Superally

Its difficult to achieve a lifestyle balance in a "coivd" world. Undoubtedly mistakes have been made and perhaps things could be better, indeed much better in some instances. However I do have some sympathy for politicians who are dammed if they do something and dammed if they don't. What I cant abide is "indecision, dithering and wait and see" - all too often the necessary action taken retrospectively is pointless as the damage has already been done. I'm trying to be sensible getting on with my life and will make every attempt to be cautious. I have three holidays booked for abroad next year and have recently come back from Lanzarote. I enjoy going out for a meal and going to the football. I go to the shops and try be quite sensible to give a wee bit of distance in crowded situations and always wear a mask and feel highly uncomfortable at those who don't - especially those who don't wear a Lanyard etc and don't seen to give a ****. I went to Glasgow and Edinburgh recently but avoided the Xmas markets as they were like a bloody rugby scrum. I'm lucky enough that none of my family have caught Covid yet, but we are cautious in our approach as we also care directly for a elderly relative. I do a minimum of one PCR test weekly and at least one LFT test. Many who know me will know I come from a healthcare back ground so I fully understand the difficulties of the impact of Covid. Vaccinations, boosters, hand washing, social distancing, wearing masks and being sensible is the best advice I can give. Conspiracy theorists, complacency and indifference are our biggest risks to society, health and well being.

Week 18 and it’s the halfway point of our season already, and as we head towards the festive season we have a tough set of four fixtures against top of the league teams. The first of which brings the Pars faithful to Rugby Park at Kilmarnock. Taking points from any of these teams will count as a significant bonus especially away from home. Tommy Wright’s Killie who have performed lower that expectations in 4th spot in the league and 5pts behind leaders ICT will still be formidable. Killie surprisingly have scored only two more goals than the Pars but we have conceded 17 more goals and that would account for them being 15 points ahead in the league. Recent form hasn’t been good though and currently over the past 5 games they have the worst form in the table only winning one game and losing four earning 3pts. The Pars form over the same period has been better collecting 7pts from two wins and a draw. The last outing between the two teams at EEP was a 2-2 draw with goals from Thomas and a last minute extra time goal from Comrie following an assist from Toderov. Although The Pars scored 3 last time out, we also conceded 3 - even though I think I’ll be happy with more of the same. Yogi is still looking to get a balanced team and won’t be helped by Thomas’s long-term absence and while Lewis Martin pulled on a shirt against a bounce match against Livi a return as a trialist is probably not likely for the remainder of this year. Logic determines 1-1 draw and a valuable point. COYP

Finished the half much better than what we started and getting a few shots off too. Still a lot to do.

Thats a major boost. COYP

Valid point Raymie, Just shows how much we have yet to do. But the point is if we cant take advantage now when can we!

QoS got beat at home from Cove Rangers 0-3 tin the cup game tonight. Cove are relatively decent but that's a shocker. I just hope we can compound that misery on Sat. Morton also beat ICT on pens after drawing 1-1 at FT

Agreed, my fear is that if we don't have a decent out ball we will sit back invite them over us and be overwhelmed. Queens will be cagey and will look to play us on the break looking for set plays. They will be happy not to lose and take a point.

Make no mistakes even before Xmas, Saturdays game against QoS is a cup final. Lose and we are adrift at the bottom again, Win and it we can create a bit of distance and perhaps climb the table. Yogi has a job on - in picking a team that will be up to the task with Dorans and Thomas missing. Worryingly, Yogi also acknowledges the dilemma of strengthening a midfield leads to diminishing our attacking options and frankly we were pretty blunt up front last weekend against a Hamilton team that struggled for form. Queens are sitting bottom of the table on goal difference, The Doonhamers have earned 3pts over their past 5 games and in total they have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 9, conceding 25 goals. The Pars fair marginally better winning 2 of their past games but losing the other 3 giving them 6 points. Thus far the Pars have won only 2 games drawing 7 and losing 7. We have scored 2 more goals than Queens with 15 in total. Our last outing against QoS offered the most turgid of performances losing by late single goal. The last thing we need is a similar outcome and we desperately need a competitive performance. Home advantage just edges it for me. I’ll go for a 2-1 Pars win. COYP.

No point in moaning about it now, we have to focus on the next game against QoS. A bottom of the table clash that is literally a must win game for us or we will be back where we started.

Yogi stating that Dom Thomas is likely to be out with a knee injury for several weeks. He is due to see a specialist on Monday and there is a probability of a op thereafter. Not an ideal situation, especially in the position we are in as he will be a big miss. Yogi has a job in his hands to fill that spot. Hoping that Dom makes a full recovery and quickly

That's grim news, The Jan window isn't the easiest to get decent quality in either. its going to be a very tough second half to the season.

Wasn't at the game so I cant really comment in detail. However is disappointing and we cant afford to lose a game to teams around us even if it was to a Penalty. Its also disappointing that despite hitting the bar we had no shots on target. Playing middle to front was a major problem for Grant and it seems that Yogi is also struggling with the same issue - do we play 1 up front with a stronger midfield or 2 up front with a compromised midfield. At the moment it aint working and with Dorans not eligible for the next home game against Queens, Yogi has some thinking to do because that's another game we cant afford to lose.

Pen for Hamilton and Dorans aff 1-0 Hamilton

Dorans hits the wood work

No Breen on the bench either, unless Graham is favored in front of him?

Braw day for a game of fitba, Going to be interesting how Yogi picks this one. COYP

Cowden player?

Is it worthwhile looking at SEPA website for info on areas at risk of flooding?

I think there was a bounce game against Hibs youngsters today, Not really worried about the outcome but it will be interesting to see if it shapes Yogi's thinking on the squad for the next few games, I suspect there wont be radical change on Sat, but it may influence who appears from the bench.

I watched the recent Scotland Ruby games and the coverage was pretty decent

Bloody separate room for you pair 🤣

Stevie Crawford has just been appointed as Darren Youngs replacement at East Fife for his second tenure. I wish him well and hope it works out for him

Tartan Baffies not far wrong there. As Piracy says we just want to keep building the site. If someone feels they can develop a app for us, I don't think we would be turning them away - it would be worth a look. However the build up on traffic on EEB and the FB page is positive and the feedback is encouraging.

I thought I would pitch in my usual match preview into the existing thread which some ways shows the turnaround in Pars fortune that fans are now looking ahead to games instead of dreading them. This Saturday we are away to New Douglas Park for the game against Hamilton. They are having an utterly miserable time of it, relegated from the Premiership last season, and given recent form are possibilities for a double dunt and relegation to League 1. Which is no bad thing from a Pars perspective as it means that one of those dreaded slots have been filled. Hamilton sit 8th with 13pts the same points total as the Pars but form over the past 5 games has given them 5pts with a win and two draws. Their last two outings have been defeats. In the last outing like the Pars their progress in the Cup came to an end against non-league Auchinleck Talbot. The Pars have fared slightly better in fortune collecting 7pts in the last 5 with the last two outings being wins. Our better goal difference determines that we sit in 6th place. Last outing between the two teams was a boring affair with a 0-0 draw. Ultimately Hamilton is one of those teams around us that we simply have to beat if we have any hope of avoiding potential relegation. However, I do feel Pars fans should feel optimistic and I’ll pitch in with a 2-1 Pars win. COYP

You could try Marv's wee shop on match days? Jason Barber might be worth a shout?