Panda

Lewis in for Roos just to give him a run out, and Watkins or Duk in for Hayes as he's probably the only one who we probably shouldn't be playing twice a week. Other than that, stick with a winning team.

There seems to be a real connect between the fans & players at the moment, that has not been there at all for a few seasons.

Pros: - Has bought well (although Mowbray takes huge credit for that) -We're exciting to watch and not sitting back at 1-0 - Sticks with a winning team rather than needlessly tinkering - He's a gorgeous man - the McInnes dodgy beard era is a thing of the past Cons: - Still worry a little tactically. Outplayed by Motherwell, and Livi were on top before shooting themselves in foot. - Some of his man management has been questionable. Think some of the treatment of Ramirez & Bates has been poor. I also think, although his playing time would have been limited this season, that not keeping Scott Brown on as a coach was a mistake (and even a back-up player). But, let's see the squad at end of transfer window on Wednesday, then four huge games (Annan, Ross County, Rangers, Hibs) that will give us a real answer as to how we're going to fare this season.

Think Jack Milne is our back-up for RCB (clearly ahead of Bates in pecking order). However I'd still like Bates to stay as I think when you sign a LCB with the message they're essentially a back-up - then you get a back-up level of player. Getting rid of Bates & Ramirez sounds fine when everyone is fit. Let's say Miovski picks up an injury, is Duk ready to lead the line? Would prefer Ramirez personally. Hearts today had Andy Halliday playing centre-half due to injuries. A better team than St Johnstone would have beat them.

Fair fucks, only had to wait seven days.

I had the pleasure of watching Motherwell-Livingston last week and it was a poor game and Livingston had one shot on target all day. I would like to think we've learned our lesson from letting Motherwell come up and dominate. I don't expect us to win every game but I certainly don't accept us being dominated at home by Livi. Same team as St Johnstone, don't see the need for any changes.

Signed. How many signatures needed do we think? I reckon 20 should do it. Goodwin seems very persuadable.

If you post a petition for Goodwin to sign another left footed defender and to always play McCrorie in midfield, I'll sign it.

Good to see the young team coming up with some new chants. I wasn't there, but by all accounts the away end was in good voice on Saturday. IMG_8339.MOV

Fixed it.

I had a similar reaction at first (apart from doubting the integrity of the gossip column). We've got Morris(20), Besuijen (21), Lopes (22), Clarkson (20), Barron (19). That's a lot of young players who need to play to develop so you don't want to stack the team, but also we're in danger of being too young and inexperienced. That's how inferior but streetwise teams like Motherwell can come up and dominate. Jayden Richardson (21) and Jack Mackenzie (22) too are both young. Even Miovski is only 23 and Scales and McCrorie are only 24. That's why I'd like to see us fight tooth and nail to keep Ramirez. Watkins too shouldn't be going anywhere. Whoever we sign next, I don't think we need another project player. How about someone with proven first team experience at a higher level than the English National League who can actually take us up a level.

Coulson & Barron out. Clarkson & Kennedy doubts. Mackenzie been in full training all week. For me, get Mackenzie in at LB, Scales to CB, McCrorie into midfield. Hayes bound to start after all the build up to this being his 300th game. Morris I imagine will start too. Wouldn't have many complaints with this team.

Poor Cormack gets blamed for everything.

Yes, it takes time to gel. But Goodwin is making little effort to do that by firing out different selections that he likely has little interest in sticking with long term. When Mackenzie is fully fit, and when Coulson returns, McCrorie will likely be in midfield. Why not play him there now and work on that? We weren't that short that McCrorie had to be there. Goodwin will argue that having Scales at left-back led to the equaliser as it was his cross for Miovski, but he was signed as a centre half, that's where he'll be playing most of the season, so play him there and develop the Scales-Stewart partnership. It now means we go to St Johnstone, off the back of a bad result, with what will be another unfamiliar line-up.

He scored the second goal.

Apparently Stephen Glass applied for the Motherwell job, so we could have been lining up against him this weekend had the Fir Park board gone a different way. Anyway, I'd go for this today. Maybe that front three could be shifted around a little with Duk and Besuijen playing wide, but I like that midfield three of Clarkson-Ramadani-McCrorie.

McCrorie should be utilised as a box to box midfielder, which I don't think any of the other midfielders would do as effectively. He's quick, can score goals, and can get back and defend too. Without him our midfield can become a lot more pedestrian. He's the player to set the tempo. Completely wasted in defence (Glass) and wasted sitting as a deep defensive midfielder (McInnes). He's been wasted the past two seasons really and I'd go as far as to say he's regressed from the player we signed, which is criminal, as I don't think the blame is all his. What Goodwin needs to do is work out how to accommodate McCrorie, Ramadani, Barron and Clarkson all into midfield.

Agree with all this except I'd like to see Watkins start. However, I fear he's one of the ones who'll be leaving soon.

M See Ronan (and I know this is the wrong thread but means I can pretend I never said it if we do sign him), but honestly, just end the chase for him now. He wants to stay at Wolves, and he has little interest in us and clearly would be here for a season at most so no buy option on him. Spending all summer chasing some fairly decent player who did alright for St Mirren - give me strength. Clarkson and Barron can both play as advanced midfielders, as can Vinny. Get us a left sided central defender and lock the chequebook away before Goodwin signs another winger.

If Coulson is injured, do you think it's likely Scales will now continue at left back, McCrorie centre half and Clarkson in midfield? I don't see Goodwin bringing Mackenzie back in and dropping one of them. If he did, Clarkson would be the most likely candidate, but how do you drop him after yesterday?

A clip of it with analysis from Foster & McFadden has been scheduled for the BBC website & Twitter at 6pm. Subtitles added too as a bonus.

Jim Goodwin trolling half of Donstalk yesterday...

You're a week early. It's Motherwell next - we'll all be saying that for real in seven days.

Having seen how poor Charles Dunne was today, I retract any statements I have previously made about us signing him.

Ramirez spent most of the League Cup group stage blowing sitters - against Raith Rovers in particular. Only have three substitute "moments" though. Coulson sub Ramirez/Duk double sub And Roberts coming on for Kennedy.