CrossgatesCynic

Sure it’s been mentioned already but Scott Burns saying Dundee only prepared to let Ashcroft go once they’ve got a replacement in.

You lose too much by playing a centre half at full back. I’d rather have any of the aforementioned midfielders there ahead of Masson. Not a reflection of Masson’s ability as a footballer, I just don’t like centre halves playing full back.

What are folk not getting about Callum Hannah & him being brand new to the professional game? Murray’s on record saying he wants Hannah at the club this season. That doesn’t mean Murray’s in a rush to play him, nor does it mean Hannah’s career is going to stall because he’s not playing every week. He was given a two year deal. I’d wager a massive part of the thinking was he’d be kept close to the club for the first 12 months & then he’d be loaned out once or twice the following season. With any luck, he’ll kick on & get a new deal from there. I don’t understand the clamour to get him out on loan just now. He won’t be ready for regular first team action next season anyway & it’s not like he’s on a mammoth wage that needs shifted in order to bring new bodies in.

I don't think dropping Easton for Connolly is all that wild a shout, in fairness. Easton's definitely been off the boil the last few games - whether that's because he could do with a rest or literally needs reminding he isn't untouchable, only Murray will really know. Definitely think Murray will ring the changes for this one; much of which is probably forced upon him. I won't even bother making attempts at guessing how Murray might line the team up on Saturday. I just hope it's enough for a win (& by more than a goal, at that).

Don't think the Anderson signing ever really worked out. On paper, that should have been a brilliant addition. Shame to see Brian Ritchie retire; a decent goals/game return. Not entirely sure how much Ross Graham featured in the last year or two but losing his brother Finn will be a blow. Always rated him in midfield, right from back in his days at the Pars.

Andy Halliday would be such a bad signing, for so many reasons.

Disappointed to lose O'Reilly, as much due to timing & circumstance as anything else. He's a cracking player, who did incredibly well during his short spell with the club. Bottom line is, if anyone - Partick in this case - are offering him terms well over & above what we were, fair fucks to the guy. Don't think Murray/the board should hold the can on this one. Yes it makes Rovers a weaker squad but there's an entire month to operate here & potential to use that money more wisely.

Rational hat on, it’s as you were, with Utd getting beat. Irrationally; it’s frustrating to be dropping points when Utd are doing the same. Likely to have massive ramifications for the title.

O’Reilly not signed a new deal yet!? Said as much on Twitter last night but the club would be daft not to have offered him terms by now. No guarantee they’ll be agreeable to him, or that there aren’t a host of other clubs speaking to him too, but he’d be a solid addition on a longer deal. Based on how he’s played since coming in, not to mention the goal threat he brings from set pieces, he’d be keeping a fit Keith Watson out of the team as it stands IMO.

On paper, Rovers should be able to take full advantage of Dunfermline’s injury worries/makeshift lineup over 90 minutes. Fitba isn’t played on paper though & Rovers’ last two performances have deeply concerned me.

I don’t see O’Reilly getting a start yesterday unless he’s been offered terms to stay on. Murray was non-comital in his pre-match comments but surely, against strugglers Abroath, you go with Brown at centre half - or Corr in to start - if you’re intending on letting O’Reilly just toddle off as of January 1st?

I’m not sure cockiness is a word I’d be using to describe any of the player performances in the last two games. I’m genuinely not sure if it’s fatigue, a complacency or just being otherwise off the boil but there’s a real malaise has permeated the last two games. Midfield losing their battles, attacking players playing as really talented individuals but not a unit/pack & a defence that’s lost the run of itself on more than one occasion. Byrne was pish against Ayr but he was missed today IMO. Brown is a very pragmatic midfielder but we needed someone who could take the ball from the defence, turn & get it forward. The long balls over the top most often turned to shit because of the wind. On that note, some of the offside decisions over the 90’ do not reflect well on the players (not always Hamilton). You can’t be getting caught offside as often as that.

Game management from Murray was abysmal today. Going 2-0 up against a team forced into playing their sub ‘keeper up top & the team are treating it like they’re in desperate need of a goal with minutes left on the clock. Defensive half of the pack left Rovers outnumbered again & again, just like against Ayr. There’s no payoff in having so many attacking players so high up the pitch if possession is lost the majority of times you’re trying to get it through to them. Game management not helped with the subs either. None were effective. Both Gullan & McGill guilty of gifting silly, silly, fouls when the team was in fact chasing the game. The Ayr result was one that, all things being equal, you just had to hold your hands up to. Today was brutal. Two points thrown away &, realistically, a nail in the coffin of any serious ‘title’ talk.

Just a mental result. Rovers very fortunate to come away with anything, really. Struggled to see anywhere on the park tonight where Rovers had the extra man. Bit frustrating that.

Apparently not having a particularly enjoyable time of things either, so possibly open to a move…

If I was Morton Football Club I would simply stop playing football like we’re a fucking gang.

Only option I have of making the Cup derby is if it’s shifted to the Monday night for the telly. Will go along if so but I’m not going to lose sleep otherwise.

2-0 Rovers.

I was of the opinion the railway stand option was only appealing to the young team for the sake of the Dunfermline games in any case. Now it would appear that only applied to the first game of the season against them, in the League Cup. If they’re not arsed about sitting in the railway stand, that’s fine. The club have done the right thing by trialling it as an option for them. No brass neck if it didn’t work. Up the back of the south stand is probably the best place for them, all things considered.

Gave the office a call today to sort a wheelchair access ticket for the wee man’s Stark’s return on Saturday. Entirely as expected but they could not have been more helpful. Buzzing to get us back down & seeing the wee man cheer on the Rovers.

Can’t make the game, which is a scunner. Rovers win, of any form, would be magic - not to mention not completely unrealistic to hope for. A draw would suit me just fine if it stops Utd pulling away. I’m feeling incredibly optimistic. 2-1 Rovers win.

Glad the club canvassed fans on the seating decision. Equally glad the vast majority of fans supported the (IMO) no brainer decision to give more allocation to Dundee Utd in the Railway stand. The singing section being over there is still an experiment that’s yet to win me over. Given I can only really think of the Pars League Cup game where it was a legitimate thing & not simply where the Community Foundation sat the kids groups, I can’t help shake the feeling that’s exactly what it is for some of these young lads - a gimmick to get closer to Pars fans when they’re in town. Prefer them in full voice at the back of the South stand in any case.

Interested to see how Murray chooses to line up for this one. Impossible to know what sort of performance to expect from Ayr this season either. I’d take a scrappy 1-0 back to Kirkcaldy, all day long.

Rovers have perhaps been very fortunate to come away with wins in the Inverness, Morton & even Dunfermline games this season but that’s the position we find ourselves in. As strong a depth of squad as we could realistically hope to have. I do believe there’s enough quality in the squad to give someone a doing this season; even this early on. Whilst I don’t think that’ll be tomorrow, I do think Rovers could take the brakes off a little & potentially score three or so. As ever, it’s keeping them out at the other end that will prove crucial in that respect. All things being equal, I’ll happily take another strong Dabrowski performance & a late winner if it keeps the wins coming.

I think Mitchell has a role to play as a wider squad player. Loaning him out keeps him match fit & hopefully keen to impress if given a chance upon return. Arnott, for all he has potential, just isn’t getting anywhere near this first team any time soon. Loaning him to the Lowland League wouldn’t have been my first choice though, if we’re looking to see him kick on with his development.