Prediction League Wk 33 Airdrie 1 Vs. 1 Forfar Update
By Stomp Admin
March 9 2016
Airdrie held on to fourth place in the Scottish League one last after after a 1 - 1 home draw against Forfar and if it wasn't for a spectacular goal from Nicky Cadden Forfar would have went home with all three points.
Once again we stuck with the tried and failed 4-5-1 formation leaving Jim Lister to once again get frustrated as the lone striker. Bryan Prunty was forced out on to left wing in what (to me) seems to be turning in to an Airdrie tradition - Jerome Varielle, Mark Roberts to name but two effective strikers for us at one time were pushed on to the wings to cajole frustrated fans in thier final seasons with us.
I also have to say I feel very sorry for Scott Stewart the booing that took place at his substitution wasn't aimed at him it was aimed at the tactics, once again we are chasing the game and once again an attacking player is replaced with a player designed to shore up the midfield. If Marc Fitzpatrick and Hugo Faria are as ineffectual as they were last night then it's them that need subbed.
So in closing second bottom Forfar took the lead through Omar Kader on 37minutes and although both teams had several half chances it took a Cadden strike from out side the penalty box to level the scoring. If there are highlights watch it just for Caddens goal. I'm also sure Forfar had the winner early in the second half when a shot struck the bar and looked to have crossed the line but after the bounce it was cleared upfield by a great full defence.
In the prediction league.
Pesadilla has extended his lead to 3 points as he keeps top spot.
Agree with much of your report but Prunty was on the left wing as per Saturday at Central park although he should not be played there at home.Forfar should have gone away with all three points which has been true so often this year at home.I can understand why they put out same team last night although I don't fancy the 4-2-3-1 idea as it depends so much on the skill of the Number 10 behind Lister; it may well work away from home but it lacks pressure on the opposing two centre halfs; it also removes a goal sniffer(Prunty) from being upfront so he has to play wide left;
I thought it was obvious that their mobility up front and passing skills meant they did not give the ball away for most of the game while we could rarely string together a passing movement-there was a good one in first half when Fitzpatrick blasted it wide; we still worked on the long ball and long throw ins while Forfar were more pleasing to the eye. It was unfortunate that Parry's save fell fortunately to them but how did their guy get to the touchline with such pace? If it had not been for the long throw and Caddens great shot ( Stop shooting we said)
I didnt think we would have rescued a point. The subs were strange but Thomson had done little during the game so they did not gamble on going 2 up front. I cant make my mind up about Faria but he did lose the ball( and then blamed someone else) yet he also broke up their play but he lacks creativity so do we need him if you have Fitzpatrick? Lister also could not quite bully their guys last night but on his tod yet again. I fear Brechin as they beat Forfar 4-0 last week but at least Watt wont play. Would we have benefitted from him last night-Yes! Still think we can get fourth but it is frustrating.
It's strange I'm not really bothered about getting fourth I just want to finish above Albion Rovers.
Managers don't survive play off failures and even if most of our fans realize it's too early to go up and the play offs are a bonus it will still be tough to accept a failure.
If we are successful in the play offs then that is a whole other challenge, getting full time players in place to challenge for the first division is far easier than trying to get players in to survive the championship. It might be a nice challenge for the management team but it just seems like a tougher ask to me.
I understand your view Chris but I think if we finish above the Rovers we will be in fourth unless Stranraer make a last surge; I can only see failure in a play off with that squad as it looks like we would face a difficult side from the Chamionship, be it any of the bottom three Dumbarton/Livingstone/Alloa and would not like to go through trips to any of them. However stranger things have happened- I never thought we would lose out to Stirling Albion in that first play off final. Perhaps next season is yet again a League One progression chance.
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