MelvinBragg

As much as I love Louis Moult, this is not a new problem for us. John Sutton averaged nearly a goal every two starts for Motherwell. Michael Higdon scored 43 goals in 81 starts. Porter was a similar story. These guys move on, we find a way of making it work, maybe not replacing with the same type of player, but we'll come up with something. And if we don't, then we replace the manager with someone who can make it work...

I suspect we'll lose Cadden and Moult in January which is fine because that's the model we are using. Good to know we have targets lined up but pretty relaxed about it given we have options within the squad. Bear in mind we went to Dens Park and won without Cadden, Moult or Rose in the starting eleven. Campbell, Plummer and MacLean weren't even in the squad that night. Obviously it's a concern losing arguably our two best players but we have a good few points on the board already and even without those two, I reckon we'll have enough about us to stay out of trouble. Would feel a good bit more relaxed if big Bowman could hit some form again. Feel as if he hasn't really been the same since the semi final witch hunt. In terms of the summer, Hammell, Watt and Plummer will probably be away. Of those three, Plummer is the only question mark. If he can force his way into the team, which given our form hasn't been easy, he may yet earn another deal. Newell and Petravicius are both young and will be seen as prospects so expect us to offer them deals. Pretty much everyone else will be offered a new deal. Whether they sign it or not is a different question...

I suspect when Cadden's slot is up for grabs Robinson is hoping that the competition for right midfield/attacking midfield will bring the best out of MacLean and Tanner...

I'm kind of with Robinson on this one. As soft as the penalty was (and it was very soft), let's focus on how well our team did. We rode our luck with some of their chances as you always have to against a team with better players but for our defence and goalkeeper to hold them out for as long three days after chasing the ball for half an hour with ten men is impressive. By focusing on the penalty, we fail to give our players the credit they deserve. I don't think that on paper we have the second, third or even fourth best squad in the league but on our day we'll give anyone a game...

If these are the rules, then football is becoming a game I won't watch...

Not at the game, haven't seen it, wouldn't be surprised...

Could equally be back to 352 with Frear and Tait as wing backs...

All I know is that a player on the fringe of things has been told not to worry as there are likely to be players moving on in January...

Not what was suggested to me...

All three of them are players I like and that I feel have something to offer. But if our formations of choice are 352 or recently 4312, I don't see where any of them get a starting spot. Bigirimana has been sidelined by the good form of Rose and Campbell. The fact that Grimshaw now seems to have moved ahead of him in the race for a midfield spot means he's 5th choice for a starting midfield place. Is he physical enough for our style of hounding the opposition midfield? Tanner, I think is a great player. Could he play as the 1 in a 4312 against lesser teams? Then where do you play Cadden? Or is it time to give Tanner another shot as second striker given Bowman's form has tailed off a bit thanks a bit to the semi furore. Robinson certainly seems to rate him so I think we'll be trying to find a way to get him into the team without weakening the overall shape. Frear is a winger. Where he fits unless we play 433 (442 or 451 would be suicide), I'm not sure. We are missing the balance he offers on the left so would like to see him in the team but both Cadden and Tait deserve their starting spots on current form. I'm not criticising any of the three players or Robinson and it's a refreshing change to have options on the bench but if Bigirimana can't even make the bench and we have the likes of Ross MacLean in a similar position, could his wages be better spent elsewhere? Central defence where we have less cover? Good headache to have but nonetheless a headache...

Harsh. We play with strikers. If you're suggesting we're a physical team that relies on set pieces and crosses into the box then you're probably correct. Invariably our midfield three this season has comprised of three hard working midfielders with creativity such as it is, provided by the wing backs or getting the ball into the front two quickly. Is it working? Results say yes. Is it dreadful to watch? I wouldn't say so. Tait and Cadden have been very good going forward in the wing back roles. It does lead to the question where the likes of Frear, Tanner and Bigirimana fit into our system...

Isn't that what Bigirimana was supposed to bring? Given he didn't make the 18 on Sunday, have to figure that he's down the pecking order...

I hear on the grapevine that one or two players might be moving on in January. No names but midfield seems to be the area in question...

Actually can see a flaw in the club's logic. Given we'll be in Europe having won the Scottish Cup, our first league cup tie could be a tricky one...

I can see what you're saying and I agree to an extent, can also see the club's thinking. It's not going to change the fact that we didn't win the cup, will it make us feel any better to be told that 'Aye, you were robbed of a chance to get back into it'? As to Celtic fans' opinions? The few I know have been pretty up front with me in saying that it wasn't a penalty or a red card. Those on social media or elsewhere who want to delude themselves that this is us admitting it was the right decision? They can tell themselves that if they want, I'm not getting into a battle of wits with an unarmed man...

No matter what happened on Sunday, I was never going to make this game. I suspect we are going to be in for a bit of a doing, not simply because it's Celtic but because we spent half an hour on Sunday with 10 men chasing the ball all over a massive pitch. Need to be looking to freshen up midfield and forward areas for that reason alone (we don't really have the personnel to change the defence much). I'd go with Carson Tait Kipré Hartley Dunne Campbell Bigirimana Grimshaw Tanner Moult Frear

I agree. Would still take it though to be the team to stop their unbeaten run...

I was actually pretty alright about yesterday (well, as alright as it's possible to be) having seen this all before. Being in relegation battles, losing to Albion Rovers in the cup, administration, all these things make losing in a cup final seem like a "high class problem". However when a Celtic fan at my work said to me that "at least you had your day out" it was just too patronising for me to take. Just fuck the fuck off...

Aye, would be interested to hear from those at the game. Apparently we had a back four. Beyond that, I have no idea. No natural left midfielder so maybe a diamond midfield..?

Carson Kipré Hartley Dunne Cadden Grimshaw McHugh Rose Tait Moult Bowman Subs Griffiths Plummer Campbell Frear Tanner Fisher Petravicius

No chance...

I was going to say something similar but then I thought about it. In the last 15 years, we've finished in the top three several times, qualified for Europe on a few occasions and been to two cup finals and several semi finals. On that basis alone, the players from the recent past have as much right as any to be included. Perhaps we're guilty of dismissing recent achievements a bit too easily...

Interesting that neither of the Dundee clubs may be involved so you might say that Aberdeen has the pick of players in the North...

The best I've seen Bigirimana and Tanner play was away at Hibs when they came on in the second half when space was opening up so there may be something in 'keep it tight, playing your more physical midfield in the first half' theory. Of course, the flipside to that is that we may be trying to vary our approach to combat teams knowing our style...

Can't give anyone a three goal start and expect anything...