DiamondDownSouth Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 Is this an omen? (aka more meaningless trivia from me): In 1980 we were promoted to the Premier League 11 years later, in 1991, we were promoted to the Premier League 11 years later, in 2002, we (cough) transitioned to Airdrie United. We were pretty much a shoe-in for promotion to the Premier League until things unravelled that season 11 years later, in 2013, we were renamed Airdrieonians and were relegated to League One, where we stayed until last season In 2024 it is 11 years later and we are within touching distance of the Premiership play-offs... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds are Forever Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 4 hours ago, Diamonds Are Red said: There's no getting away from the fact our turnover has increased dramatically this season as outlined (prize money for cup and league, crowds, hospitality, JD transfer etc...) - without trying to put a dampener on it was there something on here a while back about us having a £200k loss (might have misread it) and you wonder if PH or a.n. Other is due back on loans? Seems to be running it sensibly, and no sign of concern from Rhys, but you just wonder how much of that increased turnover will be allocated to player budget and what (if any, could be £0 or very little) is set aside to cover previous losses? Even apart from the money, which as you say could all disappear quite quickly, one thing that finishing 4th and the positive feeling around the club would hopefully mean is that we are a more attractive option for potential signings next season. At the start of the season there's no doubt that of the full-time teams we'd have been last in the pecking order for signings in the Championship. Mainly financially, but also players would have assumed we'd be down the bottom and not fancied it. Next season, even if our budget increases enough to be in the same ballpark as some of the other clubs hopefully the perception of the club is more positive than it was at the start of the season and we'll get good quality players. Particularly if you are a young player and see the opportunities they are getting, how much they are improving and the style of play that will hopefully help them develop. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds_Are_Forever Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 What players would we feel would be good enough for a step up to the prem if we did go up ? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapitalDiamond Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 5 hours ago, Diamonds Are Red said: There's no getting away from the fact our turnover has increased dramatically this season as outlined (prize money for cup and league, crowds, hospitality, JD transfer etc...) - without trying to put a dampener on it was there something on here a while back about us having a £200k loss (might have misread it) and you wonder if PH or a.n. Other is due back on loans? Seems to be running it sensibly, and no sign of concern from Rhys, but you just wonder how much of that increased turnover will be allocated to player budget and what (if any, could be £0 or very little) is set aside to cover previous losses? It’s not so much precious losses, last few years have been break even/small profit, but there is a large debt owed to the owner which I assume is the money put in initially to buy out Wotherspoon. Bit of a stick or twist decision for PH, do you take money out while it’s there, or reinvest it in the hope of making your investment even better. If we did manage a promotion then he’s bought a stadium that no o e could make work as a business and an ailing part time league 1 team and managed to get the operation to the level where that Stadium becomes a massive asset. Not by throwing cash at it Willie Haughey style, but by solidly improving things year on year. There’s been very little luck come our way between the Covid season (where we were right in the mix) and the agony of 2 play off final losses. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb_diamond Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 1 hour ago, Diamonds_Are_Forever said: What players would we feel would be good enough for a step up to the prem if we did go up ? I'm stepping out of this discussion after my pre season "punt telfer and Watson" shouts 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb_diamond Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 2 hours ago, Diamonds are Forever said: Even apart from the money, which as you say could all disappear quite quickly, one thing that finishing 4th and the positive feeling around the club would hopefully mean is that we are a more attractive option for potential signings next season. At the start of the season there's no doubt that of the full-time teams we'd have been last in the pecking order for signings in the Championship. Mainly financially, but also players would have assumed we'd be down the bottom and not fancied it. Next season, even if our budget increases enough to be in the same ballpark as some of the other clubs hopefully the perception of the club is more positive than it was at the start of the season and we'll get good quality players. Particularly if you are a young player and see the opportunities they are getting, how much they are improving and the style of play that will hopefully help them develop. Yeah this is a good post. I agree about the perception of Rhys and the club being very positive. I also think if we stay down Premier League clubs will be wanting their best youngsters out on loan to places like us and more specifically to our management team. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr November Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 Interesting looking back at the league table after the defeat at Cappielow, only seven weeks ago. Albeit with a game in hand but we’ve gained 10 points on Partick Thistle and a remarkable 18 on Morton since then. Queen’s Park are an interesting one too. After the draw last month it felt like both teams were in a fairly similar position but where we’ve pushed on and have now all but confirmed promotion play-offs, they’ve barely picked up any points since then. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moses1924 Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 1 hour ago, cb_diamond said: I'm stepping out of this discussion after my pre season "punt telfer and Watson" shouts I'm much the same as I didnt think many of them would cope that well with the step up to the Championship. On the basis you couldnt sign a whole new team I would say Rae, Ballantyne, Megwa if we could sign him, Hancock, Telfer, McStravick, maybe Frizzel. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passionate Posted April 14 Share Posted April 14 5 hours ago, Diamonds_Are_Forever said: What players would we feel would be good enough for a step up to the prem if we did go up ? I would think we would try and sign the majority, to be fair I am not considering promotion, 3rd has to be our next target.. Niggling injuries are starting to mount up, not much time for recovery now that will cost us big time, if any of our big players are out, Telfer went off with a calf, Ballantyne looked like a thigh injury, Watson went off limping as well as Rhys recovering from his injury, we will habe to really rotate the squad, but the drop off is pretty noticeable in some positions, The only players I think we will choose to move on at season end will be Gallagher, Dunlop, Cassidy and Fellows whether the rest of the players sign on again , we will have to wait and see because no doubt there will be interest.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds on the Windshield Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Watching the highlights just confirms what I have been saying about McGill and Todorov. Todorov is just not sharp enough in the box. When he came in originally he made a big difference when we were not getting into the box and against TNS he was outstanding. Now that we are getting into the box again we are creating a lot of openings and we have a poacher/ 6 yard specialist on the bench. Hopefully Ballantyne is back playing for the rest of the season because the last few games we have gone up a notch. We will have to win the playoffs and go up as it is the only way we will get back into Europe and that is our rightful place now. Watching Sparta Prague recently brought it all back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond1924 Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 32 minutes ago, Diamonds on the Windshield said: Watching the highlights just confirms what I have been saying about McGill and Todorov. Todorov is just not sharp enough in the box. When he came in originally he made a big difference when we were not getting into the box and against TNS he was outstanding. Now that we are getting into the box again we are creating a lot of openings and we have a poacher/ 6 yard specialist on the bench. Hopefully Ballantyne is back playing for the rest of the season because the last few games we have gone up a notch. We will have to win the playoffs and go up as it is the only way we will get back into Europe and that is our rightful place now. Watching Sparta Prague recently brought it all back. I would still opt for Todorov over Gallagher. The big man isn’t quick but his hold up and link up play has improved massively since the new year and causes defences all sort of problems with his height. For a big guy he’s not particularly strong but is way more effective than Gallagher has been this season. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passionate Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 36 minutes ago, Diamond1924 said: I would still opt for Todorov over Gallagher. The big man isn’t quick but his hold up and link up play has improved massively since the new year and causes defences all sort of problems with his height. For a big guy he’s not particularly strong but is way more effective than Gallagher has been this season. Todorov is a handful and a much better player than a lot give home credit for, Gall is /was an excellent striker who will still get goals although I think his level is League below now, i actually think he is working his ticket, be it Rhys has already had a chat with him about next season, who knows.. interested to see who we can bring in for next season in forward areas, who has impressed us.. Muirhead, Morton McCann, Dunfermline They are 2 that spring to mind that have impressed over the last few seasons. .. thoughts 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny_m Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 1 hour ago, Diamonds on the Windshield said: We will have to win the playoffs and go up as it is the only way we will get back into Europe and that is our rightful place now. Great optimism but calm doon mate. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny_m Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 13 hours ago, Passionate said: I would think we would try and sign the majority, to be fair I am not considering promotion, 3rd has to be our next target.. Niggling injuries are starting to mount up, not much time for recovery now that will cost us big time, if any of our big players are out, Telfer went off with a calf, Ballantyne looked like a thigh injury, Watson went off limping as well as Rhys recovering from his injury, we will habe to really rotate the squad, but the drop off is pretty noticeable in some positions, The only players I think we will choose to move on at season end will be Gallagher, Dunlop, Cassidy and Fellows whether the rest of the players sign on again , we will have to wait and see because no doubt there will be interest.. Let's hope it is a thigh injury to Ballantyne because if it is a recurrence of his groin then I would imagine that he'd be gone for the season. I'm also not contemplating promotion as the SPFL have made it so difficult for the 3rd & 4th place sides but I'd love to be proved wrong. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny_m Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 1 hour ago, Passionate said: Todorov is a handful and a much better player than a lot give home credit for, Gall is /was an excellent striker who will still get goals although I think his level is League below now, i actually think he is working his ticket, be it Rhys has already had a chat with him about next season, who knows.. interested to see who we can bring in for next season in forward areas, who has impressed us.. Muirhead, Morton McCann, Dunfermline They are 2 that spring to mind that have impressed over the last few seasons. .. thoughts If you could morph McCann's pace to Muirhead's ability, then you'd have a real player. Muirhead's lack of pace is why he's tumbled down the levels. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondsAway Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 6 hours ago, Diamonds on the Windshield said: Watching the highlights just confirms what I have been saying about McGill and Todorov. Todorov is just not sharp enough in the box. When he came in originally he made a big difference when we were not getting into the box and against TNS he was outstanding. Now that we are getting into the box again we are creating a lot of openings and we have a poacher/ 6 yard specialist on the bench. Hopefully Ballantyne is back playing for the rest of the season because the last few games we have gone up a notch. We will have to win the playoffs and go up as it is the only way we will get back into Europe and that is our rightful place now. Watching Sparta Prague recently brought it all back. Gal simply isn't good enough, if the gaffer had any doubts over todorov don't you think he would've started more than 1 game this calender year? -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airdrieman Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds on the Windshield Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 Would Anton Dowds return to Thistle after Ayr's season comes to an end and be allowed to play in the playoffs? If so we may have a problem. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudia Gentile Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 27 minutes ago, Diamonds on the Windshield said: Would Anton Dowds return to Thistle after Ayr's season comes to an end and be allowed to play in the playoffs? If so we may have a problem. No mate. Not allowed to play. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
++Ammo - Airdrie++ Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 2 hours ago, Claudia Gentile said: No mate. Not allowed to play. thank f*ck for that 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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