The Mantis

Was down at the Dunston v Gateshead 4th prelim round the other week but that’s ancient history now as they’re both out ?

That Partick Thistle one still annoys me. Especially Liam Fox missing a chance to make it 3-1. Somebody sitting behind me yesterday brought up the Hearts - Gretna final and it set me off again ?

Edinburgh City May well bring a coachload, possibly even just players and supporters together. Can’t see any more than that. Hope our guys break with tradition and come out for this one. It’ll be a bit like the Crusaders game crowdwise if you ask me.

What RiG and SO said. At half time I think most of us reckoned it would probably end up a comfortable 3-0 win, but unfortunately the players must’ve thought that too. A pitch like that just shows up White’s deficiencies, and not just him either. Maybe he can do a job in the winter on a heavy park, but I’ll not hold my breath. I didn’t think the other two contributed much either. Austin really should have scored after about 15 minutes. As RiG says we seemed to switch to a 3-5-2 second half but the 5 were largely redundant as the ball spent so long in the air. When we’re resorting to long punts against a team two divisions below us, it’s appalling. The equaliser looked a bit fluky but that made the last few minutes quite nerve-wracking. I was puzzled as to why Doran didn’t start- although he’s been poor, I would have thought this surface against lower league opposition would have been tailor made for him.

I went to see Cowdenbeath v Brora yesterday. Dale Gillespie started, as did Ally MacDonald (left back - was he one of ours? He was outstanding). Zander came on at half time and ran them ragged. He was a class above. Brora were the better team by a mile but couldn’t finish a fish supper.

Toss-up for MoM between big Coll and Polly who was involved in everything. Sean Welsh and Jamie McCart not far behind. Last half hour was like the good old days when Pele was in charge. However the first 60 minutes are best forgotten. Plenty possession but very little creativity. Have to agree about Trafford, never been a fan. Credit to Robbo for throwing the subs on and going for it. George had very few scraps to live on and the debate about which strikers should start is no nearer being solved, as White actually did reasonably well when he came on. Austin might have nicked it at the end. We’d be some team if we played at that tempo every week for say 70 minutes instead of 30. Let’s not kid ourselves though, even with Tremarco and Rooney and the mythical Beith available, we need a really commanding Draper-like CM to replace Trafford and a proven goalscorer. And somebody mentioned that Doran might be finished. Sadly, reluctantly I’d have to agree. Did everybody notice that Edinburgh City came back from 2 goals down to beat Alloa on pens?

The regulars use Morrisons, there's no problem parking there.

Great idea L_G especially since we don't get visits to Edinburgh in the league these days. Don't see the attendance being a problem as Edinburgh City only get crowds of about 300. Should be a few neutrals there on the day as it's the only show in town. 500 seats and grass banking so just like the HL days ?

Can’t see this mentioned anywhere else but the game is now Tues 20th at 7.00pm.

Welcome back Mr Eager, I remember you ? I was at two on that list. The ICT one obviously, and Ayr United. Imagine 25225 crammed into Somerset.

Also telling the twitter guy that Walsh cut in from the LEFT ?

Looking forward to telling the grandchildren I was there the day ICT won a match ?

Which bit?

Beat me to it while I was composing an answer. ? doesn’t explain why Spamtins get priority though.

Find that hard to believe.

Exactly. I've never shirked away from stating on the forum that imo players are simply not good enough for the club, whether they are likely to read the forum or not (and if I was a player I would steer clear of reading the self-defeating crap that occasionally appears here. Football is played 75% in the head). But I draw the line at the type of OP made here. Absolutely out of order. Likewise abusing your own players on matchday. We're all passionate but do you honestly think it helps the player or the club? Jeez.

I lost my younger brother to the same thing in March 2017. From what you say, you seem to have caught it early whereas he already had secondaries in his spine and lasted only 2 1/2 years. Let's hope so anyway, my brother met many people at drop-in sessions who had been clear for many years. David Steel was diagnosed around 2002 and is still with us. As, indeed, everybody on CTO is with you.

I take it you couldn’t see them yourself ?

I wouldn’t fancy starting him in the cup game as it’s likely he’ll have Balatoni marking him. Could use his pace later on though.

A truly arctic experience at the Indesit, sorry Indodrill gazebo this afternoon. Apart from a couple of years in the noughties, the Recs has never been an easy place to visit and so it proved. Alloa have been stuffy and hard to break down this season but they have what we lack (sorry, ONE of the things we lack) - a bit of pace on the break. They actually got down both flanks and got crosses in. They were the better team by a distance in the first half. Second half we dominated the possession as Alloa appeared to just want to hold what they had, but it was the usual overplaying, square balls from big Joe, and a lacklustre Polly trying to make a telling pass. Welsh was almost decent, but Doran was invisible again and Walsh just appears too lightweight most of the time. Calder slotted in reasonably well when Tremarco went off, but Brad continues to be a bit of a bombscare. We could have lost it late on when the Jambo rattled the bar with Ridgers a spectator. Apart from one season with Livi, Jordan White has never scored goals. The white Doumbaya. I’ve never felt that Daniel Mackay was quite ready for this level any time I’ve seen him, and I can understand Robbo giving him some game time, but what about winning the match? With Coll our talisman back, I think we’ll do a bit better next week than some are predicting, but scoring goals looks beyond us at the moment. Even if big George makes an appearance he’s never going to be match fit. Truly dire, dire times for us.

Can’t see it being other than 3pm Saturday, it’s not going to be moved for telly. According to HibeeJibee, the fount of all knowledge on P&B, the club furthest up the pyramid gets priority, and the cup thing is a myth. I think there may be precedents for this. Either way, it’s us and not Spamtins.

You would be best to do your drinking in Rose Street, or George Street where there’s a huge Wetherspoons called the Standing Order if that’s your thing. Then a stroll round to Hanover Street where you can hop on a 27 bus at 1419, which takes only about 7 minutes to the big Morrison’s near the ground. If you miss that, there’s another one 15 minutes later. Personally I like the historic pubs east of Hanover Street, The Abbotsford, The Cafe Royal or The Guildford. But I’m an old git. ETA - I see Spartans are at home to the Shire that day. Can’t remember whether that gets moved for us or vice-versa.

Plastic pitch. Imagine if will go ahead at Ainslie Park as it won’t draw a massive crowd.