CALDERON
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Posts posted by CALDERON
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Absolutely fantastic news.
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Certainly don't want to be too harsh on the guys. 40 points, at this stage of the season, is an incredible return. If you said to me going down the road to Tannadice last week that we would finish last nights game 5 points clear - I would have taken any possible permutation that led to that. And if you said to me with 12 mins to go at Firhill in August that this is where we would be, I would have assumed heavy narcotics consumption.
I do think that some issues to work on have been exposed though, and things that were perhaps bubbling under the surface. We have conceded as many goals in our last 2 home games, as Utd have in the entirety of the season. Granted, that is partly a reflection on how well they defend, but it's something that has to be addressed urgently. Another option at left back is probably top of the list there. Not meaning to be harsh on Liam Dick, but its probably our weakest area across the back 4 - and the back 4 is our weakest area across the pitch.
Might be sounding harsh, but its a reflection on how well we have done this season that we are genuinely in with a shout for the title - at this stage. It's all to play for. Not gutted at all after last night - didn't see anything I wasn't already aware of, and whilst Utd dropped points also and we were against 10 men, when your having an off night and claw points back - its something to just take a move onto the next game.
And aye, Vaughan has been superb this season. One of several things I have got wrong lately was thinking Vaughan was off it after the 4th ACL. Incorrect, he's been fucking excellent this season.
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At the end of the day, a point is a great result when you consider how poor we were. A lot being made about it being against 10 men, but that highlights how well Ayr played to be honest.
That said, the way we almost consistently start 2nd half's is incredibly infuriating. Incredibly wasteful in possession, and poor decision making.
The spirit in the team is fantastic, but that is beginning to paper over a few cracks. To have amassed 40 points in less than half a season, yet not really put in a convincing 90 minute performance is strange, and not sustainable. 4 points from the Arbroath game and tonight is a mental return, when you see how off it we were. It's a huge wake up call.
No damage done in terms of the lead, but I can't help but feel any title push hinges on how bad Stantons injury is.
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Ayr were fantastic tonight, best side to come to Starks Park in ages.
That said, Rovers were fucking awful. Absolutely huge wake up call.
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Ayr deserve. Absolutely shocking game management to start this half from Rovers.
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Ayr played really well for most of the half to be honest, we struggled with the high press. Need to see it again, but looked like the guy gave the ref a decision to make.
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Going down to the Arbroath game, I was as confident as I've been in some time watching the Rovers - and we put in our worst performance of the season.
Difficult to know what to expect, for the first time this season there's real expectation on us now, especially with Utd playing at the same time.
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Keeping Hamilton fit is something that's absolutely key, for me. He hasn't hit the goal return we thought he would, but having an actual centre forward was so crucial in how we saw the game out on Saturday.
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There's not much at all between us and Utd. It's going to come down to what happens in January. Both in regards with who Utd bring in, and who we keep.
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First time this season where I've felt that we are currently the best side in the league. Could well come down to what happens in January. As it stands, I think Rovers are a better side, but let's see what happens.
Really enjoyed that today.
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Clepington Road still decent for parking?
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17 minutes ago, Alert Mongoose said:
I'm still a bit worried about our home form. Vaughan being suspended (6 bookings) for this one is a positive for us, I guess.
f**k sake, I didn't realise that.
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That's extremely poor from Dick for the penalty. For all the attacking options we have, we really do need to stop conceding such cheap goals. Hopefully, at some point we can field a settled back line, but it does feel like the standout weak area of our game.
Really unlucky from their defender for the winner. Just one of those things. However, we only had the ball in that area of the pitch because we were attacking to win the game. Arbroath were happy with the draw and were trying to see it out, we went for the win.
That said, it didn't feel like it was going to happen last night, and whilst it was great to win late again, it should serve as a warning call. Winning games late on can be seen as the mark of title contenders, but it's not sustainable, as much as its happened frequently this season. We've still to see much in the way of a solid and settled defensive performances, and we simply must stop giving such cheap opportunities away.
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1 hour ago, Broken Algorithms said:
An absolutely absurd position for us to be in.
Had you told me on 1st February 2022, we'd go to Tannadice and on course to potentially sell out the shed, top of the Championship with the full backing from the fan base of our board, I'd have told you to stop talking pish.
We're currently 11 points ahead of Partick, and 17 points ahead of 5th place.
A win on Saturday would be seismic from our side. It would likely force United to gamble in January. A draw would still be excellent, and a loss is by no means catastrophic. All the pressure is on Dundee United and Goodwin.
Aye, I remember going to the Kilmarnock game a few weeks after the Goodwillie incident, in an away support that amounted to about 80, and the other games immediately afterwards, and wondered if I'd ever get the club I'd support back again. Genuinely felt at that time that part of Raith Rovers as I knew it had died. Incredible to think where the club is now vs then. Regardless of what happens this season, it's a huge step forward to be talking about football.
Really does remind us all to enjoy every good time whilst it's here. Looking forward to the game on Saturday and the occasion.
I do feel we need to leave Tannadice top if we are to be considered "real" contenders though. Not that I'd be dissapointed with a strong 2nd place, which should be the primary aim given where we are - but it would be nice to keep the push going into the new year. I fear if we relinquish top spot whilst having played a game more, that Utd will kick on from there.
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I was happy with a draw. Easily the worst I've seen us this season. Arbroath were very well disciplined and forced us to play it long, which was fairly wretched to watch. Fortunately they threatened even less than we did.
Great spirt and determination, but I hope it serves as a wake up call. Against anyone else tonight we probably lose that.
We really missed Hamilton, and I think we miss Brown in midfield.
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47 minutes ago, clashcityrocker said:
Raith can count their lucky stars tonight - they were very fortunate to get a win.
Arbroath defended well and then 5 mins into injury time Raith steal a goal.
Fair play to Raith for their outstanding run - but Arbroath were worthy of a point and surely can only be a matter of time before they start collecting points.
Thought all the Arbroath players put in good shift and battled for every ball - sometimes, football can be very unfair.
That Arbroath side worked incredibly hard tonight, but I can't see anyone in the league being worse than them over the course of the season. Very well organised and generally their game plan worked well, but there's very little quality there.
We were miles off it tonight, but probably the better side. Need a fucking massive improvement for Saturday though.
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1-1 a fair reflection. I imagine we are playing Gullan in the role meant for Hamilton, but it's really not working.
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Any win will do. We haven't won any league games convincingly, so not taking anything for granted here.
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Have to say Dunfermline are looking good bet for top 4. Difficult to see anyone outside the playoffs overhauling any of the current top 4.
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2 hours ago, Cosmic Joe said:
Raithed it.
Do keep up
Fucking superb.
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I was caught in traffic going through Stonehaven and was extremely close to turning round and just watching the game in the boozer. Thank the absolute f**k I didn't.
I was certain at 3-2 that we were going to lose, and was raging at how we had thrown it away. Wrong again.
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What another fucking terrible start to a second half.
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There you go. Set your fucking watch by it.
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The New Raith Rovers Thread
in Scottish Championship General Chatter
Posted · Edited by CALDERON
Difficult to know what to expect in January without knowing what the club are aiming for in the remainder of the season. The approach of being happy with the squad and doing nothing, will be absolutely fine for 2nd place (or 3rd allowing for a tough run of form) - which everyone would have taken at the start of the season.
I do feel we will need to strengthen in January if we want it to be any more than that. Partly down to the fact Utd almost certainly will. Particularly in defence. Assuming O'Reilly isn't here, our options at Centre Back would be Brown (we need him in midfield, IMO, thats been evident over 2.5 of the last 3 games), Watson (Real concerns over his fitness - he was touch and go 3 months ago, and hasn't been in the squad since, Corr (I've been encouraged by him, but he doesn't look just quite ready yet), Masson (not ready yet) or Dick (decent enough option, but out of position). Thats assuming one of these will partner Murray, who is more than good enough for what we need.
The fact that we have conceded as much goals in our last 2 home games, as Utd have all season, does show that we need to address that area of the pitch. An option at full back, particularly left back, would be good too. Liam Dick is a perfectly capable Championship full back, I do think its an area of the pitch that has been exposed a bit lately.
Assuming we can keep a hold of Byrne, and we get Brown back in there, I'm perfectly happy with Midfield and attacking options in general - although a centre forward would be good. Hamilton gives us a lot, but we are reliant on him being fit and available. In games like Arbroath away, where he wasn't, it really held us back.
That probably sounds harsher than its intended - we've done very very well this season - however 40 points before even reaching half way is a generous points total for a team who haven't played convincingly over a full 90 minutes, and who haven't won any games by more than 1 goal. At the risk of sounding like Dundee Utd twitter, that isn't something that is sustainable over the course of the entire season - and I do feel we need to incorporate an element of solidity if we are to challenge for the league going into the final quarter.
I don't want to see us "go for broke" or anything like that, this is a longer term project and by no means promotion or bust (in this season at least!). However, I would like to see us sensibly strengthen in the window, if we do then I think we have a genuine chance of the title if we can compliment the attacking flair and team spirit with a bit more "steel". Also could well be that this isn't entirely realistic, given our wealth of attacking options that we currently have!