TxRover

Can’t find that in the regulations, citation?

So, how'd Joao work out starting today...showing anyhting for you? Never really got a chance with us.

Excellent result. Worrisome note that Bene is now out for Clyde (6 yellows). Hendry, Davo, Armstrong and MacLean are now our next worries, all at 4 yellows. Glad I was wrong about MacLean walking in and starting.

A light week, with just three games. 3 points for exact and 1 point for result: Dumbarton 1 - 3 Airdrie Peterhead 2 - 1 Forfar Stranraer 0 - 2 Raith Rovers Previous winners (# if multiple wins): Round 23 - jagfox99 (2) Round 22 - CC52 FFC, Highland Bully Wee, jagfox99, Mantis Toboggan and Diamond Oracle Round 21 - Stevo Fife (4), roman-bairn (3) and falkirkzombie Round 20 - African Sunset Round 19 - Stevo Fife (3) Round 18 - roman_bairn (2) Round 17 - TxRover (2) Round 16 - Marshmallo and ++Ammo-Airdrie++ Round 15 - Stevo Fife (2) Round 14 - No picks Round 13 - TxRover Round 12 - Steakngravys Maw and Larry Hood (2) Round 11 - Gordon EF (2) Round 10 - Wee Jackie, Life on Marrs?, EFFC1938 (2) and Stevo Fife Round 9 - keyser_soze Round 8 - shawfielder Round 7 - Gordon EF Round 6 - Larry Hood, EFFC1938 and macclyde+ Round 5 - Wullie McNaught Round 4 - roman_bairn Round 3 - Wilson92FFC Round 2 - Easy Days for Raith Round 1 - Bairn in Exile

Highest number of guesses this year, 32 players. Probably one of the lowest average scores. Almost everyone for Montrose winning, second most common was Raith winning...todays winner is @jagfox99, his second win in a row. Next week, just three games to pick...the week after, we get 5 games, but no winner until the following Tuesday. 32 played: One winner, with 6 pts.; five with 5 pts.; three with 4 pts.; eight with 3 pts.; twelve with 2 pts.; one with 1 pt; and two (including @Cambuslang Fifer, with his extensive breakdown of games and predictions) with 0 pts. Previous winners (# if multiple wins): Round 22 - CC52 FFC, Highland Bully Wee, jagfox99, Mantis Toboggan and Diamond Oracle Round 21 - Stevo Fife (4), roman-bairn (3) and falkirkzombie Round 20 - African Sunset Round 19 - Stevo Fife (3) Round 18 - roman_bairn (2) Round 17 - TxRover (2) Round 16 - Marshmallo and ++Ammo-Airdrie++ Round 15 - Stevo Fife (2) Round 14 - No picks Round 13 - TxRover Round 12 - Steakngravys Maw and Larry Hood (2) Round 11 - Gordon EF (2) Round 10 - Wee Jackie, Life on Marrs?, EFFC1938 (2) and Stevo Fife Round 9 - keyser_soze Round 8 - shawfielder Round 7 - Gordon EF Round 6 - Larry Hood, EFFC1938 and macclyde+ Round 5 - Wullie McNaught Round 4 - roman_bairn Round 3 - Wilson92FFC Round 2 - Easy Days for Raith Round 1 - Bairn in Exile

Right, time for another Tesco trip. Oh, we lino'd the path.

Not to suggest we can't use Gullan, but it would certainly cut at least Baird or Bowie's time.

Seems they watched last weeks lob and net feast. Good to see we've cleaned that up...how much of the improvement is Thomson?

If Armstrong is healthy, not sure we have a good spot for Gullan anymore, crazy to say. There's also Allan floating around.

Top of the table clubs dropping points versus the bottom three is pretty much a League One tradition.

So that's Bene's sixth yellow...first game, 14 days after, would be suspended for Clyde.

If it's "Dr." John McKendrick, he's usually a League Two ref, though he got to call a real Championship game in Sept, and not since.

So, if I've heard correctly, we have Hendry as a defensive mid/sweeper in front of the four back, Bowie between Tait and Matthews, and Baird and MacLean up top, with Bowie roving freely forward?

Such foresight...holding up this one is. Yep, seems JMcG is not huge on tradition this week Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Now go tell me off on the RaithTV feed!

Munro confirmed as sore back in pre-match.

Munro dropped, Thomson in with Bow "riding the pine". Four back, but how are we going to configure the six up front?

Not so much...wholesale changes, it seems. 4-3-3? Or 4-3-1-2?

If I remember the numbers bandied around after the AGM, Bowie’s fee plus the savings from moving hybrid would roughly put Raith breakeven for 2019-2020, so I’m not sure there’s anything to “save” for signings. However, if we don’t increase debt this year and keep up with any interest (part of breaking even), we are in better shape after a season for the first time in a while.

Nate’s only getting fore if he hits the links. Given the official is highly fond of yellows, I’m predicting about 5 or 6, evenly spread.

His 18th is in September, so it seems unlikely that’s the case. But the paperwork becomes much less a factor and less pressing in June than January.

I assume that Fulham wanted him enough to offer the delay, and probably can’t pull out too easily. Perhaps the transfer fee is reduced from what might be paid in June, discounted for agreeing now with the delay? That way Fulham as assured if the player, who gets more experience (at the risk of injury) and Raith locks in the transfer but gets the player for the stretch run.

Actually, I think as an experienced forward, when JMcG talked to him about his ability to play and any concerns, he will have said that he isn’t really ready for the first game...but that he might be useful in the latter stages. He’s surely done his research on us and knows that our current team is showing some life in goal scoring, and won’t be in any rush to barge in and disrupt any chemistry. Because he’s the wily veteran, he won’t expect to play first thing, but will understand that working in practice will greatly enhance his worth to the team. As I’ve already suggested, if he was on five yellows, I’d expect him to draw a yellow quickly before a game versus someone like Stranraer, to clear the boards. With only four yellows now, that’s out of play, so there’s less need for him to debut tomorrow. Now, where did I put that chalk?

I’d expect him to ask JMcG to use him in the last few minutes, if at all, so he can watch play and try to figure out how to work with the other players. With effectively no practice time with the team, starting would be reckless. However, for a player that experienced, he would probably easily be able to slide into the team at 60-75 minutes and work effectively. Even then, the passing and anticipation would not be there.

Of course you’re right. There’s no way a player of enough quality and potential to be interesting to an English Championship side would be playing in Scottish League One...er, wait...never mind.

I’ll accept being f**king mental. I just think we might be misusing MacDonald’s skill set as a LB vs a LWB or a LM. Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, and most stink. Miller is an excellent RWB and a solid RB, but I’d rather have a less adventurously minded RB when we only have 2 CB, and Watson fills that role better. When we play my preferred wing backs with three CB, Miller is the starter automatically, as is MacDonald. So, we’ve established I’m nuts, so let’s talk keepers...the good news is I’m not pushing for Bow...yet...