Broonaldo

Disappointingly I’ll miss the game - first game I’ve missed at BB since we got promoted, definitely one of my favourite away trips. After a poor start, Rose have played well the last couple of games, fingers crossed we keep it going. Be interesting to see how our new loan striker from Ayr settles - from what I can gather he is well thought of at SP so hoping for big things.

He played the last few games at the end of last season and looked great, a real bag of tricks. Going to Broxburn is brilliant for all concerned, a good community club for him to continue his development.

Back to 5 ….. our new signing from Haddington (Haston) is off to Cowdenbeath on loan. Hopefully this is some long term planning by the club ie we sign promising young players then put them out on loan to good LL clubs to help them develop further. If Wardell doesn’t get more game time soon, I’d hope he’d go out on loan too - he looks like he’s got loads of potential.

Thought it was a decent game today - before the first goal I thought Stranraer were by far the better team but the goal changed everything. After the second went in Rose were pretty comfortable. I was impressed with your #10 and #23 - pace aplenty and are pretty skilful. And after 2 shocking ref performances for the Rose (against City & Clyde), I thought the ref today tried his hardest to keep the game flowing. A few bookings in the 2nd half but no complaints about any of them in my eyes.

I see Bonnyrigg have signed ANOTHER striker, this time from Haddington - I count 5 now (new boy + McGachie, Higgie, Watson and our big money buy Ross) meanwhile our defence is threadbare, certainly at CB (we only have Young and Martynuik). I hope Elliot knows what he is doing ….. we were already light defensively last season but he’s let Mercer, Grigor, Gormley, Peggie and McGale leave and replaced them with Somerville and Lorimer. Injury / lack of form from Young or Martynuik and we’re in real trouble at the back.

Why would Scottish refs be biased against Clyde? The OF obviously believe the refs / SFA are against them (definitely paranoid), but I’m not sure why the Scottish footballing establishment would be anti-Clyde? And see all those examples above, I bet a Morton, Airdrie, St Johnstone, Elgin, Inverness Caley or Tranent fan (add / delete as appropriate) could come up with as many decisions as you have that’s gone against them. I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no Clyde refereeing conspiracy …… unfortunately the answer is the refs are poor for everyone.

Ref was very poor, another one that doesn’t realise football is a contact sport. When he booked the 2 Bonnyrigg players after the first few minutes I thought “here we go again” after the shocking ref performance vs Edinburgh City but to be fair he was poor for both side (at least he was consistent!!). Both sides didn’t make it easy for him, disappointing play acting across both teams (thought the Clyde #16 was trying his best for a BAFTA at times). Clyde easily the best team in the first half, the big #15 was a real handful, chased every ball and really bullied Young, Somerville and Martynuik … a bit like Henderson at Spartans does every time we play them. Red card changed everything, with Clyde losing that outlet but they still had a few chances. I think Cammy and Higgie are starting to gel, although Cammy’s first touch at times is awful. Overall a very welcome 3 points ……

I agree, a more equitable relegation should be looked at, especially in SPFL2, but the OF aren’t stopping that, it’s a lot of the teams from the lower leagues. Sorting out one doesn’t preclude or exclude discussing the other.

I think it is a justifiable debate. What makes you say “we don’t need the B teams” - what if their inclusion did develop more young Scottish talent; what happens if it did bring more fans to the lower leagues? Isn’t that a debate worthwhile having? Isn’t that something we should investigate? I’m not saying it will (or should) happen, but surely it’s something worthy of discussion rather than simply saying “f***k off” offhand …… For too long Scottish football fans have been too insular, too focussed on their own club rather than to consider anything that will benefit the wider game in Scotland.

I’ve no issue with B teams, but only if they start at the very bottom of the pyramid ie for the OF clubs that’d be at the bottom of the WoSFL structure. League progression through the pyramid for any club should be a meritocracy, they should NOT be parachuted in near the top, that would really be taking the mick! Even going into the LL was unfair ….. teams like Bonnyrigg, Linlithgow, Broxburn and Tranent had to fight to get to the LL, why should some teams simply pay cash to gain access.. If introducing B teams improve the chances of bringing through more quality Scottish youngsters, then I’ve no issue with them ….. but they can’t jump the queue, going straight to the Championship should be a non starter.

Not a great game - 2 poor teams slugging it out, but thought Rose probably just sneaked it performance wise, even with 10 men. Ref chucking cards about like confetti didn’t help the game …. when will Scottish refs realise this IS a contact sport? Linemen didn’t help either, especially the near side one in the first half - I thought he was using his flag for semaphore as he was waving it about that much! On this showing, I think we’re looking at the 2 relegation candidates. Elliot needs to change something otherwise this season could be a disaster. I’m lost why he’s not signing at least one CB …..

Two teams full of LL players and journeymen scrapping it out - I just hope our LL players and journeymen are better than your LL players and journeymen!! This game has all the makings of an edgy, snooze fest with both teams petrified to lose. But it also has the potential of a no holds barred classic where both teams decide they must win so they attack each others goal like a Chisora-Joyce slug-fest ……. I certainly hope for the latter but fear the former is more likely.

Nope

Isn’t Forthbank a council owned, council run, council maintained ground built 20-30 years ago …. by the council? NDP is owned by the club with no council cash or council subsidies involved …... I’m sure if Midlothian Council got involved, we too could have better facilities and a better pitch.

The age old quandary at NDP - invest our limited funds in the ground, at the expense of the team, which increases our chances of relegation; or invest in the team to help the fight against relegation, but means ground development is slower …. if we can stay in this league for a few more years the extra cash will eventually go to ground development but as the saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day”!! Being a Clyde fan you don’t have this quandary - genuine question, would you rather be in our position (own our ground but with limited facilities and be a team battling relegation) or your position (no ground and no chance of a ground unless a sugar daddy / the council splashes the cash for you but with a competitive L2 team)?