I hope Kevin Holt is fit (something I never thought I'd be saying).

Morphman wrote:

Would go with

Walton
Adeboyega Gal Graham
Strain Vicko Doch Stephenson Ferry
VDS Dalby


Harsh on Holt but have soft spot for an academy player actually getting a game...

Both games so far against them have been physical battles and don't expect that to change. We'll make sure we're in the game for 70 mins then whip off VDS and a centremid for Middleton and Trap as we try to sneak a 1-0 win.

Agreed on formation generally, but not sure that we need 3 defensive midfielders from the start.  I'd maybe start Doc from the bench and begin with Babunski if he's fit to sit behind Sam and vdS.  From memory last time at the SMISA we started to  narrow and realised that we needed to change it early doors as their full backs were getting to operate too high up - just checked and we started your team but Luca for Strain and Sibbs in the Luca role.  Jim brought on Middleton for vdS in the 38th minute and the shape improved and we probably deserved the win.

So on that basis its probably your team but Middleton for vdS.  Given those who got a bit of a rest I think that might be Jim's plan too.

For me Manny plays.  Ross, Dec and Kevin not fast enough to manage Olusanya.  

That is good news at LB as long as it doesn’t mean Ferry is away.

Always prefer us to look internally first. Hopefully Harding gets a few chances before end of season.

JerryDungle wrote:

Slotbadger wrote:

That is good news at LB as long as it doesn’t mean Ferry is away.

Always prefer us to look internally first. Hopefully Harding gets a few chances before end of season.

 
Harding’s not a left back. He’ll be cover for Manny and Gallagher.

 
Oh well. Think I just read what I wanted to read in TEK’s post 😁

Or maybe Celtic are bidding £4million for Will Ferry 😂

Hopefully it's the injury prone Tierney instead.

We had a brilliant Xmas period but if we lose this, all of a sudden it's 3 defeats in 6 days and i'd worry about us spiralling with the fixtures after that.

Saturday is a huge match in our season for that reason. Can't go and play for the draw, need to go for the win big time. We've beat them three times this season without even conceding a goal, so interesting to see if Stephen Robinson will change his tactics to face us. We've matched them physically, i wonder if he will try and go for more legs in their team.

My XI would be -

..................................Walton.......................
.......Adegboyega.....Gallagher....Graham....
...Strain..Stephenson..Sevelj...Docherty..Ferry
............................Dalby...VDS......

Subs - Richards, Stirton, Harding, Holt, Odada
Ubochioma, Fotheringham, Middleton, Trapanovski

Finn Seemann wrote:

Tek wrote:

We had a brilliant Xmas period but if we lose this, all of a sudden it's 3 defeats in 6 days and i'd worry about us spiralling with the fixtures after that.

Saturday is a huge match in our season for that reason. Can't go and play for the draw, need to go for the win big time. We've beat them three times this season without even conceding a goal, so interesting to see if Stephen Robinson will change his tactics to face us. We've matched them physically, i wonder if he will try and go for more legs in their team.

My XI would be -

..................................Walton.......................
.......Adegboyega.....Gallagher....Graham....
...Strain..Stephenson..Sevelj...Docherty..Ferry
............................Dalby...VDS......

Subs - Richards, Stirton, Harding, Holt, Odada
Ubochioma, Fotheringham, Middleton, Trapanovski

Basically the same format as we started with last time in Paisley and that didn't work (changed after 38 minutes).  It's safer though and it might be we go with that and see how it goes.  The lack of width up front last time was allowing them too much territory down the wings with their wing/full backs having too little to think about defensively.  I'd probably start Middleton for either Docherty or vdS from that formation depending how tentative JG fancies being.

Link to this week's press conference-





Note that Jim mentions that we have picked up more knocks and niggles.

We need Stephenson, Sevelj and Docherty to be fit imo, without them we are goosed.


 

Tek wrote:

Need to hurry up and do some transfer business. Got the smallest squad in the league and it's getting stretched to the limit now. Go and get the signings made Jim.

Oh and get Louis Moult off the treatment table and back into training. Never known a player to take so long to recover from niggles.

 
Must cost us a fortune in physios and medical treatments.  Certainly falls in the high maintenance category.

Tek wrote:

Need to hurry up and do some transfer business. Got the smallest squad in the league and it's getting stretched to the limit now. Go and get the signings made Jim.

Oh and get Louis Moult off the treatment table and back into training. Never known a player to take so long to recover from niggles.

A dislocated shoulder is hardly a niggle.

Shedtastic wrote:

A dislocated shoulder is hardly a niggle.

That injury in particular isn't what i would class a 'niggle' but by the same token he's never back quickly. And it certainly wasn't a full dislocation because he hasn't wore a sling etc. At best it was a partial dislocation or bad bruising.

That comeback match at Fir Park where he hurt his shoulder was a month ago and he's not even back training. He's a very slow healer and it was a mistake to offer him a new deal. He can't be relied upon to play regular.

Always something. 
 

Slotbadger wrote:

Tek wrote:

Need to hurry up and do some transfer business. Got the smallest squad in the league and it's getting stretched to the limit now. Go and get the signings made Jim.

Oh and get Louis Moult off the treatment table and back into training. Never known a player to take so long to recover from niggles.

 
Docherty 😂

Fair point.🤝