lady-isobel-barnett

True. We played exceptionally well in the play offs, certainly continuing the momentum built up prior. The play offs are stacked (I believe rightly) against the 3rd/4th club gaining promotion. My point is that results between clubs below us should be largely academic if we've any chance of progressing.

In a way other results don't matter that much. We have to qualify for the play offs under our own steam to have any chance of promotion. If just reaching the play offs is seen as an achievement in itself then of course results elsewhere can make a difference. if we only qualify for them by results from teams below us cancelling each other out, then realistically we're not got much of a chance progressing. Any club getting promoted thru the play offs, especially from 3rd or 4th place, will have needed to go into them on the back of good results and be on top of their game. If starting off from 3rd place we can't qualify off our own back from here on in, we'll more than likely be going nowhere.

I'm sure I saw somewhere that after Saturday's draw we're now bottom of the "last six matches" table. Should normally be a serious cause for concern but I came away from Firhill relatively pleased with both result and performance. Renewed confidence even. I think the change to a more cautious line up won't affect our attacking play too much. It does tho' mean the four advanced players (and any forward replacements) will all have to be on their game. Doolan will have to be sharp in assessment re subbing forwards.

Spot on. Fitzpatrick is a typical winger (wide player) whose form can peak and dip game to game. Even within a single game. My hero, Big Denis was anything but consistent. Anyone thinking otherwise has a very selective memory. It's Wee Stevie who is the freak. Lawless's consistency is surprisingly good for a widey.

Let's hope so, as signing that lad from the Hertz has backfired.

Throughout the league I don't think there'll be result from now until the end of the season that will be considered a complete surprise. Starts tomorrow for us. A Jags win wouldn't/shouldn't come as a shock. Having daft wee leagues of ten of course perpetuates the likelihood of result reversals, but even at that I think this season there's less between 1st and 10th as normal. We're (rightfully) going on about our concession of goals. Less said about how our opponents feel about losing 2 goal a game against us. Big reversal needed tomorrow given it's currently 0-8 against our opponents. However I honestly don't believe the gap is nearly that bad. I'd be surprised if there's much change in our starting XI tomorrow. I don't subscribe to the point of view that our faults lie with the personnel we play. Rephrased I don't think within those who regularly don't start there's any obvious cures.

Sorry, late to the game as not that unusual. All the very best, robphil. 👍

Take your point. I'll turn it on its head if only to try to be positive. These last three games we've scored 9 goals. The expected downside when bringing in a defensive mid is that we'd drop off attack wise. I doubt many of us are anything but pleased with our scoring rate and also very few didn't recognise that we were weak defensively in midfield. Doolan conceded that much. I wasn't at Inverness so I've only see McBeth start the last two games plus a couple of cameo appearances. I've actually thought he's been decent but that's of course ignoring the facts. I can't argue with that tho' I can point out that a weakness at losing goals from set pieces is a largely a collective failing and not any more or less the fault of a defensive midfielder. Just a feeling but I reckon basic teamwork is more the problem than individual failings if you exclude the goalkeeping. Gotta get that sorted before we can really judge McBeth, who I sense isn't going to be a major part of the problem.

Doolan like most young managers won't be slow in asking advice from the experienced. I recollect he more or less said so. Also saying he's not got a shortage of appropriate contacts. That said both comments above are more than relevant. I'm thinking it's not just defensive coaching we need but also someone to play bad cop to Doolan's good cop. I look at some other relatively inexperienced managers in the division. Imrie, Scott Brown, Duncan F & McPake all have something in common Kris lacks. Throw in Jim Goodwin for good measure and there's five that I'm sure will be able to play the role of bad cop with ease. For balance we require some hard to please, greeting face bugger, who'll not be the least bit slow to get his message across from the dugout. As long as Mr Bad Cop knows his stuff from a defensive point of view.

Re the fitness discussion within these walls. Last night at Somerset it was evident that the team didn't noticeably tire towards the end of the game. They kinda run around like headless chickens but that in itself takes a fair amount of energy. Altho' I agree with JJ re that we often do run out of steam, last night certainly wasn't the case. I don't know if there's any significance but the playing surface was in pristine condition.

Just a couple of specific points from last night. Brown counteracted our initial attacking play by deploying McAllistair (No2) further up the field. That left Fitzpatrick with more space but we still continued to play the bulk of balls down our right thru Lawless & McMillan. Lawless was double marked most of the night. Milne eventually exploited that freedom on the left. At no time did the wingers switch flanks to widen the game. Realise I'm pointing out an attacking error when really the bigger crime is in defence.

If you read my post again I said "in relative terms"

Unless I'm misunderstanding Norge's post he's surely talking in relative terms.

Not sure anything there is that likely. Reckon we'll be much as we were tho if Wee Stevie not available then we'll need to change formation. Feel result will more or less define our attitude towards rest of the season. Win, then much as we were. Lose and we're more concerned with looking over our shoulder.

A third tranche?

I keep reading the term "The Jury is (still) out". I occasionally use the expression myself. But I really think when used to describe the tenure of 99% of football managers the expression is largely inappropriate. The Jury is effectively always out. Doolan has been in the job about a year now and I believe he's already scraped into the top half (top 21) managers ranked in terms of length of tenure. Wouldn't surprise me if he's nearing the current average term of management at one club (re full time clubs). So it's fair to say on relative terms Doolan is more experienced in managing the one particular club than the average manager. Of course in reality that's nonsense. He's still a rookie manager still learning the ropes. In other industries a manager would be given practical help. In football he's given a budget and that's about it. I wonder how many potentially good football managers have been lost thru this sink or swim approach. Yes, we could do with a fitness coach, a dedicated defensive coach, a contracts guru etc. Possibly thru lack of finance that's not on. Meantime Doolan just has to get on with things. We all hope he succeeds but we probably ask a lot.

Very noticeable against both Raith & Dundee Utd. Of course we could be just as fit (or unfit) as most of the others. But as we often end up a game chasing the ball, whilst are opponents control both the ball and the tempo, we struggle that bit more.

In days of old The Munnites would have been put to the sword by the combined forces of the Warriors of Strathmore and the Knights of the Star & Garter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/68391816

For those that think there was anything dodgy about last night's result as opposed to pure incompetent officiating, they need to have a wee look in the direction of Ochilview. Stenny 1 - 6 Clyde!!! Now there's a result that in horse racing terms would involve the Jockey Club and a suspension of pay out at the bookies. Reminds me of a good few seasons ago and certain results involving an unnamed club from the Tail o'the Bank.

Agree with this. Further to that if VAR was in place for games like last night's they'd be finishing up at a ridiculous time. Don't the SPFL realise we've got pubs to go to? As for the game itself who knows how it could've panned out if correct decisions were made. Yes, with the momentum in our favour we just could have gone on to win or draw the game. But it would have been papering over the cracks. For us to win a game we appear to need to be on the front foot for much too long. So even if we were 2-0 up we'd still have had to keep on that front foot for much of the game. And that's asking too much. When we're not doing so our game management is woeful. We lose the ball too easily. We struggle to regain it with great difficulty. Whatever the opposite of "killing a game" is, it applies to us. Dunfermline on the other hand protected their lead well by having the bulk of possession and thus limiting our chances of getting anything out of the game.

Mitchell was genuinely injured but there might be substance in what you're saying. Surprised Stewart has got the nod ahead of him. Let's just hope it's for ability reasons

As I understand it there was one player we would have offered an acceptable renewal contract to, who would likely have stayed. Missed out as our re-financing only came thru a day or so too late. McCall is perhaps partly correct but he's coming across more like an agent than a manager.

Thanks for the heads-up. Here was I assuming it was just beer and sandwiches on offer.

I think the fact O'Reilly got a run out at Inverness will swing things. Besides Muirhead wouldn't exactly be dropped as such given he's carrying a couple of injuries. Assuming Stewart is an emergency back up then if Sneddon is dropped it'll be likely Mitchell will be in goals. Mitchell may only now be fully fit to start. I think Doolan, even if against his ways, may well have made the change in goals before now.