lady-isobel-barnett

I do agree with you. James is no longer a teenager so probably past the "bulking up" stage we often see with players in their late teens. More as a generalisation it is not unusual for a player whose footballing ability is not in question to fail on loan at a lower league side then go on to be successful with his parent club. Most often it's a case of being bullied off the ball playing for the former and being protected at the latter. Kinda like a ball player with zero pace being successful as the players round him more than compensate. Like Ross Forbes in our promotion season. Point I'm making is it's not just the level we send our youngsters out to. Gotta take into consideration how they'll fit into the team they're farmed out to*. * edited to that I don't think that's always been the case with us.

Fairly sure you're on the right track. We're lightweight in midfield (certainly defensively), so every substitution in midfield will require the oncoming player to attempt to provide some sort of defensive work. James is probably the least equipped in that department so misses out. Perhaps if East Fife are relatively sound in defence this move will work out. Conversely if they're too delicate an outfit James could be the type of midfielder to be sacrificed. Hopefully that isn't going to be the case.

Is that me getting my just des(s)erts?

Proof in the pudding but if James gets regular starting at Methil as opposed to a handful of cameo roles with us then this is a reasonable move. Problem being that regular games with East Fife won't secure a regular start for us next season.

I've no idea how they survive. They appear to live under constant boardroom turmoil, defending lawsuits etc. Things that would make our recent behind the scenes shenanigans look like a minor tiff. They're probably only the fifth best supported club in their catchment area, so in some ways you have to admire how they can so often punch above their weight. Personally I dislike just about everything connected to Livingston FC but that may be highlighting my own prejudices.

AHAA 👍

Correct. They backed Pastor Jack Glass on a few of his better known numbers.

Felt yesterday was a kinda Dingwall Revisited Lite. Also showed up our major frailties so evident this season. I never felt that confident at 2-0. Once again we were forced onto the back foot (ten outfield players behind the ball) with next to no defence in midfield. Find it hard to blame the players for not being able to do something they're not equipped to do. Even so there is fault. Only Bannigan appeared to win some of the second balls and the players further up the pitch gave the ball away too cheaply. Trying to see a game out for 30 minutes with a two goal lead shouldn't be beyond us. Where it becomes a difficult task is when you cede possession too easily, spending maybe 80% of that half hour without the ball. Even at relatively simple things like throw ins we constantly lose possession within a couple of touches. On a positive we may just be over our late capitulation woes. Our two cup tied players could well see to that. McBeth has looked capable of both ball winning and distribution from deep midfield. O'Reilly could add extra insurance, both in strengthening the defence and allowing another defender (probably Neilson) to step into midfield if McBeth not up to it or unavailable. Fingers truly crossed on that. In my mind it's not so much us being in the play offs. More being able to compete in the physicality side of things to win thru. Yesterday sadly highlighted that deficiency but hopefully we've got the cure.

Notwithstanding we've beaten County plus Morton saw off Motherwell, I worry a wee bit about pace and physicality of top tier teams. Put another way we're not exactly blessed with either of these two qualities. Sense we can outplay Livingston without too much difficulty. Just fear that we might struggle to do so for long enough to win thru.

It's a bit unfair when a player is fouled and has to go off for treatment whilst the offending team remain with eleven on the pitch. Think sin bins are totally impractical at professional/spectator level but I wouldn't necessarily be against an offending player withdrawal to redress this one situation. Even at that I admit to not thinking the idea thru so maybe that's either impractical or open to abuse?

A black card.......would at least complete the set in Thistle colours.

That would be interesting. See if he could better Big Dunc's 1 win in 18 games.

Even in these days of the fast managerial roundabout, leaving after only 12 games is rather unique. Especially at a lower league club where expectations are considerably lower.

Round my area in the JHS it's generally accepted it's sit anywhere on non ST days. Could be due to being in a popular situation as we appear to attract a lot of casual visitors even on ST days when there's little free seating. Maybe a subject that TJF could settle. It's certainly what I would describe as a fans issue.

Women's Quarter Final AAHA 👍

We're safe. Looks like "Colin" is getting the gig. Temporarily at least. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68197268

😃 amended

It's still in Raith's hands to lose but from what little I saw of them last night I'd like to think we'd have beaten them today. Last season's play offs were exceptional but our chances of promotion will be so much greater if we were to secure 2nd place. To do that I'd imagine we'll need to at least reverse results with Raith (a win & a draw). Elsewhere Raith have won so many games by a single goal, so any loss of form is encouraging.

I think it could be down to us not having the muscle elsewhere in midfield. Doolan has had to rely on other midfielders showing a bit of dig. James for instance doesn't have the tacking ability of Stanway and others. McBeth's signing may have solved the defensive side of things tho' he's yet to start. Of course that means if Luke does start there'll be one less midfield slot available. Think like many James will have to go out on loan to get anything near regular football.

I think both Lyon and MacKenzie would benefit from going out on loan. Different cases tho'. James is unlikely to get much game time this season with us. So I can only imagine we can't find him a suitable club. It's different with Zander. We possibly needed to bring in a player to justify his loss. Zander can come off the bench to cover a few positions.

HAHA AHHA 👍

Decent enough away point. Another example of one of those games we'd have lost this time last season. Both teams were going for a win but there wasn't too many clear cut chances for either side. Possibly coincidental but it was perhaps not a bad thing that our three yellow carded players were subbed. The game ended up rather frenetic and I sensed a second yellow was in the offing. Thought McBeth looks promising in the deep midfield slot. Looks like he can be quite creative, which is a bit of a bonus.

So perhaps the only likelihood of him signing would be in the summer. And at that dependent on an unfavourable to player relegation clause kicking in.

Difficult to predict. Obviously on a high after last week, but I'd think playing Airdrie away just as hard as Cappielow. Can see a change at centreback as Aero is carrying a couple of injuries, but then again we've no game the following weekend. Only other changes I imagine would be fitness related.

Doubt it. But it does explain Derek Adams trying to squirm out of his contract at County.