[The Arbroath Thread]

5 hours ago, RedLichtie86 said:

Watched the highlights this morning. 

1st goal was a great hit. Stewart inches away from getting the ball but misses. Defending just not good enough with players quite static.

2nd goal. Great freekick. Gaston unlucky. Its just one of those shots that was hit with enough power and curl that it squeezes in.

3rd goal. Dunfermline player doesnt waste much time whipping the ball back into the box, Gold just not quick enough to close him down and caught out by the quick hit. Dunfermline had done something similar on the 30 min mark which we were lucky to clear. Ball whipped in with pace and dip that is very hard to judge as its behind the defence and dipping too quick for keeper to come and rush for.

 

Those 3 goals killed the game for us. We did threaten in the first half and the game was closer than the scoreline suggested.

Tactically we were setup 4-4-1-1 which was probably right. We could have went with Bird up top, McIntosh on the wing (R or L) and put Stewart to RB in place of Walker. But would have left practically nothing on the bench to come on to change things.

To me McKenna was a mixed bag. Not as much drive and touch was poor at times and corners were good and bad in the first half. A lot better in the 2nd half with the corners leading to the 2 goals. Now to him coming off....... and fans not happy.

 

At that moment Gold had to come off injured with Slater set come on. Its 3-2 and fans have been moaning to get 2 up top. Now McIntyre could just make the 1 sub or bring on the extra attacker aswell. Will have to change the formation to accomodate going 2 up top so someone has to go off. Fans saying it should have been MacKinnon off but Jim would have been reluctant to replace both CM players with Slater on and McKenna dropping back. MacKinnon would have been training and instructed to know what to do in that role.

 

So going from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 was much simpler by replacing McKenna and Gold with Bird and Slater. Keeps better continuity in the midfield but adding more firepower up top and Slater could take the set pieces (I know, not as good). Leaving Jim 1 more time to make 2 more subs if needed (Later Dow for Stowe). Purely a tactical change. If Gold had not come off injured MacKinnon for Bird and McKenna dropping back to CM might have happened.

 

In the end we left too much to do in the 2nd half. Dont think for the most part the tactics or subs were wrong either.

Thanks for that. Can you do the post match interview, please?

Nice to read some decent football chat on this page after some of the nonsense of late.

[The Arbroath Thread]

We’ve been relegation fodder for most of this season due to the squad we started with. The January window was never going to yield signings likely to turn things round.

The last 2 games we’ve been unlucky to lose by the odd goal. I can see commitment and progress. We need to get to the end of the season and take stock.

I understand that Macintosh has an option to leave at the end of the season. He should be a priority to sign. Great today.

[The Arbroath Thread]

There is bound to be a big turnover of players in the summer, but that’s overdue. It’s worth bearing in mind that the boys who want to move on will be playing to impress any likely future club. Players like Jay will want his goals per game looking decent.

[The Arbroath Thread]

3 minutes ago, FFC 1876 said:

We're in need of a new number 10 to push Nesbitt and Oliver for the starting spot but I would have never imagined Mckenna as an option. 

Would be strange for him to go full time at 33.

That really wouldn’t make sense for him. He has a good job as an electrician I believe.

Staying part time and likely playing in L1 I would surely suit him much better.

[The Arbroath Thread]

I really hope that Ricky Little will want to continue with the Lichties next season. He has been an inspiration. His full blooded performances in recent games is typical of his attitude throughout his time at Gayfield.

Sad to see some of the nasty, spiteful comments about club officials. I’ve nothing but praise for all those guys who have given so much of their time and effort to build the club we now have. 

[The Arbroath Thread]

McIntyre inherited an absolute mess. 12 games is nothing like long enough to sort it out. The Club would look ridiculous if it didn’t give him the summer transfer window and at least a couple of months more to make some progress.

[The Arbroath Thread]

A narrow 1 nil defeat by a full time team at the top end of the league. I honestly thought there were plenty of positives today and we could easily have got a result. 
We more than matched Thistle in the first half but clearly lost confidence when we went behind. Second half was disappointing. I still think there was plenty of effort particularly from Ricky in defence. We simply lacked the quality and fitness in midfield and attack. I actually thought Walker did ok when he came on. Murray is starting to look decent.
I don’t see any point or likelihood of management change this year so I’ll back Jim McIntyre to turn this round.

[🇱🇻🇱🇻Arbroath vs Thistle🔴🟡 - 23rd March 2024]

If we can sort out our defending, ideally with Gaston back in goal then it could be an entertaining game. 3 all.

[The Arbroath Thread]

Yesterday’s thumping was what I was fearing week in week out when we got promoted. Absolutely no delusions whatsoever.

For a large part of the last 5 seasons we ground out results based on the incredible performance of the trio, Gaston, Little and ToB. This season our luck has run out with injuries and, to an extent, age. It happens. 

[The Arbroath Thread]

17 minutes ago, SimonLichtie said:

 

We haven't seen Innes Murray play a single minute for us this season while fully fit so it's impossible to really judge anything from him. So looking outside of his time at the club - he's proven himself a good quality L1 player. Above that level we don't know. 

I’m sure it was Innes who made a great run from the right wing today and hit the post. Maybe we will see more of that in the future.

I would be in favour of having him and Mark Stowe next season.

[The Arbroath Thread]

30 minutes ago, Tattie36 said:

 

He’s had that time and it turns out you were probably correct. However there was no way of establishing that back when you were telling us.

There is absolutely no way we can judge the new management team on their games so far. The players who have returned are far from match fit and have barely played together. I didn’t see any lack of effort today, just some awful defending. 
We are almost certainly bound for League 1. Once we have rebuilt this summer then I’ll be critical if we’re struggling at Xmas.

[The Arbroath Thread]

I think Jim McIntyre has come across really well in his interviews so far. His approach is totally different to what we’ve been used to. Despite some heavy defeats he’s been pretty calm and measured. I’ve heard good things about his assistant too.

I suspect they won’t be too concerned about the prospect of some of our established players moving on. The squad needs a total rebuild from the successful group of 2 seasons ago. The fact that no one could seriously name a current Arbroath player who might step up a level or be poached by a rival illustrates where we are.

[Dundee United V Arbroath]

Never seen an Arbroath defence make so many absolute blunders.

[The Arbroath Thread]

The win on Friday was more about the mind game than the physical performance. It was the attitude from Ricky, Gats and Mikey McKenna that picked us up and kept the youngsters going. If we’re playing League 1 next season then these are the guys you want at the core of your team.

[Smokies v Rovers(Friday telly game)]

12 minutes ago, SerieA said:

Any recommendations for a Fish & Chip shop easy accessed on road up?

The Bellrock does great spicy fish and masala fish if you fancy something different. 

[The Arbroath Thread]

Sorry, I’ll rephrase. I absolutely believe that ToB has a hand injury. I’m just astonished that it’s stopping him from playing and might end his season. When do we get a change of luck?

[The Arbroath Thread]

The QP highlights are not for those of a nervous disposition. Both Teale and Boruc clearly struggling without an experienced central defender in the second half. I can’t believe ToB is out with a hand injury. I heard that it might be his season over. Really?

[The Arbroath Thread]

A farcical defence last night and, as Simon has outlined, no out ball. Reilly did remarkably well but without a striker in support was totally isolated. Macintosh did well when he came on and made a difference. Our best striker isn’t being played and no explanation offered. What is going on?

[The Arbroath Thread]

Not a lot of quality on show but Reilly looks the business. If he stays fit, his direct running will get goals and assists for others. Bird or MacIntosh have to play alongside him to make it happen. Mikey might also get back amongst the goals.

[Spiders vs Smokies 27/02]

There’s just a chance that the youngsters we’ve brought in recently can make an impact on the Hampden pitch. Jim McIntyre will have a much better idea of his best eleven after Saturday’s game.

ToB apparently has a broken finger. Whether that can be strapped to allow him to play is unclear. Hammy’s injury didn’t sound serious but we’ll have to see. 

[The Arbroath Thread]

In our 3 week lay off I watched a bit of Junior football. There are boys in that level who are definitely better than some we have recently brought in. 
There will have to be a massive rebuild in the summer whatever happens with our league status. We have very few signed beyond this season or likely to be resigned. I suspect that Jim is already eyeing up some good part timers from the lower tiers.

[The Arbroath Thread]

A baffling startling eleven. Can we please, please improve the communication between management and fans about the state of the squad. Like every Lichtie fan I know, I am totally fed up of the secrecy surrounding our players and their availability. No ToB, Bird or MacIntosh in the starting eleven for mystery reasons. Robinson has been hopeless. A left sided striker, he’s had gilt edged chances on his left foot in the last 2 games and totally fluffed them. Give me Turan any day.

[The Arbroath Thread]

Some good young talent in the squad now. Teale, McKinnon and Reilly. The shame is that we don’t seem able to sign this level of talent on proper contracts. They’ll all be gone in the summer. I’m not sure how we overcome this problem.

[Arbroath (10th) v ICT (8th) 24th Feb]

1 hour ago, Ott said:

the demanding pandrop sookers 

Great description. Every club has them.

[The Arbroath Thread]

I’m sure that Jim McIntyre learned a lot about his squad yesterday. Playing one up front was getting us nowhere. Macintosh had a decent go but Robinson was ineffective in the second half. Bird must surely be injured. I would actually prefer to see Turan ahead of Robinson. McKinnon definitely improved our competitiveness in midfield and gave some good attacking guile. He should start. Teale looks like a real find.