8/9/08

I've been away for a week and thankfully not a lot happening.   A workmanlike win at Cowdenbeath in the Alba Cup quarter finals with Paul Di Giacoylemo grabbing another couple of goals.

Good news that Leigh Griffiths is out for Livingston.   The 3/1 odds for us to win on Saturday look irresistable, I'm on.

What about Scotland?   That really was lame.   I have a feeling that there is a media conspiracy against George Burley already and that the sword of Damacles is already dangling over his head.   I think the media have been very OTT but the reaction of the players on Wednesday will tell all.   I thought that the main difference in our performance was entirely down to the difference that Alan Hutton makes.

Dundee Utd in the League Cup will be a cracker, a winnable tie if we turn up, but there is a lot of water still to pass under the bridge.

31/8/08

Ross Co winning at Thistle, Livingston winning at East End Park, Queens beating Dundee and Clyde winning at Perth, thank feck we got that win today.

The shock of the day must surely be Ricky bloomin Waddell getting the winner for Clyde.   Surely McInnes will walk away from Perth, hopefully he'll stay right enough.

Donnelly & Nixon v. McManus?   No competition. 

30/8/08

With the emergence of Donnelly and Nixon it's interesting to see them next to McManus today, McManus being our most accomplished defender in recent years, TILL NOW?   Another intriguing clash, I can't see too many changes again.   Good to see Morton back again, these are the kind of games I look forward to every season and sadly miss when either side have struggled in recent years.

Everton, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, MK Dons and Leeds for me today.

I've adopted a new favourite horse for this winter, Alan King and Choc Thornton have a novice hurdler by the name of RUFF DIAMOND going at 2.25 today at Newton Abbot today.   I had a winner from it a fortnight ago to pay my way to the Dundee game, so I'll have a wee fiver on it again today.    The Cheka in the big race at Sandown and Roby de Cimbre at Market Rasen are my others today.

28/8/08

Wasn't that just amazing last night.   That brought back memories of the early 90s that did, it's been a long time coming.   Watching Paul Di Giacoylemo ploughing a furrow in that first half reminded me of the original Coylester's day in March 92 at Easter Road in the 2-0 cup win.   And how many heroes last night?   More than Tim Kring could dream up that's for sure. 

25/8/08

Great result at Dunfermline but what a difference in atmosphere at the games now?   Ok, there was a bit of singing but not a patch on years gone by.   A couple of things.  How can these people charge £16 to get in and delay people at turnstyles after the game has started because they have no change?  Pathetic if you ask me.   And why no reduction for restricted view?

Michael Brown looks a player.   Who makes way for him, cause there's no way he doesn't start sooner rather than later. 

Hearts are off to a good start and look a team again.   We'll be hard pushed to get a 0-0 draw this time out but with big bad Boaby Donnelly in defence who knows.

Who's on free kicks?   I'd be telling Hollis he's staying back the odd afternoon and have MacDonald, Smith, Di Giacomo, etc., in for free kick practice.  Surely someone can hit the target with a bit of force?   Surely forcing the goalie to work can result in spillages, deflections, corners, rebounds, etc., and possibly even the odd goal?   Must be better than passing the ball away every time?

18/8/08

Tickets are now sorted for the Hearts game but firmly focussed on Saturday at East End Park.   Who can forget the last time up there, Alan McGregor had to reach 4 times into the back of his net.   I still hate the bampot after the way he petulantly lashed out at Prunty that afternoon.   We were brilliant that day,  Docherty played his career best game,  McPhee and Prunty were irresistable up front, Hardie didn't want to lose, Dosser looked a cut above first division level and there was a collective will to win that is always needed.   Just a pity that the team was broken up so suddenly and brutally.

Still, no point crying about it now I suppose, the current side possibly might have as much to offer but just looking at the names above, it's obvious that we're a lot younger now.

So big Nixon went off with a head knock on Saturday.   If he's eligable for Saturday does he start?   I though we were immeasurably better after the change, not a slight on Nixon, simply that I thought we played better with a natural midfielder.  

I look forward to seeing Kenny Black's comments in the Advertiser.

Scotland are playing tomorrow.   I must admit that I've cared more about a game than this one.

16/8/08

Looks like next week's opponents Dunfermline are in red hot form.   This really is a major test.  Andy Kirk looks like he could be the signing of the season by Jim McIntyre.   I'd trust 'The Boaby' to keep them shackled but it's a huge ask for us that I still relish immensely.  Poor old St. Johnstone though, I bet they weren't expecting that kind of thrashing on their own patch.   

Elsewhere, Partick play QotS today.   Shitty shoes McCall was at our game today, presumably spying on Dundee.   I'm with Partick in this one, Dumfries seem to be suffering the same European hangover we endured in 1993.

Livingston surprised me a bit by taking all three at Cappielow against a disappointing Morton, albeit, the Greenock side are injury ravaged at present.   I had hoped that Livi would be hopeless this season.

Clyde and Ross County cut each others throats at Broadwood.  Ricky Waddell seemingly turned the game in Clyde's favour as a second half sub.   A good sign for us I'd say.   The brilliant Joe Cardle reminds me how much I hated Ricky Waddell playing as a winger.

I'll have a wee dabble today on the geegees.  I had 20brick on Sixties Icon at 7/2 yesterday, I'll leave that lying till next week and let if pay for the day out in Fife.   Red Dune is likely to go off at 10/1, must be worth a wee pop e/w.   At Leopardstown I'm going for Rare Ransom in their big race.   Highland Games at Southwell and Mutawahej at Pontefract are also strong fancies.     I'll risk Villa,  Celtic and Partick on my coupon.

15/8/08

Great result and performance today.  Robbo saved four certain goals today, three before Nixon went off injured<?>.   We settled down well and looked infinitely better with McLaughlin in midfield.  We had a fair amount of good possession too and looked lively going forward.   I'll do a match report later on the main site.

14/8/08

Full squad for tomorrow except Lovering again.  Should be a cracker of a game, it doesn't get easier but this is what it's all about.   Hearts tickets on sale before the game too.

Look out for Sixties Icon tomorrow with the excellent Johnny Murtagh on board.   Ruff Diamond (Choc Thornton/Alan King) for the Airdrie connection.  Janina could be a good e/w shout with Neil Callan on board.   Looking for wins for Hull, Preston, Leeds and Rangers on my coupon.

13/8/08

What a shame to have missed last night's game.  I caught a fair bit of it on the radio on my way home from the races.   We sounded even more exciting cutting swathes through a lower league side.   I think the performance sounded such an improvement on last season.   Good for Lynch to get his goal, and even better for Dazzler with a goal that had the Radio Scotland team slavering.   Alan Preston continually waxed lyrical on our attack.

Let's hope that we can step up a gear against Dundee.   I'm hoping that we can battle Dundee from first minute till the last.  I'm not expecting a 3-0 win or defeat, I hope we're not slack enough to lose stupid goals, I have high hopes that big Boab and Joe, protected by McKenna, will keep things tight enough to give our strikers a chance.   Lynch and Di Giacomo will get better the more they're played together and hopefully they can help the young wingers out by taking their cumulative match experience onto the training pitch and work out improved supply criteria on an ongoing basis.

11/8/08

Hearts at Tynecastle.  WOW!   No illusions, that's a pretty hard task for this young team.  Reflections on Saturday;  very exciting team but the lack of experience is going to be a killer at times.   The two centre halves are 20-21, the two centre mid are 22-23ish.   I think that was the most crucial thing.  Look at Thistle where they had two 30 somthings in Robertson and Maxwell at the back,  30 something Rowson anchoring the midfield and 33ish Donnelly up front.   I can picture this side of ours developing into a decent side but how could they benefit for a leader in the central area.   Smyth and Di Giacomo look like on the park leaders, I hope that can be enough to drag these highly promising kids on to the required level.  Patience and understanding will be a key from us in the crowd and on the message boards.

I'm gutted to be missing the East Fife tie, I have a prior engagement in Hamilton on Wednesday (jammy bugger that I am).   Let's hope we stay injury free and get a wee confidence booster.    I half expect that Noble will get a shot.  I was a bit surprised that he didn't get a bit longer on Saturday,  I think we could play two of the three main frontmen, so will be interesting to see what Kenny does.

Without us being overly defensive in the league we've only conceded one goal in two games, a decent record, but we need to capitalise with a goal or two here and there.  

10/8/08

Gutted to lose that one, I've done a match report on it, linked below.  We look sound at the back, exciting wingers,  good strikers, competition for places, maybe only lack a bit of experience in midfield.  Here's hoping Michael Brown can add something.

A couple of draws done my coupon in but usually need a few weeks for the form to work out.   Horses were crap, soft going screws up form, but a £69 placepot at Ayr kept me in a decent profit for the day.   Sunday's another day, Benbaun at the Curragh, Marchand D'or at Deauville and Portsmouth can hopefully keep an interest going.

9/8/08

New signing Michael Brown sounds promising.  Gives us so many more options if he's good enough, especially letting McKenna be a defender again if needed.   Can't wait for the game.

We'll Come, Pritti Fabulous and Ezdiyaad are my horses for the day and I've got six teams on my coupoon, Coventry, Leeds, Bournemouth, East Stirling, Dundee and St. Johnstone.   Good day of sport with the Arlington Million race tonight, fancy Johnny Murtagh to win on Mount Nelson

7/8/08

PEAT MUST GO 

I heard a lot of an interview on the Radio tonight with the Ross County Chairman, Jim Leishman and Davie MacKinnon tonight regarding the youth football fiasco.  In a nutshell, three lower league clubs claim to have been expelled from the top level youth set up that is entirely SPL clubs plus Stenhousemuir who just happen to be you know who's club.  The three clubs have been expelled for minor admin infringements that were easily rectified and would normally be ironed out seamlessly and possibly a slap on the wrists.   The clubs have information that suggests that SPL clubs have commited similar offences, though their admin offences have been undetected therefore no action has been taken.  Challenged by Leishman if he'd expel the SPL clubs if the information was made public he squirmed like a snake.  Peat, acknowleged that the SFA have committed similar, no, even more culpable offences (a youth coach who had not been through Disclosure) but shadily refused to discuss their "internal" punishment of the culprit of the oversight.   My own interpretation after listening to him tonight is that the man is a complete farce, the fiasco is all politics and this charlatan is showing himself up to be a deceptive operator who is incapable of little more than playing his church organ.   I really do hope the media take on this phoney, ten years too late in my opinion.    

Less than 48 hours to the big game.  Thistle feel confident.  Wonder what kind of crowd they'll bring?   They seem to reckon that Paul di Giacomo and Simon Lynch will be out to impress Ian McCall having both spent time at Thistle.  I'd rather hoped they'd be out to impress Kenny Black.

6/8/08

I love it when the OF get beat and Airdrie win, nothing beats being the wearer of the smug grin.   I'm absolutely bursting for Saturday to come, this is the best game in the country this weekend bar none.   Thistle are not exactly flying but they're on a wee roll with Dosser proving to be their hero for now. 

Kenny Black says in the Advertiser that he still has the possiblity of bringing in another player or two.    After a promising start it's handy to know that we can still address any needs to keep things going.

On that subject, Mark Smyth missed the County game.   It would be reassuring to see him back soon, he's easily our key defender.

Di Giacomo seems to be the main man up front for us.  But who partners him?  Noble hasn't started a game yet, I thought he'd be first choice but not so far.  Competition for places, and genuine competition at that?  Can't be a bad thing, we've not even unleashed Kevin Watt yet.

Who'd have thought Queen of the South would be in Europe longer than one of the OF?   Wouldn't it be good to see them get a win, at least in their first tie.   Trouble ahead down Ibrox way, two words on the subject:  FIRE SALE. 

Portsmouth 5/1 to win the Shield on Sunday!   Gotta be wary of going against Man Utd but Portsmouth must we worth a wee nibble at those odds.

5/8/08

"Paulo di Giacomo, Paulo di Giacomo, Paulo di Giacomo, Paulo di Giacomo" 

I'm no Pavarotti but I can see a wee chorus of good old opera styli breaking out in Airdrie this winter.   Fantastic result tonight, the lucky sods who made it to Dingwall were well rewarded.   Well done lads, we even managed that result without Mark Smyth, and without Cardle from the start!   Fingers crossed we get a decent draw for the next round.   Good to see the strikers on the scoresheet, that's what we're going to need plenty of in the league.  

"Paulo di Giacomo, Paulo di Giacomo..."

They say the best time to kick a man is when he's down.   Walter, Ally, Murray mints, wee Bawwy, King Billy, The Queen... your team took one hell of a beating...   Plenty of excuses tonight, most notably, no creativity!  Wrong, you do, but you won't play him!   Nuggets!

Talking about kicking a man when he's down, it's deja vu all over again with Mr. Peat.   Dumping the three youth teams for admin discrepancies is the preverbial nuclear bomb to crack a walnut.   His admin discrepancy led to Airdrieonians' downfall and he'll bring around his own regime's downfall at the SFA before too long.   I just hope he gets put in charge of the SPL!

4/8/08

It's been a heartening start to the season.   OK, we were a bit backward to start  the Dumbarton game but the Queen of the South result was a baby step in the right direction.   We were hard to beat!    That means a lot,  let me tell you,  it's hard to get punters out to support us when they know we'll get beat.   We've been too easily beat for a few years and our crowds have dropped to dangerous levels.   Let's hope it's not a false dawn but first impressions are better.

What about the new signings?  Hazely looks bright and breezy.   Lovers has been a good servent and will continue to be so in various ways but it's good to have a progressive sort at left back again.    Di Giacomo, Oweny lookalike, he's certainly got something, it looks like Kenny has pulled another rabbit from the hat there.   Hopefully Lynch can get goals too.   And Cardle?   Fingers crossed.

I can't wait for Thistle at the weekend.   McKeown and Roberts!   Dosser scored a screamer at the weekend by all accounts.   I don't care if it comes across negative here but I don't care for fancy dan stuff, I'll take us not getting beat first here and hopefully sneak it.   It would be great for future support if we don't let them down.

CIS Cup first up at Dingwall tomorrow.   What a shitty draw that was?   We've not had a cup run worth talking about for years.   I'd love to see us get some revenue from a decent tie if we went through but league is absolute priority.   Would be a great pick me up if we sneak it though.

BTW:   PEAT MUST GO   

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