Kmcalpin

The STV evening news sport bulletin's football coverage comprised solely the East Kilbride V Celtic game. That is one reason why Scots football is in the state its in.

I think we're being overly hard on Louis Moult. In a lot of the gametime I've seen recently he has received little or no service and what he has received has been scraps. He's suffered in part because Pearo has been asked to play deeper, and he's missed that support. I'm confident if he's given the correct ammunition he'll fire it and hit the target.

If Pearson isn't fit, as some reports suggest, then leave him out. Otherwise Cadden or Lasley - a bit of a toss up but would probably retain Cadden for his fitness against a fit physical team. I'd play Moult as he's suffered from appalling service these last few games - not his fault.

No point in bringing Gomis in on loan and then not playing him (unless he isn't fit). We've been lacking a defensive midfielder for some years now so,other things being equal, he'd be one of the first names on my team sheet.

Ross County fans told me that they were surprised that we signed him because of his back problem. It was well known up north and was a factor in his move to Barnsley breaking down.

I think folk have been just too quick to jump to conclusions and it suited the anti Mark McGhee brigade. Its one of those situations where you need to know the facts first.

Absolutely. This is the kind of goal we routinely lose and its not all down to one player, who comes on as a sub now and again.

Not impressed either. It very much depends on the personality and character of the player concerned. If its someone who is thick skinned or arrogant then maybe ok but if the individual is more sensitive or humble maybe not the best idea in the world. We don't know what was said or how it was said however. I'm far from convinced that Ainsworth was 100% to blame anyway. It sounds as though he was wheeled out for a public humiliation, although that may not be right.

The Scotsman's take on Morgaro Gomis "Morgaro Gomis to Motherwell (loan from Hearts) He’s been harshly squeezed out by Hearts and will have something to prove at Fir Park. It remains to be seen what Mark McGhee’s plans for him are. One would imagine the Motherwell boss will push Stephen Pearson out to the left of midfield and station Gomis alongside Keith Lasley, with either Lionel Ainsworth or Marvin Johnson at the right wing position. It’ll be a gamble putting Pearson, arguably their best player, out of position on the left, but the midfield four is crying out for more balance. When Ainsworth and Johnson, both out-and-out wingers, start games in the 4-4-2 then Motherwell tend to lose."

Lots of issues here but I'll confine my comments to policing/stewarding. From a policing point of view, our fans are an easy target and provide "an easy win" so to speak in a high profile political issue. They are few in number and are involved in what we'll call "controversial incidents". Would they behave in the same way towards Celtic/Sevco fans? We all know the answer to that.

We do. Not a huge range of options admittedly but assuming all midfielders are fit, Gomis could replace Lasley, Pearson or Cadden. We do need a defensive midfielder and badly.

Come on Busta you can do better than that I'm sure. Folk are quite entitled to discuss this if they so wish.

What the lad did was wrong but you're right Dee. We frequently read about more serious offences which attract lesser sentences so this seems inconsistent. This is a "Political" issue whether we like it or not. It'll be interesting to monitor the sentences dished out for other kind of offences.

I don't agree with the original poster either, but come on Graeme you are well capable of posting better comments than this. Lets try and promote sensible informed discussion.

The sentence seems a bit OTT but may be related to the specific case. That said it has set a precedent for other such cases but we'll need to wait and see to find out if they are treated consistently by the courts.

I agree that some change is required but I don't know that Hall has let us down. Macdonald and Moult are receiving very poor service from the midfield and I'd exempt them from too much criticism. Its the full backs and especially midfield thats causing up problems. Sadly, we have virtually no decent options for changes at full back right now and may have to go with what we've got but midfield could be shaken up.

Looking at the admittedly limited tv highlights there was a lot more wrong with our performance than subbing Cadden. Again the full backs and midfield did not appear to be doing their job and allowed Partick players to see the whites of Ripley's eyes much more than they should have done. Partick worked hard off the ball to harry us, and deny us a clear sight of goal and we have to emulate that approach and quick. Hopefully Gomis can come in and solidify a defensively weak central midfield but in my view the full backs remain problematic positions. All that said the winning goal took a shocking deflection but again when you sit back thats just the kind of thing that happens (not forgetting Saturday involved a shocking refereeing decision late on and in our box).

A bit harsh Weeyin. Iain Vigurs will do the business if A) he keeps injury free B) he is given time and space to do as he wishes and C) he has hard working energetic colleagues around him to cover for him when the team is on the backfoot. Sometimes a player fits in at a club and sometimes he doesn't. He didn't have the right team around him when with us or during his first stint at Inverness. At Ross County and currently at Inverness he does.

Injuries aside - do we make changes for Saturday? The strikeforce and defence will pick themselves but maybe the midfield needs rejigging. Hows about Johnson, Gomis, Cadden and Pearson OR Johnson, Gomis, Lasley and Pearson?

I thought Pearo was playing as a holding midfielder just now in Grimshaw's absence. That just isn't his game. Yes, we do need a creative midfielder and hopefully we'll sign one. Vigurs would not fit into the present midfield as he needs energetic hard working players around him. I'll say again our midfield is unbalanced. I've still to see Gomis in action of course.

I too would have preferred Gomis to start if only because it would give our midfield more bite and afford more protection to the centre backs and Ripley. Still MMcG knows best and he may have thought Gomis not to be fully match fit. We certainly cannot afford to sit back like we did last Saturday.

Well it certainly won't be a surface for playing good football. It'll be all about determination, hard work, organisation and yes, good luck.

Yes. Just watch STV evening news. Apart from Celtic/Sevco bias of course. Take last night. Whilst Morgaro Gomis' move to us was mentioned, there was much more coverage of one of their signings - just but one example. Alan Archibald is frequently interviewed. Its always been that way due to the proximity of the old BBC studios in Glasgow's west end.

People in glass houses and all that.......but I'm surprised at how little flak Partick have taken over this postponement record. During our bad spell, the SPL was investigating; fans were up in arms; and the media was lambasting us. Partick have always been media darlings of course and the current rash of postponements are being put down to heavy rainfall. Also taken aback at just how bad Dens Park was on Saturday.

We'll find out in the next few days if the squad is large or good enough. If Mark McGhee doesn't agree there will be another signing or two but if he does agree there won't be any business done. Its one having cover for a position but quite another having decent cover. To me right back needs strengthened or MMcG may also feel that we need a creative midfielder. Time will tell.