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| vs St Johnstone; 21/2, 3pm | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 17 2015, 06:44 PM (737 Views) | |
| Setenza | Feb 17 2015, 06:44 PM Post #1 |
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Knitting with only one needle
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There's little I look forward to less than a game against St Johnstone. Seems like one of these games were there'll be no atmosphere and a stop start game on the pitch. They looked a bit vulnerable at the back against Celtic recently, hopefully that'll remain and we can get this game over with quickly. Morris is out, so that's not going to help against the long punts of St Johnstone. At least Fojut back. Edited by Setenza, Feb 17 2015, 06:46 PM.
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| TheDean | Feb 17 2015, 11:17 PM Post #2 |
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ALLEGEDLY CALICO
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The way McJanamacamarra is operating his current selection policy, we'll end up with Souttar getting his come back game at this one 0-3
Edited by TheDean, Feb 17 2015, 11:17 PM.
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| Naebody | Feb 21 2015, 01:06 PM Post #3 |
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Twat
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Well, there's a palpable sense of anticipation for this one. Ideally, though improbably: .............. Other keeper Dillon McGowan Fojut Dixon .................. Butcher .Connolly Telfer Ciftci Dow .................Muirhead I predict a Desmond. |
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| Setenza | Feb 21 2015, 01:46 PM Post #4 |
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Knitting with only one needle
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Hopefully we go with a bit of pace, don't want to get bogged down. Give Connolly a good run at Mackay. |
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| Naebody | Feb 21 2015, 02:09 PM Post #5 |
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Twat
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Other keeper! And three defensive mid! Odd! Szromnik, McGowan, Dillon, Fojut, Dixon, Butcher, Paton, Rankin, Dow, Ciftci, Anier |
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| Micky | Feb 21 2015, 03:16 PM Post #6 |
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Gordon Chisholm
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Good start... from a set piece
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| Setenza | Feb 21 2015, 06:41 PM Post #7 |
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Knitting with only one needle
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Well that was just awful. Had low expectations going into the match, but that seemed optimistic now. St Johnstone were the same as ever, I can understand the desire to try to pick a setup to beat them, I can't understand the tactics or team selection we ended up with. Even if having 3 in holding midfield seems like a good idea, when there's no organisation or method, it doesn't help in any way - didn't close down space, mark players or be a foundation to build our attacks on. Their 2 midfielders dealt with 4 of ours easily. That can't be right. Punting the ball at Anier was the plan of the first half, and as much as he tried, it never worked. Which is not surprising since Anderson and Wright are strong and good in the air. Ciftci was a bit deeper, floating around between midfield and attack, but he didn't really have anyone to link with, even at the times he wasn't determined to shoot from anyplace. Not really sure what role Dow was playing, but it wasn't effective. We had no width or pace from anyone. No-one wanted the ball, noone could pass the ball, it was really, really dire. Dixon and McGowan were decent enough but again there was nothing for them really to work with or any chance to build anything. Szromnik seems rather easily beaten, and likes to punch everything. Can't see him starting next week. Or unless he improves, next season either. Ref was Collum, so was petty and missed a lot as ever. Nothing crazy, but no confidence in him. I hope the random team generator picks a better team for the next game, or this season is going to really end up being one to forget. |
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| Cobardon | Feb 21 2015, 07:12 PM Post #8 |
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Uncle Smurf
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See, this is the problem with the build them up and sell them on policy...all goes well as long as the conveyor belt works seamlessly, but if it doesn't... I only heard the game today, but they sounded like they were utterly woeful...devoid of ideas in every way, shapeless and prone to lapses of concentration. Though one might point out that we threw in plenty of these performances last season with the £10m of players we've since shipped out. Especially in the second half of the season, and especially v today's opponents. But the season is in dire danger of fizzling...big game on Tuesday, as they desperately need a performance, if not result, v ICT. Another rubbish loss then and heads could really go down. |
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| Setenza | Feb 21 2015, 07:22 PM Post #9 |
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Knitting with only one needle
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I think that's what made the team selection so baffling - the replacements for GMS and Armstrong were on the bench, and showed good signs when they came on, but by then things were too far gone. It's not like they're untested youngsters - they've played well many times this season already. And we've also got likes of Muirhead in the development pipeline. To leave them out was a clear intent for a different style / formation. Which ended up being terrible and I fully agree that could end up sending us on a miserable series of results. Edited by Setenza, Feb 21 2015, 07:24 PM.
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| zico | Feb 21 2015, 07:22 PM Post #10 |
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Ivan Golac
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We are missing 2 key players thanks to ST |
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| TheDean | Feb 21 2015, 08:35 PM Post #11 |
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ALLEGEDLY CALICO
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I don't think there's any point dwelling on GMS and Stu, zeek. They've moved on now and looking forward. That's what we've got to do. In which case it makes the ?McNamara selection today, as commented above all the more baffling. Three holding midfielders was bad enough in that it left out any creativity or wide threat until late on in the game - but the fact that none of them could hold the ball and/or pick out even a simple pass or protect the back four was simply unforgivable. As for the back four- they were shambolic. The full backs were frequently out of position and (to be honest) McGowan doesn't look to have any balance or flexibility or pace at full back, and I can see him being moved into Central defence in order to cover for Dillon, who sadly today made a great case for being farmed out to Raith Rovers next season. The same could be said for Rankin who was short of pace, strength and poise in almost all areas except when hoofing it away from our box. There's always opportunities to give the sub. Keeper a chance in the first team. It wasn't today. By the game end even Szromniks distribution was going Awry. The alternative Pole should have featured in early rounds of league and Scottish cup - now Jackie will be able to claim logic on his side in recalling a confidence shot Rado- genius. So the real culprit in the shambles is McNamara. Changes in personnel are less of a shock when the system is carried forward.instead we are getting needless tinkering in selection, poor tactical thinking and what increasingly looks like dreadful pre-match preparation at St.Andrews. The chairman will soon have to take more than a passing interest. Edited by TheDean, Feb 21 2015, 08:39 PM.
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| Tom_Boland | Feb 21 2015, 08:41 PM Post #12 |
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Ivan Golac
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Speaking for anybody who was there, that was phuckin abysmal. It's this worst performance I've seen this Season. Team selection was wrong. Strongnik. Failed to save 2 attempts. But would Rado have saved them? Paton was tertible. Every pass he made was ineffective. The hoofball of the 1st half was a total waste, but when he resorted to the pass the parcel, it was even worse. Worst player on the pitch today. Why the phuck was Erskine no on? McGowan - lost count of thd numger of times he lost possession. Dowser didna do very much. Rankin struggled. So did Dillon. Butcher - why was he taken off? Diixon wasnae brilliant, but did OK but fluffed a couple of tackles. Jarek the Dalek wasnae at his best. Henry the 8th isna match fit. That was obvious. Shifty diidnae seem to be in the game for a lot of the time, but at least he made a couple of attempts 2nd half. Game changed when the subs came on. Why the phuck did he no bring Erskine on for Paton. They had 2 attempts which were on target and scored. We took till the 75th minute to have an attempt and got phuck all. We couod hardly string a couple of passes together without losing possesion, but they had whole periods esp. in the 2nd half where we coukdn't get the ball off them (as exemplified by their way-way chanting). They sang 'Youre no very good" during half-time, and they were right. Today we weren't very good. |
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| IainArab72 | Feb 21 2015, 08:45 PM Post #13 |
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Craig Brewster
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Strange post match comments from Jackie. "I wouldn't blame Michal. When you see the goal he could have done better." What does that mean? |
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| TheDean | Feb 21 2015, 08:47 PM Post #14 |
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ALLEGEDLY CALICO
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You know it's going to be a bad day when Lee fat-belly Croft is running beyond the back four and ?Fraser Shite is trying to be Franco effing Baresi |
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| vvhatsthatonyourback | Feb 22 2015, 12:04 AM Post #15 |
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wild eyed
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Not very surprising. I've commented before that Armstrong has been the only one to look for the ball in the less glamorous but necessary positions such as from throw ins. He also did so much running that it made space for others. Plus, he was pretty good with the ball. Oh, and the magnificent hair. We'd be bound to look more static without him, but when you put out today's team with three midfield holders plus Anier and Ciftci, that's a team that needs set pieces so the defenders can get up for them, yet lacks the means to win them. No idea what Jackie was thinking. Maybe deliberately achieve post golden-boys slump bottom as early as possible so we can be on the up in time for March. |
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