Canadian Arab wrote:

CCX2 2010 wrote:

I take your point but would much prefer to see the ball on the deck in the middle with guys who can pick a pass.

Odada can't be far away from a fitness side but from the very limited time that I've seen of him he was miles off it, but defo has the build to compete.
 

Well you were right. He didn't try to match them for physicality in the middle and just moved the ball quickly over or around or through them. Doc and Sibbald did a really good job in there, with good support from Sevelj.

 
No failures in that squad today. The Sande Dalby partnership wasn't working so credit to Goodwin for changing it before halftime. This manager knows he has players on the bench who can slot in to change the way we play and he's not afraid to use them.
We lacked creativity at times today, too impatient on the ball at times as well but we more than compensated for that with grit determination hard work and character. When we lack goals from our strikers they're coming from elsewhere in the side and that's a real positive.
From the disappointment of Luca's brain fart we've bounced back to take 4 points from 2 very difficult venues. Not too shabby if you add in the victory at Tynecastle. The football has been mixed, some good quality in spells and some not so good but  what we went through under Asghar seems like a very long time ago. This side has character, team spirit, organisation and some quality too. It's been a while since we could say we're hard to beat.
I hate international breaks but maybe this one has come at the right time given the injuries to Trapanovski Moult and now Graham.
Looking at the league table this looks like a very competitive league. After maybe St Johnstone who would you predict will finish in the bottom two?
The number one objective was to stay in the league and we're heading in the right direction. We just need to keep it going and see where it takes us.

Any news on Ross Graham injury?

Canadian Arab wrote:

CCX2 2010 wrote:

I take your point but would much prefer to see the ball on the deck in the middle with guys who can pick a pass.

Odada can't be far away from a fitness side but from the very limited time that I've seen of him he was miles off it, but defo has the build to compete.
 

Well you were right. He didn't try to match them for physicality in the middle and just moved the ball quickly over or around or through them. Doc and Sibbald did a really good job in there, with good support from Sevelj.

 
It's not often I get something right CA😀.

Thought the three in the middle competed very well, Seve was excellent as you say,especially when we changed to 4 across the middle. He offered great protection to both Luca and Miller.

Great 3 points on Saturday.  Two very well matched teams.  If they'd taken any of there several chances it would have been a different game, but we defended well and asked them to deliver the quality to assure a goal and they failed.

Can't fault the defence.  Including Holt who slotted in very well.  Special plaudits for Manny who defended well and was always a threat at set  pieces.  Loved his goal.

For me only downsides were Graham's injury and lack of any teeth up front.  Dalby doesn't convince.  Ran about, but never really troubled them.  I think VDS, whilst similar, is more of a handful and wins more headers.  I thought it was strange that he was the one to be subbied (although he had done nothing up until that point).  Still think we need one of them on the park with a speedier player off of him.  Has to be Fotheringham, I guess, although not convinced we'll see that.

Docherty and Sibbald players of the match for me.

OK we've not played Celtic or Aberdeen yet and their points totals speak for themselves, but I genuinely think we shouldn't fear anyone in this league.  That is night and day to last season so well done Goodwin.  

I'd also like to say that I would like to see Goodwin come over to the fans at the end of these games.  Just take the time to applaud the effort to get along and support the team.  I think it would be reciprocated.  He needs to take some of the plaudits too.  Switching VDS so early worked.  We were crying out for width (actually defensively) and looked so much better when that width meant that St Mirren couldn't simply march forward 50 yds with the ball.  Brought Ferry into the game as an attacking force and changed the game.  We do however need to figure out how we start with a more potent attacking force.  

Dropping Bubunski was an interesting one.  I think he might have got us up the park a bit better and won a few more fouls, but overall the result proves that decision was the right one.