bdu98196

I expect the opposite, sit in and not loose the first leg then try hit on the break or a set piece. Unless we score first thats when they might open up but I think their focus will to still be in the tie on Saturday

Devil's advacate here but if all the youth loanees aren't good enough to get significant game time out on loan at part time clubs in much lower tiers then perhaps Dunc was right that they aren't good enough for Championship level. We should be looking for our youngsters to kick on and show they are ready to step up and play higher levels which currently doesn't seem the case. Worrying times if we don't have funds for experience as I don't fancy a team built on our youngsters.

This season they played Raith & Morton and lost both - that is their only higher tier opposition, they lost 13 league games this season in a lower teir and only had the same goal difference as Caley who finished 2nd bottom of the league above. We should be expecting to beat them and comfortably. While we finished 9th, there really is little between us and most teams above us outwith DUtd/Raith & PT - and all of these are a step above League One by a decent margin, where other than Falkirik none look particularly well equipped to compete over 36 games in the Championship next season.

We will absolutely batter these part timers and show them why the seaside leagues is no place for a club like ours.

Can't wait to possibly play Hamilton in the play offs, such an odious club and not one that brings a lot of positive memories with that one top of the **** list

Without going over the same old points I've made before some of which are already above. Ponder this, in many sections of the media Dougie and hid Morton are lauded for an amazing season and yet only 3 points above us which turns out to be 5th and best if the rest. Similar the job of Brown at Ayr and Davidson at QP is again praised yet both within 2 points. Has Dunc been as poor as some fans suggest or is it an exceptionally tight season? Point being we have been poor but it's at creating and scoring, our defence was 2nd best overall and we have positive goal difference. Still enough room for optimism for play offs and to build on. Recruitment last summer was poor and Dodds tenure this season set us on a negative path. Whether he knew the cost cutting was coming and chucked it, who knows but Jan saw an axe yielded and influx of loans with blame allowed to be directed at Dunc when it's the board driving that philosophy. Perhaps the fact he isn't phased by this criticism and negativity suggests he's gotba 'thick skin' so is the right character to take the inevitable backlash when this summer more players are cut and deals struck to minimise player costs at the expense of known quality.

We should all remain positive If results go our way and we finish 8th or above then Dunc has done what he was tasked which is avoid relegation and finished where many considered our expectations. If we fail to get 8th place we go into the play-offs where he can still fulfill that objective, but brings us 4 additional games of football and thus reduces the often tedious downtime between end of season and the next lot of matches to get invested in (although we do have the Euros this summer).

Depending on results on Friday we could in the relegation play-offs with 42 points finishing 9th but only 3 off 5th. Wild.

Looking forwards to brushing up on my native language over the coming weeks

Dead rubber for Dunfermline, so fully expect us to take something from the game, but it really needs to be all 3 points or its squeeky bum time next week. Can see Arborath putting on a performance for the last home game of the season, although form suggests its the 3 points to QP. It'll be a good time for one of our forwards to start scoring goals please and the defence to concentrate for the full 90 mins rather than the 89.5 we have been accustomed most of the season. Big pressure on us otherwise next wk we will have to actually win a home game. Not exactly much to be excited about and definitely not the end to the season we were hoping for given the cup final last season.

Fully expect more of the same next year. Holistically if you consider the options - we are skint and will struggle to finance a team of permanent signings or the chance to go to money bags English clubs who will still pay for their youngsters to get some game time and pick up the costs - essentially free for us but we play them. I doubt anyone at the club is excited at the prospect of not having any experienced signings of younger players we with quality we can retain to develop and try sell. The strategy is clearly making the best with minimal outlay or long term commitments possible.

As we head to the end of the season, if only we had an alternate income stream to use the facilities during the summer. If only someone had thought of a concert venue for some 'has-been' artists appealing to boomers.........

Everyone is saving their excitement to get past this next game fully aware of the stats this is a stick on goalless draw, knowing final game of the season it'll finally all click and we open the doors to 'total football' putting 6 past Morton.............all to be undermined by calls of it being a 'dead rubber' and Morton players had already mentally packed for their all-inclusives to Turkey

You are underestimating how ***** the Championship is if you think Raith have any chance of winning the play-offs

We really need a win on Friday, not just for our position but to show Raith that normal service has resumed, which is an important physiological statement for the inevitable meetings next season again. With Dunfermline & Morton still to play, its very much now a battle to get up the table and be 'best of the rest' since the play-off places are essentially decided.

Only 3 points behind high flying morton and their super coach who many wished we had appointed. Don't let that stop criticism though.

Some may disagree, but I consider this how we will be shaping up by focusing on contract extensions for key members if we remain Championship and less so if we are relegated. Currently it looks like we have the following contracted for next season (I think) - Udjur, Gilmour, Billy, Davidson, Nicholson, Longstaff, Brooks (although If we get relegated I wouldnt be shocked to see Billy & Udjur released if they wanted to leave to cut costs). Priority regardless of division would be to extend Ridgers or Cammy, Devine & Harper along with Hyde, Bray, Cairns & Strachan Beyond that if we remain in the Championship keeping Kerr, Boyes, Duffy & Samuels would be good long term additions All the other loans can GTF as they really havent shown much, the perma crocks and go and those who have failed to deliver or contribute over the last few seasons too - Doran, Samuels, MacGregor, Lodivica etc.

No matter how it's spun there are no positives about dropping to the seaside leagues

Agree, hope the guy is OK but it got devine on, who is a fighter and battler. To me the kind of guy you want on the park and plays like it means something to him in every game.

Ball moving about wildly in the wind, we hit the bar in the first few mins, so rather than just pepper the goals with shots all half we continue to form with tepid tippy tippy **** Not convinced a single goal will be enough fighting against the wind

Now expect the Arbroath keeper to score direct from a goal kick without the ball touching the ground

Fever pitch excitement over this but we are going absolutely batter these fish lovers. 2-0 with Billy finding his shooting boots at the right time to bag a hat-trick

Better off heading to the bakers before you go and stuffing it in your pocket TBH. Quality of food and beverages is at an all time low IMO - somewhat symbolic of the club itself in many ways

For the benefit of those who think options such as Davidson, Imrie or Brown would have been much better than Dunc. Since Dunc arrived he's picked up 31 points, imrie 36 points, Ayr 32 points and QP only 27 points. If someone has the time and wants to go look at the exact points per game of those managers - Davidson, Brown and Imrie - go ahead as I acknowledge they haven't all been in place the exact same number of games. However the clear indicators are that that are all pretty similar in terms of outcomes in this league - whether that's because you see them all as good or crap thats individual judgements but for me none exactly are standing out as options that would have brought massively different outcomes. Also notable mentions to Dunfermline 30 points, Airdrie 33 points and Arbroath 11 points over the same timelines. All of which makes the calls of Morton, Dunfermline and Airdrie having fantastic seasons at various stages over the season seem wild and very instantaneously focused.

Falkirk have spent 6 years in the seaside leagues and not one of those teams listed bounced straight back up when they visited