Warriors come North

[tm4tj]

 

Happy Days!

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Arbroath	28	17	52
2	Cove Rangers	28	18	47
3	Stenhousemuir	28	12	47
4	Alloa  Athletic	28	6	40
5	Kelty Hearts	28	0	35
6	Queen of Sth	28	-6	35
7	Inverness CT	28	5	32
8	Montrose	28	-7	32
9	Annan Athletic	28	-24	27
10	Dumbarton	28	-21	08

[Yngwie]

Prior to this match Stenny had League 1’s lowest number of goals conceded. That honour now sits with us.

[Alan]

Some great attacking football tonight culminating in superb goals. What a transformation from the last home game against Momtrose. A great evening's entertainment

[bishbashbosh]

23 minutes ago, STFU said:

What a game and what a result. We've ground out a couple games recently but the team were on top for most of tonight's match and fully deserving of the win.

4 goals and 4 different scorers is great as well with Musa ensuring Stennie didn't take the shine off at the end by saving the penalty.

Bavidge injury didn't look too bad and hoping his early removal was more precautionary than necessary.

Need everyone to remain grounded going in to Saturday. While we should be looking ahead at the next team we also need to be mindful of the gap behind us. What we're doing is working and I'd hate to see us go gung ho and risk undoing the hard work so far.

Isn't it incredible how a great game and result can ward off the cold. Gloves back on now for the rest of my walk home.

I had 10 days in Tenerife, daily24 degrees. Got home midnight last night and been so cold today didn’t attempt the golf. Had the full winter gear on tonight but the decent game meant I didn’t think about the cold until the last 20 mins.

scored good goals, played some good stuff and although Devine and savage were struggling in the air against their big centre forward we were well worth our 4-1 win.

First look at brannan and was the pick for me, great strike for his goal, got up and down the park, crunches into tackles and has a throw in  that reaches the penalty spot. Best right back since Shaun Rooney, but then he was a galloper going forward and not much of a defender. Gilmore was behind him, steady Eddie can take the ball in in any situation, never flustered.

bray scored a “chest in” from about 2 inches after a great cut back from Mackinnon I think.

4th goal was the pick of the 4 after a nice flick from McKay. 
grandson who is 9 said he has never seen us score 4 goal’s before.

[IBM]

1 hour ago, Scotty said:

Penalty missed by Blair Alston

Not missed Scotty saved by Dibaga 

[+DoofersDad]

Absolutely brilliant performance.  After a terrific early goal, Stenhousemuir got themselves back in the game and then Bavidge had to go off with an injury.  I thought then that despite the early flourish, it might not be our night.  How wrong I was!  The effort from all the players was excellent.  They were always looking to get the ball forward and there were several passages of quick and accurate passing which caused a good Stenhousemuir side all sorts of problems.  What a contrast to the early part of the season!  Big Dunc should watch a video of the game so that he can understand why he's still out of a job.

We should beat Annan at the weekend.  If we do, we will be 8 points clear of them with just 7 games left and a vastly superior goal difference.  If we can maintain this level of performance then we should be mathematically safe from relegation comfortably before the end of the season.  Achieving that status might be a key factor in sorting out issues off the field earlier than might otherwise be the case.

[IBM]

Stats and PotY all done.  Wow that's the best game of football we have seen at home for years  A great credit to all from the manager and players on the park tonight for a fantastic performance even in the final minutes Savage was fighting to keep the ball and get a cross in for goal we didn't manage five  get in there!  We have to keep ourselves grounded though and take one game at a time but really looking forward to Saturday.

[+TheCaleyOne]

Brilliant game tonight, been a long time since I've seen us play so well. Great goals and performances all over the park, thought Billy had a really good game. I'd take a 30 minute delay before every game if we get the win like that!

What a difference a few months can make.

Bring on Saturday, well done boys!

[+Gringo]

Buzzing over this fantastic result. Does anyone else think Stenny were complacent in their approach to this game by dropped both their top strikers? Maybe they were carrying knocks....but...I really don't care. Well done boys and Sir Scott. It'll take a fair effort to get these boys off cloud 9 before Saturday. 

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

10 hours ago, Scotty said:

Penalty missed by Blair Alston

Not missed but 'Saved'!! Musa to our goal difference rescue. He is a legend. 

[bdu98196]

9 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

First look at brannan and was the pick for me, great strike for his goal, got up and down the park, crunches into tackles and has a throw in  that reaches the penalty spot. Best right back since Shaun Rooney,

Hardly a shock given his pedigree as captain of youth teams at all ages, plays for Scotland and had a trial at Spurs. Yet didnt stop fans questioning why he was signed ahead of our own youngsters who have and are nowhere near this level. Hopefully some of those critics have been attending games and seen Brannan play.

[tm4tj]

 

[Eagle4Caley]

 

 

What a result!

This is my thirteenth season as a proper match going Caley supporter...and its rapidly becoming my favourite season [after the Cup winning year].  Defying the odds, with a rebirth in the club developing after quite a bit of pain, with a real sense of purpose, and the rekindling of the bond between club and its supporters [Dumbarton away was a good demonstration], and playing the sort of football we've been craving for for a while. if we survive [its not really an if] it's a season the players can carry as a badge of honour and a treasured memory.. a 'band of brothers' season

Gosh am I getting too emotional?

Meanwhile....5th place looks do-able, a good incentive to keep the foot on the pedal. 

[STFU]

28 minutes ago, bdu98196 said:

Hardly a shock given his pedigree as captain of youth teams at all ages, plays for Scotland and had a trial at Spurs. Yet didnt stop fans questioning why he was signed ahead of our own youngsters who have and are nowhere near this level. Hopefully some of those critics have been attending games and seen Brannan play.

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

If we can't do it in League 1 then what's the chances of doing it if/when we climb any higher?

We may have been able to play the 'poor club in admin' card to get favourable terms for loan players recently but that's not the basis for a successful business model going forward.

I understand the pressure to avoid relegation and the impact the 15pt penalty will have huge baring at the moment but it doesn't change the fact we're being told one thing while doing another.

[+Moogthurso]

29 minutes ago, STFU said:

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

If we can't do it in League 1 then what's the chances of doing it if/when we climb any higher?

We may have been able to play the 'poor club in admin' card to get favourable terms for loan players recently but that's not the basis for a successful business model going forward.

I understand the pressure to avoid relegation and the impact the 15pt penalty will have huge baring at the moment but it doesn't change the fact we're being told one thing while doing another.

I think this ignores the basic point. 

We have league 1 training facilities,  recovery infrastructure and training pitches since 2012.

We don't have showers or  toilets at the fort. 

Listen to any player from last 20 years have any said they have moved on  to a club with lower facilities or investment? 

Ryan , Harper, Roddy,  Dan Mackay, Allardice all have commented on how much more professional and supported their new environments are.

 

Elgin has better facilities than we do with multiple all weather pitches,showers and toilets!

 

Our youth and female coaches do brilliantly to get the potential identified and brought forward.  Our board have failed abysmally to support that growth from 18 to 22 with suitable environments and facilities. 

 

Even with these difficulties I watched Adam Mackinnon , Kieth Bray, Calum Macleod, Robbie Thomson, AlfieB , and Alfie S DEMOLISH a good stennie team yesterday. 

On the bench we had 6 kids and our level didn't drop when we brought them on.

Yes some of the youngsters are loans but our kids are seeing 18 to 20 year old outplay good teams with no fear and that belief and exposure will change their expectations and performance levels.

 

You are never happy STFU until the only kids playing all come from your street. 

But I have never seen a younger or better team in our strip and we are doing it in league 1 even if you refuse to see it.

 

STFU STFU

 

 

 

 

 

[bdu98196]

21 minutes ago, Moogthurso said:

I think this ignores the basic point.

Imagine selling the investors the prospect of a League 2 club and then being challenged as to WHY the club never used the loan markets which were available to at least try establish us at L1 level.

Some folks think we have a class of '92 sitting there being kept out of the squad by other youngsters taken on loan as a conspiracy to destroy their careers. Ignoring the pedigree of those coming in are all key youth players at parent clubs, have international experience at many levels and have shown that only Bray from our stable is remotely near the level of these guys. I'd expect Bavidge & Brannan to be in the Scotland U21s very soon - who from our club can we say that about?

[Satan]

Although I agree that Longstaff has shown improvement this year I felt that last night with Macleod in midfield we had a much better balance, with play going down both flanks regularly, as well as freeing up Mackinnon to push further forward more often.

As the debate continues as to when and how to integrate our younger players and we get closer to a safe league position then its surely beneficial to increase game time for those that are good enough as this is more crucial to their development than availability and quality of shower facilities , toilets and training pitches.

We'll need to have a better indication of their capabilities come next season when our loanees dissappear and other established first teamers move on, otherwise we will be in the same position with 'inexperienced' players with potential that require development.

Kellacher has balanced the team well so far, but expectations will be higher next year, and to win the league a good start will be vital so squad building and player assessment over the summer must be spot on.

[tm4tj]

Best performance of the season against a pretty slick Stenhousemuir. Paul Allan was the sponsors MotM. To be honest we were not short of contenders. How about Remi Savage who doubled up as a twinkle toed left winger at times. Danny Devine who was solid at the heart of the defence against the athletic Yates, Aitken and O'Reilly. Big Musa with a couple of crucial saves and the penalty stop. For me, the performance of Ben Brannan was outstanding. He brings a new dimension to our game with his foraging forward, his loooong throws, precise curling crosses and biting tackles. He was my pick. The only downside was the injury to Alfie Bavidge. Let's hope his substitution was more precautionary than serious.

[big cherly]

3 hours ago, STFU said:

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

This subject possibly need its own (or revived) topic, as I don’t want anything detract from Tuesday nights outstanding performance or result . 
 

STFU had a point however worth discussing (if nothing more than a priority item for post admin). Equally so Moogthurso, bdu98196 & Satan in their postings bring weight to the importance of the subject. 
I take something from them all that can be supported. Both the youth players that (for the most) has been coming through and the facilities don’t reach the desired level that is needed for a club of IFCTC ‘standing’. 
That’s a tacit qualification as our standing has been below the mark of many comparative clubs IMO,

The bottom line for me is only youth players that can demonstrate potential they have the ability, desire, dedication and mindset to play at the level required and ultimately replace a first team player should be given a chance on the park. Trying youth players of 5-10 minutes in a match ‘secured’ is fine, and I’m sure that’s what is the route for most youth starts. 

The success rate however for the whole over the past 10-15 years has not been overly rewarding. 
 

C Christie has mentioned the club is going to set a higher standard or expectation as a benchmark for youth players coming forward. 
In my view it’s long overdue as in my view we have been treading water too long the level of youth players; failing them in some respect. Taking a D Trump perspective of it, ‘change needs to happen’ when we have new owners.

More than I expected to included, however there it is!! No offence to any previous youth players! 
bc

Edited March 12 by big cherly

[Robert]

The support last night was terrific, with the youngsters behind the goal in the North Stand singing and chanting for the whole game.

We need that atmosphere at our remaining home games.

I’m not getting carried away about a play off push as turning round an 8 point deficit against Alloa in 8 games must be highly unlikely, particularly as they have still to play Dumbarton and Annan at home, games you’d expect them to win.

If we can win our next two games (we have Alloa on the 22nd), things may get a bit interesting…..

But most of all, let’s not lose focus as we are not safe yet, and that has to be our primary objective.

[LisleRightPeg]

Fantastic win. I can’t decide if Stenhousemuir were awful, we were fantastic or a bit of both but it’s another 3 points on the board 

[+Moogthurso]

1 minute ago, LisleRightPeg said:

Fantastic win. I can’t decide if Stenhousemuir were awful, we were fantastic or a bit of both but it’s another 3 points on the board 

Stennie we're good . But we were better. 

[The Hammer]

For a few weeks now I've believed that 6th place was achievable. Looking at the table today I would be disappointed if 5th wasn't reached by the season's end.

It seems unlikely, as Robert said, that an 8 point gap to Alloa can be closed down in 8 remaining games, so the playoffs may be out of reach, but with some luck and a following wind (and a win over Alloa) who knows.

[Charles Bannerman]

4 hours ago, STFU said:

Imagine how it may look to potential investors if we're selling them on the potential of the academy and building a team around it but then not demonstrating it.

If we can't do it in League 1 then what's the chances of doing it if/when we climb any higher?

We may have been able to play the 'poor club in admin' card to get favourable terms for loan players recently but that's not the basis for a successful business model going forward.

I understand the pressure to avoid relegation and the impact the 15pt penalty will have huge baring at the moment but it doesn't change the fact we're being told one thing while doing another.

I think that the only playing objective this season is to remain in League One (which is now looking fairly likely but not in the bag) and the club has needed to deploy the best forces it can muster to that end, whatever their origin. Let’s not also forget that there’s a game on Saturday that could see the safety margin back at just two points.

Inevitably there’s been some talk about the pretty unlikely chance of making the promotion playoffs and the even more unlikely prospect of going straight back to the Championship. I don’t even see an immediate return to the Championship as especially desirable at the moment and believe that it would carry considerable risks, so it would be far better instead to consolidate and get administration processed. And if an immediate Championship return is neither likely nor desirable, there seems little point being in the playoffs - also remembering that the extra cash per League One place is minimal.

It would be far better to bale out of the season after 36 games, hence avoiding risk of further injuries and disruption to the pre-season, and consolidate both on and off the field from there.

Ideal finishing place - fifth

[Huisdean]

Wow, don't know where that performance came from but thankful it did. Every player put in a shift and bearing in mind we were missing Longstaff and Bavidge went off injured, even more impressive.  We'll miss Bray next season and how ironic would it be if Dunfermline get relegated and we end up in the same league. Win on Saturday and we are 90% safe in my opinion so onwards and upwards.