Auld Jag Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Imo we should try Doolan and Taylor up front.I know Taylor has scored 3 goals playing the lone striker role,but I feel in the last couple of games we haven't been getting the best from him.When Doolan came on for the last 20mins on Tuesday we looked a lot more dangerous.Ialso feel that teams would not be expecting this as we have been playing with 1 up for so long.Also if we did end up in the play offs, if these 2 struck up a good partnership it is the thing that could keep us up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaggernaut Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I really feel sorry for Doolan. Our top scorer, was playing well with little service from the rest of the team, and now relegated to getting maybe 20 minutes at the end of the match because the new boy is here. And the new boy, after a lively couple of matches, now seems to be off the boil, but is still preferred to Doolan.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Wragg Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I thought Taylor put in a decemt shift yesterday but Doolan did look more of a goal threat when he came on. Taylor seemed to drift out wide quite a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzytheegg Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think they both have more grit than Craigen (not to make him a scapegoat, but he needs to be benched) and both hold the ball well. The issue yesterday was Taylor getting into good positions with little support. Perhaps Taylor (bit stronger) just behind Dools would be an good option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javeajag Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 The lone striker requires a supporting formation if it's to be successful namely someone who plays just behind him ( I think lawless has been trying to this ! ) and normally two wide players ( higginbotham and full backs for us )..... If he is not to be isolated the lone striker needs to link up with other players ( part of our problem) who can also go past him. Either the players can't do this or we haven't really tried it.....it worked fine in Div 1 but we need better players in the Premier and particularly midfield where I feel we are struggling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firhillista Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 With Higginbotham out for several weeks I think a change of formation would be a good idea. While Erskine can give us width, neither Lawless nor Elliot are good enough, frankly, to provide the balance on the other side. Taylor and Doolan up front with Erskine in behind is the way to go. Taylor-Sinclair can provide width down the left and MacMillan can do his best on the right! I feel we're one win away from turning a corner, but it's hard to see at the minute where that win is going to come from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinKelvin Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I've been hoping for this since Taylor signed. Doolan is probably our most skilful player (yes, even moreso than Erskine) when you watch what he is capable of - for example, the Hibs goal. Games like the 0-1 against St Johnstone at home last week cried out for 2 up front - from the start or from HT at the very least, not for the last 20 mins when Taylor was knackered. I understand why the manager felt he wanted to continue with 1 up front - however can Doolan really not play instead of Craigen or Elliott if he must persist?? TBH I don't understand what either of those two offer the team (other than running about a lot). Neither of them can pass or even find the right option 90% of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bunny Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 (edited) I think Doolan's all round ability means he could play as part of our attacking midfield. He likes to move across the park so I don't see how we couldn't have him and Erskine on the wings - swapping positions throughout the game with a.n. other in the middle. If Higginbotham was fit it might be worth playing Doolan in the middle, just behind Taylor. I just wish Forbes would shake his ideas up. He's a player with a terrific ability yet so often in games he doesn't concentrate or is just downright lazy. If you could get some real workrate out of him it would be like signing a new player. It's a pity the Dundee Utd game is coming up so soon - we're two men down for that which we wouldn't be against other teams. Lawless and Elliot will probably play I suppose, unless Forbes shows something special in training. Or we make a last minute signing. Edited January 26, 2014 by Mr Bunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClydebankJag Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I can't believe that we never tried 2 up front in our run of 3 home games against teams placed near us in the league. It's harder to see us giving this ago against better teams when we were so risk averse against our peers, however injuries may dictate that we need to make this change now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angry gaz Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 It's a pity the Dundee Utd game is coming up so soon - we're two men down for that which we wouldn't be against other teams. Lawless and Elliot will probably play I suppose, unless Forbes shows something special in training. Or we make a last minute signing. Is there a case for trying SoD right midfield for the DU game.His crossing is p1sh but from a more advanved position he might give Taylor /Dools more support than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearchar Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I really feel sorry for Doolan. Our top scorer, was playing well with little service from the rest of the team, and now relegated to getting maybe 20 minutes at the end of the match because the new boy is here. And the new boy, after a lively couple of matches, now seems to be off the boil, but is still preferred to Doolan.... This. Leaving the most talented player in the squad mouldering on the bench is crazy. In fact, it's the kind of approach that threatens relegation. Oh, wait..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernsoul Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 And the new boy, after a lively couple of matches, now seems to be off the boil, but is still preferred to Doolan.... You could have played Doolan in the last three matches and he wouldn't have scored because the service to the striker has been poor in these games. By the same notion, Doolan would be "off the boil". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancipital Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think the combination of Higgy and Erskine being out and needing wins rather than draws means there's more chance of Doolan and Taylor starting next week. I suppose one positive spin is that we didn't lose to any of the teams around us and we can gamble a bit more now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Wragg Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think the combination of Higgy and Erskine being out and needing wins rather than draws means there's more chance of Doolan and Taylor starting next week. I suppose one positive spin is that we didn't lose to any of the teams around us and we can gamble a bit more now. Erskine out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancipital Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Erskine out? Ineligible regardless of his knock yesterday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garscube Road End Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Erskine out? As its against United hes not allowed to play. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H Wragg Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Ineligible regardless of his knock yesterday. Oh aye, forgot about that, sorry. I thought I had missed something about his knock yesterday keeping him out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kni Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I understand why the manager felt he wanted to continue with 1 up front - however can Doolan really not play instead of Craigen or Elliott if he must persist?? TBH I don't understand what either of those two offer the team (other than running about a lot). Neither of them can pass or even find the right option 90% of the time. Elliot, like Craigen (see my comment on his thread), has moved up several levels in only two years. He came from Whitley Bay in the Northern League. Like Craigen, Elliot was loaned out for a couple of months or so, Albion Rovers in his case. The SPFL has been another big step up for them. Doolan and Erskine had far more game time in the First Division and the step up has not been easy for them. Several other players in the squad have come up from the lower divisions too. The value of Osborne's SPL experience was obvious and he has been missed in the last few games. Our league position reflects the squad's relative lack of experience and a couple of poor signings. It's not that long ago that we were struggling to get out of the old Second Division under Dick Campbell. Archie did very well to get us promoted so let's give him and his young players our full backing rather than slagging them off. They are trying their best and I'd rather support them than a bunch of over-rated and expensive imports who ply their trade in other parts of the city. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewarty Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I can't believe that we never tried 2 up front in our run of 3 home games against teams placed near us in the league. It's harder to see us giving this ago against better teams when we were so risk averse against our peers, however injuries may dictate that we need to make this change now. We've struggled to control the centre of midfield even while playing three in there. Playing 4-4-2 would expose us even more. I'm also not convinced that Doolan can play as a no.10 in our typical 4-2-3-1 formation, as this is quite specialist role. Archie has no doubt experimented with this in training and doesn't think it's a sensible way to set up from the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fearchar Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 We've struggled to control the centre of midfield even while playing three in there. Playing 4-4-2 would expose us even more. I'm also not convinced that Doolan can play as a no.10 in our typical 4-2-3-1 formation, as this is quite specialist role. Archie has no doubt experimented with this in training and doesn't think it's a sensible way to set up from the start. [Tongue firmly in cheek!] If we have a defence that can keep a clean sheet against the likes of St Mirren in gusty, muddy conditions, and have a forward pairing that is capable of getting control of a high ball quickly (Doolan due to working at it and Taylor due to his height), why do we need control of midfield to win? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinKelvin Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 Elliot, like Craigen (see my comment on his thread), has moved up several levels in only two years. He came from Whitley Bay in the Northern League. Like Craigen, Elliot was loaned out for a couple of months or so, Albion Rovers in his case. The SPFL has been another big step up for them. Doolan and Erskine had far more game time in the First Division and the step up has not been easy for them. Several other players in the squad have come up from the lower divisions too. The value of Osborne's SPL experience was obvious and he has been missed in the last few games. Our league position reflects the squad's relative lack of experience and a couple of poor signings. ...Archie did very well to get us promoted so let's give him and his young players our full backing rather than slagging them off. They are trying their best and I'd rather support them than a bunch of over-rated and expensive imports who ply their trade in other parts of the city. Doolan's done very well in the premier league as a lone striker; Erskine's been on the fringes of a team full of breakthrough stars. I don't think pointing out that Doolan could/should be tried ahead of Craigen and Elliott even if we're not playing two up front, is all that controversial (we have benched our best player!). And, given that we're second bottom, I am afraid that the players such as Elliott and Craigen are not immune to criticism, even if they are trying hard / inexperienced / have toiled away on loan; that is irrelevant to whether they are doing it for us on the pitch just now (they clearly are not). The worst thing of all is that they are not our best players but Craigen, at least, plays every week. Both of them need rested. I have never called for Archie's head and I never boo the team or criticise them at Firhill. Thanks for the sanctimonious lecture about support, tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinsplustwo Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 doolans junior career was 90percent left wing also took all corners and freekicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewarty Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 [Tongue firmly in cheek!] If we have a defence that can keep a clean sheet against the likes of St Mirren in gusty, muddy conditions, and have a forward pairing that is capable of getting control of a high ball quickly (Doolan due to working at it and Taylor due to his height), why do we need control of midfield to win? I'm glad this is tongue-in-cheek! I despair at those who think our defenders should act like mortars, shelling the opposition box from any distance and angle. As we found to our cost in the first half against St Johnstone, Scottish defences are all too used to dealing with such an approach. Poor Taylor looked like a broken man at half-time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Sunnylaw Jag Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Did Doolan and Craig ever start a game together last season, if so how did it go? I just can't remember if they did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagfox Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Did Doolan and Craig ever start a game together last season, if so how did it go? I just can't remember if they did. First Dumbarton away game (2-0 defeat) Second Airdrie away game (2-1 win) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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