RicoS321

Agreed, cracking player, would be phenomenal business if we could get him permanently. Was great against the Tims too. Reminds me of Max Lowe. Good performance today and kudos to Goodwin, that 4-1-4-1 nullified all our weaknesses. Good management, and good subs. Not overly concerned about not scoring more, as we certainly looked like we could. Don't think there was a bad performer today (although don't think Morris is going to be good enough). Ref let a lot go, which helped the game flow and it was as enjoyable to watch as it's possible for a St Johnstone game to be. The goal was just absolutely class. Very much going all the way that young lad.

Turned off after Rob McLean declares "top bin"

Holy fucking hit

Decent half, we've looked the better team. Carey really the only threat for them, with a really good left foot, but Roos has done well with some difficult balls. The three bookings they've had will hopefully come back to bite them. Hallberg lucky to still be on the pitch. The 4-1-4-1 with Ramadani in front of the defence looks interesting. It compliments McRorie and Clarkson quite well, but possibly leaves Miovski a little isolated. However, both fullbacks are bombing up to support the wingers so it works and allows Ramadani to cover the gaps. Both Coulson and Richardson been very good. If Richardson matures a little in possession, he could be phenomenal. He's an absolute unit, and fast. Other than the disallowed goal, we've not had too many chances. One really special pass from deep by Clarkson in behind the defender for Miovski. He didn't think it was getting through it seems, otherwise he'd have been in. Really class play.

Andy booked for nailing Vinny.

I'm watching red TV international, so no use for most. Good start from the dons. Disallowed goal from Miovski after a lovely cross from Hayes. Probably offside.

Good lineup. Coulson back in is a big bonus. Kennedy out a big bonus. Clarkson in the number ten role to prove me wrong. Edit: ten minute delay due to an incident (undisclosed).

I've often thought that. Perhaps I should have explained better. Both Barron and Clarkson could play the number ten role, but it is very clear by the way that they play the game that they want to take the ball from the defender and make things happen from deeper. They both play with their heads up, akin to say Billy Gilmour for Scotland. Kenny McLean could (and did) play the number ten role for us, but it was clear by the end of his time here that his role was where he still plays for Norwich and Scotland. From day one, it was clear to see that guys like James Maddison and Scott Wright were number tens. That ability to ghost past a player and play an intricate ball through, whilst constantly moving around to make space in front of the opposition defence is something they excelled at. The alternative is someone big, who'll win headers and flick ons for the striker or hold it up for the oncoming midfielder (Barron!). Both Barron and Clarkson could do the former, but they'd be tracking back constantly and trying to take it too deep. Ferguson did similar for us over the last few years and it was a waste of a role (although he was good in the air). The caveat would be that it works well against the scum, because we've effectively got a midfield three.

Well, first, I think it's upside down. Can the graphic not be used the other way up? It just feels wrong. Suspicious, even. Also, it's not often that you hear the phrase "worse than McLennan", but Morris should be nowhere near the starting eleven. I'm willing to give the guy a chance, but until he's had a few more weeks of training and working on fitness, he should be only used in emergency. He was a complete liability last week and, if it turns out that Davidson is actually a football manager, they will target our right side if he's playing. He just didn't track his man, nor look capable of ever doing so. Kennedy has offered Richardson very little assistance so far this season (which is why I've been slightly less critical of his defensive displays), but Morris took it to whole new levels. I feel a bit sorry for Duncan, who should be given first opportunity for development minutes. If we'd signed a proven right winger, I'd have understood, but this guy's a punt for the first eleven.

Barron's ace. However, he's definitely not a number ten. Neither Clarkson.

Stephen Glasses?

Yep. The fact that it was glaringly fucking obvious was the most frustrating part.

Sounds like the postecoglu comparison is extremely valid. The turnover at pittodrie is so huge, it's impossible to name yer favourite player anymore (mine's Hayes) because none of them are recognisable. We gave Glass a year, it would seem reasonable to allow Goodwin the same. I'd give him well into next season unless we're faced with relegation, as another two windows will be required to filter out the shite we've bought in this window (I'm not saying that they are all shite, just that some will be). We're not Hibs, ditching managers isn't good. Last weekend was a very poor managerial performance. He got everything wrong that it was possible to get wrong. If he can take each element and learn from it then we'll be a much better side for it. Goodwin seems a strong enough character to show self reflection and correction, and I think he will.

Yep, I watched the highlights from the BBC and it looks a lot worse than it did in real time. I'd say I definitely had a better view! I don't think many goalkeepers would have got close to that one.

I find it easier to play fitba on a plastic pitch, even with my dodgy knees, and I'm always surprised when it's mentioned. However, if you dry out a plastic pitch, the bounce can be very high and unnatural and the ball can stick in a way that it wouldn't on a good grass pitch. The emphasis is on good though, as if you let the grass grow a bit then you get the same sticking effect. The biggest oddity is that whenever there is a poor grass surface (which happens a lot), it's blamed on the conditions or just laughed off, yet plastic pitches get zero leeway in the same regard. Pittodrie has been good the last few years, but there have been times in the last decade where it has been horrendous. The biggest issue with all grass pitches is the heavy deterioration around the goal area. Our goalies get accused of being terrible with their feet, yet nobody seems to factor in that they get much worse between December and March as the pitches become more and more difficult to play on (especially when as a keeper you're often asked to belt a moving ball a long way). Plastic pitches rarely suffer the same variability across the surface. Killie's one must be nearing send of life these days though. The Livingston one always seems to be deliberately left un-watered so it's like you're playing indoors.

Nah. I was behind the goal for that one. Maybe it looked different on the TV, but in real time there was no way he was getting up to save that one.

Utd getting better with every game, losing only three goals to Hertz, and even scoring one themselves.

It was really bad. They could, and should, have scored more. Five wouldn't have been flattering. It looked like they'd had a team summer barbecue in the morning, gone a bit overboard on the sausages and were struggling to run.

I don't think anybody isn't going to give them a chance (although there was some booing at the game today which is very unfair so early). Goodwin has taken a risk to bring in players with zero SPFL experience and hope they gel within a short space of time. That is problematic for me, and to write off both Ramirez and Watkins so early is poor management. Both would have done better than the alternatives today and both are proven SPFL players. Taking a non league player on at one nil down is just bad management. He should be blooded in like any other young player and that should have been obvious from the past week's training. I think Goodwin is choosing to make things hard for himself, just like he did during the run in. The bumps along the road are going to be greater with this approach. I said last season that it'll take at least a season to catch up on our (Cormack's) scandalous neglect in the prior windows, and I'm convinced that'll still be the case.

Vinny looked shiter because he was the only one trying stuff. Most of his errors were high up the park and he was always looking to be involved. Hayes works incredibly hard, and deserved his goal but shouldn't be relied upon to be the creative element in the team. Kennedy was, and is, pap. Goodwin decided before he joined the club that Kennedy was a player, and he's completely incorrect but unable to change his own mind - he's literally seeing something that isn't there (see Glass and Ojo). Hopefully he'll be out for a couple of weeks to allow space to try out others.

Nope. He's just different. Lewis was recovering form and I think his dropping was harsh. Roos is no Woods like, but I think Lewis edges it in my opinion. Goodwin seems to have taken approach whereby he wants zero trace of Glass' signings and if he's decided in a player he won't change his mind. I think that's a very risky approach and detrimental to our short term performances. It also allows for zero errors in his own recruitment, which I think is at best naive, at worst fucking stupid. That Ramirez or Watkins played no part today was criminal given the display from Morris and the overall fitness at the hour mark. There was even a very strong case for Bates today, which is how bad our defence was.

I thought this, but wasn't sure if he was maybe blinded by the sun for the goal. It was a yard out, and Lewis would have been slated for it.

Not long back. That was a honking performance from back to front and in the dugout. The only plus point today was dispelling the myth that McRorie can play left centre half. He was atrocious today, and he didn't recover when he went to midfield. Stewart was an absolute bombscare. For a captain to be so unsure of himself, and so lacking in pace, against such a labouring forward line is shocking. He had to get deeper and deeper than his fellow defenders as the game went on to cope with his lack of pace. Clarkson wasn't strong enough against eleven man Motherwell and Ramadani was breathing oot his airse after 60 minutes, as was Miovski. Sh/J/Hayden Morris takes the prize for the worst debut performance since Hernandez. Goodwin has had over a week to look at the guy, and it's obvious to anyone with eyes that he's not nearly good enough for playing in the SPFL (that might change with fitness or whatever of course, but right now I'm talking about). Watkins was the correct replacement to make and even allowing the initial error, Morris should have been hooked well before their third, where he was posted missing again. An absolute liability, who just wandered off his man, whilst offering nothing in attack. Motherwell just pressured us knowing we'd make mistakes and we obliged. Several of our players looked done in the heat after an hour. Goodwin didn't seem to read the game at all. His changes were poor and at the wrong time. Hopefully it's just a blip given the huge turnover. Lovely cross from Scales (reminds me of mulgrew, a really good left peg) and a great header. Really good battling from Richardson (who did alright today) for the second.

Rather than start a separate thread, I'll just add Salman Rushdie in here. Fantastic writer. Horrible attack like. Hopefully he'll recover.

I disagree. The competition for places higher up the park is beneficial because it's the area where changes win games. Defence and centre midfield you generally want consistency and solidity. There's a big difference between having a good winger or striker in the bench and having a good midfielder there. One will get lots of minutes, the other not so much. With regards Roberts, he didn't look a player on first (and second) impressions. I wonder if part of the move for another creative player is that we recognise the possibility that he might not be good enough. No criticism mind, we've had a lot of signings, some are going to be poor.