Life on Marrs?

Historically part-time players weren't as fit as full time, however that has definitely changed over the last 15 years or so. The exposure of the basement leagues when Rangers reformed highlighted that to many. The game has changed so much over the years. I don't believe guys like Best, Puskas, Baxter & a 50 year Mathews would get by, despite their undoubted ability. Whereas it would be great to see the Lisbon lions, the busby babes, Pele etc with today's tactics, methods, balls, boots and pitches. They would be nowhere near fit enough. Hard to argue how Scotland would compare with past sides, or the Don's or Utd v their 80s sides, remember in these eras the opposion wasn't as strong as is today (there's no way theyd beat Real Madrid or Barcelona nowadays, they money has given them squads packed with world class players) I suspect the ability has fallen, but fitness has certainly increased. Money isn't as evenly spread across the European game now making it harder for teams from outside the big 5 to compete. I live in hope our game can improve both club and nationality though.

I think in this day and age, part-time players are no longer pub league players and are as fit as their full-time counterparts. The difference I think is preparation. Part-time clubs have a couple of hours on a Tuesday & again on a Thursday, (when you add in midweek games, even less) to prepare for games, full-time generally have all week together. It may be small, but it should make a difference.

Oh aye, came fae Dumbarton, had quite a large frame & not the most skilled. His name didn't help him being the but of many jokes either

Well OK the partnership of Davidson and benedictus minus steven anderson. They look like they've only played together once right enough.

Raith reverting back to their ropey back 4 that has served them so well in the last 5 derbies. Let's just smash them from the off!

Mark Kerr? A genuine lack of ambition from Ayr. Glad DY stays. At this stage of the season it would have too much of a derailing effect. I've always thought Kev would be somewhere in the management side of things one day, I thought more of an assistant though. Dunfermline will be the next team looking at the gaffer imho. Hopefully if that happens there's a few candidates looking for a job. Bring on the Rovers.

Well, you've gone from the championship's best manager to the best on championship manager.

9am Ayr Utd website for the announcement. Put us all out our misery. Been worse than brexit!

Yeah, the era of Cyrus Moosavi, the unfit Robbie Neilson & Nade, rumours of Bouzid & several 'Utongans'. Who would've thought that would end up in tears?

Hard to judge either of these team's abilities. We are at home, that's the main thing.

20 years ago when I worked for the co-op, Joe Tortolano used to come in every day, he was the rep for Ginsters sandwiches, think he was assistant at either Stirling or Shire at the time. Nice guy but much maligned as a footballer. Carved out a decent enough career in the game nevertheless.

Not going to put Gavin Murray in, as this is when I started going regularly and I've far more good memories from that period than any other watching the Fife. He must still have Murray Murray Murray, out out out! Ringing in his ears though. Billy Brown for when he fell out with his own fans, but at least he kept us up, Aitchison was terrible but the whole club was badly managed from top down in that period. For me Jimmy Bone, yes we were in a level above our means, but alot of fans stopped going after that season and we've never enticed them back. We actually performed better at Ibrox than in most of the league games that season.

I thought Gavin Murray had been a decent player too before his leg break. Dougie Hope was always a target for the boo-boys if things weren't going well. Paddy Kelly was another who always seemed to have the fans on his back. Fans didn't help their confidence, I always felt a bit sorry for these two.

Don't like to slag anyone who has worn my club's colours over the years, they're ten times the player I could ever have dreamed of being. The worst would likely be some unknown who never got past the reserves. Going back about 15 years we had a keeper, Andy Stewart I think? He didn't fill me with confidence, compounded by a midweek game at home to Hamilton, when their keeper scored against him. Probably more a case of worst moment rather than worst player, oh and Cedric Tuta was terrible the few times I saw him.

We do seem to always want to take one more pass than needed and over egg the pudding, I'm bring over critical though. When you think of some of the pish we've endured over the years. That's certainly been the Darren Young way, keeps you excited till the end. Well done boys & well done Jordan Hart. Good to see Brett encouraging him, especially when he took a knock. Shows he's not the type to sit moping that he's not in the side - everyone fighting for the cause!

Can only recall one save he's made. We have been well on top, wallace deserved a goal though

Being a keeper is all about confidence. What would it do for the lad dumping him, after what he'll know was a terrible mistake last time. Yes I prefer Brett, but he looked shaky after coming back from injury last year also. Hart has been better than I expected. Glad we have both to call on

I'm sorry, can you tell me what I've said that is erroneous in that statement?

Yes, much of our glories happened many years ago, and yes Ayr are a bigger club, with larger crowds and with it a bigger budget, but you also live off of the past, the reality is in my 35 years of following football, Ayr like East Fife have never been any higher than the second tier and we have both spent a lot of that time lower than that.

Major trophies won, East Fife 4, Ayr United 0, if you want to bring up levels?

If sandy stewart is staying as number 2,then it's going to be someone who won't want their own assistant in, and knows and has worked with stewart before. Is owen coyle in the running?

No 5-4 then? You'll get 1 goal, we simply don't do clean sheets at home though!

Yes, but I would also say he could be replaced. I'd be more disappointed if any of the other 9 outfield players were to go. Especially since most have been at the club longer and built up a great team relationship, that would be harder to replace. Anyway, no-one from the starting 11 is going anywhere.

Completely agree with above. I also think we do better when we are shooting towards the sea, especially in the second half. Does anyone else share that view, or is that because I sit near the sea end goalmouth and see the action better at that end?

Of our starting 11 v Stranraer, these would be the two players I'd miss the least.