AFC360PUNK1320

Was indeed against Downfield, we were 2-0 at half-time with a Doris brace but the game finished in a 2-2 draw. I think the only folk who started on Saturday who started last night was Sukar, McCord and Prunty with Prunts coming off at half-time.

IC said he and DC "loved" (he said that word often last night) Kane and he had a great attitude and ability but thought it would benefit both Kane and AFC if he went out for some "game time" and he was still defenitly still part of their plans, I certainly took it that this was not a case of Kane been frozen out the club.

Knew it would happen, all the fans there last night were asked to watch what they say outside the room and on social media in regards certain things getting discussed and here we are already one player from a rival teams name is getting banded about on this board (which no doubt clubs directors/managers/coaches/players read!! Ian Campbell came across very good and shared a great view on what happens off the pitch and what they are looking for going forward and good to hear they want the AFC Directors/Management/players/fans to all work as one. He also said he wanted more of those meeting. Decent turnout but do wish it could have been advertised in the local press or with flyers in pubs/shops as not everybody has social media or a PC.

Agree with the above posters well done for the TV coverage of the games, total respect to all volunteers who work at Gayfield and the folk who moan should maybe try and do the job themselves.

Just watched the goals. Stirling's was a cracker by their impressive no 9. Hammy's header was also excellent. Watch Prunty's celebration when Linn scores, to me that proves unity in the squad even though he must be disappointed not playing from the start. AFC's 3rd goal was great a great chest down by Scott for Doris. Pity on the coverage I saw you never seen Doris's overhead kick. We missed some sitters though, but watch McCord's passing with both feet, in the main excellent. Great to also see Big Rab speaking to the AFC fans on the sidelines.

That is your opinion and why do you need to swear?

Must say that University Of Stirling FC were a half decent team and well organized but at the end of the day Arbroath FC were well worthy 3-1 winners and if we took some of our countless chances in the 2nd half 6-2 would have been a fairer reflection of the score. I think when they went down to 10 men and we went 3-1 up we took our foot off the gas and imo our 3 subs made no impact to impress, thought it would have been an ideal time to have brought Prunty on as we were getting good deliveries into the box but we missed some sitters. Stirling Uni's no 5 and 9 looked good players who could step up a level.

Great signing imo, heard he is a great lad in the dressing room and on the training pitch and his experience will also help young Mutch and Gomes PLUS a great keeper if called upon, when Bullock went in goals for us he was superb so age is never an issue when a goalkeeper.

I would not class Jimmy Scott a "striker" I would class him the no 10 like a Rooney position playing between midfield and behind the 2 up top. Skelly has done well this season and deserves to be starting or at the very least to certainly be getting at least 30 mins from the bench. Young Hester imo is an excellent "impact sub" and is better up against tiring opposition as he has pace and a menace to mark, but like loads of other players in the past he is never at his best when he starts a game which is frustrating for both the fans and the player. The biggest mystery is the lack of goals from proven and experienced strikers like Stevie Doris and Bryan Prunty who are different type of strikers imo although their build is similar. Doris prefers to do a lot of running and work outside the box and for his height is excellent in the air. Prunty throughout his career is a 100% penalty box striker and his goals at other clubs back this up that given the service he WILL score goals, but for whatever reason it is not happening for him here but I put that down to not getting the correct service in the box from wide areas, unlike Doris he is not a striker to hit the ball high up to him or chase out wide to run onto long balls. So to me having 5 players (including Scott) pushing for 2/3 positions depending on how we play is good cover. I am also convinced once Doris/Prunty score their 1st goal then we will see the best of them for the remainder of the season.

Sorry should have stated our main strikers Doris/Prunty have not scored yet this season but hopefully they will start against Farfir, hope this clears up the misunderstanding.

Decent shout, Templeman did score against Farfir last week something our strikers have not done all season.

Hopefully we have had a few friendlies during the break against junior clubs to get Doris/Punty/Hester scoring goals again giving Gomis some game time. Repeat again we should be re-signing David Crawford (again not a slant at young Mutch who is a very good keeper and a great prospect but we are going for the league and cannot take a chance on young unproved keepers as they will make mistakes as it s part of his learning curve imo) and move heaven and earth to bring in a big experienced no-nonsense centre half. We have a quality in the squad that there is no doubt but we do lack a bit of experience and height and "meanness", in fact Jimmy Scott and Colin Hamilton and probably Ricky Little (although not tall he is great in the air) are the only players in the squad who have this. You look back at any team who have won this league they have had experience/height/strength throughout the squad and quality players and consistent goal scorers. When we won the league under Sheerin we had this, other central defence was big no-nonsense experienced players plus 2 experienced keepers. We are not far away but imo the 2 players I have mentioned sooner rather than later as if we lose anymore ground we may be out the race.

needtosay hence I put the word EXPERIENCED before saying 6 foot plus big centre half. Dunlop was not getting a game for DC at his last club so why sign him? Both Brown and Sukar are inexperienced and not what we require. Our ex-player McLauchlan now at Cowden or even Malks is what we require, i.e. players who have been over the course before and win everything in the air but still good enough to play. Under Sheerin when we won the league we had experienced keepers and experienced big central defenders who were obviously good enough.

Our ex-goalie David Crawford is available after Partick Thistle freed him, I know Elgin City are after him, and he was a great keeper for us before his injury and DC should be going all out to get him back to our club then look to get and experienced 6 foot plus big centre half in the door as well.

IMO we will come good this season but better start soon. DC and his team were/are a good appointment for the club for numerous reasons and not just on the pitch but I have got to admit a few things have puzzled me :- 1. I would have liked to have seen at least one younger member of backroom staff i.e. Barry Sellars or even Stewart Petrie. 2. He should have had a back up plan for an experienced goalie when it was obvious Big Rab was stalling as if you look back any team who has won this league they have had experienced keepers as well as big experienced centre half's (which the Campbell's always have at any team they have been at) and that is 2 things we do not have, this is no reflection on young Mutch who is a very good keeper and has a great future in the game but I am sure if you asked Ricky and Hammy etc they would prefer an older experienced keeper behind them. 3. This goes onto the young loanee's, again are they any better than what we already have at the club? (I do not think so). 4. Why are we playing centre-half's at full back i.e. Sukar? surely we have signed left/right backs so play them there rather than keeping DUFC happy etc.. 5. Mark Whatley has been struggling for form, imo I would take the armband from him and make Ricky Little captain that way MW can concentrate on his game. 6. Why did DC sign 2 players from Forfar who he hardly ever player there and never get a sniff here? 7. Lets be honest when we signed Doris/Prunty as strikers EVERY AFC fan were rubbing their hands getting 2 experienced goalscorers and for whatever reason it has not clicked yet, but lets turn this on its head and think when McManus/Murray were banging in goals up to the turn of the year in the free-fall season, well hopefully Doris/Prunty can get the goals for our 2nd half of the season as they have not became poor goalscorers overnight I am sure once they get their first the rest will follow. So no panic yet but could and should be doing better.