Bridie Vision

If it's a likely 0-0 this might be the best week to have a virus

That is true. We won't lose many games, but at this rate we won't win many either!

Probably 0-0. We don't concede goals, but neither do we score goals.

Halftime, a number of chances for us but no goal. Still 0-0.

Take two tonight, but this time up north for the SPFL Trust Trophy. Ray said in his interview he will make changes Munro & Whyte practically confirmed will start. With no Skelly or Ross our attacking options are even thinner. Will he start a back 4 or keep the 3/5 tonight?

Jay Kennedy was only since last Christmas (could be wrong) by then we had Ray and started to improve. In truth we've never seen any backup goalie play, not even in friendlies since Hoban. So, whilst I had no proof whether any keepers provided any real competition to Marc. It was - in my thinking - a reason why McCallum has improved, there may well be other factors that contribute to his improvement. For example having defenders that aren't prone to lapses in brain function ala Munro could give him confidence. Whatever they are I'm glad he seems more on it than he has been.

I personally like the formation we have seen in friendlies and the cup what a 5-2-3 / 3-4-3 can do. Nditi is a really good wide outlet, and Moore can cut inside allowing Kinglis/Seb/Thommo whoever the space on the left flank or drive on himself. Yesterday was too deep, and with the way Elgin parked the bus from kickoff we really should've threatened more. We looked better with a 4-4-2 yesterday but then we only thought about attacking a bit more once Thommo and Paterson came on. Watson is young and probably best suited to gaining experience this season with sub appearances, he certainly cannot be our 2nd choice striker. Finn Robson is a tremendous player and should be the heir to Slater, but I agree he's shown nothing so far and it seems like Smokie is our best LWB and best CM (if you call Whatley a CDM) right now. I'm sure Robson will shine but perhaps not at our club, he looks like he'd prefer a tiki-taka Guardiola esque style of play. That's all been quite negative so I'll put out some positives: McCallum looks like he's back on it after a few meh seasons, maybe Zach Paris is the most capable subbie GK we've had since maybe Hoban. We have one of the best defences in the league Stuart Morrison, Matty Allan & Adam Hutchinson look like they understand each other well, and I honestly think we will be hard to beat this year (the weaknesses are clearly the other end of the pitch). I really like Nditi, right since when Stuart Malcolm took a punt on a Londoner who had just moved house to Dundee (one of the few good decisions Malks made as Forfar boss). Yes he's not perfect but seems to thrive in this wingback role. Whatley, he's solid and dependable. Kinglis an absolute gem of a player and I think we'll struggle to keep him for long, how Brechin got hold of him for as long as they did they deserve plaudits! Sorry for the long posts guys but after two 0-0 games some folk here seem to think we're as terrible as we were last year, so wanted to try and make a balanced call - give the negatives along with the positives.

Watson offered us very little today. Paterson did better when he came on. Elgin seemed very happy for a 0-0 we looked very upset, certainly shows where both teams' ambitions are for this season.

Will probably come on around 60th minute for Watson.

Elgin have a striker, we're likely missing ours. Does that change the predictions for anyone? I sincerely hope we still have too much for them.

I guess, under Irvine that probably wouldn't have sounded too crazy.

I noticed that. They obviously view Watson and Paterson as his backups, but I agree we do have depth for most areas except up top! Watson and Paterson (so far at least) haven't shown that they're strikers. Watson appears more comfortable out wide and Paterson attacking mid. Maybe we're going to sign Matty Aitken on loan

I wonder how much we'll rotate for the Tuesday game? It was fun the first year of this cup (whatever it was called before SPFL Trust and Tunnocks Caramel Wafer) when we played The New Saints, would fancy another Welsh or Irish team, should we go further.

Given how enthusiastic Elgin fans are, and our quality of squad overall. We should be getting 3 points and perhaps Saturday is the perfect time for Paterson to start up top (if Skelly is absent).

Any update on Skelly, was it just a knock or will he miss out? Otherwise Watson or Paterson will start up top I presume, if so guess we'll be hoping for Inglis to be our main scoring threat.

Highlights

I would've agreed with you at the start of the season but because of how well Smokie has done at LWB in the cup I think he'd be good at RWB too. Also, I think it'd be Daz over Andy to come in if Allan did go out wide.

No security is still probably better than Forfar security

My guess for today's lineup: McCallum Allan, Morrison, Hutchinson Moore, Whatley, Robson, Brindley Inglis, Skelly, Ross If Smokie doesn't start, or plays on the left then I think Thommo, with him and Inglis able to interchange as the match progresses.

True, the two St Johnstone loanees we had last year were completely anonymous.

I highly expect our loans to be from Dens or Tannadice, due to our local signing policy. Perhaps we might venture to Aberdeen or St Johnstone for one loanee (since the Aberdeen striker loan appears to not be happening).

Will keep that in mind Pass to someone on your own team? It's so much better to punt the ball to the opponents and let them start a counterattack. I don't think Andy will get many games this season as he does appear to be our 6th choice CB.

Thankfully, then we don't need to worry about conceding a FK 20-30 yards out

Yes! Definitely

Let's put last weekend behind us and look forward to Stenny away. Obviously looking for a win but I won't be surprised to see Matty Aitken actually scoring for Stenny on Saturday.