big man' up front. A focal point. Thomson was that figure last season, but not good enough for the step up. But without a midfield capable of creating around the edge of the box, we need someone who can hold it up, get on the end of crosses etc at least as an option! - Young's presence on the touchline when we're losing doesn't exactly help. Very whiny. Bad body language. That's obviously not why we lost today, but would like him to be a bit more proactive.

This aged well...

Last week's fourth goal at Cove was a clanger, but there's no way we should be dropping Blair. He's one of the best keepers in the league. I saw Terrace had him as the best L1 keeper this week). He's probably our best player, all things considered (keepers never get the credit that attacking players get).

Nothing over the last two weekends has changed my mind. We'll ultimately finish 9th. Annan will climb above us.

At this point, I'd be surprised if we avoid ninth place. Agree that Kelty will ultimately have enough. Annan have found title-winning form all of a sudden, so they'll be safe. That leaves us and QOS - and as Saturday shows, they'll pull out one or two results from nowhere by virtue of being a full time team. Think we'll have to take our chances in the playoffs.

Gayfield is one of the best away days in the country. Hoping we're still in the division next season to make the trip up!

He's a bit ball greedy, but he gets a pass from me because he's the only player we have who consistently drives at opponents and makes things happen on his own. Yeah, he's a bit cocky (gallus probably a kinder word), but we needed someone like that! We were a bit too nice in the first half of the season - McPake and Crane have helped with this.

He seems like a nice lad (I know he's popular in the dressing room) and did well for us last season, but I'm afraid Kyle just isn't good enough with the ball for this level. It just bounces off him too many times.