Kmcalpin

I think we 'll see a few comings and goings but not a major rebuild. Candidates to be shipped out might include: Koutroumbis, Davor, Blaney, Callachan, and Stuparevic and Tavares. There's 6 names and even if only 3 leave either permanently or on loan, it clears some space. We definitely need a permanent defensive midfielder and maybe a loanee creative one. The midfield is far too lightweight as it is. The defence needs strengthened although SK doesn't seem to know how to go about it and I don't see much movement there. We're a wee bit lightweight up front. A big physical target man would be top of my list. In short 3/4 departures and 3/4 coming in?

That said, our defending both before and after the goal was very poor. Our habitual failings were again on show. An inability or unwillingness to prevent crosses; defending far too deeply and generosity in allowing opponents time and space well inside our box. Lennon Miller's presence would have made no difference whatsoever to these weaknesses.

Its all too easy to write today off as a bad day as the office and attribute it to injuries/flu virus whatever. However this is the latest in a long series of stinking results including Hibs and Dundee, and thats not taking into account stinking performances. It might be different if we were playing good football , but we aren't. SK won't be fired now but he won't last indefinitely if this trend continues

Next up Aberdeen, who are looking for some help. Despite that, 3 points are a must for us.

I can live with that to be quite honest as long as it produces results, but it doesn't, and thats the problem. We simply don't have the players to play like that. Its comforting to know thought that had Lennon MIller played we'd still have lost. Today was always going to be hard and I'm relaxed about the result. My big disappointment was in not beating Killie a few weeks ago. This was always going to be a difficult run.

Still no sign of Slattery.

A very worthwhile venture we should all support.

A foot injury apparently.

It might also depend on what referee turns up too. 😒

I wouldn't simply let him go at the end of the his contract but I wouldn't go out of the way to re-sign him either. A few posts above will perhaps explain why some feel this way, if you're puzzled as to why some, including me, think as we do. For me, Weeyin's post sums up my views, better than I could express them. Yes, Callum Slattery's deal is up next summer and there is a year's option (we don't know the details of that though).

Watched the BBC highlights earlier and there's a number of controversial decisions. I largely agree with comments above. At both Sevco's early penalty claim and the Lennon Miller's yellow card incident, their players should have been booked for simulation. Whats good for Manwhanise is good for them. The first is a clear dive in the box with no actual contact. Lennon MIller's yellow card is a joke, given what he's had to suffer at the boots of thugs masquerading as Klmarnock and Dundee United midfielders who got off scot free. Was it even a foul? Their first goal, apart from being a defensive disaster was an attacker not offside? TW's 2 chalked off goals: a foul on Butland? Very soft and softer than a challenge on the Ox recently, when a goal was awarded (no VAR check). The offside call was very tight indeed, ostensibly a matter of centimetres and neither clear nor obvious. These only serve to highlight inconsistencies in the application of rules, even with the aid of VAR. Similar incidents have occurred in recent matches against Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Celtic with very different outcomes.

Yes. I think too, that Ewan Wilson is more suited to a back 4, as mentioned by Cameron on P & B.

I think he's a bit like Bevis in that he plays well for 85 minutes, then lose concentration for the remaining 5. There's also a strong possibility that he doesn't play well with some combination of Gordon, Balmer and Blaney. Our central defence clearly needs sorting out and although McGinn's return may help its not the complete answer.

One of my bugbears too which we witness week week out. Just watched the highlights and it was evident from early on. Rangers' first goal was a defensive disaster. Wilson fails to or more likely doesn't even try to stop the cross. Cerny was given all the time and space he wanted to pinpoint his target which does. Why oh why do we do this? Opponents don't afford us this generosity. The ball then finds its completely unmarked target, a few feet from goal who picks his spot. Harry Paton although nearby, covering nobody. Typical of many goals we lose.

A fair bit of merit in what you say. However Sevco and Celtic are big enough and powerful enough to intimidate the SFA/SPFL, their officials and the media. Referees cannot stand up to them and consciously or otherwise tend to favour them, maybe for understandable reasons. The media is scared stiff that if they upset them they will be denied access to them for reporting and that in turn will affect their sales. Its a different story, in varying degrees, however for the other clubs. In terms of VAR and refereeing you'd hope that any complaints would be met with indifference but more likely than not they're met with covert hostility. It might look good to the fans if SK sounds off aggressively and might make him feel better, but its only going to elicit a stubborn reaction from many officials. That said he's only human and I'd probably do the same in his situation. The problem is that its our players and we fans who'll suffer when referees and VAR officials kickback. Again being human, its a very detached emotionless individual who can go out of their way to be fair to someone who's made a very public complaint againt them. I once asked an established referee what he considered to be dissent. His reply was it varies according to the individual. If some players constantly moaned or complained he would deal with them more harshly. I also recall one of our players telling me outside outside Tynecastle that he'd be yellow carded in the game, because the referee didn't like him. He was and not for anything serious or obvious. At our level, you don't beat the system.

Assuming that's the case (I haven't yet seen it), it would not be a foul anywhere else on the pitch.

Unfortunately that is the case. Only 2 teams are allowed to question match officials.

Hopefully we'll see something of Jack Vale in this game even if only for a few minutes. The team will have gained a boost from today's result and a draw is not impossible. Just hope we don't enrage the officials in the next few days before the game.

We can thank SK for that. We shouldn't start battles we can't win. The officials had a point to prove.

I had to miss the game today but am extremely delighted with the point, given the way we're playing just now. Great to rack up a 2 goal lead but it was never going to last as our game management is very very poor. Put it this way if we hadn't scored a second its a game we'd have lost, possibly by more than a goal. I can't comment on the VAR incidents. Overall a good day. We're still in 6th spot and increased our cushion over St Johnstone. That should always be our first priority.

Yes, encouraging that McGinn is on the bench. Vale and Slattery must just have missed out.

I'm not defending any fans. For the record, I'm against the use of pyros in large crowds, football related or not. They should only be used for the purpose for which they are legally intended. My point is that legislation should outlaw their use and be extended to cover all crowds, irrespective of why that crowd had gathered. In general terms it seems to be legal, under current legislation, to set off pyros anywhere in a public crowd as long it's done as part of a non football related protest, demonstration. or celebration. The legislation needs to be standardised. Irrespective of the location, or purpose, they can be serious for folk with breathing conditions. I agree with your last point.

I was not speculating on the alleged incidents. The first paragraph is factual and pretty much lifted from a BBC report, which is slightly more specific than my summary. My second paragraph is a general point about pyros and current legislation. Yes, it is very much for the courts to deal with the alleged incidents and I make no comment about the specifics.

Mcginn - + 1 year option (not sure on whose side) Ox - signed until at least 2027 Blaney OOC don't renew. Callachan OOC don't renew. Casey OOC renew on same or slightly reduced terms Ebiye OOC don't renew Paton OOC definitely renew Slattery OOC ? assess next 6 months Davor OOC don't renew The Ox is not an issue as San says. Of the others, I'd only really want to retain Harry Paton.

Only prediction I'll make is that we won't keep a clean sheet and we'll strruggle to get a shot on target.