weeyin

They were - but he only got away with it in his first SPL season thanks to reconstruction, as we finished in a relegation spot despite parking the bus and winning only 7 games. The league structure didn't encourage risk taking football of course, with 2 from 10 being relegated every season. As you say, though, he slowly changed that over time and when players like Russell and Cooper were introduced our focus and tactics changed for the better.

A bit like your posts, but I imagine he'll keep playing and you'll keep posting.

Two interesting stats I read in today's Scotsman that I'll post here rather than in a new thread. Callum Slattery has contested more defensive duels (121) than any other player in the Premiership this season. He also heads the list for most fouls won per 90 mins and total fouls won, as well as being the leader in total fouls conceded. Liam Kelly is first for both saves and shots faced, (but not for goals conceded).

Pacey wingers incoming (footballing skills optional).

The youths haven't had games for about 2 seasons now thanks to Covid. And the last time there was a league it was Reserves rather than youngsters - which was one of the reasons Craggs stepped away from the set-up.

Have you forgotten how bad we were before he arrived? We were in the relegation mix. A rebuilt squad needs time to gel and if someone had told you we'd be equal 6th on points after the first round of fixtures you have side "that's fine". And common wisdom is that it takes 3 or 4 windows for a manager to get the squad he wants. If we're back in the relegation mix in March it might be time to re-assess, but right now we're doing better than I thought we would by October.

Didn't bother getting up early to watch this. Did I miss anything?

That's my feeling too. If Collum is in the video booth instead of on the pitch, he's going to have even more opportunity to give bad decisions against us.

He stopped because he didn't want to dive in and give away a pen like Tynecastle.

To be fair, the institution wanted them to stay in the top league, and it was only pressure from the fans of the other clubs that stopped that from happening. Also, they shouldn't have been in the Third Division as the rules say when you are liquidated, you get punted. But the institution conveniently ignored that one too.

I'm not sure about "stubbornly sticking to selections" when we've struggled to field the same starting 11 in consecutive games. If anything, it's a more settled line up we need until the different units get some understanding playing alongside each other.

Alternative take - no pressure on GA tonight even if we don't win.

It's too much change that's been one of our main problems. We need to find a settled first 11 (or 13) and stick with it.

Not until after December, though. Presumably that piece on Watt means his agent has just started new contract negotiations.

Motherwell haiku? Scandinavian football. Long boat, not long ball.

They had good players then too - we just didn't sign them!

In which case "Deal's aff,!" Seriously, though, does the Irish league not finish in November or December? In which case there will be a few players looking for a move in January.

Apart from his tackling, passing and closing down space what has he ever done for us? He's the only midfielder that looks like he knows what he's doing. Once he had 6 months first team action under his belt he'll be undroppable.

It was always going to be a struggle to rebuild the midfield when Wee Al left the club, and we still haven't found the right blend. He did the work of two men in there and was usually on hand to clean up any mistakes.

My biggest issue with the defence is lack of consistency in personnel. Whether by circumstance or design, I'm not sure now often we've fielded the same starters in 2 consecutive games. Having that consistency and understanding as a unit is vital, and until we are able to establish a settled back line, we'll struggle to keep clean sheets.

From Gretna 2008's website:

I like Mugabi, but even when O'Donnell is just average, he offers a width and crossing ability the Mugabi doesn't. The last thing we need is less width.

Thing is, if Adams and Dykes are out, the list of Scottish strikers has me at seventh.

Kircaldy?

If we can keep it to a one goal deficit until half time we might be able to change things up in the second half. I'm not really surprised at the moment, though, as Celtic aren't nearly as bad as some like to think, and they were able to bring back 5 additional players to the squad over the international break. We need to get out of the habit of slow starts, though.