Kmcalpin

Good post. We need a a hard working box to box player first and foremost in midfield. That would provide Higdon with some support for knock downs and give our wingers much needed space. Last time round Stephen Hughes simply didn't turn up in too many crunch games when he should have been head and shoulders above everyone else on the park. We cannot afford passengers.

One of our major flaws last season and it was very noticeable in the Cup Final (substituting Hammell for Hately).

Heard that Peter Innes has beebn released - any confirmation of that anywhere?

I've been saying exactly the same thing for years Al and been given pelters for it. I like all MFC teams to be hard physically. Not cloggers or hammer throwers, but guys who can hold their own and not be bullied. If the opposition (including both halves of the OF) have big physical guys then I like to think we won't be bullied or intimidated by them. I noticed Catweazels Ring Piece mentioned Morgano Gomis. Now there's a guy who isn't big but is as tough as nails. The likes of Keith Lasley, Steven Craigan and Steve Jennings have all been flattened by him in 50/50 challenges. What we now need is the right guy to partner Higdon up front. Someone solid physically with a bit of pace would suit us nicely.

Aye, midfield is all about finding the right blend. Although the three of them are slightly different, Jennings, Lasley and Hately are all basically defensive/holding midfielders lacking in pace who are rightly cautious about advancing too far or or too fast in case they have to retreat a fair old distance. This leaves the lone front man in a 4-5-1 formation very isolated and overly dependent on the wingers for service.

Good post and very observant. Take the Cup Final - if our wingers received rotten service or none at all who would provide him with the ammunition and support if he was on his own up front? We need a box to box central midfielder to support our striker(s) and pick up second balls. Can Michael Higdon play on his own without much support from those behind him? We need a Giles Coke type of player to fulfil that role and bring out the best in Higdon. .

My thoughts exactly. He had a good first season but a poor second one in which he frequently went missing, especially in big games. He's played in the Championship twice now and hasn't cut it that level. Undoubtedly has talent but unable to to turn it on consistently. Playing very well once every 10 games or so doesn't justify a contract in my opinion.

Well we've lost Sutton & Blackman/Jeffers - two first choice strikers and Casagolda who was brought in as back up. There's no indication yet that Bob McHugh or Gary Smith are ready to make the step up. Whilst we might have 2 adequate stand ins at right back we haven't had an out and out right back for a year or two and its shown. Lasley & Jennings are too similar in style and neither is able to back up our strikers.

As things stand we need a right back, centreback/left sided defender. box to box central midfielder, left sided midfielder and 3 strikers, including a big mobile guy who can play on his own up front. That shopping list may of course change as more players leave the club.

Looking forward to this one. I've never been to Dumbarton's new(ish) ground before.

I'm not surprised. He was what I'd call a reasonably typical young Aberdeen (or Hibs) player. Lauded by all the newspapers he was "one of the best young players to come out Pittodrie/Easter Road for many years" (also true of the Young Brothers, Darren Mackie, Alexander Diamond, Danny Lennon, Billy Findlay, Graeme Donald and many many more). However any time I saw him play he never really impressed and I could never fathom out what all the fuss was about. That said he may have improved since I last saw him play.

Yes, some bus companies did hike their prices. Thats private enterprise for you.

Just what I posted last night Linsey. I'll be phoning again on Tuesday. If the staff were to start answering calls ad nauseum then the folk in the queue would be complaining bitterly at being held up. Damned if you and damned if you don't.

Exactly, it has indeed. I would guess that we'll now be looking for 2 strikers to replace Jeffers & Sutton. Most other clubs will be cutting back. Hearts have signed 3 players but are likely to lose at least 3. St Johnstone have signed David Robertson and Callum Davidson but have lost Grainger and Duberry. Killie have lost Hamill.

For those renewing season tickets I believe that the office is closed on Monday. I rang Fir Park today and the person who answered the phone couldn't have been more helpful. Probably also best to avoid renewing by phone tomorrow as they will be busy with personal callers.

Just an interesting observation nobody has picked up on so far. Hearts will be John Sutton's 9th senior club and he's only about 28. In Scotland he'll have been with ourselves, Dundee, Raith Rovers, Hearts and St Mirren. Was he ever going to stay?

You've got it in one Haggis. How many posters on this Board would have offered him a lucrative deal in say last last November? Out of interest how many folk would currently offer Ross Forbes a 2/3 year extension on the basis that his form may take off next season? Not uncommon for clubs to wait until their final league position is known before offering deals - we're by no means unusual in doing this. Pretty certain that JS has been talking to Hearts for some time but despite that said publicly he'd like to stay. We need to cut the club some slack on this. We shouldn't start slagging the club off until we've heard their side of the story.

Great post. If we've offered the best deal we can, then set a deadline. If its not accepted by then by the parties concerned then its time to thank them and close the door. That will give SM adequate time to find replacements.

Don't quite know what to make of your post Tweed. An interesting and thought provoking mixture. Celtic's first goal was entirely preventable in my book and in some ways similar to Maurice Edu's goal against us at Hampden a month or two back. Yes, it was well taken but he had all the time in the world to pick his spot. Throughout the game we defended far too deeply and Lasley, Hammell and Jennings left our defence exposed. When Ki was about to line up his shot everyone seemed to back off and Randolph was left exposed. What we sadly lacked was a hard midfielder in the Colin O'Neil / Stewart MacLaren mould who was prepared to stick his chin out and advance to meet attackers head on. When SM is considering his defence for next season I hope he identifies a need for a hard man who will take on allcomers well outside his own box.

Thats not the point. I have no problem with Tom Boyd feeling closer to Celtic than us, none whatsoever. However given that he played for both contestants who were meeting each other in the final, he should not have been asked to represent Celtic officially on Saturday and if he had been he should have declined. If he had been at Hampden in a personal capacity supporting Celtic I could have lived with that.

For next season, and as things stand today, we require a right back, left back, centre half, and box to box midfielder.

Yes that was a big mistake. Both Stevie and him were part of our 91 Cup winning team. Tom Boyd should not have been involved in this way and I said so at the time. I will be in no rush to welcome back him to Fir Park after that.

Awesome display folks. Well done.

In an attempt to be helpful I'm flagging up a couple of post match issues. Overall I though the arrangements on the day went pretty smoothly and they should be seen in that context. 1) Celtic fan removed from the South Stand. After the first goal quite a few fans around him became agitated and pointed him out to stewards and the Police who seemed reluctant to act. Eventually they conceded however and the culprit was escorted out. Will the club be able to identify who bought it and take any necessary action? Will the culprit be "blacklisted" in some way by the club, Celtic and the SFA? 2) Heard on the bus on the way to the game that official Celtic buses were being allowed to park for free at Hampden but our official buses were being charged £10. Is this true and if so what is being done to challenge the SFA about it? Anyway thanks to Leeann and all the office staff at Fir Park. A thankless task to distribute so many tickets in a short space of time. Hopefully they can enjoy a wee break now although season ticket sales will be occupying their attention. Now that the Final is out of the way and the office is quieter I'll renew mine.

Spot on mate. Yes, many players played below their best but our team selection and tactics were largely to blame. SM got it wrong, plain and simple. After all the weeks of planning and preparation why play an untried line up? The players themselves looked ill at ease. The central midfield was unbalanced and overly defensive. It also sat too deep and left our defence exposed. I felt sorry for Humphrey and Murphy who received appalling service and for John Sutton who received nothing in the way of ammunition. Given our central midfield shortcomings John Sutton is not suited to playing as a lone striker. I thought our tactics may have been ok for the first 20 minutes to settle our "rabbits" down a bit and get their eyesight used to the headlights but after that we had to go out and attack. Trying to contain Celtic for 70 minutes or so is no plan for winning a cup final. The team contained some very talented individuals but ultimately lacked the character and leadership of the 91 team. Time for a well earned summer rest now and hopefully SM will set about reshaping the squad and introducing a better balance. As far as I'm concerned the final will be remembered for 2 things: bringing in some much needed cash and a tremendous fans display. The onfield performance is instantly forgettable.