FEBRUARY 2025 - DEFEAT IN BAD TEMPERED GAME vs THE BLUE BRAZIL; BO'NESS CAPITULATION ENDS ANY HOPE
Whilst not mathematically certain, the season from a promotion perspective looks to be dead.
Skipper Paul Kennedy led by example bagging a goal vs Celtic B, and then 2 goals in an 8 goal thriller...
AN UNEXPECTED EAST KILBRIDE BLIP RE-ENERGISES THE TITLE BATTLE?
East Kilbride, seemingly unstoppable at the top, have had a poor January, with 3 draws that have have allowed us, and Linlithgow to close the gap with 12 to go.
With Linlithgow themselves in excellent form with 5 wins in a row...
JANUARY 2024 - OFF FIELD ISSUES THREATEN TO DERAIL THE SEASON
The big off field positive is that Craig Graham's takeover is complete. Having paid the packet of crisps and a mars bar that the club was up for sale for, the embargo no sooner in place has been lifted, and whilst no extra money is...
DECEMBER - MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS AS ROVERS LOSE GROUND
On paper, with a favourable set of fixtures, December had the potential to be a pivotal month, and so it seemed to prove......but for the wrong reasons.
Taking on a woefully out of form 2nd from bottom Gretna side, the dual wide...
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER - ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? A SENSE OF INJUSTICE FUELS GOOD RESULTS AS GOALS FLY IN
Nobody can complain that they dont get value for money when watching the Wee Rovers these days!
October started with a highly contentious 2-2 draw away to Bo'ness United. With the Wee Rovers...
SEPTEMBER - THE FRESH PRINCE OF CLIFTONHILL
Despite a slow start to the season, Bright Prince's form has seen a surge through September. Helping himself to 6 goals in September, Prince has been instrumental in the Wee Rovers good form throughout the month.
THE HEART OF A LYON - JAMES LYON...
AUGUST - A GOOD STARTS SEES THE BIRTH OF WEE ROVERBALL
Despite there being a lack of overall quality in the starting 11, every game has seen us with the battle for xG. Not that its particularly important of course, but it does suggest we have found a way to make chances and keep it relatively...
PRESEASON - AN UNDERWHELMING WARMUP KEEPS EXPECTATIONS LOW
Throughout the preseason period, so many additional players are offered trials its not worth listing them all. Whilst some underwhelm, two players do manage to earn themselves deals at the club.
Jamie Docherty can play off the left...
PRE SEASON - IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS MAKE THE TASK AN UPHILL STRUGGLE
No sooner is the ink dry on my contract, that I receive the news that the chairman is looking to sell the club. And when a new chairman comes in, they usually have pretty clear ideas about who they want their manager to be...
ALBION ROVERS FC
Cliftonhill - The quaintest of settings and the home of The Wee Rovers
WHY ALBION ROVERS?
Alongside my journey through the desert at Al-Nassr, I wanted to come back home to a club ive had a soft spot for since the 2018/2019 season. At the time, Albion Rovers were part of...
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER
MISERABLE CUP EXIT TURNS UP THE HEAT
When the cup draw was made, a first round tie vs Al-Ettifaq had banana skin potential. And so it proved on a highly disappointing night at the Saud. Despite enjoying the better of the game, clinical finishes from Gini Wijnaldum and...
PRE SEASON - SOLID TACTICAL WORK, GOOD FITNESS LEVELS, READY TO GO
A pre-season against opponents using different tactical set ups was trialled; Wolfsberger playing a 352, Celtic a 4231, Dinamo Zagreb and Al-Qadsiah opting for 433 set ups, the later fielding experienced european league...
TACTICAL APPROACH - FLYING 442 - POTENT ATTACKING POTENTIAL, LEAKY AT THE BACK
The squad seemed really well aligned to play a 442 with a group of hard working players in the spine of the team at centre back and centre midfield, with creativity and flair up top and in the wide areas.
The basic...
THE TRANSFER MARKET AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE SQUAD
With an initial transfer kitty of £75 million and a wage budget of just over £12 million per week, there is plenty to spend as you would expect. Excess wage budget has been added to the transfer kitty, reducing the wage bill to a more than...