superward

Just back. Very disappointing but not an abomination of a performance....certainly not on the level of the start of the season! We set up with a stubborn formation to let them play themselves out which was probably correct given the tricky, fast players they had. Defence quite comfortable majority of the game but our midfield were poor and Sutton isolated. When they went to 10men we had a real chance. We were on top for 10mins after that and really should have taken advantage of it. 2 maybe 3 decent penalty claims for us I thought and Vigurs shot pulled a worldy from the goalie. Any of those 4 going our way change the game. When OB goes off our full game plan changes and we were seeing it out to penalties. Then we go and hit the bar and post in the one move! Our midfield were the big problem for me - second to every ball, no guile or composure and I lost count the amount of times Lasley, Law, Leitch and Vigurs gave the ball away. Twardzik did nowt wrong all night but for penalties he just is not big enough. Never mind the mental aspect of it but he just does not have the reach for shots from that distance out. Not that I am blaming him for the defeat. A frustrating one but I wouldnt be surprised if we beat them on Saturday as they were not better than us tonight.

That's not right - his knockout record in total reads 8 wins - still not awe inspiring I agree. 2013/14 - We won v Livi 2012/13 - Naebody 2011/2012 We won v Clyde, Queens Park, Morton 2010/2011 (McCall joined start of Jan) We won - Dundee, Stranraer, Dundee Utd, St Johnstone Certainly a downward progression through the years...

To play devil's advocate....since McCall has been in charge we have had a: 2010/11: SC Final 2010/11: LC Semi Final (down to Craig Brown admittedly) 2011/12: SC Quarter Finals 2013/14: LC Quarter Finals That's not too bad for a team our size I would say BUT it's the the other 4 campaigns where we got papped out in near enough the first rounds with poor performances that sticks in our memories and needs to be rectified this year

Team News from the press conference: Carswell suspended All players fit except Hammell and Moore (Hammell playing his first bounce/practice game today, Moore has started running again)

Straying slightly off topic here but the whole 'McCall must go' chat we recently had and the comment of MJC strikes me very much of the Jimmy Calderwood/Aberdeen era. Calderwood gave Aberdeen 5 years of league consistency at the top end of table but eventually got the boot due to effectively not doing well in the cup competitions (1 uefa cup run aside). A few years under McGhee and Brown followed with little success and scrabbling around at the bottom of the table. Let's not cut our nose to spite our face

If we don't win his coat will be on a shoogly peg for a lot of the fans that is for sure. It will take McCall to walk though as the club wouldn't sack him I don't think. This is a very important game for everyone - club, fans, McCall - we need it to jumpstart our season into life. So....I think we will find our scoring boots: Hamilton 1 v 3 Motherwell I posted my team earlier in the thread but I do like the look of Kmac's too.

This isnt the game to be the resting anyone and certainly not dropping tbe keeper! In my opionion we should change to be a wee bit more attacking but not too much...4232/451 Dan Reid OB Mick Ramsden Las Carsy Ainsworth Ojamma Vigs Sutton

Dan Kerr OB Mick Ramsden Reid Law Lasley Vigurs ZFA Sutton

Great result today. Super finish from Sutton for the goal and then he missed a sitter. Twardzik again had a lot of critical stops. Mon the wee man!

Formation seems to be Dan Kerr McManus OB Ramsden Reid Lasley Vigurs ZFA Law Sutton Firming up the cover on the wings by the looks of it and its working so far.

No. Only moved due to Celtic playing in Europa.

3 wins on the bounce now after beating Hibs 3 - 1 last night. Higgins seems to be scoring too.

You're funny

So you have went from 8-0 to...somewhere between 3 and 8 then? We will lose but it won't be by 8. Celtic aren't all that good either - good enough to beat us 3-0 though.

Who are these 'quality' candidates then that will be interested and affordable?

She good posts and the majority, for me, have merit. I guess what I do share is the feeling it has become a bit stale but also let's not cut our nose to spite our face and end up with a 'standard' shitey all manager who won't improve us.

Coyle? Behave, never going to happen. Butcher? Huge step back. Nope. Lasley/Hammell/Leitch/Smith? All unproven and too big a risk. Herein lies the problem. We replace him with....whom? We have little to no money to pay the new manager, no transfer budget and currently not in the greatest position to entice anyone. The grass is not always greener and for all of McCalls faults he will be VERY hard to replace when be goes. We can't afford for him to leave and for the club to take a risk and then flounder for half a season.

Good to hear Law and Vigurs showing well. In our setup we really need the creative side of midfield to be working likr a well oiled machine for the team to have a decent chance of success

Sutty's goal....wooft. Just seen it there.

How does it suggest that? Does it not suggest the players who have not been contributing are now...contributing?

Manager had confidence in the players who he picked and they did the job with 2 stonking goals. Simple as that and well done to all. Happy days.

McCall said only Moore, Hammy and Kerr were missing in his press conf yesterday I thought?

I think we will do it today. 2 - 0 to us. 4231 for me... Dan Ramsden OB Mick ZFA Lasley Carswell Ainsworth OJ Vigurs Sutton Law and Erwin on at around 60/70 mins if we need a push. Reid/Lawson on to firm it up of required.

Yeah I got the same call. Upgrading to hospitality for the Patrick at Xmas now.

Haha. Just stating the facts and providing the evidence my friend!