Robert

I was told they started cutting the grass before the Dunfermline game and that is what caused the problem. No idea if that is right but it is a strip that is the problem. It was a bit better today (I like the team) but still causing the ball to stick more than it should.

I agree but disagree with your selection. Trafford was one of the few outfield players today who got close to pass marks whilst MacGregor seemed out of his depth. We are missing Welsh and Walsh as Welsh protects the defence and Walsh has a creative spark. Storey is getting better but not sure that playing as striker is his best position. Maybe the “number 10” role would work given his pace?

Well, what a day of contrasts. I’ve had a great evening watching Tide Lines in the Ironworks after a very nice meal in Blackfriars. Pre match it was a couple of pints and great company in Wetherspoons. Sadly the time in between went totally pear shaped! What I had anticipated as an entertaining match with some decent play turned into a Sunday league kick about with no quality from us. We were deservedly beaten by the hungrier team and lucky to escape with a 1-0 loss. We certainly had a Christmas hangover and I doubt I’ve seen so many misplaced passes in one game. The first half was poor. We came out firing in the second for all of 45 seconds then got caught on the counter attack and that was that. We never looked like getting back in it. Ridgers was deservedly man of the match. Of the others, only Rooney and Trafford in my opinion acquitted themselves well. The subs had no impact and, with apologies for singling him out, MacGregor seemed powder puff any time the ball went near him. A bad day at the office hopefully rather than anything more troubling, but we have Dundee next so need to get a grip fast!

Going for a few drinks before the game. Hopefully the lads give us more festive cheer and three points to end the year. Looking at their record, whilst Arbroath are on a bad run, no one has given them a doing during it so hopefully we are not complacent: after what happened down there, revenge would do nicely! Presumably Tremarco for McHattie will be the only change unless there is anything we are not aware of. Enjoy the afternoon all!!

HT 1-0 FT 3-1 ICT White Arbroath Linn Crowd 1965 Yellow Rooney

This is a tough one as we have been blessed with some quality players this decade. I don’t disagree with any of the above being shortlisted, particularly Warren, whilst Raven will always have a place in our hearts. How cruel their departures were. Two I think are also worthy of mention are Graeme Shinnie and Greg Tansey. Both had great games for us, and played a part in our successful years. In terms of who the best player in the decade who played for us for part of it, a slightly different question, surely Ryan Christie would take some beating.

Thanks for doing this all season Gringo. Merry Christmas to you and all competitors on here!

I will never forget the 3-0 win in Dingwall, with goals from Draper, Polworth and a cracker from Storey (wonder what happened to him!!). I had to sit on my hands in the main stand amongst County fans that day. However, that does not eclipse the cup semi final win against Celtic. Tansey’s penalty was so calm after the delay, but the sheer joy and surprise on Raven’s face when he scored will always stay with me. What play by Shinnie to make the chance. Cup final day was a joy, with a lot of beer, but an anti climax compared to the semi performance wise, but one of the greatest days in our history. When we went down to 10 men I thought we were done, and more pain after the penalty loss to Aberdeen in the league cup the season before, but we pulled it off, and credit Vincent for getting there to put it in the net. Memories! Hopefully we have many more good ones to come watching our rollercoaster team. My vote definitely goes to the cup semi!

A good job well done. Not our best performance, particularly early in the second half, but overall we deserved to win. My man of the match was Ridgers for three excellent saves, two when 19 goal Nisbet was one on one with him. Everyone else was pretty competent although no real stand out performances from the outfield players. The defence did fine, with McHattie standing in well for Tremarco Trafford was the pick of the midfield, with Doran and Storey both putting in decent shift. Rooney had an easy tap in from Keatings’ cross whilst McCart headed in the second. I thought it was going to be disallowed as the linesman was flagging but I’ve no idea what for. We are putting together a decent home run. Let’s finish the year in style by getting revenge on Arbroath next week! A comment about the pitch. The corner in front of the main and north stands was heavily stranded and the ball was sticking. Hopefully not a sign of problems ahead.

HT 0-0 FT 2-1 ICT White DA Nisbet Crowd 2013

I might get slagged for this, but if players are out of contract in the summer, you can’t blame them for hanging back to see what league we are going to be in. If they have ambitions to play at a higher level, and many could as there is so little difference between the bottom half of the top league and most of the Championship, we can’t blame them. That said, we could be in for a bumpy summer and a big player turnover if we don’t go up. Alan will appreciate a turnover of players!!

They have been a jinx team for a while. They had the better of us when we were both in the top league, which seems a lifetime ago. I had a bad feeling about today. I should have gone with my gut on Gringo as I predicted 3-1 for us, more in hope than expectation, and as it always feels wrong to predict we will lose. I should have gone with 3-1 for them!

Thanks for that. Just looked at Patrick’s form: the 5-1 defeat by Dunfermline is their only loss in their last 6 games in all competitions, with 4 wins in that time. Hope the travelling fans have a great afternoon and the guys come north with 3 points. We have 4 wins (if we could penalties against Clyde) and 2 defeats in the same period.

HT 0-1 FT 1-3 ICT White PT Cardle Crowd 2721

Very true!!

And as I’m also now a Minion apparently, which one am I?!

Partick will be tough. We won twice there last season but they beat us well here earlier in the season. Time for another big performance!

Ayr being held at home by Arbroath tonight probably a good outcome for us.

What a fun thread. I’m Not a happy clapper though, just a fan who wants us to do well!

Agreed!

Very enjoyable first half, probably the best 45 for a while. Other than a rush of blood by Ridgers coming way out of his box and thankfully not tackling, leaving an open goal that the Ayr player chose to cross rather than shoot, Ayr did not trouble us. White took his goal very well after a great pass by Carson, who is becoming the mainstay of our midfield. Ayr came out flying second half and our second was against the run of play. Trafford intercepted an Ayr corner, got the ball to Storey about the half way line and he did the rest, albeit the goalie should have saved it. I didn’t think the first half tackle on Doran was a penalty from where I was sitting. We made several good chances, with the Ayr keeper making a few good saves whilst Todorov had his first touch cleared off the line. Ridgers had little to do. Rooney was getting forward and did ok. Tremarco got a knock and was subbed when having a steady game. Donaldson and McCart were not really troubled. Carson and Trafford were solid, with Carson my man of the match. Storey had his best game since returning, much more like the player from his first spell and thrived on the space Ayr gave him. He needs to be a bit less selfish and pass more: he would have got a rocket had his goal not gone in as Keatings was perfectly placed for a simple pass and tap in. Doran is much more like his old self too. I thought Keatings was quite quiet, but White had a very good game, not just his goal but he was tending to win and hold the ball. McHattie was solid after he replaced Tremarco. Good to see MacGregor back, although his first involvement was being brutally tackled. Todorov was unlucky not to score. What was the scuffle in the Ayr half late in the second half? I was watching the ball so missed it. Despite the poor weather, a very encouraging, satisfying afternoon and a job well done. Four clean sheets in a row is a good sign, and 9 points out of 9 since the Arbroath debacle. Maybe the virus had a bigger impact than any of us thought. Either way, hopefully we can keep this run going.

A damp afternoon but hopefully we are in for a great performance and result. An unchanged team. Any update on Welsh, Vincent or Walsh?

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT White Ayr Moore Crowd 1958

Credit White for that assist for the second goal. More please!

We also need to watch Dunfermline. A win on Saturday is essential as it could well be between us, Ayr, Dunfermline and Dundee for the play off places.