The Hammer

Sole needed to come on for Alonge with about half an hour to go. That was never in a million years a penalty! Still in our hands so not all bad.

Pressing hugely better than last week and picking up a lot of second balls are the main two reasons for the performance so far. Deserved lead. More of the same second half please. Oh, and a couple more goals.

@CaleyTennis85 at 55 years old defeats are like water off a ducks back to me! WHU have suffered one relegation in every decade of my lifetime (1970s through 2010s), so we're due one either this season or in the next three years.

When I eventually found the game on the iPlayer (having watched the West Ham match which was on at the same time) it was nearly 9pm. I dutifully sat through it all the way. There's not much to say that hasn't already been said so my key thoughts were: We gave them far too much respect and space to play from the back and in midfield, especially in the first half. There seemed little energy or appetite to press, even with the squad rotations to keep things "fresh". Bavidge could count himself unlucky not to start after recent performances. Bearing in mind what the ref had already given, their fourth goal could have been given as a foul our way instead when Easton took the ball (from behind). The players might feel sufficiently embarrased that, rather than losing confidence, it gives them a real kick up the backside before Stenny on Saturday. Anything else would be picking on individual players and that is not really constructive, especially when pretty much everyone was, well, let's say below par.

Ultimately it's up to Alan Savage and his is the only opinion that matters, but a good discussion point anyway. The lifespan of a manager is short these days (for us aged 50+ and what we remember from a bygone era) and clubs/fans require instant gratification. In a short space of time that usually isn't posssible, especially when you don't have money just to throw at it. Those that stick with their man can often reap the benefits, but admittedly not always. If we cast our minds back to October 2024 and that first game at Dumbarton the general feeling (if my memory remains intact) was that despite the 3-1 defeat the manner of the play was a breath of fresh air. By May relegation had been avoided (indeed without the points deduction we'd have been 2nd). This season is still in the balance but another top 2 position seems likely. As a new manager he will have plenty to learn still, and we all learn from our mistakes (or should do). Perhaps he'll decide with hindsight that the constant changes have hindered performance, perhaps he'll think that it's kept the squad as a whole fit and healthy and was the right thing. I'm sure he's continued to learn about individual players and the team. In my book, for what he's done to date, he absolutely deserves a shot at the Championship (if that's where we are). If we don't go up then perhaps it's more of an open question, but would you rather start from scratch with an unknown quantity and whether they'll fit or stick with someone who has led the club to being one of the best two clubs in the division two years running. I have a friend who is a Leeds fan and is quite prepared to admit that Daniel Farke struggles in the Premier League. But, he says if Leeds get relegated he'd definitely want him leading them next season as he has constantly been at the top of the Championship with both Leeds and Norwich. My view (at the moment) is the same with Kells - keep him in charge next season come what may.

It's certainly worth exploring the options of players (a) available and (b) deemed to be of the required standard, but there are other SPFL clubs in the Highland League region who are also no doubt keeping an eye on things. Logic suggests that the further up the SPFL a club goes fewer players of appropriate standard would be available from the Highland League.

A great result restoring a little breathing space, but injury time on Saturday shows how quickly breathing space can be taken away. Obviously a win at Alloa would be very welcome to consolidate that. Seven games to go but I still feel there are some twists and turns yet. Our goal difference is worth a point though. The next 3 (league) games will probably define the season, after that I'd back us to keep hold of any advantage we may have.

I'm not typically a boo-er either. I've been at games where half time booing is widespread. I can't see the point of that - the players know they've been poor but booing is hardly going to motivate them for the second half. Booing at the end of the match is OK if warranted.

That would certainly help strike the message home. The problem is that a certain number of fans with a certain mentality will still turn up even if they can't get through the turnstiles to watch the game. They'll also congregate in pubs to watch. Does it just spread the problem further away from the stadia on matchday? I'm also not sure TV would be happy as they love to go on about atmosphere at matches (any matches) and they're paying to broadcast it.

Also interesting that Alan Savage has set up two new companies in August last year called "NC500 Official Start Ltd" and "NC500 OS Ltd" which both are listed as providing "Takeaway food shops/mobile food stands" and "tour operator activities". They are both owned and run jointly wih Dawn Savage (I assume his good lady) although haven't necessarily operated yet.

Does anyone know how that compares to other WU23 attendances at other home venues?

Depends who's in it. Almost every time either ICT or RC have been in the final it's been in Perth (the one exception being 1999/00).

After last night's fantastic win I was thinking ahead (hopefully not tempting fate) to playing in the Championship next season. I know there are still 11 games left including away trips to Stenny and Alloa but lets just make that assumption for now. We've picked up an away "point" at Partick in 2nd and an away win at Ayr in 4th. I know these are cup games with a different mindset but we still got the results, and with a much changed team last night to boot. Also (ignoring the 15 point penalty) we were only 6 points behind last season's League 1 champions Arbroath who currently sit in 3rd (well clear of Ayr as we speak). All this leads me to think that (depending on player transfers in and out) we are well equipped to cope in the Championship and finish in the top half. Is this just the euphoria of reaching a cup final blurring the reality?

Excellent result. Solid performance against a good Championship side, and a cup final to look forward to.

Stats is my degree too, so I do find them interesting but I don't think you can really get a true impression of a game from stats alone. Lets say a team has 65% possession but mostly knocked around their back four. They have a few breaks and fire off 4 shots, all on target but from outside the area and straight at the keeper. The other side has 35% possession but when they do get it it's further up the pitch, however the packed defence makes it hard to penetrate and they only get 3 shots away (from inside the box) with 2 on target and win 1-0. It looks like a real smash and grab from the stats, but viewing the game they might be the only team really trying to win, just finding it difficult to do so. That said, xG would probably favour the victors oin this case.

Stats have to be taken with a large pinch of salt, after all there is a famous saying " there are lies, damned lies and statistics". I'm with Scotty on xG being pretty pointless to you and me. I get that it could be useful in a coaching scenario, telling a player "don't shoot from there no-one ever scores from there" but as a commentary on a game it's totally worthless. Shots on target are good, but I agree with DoofersDad, not the be all and end all as you also have to avoid the keeper. Create enough chances and you'll win enough games. If you don't create them you can't score them.

This is very true, but there will be some in the middle ground who are curious or have no strong feelings either way. If you offer a discounted ticket it might tip those ones into giving it a try. It also makes it more likely that an adult who attends will take their kids - if two kids are £16 but you don't know if they will like it then allowing them to try for £2, say, is more appealing if they hate it and you have to leave at half time.

I suppose any initiative like this will have pros and cons and won't work for everyone. Getting young kids in is a good idea (before they give their alliegence to a "bigger" team at the other end of the country) but they take a lot of supervision in big groups and can get easily bored and distracted from the match. Perhaps it's worth using a couple of remaining home games to discount the U16 price from £8 to a nominal £1 ("kids for a quid") with a paying adult to boost the youngster numbers. Getting teens is good in that they can get to games with their mates and not need such supervision. But by that age have they already decided to support another team and are just going for a freebie with their pals? Again maybe offer a couple matches of £5 per 16-20 year olds tickets. I do think there is a need to attract younger fans as we all drop off the top end of the scale for various reasons along the way. Attracting them while in a successful period is much easier then when struggling so now really is the best time to get them hooked and wanting to come back.

That was a hard fought win. The first half was relatively comfortable but the second was much tougher. The table looks much better tonight than it did this morning.

That's a lot even if they avoid administration. I'm not sure if it makes them any more dangerous - if the players aren't being paid then they might not fight as hard. I suppose it depends if they were paid in January.

As a child I always remember looking at old records and noting the first ever winners of the (English) FA cup were simply "The Wanderers". No nonsense and definitve. I was intrigued as a youngster by the now defunct Third Lanark and always wondered what became of First and Second Lanark. Just 20 minutes up the road from me was the home of Rushden and Diamonds which came about as a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds. They got themselves into the Football League and even got promoted but suffered a couple of relegations and dropped out of the league before then getting wound up around 15 years ago. The most successful club in Wales' domestic league is The New Saints but this is a new name which came about (I guess) when their sponsor finished as they had been previously known as Total Network Solutions - both obviously being TNS. I know nothing about Marine other than they are from Liverpool but it's an odd name. Maybe an area of the city? My final offering is the Highland League team Banks O'Dee which I suppose literally describes their location but it always strikes me as a bit funny.

If they ever get their QF played! It's been moved to a neutral venue next Tuesday so hopefully it will get done, but if not expect another postponement.

Maybe slightly off topic but is there any local radio coverage that those of us further afield might be able to tap into online? I'd settle for a regular "radio" feed if TV isn't possible.

I'd certainly subscribe if it were available. I'm not sure I'd pay the £25 sub to another club for the benefit of one game - to me £5 - £10 seems about right for a single match stream. I have no idea what the costs are for cameras/operators, commentators, streaming/hosting. I guess fresh out of admin unless it really is definitely an overall profitable income stream for the club it isn't high on the agenda.

Stenny won't be a walkover but winnable as you say. It looks like St Johnstone in the semi which is a whole different ball game. That said winning away at 2nd place Partick will make them regard it as a tricky tie (assuming that's what it works out as).