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wellyboot · Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 2582 Location: Aberdeenshire

Turner and McGill have to be pushing for a play off start. They were our star men tonight and linked up well down the left. Arbroath offered very little but I think that was down to the dominance of the Rovers players. Another clean sheet with a makeshift defence and good to see Hamilton on the scoresheet. Matthews and Brown at centre half Shocked

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Two pints prick

Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1881 Location: Irvine

No complaints from me.
Thought it was a good all round performance.
5-0……what’s not to like. Very Happy

Arbroath may be relegated but they still have given us some hard games this season.

Admittedly they rarely looked like scoring. Poor attacking OR good defending. Take your pick.

Some much needed confidence methinks.

Well done to the team.
No weak links on tonight’s showing.

👏👏👏👍👍😃

PS.
Liking the commentary team.
Good narration throughout.👏👍
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Heilan Rover · Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 602 Location: Lorient

I know we were playing the bottom team, but our passing was slick and accurate .

With the absence of the big men up front for most of the game, we played the ball on the deck (or close to) and with great affect! Result 5-0. Is this what we have been missing??

Tam · Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 10:09 pm Post subject:

The last league home again and it was our best attacking passing game I thought.

All the players got pass marks, and my favourite players tonight were Scot McGill and Calum Smith.

Lewie was very good too but I could not understand why a few fans booed him for not giving Smithy the opportunity of a hattrick, Lewie's penalty were perfectly put away.

WillieKirk · Joined: 08 Feb 2014 Posts: 1968 Location: Portobello

Thought Turner was everywhere tonight and McGill outstanding. All played well tonight - bit of a headache for IM.
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StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 4033

It was a nice warm up for the bigger tests ahead. We certainly play so much better with the ball on the deck, got to question the lack of it the last few months. Let’s try sticking to it and trusting the process!

Hamilton showed with his cameo that he is way more than a big guy to punt high balls to so, regardless of who is up there, let’s make it a last option…

Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1881 Location: Irvine

Vinnie · Posted: Fri May 03, 2024 11:47 pm Post subject:

badpress139 · Joined: 19 May 2015 Posts: 2637 Location: Glenrothes

This was a great confidence boost going into the playoffs. I accept it was against relegated Arbroath but our passing and movement at times was really good.

I'm not a fan of Smith but he certainly stepped up last night, playing a more centre advanced role and that will give Murray something to ponder.

Big Kev had nothing to do most of the game then pulled off a really good save during the last 10.

I don't want to be negative about any player but for me Connolly gives us very little these days. The odd cross but that's about it. Doesn't beat any players nowadays.

McGill was clearly MOM. Very impressed with him and very good charging forward with the ball, taking players on. Unfortunately Murray will stick with Dick for now. Matthews looked good at RB also. A note of caution about the 2 full backs, both sometimes were reluctant to get back into position which maybe exploited but a better team, Airdrie for example, who play with 2 wide men.

One other issue, think that will be Corr's season over. All being well, we may have another 4 games to go. Can both Murray and Watson last that. Really don't won't to see Brown at CB.

Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1881 Location: Irvine

I really kinda hope that IM recognized that our strength is the movement of the ball on the ground as well as the good movement of the players.

On too many occasions, usually when under pressure, the guys resort to hoof ball. The result of which is the frequent loss of possession.

This is where the “ football brain “ comes in.
Plenty of today’s players can jiggle/ bend/ flick / lob the ball when NOT under pressure. The really good players are the ones that don’t panic and can off load the ball productively when they ARE under pressure.

I dunno how far coaches go at this level, but getting a player to use his brain is the best way to learn and produce smart/ intelligent passes.

Not saying our players do not use their head enough, but they could certainly use it more often.
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Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1204 Location: kirkcaldy

It was good to see us score a few goals in the run up to the Playoffs.
Just how much credence does IM put in that performance against a relegated and demoralised team which has had few thumpings of late?
Can we speculate on its effect on the starting eleven in the next game?
Defence: Corr's unfortunate injury looks like ending his chance of being in the line-up.
He must have been in with a shout after the run of clean sheets ( even if slightly fortuitous run). Watson, if fit tho not match sharp, will partner Murray.
McGill played very well, offensively, against Arbroath but, especially as not tested defensively, Liam Dick will be LB.
More debatable will be RB. Does Rossco get the nod, on the basis of trying to field all the best players? He's capable , but will have to cut out his occasional habit of staying upfield when he should be dropping back.
Midfield: Sam Stanton and Scott Brown ( unless needed for defence) will play. Turner must have enhanced his prospects of playing wide left. Does that leave Dylan Easton as an impact sub?
Attack: LV and Smithy were very effective in Friday and I like it when we play the ball on the deck but IM may see Jack Hamilton as the preferred option, especially away from home in the first leg.

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 9073 Location: Almost Dysart.

Great result, the 1st game against Arbroath this season with the right result and some evidence shown of who was 2nd placed and who was in last.

My last game at Starks this season, here's my take on the performance:

Big Kev. Some smart stops and even collected a couple of crosses, the boy done good.
Rossco. Comfortable at RB, CB and pushing forward. Matthews is a solid performer and quality player.
McGill. His best game yet? The lad has good quick feet and moves the ball well (almost as good as Vaughn at times), ok so maybe not as good as Davo yet (his ability to change feet was vastly overlooked) but a great performance and really took the game to the opposition.
Broony (Scott). Fairly solid, a few misplaced passes not really his best night but didn't do very much wrong.
Corr. Got to feel sorry for him, Ton and Lichees were easily his best two performances in a Rovers shirt, really make you wonder (like with McGill) why IM doesn't trust him. Ok so he still has a built in mistake every game but at that age there's no real surprise there. Looks very assured on the ball....sometimes too comfortable.
Muzza. Solid, looked assured and was unlucky with his header.
Byrne. Best game in a while, not the pre-xmas version of Shaun we were so happy with but looked far more interested and in command.
Aidan Connolly. Another player who looked back to his better self, amazing what having a marauding fullback with you can do to buy you space and time.
Kyle Turner. Another player having his best game yet, played with freedom of expression and no little skill. Lovely assist for the 1st.
Smiffy. Took his goals well and was unlucky not to have a 1st half hat-trick. Did well.
LV. Class act! Great skills and finishes from the spot.

Hammy. 12th goal of the season, would have been much more but for injuries, a different and better option than Zak imo.
Stants. Like LV just class.
James Brown. Did nowt wrong and easily enough on the night to make me feel good, however I don't fancy him long term and in truth I'd play Matthews over him.

An easy win at the end of the day as at long last we had an opponent on the ropes and finally put them down. Hopefully the confidence gained will see another strong confident performance in the next 2 or 4 games. I just hope that the 4 best performances of players weren't one offs or solely linked to the class of opposition.
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Competitive goals: Vaughan 19, Easton 11, Hamilton 10, Smith 9, Stanton 7, Mullin 4, Connolly 3, O'Reilly 3, Rudden 3, S Brown 2, Dick 1, Gullan 1, Masson 1, Matthews 1, Millen 1, Mitchell 1, Murray, Watson 1, OG's 1,