m4d

Can’t believe we started the game with 4 defenders on the park for the first time this season (if you don’t count Stewart as a defender) and it lasted 5 minutes. Then we lost another 2. Down to 1 defender again. And he has a broken toe. Walker was apparently on crutches and could be out for the season. Steele needs an op so he is apparently out for the season. Hopefully Delaney not too bad. I just counted. Including Hylton who we don’t know if he is away or injured at the moment, we have 12 players injured in a squad of 25. From what I have heard from players on co-commentary over the past few weeks I think 5 are still medium to long term and the rest are either unknown or short term. Gaston - couple of weeks Steele - probably season Little - long term O’Brien - ? Delaney. - ? Walker - probably long term/season Slater - back soon McKenna - mid to late February Dow - running but still struggling Norey - pulled up in training ? Murray - pulled up in training ? Hylton - ? Also Scott Allan out on loan

The negativity from the kick off tonight was shocking. Set up to get into shape (4-1-4-1) and not give anything away. Clearly told to slow the game down at every opportunity. As soon as Dunfermline came out at a higher tempo in the second half we were always going to go behind and we are so fragile just now we weren’t going to get back into it. Confidence is clearly rock bottom and belief too so don’t set up negative because what does that say to the players? I don’t believe you can win this so 0-0 will be a great result!!! We then lose heavily anyway. I’d rather lose heavily giving it a go than trying to get a 0-0. Take the flipping brakes off and let the players express themselves and build confidence by letting them know they have the belief of the “management” team.

Week 2 - Forfar

Week 1 - Falkirk

Arbroath 22/23 So last season the league stats for the season were excellent reading. Not so much this year. The stand out stats are; Equaled the least number of home wins ever with 2 (only 2002/03 equals it) Least number of home goals ever with 11 - the next worst in a full season was 17 (twice). We scored 14 (26 games) and 16 (27 games) in the covid shortened seasons Most draws ever with 16 Worst ever goals scored in a full season with only 29 (apart from the covid seasons above when we scored 24 and 28 respectively) On the plus side we have only finished higher in the overall Scottish standings 16 times. (From 95 seasons) Our average finishing position in Scotland since we joined the leagues in 1921/22 has improved and is now under 27 at 26.96 Other notable stats from the season are; In League games only. We had a creditable 9 clean sheets. We had a dreadful 15 games that we did not score. Equaling seasons 1923/24 (38 games), 1990/91 (39 games), 2002/03 (36 games). We have had 2 worse seasons in this regard - 1993/94 we failed to score in 16 games (39 games) and the worst is 1984/85 with 17 games we drew a blank (39 games) And we had a tedious six 0-0’s. We only scored 1 goal in the last 6 games. The header from ToB at Raith prevented our worst run of games without scoring. Without that goal we’d have failed to score in 6 matches. Our worst run is 5 league games, numerous times. Goalscorers for the season were However! We finished 8th and survived in the championship for another season and we are still the best part-time team in Scotland.

Disappointed that I can’t get to the game tonight having planned to go when it was on the Saturday. Also disappointed that there is no ppv??? I would have thought with the fixture being moved to the Friday night, thus completely knackering the chances of some fans getting to the game, and it now not being within the “no ppv” hours of Saturdays, that the least QP could have done was cater for those that can’t get along on a Friday night by putting it out on ppv. As I said, disappointed.

And well done to Michael McKenna being the top scorer in the division. Quite an achievement considering he played half the season behind the front line. [emoji1319][emoji1319][emoji1319][emoji460]️

Magnificent performance tonight. With only 5 losses that is the least number of defeats in a league season in our history, and the 18 shut outs equals the most clean sheets in a league season as well. And what a turn out tonight. [emoji1319][emoji1319][emoji1319][emoji173]️[emoji1145]

We could set the all time league record for the club by not losing on Friday. We have never had a season with less than 6 defeats. We could also equal our best ever league season of 18 clean sheets with one v Morton. Incidentally we could also equal our most ever League draws of 15.

I remember seeing Tommy Walker playing for us and he did sign for Airdrie who were a top team back then. We weren’t too shabby either.

Yes. It was an away fixture in the old league cup sections. If I remember correctly it wasn’t at Celtic Park as it was getting something done to it. Derek Rylance scored a hat trick and an own goal.

I remember the crazy days of Joe Carson playing up front, and Billy Wells. (Both were centre half’s for the younger fans)

Noooooo. Hands off, he’s ours. I meant to replace the Campbell’s when they decide to pack it in. He has a hands on role already, no doubt he’s picked up a few pointers, has good contacts and I do like a bit of continuity.

Rab Douglas if he wanted it for me.

No. Working fine. Refresh the page or message the guys from the icon bottom right. They’re very helpful.

Biggest league win since 5-1 v Brechin on 17/11/2018. Biggest win in the second tier since we beat Montrose 4-0 on 21/02/1979. 42 years ago. In fairness it’s only our 5th season at this level since then but still........

Really disappointing. Been waiting for years for an away draw to Ross county as it’s only a few miles from me. Anyway, we’re in a great position with a real chance to get to the next round. They’re not a bad team but Montrose showed they’re vulnerable.

Had major problems getting on despite setting it up in the morning. Ended up missing the first 35 minutes and having to pay twice to get it to work. However, fantastic effort by the club and it is brilliant to have this service. I saw my first game in 1970 when, if you weren’t there you got a half time score on the radio, a full time score on the teleprinter and read the paper the next day. Frustrating when it wasn’t working but loved it once it did. This is brilliant. Decent performance, Gav looked excellent, Smith too, great effort from Luuuuuke andunlucky for Bobby on his birthday. We’ve got a real chance to qualify this year. Look forward to the service as it develops and the teething problems get sorted.

He played well and is now off to Wembley to play Notts Co for a place in League 2 next season.

Finished 15th in 72-73 and 13th in 73-74. After our bottom finish the next season and the subsequent reconstruction we finished 5th in the 1st Division which was 15th overall in Scotland. Incidentally our best ever finishes were 11th, both in the 1930’s, we got a 14th around that time as well. This seasons 5th place, 17th overall in Scotland is our best finish since that 5th in 1975/76, 44 years ago.

I like the way the non league play offs in England and the NFL do it. The team that finishes highest in the play off positions are rewarded with a home game v the lowest ranked play off team in a one off game. The 2nd place at home to the 3rd. The final is played at the highest ranked team left in. Rewards for the final league position. Someone else mentioned regionalised leagues. Going by the regionalised league cup groups in recent years I really hope that never happens. You would end up forever playing the same teams in a perpetual Groundhog Day. You would end up forever playing the same teams in a perpetual Groundhog Day. You would end up ............ It’s bad enough as it is now.

True, and a fair point. Either it’s a non starter or everyone accepts that squads will be a bit different when we eventually start again. It just doesn’t sit right that the season is decided on 3/4 of the games or that it is just wiped from existence. Those appear to be the most likely options though.

Bottom line is it was far too early to vote to end the season. Who knows when football will be able to return. We could be 10 months in which case we could then just play this season to an end. Financially that may not pan out but, if we end the season now, we could be in a position to start playing again with not enough time to play even half a season.

I’d like the season to be played to a finish whenever that may be with a shorter season after it if necessary. If the leagues have to end now on a points per game there are a lot of agendas with controversy over the promoted teams and the teams in the relegation spots, so, how about a compromise. If we finish it now on a pts per game then have straight forward play off between the relegation place v the promotion place. That would be Hearts v Dundee Utd, Partick Thistle v Raith, Stranraer v Cove and Brechin, Brora and Kelty in a play off tournament. If necessary extend it to 2nd place teams as well. One off games, exciting, sellable to tv and will only take up one week. Nobody is automatically relegated or promoted but will have the chance to win promotion or save themselves from the drop. Basically, put your money where your mouth is. Unfortunately it wouldn’t solve the premier title race but maybe rangers need to admit they blew that due to bad form, not because the season finished early. Of course, it won’t please everyone, nothing will.

I am also very concerned that the spfl are going to use this crisis to restructure the leagues and get their wish to give in to the old firm as usual and allow their colts teams into the senior leagues. If so, that would be an utter disgrace.