The New Raith Rovers Thread

[pub car king]

7 minutes ago, stevoraith said:

I’ll also put the new hat I got for Christmas in the bin and go back to wearing the old one just in case that’s the issue. 

Definetly the hat, now let's never speak of it again 

[philpy]

It's all good and well being on this unbeaten run, but the goal difference could well come back to haunt us, as well as the dropped points. 6 goals conceded in 2 games against opposition a good few points behind us isn't great, along with 2 points out of the last 6. 

[Michael W]

I am glad Murray is angry about that. He should be. 

However, he needs to take a large proportion of the blame for it. We are very open in the way that we play and the amount of goals we are conceding is ridiculous. In our last three home matches we have scored 10 goals, which is fantastic, but we have also conceded 9. Two of those games have seen us chuck away a two goal lead: Partick and Arbroath. Against Partick we managed to get out and win it back, but that was beyond us today unfortunately. 

I don't want to come across here as too negative: we have scored points beyond expectations and are miles clear of 3rd place. We have also only lost one league match this season. However, the last two league fixtures have seen us lose points from a winning position, despite fortuitous circumstances in both cases. We shouldn't be failing to close out the win and the game management needs to be looked at. If that means opting for a more 'solid' base and replacing a forward for a more defensive player, then this is something we should look at doing. With Stanton out for a good few weeks, there is the perfect opportunity to change the system in his absence. 

We have won 12 league matches this season. Every single one of them has been by a margin of one goal. Efficient, but we could really do without conceding as much as we do. 

[SerieA]

Murray has this obsession with leaving substitutes too late. If not freshening it up at 2-0 today he should’ve made a couple of subs at 2-1. The strong bench has to be used better.

[grumswall]

Although I agree that we needed freshening up, it literally took a wonder strike from a sub keeper to change the game today. If that doesn't go in, we win that game with ease Imo. Continuing the 4132 when we're coasting clearly didn't work today and playing that against ten man Ayr clearly didn't work though so Murray definitely has some thinking to do. 

[SerieA]

It did take a wonder strike but even after that just stick Matthews on to keep things tight.

Forwards need to more clinical as well.I know they can’t score every chance but a few games recently including today we should’ve been out of sight-if that’s such a thing with this team.

[Wardy]

Didn’t make the game today due to work, but when I heard Arbroath had to bring their sub keeper on to play outfield and up front, I just knew he would score. It’s absolutely peak Raith Rovers. Even in our best season in years, silly things continue to happen.

[RRFC_Liam]

4 minutes ago, SerieA said:

Murray has this obsession with leaving substitutes too late. If not freshening it up at 2-0 today he should’ve made a couple of subs at 2-1. The strong bench has to be used better.

Aye that’s true he’s been waiting to have a full bench and he has for a few weeks but he’s not utilising in a proactive manner his subs in the last few games have been reactive- Goodwin on Friday night with about 20 mins to go partick were starting to get back into then he makes 2 subs takes back control score 2 and sees out the game.

we need to starting doing more of that having proactive subs rather than reactive since teams have pegged us back or start winning when we’re 2-0 up make a change whether it’s Midfield or bringing off an attacker and bringing on a defender and shape to see the games out that’s what we’re lacking atm 

[grumswall]

7 minutes ago, SerieA said:

It did take a wonder strike but even after that just stick Matthews on to keep things tight.

Forwards need to more clinical as well.I know they can’t score every chance but a few games recently including today we should’ve been out of sight-if that’s such a thing with this team.

Matthews has barely played in two seasons for a reason. When he's actually ready to play I'm sure he will.  

Are people forgetting the amount of points Murray has actually won us this season with his subs?

 

[RAITHROVERS84]

35 minutes ago, grumswall said:

Matthews has barely played in two seasons for a reason. When he's actually ready to play I'm sure he will.  

Are people forgetting the amount of points Murray has actually won us this season with his subs?

 

Murray has been lauded all season and quite rightly so. I’m delighted he’s with us.

So when you get the plaudits you have to take the criticism.

If you couldn’t see from the south stand that we were being pulled around by our c0ck vs 10 man Ayr and not dominant vs a gash Abroath who had a goalie outfield then nothing more I can add. 

4 precious points dropped unnecessarily.

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by RAITHROVERS84

[raith1974]

At 2 nil why did Hamilton try and chest the ball into the net when he should have put his head on it.

The problem we have on Tuesday is with O'Reilly, he may not be able to play as other clubs including Arbroath will be looking for available centre halfs. Seeing as we are getting no Watson updates maybe he'll rock up at EEP.

Dunfermline look like they will have a few players out on Tuesday but we need to keep it tight in the middle of the park. Get Byrne and Brown in together, Vaughan in behind Hamilton with Mullin and Easton out wide.

[grumswall]

15 minutes ago, RAITHROVERS84 said:

Murray has been lauded all season and quite rightly so. I’m delighted he’s with us.

So when you get the plaudits you have to take the criticism.

If you couldn’t see from the south stand that we were being pulled around by our c0ck vs 10 man Ayr and not dominant vs a gash Abroath who had a goalie outfield then nothing more I can add. 

4 precious points dropped unnecessary 

Until Arbroath scored the first goal today they weren't in the game. Kev made a couple of decent saves in the first half. At 2-0 we could have still been playing and not lost. Goals change games and that one certainly changed the outcome of today's. 

11 minutes ago, raith1974 said:

At 2 nil why did Hamilton try and chest the ball into the net when he should have put his head on it.

The problem we have on Tuesday is with O'Reilly, he may not be able to play as other clubs including Arbroath will be looking for available centre halfs. Seeing as we are getting no Watson updates maybe he'll rock up at EEP.

Dunfermline look like they will have a few players out on Tuesday but we need to keep it tight in the middle of the park. Get Byrne and Brown in together, Vaughan in behind Hamilton with Mullin and Easton out wide.

Hamilton wasn't happy with his own performance today and quite honestly I can't blame him. He's a better player than he showed today and he looked a little low on confidence. 

[The Toun Clock]

9 minutes ago, raith1974 said:

At 2 nil why did Hamilton try and chest the ball into the net when he should have put his head on it.

The problem we have on Tuesday is with O'Reilly, he may not be able to play as other clubs including Arbroath will be looking for available centre halfs. Seeing as we are getting no Watson updates maybe he'll rock up at EEP.

Dunfermline look like they will have a few players out on Tuesday but we need to keep it tight in the middle of the park. Get Byrne and Brown in together, Vaughan in behind Hamilton with Mullin and Easton out wide.

Aye our injury woes are just going round in circles. We were already short, then lost Lewis McCann and Chris Hamilton last week at Arbroath. Then today, Matty Todd and Ewan Otoo also missed out, no mention of Todd but Otoo pulled up in the warm up.

Rhys Breen returned last week after being injured since our game in October, he goes off injured today, replaced by Bene, making his return since the same game in October and at the end he was hobbling about. 

As things stand, we could be without -

Bene (injured at end of game)

Breen (subbed off injured today)

O’Hallaron (subbed off today, illness/injured)

Hamilton (fractured cheekbone, trying to get a mask and specialist approval)

Otoo (pulled up in warm up)

McCann (injured last week)

Todd (not involved today, no mention from McPake which is a worry)

Tod (injured for months)

Richie-Hosler (fractured shoulder)

I’d say 7/9 of those would be starters if we had a full squad.

Hope the Germans have their chequebook out on New Year’s Day… 

[RRFC_Liam]

14 minutes ago, The Toun Clock said:

Aye our injury woes are just going round in circles. We were already short, then lost Lewis McCann and Chris Hamilton last week at Arbroath. Then today, Matty Todd and Ewan Otoo also missed out, no mention of Todd but Otoo pulled up in the warm up.

Rhys Breen returned last week after being injured since our game in October, he goes off injured today, replaced by Bene, making his return since the same game in October and at the end he was hobbling about. 

As things stand, we could be without -

Bene (injured at end of game)

Breen (subbed off injured today)

O’Hallaron (subbed off today, illness/injured)

Hamilton (fractured cheekbone, trying to get a mask and specialist approval)

Otoo (pulled up in warm up)

McCann (injured last week)

Todd (not involved today, no mention from McPake which is a worry)

Tod (injured for months)

Richie-Hosler (fractured shoulder)

I’d say 7/9 of those would be starters if we had a full squad.

Hope the Germans have their chequebook out on New Year’s Day… 

See with that injury list I’m expecting a comfortable rovers win but then  again Arbroath had injuries had 1 natural defender and GK playing up front and got a draw. so I’m not as confident after seeing that today but if our in game management/formation changes and make pro active subs we see the game out if winning ( hopefully) 

[CountryBumpkin]

Oddly I don't feel as confident with Brown sitting in the middle when Byrne isn't there. Just doesn't offer us the same ability and calmness on the ball and has a much lesser range of passing, defensive side is excellent though but he's not a link up player.

Again too many rushed punts up to Smith and Hamilton, panicky football at best, we recycle possession way too easily and our pressure game is nonexistent without Stanton leading it. 

Absolute cracker of a hit from the keeper, won't ever do that again I bet. Fair play to him, speculated and got reward. 

Edited December 31, 2023 by CountryBumpkin

[Sweaty Morph]

Some goal from Adams, don't remember ever seeing a goal applauded so much by opposition fans. Deserved it though 

Bitterly disappointed not to see that out at 2-0 given the circumstances. Last couple of home games have been disappointing, not sure a four point return from our two games this season with Ayr, Arbroath and Dundee Utd is too bad a return; the nature of the dropped points is a concern though.

[Wardy]

26 minutes ago, Sweaty Morph said:

Some goal from Adams, don't remember ever seeing a goal applauded so much by opposition fans. Deserved it though 

Bitterly disappointed not to see that out at 2-0 given the circumstances. Last couple of home games have been disappointing, not sure a four point return from our two games this season with Ayr, Arbroath and Dundee Utd is too bad a return; the nature of the dropped points is a concern though.

Yeah it’s only really Airdrie who we have been rubbish against with just 1 point from a possible 6. Especially when you consider we’ve had 6 from 6 against teams like Inverness and Dunfermline. Which historically never usually happens.
 

we’ve also only conceded a single goal against our title challengers. Compared to like 5 goals conceded to Ayr and Partick Thistle. 
 

Just a really wild season so far. Not a great end to the year but hopefully we can bounce back. 

[RaithRovers1883]

It was the attitude in the second half yesterday that was the most concerning aspect. Brown and Millen were the two most disappointing for me, but I appreciate they've been really good for us across the whole of the season so far.

If the performance yesterday was a one-off then the players could easily be excused for having an off day. However, aside from the Dundee Utd match we've had some fairly lacklustre defensive performances for a few games now.

The Dunfermline match is a perfect opportunity to arrest this with a confident, assured performance. I'd like to see more use of the central midfield and defensive options on our substitutes bench to hold on to winning positions when we're not chasing a game.

It's natural to be disappointed after the last two results, however it needs to be seen in the context of an overall great season so far. Still plenty of reason to be optimistic for the second half of the season.

Edited December 31, 2023 by RaithRovers1883

[SerieA]

Anyway…we’ve all had a rant/moan about yesterday and I’m sure along with Murray the players had a good go at each other-time to move on a concentrate on that lot along the road!!

We expecting an update on O’Reilly contract situation ahead of the game?If he’s not going to be available I’m surprised Corr never got a run out yesterday-unless Watson will be available-or will Brown be back in defence?

Would prefer Byrne/Brown together in middle of park for this one especially with Murray talking about winning tackles and aggression.

Mullin back in on the right.

Hamilton up top with Vaughan just behind.

[SanStarko]

Hard to be critical given we're top of the league at New Year.  Disappointing to have effectively thrown away 4 points in the last two games but there were always going to be bumps in the road.  

Main issue that I see is that we have a really bad habit of losing all sense of calm once we concede and go into panic mode for the next 10/15 minutes, usually resulting in us losing another goal.  Rather not concede goals in the first place, but if we do concede, not going into panic mode right after would be nice.