Gnome on the Bing

An interview so catastrophic that it doesn't really require further comment.

First post in around 3 years. Thought I'd pop my head in to say I'm dismayed at what has transpired on this front. TJF are doing sterling work though. Fantastic grasp of the detail, inclusive and robust yet measured. Keep it up.

There is quality in the current squad of players. Indeed, I don't have an issue with many of Caldwell's signings. For me, player recruitment wasn't the issue. So the likes of Miller, Cardle, Cole, Palmer, Zanatta – I have no problem with these signings. Add to that players who have been with us longer and who are more than capable of performing at this level – players like Bannigan, Slater, Gordon and Penrice – and we have a decent squad. The new management team will need time, obviously, as the defence in particular is all over the place, but let's put it this way: I don't expect us to be in a relegation dogfight at the end of this season.* *This post will self destruct in the event that it's proven to be complete balls, and I will deny it ever existed.

It's an admittedly vague term that seems to cover a range of different scenarios. I've always considered it to be an acknowledgement that in the modern game having one person take responsibility for everything from taking the training, to scouting, to negotiating player contracts, is no longer viable. Aside from the immense workload, this would require an astonishing breadth of expertise. Far better, some say, to divide the role up, and there are a number of ways of doing this. You could separate coaching and recruitment for example.

This is perceptive. I can see us starting with a manager/assistant manager arrangement before moving to one where McCall has a director of football role, with Archie as head coach.

The team is clearly bereft of confidence and you could drive a truck through our defence. As others have commented, the first 20 minutes or so were encouraging. There was an urgency about our play and we looked dangerous. A better final ball would have seen us a couple of goals up. But we collapsed after the first goal. I still think the squad has quality, but the new management team (and I really hope it's McCall and Archie) are going to have to prioritise ensuring that our defence is properly drilled.

Hoping for a no manager bounce this afternoon. It's nice to have options in the middle of the park again. I'd go with: Sneddon Williamson McGinty O'Ware Penrice Cole Bannigan Cardle Gordon Zanatta Miller But, as I say, we have options. I'm not sure if Gordon has performed that well as the most advanced central midfielder, so if a different solution is found for that position, which sees Gordon play in a deeper role, I'd be fine with that. We should win this one...

Our squad is of a quality that makes our position in the league unacceptable. This team should be playing better than it is and winning more games than it is. We should be able to respond to tactical changes made by the opposition without collapsing in disarray. Being generous, yesterday's game is more difficult to draw conclusions from due to the sendings off, but even before Gordon saw red our defence looked extremely shaky. O'Ware should be starting, as should Cardle.

A good 'keeper with experience who has won this division twice. I'd nonetheless like to see Sneddon start the season between the sticks, as he's the man in possession and he acquitted himself very well towards the end of last season, but this will definitely keep him on his toes. I actually can't think of a better, realistic signing, in terms of providing Sneddon with serious competition and also someone from which he can learn.

Yeah, it was a browser issue. I managed to get on using Firefox. Unfortunately, however, my password wasn't working. I therefore requested that the system email me a new one. But nothing happened (it's not in a spam folder and all filters etc. are switched off). Fab.

I'd renew my ticket if I could get the website to work. It keeps refusing a 'certificate' or some such nonsense.

Christie's a model pro who gave his all for the club. Best of luck to him. And credit to Archie for identifying the player's best position.

I was worried at half-time, but fair play to Caldwell: he made the correct changes, and they were bold changes at that. Alloa were offering nothing in an offensive sense towards the end of the first-half. They were playing so deep that McGinty was having to charge up the field to create an overload situation, but as much as Sean's efforts were laudable, by bringing on Harkins we gained a 'quarter-back' with more creative ability. It was an obvious change but one that required a bit of bottle, as alongside the introduction of Cardle -- who was excellent -- it turned us into a very attacking side. As a consequence we played some excellent stuff in the second half and could easily have scored a couple more. My only quibble is that we lacked a bit of composure at times. Upon taking the lead we could have done with putting our foot on the ball and slowing things down. But hey - we needed those three points and Caldwell got us there in the end.

Say what you like about Paton - he provided brilliant cover for his full-back when playing in central mid.

I'd agree with this to an extent. We definitely have the personnel to play a solid three in the middle, and it would be nice to have forwards in closer proximity to each other. The only concern I would have is that we're already struggling defensively on the flanks. I'm not sure that we have wide attackers capable of tracking back for 90 minutes from an even more advanced position, so we would need to be confident that our central three have been sufficiently coached in a 4-3-3 system to be able spot and cover potential overlaps. In other words, although I've seen both systems employed successfully -- i.e. cover provided by wide attackers dropping back or by the midfield shuffling across -- but I think the latter solution is better suited to our squad.

No.

Another dispiriting performance unfortunately, despite the late rally, which at least demonstrated spirit. The defence, particularly out wide, is all over the shop. The problem doesn't even appear to be due to poor individual performances - it's more fundamental and systemic. The defensive system appears to have broken down, with players seemingly confused as to their positioning. Given that we were playing a conventional 4-4-2 for the majority of the first half, this is extremely disconcerting. Add to this the fact that we were regularly outnumbered in the middle of the pitch -- this is always a danger with 4-4-2 -- which partly explains why Bannigan kept getting caught on the ball. And finally, in attack we were pedestrian and predictable. Same old, same old. We were a bit better in the second half, with the switch to 4-3-3 causing them some problems, and Mbuyi-Mutombo and Quitongo at least offered something a bit different when they came on, but it was far too little, far too late.

Depending on fitness, it would be nice to see at least a couple from Fitzpatrick, Mbuyi-Mutombo, Quitongo and Coulibaly get the nod.

There are very few managers in the modern game that have an unblemished CV. The occasional sacking is almost to be expected as an aspect of the profession. This being the case, the trick for a hiring club is not necessarily to find a manager who has somehow avoided being handed their P45 -- as very few exist -- but to scrutinise the nature of the dismissal and accurately determine if the individual in question has learned from their experiences and is developing as a manager. If they have, and are on an upwards trajectory in terms of their mastery of the trade, and it transpires that their approach fits with the ethos and structures of the club, then I'm absolutely fine with the club appointing a manager with a couple of sackings under their belt. This being the case, the likes of Lennon and Hughes would be worth speaking to if interested, even though they may not be the favoured candidates initially. Talking costs nowt and you never know what might click unexpectedly.

Christie did a good job of explaining the reasoning behind his decision to hand over the armband. It's clear that he was honoured to be made captain; but if, as he suggests, it has had a detrimental impact on his form then stepping down is the correct decision. Erskine is probably the most vocal of our veterans, but Bannigan and Doolan also lead by example. Any one of these three would represent the club well both on and off the field. If I was forced to pick one it would be Bannigan, because he's in the engine room of the team, I think it would bring the best out of him and he's at an age where he could be with us for a few years yet.

McCall, McIntyre or Neilson would be fine by me. The latter two strike me as the most likely candidates.

Desperately sad at how things have ended for Archie and Shaggy -- two hard-working, courteous individuals who went about their job in a diligent and dignified manner. I wish them every success for the future.

Brazil look like the most balanced and cohesive side IMO, and they have the fewest obvious flaws. If Gabriel Jesus were to hit form, or if they found a way to incorporate Firmino into the side without having him tread on Neymar's toes (and we all know he doesn't like that) then I sense Tite will have resolved the final niggling issue with his team. Other contenders? France have the players to do it -- in fact they have a superior squad to Brazil on paper -- but they've been quite inconsistent. I'm not convinced by their full-backs, even if Pavard did score one of the goals of the tournament, and Pogba has a frustrating tendency drift in and out of games. If they play as they did against Argentina then they'll be in with a shout, but I doubt they'll be able to maintain that level of performance. Their system just doesn't seem quite right. Belgium have the attack but not the defence; Croatia are a tad short in terms of depth of squad; and England aren't as good as their victory against an awful Panama side inexplicably suggested to some commentators. My dark horse team are actually Uruguay. I think they might topple France in the next round.

Happy with the home strip. Not fussed about the away - it'll do.

Sounds like he's a real threat at set-pieces. Hopefully we hear the phrase: 'Spittall crosses to O'Ware for the winner' a couple of times next season.