dextermorgan

Crichton had a very good game as did Smith. I did not realise how much pace this young guy has, looks a great prospect.

Hutton for me is a huge step up from Rohan but it's all relative I suppose. What both of them have in common is that they find it difficult to command a box due to being sub six footers. Look at the Forfar goalie on Saturday, competent and assured at set pieces which instills confidence in the back four. I'm sure this is not lost on Murray.

Forfar are a good side and no doubt will be top three so that makes the defeat more bearable. What hasn't changed from last season is that we are in a very tight league where games will generally be decided by the occasional mistake on/or one side having a more potent forward line. Today we just did not get going, Forfar had done their homework and we eventualy ran out of steam. With Kirkpatrick, Hilson and Jackson in their lineup they were always probably going to shade a tight game. What concerned me today however was the fact that we are playing guys out wide and out of position, we are not creative enough in midfield and Hutton cannot seem to command a six yard box. Compare us with Forfar with McCallum in goals with Tapping and Hilson driving forward.

We knew exactly what we were getting with Wedderburn. He's not the quickest but holds the ball better than just about anyone and rarely misplaces a pass. Thngs that were sadly missing last season. No comparison with Conroy in my opinion.

From the highlights it would appear that if Kerr had stepped out then Goodwillie would have been offside. If anything Crighton was maybe guilty of watching the ball and not the man.

In my opinion the reason for playing todays formation was down to the midfield covering for the backs. Gallagher and Roy were in those positions to cover in defence where needed. This reminded me however of Gary Bollan's sides which were defensively set up and changed during the game when we went behind to a more attacking option. Nothing wrong with that but like Bollan's sides we lacked any bite up front. As a supporter I would like my team to have a go from the outset and take the game to the opposition. Today we could have started with Hawkshaw and O'reilly but left it untill we were chasing the game. This was not helped by having Carrick as the thrust of the attack. Love the player but like many others today..in the wrong position. I don't think I'm too far off the mark here....the first player last year to 'disappear' was Victoria...great goal scorer but not to keen to track back. C'mon let's be a bit more positive against Clyde..

Cannot fathom why we had Gallagher and Roy on the wings with Carrick in the centre from the start. Looked totally toothless up front today and didn't really cause Partick any problems. The manager obviously hoped it would work, I'll be really disappointed if that's the lineup for the forthcoming season.

I think he'll be great for us, we constantly lost possession in midfield last season, he holds the ball up better than most. Not the quickest but he rarely mis-places a pass and as Murray says...will bring a real presence to midfield, something sadly lacking last year.

In terms of what Scotty offered the side I feel that we will probably replace him with someone equally as good. He was never a right back and was forced into that position. As a right midfielder his final ball improved to average. Where he scored was in using his height and physique with boundess energy. He stopped other sides pressing us down that side, and in my opinion that is why Arbroath signed him. I wish him all the best, he gave 100% every time he pulled the shirt on.

McIntosh will score goals for you, just as his scoring record will make out. Unfortunately he is not the striker to rely upon to pull you out of a hole or score that decisive match winning goal. You get what you pay for... Leighton left us as top scorer and did exactly what we brought him in to do...we can't say the same about some of the other forwards.

Despite scoring in a couple of meaningless games McIntosh was always a valuable backup, sorry to see him go. Compared to Carrick he was always a threat, yet people are very forgiving of Dale with his two or three goals. This season like last will be decided by who has the most potent goal scorers in the side. I personally don't see a real threat from the guys like Stewart, Hawkshaw, Roberts and the latest signing. Unless we see Murray signing players with consistent goals in them then I fear it will be like last season.

Wedderburn maybe one paced but he does a few things exceptionally well. He retains possession with relative ease. He rarely misplaces a pass and links up play effectively. He is also a physical presence at set plays....we could do a lot worse.

Carrick for me is one of the major disappointments of the season but hopefully he will benefit from better players around him next season. He was brought in to create and score goals, he has done neither in my opinion but certainly worth persisting with. For me it is quite simple next season - try and build a side that have goals in them and a bit of physicality. look at Montrose this season, nothing special but well drilled, physical and usually score when on top....not too much to ask I hope.

Can't lump all the blame on the loanees....Gallagher, Carrick, MacDonald and Conroy didn't start today and we have a great performance....wonder why?

I agree to a certain extent that finance next season will be a major issue. My main fear however is the similarities between Murray and Bollan. Both came into a bad situation and steadied the ship and looked at fitness and organisation. What both of them failed to do in my opinion was look to where our goals were coming from. I still believe we started the season way short of goals in all positions, Murray has not addressed that issue in my opinion. If we do not find a team over the close season who have proven goal scorers then I fear for us. Look at the players on the bench for Arbroath most weeks, almost any of them would come straight into our side...it's not all about money.

I'm afraid that 40 points is not going to be enough. Teams have been relegated before with 40+, who would have envisaged this scenario at the start of the season? I really fear for this side as we go into the run in. From the start I was saying that we lack goal scorers in the side (in all positions) Murray hasn't really addressed this issue since he came in. Remember Bollan's side with a sound defence and Keigan Parker up front...we are much the same in my opinion.

Today we were totally impotent as usual and posed no real threat to Raith who weren't at their best. It did not help that we were set up not to lose rather than to have a go at them. Raith were always odds on to take the points so I fail to see the logic in going up their trying to contain them. Reminded me very much of Gary Bollan's approach to games and it ended with the same result. We have to throw caution to the wind now to get the points. I fearthat we will go to Dumbarton next week with the same approach and come back with the same result.

Agree with Chapelhall chap on all of those observations but sometimes it is even simpler to look at the two opposing teams even before the game starts. Forfar have players who are far more comfortable and composed on the ball. They have a forward line who are always going to threaten and above all they have a clear idea of what is expected of them and carry it out for their manager. We were always going to struggle against them. Findlay has to take the blame for assembling a squad who by and large cannot retain possession and who do not know how to put the ball in the net. Murray has brought in the two young guys as stop gaps until he remedies the situation but the season is finished as far as I'm comcerned.