The Toun Clock

Vaughan out for 6 weeks is a big blow for you guys but if we stick to the same back 5 then that lion you have could get on the scoresheet.

Out of interest, what groups are they meeting and what are they discussing?

The closure of what was the old cage at East End. There had been an incident with someone throwing a coin during a Pars Vs Falkirk game. Sure the guy turned out to be a Celtic fan. The section was always known for creating atmosphere and also had a pretty decent view of the pitch. The club made the decision to close the section due to the behavior but gladly move them into the corner of the North West stand and to this day the section remains closed. Atmosphere has been pretty poor since although so has the football.

Who's the witch? I watched that back recently and McNeill actually looked so shaky any time a ball was played into the box, a terrible goalkeeper. Davie Hay appointment for me is up there. We went from sexy football/good manager, 4th place finish in the SPL, the SCF and Europe in 2003/04 to long ball, haddies, Davie Haye and avoiding relegation by the skin of our teeth. The 2004/05 season was like a new world compared to the one prior. I always remember the rumour coming on STV news that Davie Hay might be taking over and my dad and grandad being disappointed, I didn't really know much about him as I was 12.. We still had the core of good defenders and midfielders from the Calderwood era but Crawford had left for Plymouth, Brewster left at some point that season and Barry Nic was injured for 90% of it. Some other fan favourites departed like Lee Bullen but we were able to get in some real haddies like Jesper Christiansen & Georgi Hristov, the latter being one of the worst to pull on the black & white. In more recent times I was always a bit surprised that after winning league 1 in 2015/16 Josh Falkingham wasn't kept on. Regardless of size he was a solid player and should have been allowed a crack at the Championship with us, he was crucial part of that title winning team. Maybe he chose not to sign but I think he was happy here and AJ didn't want him. And I'll add Shaun Byrne to that. Another deemed not good enough and ended up going on to better things with Livi and Dundee. Two centre midfielders that were streets ahead of what we then had for a number of seasons.

Not at all sure, was just something I'd heard or read years ago. Could be nonsense. know next to nothing about Ice Hockey.

I don't hate Raith at all, just a good local rivalry, but at the same time I don't want to see RR win every week. I really missed the games when we were in different leagues, can't believe the derby was gone for nearly a decade between 2000 and 2009. It's the game I look for first when the fixtures are released as it tends to be a good day out regardless of the 90 minutes in between. Short train journey, busy boozers and normally a good crowd/atmosphere created by both teams. Don't get me wrong, the 90mins and hours before after the games there's definitely a little heat but after that I'm over it. The Dunfermline & Falkirk rivalry has more hatred for me. Two sets of fans who just really dislike each other although no one is really sure why. Heard many a reason, even one going back to Ice Hockey in the 60s.

Must have some amount of mental toughness to continue to bounce back from numerous long term injuries. The boy Souttar at Hearts is another who's been very unfortunate.

Aye that's purely what I'm going on. Was forgetting it was on the telly so that may have an impact but I'm sure most will be itching to get to an away game, especially a derby.

What's the script with Vaughan? Just a run of the mill knock that has him out for a game or two or a reoccurrence of a previous injury. He's a right thorn in our side but a fantastic player, really felt for him with the numerous bad injuries he's had over the years.

Possibly doesn't matter for East End but we could potentially take 2500-3000 to Starks next week, do Raith not have about 2000 home fans? Likely that could hit the 5000 mark.

Completely agree. I didn’t want PG and was disappointed when he was announced but I’ve bought into it and even bought a ST for the first time since 2016/17 without knowing if we’d actually get to go or not. However I don’t think a lot of fans have been won over and it would have taken a good start for that to happen. Beating Thistle, Dumbarton and Stenny in the cup won’t cut it for most. A bad start in the league was the last thing PG needed. I don’t think anyone can get too annoyed if we ship a few goals at Ibrox on Friday night but a comfortable win for Raith in the derby could end up toxic as you say.

I gave Graham the benefit of the doubt on Saturday as I left East End and said he'd had a poor game and that there was little he could do about the OG - it just bounced off him and into the net but after watching the highlights today I'm fairly certain most defenders would have smashed that info the cemetery. Maybe I'm being harsh?

Yeah it'll be tense. Probably both coming off a defeat in the LC and a poor league start. You're probably right. I'm not aware of the usual Rovers home crowds pre covid but I know we would normally bring 2000-3000 so could be around the 5000 mark if so. Suppose the game is on BBC so that could have an impact.

We're playing Rangers at Ibrox, I'm not a massive fan of 5 at the back but going away from home to play against the best team and champions of Scotland is probably where 5 is most suited. If we play 5 at the back at Starks next week I'd be disappointed.

Quick check of Twitter and it would seem that Aberdeen, Celtic, Rangers, Ross Co & St.Johnstone have all been given the green light to have full capacity. Fingers crossed Fife Council let the relevant clubs know so that we can get some away fans at Starks a week on Friday.

If Morelos & Kent play we might lose 10 nil, if they don't we might only lose 5 nil. I don't actually expect us to win, just that the pasting might not be as big.

Didn't realise Rangers are playing in Europe tomorrow night before playing us on Friday. Here's hoping it goes to extra time and they then rest some of the big guns because it could be a pasting. The only good thing about this tie is the share of the gate which could potentially be a sell out in terms of the home crowd. OFW Comrie, Watston, Vytas, Breen, Edwards Cole, Dorrans, Pybus Wighton, Toddy I'd go for this team. I don't think OFW is necessarily better than Mehmet but Saturday was bad, really bad. Harsh on MacDonald but Comrie is a better fullback/wing back than he is a centre half so has to go back to a more familiar position. Graham shouldn't be in the 18 so I'd bring in Vytas and Breen to add some physicality. I've not seen much of Pybus but I'd start him for legs and energy in the middle. Play two up with Wighton and Toddy, I watched Livi play Rangers last weekend with Bruce Anderson as the lone striker and I don't think he touched the ball, completely isolated. I like O'Hara but I think we should be a bit more physical and out of the three strikers, Wighton and Toddy both had better games on Saturday. Hurts to say this but after Saturday, Rangers -5 is a safe bet.

First game yesterday since pre-covid. It was nice to be back in familiar surroundings but the football on show was dreadful. Mehmet reminds me of Chris Smith. Might pull off a save or two that is quite impressive but any time a ball goes in the box or is played back to them your arse is twitching. Comrie is one of our better players but doesn’t suit the RCB role, he’s much more suited to being a wing back but MacDonald has also done well there, so Grants trying to fit them both in like Clarke does with Tierney and Robertson. Graham is a young boy but by Christ he’s been sh*te since the league campaign began. Watson and Edwards were okay, at least with Edwards you know he’s going to try and create. Sounds weird but I felt a bit for Dorrans yesterday even though he’s the more experienced player. You could see he was playing passes into places but the players weren’t on the same page as him. Also he was taking passes in the middle that were a bit short and put him under pressure. Cole was okay but didn’t do enough, Thomas was anonymous, always wanting to take an extra touch or take someone on in a silly place. O’Hara and Toddy tried but the service was shite. Toddy should have scored if it wasn’t for a belter save from the Thistle keeper. If that was in the Premiership it would be replayed for years. Wighton done well when he came on but still couldn’t get the ball in the net. So disappointing yesterday. I wasn’t happy when PG was appointed but with some of the signings, his interviews and the good league cup results I was really excited, however I have to say that I felt like I left with the same disappointment as I had under Crawford. Forget the Rangers game but if we lose at Rovers without a whimper I can see the knives being out already. On a separate note, did anyone see Turner and Shields in the middle of the pitch after the game. Shields went on to shake hands with the players and approached Turner. I’m not sure what was said but it looks like they were going back and forth and a few of the Thistle boys were looking in. Might have been nothing but given what happened last season I wonder if a few words were had. Someone in the main stand may have had a better view and it may have been all polite but didn’t look it from my angle.

When did Lewis Martin last appear in a Pars shirt? Alan Temple has said PG is happy with the squad but not ruling out anyone else coming in, sounds a bit ;-). Could we see the pen GIF today?

No steak bridies for us this weekend, it's a cruel world!

Germans attending the game this weekend!

Our new investors and owners will be in attendance. Queue a 0-5 thrashing!

I'm not too concerned about ST sales. Up until yesterday it was unclear whether we'd be allowed more than 2000 fans inside East End, knowing we'd already sold 2000+ tickets. Immediately that puts fans off as they may well be paying for a ST but not getting to the game, or hoping to get some luck in a ballot. I'd like to think that with payday for most having just gone by and knowing we can get 5000 in EEP that numbers will start to kick on. I've got a ST this season for the first time sine 2016/17, absolutely can't wait to get back on Saturday. Last game I was at was the 2-0 win against Dundee Utd. Seems like eternity!

Signing incoming. New shiny signing gif on Twitter