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Stirling v Berwick


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Since our last league meeting, Stirling have recorded a measly 17.5% win ratio. This horrendous form sees them fighting for survival, as they desperately try to avoid a Stirling derby next season. A game they will undoubtedly lose.

Unlike Stirling, we've actually won this season so I can only see one outcome here. Bouncing back from last week with a performance the Forthbank locals could only dream of watching their team produce.

Stirling 0-2 Berwick.

Spot on.

Stirling 0-9 Berwick

Surely?

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Went to York at the weekend instead of New Bayview. Still basking in the smug afterglow of a decision that for once worked out well.

Four competitive games this season - good in parts v St. Mirren, excellent v Alloa after a dozy start, ordinary to decent in a relatively comfortable home win v Montrose and absolutely honking by all accounts v East Fife. The manager needs to arrest that downward trajectory in form, starting on Saturday at a ground where we have an absymal record. I think I've seen us win once at Forthbank in about 15 visits. It was always going to take time for a team featuring 8 new players to gel, but after Saturday's lame capitulation, the pressure is on for a good result against Stirling. The manager and board have bought themselves some deserved time by clearing out the deadwood and rotten apples from last season's bunch of underachievers, but supporters' patience is understandably limited after 8 seasons of swanning about the middle reaches of Division 2. This season is make or break for both the manager and his backers in the boardroom. Win on Saturday, and we go into the free home game v an underperforming Arbroath with two wins from 3, which I think is a decent start to the campaign. But the manager has to urgently address the problem we have at centre back and defensive midfield.

Kyle Wilkie and Kevin Smith did well against us on Saturday according to reports, both players we tried to sign during the summer. We were told at the talk-in that Berwick offered Wilkie a better deal than EF but he disliked the slope on the pitch at Shielfield. I'm not making that up. The fact is, we've lost out on a lot of key targets this summer and it's those signing failures that could make the difference in all sorts of ways. There are 13 days left in the current transfer window. The club need to be making good use of them.

As for Saturday, there'll be an enforced change in goal if Walker's suspension kicks in immediately. Walters will need to curb some of his rasher instincts if we're to have any chance. And Wilson needs time out - big question is who replaces him. Ainslie or McNeil? And bring Coultress back on the left too. I'd love a win but am struggling to see it. Great opportunity for the players to show whether they've got the character and ability to bounce back from Saturday though.

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We were told at the talk-in that Berwick offered Wilkie a better deal than EF but he disliked the slope on the pitch at Shielfield. I'm not making that up.

And there I was thinking the majority of footballers at this level were money grabbing twats. Unbelievable.

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We were told at the talk-in that Berwick offered Wilkie a better deal than EF but he disliked the slope on the pitch at Shielfield. I'm not making that up.

Kyle chose East Fife for footballing reasons not financial & our pitch & facilities were core to that as Gary Naysmith said after Saturday's game. Apparently he was offered deals with higher level clubs but chose us & thank goodness he did! Going to be a top player for us this season

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Forgot about Redcar. His is a scrumptious dark Amber brewed especially in a secluded valley of the Yorkshire Dales. I'm sure some of the students up there will point you in the right direction for that one.

Went to York at the weekend

P&B's first love affair? :o

Unsurprised to see yet another Stirling fan land right in the back pocket of the almighty Berwick. It's all way too easy.

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But some of you are madder than others.

Good words from The skipper on Arsebook today.

Shouldn't be difficult to sort out what went wrong in manky Methil. Just need to set up more defensively at the start.

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Given the urgent need to plug gaping holes in defence and midfield, how about:

Walters

Beveridge Fairbairn McNeil Drummond

Cameron

Morris Banjo Graham (F) Coultress

McKenna

4-5-1. Tough on Henderson and Lavery, but it might work. If we can keep Beattie and Cunningham quiet we've got a chance. One shocker of a result does'nt mean we've become the worst team in the league overnight. We've played well or at least decently in our other 3 competitive games including two against teams from higher leagues, so although it's clear we need a couple of experienced, quality reinforcements, it'd not the doomsday scenario just yet. Though it may be if we get pumped again.

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I think we should just go back to the 4-2-3-1 that worked pretty well at St Mirren tbh. Graham or Ainslie will come in at CB. Drummond is out for a couple of weeks. Beveridge is lucky too, because if he wasn't I think he'd have been dropped as well. Solid before that though so hopefully a one off.

If we conceed to Craig Beattie we probably don't deserve to be in the SPFL.

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Did'nt realise Drummond was out. Could do with him back to full fitness asap. Playing people out of position does'nt make sense. If you have two specialist left backs play one of them there.

OK, so:

Walters

McNeil Fairbairn Ainslie Beveridge or R Graham

Cameron

McKenna Banjo F Graham Coultress

Lavery or Henderson

Hopefully we've signed ian Black and John Stones by Saturday so speculative line-ups will be even more meaningless than usual. Still looking forward to it, despite a mate of mine who went to New Bayview describing Saturday's performance as one of the worst he'd seen in 38 years of watching BRFC. And believe me, he's witnessed some horror shows.

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We were destroyed by a team on top form who barely gave us time on the ball. We weren't really allowed to play well so not sure I wouldnt compare it to some of the horror shows against teams who are shit.

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Home kit = 100% win ratio

Away Kit = 0% win ratio

#BinTheBlue

I can agree with that, the new design looks cheap, much prefer last season's blue number, and the white kit with the sash. With a bit of luck, ZOO will produce another third kit.

Fingers crossed for Henderson 'n Lavery staying in the starting XI, they need time to develop synergy, and pulling them after 2 games and 2 goals seems improductive. I understand the need for a more defensive line-up, but this doesn't seem like the right way to go about it.

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If you're struggling defensively then we are the perfect opponents. Not only do we barely score from open play, we also prefer to create as few chances as possible. Ideally no more than 1 per half.

Score prediction 0-1.

Crowd prediction: 563.

Entertainment value prediction: low to non-existent.

Craig Beattie fitness level prediction: low to non-existent.

Craig Beattie to start: almost certainly.

Craig Beattie to score: almost certainly not.

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