Airdrieonians Diamonds from the rough

[Mr_Grieves]

November





Fixtures
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We kicked off the month with the worst performance of the season against St Mirren who for the first time looked like a team that was in the SPL for a season, we didnt put a finger on them. Different story when Dundee Utd, Dumbarton and Falkirk got in our way where we won every game by 3 goals, especially with Falkirk being a title rival its nice to see us get a result and we get Dundee in our next game, The only downside was loosing to Dundee Utd in the Irn Bru cup but that was our back up team so no worrys, They will get a chance to get revenge on United in the Scottish cup where i might try harder




Championship Table
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We regain top spot by a point but were up against our closest rivals who have yet to be beaten, Having said that they have won 8 and drawn 7. Alloa are doing well but Falkirk and St Mirren are the only other teams with a realistic shot, With that said Dunfermline are on a rich run of form.




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[Mr_Grieves]

December


4 wins in a busy December do great things for our title challenge as the side settles, Shame for the youth players missing some action but its a results driven game.




Fixtures
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After beating Falkirk we give Dundee there first defeat of the season. They fought hard twice to try and keep there record going but if anyone was going to do it! Ayr prove no better than our first match however Alloa show why there fighting in the mid table by giving us our standard defeat of the month before recovering to win at home to Dunfermline and thrashing new closest rival St Mirren. Ross County held us to a draw to keep our feet on the ground.




Championship Table
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Everything goes our way to move 7 points clear of St Mirren who suddenly appear in 2nd ahead of Falkirk who are ahead of Dundee who had not lost going into December being one point off top spot leave December with 4 defeats and 10 points off top spot.



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[Mr_Grieves]

January



Stop the presses we have a unbeaten month! We won all our 3 of our league games then the kids drew at Dundee United




Fixtures
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Four days removed from the new year hangovers we beat Dundee Utd in our first game at Tannadice of the month setting up the arrival of the player of the month 16 year old Stuart Christie who scored his first hattrick well ahead of schedule against Dumbarton. We then put Falkirk's reborn title hopes back in a box with another great youth prospect Nicolas Lagneaux and the returning Bonhof ending the league month on a high. We almost had a perfect month till Dundee Utd's two late goals forced a replay which is fine since i play the kids.




Championship Table
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Our three wins have us 9 points clear with Dundee Utd & Falkirk in tow. At the bottom Dumbarton & Ayr are tied at the bottom with Ross County the only other team in immediate danger




No transfers, 3 u19s go out on loan



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[ninjaskill]

Having a really good season so far, almost three times the goal difference of anyone else as well is really impressive

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Having a really good season so far, almost three times the goal difference of anyone else as well is really impressive

It can be so frustrating at times as well when we thrash team after team then play a basement dweller and loose. Thats just the game!

 

[Mr_Grieves]

February




Dundee Utd ended our Scottish Cup run. A shame considering the League form is starting to reach "invincible" levels. Thats me cursed us now!




Fixtures
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Between our Dundee Utd cup games we lost to there neighbours Dundee who keep there title challenge alive. After three game with the Dundee teams we got the promoted teams back to back and put 4 goals past both of them before another three goals were put passed Dunfermline




Championship Table
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With a game in hand we move 8 points clear of St Mirren who seem to be the last challenger to top spot with Dundee in 3rd 16 points back with 8 games to go.




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[Mr_Grieves]

March


A win a draw and a defeat with only three game with the international break robbing us of the last weekend.




Fixtures
View attachment 60091
A goalless draw at home to Ross County despite putting 4 forwards on towards the end but could not break down the Irn Bru cup runner ups. Next up was our win in the biggest game of the season at St Mirren. This is the last time we'll play each other so the potential of a 6 point swing depending on the result but lucky for us it was never in doubt after rushing into a 3 goal lead in the first 25 minutes St Mirren may have given up on the title here. That fact was not lost on the day we were thrashed 3-0 by Dundee Utd where i played far too many kids and it cost us but St Mirren also lost.




Championship Table
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So the gap remains at 12 points with 15 left to play for, and we have a huge goal difference advantage too. Dumbarton are next up and we'll give the kids another chance, If they win then they can play the rest of the season, if not then we'll drop them all till the title is won.



Youth intake
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I'm quite sure in my Aberdeen saves i've never had a youth intake as good as Airdrie's in the past 2 season.



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[Mr_Grieves]

End of Season




With time to spare and another St Mirren defeat we secure the Championship title
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Fixtures
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Very frustratingly the u19 players go on a 4 game winning run, beating everyone including play off teams Dundee & Falkirk with ease. Plenty of these kids will be looking at 1st team chances next season.




Championship Table
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The top 4 stayed the same over the last few months
Ayr ended up bottom bottom while Dumbarton scramble to the playoff with a win over Dunfermline on the final day, which cost them a play off spot much like Dundee Utd who were next up for the playoff spot but the lost to Falkirk who nicked the final spot right at the death.



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[Mr_Grieves]

End of Season review 3






Final League Table
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The top 4 stayed the same over the last few months. Ayr ended up bottom bottom while Dumbarton scramble to the playoff with a win over Dunfermline on the final day, which cost them a play off spot much like Dundee Utd who were next up for the playoff spot but the lost to Falkirk who nicked the final spot right at the death.






Playoffs
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Each round seen the weakest championship team fell, Dundee thrashed Falkirk, St Mirren then sneaked past Dundee 1-0 over 2 legs. In the final St Mirren ended up beating Morton 2-1 in both games to ease back into the top flight with us next season.






Premership Table
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Celtic are back on top winning the league & cup double led by the inspirational signing of Jonathan Calleri. Rangers were closeish and won the League cup and are well clear of Aberdeen and the Edinburgh teams. Last seasons two promoted teams Morton & Queen of the South




Development League
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Were up fighting with the Glasgow giants. Maybe next year we can beat them unless everyone move up to the main team!




Airdrie squad
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As the appearances tell you the season ended early with the best 11 hardly featuring in the final 5 games. 3 new defenders and Mark Bunn in goals made the difference but we'll need to upgrade further for the SPL. I basically spent the money we made on Gavin Milne to pay for the defense this season and had we not got promoted we would have been having to sell some of our best players or letting the high earners move. Going forward Nathan Jordan was the most improved player while Bonhof matched Dale Carrick meaning we could have a strong front line next season while the emergence of 16 year old Stewart Christie could be pushing the main two for a starting spot.




Fans award
Nathan Jordan
View attachment 59980With a incredible 67% of the vote i'm stunned to see Nathan Jordan come from nowhere to take this. Top 3 maybe, Young player of the year definently but it seems i've underestimated one of my young stars




Players of the Year


Nathan Jordan - ML
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Wow i totally underestimated what Jordan was doing for us. With room to improve at 18 it looks like he will for sure be starting in the SPL next season


Janis Bonhof - AT
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The 17 year old German ended last season on a high and was a lock down starting player this term. and he almost matched Carrick on the goals front and outperformed him in ave rating


Jake Sheppard - DR
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After failing to breakthrough at Reading he had stand out performances at Falkirk & Raith leading him into my hands. He's done enough to earn a shot in the SPL but i'll still be looking for improvements with his back up Scott Stewart leaving which could leave him lost in the shuffle






The Kids
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Stuart Christie was the stand out youth player that quickly worked his way into my main 3 strikers and it will be hard to keep him out of the 1st team. Nico Lagneaux has been slowly working into the 1st team and with Ross going back to Aberdeen he has a clear run at starting next season, Austin Stevenson has been a starter since day one and its just a matter of time till he moves to a bigger team with only 2 years left on his current deal. Per Sojberg was our starting Left back but a few made a impact in that spot while




Other
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Rastislav Lesko, Ally Main, and several others did a great job stepping in at the end of the season and will get a look in for the SPL squad next season.




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[Mr_Grieves]

Season 4




Summer Friendly's
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We have two friendlys left to play in the middle of the Betfred Cup. So far we've trashed all the lower league teams as expected so im not to sure where we stand at the moment!




League Odds
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From being 5/1 favorites last season in the Championship up in the SPL we're now 1001/1 to win the league and tied favorites to be relegated, which to be fair especially when looking at how my summer transfers has gone its to be expected.




Transfers
2 Youngsters that will be on the edges of the first team come in and we have 3 youngsters joining on loan from Europe's biggest teams.




In


Eirick Solberg - MR
View attachment 59935
I love a Solberg, thankfully all these are better than former Don Thomas Solberg! Pace is the name of the game from one of Norway's top prospects. Deal was agreed long ago and is our second Solberg in the squad


Bozo Suto - MC
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His stats look incredible and after what happened with Stevenson this could be our most valuable signing


Loans
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3 Loans, The first, goalkeeper Victor is causing me no ends of problems where if i sell Bunn i could save £2k on wages but i have nowhere to spend that £2k in wages since nobody is interested in signing. Next up is Loric Mutombo the right back from Paris SG, he'll fight Shephard for the right back spot and Halil Yapici will fill in the midfield spot till some "more exciting" signing come in January





Out
The stand out move is i finally give in and sell Austin Stevenson to Man Utd. There offer see us pick up a guaranteed £3.4m with a few add ons and a huge 40% of the next fee which im guessing since his value has already shot up to £8m makes me pray that they sell him to Real Madrid in January. Sadly he was clearly our best player over the whole save for us so im quite worried about how we'll be without him.
Russell Dingwall & Iain Vigurs were two big players that did so much in our Betfred Cup run in season 2 and key back ups in season 3 that will be getting in the way of youth players
9 youth players are out on loan so if this season is a struggle we have got a pile of future prospects


Worst of all all we get back for the Stevenson money is £10k for wages and £100k in cash.



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[Mr_Grieves]

August





Betfred Cup Group A
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After the opening game it looked like we were set for the same fate as last season loosing to St Johnstone costing us progression but not so fast. Our first team lost that game but our u19s won the other 3 to get a best 2nd place spot into the last 16

View attachment 59895
Where a back up team once again seen off Dundee Utd and book a place in the Quarter Finals where i may be tempted to play a stronger team




Back to the league i wasnt sure how long it would last so here was the table after week 1 where we managed to jump Aberdeen to go top, It lasted for 2 more weeks

View attachment 59893




Fixtures
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The season kicked off with the two promoted teams facing off in a mismatch, We havent improved in my opinion this summer our new 4th choice striker Salvador Soriano struck twice in the trashing, Our first away game of the season was to Hearts and despite all Craig Levine's back chat we trounced them Soriano opened the scoring with established starters Stevens & Bonhof, The latter two struck again at home to Hamilton cementing the player of the month award for Gary Mackay Stevens. Just when the world was looking to be beyond a dream Rangers came along. A record crowd & ticket cash was the good news, and i mean all the good news. We were totally outclassed by AVB and his Rangers team.




SPL Table
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That Rangers game was for the top of the table but still 2nd is miles beyond what i expected and even more amazingly we have the top 3 scorers in the league. Celtic only win 2 of there first 4, amature's!




Transfers
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In
Two youngsters come from Spain and we loan Horace Lavine from Man Utd for a second season
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3 Youngsters go out on loan and my good old friends on the board decide to sell Ally Main at the very last minute of the transfer window leaving me with no cover at left back, a pathetic £600k for one of Scotlands top LB prospects and then a few days later decide they want to sell the club. twats!



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[Mr_Grieves]

September




Betfred Cup Q/F
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Fresh from being thrashed by Rangers we quickly were thrust into a cup game with Celtic. Thankfully they gave me a weaker team to play against but still managed to rush into a 2 goal lead at half time. We kicked into life after the hour mark with Bonhof scoring twice to force extra time. In extra time Bonhof completed his hatrick right at the start of extra time before Lagneaux closed the game to send home our 10,101 record gate receipts of £130k, more than our total income for a month in League 1.


Rangers again in the semi finals
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Fixtures
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In the league St Johnstone keep up there unbeaten record against me but needed a 93rd minute equalizer to keep that going. We then thump Hibs going 3 goals clear with teenagers Lagneaux & Bonhof combining with new signing Suto to go 3 goals clear. Hibs crawled it back to 3-2 as we seemed set to loose another lead but we held on.




SPL Table
View attachment 59752
Rangers still lead the way but ourselves & Hibs are only 3 points behind while Celtic are only 4th. Aberdeen & Hearts slow starts go on not looking like there going to kick on any time soon but still MUCH better than Killie




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[Mr_Grieves]

October




Our Betfred cup run comes to an end as Rangers outclass us for the second time, they looks like Scotland's top team

View attachment 59717




Fixtures
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Our terrible form against terrible teams goes on as Kilmarnock are unlucky to end up with a draw before the tragedy of the season so far when we were in the 95th minute and ready to leave Parkhead with a point when Calleri came along and took all 3 points for Celtic. Throw the Rangers game and thats a horrible 3 match run, by far our worst of the season. We got back to winning ways with wins at home to Partick Thistle & Motherwell to keep us at the right end.




SPL Table
View attachment 59715
Rangers have a 5 point window at the top then we lead the way as the best of the rest. As it sits just now that game with Celtic was a huge swing that stop us being right on Rangers tail with a game in hand rather than being locked with Celtic, Hibs and Hearts.




Current SPL Managers
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A Update to who all our current main managers are. Hamilton's boss is my favorite Pedro Caixinha.



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[Mr_Grieves]

November




Three tight games but three wins keeping our amazing start going.




Fixtures
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I was worried with the game at St Mirren and Hamilton with our form against struggling teams and true to form we ended the first half 1 goal down to St Mirren till teenage strikers Bonhoff & Christie turned the game on its head, Against Hamilton it was the other way around as we went ahead with Caxinah's boys fighting back to be done in by a own goal killing the game then we rounded our a perfect month with a late Bonhof goal beating Hearts and sticking it to Craig Levine again!




SPL Table
View attachment 59654
Rangers still lead the way but only 2 points clear of the league's form team. Hibs are keeping in touch but Celtic are having a awful season in 4th but better than 8th place Aberdeen who have almost half the points we do. Hibs are between us but have just lost Neil Lennon too the Northern Ireland job so a new boss is required at Easter Road



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[Mr_Grieves]

December


The SPFL crammed in 8 games through a really busy December. Our results were incredible outside the old firm who we still cant lay a finger on.




Fixtures
View attachment 59635
Struggling Aberdeen were our first victims with 3 teenagers helping us go 4 clear before a late consolation for the Dons, Our trip to Ibrox was nothing short of a disaster, not sure how were going to beat the old firm as we tried to defend and counter against Rangers, then played our usual style against Celtic and in neither game did we look like getting close to them. Thankfully normal order was restored against Hibs, St Johnstone & Kilmarnock seen us score 11 goals in those 3 games with only one strike from Dale Carrick being from a player over 19 years old. We ended up dropping our only points away from the old firm away to Aberdeen the night after they sacked Derek McInnes. Not offered me the job but more on that later. We've alredy established that the Celtic game was a waste of time but we came out with more kids than ever for a trip to Partick Thistle and by god they scored 7 times to go into the winter break where we have 18 days without a game.




SPL Table
View attachment 59634
Dont adjust your sets folks but the Championship winners are LEADING, yes LEADING the league and its all thanks to the kids suddenly hitting form and first team level at the right time. Elsewhere we have the Old Firm who we cant beat s owe join them at the top. Hibs and Hearts find a bit of distance between them and the teams above and below. Bonhof's red hot goal streak has him leading the golden boot race!






Manager changes
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As well as McInnes two other manager changes were complete in December. Hibs too over 3 weeks to choose Steve Clarke, recently sacked by bottom of the table Kilmanock to take over there flagging title challenge while over at Kilmarnock Paul Hartley is back after taking Falkirk to two playoffs in two seasons he's finally in the SPL but for how long?



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[ninjaskill]

On a great run of form recently, hope a couple of your fans put a couple quid on you to win the title

 

[Mr_Grieves]

On a great run of form recently, hope a couple of your fans put a couple quid on you to win the title

To be fair there is only 10,500 seat we really need to raise the cash for a bigger stadium before i can get too upset with them

 

[Mr_Grieves]

January




We come back from the break with wins in the league and cup but come a cropper away to Hamilton on the 30th as i decide to make minimal moves in the transfer window


Aberdeen finally put in a offer for me
View attachment 59549


But ended up with David Moyes, i'd take that in real life
View attachment 59548




Fixtures
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2021 kicked off with a dirty game at Motherwell where both teams ended with 10 men and u20 player Solberg scored both goals. We had a thrilling cup tie at Partick where twice ahead but we showed some grit and resolve and relied on the old 27 year old legs of Dale Carrick to get into the 5th round. St Mirren were on the end of another thumping before we hosted Hamilton and put in one of our worst perfromances in the save failing to get a shot on goal till the last 15 minutes where we did equalize before our gung ho attack led to a 95th minute winner from Eduardo Coelho giving Pedro Caixinha a result against me, which im sure the game knows disgusts me.




SPL Table
View attachment 59547
The result against Hamilton has even more bearing as the Old Firm played and had the results flipped we would have ended the month 5 points clear of Celtic rather than tied with Rangers. Hibs are yet to decide if there going to join in the fun of finish alone in 4th. Hearts, Motherwell and Partick lead the way for 5th and 6th, Aberdeen need a 8 point swing in 8 games to get into the top 6 but for now are just 1 point above Hamilton in 11th while poor Killie look DOOMED!




Transfer Window




Scottish Transfers
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Airdrie

Two kids that could be the future of our midfield


Beaton
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Goes right into the 1st team

Van Der Kraan
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5* potential.


Out
Two star players from the lower league are on there way to Dundee with DR Jake Sheppard moving to Dundee and Nicky Low moving to Dundee Utd. Both were good enough to work in the team but its now time to feed in as many of these under 20s as possible so you will see plenty of the players that built this club moving on in the next 18 months.




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[Mr_Grieves]

February




We're out of the cup early on again but with the position were in the League i felt i had to play back up players in the cup which led to us loosing 3-1 to Motherwell despite taking the lead.




Fixtures
View attachment 59458
Our League form on the other hand started with a sensational thrashing of Hearts. It seems my players loath Craig Levine as much as i do in this save and all 6 goals came from teenagers. They felt less clinical on there next trip to Pittodrie where David Moyes is hopefully starting to steady the ship of my favorite Scottish team, this should be our last game against them this season so my kids shouldnt feel the need to give up 3 points to them again!



View attachment 59457
Those dropped points against a bottom 6 team however was totally worth it for our next game at home to Rangers, who have demolished us at every opportunity this season. We were utter dominated for the first 20 minutes at which point i paused the game, went upstairs found some notes i had from FM17 when being a underdog, attack the wing the opponents are not using, man mark the players performing and receiving the most passes and hey presto in 13 minutes we had tore them apart to go 3-0 up. We stuck to our guns only going more defensive as the game wore on and in the end we won with ease give me and the boys the feeling that for the first time we can win this league NOW! The only remaining game was up at St Johnstone where we won 2-1 but was total control until they scored in the 91st minute but it was too little too late!






SPL Table
View attachment 59456
So that win at the Excelsior over Rangers proves to be a huge result. Were once again tied at the top, Celtic 6 points behind and Hibs are catching us all only 9 points behind us. The 6 goal swing in our favor in that game gives us a 8 goal lead. Janis Bonhof has a far more comfortable lead in the golden boot race, non of the other leading forwards have hardly scored since the turn of the year. Elsewhere Motherwell look almost secure in the top 6 while its anyones guess who from 6th to 11th will join them and at the very bottom Kilmarnock are showing small sings of life.



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[Mr_Grieves]

March


Only two games, a trip back to reality with Hibs and a trip to basement dwellers Kilmarnock




Fixtures
View attachment 59416
Simon Murray must have read how the other tops scorers were not scoring when he equaled his tall for the year in the first 60 minutes at the Excelsior which led them to a clear victory which angers me especially after we went 2-1 up just before the break. We got a win at Kilmarnock which is the least i expected after the amount of shouting i did after the Hibs game




SPL Table
View attachment 59415
Rangers take advantage of our slip up to Hibs to go top on there own, Hearts then held Hibs to a draw to dent there title hopes. The top 6 looks set while anything can happen in the bottom half.




Youth Intake
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Back to reality after the gold we got over the last two seasons



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