STFU

I don't think it is stretching it and a quick look at previous managers shows that his PPG is up there with the best and better than many. John Hughes in 2014/15 is the last time we saw it that high and only in promotion seasons prior was it higher. I've deliberately not mentioned other factors in this (but others have) because it's tough to quantify and whilst we can't judge his ability to put a squad together etc., we are seeing his ability to get much more out of a squad than his predecessor and many other 'good' managers in our history. Not denying there hasn't been disappointing performances and results in there too but that's part of football and judging managers on individual games and not overall results during their tenure is a slippery slope. I think he's already delivered the near impossible by going into the last 3 games with hope of league survival. When he delivers it that will be the miracle. I'd be really disappointed if Kell was removed at the end of the season and think it would be unjust. Weirdly I think he'd be getting less criticism if we hadn't got anywhere near 8th place because people's expectations wouldn't have been raised so high. The ultimate case of being the victim of your own success?

The point if my last couple of posts was to say that the facts show Kell has done a great job and the suggestion to the contrary was uncalled for. You then have 3 paragraphs saying the facts don't show how well Kell is doing and the 10 games from before he took over mean nothing and you then immediately follow it with a comment saying people can't deny how well he is doing. Yours sincerely, Mr Confused

If my counting is correct... Ferguson averaged 1.2 points per game for 10 games. Kell is averaging about 1.7 points per game. That's around 40% improvement We've had some poor performances but so do all teams and the poor performances over the first 10 games this season were when the damage was done. I'm as frustrated as the next person that we've not yet secured our league one status but I don't see how anyone can come to the conclusion that Kellacher was not the answer to the situation we were/are in.

I'm not even going to try and defend today's performance, but that comment is uncalled for. We were wrong end of the table before administration and if not for the 15pt deduction Kell would have us fighting it out at the top of the table. If the question is where would we be without him the answer is likely battling it out with Dumbarton for the auto relegation spot.

Results elsewhere mean we've not been sorely punished but an opportunity missed to put a bit more space between ourselves and Annan. Don't think Kelty were 2 goals better than us today. One of those games where they took their chances and we didn't. It's going to be a nervy last 3 games and hopefully it is only another 3 games.

And I get back to my seat to discover Musa has been subbed.

Wouldn't say we're playing for the draw but it has been a very cautious first half. I hope Musa is ok for the second half as I was a little worried when he needed treatment. A draw wouldn't be terrible but I think Kelty are there for the taking if we just up the tempo a little second half.

Hopefully s/he's reduced their salary demands.

Looking forward to getting the focus back solely on the football. Some have hesitations and that's me too but we have a lifeline and need to embrace it to ensure best chance of success.

I was at the point of accepting the club was all but gone almost a year ago when all the Kelty stuff was going on and I'm starting to get to that point again. Talks from Savage doing this to give back to the city have turned into demands for total control and being answerable to nobody. It was people who believed they should be answerable to nobody that got us into this mess.

I've said before that it's not the criticism that rankles me it's the snide and unmerited manner of some of the comments. Just because someone might be thick skinned doesn't mean it should be acceptable. I understand that as the clubs all time top goal scorer the expectation for many people is that he should still be seen as the main goal threat but the fact that he's seldom been deployed in that position this season shows that is not seen as the case either by himself or the manager. I think that had the club not been in the position it was at the start of this season then he'd have hung his boots up or gone to play at a lower level or even moved fully into coaching somewhere. I don't see this as a situation of a player not knowing when it's time to step back. This is a guy who's hung around to do what he can to help a club he clearly holds dearly in their time of need. I'm not saying he should be immune from criticism but I do think he deserves a little more respect than some of the dickish throw away comments show. That's on here and elsewhere.

That's not at all what was said or how they said it but great effort at spinning it.

We stopped in Stonehaven for a drink with friends after the game. Got into the company of a couple of Cove fans and it turned into a bit of a session and we ended up kipping at their house. They treated us to an amazing fry up before we got on our way today. In an age where football rivalry can be painted as all bad this was a refreshing experience.

The disrespect for Billy Mckay from some is disgusting or is this what is suppose to pass as football banter these days?

Anyone know the big fella that got thrown out for being mouthy?

I'm surprised the referee didn't check Bray's boots after the first goal given how high he jumped. Go go gadget legs.

We need all the experience we have on the pitch right now. Mckay may not be scoring but he's been a mainstay in the team that has dug us out of a 15pt hole. I honestly think some of the fans forget and don't appreciate where we've had to come back from since October.

I thought Musa made the best choice he could given his positioning when the cross was made for the equaliser. The issue is that Nolan loses his man out wide and allows that to happen. From the highlights it seems that we were weak across the entire team when it came to preventing balls into our box and that's what cost us. We're not normally as stand offish. What I did like was that we seemed more willing to take chances from slightly further out and some of them came very close Hard to see from the camera angle but the offside for our disallowed goal looked very tight. I don't expect referees to be perfect so accept it's one of them that can go either way. Kell has to now make best use of the squad available and play to it's strengths for the remainder of the season. I couldn't hazard a guess as to what that is but he's lead us to this point and I trust he and the players will get us over the line. Role on Saturday.

10 months of conditioning under the previous manager doesn't easily disappear.

We don't even know yet if the offer is doable with the timescales and conditions. Need to wait and see if BDO have anything to say on it first.

Bad day. We can't influence injuries and suspensions. Need to keep our heads regroup and get ready to go again next week.

P.S. brilliant preview as always.

I predict a makeshift squad with lots of doom and gloom from social media fans before kick off. We'll then bag 2 goals in the first 15 minutes and go on to skin them by 4 goals with 4 different goal scorers. Billy Mckay to break Barry Wilson's record by scoring one from Kingussie.

Sitting quietly hoping it's not another false dawn.

Trump is more into golf than football sadly.