Kmcalpin

I can't say that I like doom mongering but I'm not the world's biggest optimist myself. When diehard fans are totally immersed in games they show it in different ways - not everyone cheers incessantly. I say live and let live unless the fan sitting next to you is roaring down your ear; cursing and oathing or taking exception to your cheering (yes its happened to me). I suppose for many folk the football is a release from the trials and tribulations of their normal lives and a way to let off steam. I had a work colleague who was a committed Ayr fan and the nicest guy you meet but for 90 minutes he just lost it. After the match he could discuss it in a rational and calm way! It takes all kinds.

Who else do we play in central midfield just now? I always assumed that Keith Lasley would have been used sparingly this season but due to circumstances beyond our control this hasn't been possible. When Partick had us under the cosh for almost the entire second half we lacked leadership and someone to stick his chin out and get wired in 35/40 yards from goal. Had Partick had someone like Iain Vigurs (for his shooting ability only) or Callum Paterson we could easily have lost 2 or 3 goals. We've lost too many "wonder" goals this season through giving the opposition free unhindered pot shots from just outside the box. Just for the record, I thought Craig Clay also had a poor game.

General consensus around us yesterday was, yes it was never a passback, but given the referee's unpredictable and inconsistent performance, Samson was 100% right not to trust him.

Agree 100%. Overall we deserved the 3 points which were very important in our position. I wasn't convinced by McGhee's line up but it did the job so credit to him. Thought that Moult, MacDonald and Cadden were the pick of the bunch with the first two in particular putting in a great shift. Ferguson and MacMillan both acquitted themselves well although the latter did look out of position, which of course he was. Samson had a reasonable game but will have been disappointed with the lack of cover in front of him which left him exposed to some 20/30 yard shots coming at him. Tait continues to improve but had a Jekyll and Hyde game. Some great defending but often caught out of position. Clay and Lasley disappointed me. They didn't shield the centre backs and the latter was guilty of some careless passing at times. After the break they both went AWOL. Our customary second half slump continues to vex me - today probably a combination of ultra cautious tactics, lack of fitness and tiredness. No sign of Stevie Hammell or Joe Chalmers - probably not match fit. Will we see much more of Hammell? Centre midfield continues to cause us problems but we are "limping" a bit towards the January window. Andrew Dallas made some utterly bizarre calls today but fortunately he didn't cause us any major problems. Overall a good, if somewhat frustrating day. * 3 points * a clean sheet * a top six slot * more game time for 2 youngsters * No obvious injuries Happy days indeed.

A close run thing between MacDonald and Moult with the former just shading it for me.

Good post. I too completed the survey and found it to be overly focused and limited and the way the questions were worded was a bit offputting. Still, as you say good luck to the chap.

For once good to read the club's side of the story. This hasn't always happened in the past and fans, perhaps understandably, swallow the player's comments or those of his agent hook line and sinker. .

In terms of season ticket prices I guess we'd be somewhere around the level of an English League 1 club. Prices for beverages and grub tend to be considerably higher in the English leagues. Don't forget that these clubs, including those in the English lower leagues, are benefitting from very lucrative TV deals.

All very well but is he right? Just because someone is scathing doesn't automatically mean they're right. I'd like to hear the club's point of view as well.

Really?

Or John...now that would cause problems.

I hope Dom doesn't go the way of previous players like Ramsay Bryson, John Gray and Junior Burns. He undoubtedly has talent by the spadeful but for whatever reason can't seem to translate that into the first team. Yes, it could be lack of confidence and it could equally as well be lack of physique. Thats the reason he was released from Parkhead and why Craig Moore was released by Hearts. However players can put on muscle. Just look at Faddy - he must have put on a stone and a half of solid muscle in his first two years at Everton. Top English clubs have very professional set ups - sports scientists, excellent gyms, and goodness knows what other methods. Either way Dom does need to step up to the plate.

Agree 100% Lanky. Analysing reasons for not using something is notoriously difficult as the target audience ie non users don't tend to respond. We've heard enough from frequent users now lets hear from former users or those who have never used the site. Their views will be of more interest to the site owner and Mods.

I agree with most of your post Joe but although I've never been Keith Lasley's biggest fan he's always played to his limitations. He's always known that he was never a box to box player and played accordingly ie never really supported his strikers (usually to their frustration) and always been cautious positionally. But yes, he's slowing up even more now. Stevie Hammell has never been a good defender and his offensive game was always his strength. Now that his pace is also failing that part of his game is no longer masking or compensating for his weaknesses. An interesting account. Thanks.

I read that Skippy said that the ref thought it was a goal and looked to the linesman, who was better placed, but he didn't confirm it.

I don't disagree with any of this. The Society and the club are 2 separate entities.

Out of interest how did the young lads play?

Central midfield and indeed midfield has been our achilles heel for a year or two now. I was surprised when Lasley was offered a new one year deal but thats history now. Pearson leaving unexpectedly made matters worse and McHugh's injury put the tin lid on it. I still can't fathom out why Johnson was not replaced as it must have been obvious weeks before his departure that he'd be off before the deadline. It seems to me that Clay, Belic and Lucas have all been ad hoc, piecemeal signings. I think it was Al B who said weeks ago that the "plan" might be to "muddle through" in midfield until January and hope we keep in touch with the pack. Then we can rejig things. That does indeed seem to be our only plan. Our ability to fight and compete in midfield was always going to be in doubt going into today's game even with a fit Lucas and predictably but disappointingly that proved to be the case. When Paul Hartley saw Cadden being moved infield he would know that it was a desperate last throw of the midfield dice for us and the match was well on the way to being won. Chris Cadden may turn out to be a great central midfielder in time but for now he's a wide right player end of. Other teams on a similar budget seem to be able to pick up solid workmanlike midfielders why can't we?

I agree about accountability but its unreasonable to expect reliability in transfer dealings. As long as I can recall, going back even to the days of Bobby Ancell, bad decisions have been made. Even Tom MacLean made some horrendously bad transfer decisions.

You are a fully paid up and current member end of. If you wish to make a one off payment or modest monthly contribution it would be very welcome but is in no way obligatory.

That could happen, however the plan is make the club self sufficient. A Society rep said, a months ago at a meeting that once the takeover of the club had taken place there would be still be an ongoing need for monthly donations and he hoped members wouldn't just assume that it was job done and stop giving. However the plan was make the club sustainable in the long term.

Given we're away from home this afternoon the midfield will need to be more combative and perhaps defensive than it was last weekend. It'll be a different type of game. That said I too would go with the same team.

A good bit of business by the club. Talks have been going on since the summer but these things take time.

Yes, but there are other trolls on here too. If anyone is going to be banned it should be in accordance with agreed guidelines. Online bullying and personal abuse would also have to be banned accordingly. I don't like wind ups but I dislike online bullying and personal abuse even more.

On what grounds?