Airdrie Vs Livingston in “The Ramsdens Cup”

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after today i think we need some players soon. we will get relegated with that team without a doubt.they have no shape and it looks like they have never played as a team before.WE HAVE no fight anymore it was always something .i will probable get slagged for this but i am not going home feeling like this every week.

I never went today, thank god I never as I would problably be having nightmares from what I have been hearing

I thought that game was something of an anomaly tbh.

The first half I thought we were impressive. We looked solid at the back and we had a fair few decent chances without seriously threatening the keeper though. We did have a goal disallowed inside the first minute, whether that was the correct decision or not, I couldn't tell.

Being 0-0 at half time I thought we might go on and win the game. Holmes missed a complete sitter a couple of minutes after half-time and Livi went up the other end and scored straight away.

Yes, we lost 5-0, and it was a very poor 2nd half performance, but it wasn't all that bad. We probably had just as many shots on target as Livi tbh.

Lilley and Owens weren't playing today and those are probably going to be our two best performers this season. Keeper looked a bit dodgy too

I'm not even overly gutted to be honest felt more like a friendly than it did an actual game I won't judge our full season on one match against a full time team in the league above us.

We played some decent football at times in that game just need to hope we have a backlash now and beat Stirling Albion next week the league cup is still seeded so a decent chance for a good draw rather than the usual Alba cup crap.

First game of the season, first competative match the teams played together and possibly the only one which that full team have had more than 45 minutes together. Give them a break, it would have been a completely different game if the goal we had scored in the second minute had counted. Yes we came out a completely different team the second half but we were better than them the first. If you're going to come on here and give them abuse then dont come on at all. The way i see it, credit to Jimmy and the players he has brought it. Mircles don't happen in one game agaisnt a first division side, but we won't be near relelgation.

"We'll get relegated with that team". Are you kidding? We controlled the match for the first 20 minutes, had two golden chances to score, and a few other decent ones. We were playing against a full time team and we were missing Lilley, Owens and Lynch, all of whom I'd expect to be first picks.

The heads went down after the first goal, something that admittedly shouldn't happen, but of the others we conceded one was a fluke and one was a cracker.

No way we'll get relegated.




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Losing 5-0 to a team in the division above us with a bigger budget that had beaten SPL opposition in pre-season means we're getting relegated?

Get real.

Missing 3/4 players who would have walked into today's team - Lilley, Lynch, Owens, Johnston - over players like Blockely who played his first full 90 minutes today (as far as I'm aware).

The year we won this cup we got relegated. Let's be thankful we can concentrate on the bigger cups/more important league fixtures!

Ach its not all bad - we only lost five at home - to a team in a higher league. Methinks it may be a long season!

We certainly had the best of the first half and had as many chances as Livi, but I always had the feeling Livi had other gears to move into and so it proved when they ran us ragged in the second half. Ok, a couple of their goals had an element of luck about them, particularly the fifth which surprised the scorer more than anyone in the crowd.
While it's difficult to criticise the keeper who only signed a few days before the game, he did look a bit dodgy. Our only proper centre back was not playing (injury?) and the defence simply couldn't cope when livi moved forward in numbers. A previous poster chose to select Holmes miss, but could just as easily have named other players who missed just as good chances. Holmes could be an important player for us as he held the ball up well and won many flick on headers which he directed towards Airdrie players (a real novelty for us). Young Nathan looked totally out of things, slow, caught in possession, missed tackles, but he may improve. JB must have watched the game and wished he still had a McCord or Stevenson in the middle of the park.
I hardly think you can say we will get relegated after this one game. The match against Stirling will give us a better idea of how the season may go, but one thing the game did show is that we have a very thin squad and some of the replacements simply aren't capable of playing at this level.

Quote:

60sfan
Our only proper centre back was not playing (injury?)

Lilley was suspended from the game, something that carried on from last season.

Malone and Hill are centre backs, or are certainly as able to play there as anywhere. Claiming we have just one is stretching things a little.

We were missing 4 first team players today against a side from a higher division. If stirling skelp us next week then it's time to worry

Did livi change their set up at half time? I think we were 4 3 3 at first and Boyle and Donnelly seemed to be working given the number of chances we created. They moved well and looked quite sharp

But in the 2nd our midfield disappeared and livi broke really quickly, virtually by-passing our midfield leaving the centre backs (who looked ok) really exposed. Even Bain struggled with livi's pace going forward, and I don't think he's a slouch.

The frustrating thing is that our midfield looked better last year but defence and attack were ho hum. This year the defence will be better and u front the big no 9 will make an impact and I really hope these young guys around him get support from us. Morton Sally Donnelly keast and Boyle will bother teams at our level

We need a goalie and hopefully a fit owens will make an impact - he looked really good towards the end of last year

Thought devlin did well today but he was really up against it. Blockley looked a bit daunted but I like his approach - bit of a destroyer.

Anyway still looking forward. The commercial leaflet was interesting - info on changes the club haves made to be financially secure. I do believe others have still t deal with the new reality.

Goalie and midfield are my worries

I thought Holmes was impressive today, despite the fact he missed a bit of a sitter.

He won nearly all the balls played his way and also nearly always found an Airdrie player with his touch. He's a striker whose greatest ability is that he's a pest and isn't scared of putting it about. At this level, it's vital to have a striker like that.

Not sure we have a 20 goal striker though, but it seems we have a good 4 or 5 players that might be 10 goal strikers.

Thought Ryan Donnelly was impressive , Holmes miss was awful and lost 2 rapid straight after , we had best chances in first half , Boyle being clean through and not getting shot in . Can't believe were charged £15 for regional challenge cup first round , with 3 home games in a row at that price , prob be giving Stirling a miss , and go to first league game .

Quote:

Texaco Fan
Malone and Hill are centre backs, or are certainly as able to play there as anywhere. Claiming we have just one is stretching things a little.
We were missing 4 first team players today against a side from a higher division. If stirling skelp us next week then it's time to worry

I understood the players you mentioned are back kicks rather than centre backs. To say they can 'play there' to me is stretching it a bit. A recognised centre back pairing is crucial to most teams and we simply don't have one.

I agree that the game against Stirling will be more of an indicator, but I'd be happier if JB signed players for positions rather than who happens to be available. The squad seems to be to be pretty unbalanced with plenty of options for some positions, but very few for others.

We played some good stuff today and could/should have been 2 or 3 up ourselves before they started. Donnelly through on goal, delayed and tackled well. He should have got a shot away. Or if their defender mistimed his tackle it was a straight red. Then Holmes one on one, should have scored, though he was very impressive other than that. Donnelly hitting over the bar from 3 yards out after a great cross. A chopped off goal in first few minutes. Donnellys 1st half free kick, keeper beaten but just by the post. Othergood chances too but these are the clearest ones I can remember.

5 nil looks bad, no denying it, but the team played well and outfought Livi in 1st half.

Definitely think we need a more proven striker up with Holmoes though. It's too much to expect young guys like Donnelly, Sally & Morton to get the 15-20 goals needed to really challenge this season.

Overall though, I remain upbeat about this season and hope the team come out to prove a point next week.

yea i think i was a bit to quick to judgeafter one game .we will get a better idea after next week ,the four players that were out should make a big difference.does no-body think Gemmelwould have played well with Holmes

Quote:

jetsky
.does no-body think Gemmelwould have played well with Holmes

no.

that that then .

Gemmells first touch and general control was poor. Fast, but that's about it. Someone like Prunty would link well with Holmes, though he's obviously not an option. Holmes wins most headers but more importantly, he directs them to one of his own players. He also showed he's good at bringing the ball down, holding it and laying off to a team mate.

It's just a case of who plats alongside him. As I said earlier, it's a big ask of the young guys to expect then to be the 15 goals a season type that we need.

I agree with most of the comments above ---- except the usual "head in the sand" defenders of the faith who do not think anyone who disagrees with them has the right to an opinion. (and everything AIRDRIE is wonderfull)
On yesterdays performance we have no right to believe we will be any better off than last season.
One bright spot was big Holmes who has the ability to be a nuiscance to any defence in this league --- but as has been stated, we need someone else to snap up the knock downs and chances he creates.
The defence looked secure --- UNTIL Livi started to put them under pressure and then everything caved in.
The stand in central defenders did not look very secure, so we are now pinning our hopes on Lilley holding everything together. (and IMHO Hill and company will not improve anything).
Our midfield were poor, as I expected. Early days yet but Woodburn did not look too impressive(and all comments from AYR supporters confirms this).
For a young man, Blockley is as slow as a carthorse and is a long way short of first team standard yet, he contributed nothing.
And I do realise that Owens and possibly Lennox would probably have played and helped things a bit.
Hopefully yesterday showed JB how important it is/was to sign up Stevenson again !!!!!!

Overall we had our moments and could have scored at least 3 or 4 goals ---- but we did`nt !!!!
As has been said before, LIVI is a very good team and all we can hope is that against poorer opposition our defence will not be exposed as much, and our forwards will settle down and somehow manage to put away the chances.
Stirling Albion will show us better on how we will fare in this division.

My match report for Scotzine

I'd like to see Sally gettin a game from the off. He looks the most accomplished of our front men & I think he would feed well from Holmes' knock downs. It was mentioned on an earlier post,& I have to agree, that he doesn't just flick the ball on for the sake of it, he actually tries to find a jersey with it which makes a difference.

For me Livi always looked capable of stepping up a gear if they had to, but they never really got going until after they scored their 2nd goal. After that we were chasing the game and there were always going to be big gaps for Livi to exploit. I actually thought that Livi looked a decent outfit, and as I said after the game, we wont play anyone as good as them in the 2nd division. No chance of getting relegated, and to even suggest it at this stage in the season whetehr it was said in the heat of the moment or not, is quite frankly, ludicrous. My personal opinion is that Stirling, Cowdenbeath and Brechin will be our main contenders this season and our results against tham will determine whether we reach the play offs or not.

Jailbait

What about east fife
S

Stirling will go either 1 of 2 ways. Either do what we done amd consolidate in div 2 or do a clyde and go down. They won't be top 3.

My personal opinion is that Stirling, Cowdenbeath and Brechin will be our main contenders this season and our results against tham will determine whether we reach the play offs or not.

Onwards and Upwards glory beckons

IMO it'll be between Brechin and East Fife for the title.

Giants of scottish football, but hopefully someday we will be as good as Cowdenbeath, Stirling,Gala Fairydean and the like, we live in hope.... warm regards my brothers.

We get it. And whilst I understand and agree with where you're coming from, we know we're pish at this moment in time... but nothing is going to change that in the short term. Unless you know of someone willing to plough lots of cash into the club?? It is what it is and posting on here won't get us some better players! Unfortunately

Quote:

Texaco Fan
We get it. And whilst I understand and agree with where you're coming from, we know we're pish at this moment in time... but nothing is going to change that in the short term. Unless you know of someone willing to plough lots of cash into the club?? It is what it is and posting on here won't get us some better players! Unfortunately

Alternatively Airdrieonians can use his International Scouting Network to unearth some future world cup players willing to work for food...

It depends on what type of food we could offer, steaks maybe attractive to some, but the offer of beans and corn beef might not cut it.
If we had approached and secured Mr Bartlett some potatoes might have swung the deal...... alas not this season.
have you come up with any plans to turn things round yet minty?

Here's a radical thought...

Invest in grass-roots football so that there's some brand loyalty built among the potential stars of tomorrow.
Try and re-build the fan base from not just the town, but surrounding areas, by being pro-active.
Plan for the long-term and if that means uniting the club and stadium, at least partly, then put this in place.
Keep the fans involved and use whatever decent "brains" there are out there. (and try to leave personalities at the door so that the toys don't get chucked oot the pram).

Quote:

Polomint
Here's a radical thought...
Invest in grass-roots football so that there's some brand loyalty built among the potential stars of tomorrow.
Try and re-build the fan base from not just the town, but surrounding areas, by being pro-active.
Plan for the long-term and if that means uniting the club and stadium, at least partly, then put this in place.
Keep the fans involved and use whatever decent "brains" there are out there. (and try to leave personalities at the door so that the toys don't get chucked oot the pram).

Brilliant, seriously brilliant and I am not being sarcastic.

Oh wait a minute doesnt a lot of what you say involve two way communication?

Quote:

Polomint
Here's a radical thought...
Invest in grass-roots football so that there's some brand loyalty built among the potential stars of tomorrow.
Try and re-build the fan base from not just the town, but surrounding areas, by being pro-active.
Plan for the long-term and if that means uniting the club and stadium, at least partly, then put this in place.
Keep the fans involved and use whatever decent "brains" there are out there. (and try to leave personalities at the door so that the toys don't get chucked oot the pram).

Sweating on "blue sky thinking" for a full house....

CHill was only being half serious as this thread is as cliched as some of those points...

tis all about copying people in while backfilling,before rolling out thoughts/ideas these days.