Kevchenko

Bitterly disappointing result which stalls a bit of the momentum that had been gathering. Probably was a 4231 but Buchanan and Steven were pushed very high and very wide and pretty much became a front three that was stretched across the entire width of the pitch - meant Scougall (who I thought played well) was the only real support Roy was getting and had to support further forward, leaving Hetherington and Roberts a little light in the middle of the pitch. Also thought the extreme width nullified Taggs and Deveney a bit, although being in a back four there’s probably a little less onus on them to get forward compared to in the 3/5. Did think Taylor Steven was wasted out wide though. Dunbar management team were there watching so hopefully lulled them in to a false sense of security ahead of next week!

Echo others in saying I’m absolutely delighted with the news. I know it’s only a couple of weeks, but there’s a different feeling about the club since the Stirling game and feels so much more positive than a few weeks ago. Like others, definitely tempering expectations with Andy being a rookie manager, but never thought I’d be saying I’m now looking forward to going to Meadowbank on Saturday. Hopefully starts with 3 points and a chance of sitting in a playoff spot come 5pm on Saturday!

Podcast episode is now up - back to back wins & clean sheets, Kurtis Roberts engine and Ally Roy being magnificent! https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

Not the best game but a great 3 points and almost as importantly, another clean sheet. First half was a snooze fest which we just about shaded although both sides probably should have had a goal - Buchanan needs to score his and McKechnie (?) the same (although it was a really good save from PJ). Thankfully things livened up after with the break with Queens coming out the strongest initially. After weathering a little, I thought we were then comfortable for the rest of the game and worth the win. Thought Deveney regressed a little from his performance last week but the defence as a whole were decent enough - what a difference cutting out the stupid individual errors is making! Stevie H and Kurtis Roberts were good together again - agree with others that Roberts was a stand out today. Front 3 worked well linking up and really should have had more goals - Taylor Steven especially with a great chance. Just as impressive was how they defended from the front - there’s a massive difference how those 3 work as a unit to press and you can see them all communicating to each other so that they try to not leave an easy out ball, which ultimately led to the goal. Bobby Wales just needs a goal as the rest of his play is excellent - suspect we may notice his absence next week. Ally Roy…what a guy! Quieter game, but quality finish when he got the opportunity. Huge achievement getting 4 in 4 and fingers crossed he can go one further next weekend. Pretty desperate stuff from a Queens point of view. The way they are playing reminds me a lot of how we were around 6 weeks ago - fine passing at the back but unable to move it between the lines resulting in an aimless hoof up the park, more often than not turning it over, while creating very little overall. It’s exactly how we were playing and it becomes pretty turgid to watch. Similarly, whenever we won possession, there was a gap of about 30/40 yards where the midfield should be - gave us so much space to drive out of defence and through the midfield. Feel Queens have a lot of potential strength in wide areas (both on the pitch and sitting on the bench) and Bartley should have them moving the ball from side to side, but MUCH higher up the pitch.

The klaxons have sounded and we've done an emergency podcast following last nights news. We talk some of the highs and lows of Rice's reign before firing out some potential names for the job. https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

Pretty much sums it up for me as well. Cracking way to finish his time with us last weekend.

That explains it! Nah, not at all, she was really nice!

There's a wee preview of Saturday in the second half of our podcast this week if you fancy a listen before Saturday. Thanks again to @19QOS19 for joining us later on to chat Marvin Bartley, injuries and the season having a familiar feel to last year! https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

This week's episode of the podcast is up and its a very different atmosphere from last week! We discuss an organised defence, the impact of Steven Buchanan and the return of Quinn Coulson and Ally Roy before looking ahead to the Queen of the South game. Thanks as always to @19QOS19 for joining us in the second half. https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

Exactly the sort of reaction that was needed after last week, a win and good performance to go with it. Huge having Ally Roy back and good decision from Rice to bring Quinn Coulson in out the cold. That was the type of defensive performance we need from Devine and Neill regularly, it freed up Taggs to push forward more. No failures, but I thought Kurtis Roberts put everything in to today. Absolutely burst a gut in that midfield.

Next episode of the podcast is up - a brutal breakdown of last Saturday, a season defining run of games and the possibility of some fireworks at Forthbank. https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

By looks of things you could get a cracking view of the game by going back and forth on the train all afternoon!

Was the 3 centre halves and 2 wingbacks but we were all over the place so looked like a 4 at times with Deveney dropping while Buchanan stayed in midfield. Who knows what it was supposed to be.

Any chance we can switch the fixture to Palmerston?!

Without the ball we fell in to a 4-5-1, we were so disjointed that it was actually difficult to tell what we were in possession (not being able to hold on to it for more than a couple of passes doesn’t help!) but mostly looked to have Steven and Wales up top as a 2 in the first half. The midfield was a mess - at times Stevie was the farthest forward midfielder with Roberts the deepest. Miko seemed to float around not doing anything or picking up anyone - I’d have subbed him before halftime to be honest.

Never said it was - fwiw I think £18 at the Recs is also too much and should have been reduced when we dropped down from the Championship, just a bit of psychological thing of getting no change from a £20 note for my bovril!

Only had a quick scan of league results but think BF was P25 W6 D7 L12. Rice this season in the league is P11 W3 D2 L6 - slightly better win ratio but worse loss ratio. Since he came in I think his league record (including playoffs) is P59 W26 D10 L23 - much better win % and not much difference in loss % - Rice’s figures definitely benefit from last season and the 10 games he had at the end of season 21/22. Incidentally, on a points per game basis, this season so far is identical to Ferguson’s - 1 ppg.

Shameful performance from us today, particularly in the first half. Have said before that you can’t really pin the individual defensive mistakes that have plagued our season on Rice, but the set up and complete dysfunction at defending set pieces is absolutely on him. Bringing Virtanen in today was a big mistake. Said on our podcast this week that to me it’s quite comfortably the best Falkirk side since they’ve been in league 1 but in truth they could have played in 2nd gear today and still won that game. Noticed a drop in our crowd at the Edinburgh City home game and Montrose away although seems to have been around usual levels last week against Kelty. Can imagine 20 notes to watch league 1 football probably raised a few eyebrows with some today to be fair.

That's this weeks episode of the podcast up as we look back at Saturday, review the first quarter of the season and look ahead to the Falkirk game this weekend. https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

An hour of Alloa chat this week on the podcast covering the Edinburgh City draw, Montrose defeat and a look ahead to Kelty this weekend. We chat about the new frontline, David Devine and Steven Buchanan. https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com

Can’t imagine there will be many players queuing up to spot him if he ever forgets his wallet.

Might be an unpopular opinion but Taggs has been a bit shaky defensively recently to say the least. Still looked his usual self going forward though.

As much as I’m in favour of a change, can’t pin today on Rice. He can legislate for the shambolic defending for the first goal in particular. Played well again this week and thought we shaded the game. How neither of the handballs are given in the second half is beyond me.

Got a point thanks to Ogayi when we deserved nothing last week and feel that’s what Edinburgh got thanks to MacAdams this week. A couple of his saves in particular were extremely impressive. Thought we actually played well enough today, definitely an improvement on last week, trying to move the ball around rather than launching it long - was a bit like the midweek game to be honest - but it’s still a very poor result at home to the bottom team. New boys did well, Roy in particular - makes a big difference having a striker we can play a ball in to who can control it and then bring a teammate in to play. We were a bit of a shambles defensively in the first half and were fortunate Edinburgh couldn’t take advantage of almost always having an unmarked man when they went forward, but looked a lot better after halftime. Wonder if we will see Taggs moving in to midfield after his display today was the driving force and unlucky not to score a couple!

Quiet week/day for Alloa but we managed to find an hour of stuff to talk about for the podcast somehow!!! Annan, Rangers B, Ally Roy, Nathan Cannon, Bobby Wales, Edinburgh City...and managerial pressure?! https://waspsnest.buzzsprout.com