AndyDD

A scunner for sure, was looking forward to this after the no-game last week. Second outbreak in half a season but presumably that's just unfortunate rather than anything else. Immediate concern is for all the squad and coaching staff that have tested positive or their close contacts, but in a much much more minor way I also worry we'll not get a squad together for next week at broadwood either, and be two games behind.

That's a scunner. Two saturdays in a row without a game, possibly three if we cannot scrape a squad together for next week at broadwood. Hope all involved recover without issue, and that this is not a portent of further disruption to football as we brace for this new wave (which to be fair looks to be upon us already).

It should have been the cup replay that was shunted to midweek rather than the league game, and it wasn't the SPFL who made that particular call, but yes, the sensible thing for the SPFL to have done would have been to call this off hours ago. If it does start, it's unlikely to finish. If it does finish, it's likely to be a farcical game.

Airdrieonians 0-0 Queens Park Alloa Athletic 2-0 Clyde Dumbarton 0-2 Montrose Falkirk 0-2 Cove Rangers Peterhead 1-1 East Fife

better than nothing, for sure. Still, must be a pain in the hoop.

Shrug, Montrose are also having to cram it in, yes, but that's because they didn't win their cup tie first time of asking. That's kind of the point; you expect to have to cram a game in when you are held to a draw in the cup and forced to replay the fixture. We won our cup game so expect we'd be playing our scheduled league game as normal on the Saturday, not having to play Tuesday/Saturday because one of our opponents drew in the cup. It really ought to be the Mo's problem, not ours, and yet both clubs are cramming in, instead of just the one, who only have themselves to blame. It's not the end of the world; just a bit of a pain.

Bit annoying that it's us having to cram fixtures around another side when it's them who have a replay to fit in, but hey ho.

Clyde 1-2 Peterhead Cove Rangers 3-0 Dumbarton East Fife 1-1 Alloa Athletic Queen's Park 2-1 Falkirk

Yeah, I had assumed the same as you until that last bit was pointed out to me. Awk well. Adds an extra wee frisson of excitement I suppose.

Not sure that's correct, actually-- In order to determine which of the semi-final winners will play at home in their finals, the following draw will be conducted: Two balls with ‘semi-final 1’ and ‘semi-final 2’ will be placed in an empty pot. This first ball drawn will indicate the winners of which semi-final will play the final at home. This will also apply for semi-finals 3&4 and 5&6. https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/2022-world-cup-play-off-draw-preview/?rid=13925&fbclid=IwAR2QMQfaDgVCrNUGmrcoc5gztpIiyVNQXZ73kopcYBBuHC0ajxvKTRGRt4I

Ah this is a shame, which players are you anticipating will miss out?

Looking forward to it, a good opportunity to bounce back after Saturday and get back to winning ways ahead of two big league fixtures. Be interesting to see what if any changes we make to try and get minutes in the legs of guys like Gabby McGill, maybe even Luke Lyons if fit enough. Regardless, a decent wee day out, be nice to see Sean Crighton et al again and we should see ourselves comfortably into the next round. Emphasis on should.

Presume we'll take a decent number to Stenny on Saturday? Looking forward to it, even if it wasn't the most exotic draw we could have ended up with. Let's just hope it goes better than last year, especially considering the league was put into deep freeze right after our first (and final) cup game of last season...

Possibly a factor, but I'm not sure I buy that, ultimately; regardless of how we've been doing, you always get the odd few folk booing a defeat no matter the context. It's like the go-to response for some. A tad strange, in my book. On to the cup; hopefully a chance to get Lyons in the XI and give him some much needed minutes. Looking forward to it, even if our record there is hardly sparkling. Should be a good chance to get back on track ahead of two very big games.

The moment we simply had to seize upon was the point at which the Cove goalie passed the ball to Easton. He gave him the ball, nice and central. That has to be converted into a goal, be it via direct shot from Easton (too easy when it did come) or by engineering something else via a couple of passes. You imagine that would have been capitalised upon at the other end, and that seems the difference in microcosm; they took their best chances, we sadly fluffed ours. Credit their goalie for that last ditch clearance at the corner that was nodded back across. Two good sides who both took turns exerting pressure on the other, but as everyone has said already, hopefully Lyons and/or Kerr will be back soon to allow McCabe to move into the middle. Rico has to let Fordyce know at that cross that he can leave it for Rico to collect, and if he did let him know, Fordyce has to heed the call or do a lot better with his clearing header if he decides not to listen to the shout. Cove look a less vulnerable side this season than last and I agree with many who are already fearing they are this season's Thistle/Raith. That being said, we are in good shape and a good position as we go into the break in league action for the cup. Saturday was not a disaster, but a missed opportunity for sure. A sore one, no doubt about it. The folks booing at the end, though... Lord above.

As the match preview points out, these are two teams who are bang in form. We're also looking at two squads with plenty offensive weapons and the goals do tend to flow when Cove come down to visit us. We're a much changed side since the dramatic playoff semi win, but if we get anything like that tomorrow it'll be some watch. Understandably, Peterhead and Dumbarton came intent on sitting in and breaking, but one imagines Cove will come at us and try and make hay out of the big pitch. Plenty width in both sides, but Quitongo and Watson will need to be on their game up against the attacking fullbacks of Logan and Milne. Get the Dynamic Duo of Easton and Frizzell onto the ball though, as well as players like McInroy and Smith, and we will cause plenty problems of our own. Buzzin for it.

Aye that scans quite well actually

A bit shite, but "Che Che Che Che Adams, you knowwwww, Che's gonnae score us a goal" to the tune of that 'It's Magic' song? Could maybe work 'Kieran Tierney" into the tune of Louie Louie, as well.

DTV link for those unable to make it along... https://www.airdriefc.com/2122-news/211118/cove-rangers-livestream-now-available Nothing won or lost on Saturday, but we've been on a good winning run at home and the psychological boost of winning a top of the table clash could be enormous. Two dangerous sides and there tends to be goals when Cove visit us, so it's really nicely set up. The visitors will fancy their chances, that's for sure, but Airdrie are in a much better place than in the reverse fixture in September. Should be a belter.

Airdrieonians 1-0 Cove Rangers Alloa Athletic 2-0 Dumbarton Clyde 1-1 East Fife Falkirk 2-2 Montrose Peterhead 0-2 Queen's Park

Yes, Armstrong doesn't usually play as an attacking midfielder, but at the end of this very same post you are advocating Kenny McLean as a striker I very much doubt Clarke will deviate, even if there was a hint or two from him and from Carver that they might be tweaking something or somethings about the system, but what some people on this thread think they might do and what they think Clarke will do are two very different things. As for the suggestion Scotland would be able to go long to Kenny McLean in the same way they would to Lyndon Dykes gives the Mayor of Norwich credit for an hitherto undiscovered level of hold-up play. You're not even trying to argue it as an 'in case of emergency' option anymore, you're actively saying it would be a 'great option' and that Kenny McLean would be a 'great outball' who would stretch the game. That's certainly... something.

Awfy sensitive for a guy who proclaims he doesn't care what anyone else thinks. I happen to think there is far more joy to be had playing Armstrong in an attacking berth, as one off the striker or one of two getting up to support the striker, than in putting McLean in as a makeshift CF, but that's just me. Armostrong and Adams ought to link very well together, being club teammates who link together well in that side, and Armstrong seems fairly well suited to an attacking midfielder role. Kenny McLean's strengths, such as they are, don't really scream striker to me, but hey ho. Maybe I'm just mad. Suppose McLean is a better shout for hitting penalties than Dykes. That's about the size of it, though.

Ah I see I see. Yeah it is a bit limited with what it allows. I'd still rotate them so that Mcgregor is to Gilmour's left and McTominay is to Gilmour's right, but fair enough.

At his best, I think Fraser is amongst our most dangerous players. His pace, his skill, his delivery and his shooting; he's played a part in several Scotland goals over the course of his caps. He linked up very well with Dykes a few times and got us what turned out to be a massively important point in Israel and Hopefully Howe plays him regularly at Newcastle and he gets back to his best.

Mcgregor on the right of midfield and McTominay on the left?