Elgin City v The Spartans (16/12/2023)

[CrispyMelon]

Interested to see what Allan Hale has planned for this one. After last week you would imagine some changes, having kept the same lineup (other than Dolzanski) from the previous three matches. No idea what sort of football he had Huntly playing. 

 

Will be the first time I see (the) Spartans play so intrigued by that as well.

Edited December 16, 2023 by CrispyMelon

[afca32]

Looking forward to a Saturday game at Borough Briggs. I missed the Bonnyrigg game so it's been a long, long time. I remember Archie Macphee scoring a late winner the last time Spartans visited back in 2015. I think it was the Dylan Easton's first game after signing and it was a real turning point in our season. Hoping for similar tomorrow.

Edited December 16, 2023 by afca32

[CrispyMelon]

20 hours ago, afca32 said:

Looking forward to a Saturday game at Borough Briggs. I missed the Bonnyrigg game so it's been a long, long time. I remember Archie Macphee scoring a late winner the last time Spartans visited back in 2015. I think it was the Dylan Easton's first game after signing and it was a really turning point in our season. Hoping for similar tomorrow.

It’s really bizarre to think we’ve only had one Saturday home game in three months. Your comment only made me realise that now 

Edited December 16, 2023 by CrispyMelon

[1993]

2 hours ago, CrispyMelon said:

Interested to see what Allan Hale has planned for this one. After last week you would imagine some changes, having kept the same lineup (other than Dolzanski) from the previous three matches. No idea what sort of football he had Huntly playing. 

 

Will be the time I see (the) Spartans play so intrigued by that as well.

Hasn’t got the personnel to do anything different. Keep things tight and hopefully sneak a goal.

[welshbairn]

Hall at Elgin and Price at Brechin will in the same situation, zero time to change anything but full blame if no points, 3 as a minimum for Price.

[WeAreElgin]

Wind is fair picking up on the other side of the firth. Any chance of this being at risk?

[1993]

It will be windy but not game cancelling strength,

[Jacksgranda]

FFS

[Jimmy Shaker]

[afca32]

Spartans looked a decent team, some really skillful players, but some of our defending was appalling. Quite a few players in that team are past their best and some newer signings aren't up to it. I thought Ben Barron put in a good shift, I'd like to see him starting in a front 3 with Harvey and Taylor next week.

[Tonystenny]

11 minutes ago, afca32 said:

Spartans looked a decent team, some really skillful players, but some of our defending was appalling. Quite a few players in that team are past their best and some newer signings aren't up to it. I thought Ben Barron put in a good shift, I'd like to see him starting in a front 3 with Harvey and Taylor next week.

I ain’t being funny but if you play three up front next week against Stenhousemuir you will get crucified.  

[afca32]

17 minutes ago, Tonystenny said:

I ain’t being funny but if you play three up front next week against Stenhousemuir you will get crucified.  

We've been pumped plenty playing 5-4-1 this season so at least we'd be having a go. But I didn't mean 3 out and out strikers, Harvey and Taylor as wingers. They both put in a shift every week (and actually offer something going forward) unlike some more experienced players, as does Barron.

[Briggsy's Ghost]

I really fear for us once this new manager bounce is over!!

[1993]

46 minutes ago, Tonystenny said:

I ain’t being funny but if you play three up front next week against Stenhousemuir you will get crucified.  

Aye thats fantasy football stuff. We would have more chance with 10 behind the ball and try and scrape a 0-0.

[CrispyMelon]

3 hours ago, afca32 said:

We've been pumped plenty playing 5-4-1 this season so at least we'd be having a go. But I didn't mean 3 out and out strikers, Harvey and Taylor as wingers. They both put in a shift every week (and actually offer something going forward) unlike some more experienced players, as does Barron.

Was impressed by Barron but Mitch works better at wing back. I thought 5-3-2 worked quite well (5-4-1 does not work at all). Something like that but with Barron in for Jones, was impressed by Ben today.

 

Soartans are one of the best teams I’ve seen in a long time at BB. Very very impressed by them 

[CrispyMelon]

Had some more thoughts…

You can’t play all four of Dingwall, Cameron, MacEwan and MacLeman.  I understand benching any of them may seem harsh but there’s no point shoehorning any of them in for the sake of playing them.

On that note, MacLeman needs to be moved back to a more central position. He’s didn’t have a great game yesterday as he was shunted out to the left.

Draper needs to move back into defence. It’s his best position nowadays.

I was so so relieved to see Barron finally get a start. Was our best player yesterday and needs to be in the starting XI going forwards. He will only get better if he gets a sustained run of gametime. Need to play two up front, leaving him alone to chase balls is not going to create enough goals. As I said in my last post, a return to 5-3-2 would be my preference. Isn’t as negative as a 5-back can seem and with the top 2 in Stenny and Peterhead coming up, I think we need to go for it.

Striker(s) are the priority in January. We’ll have a loan slot available again and should look into that position… maybe Aaron Reid? He isn’t getting that much game time at Peterhead. 

Glad to see Jamieson is finally back. Would be interested to see how he’d fare partnering Barron up front while still being able to drift out wide .

I’d have Mitch (or Cairns) back in the team as a Left-wing back as well.

 

Second half gave me more hope as I thought we played a lot better and gave their keeper a bit of trouble. Stopped passing it backwards/around in defence and looked much more threatening

Edited December 17, 2023 by CrispyMelon