OrlandoDon

I actually don’t think we played that badly in attack. We created a few chances and on our day win that scoring 4 or 5. two shit goals to lose, thought mcgarry was weak, and I still feel if we play two up top, be that bojan and one other, we cannot afford McGrath and clarkson, we need two grafters. Too powderpuff in center mid and we exposed the back 3 way too much plus too vulnerable to the counter.

Poor in center mid so far, on the defensive side. Hibs wide open too often infront of our back 3. McGrath and clarkson don’t provide the graft/defensive competitiveness , something we’ve seen all year. Back 3 haven’t been great but it’s infront of them we have to tighten up. we’re creating chances, just got to fix the back 3 long ball and the holding mid/space in front of them.

I’m very happy with that, three teams that are hit and miss much like scotland, and Germany who are not consistent. Opening game against the hosts with the pressure definitely on them. Very interesting/exciting!

Bit harsh. I think it’s manc who rates him? He came here with a good record and had been capped/looking to get more caps for New Zealand. Was thrown in a little at the deep end, hopefully despite the injury he’s more settled now. I think that all means something. There was nothing to suggest from his past that Gurr was ever a player. anyway, between Hayes and mcgarry left wing back is not a concern of mine. Think sokler showed today he’s worth a few games, I’d argue duk is no longer an unknown and opponents know more how to play him. Give sokler a run to get confidence and sharpness pre cup final and I’d run the two of them, he and miovski, at hampden.

I was thinking about Mackenzie today, think this season he has earned the spot as a solid squad player. But the timing of mcgarry’s return helps and I think with 3-4 weeks of fitness work he’ll be up to speed. Mcgarry has an engine and should force not only tavernier to defend, but has the lungs to track his runs.

Awful second half, very mcinnes like. Must have been a belter of a half time team talk. Get a goal then try to hang on way too early in the game. So disappointed, rangers were there to be beaten. Credit to them for upping their game but a big part of that is due to us. Lucky for a point in the end. Re the penalty, we’d have been crying if we didn’t get it, but at the same time you see that type of holding for every single corner from every team. positives, we didn’t lose, plus Mcgarry got some minutes. Plus win today, tough to go into a final and beat rangers three times in 4 months. Today showed we have to play like the first half in the final. We’ve conceded way too many goals, and late goals, that trying to sit in is not something we’re good at. Go at them and win a final.

Brutal second half so far. Won’t win this at this rate.

I think we have gone long too much but at the same time it has not been aimless punts, it’s clear we’re trying to get in behind, much like where the goal came from. It’s exposing their weakness so you have to try to do so. I would like us to vary it a bit more and play more through McGrath infront of the back 4 too. you’re right about sitting off them more but as the half went on you can’t keep up that tempo. First 10 mins of the second half are huge, can not lose a goal you’d see a momentum shift, and to go 2 up would be a real punch to the gut. COYR

Our season to date has robson’s fingerprints all over it, poor decisions, mistakes, and a lack of experience. But potential. Young team with a young manager. I think the window will be huge for Robson. Think shinnie was a great loan signing last Xmas, needed, and we need something and someone similar. Totally random suggestion, but I’ve always liked John fleck. Not sure how much he plays for Sheffield utd now, 33 in August, maybe a similar loan like Shinnie until summer and reassess then?

For a 3-3 I saw the last hour and it was a pretty dull game. Scotland play a bit like us, way too much long ball and gift possession. I think we scored with the only shot we had in the hour i watched. shankland doesn’t suit Clark’s/our style of play but brown looked gash. Poor up top.

Robson is learning and improving all the time. Interesting comment. Debatable too. I assume he is learning but what knowledge/ability did he have to begin with and at what rate is he learning? I’ve yet to see enough to suggest he’s what we want or need.

Good topic! never saw any of the Star Wars movies as a kid, and never sat through any of them from start to finish. same as above with any of the rocky films.

Is third place not an option for moving on? I seem to recall it was and it was us/HJK for third….??

I’m assuming it’s the same type of formation, McKenna and Taylor replacing tierney and Robertson? Patterson for hickey? Bit of disruption but great opportunity for these guys to prove themselves.

Including the foul by miovski a couple of mins later on from our penalty shout, on their left back perhaps, or at least the left back position in front of the linesman. Minimal contact by miovski and the guy falls over, immediate foul. If you call it there then call the penalty. don’t agree with you Rico, the defender has a hand on his back, it’s a foul anywhere else on the field and a clear penalty. You can argue what you think it is but in modern football it’s a clear foul. Would it be a foul 5, 10, 15 years ago, possibly not, but it is a foul today.

And remember we have Richardson. I’d take him back as back up to devlin, and would rather see him than morris play.

plus playing the Huns is probably more suited to our long ball, counter attacking shite that we’re seeing. Eye bleeding stuff but more suited to playing the Huns.

Well, 2 now so most likely Huns in the final. Being the underdog and us both just having played in Europe days earlier, not that bad. Huns are beatable, why not!

Ruby came here with a reputation, would not be surprised if one or two are watching his progress. Was apparently a strong young player with a promising future but a significant injury slowed progress. If it comes to it, with the knee injury i’d cash him in, sign gartenmann permanently, and milk Macdonald and Williams until the summer, and build further at that point.

Not in the squad again today, currently 2 up against villa which would be a good result. Winter transfer on the cards to make some return rather than let him walk for free in the summer? Would certainly be nice to get some sort of sell on change!

Here’s my question, if it’s clear and obvious so many var reviews shouldn’t take place. Scotland v Spain and mctomminay’s freekick, clear and obvious? What is the definition of clear and obvious? I think most penalty appeals should be reviewed, not so much a game stoppage but the twat in the booth can replay and quickly say hold on to the ref if the game needs stopped. Have yet to see the hibs claim with Roos yesterday but that and our claim, which I feel is a definite penalty, are huge parts of the game. I thought that was var’s purpose, to ensure big decisions aren’t missed. What we are seeing are goals being allowed/disallowed that are not clear/obvious, yet penalty appeals, and we seem to have suffered a few of late, don’t even get checked and they have a major influence on the outcome. Ultimately, I think var has led to more confusion than clarity, and has had a clear influence in games. We say refs should play a big part in the outcome, yet var is clearly doing that now.

Interesting hearing Robson talk repeatedly post match about 4 games in 9 days. We aren’t rotating the squad for the most part, which in turn tells us how pish our squad is. He referenced devlin, which means we have no alternative right back/wing back, although can’t McDonald come in and slide gartenmann over? Pretty clear we won’t see or dadia play, that position a priority for January? Same said with shinnie, he’s getting killed. Will we go back to st mirren for baccus? No clue if he’s any good but think he’s out of contract in the summer so a Jan sale may be an option. we’re covered for central defenders, Mackenzie Hayes and mcgarry on the left. Provided we keep bojan we’re covered up top. We don’t need wingers based on the way we play, fair to say a right back and one, maybe two central midfielders on the shopping list for January? Then again, Barron’s return to form and polvara doing ok suggests one is enough? leads me to my initial point though, we are not really squad rotating which suggests Robson doesn’t trust the back ups, what else will we bring in??

It despises me to say it but do we need to hound and surround the ref on every decision like that until a second look is taken, or the game gets delayed long enough that someone checks and relays info to the ref??

Agree, but this is the weekly frustration. The refereeing with the introduction of var has not helped the game. I don’t get why the bojan dive isn’t reviewed, thought var was meant to review ‘crucial’ decisions. Surely worth someone taking a second look?? god we are an awful watch most games. The result is all that matters but that was not an enjoyable game. stupidity on Mackenzie’s part certainly didn’t help.