mfc88

Yeah teams budget is an important point in the big picture. But its not as black and white as that, and had we given a good account of ourselves, I'd accept that point. But we didn't play in a way that made us test rangers as best we could to make them earn that game. That is our failing in my opinion, and we shouldn't use rangers' budget as an excuse for our failings, otherwise we we are beaten before a ball is kicked. I can totally respect a different view of the game, but that is how I see it. As i said, other recent finals/ semis I've seen us lose out on (thinking of the 2 celtic games in 17/18 as the freshest in mind), I have left the stadium with a totally different feeling of disappointment... not with the feeling that we fell short tactically.

Not posted on here in a while but needed a bit of a vent. Overriding feeling is total disappointment and disillusionment. Have seen us play at hampden several times now. Win and nothing else matters. Lose and I've come away with several emotions - annoyed with refs, individual errors, or in the case of the 2018 SC final, just that we lost to a better team. But yesterday was the first time I've come away thinking what is the f**king point. Rangers didn't win that game, we lost it. Say what you like about budgets, this, that the next... valid if rangers play in a way that merits a final spot. Did they?? Continually use these excuses and we are there to make up the numbers, not compete. Can't fault the players for effort, but instructions given to them and the way we set out to compete was pathetic. Out of possession, we stood off and let them have the ball. Rangers are not operating as a good team just now, so we needed to get on top of them. Don't do that, and they still have good individual players who will eventually carve something out given time and space. In possession there was no strategy for ball retention. It was almost always a lump up the park and hope something happens. Bread and butter for souttar and balogun, who dealt with it all day with absolutely nothing else to think about - I don't even remember us winning a header in their half and no one near our strikers to compete for the second ball or shut rangers down when they won it, and it just ended up coming back at us. I wasn't best pleased with our approach first half, but somehow find ourselves 1 up, fans are on their back, they are low in confidence - all boxes ticked so far. Now, a 15 min break for a calm down, reset, recharge and we had 45 mins to simply not let certain individuals play, but it was more of the same and the managers strategy of riding our luck ran out. I do like Kettlewell on the whole, but the way we set out was all wrong and once our luck ran out we needed a change in approach to win that game and it never happened. I can't help thinking had stephen robinson been in charge, the way he sets up to play the OF, we win yesterday. Mentions for kaleta who was excellent and wilson who conducted himself admirably for a young lad playing out of position. Wilson has gone under the radar IMO with the hype around lennon, but hoping he continues to progress and apply himself the way he has been.

It's been reported that we're looking at Connor Smith of hearts. Apologies if already posted here.

Credit where its due and that is Kettlewell digging us out a hole last season. However, we are rapidly spiralling into that hole again. This run must be comparable if not worse than the last 12 games of hammells time in charge. Last season only banks so much credit - there's no point getting us out a mess to find ourselves right back in it the very next season. No clue of the answers but how long does he get? December? January? 5 more games in December ending with bottom placed livi could be a disaster if we don't start racking up points starting this weekend, but right now it's impossible to see where a win is coming from. A rejuvenated st Johnstone followed by a tough St mirren side then rangers, and Aberdeen away. I want him to succeed as much as the next well fan but if we don't win this weekend it's difficult to see any other fate for Kettlewell.

Don't quote me on it but I am sure we went 11 games in the administration season we finished bottom, before going on to thump hearts 6-1 at fir park. Certainly up there though as far as bad runs go but I am weirdly optimistic we'll get a result today.

Might be a good tackle 30 years ago but nowadays you can't fly in like that "win the ball" and in doing so endanger an opponent. Mikas out for 3 months, and not because of an unfortunate landing or otherwise, so there's no argument he wasn't endangered there. Sickener but now we have to deal with it...

The worst thing about the throw in incident for me is that, whatever you think of it being contentious or not, an accident, a mistake, whatever, it was an obviously dubious moment at the time. Easy to see and an easy decision to give before the play continues any further. Had that throw been retaken at the time, no one in the world would have questioned it. Let it go to var and f**k only knows what comes of it. But the point is it didn't need to, it was the easiest decision for collum or linesman to give at the time, why the f**k did they not??

Delighted to be in the top six and what a moment to make it. I would not have left the game happy if we had ended up top 6 by losing but other results going our way, so glad it played out the way it did. Didn't think I'd say this a year ago but lamie is by far our best defender, sad to see him leaving and he has proven to be very professional since signing PCA with Dundee. But it does concern me to watch the third first team regular sign for a rival in 1 season. Can't lie it has been a frustrating half season. The sale of watt for a few quid could have ended up costing us a hell of a lot more. The omission of slattery was baffling, his return is the reason we are where we are now. The repeatedly flat midfield. The dropping of woolery as soon as he hits some form. The defensive errors have been comical. Saving subs till 80+ minutes. I could point to many other frustrations which make it easy to see why so many are calling for the manager to go. Had we not been in this position, I would be too. This buys him some time for me, but mistakes need to be learned from. For his flaws GA does have other good management qualities which kept us up last season and got us into a great position up until the last few months and let's not forget managers can learn and improve too, we need to see this though. How we perform the end of this season and start next will be critical in that sense. We got away with it this season but we can't go a full round of league fixtures picking up 5 points and expect to remain in the league. As it happens we are where we are. Weird that we're there but hey ho, let's see what we can make of it. Hopefully now the pressure of a poor league placing is off we can try a few things, set up and play a bit more freely. 4th is very achievable.

I'd add o'donnell to that list but agree, it's going to be one hell of a rebuild for GA. Not sure what fringe players are out of contract as well, but there's that to think about too.

Contemplating that a point and no injuries would be a result tonight. Dont think I've ever said that before an accies game but we have been rotten every time we've played them this season. 9 of their 27 points have come from us

Would love to see a fully fit dunne of the 17/18 season play for us again. Sadly I don't see that happening after the length of time he's been out. I hope I'm wrong. When did he last play for us out of interest? Must be well over a year - year and a half?

How beautiful is this by the way. Can't help thinking a reversed away version would be awesome too. Hopefully a sponsor wouldn't be overly intrusive if it became a reality. It's funny how looking back to the 90s era, a sponsor was a big feature of the kit, part of the attraction. Whereas now it tends to take away from it. Or maybe that's just nostalgia.

Several options today, but credit where its due, lamie was excellent. He's come in for a lot of criticism but if he can maintain the level of the last couple performances he'll give Alexander the good kind of headache when we've a fully fit back line again.

Absolutely brilliant performance. Would have taken a point before the game if I'm honest, so didn't see that coming. Brilliant from Kelly to keep a clean sheet, he really is a class act.

What the fuck are we watching here? We look about 2 or 3 leagues below st Johnstone.

Went for cole but there were some huge moments from Kelly at the end. Was surprised when I realised how young he is... plays with the maturity of a keeper 10 years older.

Can anyone shed any light on whats going on at the far end of the East stand where the bois sit? Looks like a load of seats missing... Obvious answer is seats are being replaced but wondering is it going to be a safe standing area?

I was more or less behind robbo till the end, but we do look a lot more organised and less error prone now. OK, the goal last night was riddled with individual errors, but just in general since Alexander came in. Problem has been doing it in the final 3rd.

Went for maguire but could just have easily went for watt or mugabi.

Thought maguire was fantastic tonight and deserves a run in the team in that holding role. Watt was a brilliant outlet again and what a header from mugabi by the way, seemed to levitate in the air once he got up there. Brilliant second half up to the last 15 or so when the nerves began to kick in. Thats the monkey off our back now with some winnable games coming up next month. Not sure how County ended up with 11 men there. It was a mistimed tackle from hjelde but he's booted Crawford in the ribs ffs. Not even a yellow.

If its the same guy I'm thinking of for st m, I always thought he was a decent player when we played against him. Didn't realise his age though. Got a bit of fight in him which is what we desperately need.

Because if we don't, we may as well give up on our season now. If we don't fancy our chances against the teams around us, when do we?

A must not lose on paper, but a must win for me. If we don't fancy our chances against county we may as well sack it now. They've had a bit of a bounce, but hopefully that's come to an end yesterday.

He also had one in the first half on, I think, cole - more clumsy than blatant that one though. Still an easy couple yellows if you ask me.

Possibly, I didnt think it was that bad at the time tbh... handbags from both, and a yellow card each seemed about right. But as I say haven't seen the highlights.