The Mantis

I was never a big Bayne fan but he would be better than Barrowman, Wood and Rooney put together. Apart from the goal the defence was OK, and so was the midfield up to a point, but feck knows where we're going to get any goals this season. Imrie looked a div 1 player as usual. Anybody thinks we can function without Russell Duncan can borrow my specs. I haven't seen the table yet but I'm sure it won't make good reading.

That would more likely be the Highland Amateur Cup no?

Wick's journey is surely a record for the Scottish Cup.

Rothes v Buckie Thistle Golspie Sutherland v Threave Rovers Banks O' Dee v Fort William Lochee United v Bathgate Thistle Selkirk v Coldstream St Cuthbert Wanderers v Wick Academy Fraserburgh v Hawick Royal Albert Newton Stewart v Brora Rangers Huntly v Girvan Pollok v Spartans Edinburgh City v Nairn County Inverurie Loco Works v Deveronvale Dalbeattie Star v Lossiemouth Edinburgh University v Civil Service Strollers Preston Athletic v Gala Fairydean Wigtown & Bladnoch v Forres Mechanics Clachnacuddin v Burntisland Shipyard Amateur Glasgow University v Vale of Leithen Ties to be played Sept 27.

As your team is so massive how many fans do you think you will bring through? an honest question so don't be a prat. You started it. Guess for yourself - about the same as your lot would bring to Inverness on a wet midweek in September. Remember we have to go 103 miles just for a derby so stop having cheap digs.

Think the Scotland game was the following day. What I do remember is that our next game was the Challenge Cup final against Alloa. Not Pele's greatest week as a manager......

Jeez, I thought I was in disguise yesterday too :thumb04: I think you made a lot of perceptive comments so maybe I'm giving Woody a hard time. I've been impressed with him before and I reckon he can go on to do well with us, but yesterday I just thought his touch was awful, he lost the ball trying to beat his man instead of pass, and he was easily brushed off by the likes of Bullen (mind you the FFC fans are saying Bullen was a disgrace for them so what do I know ). I thought he was poor on Wed at Arbroath too.

Quick thoughts from me: Yes, credit to Brew for the tactics today, and making timely subs. Woody had to go off - I thought the lad had a total mare - and Barrowboy made a difference with his physical presence. Also for subbing Roy and Vigurs who were spent. Jamie Duff looks more and more like a great prospect, the new Granty if we can keep him. Hastings gave the back four a more familiar look and even McGuire was pretty good Blackie excellent as usual, Cowie all over the park and getting back to his old form. Mikey had little to do. Rooney doesn't look fit. Johndo can do the smileys later. Falkirk were totally lacking in belief though and if we had scored earlier who knows how it might have ended up.

Against Liverpool I thought Zander had put on a bit of muscle. I'd like to see him getting a few appearances as sub, starting today at Falkirk.

New manager

Anybody catch it then?

Maybe it was just something they were trying on match days?

The Beancross wouldn't serve you unless you were having a meal - that's why we ended up at the Cadger's Brae a couple of years back, and been going there since. Actually I was at the Beancross for a wedding and the food was excellent.

It's flickr. Old fogies don't use Bebo. Sheesh.... 85 views and only 3 comments

Yeah.

Here's two shots that you might fancy for your desktop if you're an old fogey hankering for the lower leagues. Gayfield 1 Gayfield 2

Aye they changed ends, so all the Lichties trekked round each time the team changed ends, ie all night plus the pens. Maybe you don't know this but there's segregation in div 1 so they had to install a whacking great double fence at halfway, years ago. Still it was open last night. I reckon 1 ball on the sea side and another over the main stand....

To be fair it's only about 2-3 km Alex, but a pretty boring walk with all those roundabouts. It's 4 quid to park at the stadium, but if you get there a bit earlier there's street parking if you look for it. If you park at the stadium at our end you get a quick getaway though. Some of us usually drink at the Cadger's Brae, just off junction 4 on the M9, ie south of the ground. I know there's another pub or two behind the away end towards the town, but never tried them.

A bit like watching Scotland really. It was exciting seeing Queens going for it but somehow you knew it was going to go pear-shaped before the end. Mrs Mantis had her head in a newspaper, not really watching the game, but when the equaliser went in she just casually remarked 'that'll be that then' and went back to her paper. We can learn so much from people like her

What Yngwie said. The pub and the harbour and the smokies and all that stuff. They even let me out at half time and I went up the hill and took photies of the wee ground all lit up. Also the Courier article is spot on. Also it was a right good cup tie and you couldn't grudge Arbroath if they had won. Glad Yngwie got in first and saved me writing all the same stuff. However I felt that we were fine up till Vigurs scored and then the players thought the game was won. As everybody knows it's hard to get the intitiative back in a game once you've lost it. We did have loads of chances to win it in the 90 though and then Barrowboy hit the bar in ET. We've got used to being the underdogs over the years and now the boot's on the other foot when we draw lower division teams. In the car going back home we were wondering what team will be playing against Falkirk. We heard that Vigurs is carrying an injury and misses the game. We desperately need Russeldinho and Granty back in the team. The Good - My MoM (and that of the sponsors) was Barry Wilson. Legend. Playing on the left, encouraging all the youngsters and showing a bit of pace too - where's he been hiding that recently? Plenty of promise from Vigurs and Duff too. Blackie. Esson. Rossco (even though his first 4 passes went astray). Very professional penalties. The Bad - I'm extremely worried about the season. I think the bottom of the table will be a real scrap this year with no Gretna to take the worries away. Apart from Aberdeen I've seen no evidence that we can cope. Has anybody considered that maybe Aberdeen and Hibs are poor sides anyway? We could be getting to play teams like Arbroath sooner than we think. I do think Hamilton will run out of steam like most promoted teams (except us, we usually start bad and get better) and I'd like to see what St Mirren and Falkirk are like. Barrowman - did he come with a guarantee? Can we get a refund before it's too late? Booked twice against a div 2 club and neither of them simply for fouls. Punt him. Imrie? Even the Arbroath fans can spot class (or the lack of it). Lost his head and got booked. Rooney? - a bit worried about his lack of pace. Difficult to tell if he's any good as he's getting no service at the mo, but not sure if he is showing for the pass anyway. McGuire? Obviously the Arbroath players and fans were noising him up as they know him from his Aberdeen days. I thought he might walk after both teams re-enacted the battle of the Somme in the middle of the park. Still not seen anything to convince me. Lionel? A bit erratic. Still struggling to decide whether he adds to the team. Garry Wood? I've been impressed but I thought he was poor last night. Rory? Don't get me started.

These youngsters grow up so quickly nowadays.....

Looks like a lot of detail in the Thistle - what about just an eagle and a ball?

I certainly gave the last two Saturdays a miss in order to pay my dues to Barry on Monday, but then I'm coming from 170 miles down the road so my opinions don't really count for much. We're finding that we need pretty much a full car these days to make it worthwhile with the cost of fuel. The days when I would drive up on my own for the day are well and truly gone. Company on the road, and cost, are big factors. I feel that if I lived in the Sneck I'd probably make all the home games and not bother travelling much, but I have to say the style of play is pish-poor and has been since Brew returned. Even under CC we at least went down trying to pass the ball. I had a flash of optimism at Pittodrie where we were absolutely tremendous. We passed it well against Liverpool but that was a game with no pressure. Reading the comments here just reinforces what I already felt. I hope some of these players can learn quickly, but I fear Barrowman isn't up to the job. Imrie was so good against the Dons I was almost willing to change my mind about him, but it seems that was just a flash in the pan. I've never rated McGuire. We're missing Granty though. Also I've spent a lot of time in the past defending Russeldinho so no apologies from me if I say again we're lost without him. I hope Brew can keep us up but I fear he's got no clue. We'll see what happens when we visit pointless Falkirk next week. If we can win there it'll be an early pointer as to who's going down. However, given our recent form at their place, I think it's more likely that they'll get off the mark next week with a win.

I thought Zander looked pretty good on the other side too.

Shattered after that run back down the road in the rain and up for work this morning, not getting any younger. Wouldn't have missed it though. Must say thanks to everybody involved in making it such a memorable night.