Tattie36

Surely can’t survive this. As an isolated result it wouldn’t have been the end of the world but this is the final straw to me.

Two of our defenders have become new dads this week. Great news for them obviously but, speaking from experience, I can’t imagine that the sleep deprivation and general knackerdness is the best preparation for a game of fitba. ETA experience of being a dad not a semi pro footballer

Aside from being hammered, another thing that sticks in my head about that game is that we had what looked like a perfectly good goal not given. I think it was 1-1 or 1-2 at the time, the ball looked like it was a good foot over the line before their keeper saved it. that seemed to knock the stuffing out of us a little although Spartans were brilliant that day and worthy winners so not sure it would have made much difference.

Absolutely see something like that happening in future. Maybe not cash transfers as such but I can see players being allowed to switch allegiance, even having being fully capped, due to residency, ancestry etc. It’s happening in international rugby already.

We also haven’t played Dunfermline in the league since March 22 (although we got hammered by them in the diddy cup last season) but why let facts get in the way of a classic Clashy fantasy post.

Again, I admire your optimism but come on - Raith are currently second in the league, on 27 points, have lost once all season, are on an 8 game unbeaten run and are in the diddy cup semi final after hammering a decent Accies side yesterday. They also drew with Dundee United, a team that have utterly obliterated us twice this season. As for Dunfermline - their form is very up and down but to say that we have a good track record v them means absolutely f**k all. Aside from last seasons pumping in the cup, we haven’t played them for ages so how do results from 2-3 years ago, with completely different teams have any bearing on things now? Yes, of course we “could” win either or both of those games but, on current form I would say it’s very very unlikely. Wishful thinking doesn’t change anything or win matches.

A team that are quick on the break with a dominant midfielder - piece of piss

Maroon of course…. It’s those maroon tinted specs he wears…. Everything is maroon.

Agree with all of this. A+ for your first ever post.

You want Campbell back?…… please.

If this was a one off anomaly then fine shrug it off, and no one would lose much sleep over being destroyed (let’s not sugar goat it) by TNS. However this is just the latest in an ever growing series of horrific results and performances… with no light at the end of the tunnel. Add on last season and there are only two options re Campbell - walk or be sacked. The size and makeup of the squad is down to one man. Yes we had a load of injuries and key players missing, every team has the same issues but most have a squad of sufficient depth and quality to counter this. Certainly at our level, we should never go into games with only 3 outfield players on the bench - all of them mediocre midfielders. Yes, some other teams will have similar in very very unusual circumstances but this has been the norm for us for a whole year now. The on-going defensive shambles has been done to death but still doesn’t make it any more acceptable.

Fans deserve more than this. Sorry but this is the final straw, he needs to go. I will add thought that I was one of the few that fully expected this.

But but but it’s fine…. our squad is big enough and good enough. This bullshit keeps getting repeated on here.

2-1 TNS now

It could easily be a massive deal. Not having the ability to change 5 outfield players in a game puts you at a potentially big disadvantage. With Dicks propensity to make 3 subs at once we could be in a situation with an injury where our sub goalie has to play outfield. That would be embarrassing at junior level never mind our level. Not saying it’ll happen but the more games we play without a full bench, the more likely a scenario like that becomes reality.

How! We’ve got 4 on the bench today. What if this was an important league game? It’s tin pot as f**k not being able to fill a bench. TNS have 9 on the bench and we have Keegan Jacobs and Jess Norey.

Who knows but it looks horrible to me. Only 4 on the bench including a keeper. I’ve been saying for ages that our squad is too small. A few injuries etc and it puts us at such a disadvantage.

Wow - that lineup and bench, f**k me!

It’s all very well criticising the Welsh League but doesn’t anyone remember Connah’s Quay knocking Premiership Kilmarnock out of Europe only 4 years ago?

I think TNS are very much favourites for this tie. They win the Welsh league pretty much every year and play in Europe each season because of this. They're playing at home, are full-time and are on a huge unbeaten run so their confidence will be high. Obviously a win would be nice but personally I would rather concentrate on getting our league season back on track, not that there’s a choice of course.

I call them “fitba pundit shoes” if it’s the same thing you’re talking about. Black or brown leather hybrid trainer/shoes things with white soles. Never see anyone else ever wearing them and I can’t recall ever seeing them in shops. 10 a penny on Sportscene.

A few weeks ago we won 4 league games in a row plus a cup game, were playing great football, scoring loads of goals and conceding barely anything. It looked like we could be comfortably mid table, or better come May Fast forward and we can’t score, the defence is haemorrhaging goals, the midfield is posted missing in games and we’re in free fall. Now call me a simplistic idiot but why didn’t they just bottle the recipe of that success and continue doing what they were doing - same formation and tactics etc etc. I know that success in football’s not that simple, if it was then everyone would be doing it, however it definitely feels like there’s tinkering going on just for the sake of it combined with out of form players not getting dropped.

Yes there probably are. And I agree with you.

Really worryingly catastrophic loss of form. The last 3 league games are even worse than anything we saw last season - 3 losses, 3 goals for and 12 against. That’s relegation form. I can’t be the only one who was a bit disappointed with Balde being put out on loan - ok, he’s no world beater but he’s the only physically combative midfielder we have and we’re getting destroyed in midfield. Defence is a shambles but you reap what you sow. And yes Clashy this is a negative post.

All that positivity of a few weeks ago seems a very very long one ago. 9 goals without reply (so far) in two games. Jesus f**k.