Kmcalpin

Normally before a game we discuss likely team line ups and tactics but on this occasion there are bigger fish to fry. Will IB still be in charge? We cannot contemplate a repeat of last season. If a managerial change is to be made it has to be done sooner rather than later and an appointment made relatively smartly. Given the events of tonight who knows how we'll approach Saturday's game. The support will be in no mood for failure thats a given.

I wasn't at the game fortunately but I was shocked to learn the starting line up. Central midfield was always going to be a problem for us with or without Lasley. However to play 2 wingers and one striker with no link to the rest of the midfield beggars belief. If a lad like Ross Forbes can outshine our central midfield that speaks volumes. If Baraclough's game plan was to rest players for Saturday and hope to squeeze through tonight it has backfired spectacularly.

Quite shocked at the starting line up. Surely we should have started our strongest side? Thats quite a central midfield - just asking for trouble. Not surprised in the least that Robinson is isolated.

Thats only about 3/4 games away. We have a winnable game on Saturday against Partick Thistle but then 2 very tough games against Celtic and Dundee after that. I cannot see us taking much from these last 2 games to be honest, even with a good manager at the helm. In effect Saturday is the crunch.

Very doubtful indeed, given the nature of our support and posters on these message boards. If there's one thing I've learnt over the years its that there's always someone with a contrary or different opinion!

We are definitely fitter, but I'm not 100% sure that our passing has improved. In quite a few games ie East Fife I've witnessed rank poor distribution. Quite a few posters on here have also reported poor distribution as being a feature of games. In particular distribution to the wingers is rank. Balls are all often played too late and 5 metres behind the wide men. Thats not the service that Ainsworth and Johnson like.

Most definitely a capital yes.

Absolutely. I watched the highlights and one thing that stood out for me was Accies off the ball play. More often than not if our player got the ball he was crowded out and closed down by 2/3 opponents and had to work hard to do anything. By comparison when they got the ball they enjoyed acres of space and time.

I suspect Hammell will return as this game is on grass. Other than that, the central midfield should be under the microscope as we've found it it hard to compete against most sides we've come up against in that critical area of the pitch, including East Fife. Without Pearson we have no attacking element in the centre and I fear that we are relying too much on his return.

If Ian Baraclough fails to win the Morton game or more importantly the Partick game then his time will be up. If he wins both games he still has a lot of work to convince many fans, including me, that he is the man for the job. We are some 9 months into his reign and we still can't field a competitive side and our central midfield is still a massive problem.

I'd give him, as you say, a few games more, but not many. Yes, some players are underperforming but as far as Scott MacDonald is concerned we simply are not using him to his strengths. He is an out and our striker nothing more nothing less. Until he is given a run in that position we shouldn't judge him.

I've been away on holiday for the past 10 days and so haven't been at the last 2 games. Not surprised in the least that Hammell and Johnson were left out yesterday given the plastic pitch. What formation did we field yesterday - did Robinson play alongside Moult or between him and the rest of the midfield? I can understand why we fielded 3 central midfielders but just looking at the line up and, based on the little I know about Grimshaw, it was obvious that there was no creativity there with the exception of Ainsworth. With 2 defensive central midfielders and another who I can't yet pigeonhole for well documented reasons where was the creative spark? First and foremost we need to field 11 players who can compete off the ball and we just don't seem to have them.

Give him a run in his natural position as a striker first and see what he can do there.

I'd like to see Watt start at RB, with Thomas also starting. Midfield is a bit of a black box - if we start with Lasley, Grimshaw and Taylor there then we might might be ok defensively but we'd be unable to attack up the middle of the park and the lone striker would be very isolated indeed.

No gritted teeth Colin!

Credit where its due Andy, Keith Lasley has been a good servant to the club and a first class ambassador off the field. He's always given 100% and thats all you can ask of a player. Good luck to him. He deserves some reward at the end of his career.

Clearly a number of us have questions about the Society's position in relation to the club and Les Hutchison. Some questions/answers may be new and some may be buried away in old emails or press releases. Whatever, I think it would be to the Society's benefit to explain the situation and to answer questions. Why does my question matter? I wanted to gauge whether those who had questions were already members and consequently, in theory at least, should know more and but had concerns which could influence their future attitude towards the Society OR whether they were non members who might join if the answers satisfied them OR were non members who would simply not join end of.

Ah those were the days! Out of interest how many of the choir still sing and chant at games these days?

Yes

Just out of interest is everyone who is asking these questions members of the Society?

You're ignoring the fact that people change as they grow older. I doubt very much if the current Well Bois will still be singing and beating drums when they're in their 60s and 70s. I don't know many older fans who dislike noise (barring abuse) or atmosphere. The older fans, who as you put it, sit in silence have been going to Fir Park for decades - will the younger generation be doing that in 2055?

Knowing the way these things work probably payable over 4 years in 12 instalments!!!

So when Pearo is fit who will start with Keith Lasley? If we started with Las & Grimshaw it would be a very defensive central midfield indeed. I too am unsure about Taylor's probable role.

Ok I'll say what a few others are thinking. I reckon he's being brought in as cover or short term replacement for Keith Lasley. Given that he's a defensive player who would partner him in the middle in an attacking role other than Pearo?