ShineOnYouCrazyDiamonds

When do Falkirk turn up?

I disagree. I think we should all be reasonably pessimistic.

Falkirk were obviously better than Airdrie over the course of 36 games nobody is disputing that. The playoffs aren’t played over 36 games though, if you hadn’t noticed. What matters is who is better over two games against each other, and we’ve matched each other in those games over the course of the season. We know that as well as anyone considering we lost last season to a team we finished 21 points clear of, but always had tight games with us over the course of that season. We were much better than Queen’s Park over the course of the season but they were better than us in the playoff final, and that’s what mattered. If either team gets an easy win it’s because their opponent let themselves down and if both teams play to the best of their ability it’ll be tight. Falkirk just needing to “turn up and play their best” is nonsense and arrogant.

What if the reason Airdrie finished below Falkirk is that we didn’t “turn up” as much over the course of the season? As has been said already, anything can happen in the playoffs and Airdrie have made teams look crap at times this season, Falkirk included, and blown them away. If that Airdrie turn up and play to the best of their ability does Falkirk’s best better it? Who’s to say? My main concern is that we’ve also crumbled at times this season and blown comfortable leads. Maintaining our best over the four games required to achieve promotion and not falling apart over 360 (or possibly 420) minutes might be a big ask, but if Airdrie also “turn up” as you say it’s really anyone’s game.

From an Airdrie fan this would make sense considering the leads we’ve bottled this season but I personally can’t see us repeating last year’s semi final feat of a big comeback

I like McCabe but he drops too deep when playing as a holding midfielder for my liking and it leaves a massive gap between defence and midfield that can be exploited. Our record since McMaster came in has been much better and it’s no coincidence. McCabe will play at some point I’m sure but I’d be starting McMaster.

MacDonald was an excellent crosser with us so was a decent option going forward but his defensive positioning was not great at all. I was surprised when he got the move to Dunfermline because of our nailed on starters at the time he seemed like one of the weaker ones. Watson’s been the superior right back (and is also a good crosser) for us and obviously Ballantyne is there as well so I can’t see MacDonald being signed back unless Ballantyne at left back is seen as a long-term solution (I’d expect we’ll be in the market for a left back though, rather than a right back). Edit: on the subject of left backs, I’d imagine Brody Paterson (as one of Hartley’s failed Hartlepool signings) will be looking for a new club this summer.

A battle to see who can bottle it harder out of Airdrie and Falkirk. Spectacular.

First thing’s first, I’m really glad Arbroath aren’t in these playoffs because they were the team I feared the most. I think both semi final ties should be tight fixtures. Alloa have done really well under Brian Rice and they’ll make it very difficult for a Hamilton side that don’t know them too well. Obviously Hamilton will rightfully be favourites in that tie but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Alloa are in the final. I’d be lying if I said I was confident. It’d be typical given our excellent record against Falkirk over the last 4 years if we ended up losing to them when it mattered most. Gallagher and McGill’s form gives me some hope - and I think the ideal scenario is us starting the game like we started the 4-3 loss to Dunfermline by pressing their defence, forcing them into making mistakes, and taking our chances. The worst scenario is ending the game like we ended that Dunfermline game - by completely capitulating under pressure. I think it’s very very hard to call either semi and will be equally hard to call the final, regardless of who progresses. I can see any of the four teams beating any of the other three.

Stronger lineup than I expected

Problem with that is with ATS carrying a knock either McCabe or Fordyce will need to start you’d think, and it would make more sense to rest Fordyce than McCabe imo.

Expecting something like this today Hutton Watson Byrd McCabe Deveney Stanway Telfer Devenny McGregor Salim Dixon Squad isn’t big enough to rest every starter so realistically I think one of Watson or Ballantyne will have to play. Think McMaster and Frizz are the two midfielders most likely to be rested so that leaves those three to play. Our usual front 3 should all be able to be rested. Would be nice to see some academy boys make the bench and get some game time but they did play yesterday so can’t see them getting much game time, unless certain players were purposely not played or subbed off in order to give them some first team minutes today.

Does anyone know if Darren Barr has an official role within our academy? Obviously we know he’s involved but never seen anything official. Gow’s assistant effectively?

Last season we rested the full team against Peterhead on the final day then lost away to Montrose with a full strength side in the next game. Not saying that was the reason but I think a balance between resting players and continuing positive momentum needs to be found

We all had a laugh watching a boy getting huckled out in the opposite stand and seconds later some tube started swinging at the police dragging him out and got himself huckled out too, right after Dunfermline’s goal

Thought Ritchie-Hosler looked outstanding by the way, especially in the first half.

Fair play to Dunfermline. Two on the pitch, one on the bench and two in the stand all sent packing is some going. Seriously though, they showed us how to play after a red card or two, something we’ve really struggled with this season. There were groans in the stand and I disagreed and thought we were doing the right thing by being patient in the hunt for a goal, but as the space never opened up I too got a bit frustrated. Hardly a shot on goal against 9 men is criminal.

I think the only one we know for a fact is Ballantyne. Rumours of Gallagher, Rae, McMaster all being signed up for next season but obviously nothing is known for a fact there. I’d expect the January signings (Byrd and McGregor) probably signed 18 month deals but that’s just me guessing. Remember in Murray’s first full season just before covid we announced contract extensions for several first team players in December/January? I think by the time of lockdown we had almost an entire starting 11 confirmed to be signed for next season. Would be great if the club could be a bit more informative in that way again.

I’ve went for Gal POTY, Gabby YPOTY and Gal’s goal vs Kelty for Goal of the Season. I think those three selections will win easily.

I’ve said it many times now, there’s a reason Murray played a 5ft 9 midfielder at centre back over Watson. I rate Watson, but he’s 100% a full back and I honestly could not understand why McCabe persisted with him at centre back for so long this season.

Comfortable result in the end. Ballantyne deserving of the man of the match award but could easily have been ATS as well. Another for McGill and good to see McGregor get his first for us. No idea what the Montrose goalie was doing at the free kick - he was practically hugging the post. Frizz will never score an easier goal.

ATS to score a birthday winner would do for me

For all we know Gallagher has already agreed an extension, remember last year it turned out Watson had agreed his extension months before we announced it? The club has a habit of being very secretive with regard to player contracts. The guy that told me heard from a St Mirren connection btw, and the same guy told me the exact date Jamieson was returning to St Mirren a week before it happened so I do trust him, just don't expect any more itk posts from me because I'm all out.

Tbf it’s easy to forget our loss to QOTS was actually in March, and in the following three games we scored about ten million goals.

I think finishing third (if we do!) behind two teams that obviously have a bigger budget would ultimately be a success. I think given how good we were last season, and given how much of that squad are still at Airdrie, it’s understandable that some of us would’ve liked more of a title challenge, but maybe it’s a bit overly optimistic to expect a repeat of last year. Without dwelling on it too much, it’s amazing to think where we could be if it wasn’t for that horrendous spell in October, or where we might be if we’d seen out that 3-0 lead to Dunfermline and taken that momentum into the following games. Despite being seemingly miles behind where we were a year ago, if we keep up current form we could see ourselves going into the playoffs with a similar momentum. The obvious worry in the playoffs is how easily we’ve crumbled this season when we’ve conceded or went a man down, but I wouldn’t fear whoever out of Cove or Accies ends up in the playoff (I think Arbroath will be safe) and Falkirk are on a poor run just now so hopefully they’ve lost some momentum. Alloa are a tricky side since Rice joined them but we’ve got a decent record against them so I hope it’s them that come 4th and not the dreaded Futbol Club de Edinburgh. I am a bit worried about player movement if we fail to get promoted. Frizz and Smith will presumably have suitors, and so might Gal and Gabby given their form. Ballantyne’s got a two year deal and I imagine McCabe, Fordyce, and Watson will still be around, along with some of the youngsters like McGregor, Devenny etc. Heard from a reliable source that McMaster is signed up for next season.