Craig Telfer of the website Tell Him He's Pele contributes a monthly blog to the SPFL website, focusing on events outside the Premiership.
In his second piece, Craig looks at the reasons for the good starts made by League 1 leaders Forfar Athletic and local rivals Arbroath, who top League 2.
Over the last few months, there has been a good feeling around Angus. Not only are Brechin City and Montrose punching their weight, but Forfar Athletic and Arbroath currently lead League 1 and League 2 respectively.
Although Forfar were always expected to perform soundly this year, it is still a surprise to see them top the division at this stage. Dick Campbell made a number of excellent signings over the summer – Danny Denholm, Dale Hilson and Stephen Husband were all coveted by full-time clubs before they joined – and the side look more balanced and potent than they’ve ever done in his six years at the club. An ageing defence is a concern, but this is something that can be addressed at a later date. For the moment, promotion is the aim.
The Loons’ home form has been excellent - the team have won all four of their league fixtures at Station Park. Dunfermline Athletic and Morton, two of the division’s more-fancied sides, were turned over while a tricky fixture with Peterhead was also successfully negotiated. The weekend’s win over Brechin might just have been their best performance of the campaign so far – they passed and moved the ball with precision and tempo and the opposition were unable to cope with their speed and movement.
There are some anxieties about Forfar’s capabilities on the road – they were beaten by Ayr United and a two-goal lead was carelessly squandered in the draw with Stirling Albion – but they will surely improve in time. This season, Campbell is perhaps operating using the most progressive strategies of his career and it is paying dividends – Forfar are fun to watch.
Travel some 16 miles to the south-east and Allan Moore’s Arbroath are equally performing above expectations. When compared to Albion Rovers, Annan Athletic or East Fife, the Lichties were viewed as an outside shout for the play-offs. Now, after six wins in seven matches and a five-point lead at the top of the table, predictions as to how their season will play out have been suitably altered.
Moore has done well after a testing summer. Paul Sheerin had begun building a team to make an immediate return to the third tier when he suddenly defected to coach Aberdeen’s development squad. The new manager – who has enjoyed success at this level before with Stirling Albion – saw his side dismantled in the Challenge and League Cups by Alloa Athletic and Hamilton Academical respectively. But, after a handful of tweaks to his approach and a number of clever signings of his own, Arbroath have started the league campaign with aplomb.
In among victories over Albion Rovers and Clyde, the most satisfying result of the season was the 3-1 win over rivals Montrose, where the gulf between the sides – who meet again in the Scottish Cup at Gayfield on Saturday - was apparent. Simon Murray, signed by Sheerin from Dundee Violet, is an impressive young forward with three goals to his credit while Dylan Carreiro has brought grit to the middle of the park since joining on loan from Dundee. Of those already there, Paul McManus, the venerable old workhouse, is still a perpetual source of goals.
How both Forfar and Arbroath progress remains to be seen but, after their outstanding starts to the season, anything less than a play-off place, or promotion in the Lichties’ case, would be a disappointment.
Twitter @tellhimhespele
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