The New Raith Rovers Thread

[TxRover]

1 hour ago, SirJimmyofNic said:

Shite ending to a shite season, clearout required come June................. if not sooner, 11 shots and not one on target

Not much room for a clear out at some positions.

1 hour ago, SanStarko said:

 

Could be wrong, but I doubt we'll see Spencer in a Rovers shirt again.  Hit the number of games to activate the clause for a new contract hasn't taken it up and then just happens to have been injured since we lost to Hamilton and ended up with nothing to play for.  Feels like a guy who has a contract elsewhere and doesn't want to risk getting injured (further) when there's nothing to play for.

It’s possible, it’s also possible he has until a certain date to exercise the option and is checking his options.

56 minutes ago, Brashy's Boots said:

Not sure he's Murray's type of player. Def slows the game down and I think IM wants us breaking at pace.

Pretty sure he'll be gone. Not bothered.

He’s our only real DM besides Brown, I’d be bothered unless IM is changing formations. Matthews and Stanton can play DM, but both are out of position and lose effectiveness. McGill is a possible option, if we sign him, but less than ideal.

 

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

Can’t think of many games I’ve come away thinking he’s dug us out of a hole or anything this season. Distribution is shocking at times as well. Poor on the ball, not a “modern” ‘keeper.

I don’t have much against him, in that I appreciate he’s not a keeper who chucks one in his own net every 3/4 games, which we’ve seen before, but I don’t really get the hype he gets from some fans.

MacDonald is one of the better keepers in the Championship, but certainly isn’t a class ball distribution specialist. Maybe the question should be asked if he perhaps has failed to properly marshal the defence on some of these set pieces and other times? We often talk of expecting keepers to be loud and aggressive in organizing the defence.

I personally don’t blame MacDonald for our woes, but reflecting upon our weakness on set pieces, it is a bit concerning. I have said that it may be time for moving past MacDonald, and nothing this season has convinced me otherwise.

[Craigus]

Turning on Macdonald is peak P&B Rovers fan behaviour.

His distribution can be erratic, and he isn't the tallest so can be caught out with some crosses, but he is by far the best keeper we've had since McGurn (and you could probably also aim those criticisms at him).

To say Macdonald hasn't dug is out of a hole in any games is lunacy. Maybe he hasn't single handedly made us avoid defeat, but that's because the defence infront of him have been absolutely rancid for most of fhe season and there's only so many worldie saves he can make.

 

[renton]

1 hour ago, Brashy's Boots said:

Not sure he's Murray's type of player. Def slows the game down and I think IM wants us breaking at pace.

Pretty sure he'll be gone. Not bothered.

This season only really makes sense when you think about it in terms of Murray managing McGlynn's system.

I am split on Spencer. No one else can do his QB passing role and maybe Murray's preferred style doesn't need the midfielder in that half back position dictating play... on the other hand you won't find a better player who can do that job at this level, and I'd Murray is moving away from that - what replaces it?

[Offshore Rover]

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

Can’t think of many games I’ve come away thinking he’s dug us out of a hole or anything this season. Distribution is shocking at times as well. Poor on the ball, not a “modern” ‘keeper.

I don’t have much against him, in that I appreciate he’s not a keeper who chucks one in his own net every 3/4 games, which we’ve seen before, but I don’t really get the hype he gets from some fans.

The thing with MacDonald is that he has played at a higher level and has excellent experience. He doesn’t do anything to stand out because he just knows where to be (most of the time), he uses his experience to make things look easy when some of our previous keepers would be playing up to the cameras.
 

MacDonald has certainly saved us many many points compared to two or three mistakes a season. Some of our past keepers cost us more points than they saved. 

[Scary Bear]

19 minutes ago, keyser_soze said:

Is something we all endure most seasons to be honest, just seems to happen when least expected. 

I really enjoyed that all too brief period from 17th September to 5th November 2022 where we won 4 home games on the bounce scoring 3 goals each game.

[Ro Sham Bo]

I don't understand the talk of getting rid of MacDonald unless his salary expectations are at a level we can no longer afford.

We aren't going to be able to find a replacement as good as him. 

[CountryBumpkin]

3 minutes ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

I don't understand the talk of getting rid of MacDonald unless his salary expectations are at a level we can no longer afford.

We aren't going to be able to find a replacement as good as him. 

I would agree, though given our losses this year, most salary expectations seem to be at a level we can no longer afford. 

[Ro Sham Bo]

Just now, CountryBumpkin said:

I would agree, though given our losses this year, most salary expectations seem to be at a level we can no longer afford. 

Yes. No doubt a lot depends on the budget for next season. Of course this might still be up in the air with the ownership stuff unresolved. 

[Hank Scorpio]

Spencer is a funny one. It has the feel of a relationship which is coming to a natural end. I think he’s good, and if he stayed I’d be quite happy, but I’d wonder if a parting of ways would suit both parties. 

[raith1974]

7 minutes ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

Yes. No doubt a lot depends on the budget for next season. Of course this might still be up in the air with the ownership stuff unresolved. 

Hoe do you know the ownership is unresolved. I know there's been a huge reaction to one comment on here, but the last I heard it was a done deal with Sim retaining around 30% in the club. 

In terms of the squad for 2 seasons it's not been good enough but we do have some decent players just not enough. Squad size was an issue at the start of the season and is still the same today. We needed a striker or 2 and failed on identifying one through the season.

Another issue has been some players not finding form and injuries effecting form. Vaughan, Gullan, Ross.

We also signed some really average players, McBride, Connell, Akio, Goncalves  not to mention Frederiksen. Couple that with having not the best fullbacks in Dick and Millen and having an okay centre half in Nolan. 

Now moving forward who would I keep, who would I release if I could. All 3 keepers I would keep, Lang, Brown, Connolly, Matthews, Stanton, Vaughan, Gullan if they can get fully fit, Easton as there is a quality player there.  The rest can go. From the youngsters I'd keep Young and Mitchell. 

[Raith Against The Machine]

Probably worth remembering that Brad Spencer is another one who didn't get a proper pre-season. 

He's certainly not been at his best this season, but I'd be surprised if Murray doesn't think he can use an accomplished passer. At times this season we've really struggled to find a cohesive midfield unit when Spencer has been missing. He's the mid-point between your destructive Scott Brown/Ross Matthews and the variety of more attack minded midfielders we've got. Stanton has been the best alternative but he's much more effective further forward. 

[RRFC_Liam]

4 hours ago, TxRover said:

2) Honest shopping list: LB, 1 or 2 CB, utility FB/DM, possibly a CM, 1 or 2 CF, RW

We need at Least 3 CHs and possibly 2 LBs, if Spencer goes need a replacement there need at least 2 Strikers and a pacey winger or 2 keep McGill for the utility player if need be 

[SirJimmyofNic]

12 minutes ago, RRFC_Liam said:

We need at Least 3 CHs and possibly 2 LBs, if Spencer goes need a replacement there need at least 2 Strikers and a pacey winger or 2 keep McGill for the utility player if need be 

What we need and what we'll get is anyone's guess, this semi-takeover needs to happen sooner rather than later to ease a lot of the fears for next season

[Ro Sham Bo]

That's 1 point from 5 matches now. I said it last week, and I'll say it again this week, if/when we lose the last two matches that's sackable form and Murray will be under serious pressure to start next season well, if he makes it that far. 

[Chippyminton]

Having watched the game at Cappielow today, I don't think that you're as bad as many of you are making out (but I stand to be corrected on that). We dominated for the first 20 minutes for sure and it looked like an upcoming cricket score was on the cards. But 1-0 after 2 minutes for Morton isn't money in the bank, because we have gaping holes in our defence, we're terrible at defending set-plays at the back post, and we've consistently given so many leads away it's incomprehensible. If I'm being honest, I don't think I was the only bloke standing in the Cowshed waiting for the 'Morton inevitable' to happen. 3-2 up at Dens last week with 3 microseconds to go - and look what happened. That shot from one of your players (don't know who it was, my apologies) which bounced off the underside of the bar? I didn't see it that well, because I was squinting through half-closed eyes like a 1960's teenager watching their first Frankenstein film.

I know you're now in big trouble with a massively compromised squad following your pair of unfortunate reds today - and that gives me the fear because the lovely, gentle, Rovers-admiring folk of Greenock need you to find inspiration from somewhere, find steely determination in your hearts, and trouser the f**k out of Ayr next week. Please. We'll love yous forever.

Mon the Rovers.

[SirJimmyofNic]

4 minutes ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

That's 1 point from 5 matches now. I said it last week, and I'll say it again this week, if/when we lose the last two matches that's sackable form and Murray will be under serious pressure to start next season well, if he makes it that far. 

Cant see the new guys putting up with it

[Ro Sham Bo]

6 minutes ago, SirJimmyofNic said:

Cant see the new guys putting up with it

Yep. Rightly or wrongly, these days if you take 1 point from 7 matches you can have no complaints if you get the sack. Murray will no doubt be aware of this himself and he'll be feeling the heat a bit. 

[Michael W]

It's probably only fair to point out that a run of bad results in dead rubbers was what saw Grant Murray get sacked. I don't think we should do the same again, but we are not doing ourselves any good with this run. In particular, some of our out of contract players are not exactly doing themselves any favours. 

On Brad Spencer, I have exactly the same feeling as @Hank Scorpio. I have absolutely no basis for it at all, but it just feels like he'll be off. He hasn't been at his best in the latter part if the season, but there is definitely more there and he's exactly the kind of player that will probably have offers elsewhere. I wouldn't be pushing the boat out to keep him given that I expect our budget will be going down rather than up, and four of our under contract players are usually injured and emergency cover will inevitably be required at some point. 

Edited April 22, 2023 by Michael W

[SirJimmyofNic]

1st quarter     12 points

2nd quarter   11 points

3rd quarter    12 points

4th quarter    7 points with 2 games left

Consistent if nowt else, but bloody poor form even allowing for injuries etc

[renton]

15 minutes ago, SirJimmyofNic said:

1st quarter     12 points

2nd quarter   11 points

3rd quarter    12 points

4th quarter    7 points with 2 games left

Consistent if nowt else, but bloody poor form even allowing for injuries etc

Etc. is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. I don't think Murray has gotten everything right this season by a long shot but neither has he had a particularly fair go at it either.