wellfan

After getting battered by Aberdeen today, we might be playing a managerless Hibs on Wednesday.

Of course people can shoot at my forthright views, and I'll respond, but I'll certainly re-make my point in doing so as I won't be derided by others in their weak attempts to belittle me or my views. Referring to a nondescript collective as sanctimonious pricks is fine as far as I'm concerned, yet it seems to have touched a nerve with a few members of the forum. I wonder why. Furthermore, I'm sure most on here would agree that it would only be over-egging it if I referred to a particular individual as a sanctimonious prick, which I specifically did not do. Kettlewell obviously isn't going anywhere for the time being, and that's just that. I can still hold my views.

It was both funny and revealing. He was saying that Levein couldn't tell the difference between a tired and an unfit player, meaning he often ran the tired one's into the ground, which is a surefire way to injure and piss off players.

I understand that the 10th spot thing is often cited for budgetary purposes, which can be misrepresented, and I expect and hope the playing targets are indeed set higher. My comment that we should be aiming for nothing less than the top 6 and, more so, a good cup run is in no way linked to me suggesting that we should be irresponsibly speculating to accumulate. I think these targets should be the absolute minimum for us, and it would be more progressive and positive to frame our approach like that instead of pleading poverty about our 10th-best budget position. The latter will never improve until the former becomes a stable reality.

I think we'll batter St Johnstone next weekend regardless. Craig Levein is a fraud of a football manager, and I feel sorry for them having to endure him.

...'sit up and pay attention'...and you wouldn't have had that view in December, according to some.

Yeah. Top six and, more so, a good cup run should be the absolute minimum targets set each season for the manager. I'm sick and tired of the 10th spot less-than-mediocrity crap, as nothing will ever be achieved when the minimum targets are set so low. Some may call that unrealistic for whatever reason. However, given our 40-year presence in the top league, our likely budget, our stature and structure, aiming for anything less is just treading water and hoping for an annual miracle against the odds.

Let's see how Hibs get on today against Aberdeen, but I'd be pleased to leave Easter Road with a draw on Wednesday.

Luton Town have poorly managed him. By that, I mean he should've been recalled from his loan at Millwall in January and sent out on loan to another team that would give him game time. I hope he can recover from this career-stalling year.

Congratulations on producing the most sanctimonious of all posts on this topic. I hope you've enjoyed the victory atop your massive ivory tower. I'm surprised you found the time to enjoy the result late last night while searching for a months-old post of mine written off the back of an appalling winless run on 2 January. Context is key, but petty irony is free.

3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss since this prediction. Let’s see if we can make it 5 wins, then maybe I’ll change my opinion of Kettlewell.

Because if it weren't for our crap defence/goalkeeping this season, we would be a top 6 side.

You're right about this one.

1-2 McGinn

I think there’s a middle ground to be found with a team of our stature (pun intended) and budget in the modern game nowadays, and I think that’s probably Kelly.

Glad to be of service to this forum.

Yes, although I was referring to those who consistently refer to critical individuals who differ from the 'happy-clappy' views as 'doom-mongers'. It's tiresome.

It could also be argued that our defensive coaching needs to be addressed. The staff have got something out of our attacking plays via coaching Bair, whereas our defensive plays are pathetic and predictable. For example, we have a dedicated goalkeeping coach and an analyst who seems to have spent a lot of time with Bair on attacking improvements, so why not a defensive coach (maybe we do?), particularly given it's been our Achilles heel? Behind the scenes, technical tweaks can be the difference between a bang-average team like ours finishing top or bottom six. We quite simply cannot afford to concede as many cheap goals as we do on an ongoing basis.

We have Moses Ebiye here next season, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do after a full pre-season.

Nouble has been wasted at Livi. He's got all the attributes to be a solid centre-forward, but Martindale has often had him playing left wing, which he also seemed to play a fair bit at Aldershot Town. I think he would easily be a 10+ goal-per-season striker in the right team. His headed goal on Saturday was decent, but it caught Kelly in no man's land.

I guess this means the following, but I'm happy to be corrected by those in the know. - Kelly must be away. - St Johnstone fans seem keen on bringing Rooney back. Where would this leave SOD? McGinn will hopefully sign a new deal, and I assume the mysterious Elliot will be away. - Obileye didn't have a good game for Livi on Saturday, but he is likely an able replacement for Butcher and Mugabi. - Would Easton fill the Spittal-shaped gap? What about Nicholson? The latter played well in the spaces on Saturday. - The new LB won't be Gent, sadly. I doubt we'll declare any signings until the season's conclusion, and we'll likely announce the clearout first with one of those end-of-season player contract updates.

Because there's no point in offering critical analysis here after a positive result because it's generally met with bollocks like you've offered.

The game more or less passed by him yesterday. It makes me wonder what his role will be next season.

His contract with Rovers runs until June 2025. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/april/04/gent-pens-pro-deal-/

Enjoyed that. Nice to see the win has brought out the sanctimonious pricks as well.