TxRover

Here we go again, 3 for exact, 1 for result. Airdrie 1 - 3 Raith Rovers East Fife 2 - 1 Dumbarton Forfar 2 - 3 Clyde Montrose 3 - 1 Peterhead Stranraer 0 - 2 Falkirk 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

Four back with just 2 CB just doesn’t suit the preferred play of Miller and MacDonald surging down the wings, for that we need three CB’s playing. Now, if Davo is hurt we face the real question of Mendy (or Watson out of position) at the third CB with McKay and Bene or four back and God knows what happens. in the first half, Dingwall/Matthews/Tait and Hendry were eating Montrose alive with quick, incisive passes, but their halftime changes killed that. Pluses from the game: Baird is looking much more threatening and Bowie is back on form. Dingwall is showing a flash of something and Tait continues to impress. Minuses: Munro is worthlessness the air, Davo may be hurt.

Exactly, and that’s the worry!

Wow, a five way tie at the top, with 5 points. Congrats to @CC52 FFC, @Highland Bully Wee, @jagfox99, @Mantis Toboggan and @Diamond Oracle. All first time winners. 25 players; five with 5 pts., three with 4 pts., two with 3 pts., the field of eleven with 2 pts. and four trailing with 1 pt. 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

The minks lose and Airdrie held.

Place is starting to feel comfortable.

We'll find out soon, I hope.

Munro is worthless this half!

Mendy and McKay?

Game of two halfs, wouldn't bet either way.

Not sold on that...he'd be great in the air in back...I think he's better than we expect.

Seriously considering if Mendy would be worth the risk right now...could it be worse?

Thomson next week.

I'd love to see the stats on liquor sales versus Raith games. Hendry tried for your red there...

Our midfield disappeared at the half...WTF?

Matthews to Bowie...who needs another scorer?

As are we.

Indeed, a gorgeous goal, should have waited till February for that one!

Munro's inability to hammer it down the field is showing. EDIT: I say it, he lumps one and it results in a Bowie goal...I'll keep complaining about Biard next!

It was a tad strong, but Matthews made it work...nice vision. Indeed, but I'm worried that this 4 back will limit MacDonald and Miller, where much of our threat has been.

So JMcG rolls out four back and benches McKay...my crystal ball is cloudy.

Because, like a zombie, he won't die? I would predict Dingwall and Matthews staying back and Hendry and Tait wrapping forward, limited forays by Miller and MacDonald...which is why I don't understand the four back choice. And as I type that, M and M are tearing forward.

It is, and it was till @WeAreTheRR flipped it on his preditions...yellow card!

Nice try, but the fates have taken notice, and your quest is now doomed. Move quietly to the rear.

If they've signed a defender I'd imagine he's here till the seasons end. I’m reading that the same way as you. Kelty’s review of Mendy was dominant against the majority of the league and at least holding his own against the top two. Now, the difference between the top of the Lowland League and League One isn’t a huge gulf, but it’s enough that we still have no idea if Mendy’s physicality can offset his inexperience at this level. The question with Joao is how many players from last year are still with the current Stranraer squad. If it’s a significant number, he could play tomorrow, but even then it’s likely a long shot as he hasn’t played much for us at all. I honestly don’t mind Joao going because he isn’t playing here, and I’d like to see Smith in the couple of places where Joao would have played. So what is in the cupboard...we have a solid back five (Miller, McKay, Davo, Bene, MacDonald) with Watson capable of covering for Miller (and possibly RCB), and Mendy with questions about his ability at this level, but capable of playing any CB or possibly RB. We have no real backup for MacDonald, but would probably stay afloat with either Bene or Watson out there, without the attacking threat or use Dingwall there at risk to our defending.. In the middle, Matthews seems perfect at defensive mid, Hendry at mid, Tait at mid or attacking mid. Available are Dingwall to the left, and GAndo to the right. Armstrong is hopefully back soon, the club lists him as a mid, but he seems more of a winger. Allan, if he’s coming back soon will reduce our forward worries a bit, but will take time to get in form and didn’t play well earlier this year. Baird is pretty much our striker for better or worse, and has paired reasonably well with Bowie. Smith is more of an unknown, but seems could plug in for Bowie most easily. Bowie and Smith would be interesting, but risky...the minds that would blow with Tait and Hendry behind Bowie and Smith would be numerous. What do we absolutely, really need? A proven forward would be top of the list, but an in form Armstrong returning would help a lot and ease the need. Other than that, until we get injuries, we can get along, but certainly could use a utility left footed defender/midfielder. At keeper, I wonder if Ross is telling JMcG that Munro might be available after the season, and that’s why Thomson continues to ride the pine. We have two keepers with experience, though one hasn’t played in anger in over a year, plus a last ditch part-time coach and a child.