V Morton

[exiledjag]

I tend to agree with most of the post match points made on this thread. IMC's post match assessment puts most of the blame for the result on 'tired legs' after the 60th minute.

In summary we were OK for 60 minutes but after that struggling. The cause too many games in too short a period.

I think this makes sense and as has been said many of the players looked leggy! What I don't accept is that after scoring in 5 minutes that we can't score more goals especially when on top in those 60 minutes.

 I am not too bothered about Rudden going for reasons already stated but notwithstanding my support for IMC he really needed to bring in a striker who can score goals. I have heard he did try to bring in a  goalscoring striker but in the end we couldn't match his wages. So he did try. But the facts are our goalscoring since the turn of the year has been poor.

[exiledjag]

13 minutes ago, joekea said:

I don't think we are in any way prepared for the Premier. That's not to say we wouldn't want it but there would have to be a massive rebuild (6-8 players at least) in my opinion. I never thought we had a good Championship winning team (no real consistent enterprise, creativity and excitement in our play) but I think we should still aim for second and give ourselves a better chance in the play-offs! I think we looked tired yesterday.....I'm sure the mud bath that is the Firhill pitch is not only stifling our football style but sapping our strength, trying to catch up on the postponed games.

Agree. Good post.

[jaggy]

56 minutes ago, exiledjag said:

I tend to agree with most of the post match points made on this thread. IMC's post match assessment puts most of the blame for the result on 'tired legs' after the 60th minute.

In summary we were OK for 60 minutes but after that struggling. The cause too many games in too short a period.

I think this makes sense and as has been said many of the players looked leggy! What I don't accept is that after scoring in 5 minutes that we can't score more goals especially when on top in those 60 minutes.

 I am not too bothered about Rudden going for reasons already stated but notwithstanding my support for IMC he really needed to bring in a striker who can score goals. I have heard he did try to bring in a  goalscoring striker but in the end we couldn't match his wages. So he did try. But the facts are our goalscoring since the turn of the year has been poor.

We weren’t on top for the first 60 mins 

[JAG1970]

1 hour ago, Lenziejag said:

I am not sure of the relevance of the cut off or the statistic even.When it was just Graham that was scoring it was all gloom and doom. 
It is certainly a bad set of results,bar Arbroath, this weekend and probably takes outright promotion out of our grasp. But we are still in the same situation we were for 2nd and a full week to recover until the next game.

Simply that our strikers aren’t finding the net and unless we find that touch quickly we are at risk of slipping out the top 4. The defence has been conceding very few goals but we can’t rely on that to continue through to the end of the season. 
Graham had scored 15 or so goals this season and does some great defensive work for us too but IMC is effectively saying he (and some others) need a rest but he probably can’t be dropped (as the first half in midweek illustrated). Thankfully we don’t have a midweek game this week. But the goals have clearly dried up and Tiffs absence doesn’t help. 
I’m happy we are in contention for a play off spot which was the goal for this season just concerned about our current lack of firepower 

[lady-isobel-barnett]

50 minutes ago, JAG1970 said:

Simply that our strikers aren’t finding the net and unless we find that touch quickly we are at risk of slipping out the top 4. The defence has been conceding very few goals but we can’t rely on that to continue through to the end of the season. 
Graham had scored 15 or so goals this season and does some great defensive work for us too but IMC is effectively saying he (and some others) need a rest but he probably can’t be dropped (as the first half in midweek illustrated). Thankfully we don’t have a midweek game this week. But the goals have clearly dried up and Tiffs absence doesn’t help. 
I’m happy we are in contention for a play off spot which was the goal for this season just concerned about our current lack of firepower 

The fact that we've played our last six games relying entirely on goals from defence and midfield only emphasises JAG1970's post.

[laukat]

I'm still unconvinced by Jakubiak as a striker. He just doesn't look a player with the killer instinct in front of goals. Yesterday there were a couple of times were if he takes his first touch towards goal and inside the defender he either gets a sight of goals or potentially gets a penalty. Instead his first thought is to go wide and take the corner or lay it off.

Part of me wonders if he might be better playing him as either a wide player or in behind Graham and Alegria. He seems to be able control the ball and run with it better than Smith so perhaps he should replace him? If Tiffoney returns perhaps he plays as the other wide player?

Also wasn't too impressed by Turner yesterday. He should be the fresh pair of legs in midfield but I thought he was the most anonymous of the midfield 4. Its hard to argue with his goals and assists but that should have been the sort of game he grabbed by the scruff of the neck and dictated play.

I don't think we'll win the Championship but there are a few more twists to be had before it will be settled. Kilmarnock's final 7 fixtures are QoS home, Us at home, Morton away , ICT away, Dunfermline at home,  Arbroath at home and Raith away. With the exception of perhaps Dunfermline and QoS at home there aren't many that you would say are bankers particularly if Raith still have a chance of 4th spot.

 

[partickthedog]

2 hours ago, laukat said:

I'm still unconvinced by Jakubiak as a striker. He just doesn't look a player with the killer instinct in front of goals. Yesterday there were a couple of times were if he takes his first touch towards goal and inside the defender he either gets a sight of goals or potentially gets a penalty. Instead his first thought is to go wide and take the corner or lay it off.

Part of me wonders if he might be better playing him as either a wide player or in behind Graham and Alegria. He seems to be able control the ball and run with it better than Smith so perhaps he should replace him? If Tiffoney returns perhaps he plays as the other wide player?

Also wasn't too impressed by Turner yesterday. He should be the fresh pair of legs in midfield but I thought he was the most anonymous of the midfield 4. Its hard to argue with his goals and assists but that should have been the sort of game he grabbed by the scruff of the neck and dictated play.

I don't think we'll win the Championship but there are a few more twists to be had before it will be settled. Kilmarnock's final 7 fixtures are QoS home, Us at home, Morton away , ICT away, Dunfermline at home,  Arbroath at home and Raith away. With the exception of perhaps Dunfermline and QoS at home there aren't many that you would say are bankers particularly if Raith still have a chance of 4th spot.

 

I am liking your thinking about Jakubiak. Reminds me of Josh Magennis, who was not prolific enough as a central striker. However, as a strong fast wide player he could occupy and challenge defences, take defenders out of the game and make room for others to score.

Another totally random thought-a few coaching sessions from Kris Doolan on how to sniff out and finish off goal-scoring opportunities?

[laukat]

3 minutes ago, partickthedog said:

I am liking your thinking about Jakubiak. Reminds me of Josh Magennis, who was not prolific enough as a central striker. However, as a strong fast wide player he could occupy and challenge defences, take defenders out of the game and make room for others to score.

Another totally random thought-a few coaching sessions from Kris Doolan on how to sniff out and finish off goal-scoring opportunities?

I don't see how it could do any harm for Jakubiak and Alegria to get some sessions from Doolan they aren't scoring currently so hard to see how he makes their finishing worse.

We don't need to jump in and make Doolan an assistant coach but we could surely hire him for a couple of specialist sessions.

[lady-isobel-barnett]

1 hour ago, laukat said:

I don't see how it could do any harm for Jakubiak and Alegria to get some sessions from Doolan they aren't scoring currently so hard to see how he makes their finishing worse.

We don't need to jump in and make Doolan an assistant coach but we could surely hire him for a couple of specialist sessions.

Not sure it makes that much of a difference but Jakubiak and Alegria aren't our players. I think the latter will have received plenty one on one coaching. Jakubiak is raw and certainly requires much specialist coaching.

Was thinking yesterday along the lines of partickthedog that Alex may benefit from being played in a wider position. Perhaps ideally in a front three?  Tiffoney has to his credit chipped in with a few goals, but even if he hadn't no one would be too critical. Still be considered our best player. If Jakubiak was played that bit wider there'd be less pressure on him scoring. More pressure on him being creative, which is something I believe he could handle. His strength would be also helpful when having to track back.    

Edited March 13, 2022 by lady-isobel-barnett

[Third Lanark]

8 hours ago, exiledjag said:

I tend to agree with most of the post match points made on this thread. IMC's post match assessment puts most of the blame for the result on 'tired legs' after the 60th minute.

In summary we were OK for 60 minutes but after that struggling. The cause too many games in too short a period.

I think this makes sense and as has been said many of the players looked leggy! What I don't accept is that after scoring in 5 minutes that we can't score more goals especially when on top in those 60 minutes.

 I am not too bothered about Rudden going for reasons already stated but notwithstanding my support for IMC he really needed to bring in a striker who can score goals. I have heard he did try to bring in a  goalscoring striker but in the end we couldn't match his wages. So he did try. But the facts are our goalscoring since the turn of the year has been poor.

Who was the striker you heard we tried to sign in loan was it Scott Wright?

 

[Third Lanark]

2 hours ago, laukat said:

I don't see how it could do any harm for Jakubiak and Alegria to get some sessions from Doolan they aren't scoring currently so hard to see how he makes their finishing worse.

We don't need to jump in and make Doolan an assistant coach but we could surely hire him for a couple of specialist sessions.

If we were unable to sign barely anyone in the January window I can’t see how the club can just throw money to bring Doolan back

[Weebaw1]

1 hour ago, lady-isobel-barnett said:

Not sure it makes that much of a difference but Jakubiak and Alegria aren't our players. I think the latter will have received plenty one on one coaching. Jakubiak is raw and certainly requires much specialist coaching.

Was thinking yesterday along the lines of partickthedog that Alex may benefit from being played in a wider position. Perhaps ideally in a front three?  Tiffoney has to his credit chipped in with a few goals, but even if he hadn't no one would be too critical. Still be considered our best player. If Jakubiak was played that bit wider there'd be less pressure on him scoring. More pressure on him being creative, which is something I believe he could handle. His strength would be also helpful when having to track back.    

We’ve been struggling to create anything for poor old Graham.

Theres nothing constructive coming from the midfield so the number 10 position becomes vital. I don’t believe Jak’s delivery from wide is up to scratch so playing him wide is not the answer,  

He causes mayhem around the edge of the box with movement, strength and speed. Smith has none of these attributes (does he have any?). We get absolutely zero from Smith so we should try Jak as a 10- a causing mayhem 10 rather than a Cruyff/Hazzard type!

Im surprised McAlistair hasn’t featured. I know he was poor when he came on but he hasn’t been give any opportunity.

[JAG1970]

18 minutes ago, Weebaw1 said:

 

Im surprised McAlistair hasn’t featured. I know he was poor when he came on but he hasn’t been give any opportunity.

Think he was injured in the warm up midweek or the game before

[exiledjag]

On 3/13/2022 at 6:00 PM, Third Lanark said:

Who was the striker you heard we tried to sign in loan was it Scott Wright?

 

I am not sure it was a loan signing  and given the name of the striker I assumed it was a "proper'   signing!

The striker was McKenna (Arbroath).  Can't recall where I read this but seemed our offer of FT football fell through because we couldn't match his combined PT football & FT job earnings.

I have no idea if this is factual or speculation but IMC I believe knows what needs to be done to improve the team so giving him the benefit of the doubt I believe he would have tried to sign strikers in the window.

I think we ended up with Jakubiak and Alegria because he simply couldn't get a striker and the window was closing.

[lady-isobel-barnett]

38 minutes ago, exiledjag said:

I am not sure it was a loan signing  and given the name of the striker I assumed it was a "proper'   signing!

The striker was McKenna (Arbroath).  Can't recall where I read this but seemed our offer of FT football fell through because we couldn't match his combined PT football & FT job earnings.

I have no idea if this is factual or speculation but IMC I believe knows what needs to be done to improve the team so giving him the benefit of the doubt I believe he would have tried to sign strikers in the window.

I think we ended up with Jakubiak and Alegria because he simply couldn't get a striker and the window was closing.

McKenna is a midfielder, which makes his goal tally all the more remarkable.