ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds

Had a look over it and while there are other factors to consider such as who was playing and who we were playing against, since the start of last season (and counting league games only) the numbers show that 4231 has been our most used and probably most successful formation. In 15 games using 4231, we've scored 24, conceded 13, and picked up 27 points. That's an average of 1.8 points per game, 1.6 scored per game and 0.87 goals conceded per game. We've only used a standard 442 in 4 league games, and in those games we've scored 4, conceded 7 and picked up 4 points. That's one point per game, one goal scored per game, and 1.57 conceded per game. We've used 352 (or 532 depending on who you ask) in 7 league games. In those games we've scored 7 goals, conceded 11, and picked up 10 points. That's 1.43 points per game, 1 goal scored per game, and 1.57 goals conceded per game. We also used a narrow 442 on five occasions at the end of last season. This involved Wedderburn sitting in front of the back 4 with three midfielders in front of him, so I like to call it a 4132. Using this we scored 5, conceded 1 and picked up 10 points. That's 2 points per game, 1 goal scored per game, and 0.2 conceded per game. In terms of points per game, 4132 is the winner here, but in the five games we used it we beat Peterhead, Clyde and East Fife, drew with Dumbarton and lost to Montrose. Given we never used it against Falkirk or Raith Rovers you could argue that it's not a fair sample compared to the other ones. One thing this shape definitely has going for it is the defensive record. Fair enough it wasn't used against the division's two big boys, but only conceding one in 5 is seriously good going. 442 might seem solid, but we've conceded more goals per game using it than any other formation, and by a considerable amount (perhaps not surprising after seeing us lose 2-0 to Dumbarton while using it at the weekend). 352 has a fairly poor defensive record too, but this is a bit warped by that 4-1 hammering we took in Methil. The clear winner for me is 4231. It's the only formation we average better than a goal a game with (a bit grim that we're that toothless with every other formation). Obviously the momentum and form we had going when we used this formation might have pushed the goals per game higher than it should be, but 1.8 is far better than the rest. While doing this, we were also conceding less than a goal a game. Maybe not as solid as 4132, but it's fairly solid and also gives us goals. 1.8 points per game over a considerable amount of games is decent and would have us in the playoffs most seasons. So there it is, it's probably nonsense that doesn't matter but it turns out we score more when we have a decent link between midfield and attack, and concede less when we have a midfielder that sits just in front of defence on his own. We also don't concede that much when we just go for it and play attacking football. Quick summary for people who hate stats or reading long posts: going for it and attacking good, sitting in and inviting pressure bad.

Airdrie 2-1 Clyde Cove Rangers 3-0 Forfar East Fife 1-1 Dumbarton Montrose 1-0 Peterhead Partick Thistle 1-2 Falkirk

Who we voting for player of the month? Carrick because it's the only correct answer or Sabatini just to make a point?

Didn't want to come across as too critical. Like I said, I like Crighton and I agree he's usually solid. Creativity is definitely our main issue and the defence doesn't worry me much, I just think that Crighton is at times overrated by fans. I feel he's very solid in the air and can mark a big physical striker really well but whenever someone runs at him he struggles, either getting turned inside out as we saw with the second goal today, or backing off all the way into the box. He's decent at bringing the ball out of defence himself (and he's actually put in a couple of decent crosses this season) but his long balls generally end up nowhere. I feel like Fordyce is a much more well balanced defender who maybe doesn't excel in certain aspects of his game like Crighton does but generally does everything he needs to do fairly well.

Don't want to be overly negative about a player I like and who undoubtedly has put in some excellent performances for us over the last couple of seasons and seems to be a great leader in the squad, but I don't think Crighton's arguably the best CB in the league at all and it's not at all out of character for him to make a bad mistake or two (he was also caught out of position for Thistle's equaliser last week). He was our best player at the start of last season but he had a shaky spell afterwards and eventually dropped out the team in favour of Kerr and we got steadier at the back. He's a good player and I like him but he's nowhere near as consistent as Fordyce.

Wedderburn divided opinion among our fans last season but I was always a fan of him as long as he was used right (i.e. other more energetic players need to make up for his lack of pace). He's a classy player that's very tidy on the ball and passes the ball very well.

Anyway, does anyone know when the boy from West Ham is joining the squad?

Agree with pretty much everything said here, although I'd say Gallagher had a very good game against Peterhead. Baffling to see Sabatini dropped and I definitely think it's time to give Robert and O'Reilly a start. Agree that Stokes hasn't looked great but I suppose he hasn't had a real chance yet (I'm also not sure of his best position as he's played as a deep midfielder, attacking midfielder and striker for us already)

Abysmal performance and team selection from Airdrie today. There's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be up at the top end of the table with our squad (which is largely the same as last season's plus a few players who actually look decent when they're used) but we won't get close playing like that. Ian Murray seems to have a vandetta against creative players, and it'll be a shame if O'Reilly, Sabatini, Stokes and Robert get the same treatment that Dean Hawkshaw got last season.

Currie MacDonald Crighton Fordyce McCann McKay Sabatini O'Reilly Carrick Robert Connell Anything but that lineup next week and I'll be very disappointed

Sabatini and Robert should start next week and most weeks after that.

Nat Wedderburn has pulled the strings all day

One or two subs needed at half time imo. Thomson has offered very little.

Reckon most Airdrie fans would say that about our lineup so that should balance it out

Looks like 442 for us with Connell coming in for Sabatini. I like that we've gone a bit more positive but not convinced Sabatini is the right one to drop. There's also still a few players on the bench (Robert, Stokes, O'Reilly) that I'd like to see get a good run out in a league game.

Chucking it down and horrible winds in Lanarkshire too but at least it'll bounce off the plastic pitch

Reckon that's only happened because of whoever suggested it on here

Reckon that would be a fantastic signing but I can't see him dropping down to League One if I'm honest. Hearts will want him at the highest level he can get regular game time at and there should be plenty of Championship sides able to give him game time or even one of the more lowly Premiership sides like Hamilton that probably have a worse squad than Hearts.

I'll be buying the game regardless but out of curiosity how have Dumbarton's streams been thus far?

Would like to see us make a wee positive change in the lineup for next week. I like both Kerr and Sabatini but they both sit quite deep and I'd like to see one maybe drop out for one of the more attacking players like Stokes or Robert.

Clyde 1-0 Peterhead Cove 2-2 Partick Thistle Dumbarton 0-2 Airdrieonians Falkirk 1-1 East Fife Forfar 0-1 Montrose

The extra subs is a temporary measure due to players returning after a long time not playing. Teams can make 5 subs in three separate stoppages (so two double changes and a single, or a triple sub and two singles). This is the case in the Premiership, League One and League Two, but not in the Championship as not enough clubs in that league voted in favour. Both games we've named 7 subs but I'm sure we're allowed to name 9 with this new rule, as that is how it has been in the Premiership. The playoffs at the end of the season will return to three subs allowed but a fourth is allowed to be made if the game goes to extra time. I'm sure the new goal kick rule came in at the start of last season. Keeper is now allowed to play it to his defenders inside the box but opposition players still cannot be in the box when the kick is taken (exception to this is if the keeper takes a quick goal kick and it's deemed that the attacker did not have enough time to leave the box) As for the third question I haven't got a clue

Could be wrong but I think the opening two fixtures have been a sign of things to come. Us, Falkirk and Thistle will drop points. Cove have obviously had the strongest start but their wins have came against a nine-man East Fife and a Peterhead side I expect to finish bottom (although we have to remember our win was also against that Peterhead side). I fully expect it to be similar to last season with a fair few teams all on similar points totals at the top and I expect us, Falkirk, Thistle, and Cove all to be there - and maybe one of the others not far behind. If we can beat the "lesser" teams with more consistency this time around we'll put ourselves in a good position.

Thomson the actual winger deeper than the entire back 4 and playing Gordon onside there, shambolic

Tight game and I don't think anyone could argue with the result had it been a draw. No way of really knowing if the first Thistle goal was offside but I do think it was a penalty before the second one, but that doesn't change the fact that we defended poorly as Thistle hit us on the break from the penalty claim. For a long time I actually felt fairly confident that an equaliser would come from us and we had a fair few chances but wasn't to be. Maybe too strong to say we were robbed but you do feel the result was harsh on us and flattered Thistle. Thought Docherty and Spittal were the two star players for Thistle and I was actually quite impressed with a few our usually more average performers (namely MacDonald, Thomson and McKay) who I thought were our better players today. First decent chance to see Connell today after getting a few minutes off the bench last week and I thought he looked quite good (his long throw puts McKay's to shame). I think the first two games have gave everyone an idea of what to expect this season with Airdrie, Thistle and Falkirk all dropping points early on. Cove have two wins but they'll face tougher opponents as the season gets on. Clyde also technically have a 100% record but they've only played one game. I think it could be very tight at the top, much the same as last season with four or five teams all in with a chance of winning the league.