SuperHans

Think it was Sims interview in the dressing room. He mentioned the cost for the generators and sprinkler system. Is it maybe a water pressure issue?

He also did say it was "a very good pitch" and would take time for it to bed in... So what's your point?

Yeah I think it's either something he's got covered so not overly concerned about which is pleasing or he knows he can't do anything about it and making it as an excuse isn't something he wants to start doing. I noticed that in his last interview last week before the Stranraer game. He kind of almost caught himself making an excuse about the injured players and stopped.

Ah I'm glad it's all be cleared up by a sports scientist. Thanks... I think it's jumping the gun slightly to claim that because Smith was quoted saying he's 'beasted' the players, he's automatically responsible for the spate of injuries we've been having. I'd love to see the reactions if Smith was quoted saying "Well after the season we had last time, we didn't want to push the lads too hard so we've given them the afternoon off every day this month so they don't get injured".

Can't wait to see how this will be turned into Barry Smiths fault. Regardless of tactics and all the problems we had last season. You do have to feel a little bit of sympathy for the guy.

Had Kevin Cuthbert completely retired or is there a possibility that he could still put the gloves on and step in? Dundee did something similar against us with a 40 year old keeper coach.

I saw this news about Shankland this afternoon. Unbelievable turn around from him and amazing that Ayr have turned that kind of cash down. Genuinely not looking for bites here... But realistically do you think, at his best, Vaughan was anywhere near that value and would I be right in saying that any chance of us selling him on has gone unless he has the best season of his career this season?

It's great how we all hate each other. #raithfamily

At least the lines look straight...

He has got a point though...

I still don't understand how people can still be jumping to all these conclusions about the style of play that Smith is supposed to be playing this season considering the players missing and the games we've played. The injuries are a pain. The only conclusion that I can think of is the players have gone too hard too soon with pre-season and hadn't kept themselves in the best condition during their summer break. The intensity has possibly created niggles that are better to be addressed now rather than worsening and then causing problems further down the line. I'm hoping that's the case but we surly can't expect that the training isn't safe for the players and Smith and Cuthbert are putting them at risk? Is Cuthbert not meant to be trained in personal training and all that?

Yes but referring back to the original argument about having a manager on a 1 year rolling contract; if that manager does do well and ends up leaving, it puts the club back into a very similar position as we found ourselves in at the end of that season. Are fans really wanting us to turn into a club that churn managers out on a yearly basis? No foundations being set in and constantly jumping from manager to manager until we find a good one? We've instantly jumped onto the sacking culture that ends up costing clubs tens of thousands and crippling ourselves. What will happen if we pump Stranrear on Saturday and go on to win the league? Will everyone who's hounding the guy out the club be back on here wondering why the club didn't offer him a 3 year deal instead of just the 2?

We got relegated...

Last manager to 'do well' was McKinnon. He left and didn't leave us in a better position... Darren Young was the 'gamble' choice in my opinion and after the flack that the BoD quite rightly got for the Locke appointment and then the disappointment of Hughes on top of everything else that they got blamed for, Smith was safer. And I don't blame them for making that choice. I also don't remember too many complaints at the time either. I don't think that's a fair assessment on individual fitness from the players. Granted the injuries don't particularly help but over the course of the season there were definitely games that we won last year that were down to our relentlessness in keeping the ball and having a go. Particularly at home when teams just sat in. Games at home against Albion Rovers and East Fife where we won and scored late showed the difference between a part time team and guys training all the time. Individually though, players culture has changed. It's a lot easier for PT players to maintain a fairly decent level of fitness throughout the season on their own merits. PT teams rely on their players doing their own stuff because they can't waste a session during the week on fitness when they could be doing set pieces or formation work etc. That's where we should have done better last season IMO. Some of our set pieces were terrible.

So when we were all scratching our heads over who we'd want as manager out of the rumoured group of; Young, Campbell, Bollan and Smith, Young would have been your preferred choice on a one year rolling contract considering his credentials? What other up and coming young and hungry managers would you like to see as ours this season if we were to get rid of Smith? I think it's very easy to sit back and say that the obvious solution would have been to take a gamble knowing what we know now. If anything, there's more 'whataboutery' in your argument when you make comparisons to the Livingston and Alloa managerial appointments. I'm not for one minute sticking up for Smith in this debate at all. I did find his tactics and style of play extremely frustrating last season but the fact remains that regardless of how, we were extremely close to winning the league. I'll save my judgement this season once I see how we start the league campaign. Getting upset about it before the seasons even started won't make it any difference.

So you're saying that a team who has just been spectacularly relegated with 2 managers would be able to attract a full time manager to the club on the promise of a 1 year rolling contract? Goodwin and Hopkin were both in their first managerial positions when they took their jobs. With the position we were in last summer, do you think the club could afford to take a risk by signing a young and inexperienced manager to win us the league? And with their history in managerial appointments, do you think we would have been any better off now if they had done that?

You'd have to really question what the standard of manager would be if he was to accept a 1 year rolling contract. It would also leave us extremely exposed if we did somehow manage to get a manager that turned out to be good as he'd be away as soon as another club offered a bigger and better deal. I think sacking Smith would have been the obvious decision to make based on the fans opinions but with a new Chairman and BoD as well as all the other things going on at the club, sacking him and then finding a replacement would have been a serious backwards step. Who would the 'obvious' replacement be? Last summer we were all pleased with Smith because he was the only name on the list we would have been happy with; Bollan, Campbell and Young were the other names. With a squad already signed and no real chance of further investment into the team, an injured keeper and our 'best player' sidelined. Who's going to take the job if we do sack Smith?

You'd have to really question what the standard of manager would be if he was to accept a 1 year rolling contract. It would also leave us extremely exposed if we did somehow manage to get a manager that turned out to be good as he'd be away as soon as another club offered a bigger and better deal. I think sacking Smith would have been the obvious decision to make based on the fans opinions but with a new Chairman and BoD as well as all the other things going on at the club, sacking him and then finding a replacement would have been a serious backwards step. Who would the 'obvious' replacement be? Last summer we were all pleased with Smith because he was the only name on the list we would have been happy with; Bollan, Campbell and Young were the other names. With a squad already signed and no real chance of further investment into the team, an injured keeper and our 'best player' sidelined. Who's going to take the job if we do sack Smith?

It's easy to be critical of Smith but we also have to remember that he was the width of a post away from getting us promoted. I'll agree that his tactics sometimes raised eyebrows but it's very easy to sit in the stands and be critical. The only thing that I'm holding onto is the fact that Smith has everything to lose this season. Failure and losing his job this season will likely be the end of him in the full time game at least. The same could be said for a lot of our players; the guys clinging on to full time status and the players making the change from PT to FT. I'll save my judgment on Smith until after the first 5 games. I just hope we get behind the team this season instead of starting with the knives already sharpened. Some people are just desperate for doom and gloom.

I thought I could trust you! Just to let you know, they've apparently taken the word gullible out of the dictionary too... If you know how to do it, you should maybe go and check.

That stands aren't falling apart. Every season we've applied for a safety certificate and as far as I can remember, we've never been denied one so I don't know where you're getting this from. Maybe your attention span couldn't cope with the full Sim interview but he clearly says that the floodlights will be paid for with the VAT that's reclaimed from the cost of the new pitch. Sims investment was in his property, not the team. I don't know how many times this has to be explained to you. The investment in the pitch will save the club money which will in turn benefit the team. With further investment the new pitch will hopefully start to generate revenue for the club which again, will benefit the team. You're spouting your pish before you actually look into what you're moaning about. It's passed amusing and I'm starting to wonder if you struggle with comprehending simple information.

Do you and the other idiots sit at home fabricating what you're moaning about next without checking any facts about what you're blowing your emotional loads over? Sims not in this for just forking out money for short term fixes every time the club needs players. He's trying to set some kind of foundation for the future. Your short sightedness is amazing. Once the club starts to become a little bit more self sustaining then we might start to see the benefits of his investment. I'd heard that too. I'm not sure who paid for the maintenance of the pitch and all the equipment and also who the ground staff were employed by. Were they employees of Sims company or Raith Rovers?

I support the team and the club. I don't sit at home salivating at the prospect of being able to moan like a miserable hoor.

What's all this 'happy clapper' shite? I'm assuming you're referring to the people who won't sharpen their knives every time something goes wrong? You're almost desperate for things to go wrong at the club just to give you all something good to moan about. Either that or you'd be moaning about too many kids coming to the games and whenever we get a bumper crowd it's shit because someone else sat in your seat.

Who was the last part time team to win this league? And with the players we already had under contract, what would they have done when all the other players were at work? How long would it take for us to change back to full time? Like I said, you've no sense of reality at all. Get a grip of yourself.