Passionate
-
Posts
1,936 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Posts posted by Passionate
-
-
17 hours ago, mcjameos said:
Not the worst position to be in. Airdrie already secured fourth and third requiring; Airdrie victory, Partick loss, turn around 10 goal shortfall. Not impossible but hopefully Airdrie see going for it as too much of a risk at this stage and will now focus on the play-offs by resting their key players. Also Morton have still to secure 5th with Dunfermline or Ayr able to catch them - hopefully they will be up for the Inverness game.
Always liked Morton ........
Airdrie will definitely rest the majority of starters, the likes of Gallagher's, a Murray Aiken, McCabe himself, ATS , Dunlop will probably play, weakened yes but still decent players..
I have found our 2 home games against QP were very tight games which could have went either way, a little surprised you have ended up at the wrong end of the league....
The player who impressed me most was the big RB from Celtic, McPherson is he one of the reasons for your drop off, he was quality..
0 -
13 minutes ago, Diamonds on the Windshield said:
What are the thoughts on trying to get Paton if Queens Park get relegated?
He still has 2 years left on his deal apparently, and f**k no, for other reasons...
2 -
Hats off to the Dundee United fans thats the East Stand sold out and now have an additional 3 sections of South stand behind the goal, looking like 3k , impressive stuff.. looking like 4.5k not bad for a Friday night on the box
4 -
Silly season starting with transfer rumours, not heard this one but somebody on our thread mentioning our GK Josh Rae will be heading Tannadice way, decent keeper although your boy Walton is arguably the best in the league..
0 -
22 minutes ago, Arab_R_us said:
yeah but my point is in the 90's you had how many times that number? 5x 6x not sure ?
Is there another club in Scotland that has lost such a big % of their following ? Cant think of one
In the 90s we were getting decent crowds at old Broomfield, Home supports were never great we then as we do now rely on large away followings to swell our average..
I would say looking back maybe 2.5k max home support in those days in the Premier League, although the old firm games tended to be very busy with a fair few old firm ending up in our end swelling our numbers..
0 -
2 minutes ago, NavyBlueArmy1876 said:
Crowd was 6,555 and Hearts sold around 4,300 - so more like 2,200 Airdrie fans which sounds more realistic unless I've missed something?
That crowd was quoted don't know if that was a turnstile number or. An online sold number , I had heard we had sold 7800 a couple of hours prior to kickoff, apart from North Stand and section at Centre stand for hospitality the rest was pretty well full, give or take a few randoms ..
0 -
51 minutes ago, Diamonds Are Red said:
We had nearly 3500 in the home end for the Hearts cup game. So far this season our total crowds are averaging under the 2k mark, noticeably higher than last season (1200ish) due to increased away support and the home end lifting from 900-1100 to 1200-1400 depending on the opponent.
As said the move to Broadwood did us no favours, too long in League One, the older fans passing on, maybe fans moving away from the area for work (Boots, Imperial Steelworks, Pye all closing) and not being in the town as much...
In recent years there has been a lot of new builds and potential fans coming into and growing up in the town - some might "bring a team with them" but also the potential for new folks to identify with their local club.
There was a bit of an uncertainty and a lot going on behind the scenes re ownership/fans trust etc... a few years ago, that didn't translate well to supporters and I guess potential sponsors/partners (?), in recent times there has been a stability in the ownership, much more connection with the community and businesses again which has been positive for the fans, sponsors and perception of the club.
The crowd debate comes up now and again, (don't mention Falkirk FFS) main reason is finance, we have the lowest crowd in the league 1814 ? ISH, good for us from where we have been, sniggers coming from the clubs who constantly post crazy losses and are in the same league, enough of the points scoring..
Airdrie can blame the old firm, why our crowds are low etc,I think it's irrelevant everybody has a choice , I would say most towns in Scotland could throw that line out it's been done to death. We had 650 or so diehards when we were struggling in L1 and even they were on the drift, crowds now being 1300est home fans and there is signs of a little apathy creeping in now as well IMO..
We are punching way above our weight and could still although unlikely be in the Premier next season,, and need to build again to compete next season
Onto next season with Falkirk probably going to spunk OUR money like a drunken sailor and no Part Time possible ringer in the league it is going to be cut throat...
Let's never forget what we have achieved this season, staying in the Championship year on year is going to be very tough for Airdrie moving forward ..
0 -
Looking like this will be our highest league attendance in our final league game, around 2k tickets sold to United, hopefully we can break 3.5k. Need home fans to turn up though..
Another live game on the TV , to be fair to the much maligned BBC they provide great coverage of our league and Falkirk cannot mean either.. they have the ALBA Saturday teatime slot pinned down..
2 -
How is the gate money split from the up coming playoffs are all games pooled or are they split gates per game...
Hearing that both ties will be on BBC Scotland Airdrie home on the Tuesday 7th and return leg on Friday 11th at Firhill..
0 -
1 hour ago, Rhys McCabe Hype Train said:
And still the only one I’d have in our team would be Brian Graham at 36 years old.
I think the rest of your comments are probably pent out of frustration but honestly can’t look past how much of a success this season has been. Right up until the Raith game I was always of the “8th place is the goal” camp but on top of that we’ve won a trophy, beaten Premiership opposition and qualified for a chance at the top league next season.
For what its worth, I do think the play-offs are probably a stretch too far for us (plus I totally can’t be arsed playing with VAR) but definitely worth pocketing the cash and building for next season in what is sure to be a much more open league. I’ve even spent a while on transfermarkt looking through the players in the Championship who are out of contract and getting myself excited: improvements wise I think we probably need a good four or five quality additions across the park to augment the squad.
As I say target achieved, do we down tools and have half an eye on the beach, with the sun beating down yesterday, maybe a few did, Rhys is 100 %right in publicly calling out his players, he will no doubt get criticised for it, We are not a dirty side, but all season we have broke up play got organised, tackled and basically fought our corner, I will leave you with this damning statistic over the course of 90 minutes we committed 3 fouls and had no bookings...... Is it any wonder Partick Thistle rode us.....
0 -
Airdrie have qualified for the Premier League playoffs with 2 games to spare, let that sink in for a moment,
I will be honest I never expected it, we are a team with plenty of weaknesses..... Now for the half assed autopsy, i will throw a couple of names out there, Graham, Dowds, Oakley, Muirhead, Diack they are the name's of big physical strikers who have had plenty of joy against our defence, every one of those players have used their physicality to bully our defence, The only ones who count now are Graham and Diack,, 37 year old Graham first to react to a spill by the keeper and could easily have had a hatrick, Diack who scored on his debut at Firhill last time put the fear on our eyes when he ran at us, Basic isn't it, not great at all, are we better in the playoffs bringing ATS back into the team,
Our faults can be cruelly exposed at at times, Megwa who is a good player,.not as.good as people make out, he was got at second half by Fitzpatrick and Milne, where was his cover McGregor didn't do the hard yards, McMaster who should be able to see issues develop was knowhere and they ran through us at will, 2 young players who were schooled today..... Credit to Partick a side who man for man are a better side all over the park than us, which I can accept, that doesn't mean you cannot beat them if you excel on the day yourself......
Onto the playoffs we need McCabe, Frizzell and Ballantyne back, especially McCabe who is still one of the best players in this league, if we manage to progress further it will be on the back of Rhys, who will stand up to the challenge with him, after today not many.... Love to be proved wrong....
2 -
1 hour ago, Diamonds are Forever said:
Telfer has been an 8/10 every week, which is noticeable to Airdrie fans who see how consistent he is but to opposition players/fans that's probably not the kind of thing that makes you stand out. Frizz has been a 5 or 6 out of 10 in a lot of games this season but has also had a few (mainly since February) where he's been excellent, which is more eye catching.
I think that will be shown by Telfer winning our POTY, but Frizz getting in TOTY.
Is this years Player of the year presentation happening at the 1924 dinner or the usual on the park after the last home game.., not heard anything though..
0 -
12 hours ago, Davi3j said:
When I started going Davy Mcabe was our top scorer
there's been plenty of good ones, including CG, but I always thought Stevie Cooper was a bit special.
MacCabe was my favourite as a boy, John Flood was a good partner he scored plenty as well ... What about Kenny MacDonald. Was he under rated..
0 -
1 minute ago, cb_diamond said:
388k for fourth, 478k for third.
Thanks looked at the wrong line, same logic applies...
Still have to pinch ourselves things were looking pretty bleak at Half time at Hampden against QP at New Year....
2 -
As previously stated Gallagher is a top signing and will guarantee you 14 goals easy, my question is did this signing need to be announced now, is Gallagher's time left at Airdrie compromised, he could still be needed to score goals, even though he has been clearly off it recently..
Did Airdrie know this was being announced, normally there is a gentlemens agreement (can you still say that phrase these days) over timing etc, it just seems very random to announce a PCA.
1 -
1 hour ago, Kenny_m said:
A lot of talk about additional income and undoubtedly it's welcome, but I'd imagine it would merely reduce debt. Of course we are in a decent position on and off the field but clubs at our level simply don't make a profit and as we all know, our chairman keeps all this very close to his chest.
For example, Dunfermline just posted a £1m loss as of May 23 despite winning League 1 and Falkirk 1.2m, and these are clubs with large fan bases. (I believe the Falkirk fans may have mentioned previously)
We are on course for 299k at present for 4 th place (388k for third) which is a massive increase from last year's 104k in League 1.. figures look good remember though every season all clubs get their prize money split over the season, example 3 payments of 50k and the final figure decided on league placing, so a final prize money payment of 149k would be due, We are definitely in a much better place and get more value for money than Dunfermline and Falkirk who seem to constantly rack up debts with little reward...
I expect the same signing structure to remain in place over the summer, however frustrating that may be..
0 -
A dying breed a consistent year in year out Goalscorer, the club has outgrown Gall and as stated it feels the right time to move on, he needs to play started the season well and drifted out the side around December, to be fair Todorov, Strav and McGill when fit have done fine...
Moving forward I cannot see us for the foreseeable future signing Part Time players Gall was the last bastion of that era, so the Hybrid has been and gone, delving deeper we train Tuesday and Thursday nights which was created for the P T players in the hybrid, with that now gone will we from next season go back to Full time day time training, this freeing up the stadium for more hires etc, and more coaching nights for players coaching schools...
2 -
1 hour ago, The Ghost of B A R P said:
We were running with five defenders before Strapp came back, one of whom is 39 (and another is Tyler French). And we have no credible alternative to Oakley as an out-and-out central striker. Beyond that, we look well stacked for wide players, but Imrie clearly doesn't trust too many of them.
I'd agree that 20/21 would be fine, if it was made up of players the manager would use without hesitation, i.e. if someone gets injured or suspended in a particular position, someone automatically comes in to replace him... very tough to do that on our budget.
My take on Imrie's remark is that he's decided to stop giving guys he's not sure about the benefit of the doubt. Most (good) managers get to that point sooner or later. Have a feeling there will be more out the door in the summer than we might have expected.
Have you guys not signed a striker from down south on a PCA, do you think Muirhead and Oakley will stay on for next year as well.
0 -
36 minutes ago, Diamond1924 said:
I would still opt for Todorov over Gallagher. The big man isn’t quick but his hold up and link up play has improved massively since the new year and causes defences all sort of problems with his height. For a big guy he’s not particularly strong but is way more effective than Gallagher has been this season.
Todorov is a handful and a much better player than a lot give home credit for, Gall is /was an excellent striker who will still get goals although I think his level is League below now, i actually think he is working his ticket, be it Rhys has already had a chat with him about next season, who knows.. interested to see who we can bring in for next season in forward areas, who has impressed us..
Muirhead, Morton
McCann, Dunfermline
They are 2 that spring to mind that have impressed over the last few seasons. .. thoughts
0 -
5 hours ago, Diamonds_Are_Forever said:
What players would we feel would be good enough for a step up to the prem if we did go up ?
I would think we would try and sign the majority, to be fair I am not considering promotion, 3rd has to be our next target.. Niggling injuries are starting to mount up, not much time for recovery now that will cost us big time, if any of our big players are out, Telfer went off with a calf, Ballantyne looked like a thigh injury, Watson went off limping as well as Rhys recovering from his injury, we will habe to really rotate the squad, but the drop off is pretty noticeable in some positions,
The only players I think we will choose to move on at season end will be Gallagher, Dunlop, Cassidy and Fellows whether the rest of the players sign on again , we will have to wait and see because no doubt there will be interest..
1 -
59 minutes ago, D'Jaffo said:
I’d be genuinely interested if we see a Championship team promoted from the playoffs in the next five years. I still think if it was ever going to happen it would’ve happened last season with Thistle. They may have finished fourth but unlike everyone else they went in with good momentum and basically a fully fit squad to chose from.
I actually think Raith might benefit from the week off you get for finishing second but I think Murray’s main issue is he overthinks and tinkers with the team too much. I really don’t think the signings of Rudden or Turner (whilst strong on paper) were necessarily needed.
Thistle aren’t nearly as strong as last season and their defence is woeful. I think it’s pretty even between them and Airdrie as to who will win over two legs. If Thistle dropped to fourth and went out at the first hurdle I think Doolan will be under pressure ahead of next season.
Airdrie are well worthy of a top four finish but I think they’ll get turned over by whoever they’d face from the Premiership. If they can hold onto what they have and add a bit more Championship experience then they can go again but I’d be a bit surprised if teams aren’t looking at McCabe.
Trying to stay.humble, it has been an unusual season for a number of teams lots of ebbs and flows of form and general shiteness, Getting to the play offs which is far from certain still, would be a tremendous achievement, going any further, well you never know, the teams finishing third or fourth are not supposed to prevail, with the cards firmly stacked in the 9th places teams favour..
Onto McCabe personally I think he will certainly be on the watch list of teams, although there will be little or no movement manager wise anyway IMO, he inherited a decent side from the now much maligned Murray, a side that failed at the the last hurdle against QP remember, that's taking nothing away from Rhys, I don't think Rhys is daft, he knows as soon as he gets a gig in the top league, he will be favourite for the chop and with the media saps and gutless chairmen worried more about the money, he would not get time to implement exactly his style, which would take time... It's alright beating Dundee and St Johnstone in cup games playing them 4 times a season is a different mantra all together, he will get there, I believe he has one more stop in a bigger championship side before the Premier teams come calling..
0 -
4 hours ago, Beckford said:
Heard a few rumours of what's been happening and don't know what to believe tbh. Only thing for certain is that parasite will have been as difficult, petty and self serving as possible.
Rivalry aside, I wish you guys all the best,
4 -
On 07/04/2024 at 08:24, Beckford said:
It's been obvious all season that his man management is as poor as his game management. Not the first, and won't be the last player to leave, be driven out or sent on loan when it was obvious they could have been so much more productive if utilised and managed correctly.
Always difficult to keep players happy and motivated when you constantly "rotate" your squad, chop and change formations and make pointless subs . Especially when you have created a bloated squad with numerous players that play in the same position.
The toxic continued presence of McGowan and his staff at NDP will no doubt have had a negative effect behind the scenes, which a lot of fans recognise will have made his job more difficult than it should be. There is also the issue of the role that "the club supremo "
has created for himself. However, Rankin does himself no favours and has never tried to build bridges or connect with the fans following the issues at the end of last season.
Few Accies fans would argue that a different manager could have won the league when Falkirk have obviously had a phenomenal season. (Huge congrats btw
) The point has always been, we should be so much better and prepared for the play offs. We have zero confidence Rankin has it in him to get us over the line and we are likely to bottle it and loose meekly.
The new owner has stated they will contine to back him and I fear he will be here next season. I have been fully behind much of what the new owner is trying to do (again until McGowan fecks off out of football, this will be difficult) but keeping Rankin after failure in the play offs would be the tipping point for what is left of the support.
How did zengen get on trying to purchase the stadium from McGowan, has it all went quiet.
0 -
11 minutes ago, Diamonds are Forever said:
I actually wouldn't be surprised if he calls it a day this summer. Could be totally wrong but just got a feeling.
Either way if he was to get a great job opportunity I don't think there's any way he'd turn it down to have another year being a squad player in the Championship. If Aiken had been fit this year I'm not sure how much he'd have played. He clearly rates McMaster and if we could get another quality midfielder in next season then he may be happy to drop out. He still has quality on the ball but his legs are going a bit, he can sit in midfield but I don't see him able to do the high pressing game that ultimately he wants us to be playing. If we make the improvements to the squad that I'm sure he'll want to make then he'll not be much more than a back-up, which then begs the question why bother at all.
Fordyce on the other hand could definitely play another couple of years as a solid Championship centre-back. So he may be the one that makes it harder for Rhys to leave, assuming he wanted his own management team.
The McCabe debate, I actually think he is still one of the best midfielders in the league and also a very good sweeper, , can he play 36 games absolutely not, not for putting him out to pasture yet, not counting chickens just yet, if we get into the playoffs and the pressure cranks up , I would much prefer him on the park than off it...
1
The New Raith Rovers Thread
in Scottish Championship General Chatter
Posted
Murray was the same at Airdrie, at no point did you feel he knew his best team, he won games , but don't know why he doesn't go further, do you think he can make the step back up to the Premier or is this his level..