simoncordiner Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 First clean sheet in 11 games. Balatoni and Muirhead outstanding. That is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThickAsThieves Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Balatoni has really proven me wrong. Not that I thought he was a bad player, but I just wasn't completely convinced with him at first and didn't think he'd be a regular starter for us. This season he's been brilliant though and I don't think he quite gets the credit he deserves. He's an attacking threat, superb in the air and positions himself well. Brilliant again tonight, along with Muirhead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watson Towers Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Can't agree that Muirhead had a great game. Don't get me wrong - I think he is the best CB I've seen at Firhill in a looooooong time, but tonight he looked a bit unsure at times, and between him and O'Donnell there was a bit of mis- communication; neither quite new what the other was doing, or what they were supposed to do. Still, Balatoni? Hero. He was monstrously good tonight. So composed, too: 10 mins to go, only 1-0 up, and a decent ball in behind our defence from Hamilton. He flicked it back to Fox, when he probably should have just let it run. No damage done... a big smile and a thumbs up to the Keeper. Class. Cool as a cucumber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Got me wondering if Archie wasn't the manager and it was either still McNamara (or indeed A N Other) in charge what the preferred CB pairing would have been tonight. I believe a lot of us would agree Archie was in excellent form before McNamara pissed off, Balatoni is also a goal threat and has been very steady in defence, but Muirhead has hardly ever put a foot wrong all season at centreback. I'm struggling to remember a time when we've ever had such a conundrum in selecting our best defence. Quite a strange game tonight. When you win 1-0, and the only goal comes from a penalty, you expect to hear the cliches "winning ugly" or "grinding out a result" come to the fore. I don't think that using either expression would be fair or accurate. Thought we played with style tho' somehow goals, or that many chances, didn't materialise but thanks to excellent defending we thoroughly deserved the result. Edited February 20, 2013 by lady-isobel-barnett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muscat Jag Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I'm struggling to remember a time when we've ever had such a conundrum in selecting our best defence. Hansen, Campbell and Anderson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Hansen, Campbell and Anderson? That's a good shout. I was also thinking slightly before that when Donnie McKinnon was nearing the end of his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambies Lost Doo Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Balatoni is a good defender. He also comes across as a decent bloke as well. Passionate on the field. A good laugh off it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan100 Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I didn't think when he first arrived that I would see Conrad playing with such composure and authority. All of the back four were born in the 90s, so they have long careers ahead of them, and can only get better. It would have been much more than 1-0 if their keeper hadn't made 3 or 4 great saves, but he's there for that. Apart from their number 9, Hamilton looked poor. Bring on the Airdrie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read'n'yell Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I don't think theres an issue. With Balatoni and Muirhead as partners we have only conceded in one game and it was from two set plays with neither to blame in their award. When archie played we began shipping goals. Archie is great to have as cover but our strongest two, as a pairing, are obvious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillresigned Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Hansen, Campbell and Anderson? Just go's to show how perspicacious I am, at the I was shouting for Jackie Campbel and Andy Andersonl. Remember telling my uncle that Allan Hansen would never make it, as he f*nnied around too much! In my defence I was only 10/11 at the time, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I don't think theres an issue. With Balatoni and Muirhead as partners we have only conceded in one game and it was from two set plays with neither to blame in their award. When archie played we began shipping goals. Archie is great to have as cover but our strongest two, as a pairing, are obvious. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read'n'yell Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Also, don't want to be too harsh, but where was O'Donnell last night? Just didn't put in a shift or up to speed at all. Looked frightened on the ball and overly cautious off the ball. I know it is his first start but if he is fit to start he should be fit to put in a shift. Hopefully his confidence hasn't taking a battering after missing a few games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenziejag Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Well, I he reads that, it won't help his confidence. I thought he did fine for a first game back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I didn't think O'Donnell was that poor last night, just not completely match fit. Everyone can now see why he didn't start on Saturday. I fully expect he'll be back to near his best soon, maybe even by Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
read'n'yell Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I guess it is a case of high expectations from one of my favourite players. Yeh he did do fine, and defensively solid, would of just liked to see him hit the wing more often like Sinclair did and like he usually does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryza Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I think the first game Balatoni and Muirhead played together was the 5-4 Queens Park game at Hampden which was a shambles but these two have come on great. Muirhead is a great find and Balatoni is like a wall. Best pairing since Duffy and Rae *gets coat, shuts door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicofan Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 Balatoni has really proven me wrong. Not that I thought he was a bad player, but I just wasn't completely convinced with him at first and didn't think he'd be a regular starter for us. This season he's been brilliant though and I don't think he quite gets the credit he deserves. He's an attacking threat, superb in the air and positions himself well. Brilliant again tonight, along with Muirhead. Was saying the same to my mate re Balatoni last night....a lot to do with confidence I would say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G SUS Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 A back four of O'Donnell Muirhead Balatoni Sinclair has not conceded a league goal this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 A back four of O'Donnell Muirhead Balatoni Sinclair has not conceded a league goal this season. If that's true, it's fantastic. How many games has that been the back four? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinny Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 If that's true, it's fantastic. How many games has that been the back four? Dunno, but we started the season with Bannigan at LB and lately Muirhead has played at RB a lot, so I'm guessing not a lot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenziejag Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 Two and a bit games. Falkirk away(Sinclair came on when Bannigan got injured); Livingston at Home and Tuesday night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberteeb Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 Balatoni and Muirhead are absolutely tremendous. Been impressed with Muirhead since he arrived, the consensus when Balatoni got here was that he was a bit of a dud, proved everyone wrong, he is now as good as Muirhead. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 Balatoni and Muirhead are absolutely tremendous. Been impressed with Muirhead since he arrived, the consensus when Balatoni got here was that he was a bit of a dud, proved everyone wrong, he is now as good as Muirhead. I'm not sure that was the consensus about Balatoni Mark 1. He was certainly accused of having bomb-scare moments. But he's come on a ton, and you're right to use "tremendous" to describe him this season. He and Muirhead make a terrific defensive pairing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uberteeb Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 I'm not sure that was the consensus about Balatoni Mark 1. He was certainly accused of having bomb-scare moments. But he's come on a ton, and you're right to use "tremendous" to describe him this season. He and Muirhead make a terrific defensive pairing. At best he was a bombscare, at worst he was hopeless. Happy to say this is all behind him and he is absolutely fantastic now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenziejag Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 When Balatoni first arrived he was only getting the odd game either as a starter but most often as a sub. He started improving when got a run of games and as has been said, this season he has been really good. But I would say that all our younger players have improved this season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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