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Raith Against The Machine

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    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted · Edited by Raith Against The Machine

    I'm a few days behind the curve, but I've finally managed to finish listening to the extended interview with Sim, Barrowman and Kilgour. 

    My main reaction is the same as the others I saw on here and elsewhere; the overwhelming feeling I took from it was optimism. I know there's a general air of "that money could have been spent on another right back" whenever a new person joins the non-playing staff, but it sounds like we'll finally be moving away from the Committee set-up that has persisted for so long. We'll have actual professionals with actual experience doing actual jobs. And that's not a criticism of the volunteers and staff who have been in place prior to now, who frankly haven't had a fair chance of success. You've got a fairly unique, fairly high profile business and it's being run by the same small group of people who are having to wear all these different hats in all these different situations, with no clear structure or permanent leadership. 

    Rather oddly, I liked how reluctant the two new guys were to make any kind of football-related promises. I'm putting words in their mouths, because they didn't say it explicitly, but the feeling I got was that they want to take the club to a point where the success on the park almost comes naturally. In as much as, you're not spending money directly on the park, you're spending it everywhere else so that the support structures exist to generate footballing success. And ultimately, it puts you in much better stead whatever happens on the park. We're in a position at the moment where, if we'd been relegated this season the club would be in disarray, and if we'd (somehow) been promoted, we'd be totally unprepared for that too. Folk won't like it, but we need to get closer to where Dunfermline are (and then, hopefully, go beyond it). They got relegated, didn't really change much including most of their squad, but brought in a competent manager and bounced right back. They've got a good structure, so one relegation isn't the end of the world. 

    That said, I'd be surprised if there wasn't a relatively significant investment in the squad for next season. Just from a pure PR point of view, it's the best way to get the fans on-side. It seems like exactly the kind of thing this consortium will be keen to do. 

    There are plenty of disastrous football club ownership sagas that began with fanfare and near-universal acclaim. There's absolutely nothing concrete that confirms that this won't end the same way. But everything we've seen and heard so far has ticked boxes for me. Nothing extravagant, nothing too "crowd-pleasy" right out of the gate, and a list of plans and projects that feel considered and well thought-out. Even just the way these guys are talking about the things they've looked at, it all sounds very reassuring. It's "This is an idea. This is who thought of it. This is the other person, and their background, who we've got looking into it now. This is why we hope it works. This is why it might not." Not to cast aspersions, but I don't feel like we'd be getting that kind of feeling if Mike Dellios was still around. It'd be "This is an idea. I saw it on Facebook. It was shared by a Chinese billionaire who is definitely my friend who exists." 

    As with everything, the proof will be in the pudding, and there are shades of grey throughout. The new board, like the old, will be judged on what they can achieve, not on what they say. But the signs, as they're being shown to us now, look positive. It's worth saying that we've seen absolutely nothing of the fundamental principles underpinning this takeover. No percentages, no numbers, no plan for the ownership of the stadium going forward. But, based on what we've seen, I'm prepared to wait for that. Ruaridh and Andy asked the support to "come with us" and right now, I'm totally onboard, and I'm excited to see what's next.

    Finally, at the risk of blowing smoke where I've blown it before, a word for Davie Hancock. Have you heard some of the clowns who do commentary and interviews for other club TV services? And can you imagine some of those gibbons trying to conduct an hour long interview with three members of their club hierarchy? It doesn't bear thinking about. But in Davie's hands you get sensible questions, the subjects are given more than enough space to get across what they feel they want to communicate, and I feel confident that the views of the support are being properly represented. A proper Rover. 

    26

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, Zen Archer (Raconteur) said:

    Dundee*, Queens Park, Hamilton & Ayr.

    *to be replaced by Dunfermline next season.

    Thistle also put a team into the Reserve Cup, but not the Reserve League, for some reason. 

    Regardless, I don't see these guys leaving for other Championship clubs. If they're choosing to go, they'll go to the Lowland League/League Two and look to be 'players' rather than 'prospects'. 

    2

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Hank Scorpio said:

    I don’t think we will retain, for one reason or another:

    MacDonald, Nolan, Lang, Spencer, Connolly, McBride, Ngwenya, Mahady, Young, Mitchell, Masson, Akio, Goncalves. 
     

    Out of the players who aren’t already contracted. I think the following will stay:

    Thomson, Dick, McGill. 
     

    In other words, a complete overhaul of the squad. 

    Give nurses Tom Lang footballers' Liam Dick's wages. 

    0

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Grant228 said:

    Again? I'm not massively sold on him, he spent all his time injured last time, and when he did play I thought he looked rash, doesn't seem to understand that not every ball is there to be won. 

    Are you likely to be looking for another starting centre back, do you think, with Benedictus and Breen already signed up? 

    0

    The New Raith Rovers Thread

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    Aye, I'm nowhere near the point of writing off Ethan Ross (or, for that matter, Jamie Gullan). He hasn't been anywhere near his best this season, but he's also had absolutely no opportunity to get any kind of match fitness. It sounds like the last couple of games might be the only ones where he hasn't had an active injury. 

    Gullan is a slightly different case, in as much as I don't think he'd have been massively more impressive this season even if fully fit, but that's largely down to the system we've tried to play him in. He's good enough to play Championship football, but he needs to be used in the right way. If Murray wants to continue with this same attacking setup, I'd be happy enough to see Gullan go. 

    1

    Final Day: Raith Rovers vs Thistle - Friday 5th May 2023

    in Scottish Championship General Chatter

    Posted

    For the vast majority of that half, it looked every bit a good side at full strength with everything on the line versus a limited side on the bones of their arse with f**k all to play for. 

    Pleasantly surprised to see us grab that goal, and have a wee thing to cheer at the end of a fairly drab season. 

    I really can't see any scenario where we hold out, though. Even if we're still level with fifteen minutes to go, we've only got a full back on the bench to refresh things. The interesting thing will be whether Thistle break the deadlock early or late. 

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