Firstly, I do believe McKinnon will get things right, and accept that he had a big job to do.

But - we should be better than we are by now.

Signing wise, Andreu VDV Edgenguele VDS Smith Flood Bell and Murdoch will all prove to be decent or better signings.  Toshney and Obadeyi have not convinced me at all that they will.

Biggest problem is the lack of a striker, I know our defence was shite, but this was no 1 priority for me and it's been a massive mistake not to fix it.  1 striker in a squad is no good even if he's brilliant, never mind when he's Simon Murray.

12 games in and we haven't won enough of them, that's the facts.  Some Utd fans seem to think we're playing much better, but playing nice passes around the middle of the park doesn't win games. We don't create enough, VDV is a clever footballer, he can see passes but Murray doesn't make those runs, Obadeyi is quick/tricky but his end product is lacking to say the least.  Andreu is quality but without the right player in front of him we'll never get the full benefit.  I like Cammy Smith, but it seems to be him or Andreu centrally, right now I'd play Smith up top to get more from those around him.

Defensively Toshney isn't a RB, Dixon is finished.

Wouldn't actually mind a back 3 of Toshney VDS Edjenguele with Robson and Spittal pushed on a bit to give width.  But our record of 3 at the back isn't the best.

To sum up, not good enough yet, I think it'll get better, but not quickly enough.  We won't win the league will make the playoffs but won't go up IMO.

I'm behind McKinnon but its getting very frustrating seeing the same things every week, particularly in away games.

The striker thing just baffles me. We had loads of defenders on trial but has anyone heard of us having any strikers on trial? All I can think of is the boy Ploj and that was right at the start of pre-season. It doesn't even need to be a big striker, just someone who can try to put themselves about a bit. I lost count of the amount of times Murray made no attempt to challenge their centre-halves in the air. He just stood aside with his hands on his hips more than once. That's piss poor, fair enough he's probably going to lose most ariel duels (although I can remember James Grady beating McCracken in the air) but he can still try to put the man off.

The signing of Andreu was one we didn't really need and has created a situation where Cammy Smith has became the odd man out even though he's our biggest goal threat. We are trying to accommodate players and it's not working. They are all decent players but they really all want to play centrally and in behind the striker. VDV is a good player but he's 34 and we are playing him wide right because there is no-one else (unless you count Matty Smith and Justin Johnson, but TEK has already summarised that issue well already). It's not a coincidence that their 2nd and 3rd goals came from that side since the right back was repeatedly left exposed.

Our best performance so far came in the Partick game where VDV and Murray weren't playing. Hmm.

Murdoch was a big miss physically, especially when Flood went off.

I wonder if Toshney's playing at right back just now because of his broken nose (how long does it take to recover from that btw?). He's the only boy we've got who actually attacks the ball in the air. I'd switch him and VDS and see how it goes.

Until we sign a striker I'd also play VDV up front with Smith Andreu and Obadeyi in behind. I know a lot of people have said change to 4 in midfield with 2 up front but I don't think Smith, Andreu and VDV can play in a 4 in midfield. We don't have 2 strikers anyway. Tbh, it's debatable if we even have one.

Btw, our only league wins this season have came against the two promoted teams. That's worrying. A better mentality is required and fast. The harsh reality of this league is you need to win virtually every week if you want to finish top. We still seem to have a Premier League mentality where you pretty much accept that you are going to lose/draw as many as you'll win because Celtic are the only team who win every week. That needs to change and fast. Do you think Hibs will have that mindset with Lennon in charge??? No chance. He'll be going fucking schizo that they lost yesterday.

The next three for us are must wins. Morton and St Mirren have been struggling and Hibs away.

Last edited by lifesanocean (18/9/2016 10:03 am)

too many players for the same position

Living where I do I can't get to many matches. Up to now they've mainly been away but I've lost the two local teams. Was at Dunfermline. Great atmosphere - our away support is brilliant - but Cammie's first half heroics kinda hid the fact that we're fragile at the back. Falkirk's crosses showed how much we've got to get the defence working. The Dunfermline goal wasn't a cross but also showed there's work to be done on the training ground. 

We look good in possession but lack urgency. Willo is the nearest thing to a steely resolve in the past two games and its that kind of mentality that will get us up this league.

We lost on Saturday to a team with two last chance saloon ex-players. We should be moaning about two points lost to them - NOT a match lost. Plenty style in the team. But need much more substance. 

Where will that come from?  There's only one answer. Mixu delivered on that front early in his time. That went well.  Whatever Ray's natural style is, he's got to instilling a lot more steel.