couttsy

Bloody hell that was tough watch yesterday. We essentially gift wrapped the game and gave it to them within 20 mins. Although I have to say again, the reaction in the 2nd half wasn’t that of a team that’s downed tools and accepted its fate. Rangers maybe took the foot off the gas, and we maybe got fortunate with the offside goals, but we battled away and pushed them back for long spells. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one thinking this could get embarrassing when the 2nd goal went in within 20 mins! Think someone said it before but it feels like we’re in some kind of holding pattern with SK, the team is clearly still behind him and we’re picking up a point here and there, but I think we all know it’s not enough. As others have said this week looks like make or break time. We need to beat Livi on Sat and potentially pick up a point or 2 away to Aberdeen/Hibs or even I admit it’s time for a change. I still think SK has what it takes to turn it around but he’s rapidly running out of time sadly. As and aside, and not one that’s been talked about a lot, but we’ve been very unlucky with injuries this season. At the start of the season we hardly had a fit striker, and for the last few games we’ve haven’t any of our first choice back 3 from last season fit. Add to that Miller getting a long term injury after nailing down his position in the team, and it’s all been very disruptive.

Kelly for me, made a couple of good saves in the 1st half, the one from Cantwell in particular. Surprised at the number of votes for Davor, thought he was very poor, particularly in the 1st half.

Yeh, couldn’t argue if he goes with the same again, however I don’t think there’s much doubt McGinn is generally better than O’Donnell on the right side of a 3. What will piss me off is if he moves Spencer back to LWB, O’Donnell to RWB and replaces Gent with McGinn (although I suspect that’s what he’ll do)

With McGinn fit again it’ll be interesting to see what Kettlewell’s selection at the back will look like. I assume Mugabi, Blaney and Spencer will all start, but which 2 from McGinn, O’Donnell and Gent will? For me it would be McGinn and Gent, however I suspect SK will be tempted to go back to McGinn and O’Donnell giving experience against Rangers as the main reason. With Butcher not likely fit enough yet, and Miller & Casey still out, I suspect the rest of the team will be exactly what we started with in Paisley with Slattery, Davor, Paton, Spittal and Biereth.

Unpopular opinion I’d imagine but we need more from Mika. Unfortunately Gogic has had him in his pocket so far. Let’s hope the 2nd half is different.

Pretty even first half with both teams huffing and puffing in horrible conditions. Hate myself, but have spent the whole first half just waiting on our defensive mistake.

You start your post with "complete pish" and then go on to compare a multi Ballon d'Or winning striker playing in a very strong Portugal team, with a goalkeeper playing for a very poor Motherwell side in a crisis! This place gets crazier by the day.... The big difference with goalkeepers compared with outfield players is that you can't just keep changing them. What if Oxborourgh comes in and makes a couple of errors in his first game, do you go back to Kelly? Or do we see who the third keeper is and try them like you would with an outfield player? I know that at some point even a goalkeeper will need dropped, however I just don't think we're at that point yet, especially when next up we have a very inexperienced, untested rookie.

Agree with David, Star Sail, and Denny, no doubt Kelly’s going through a very rough patch, and if he was an outfielder player he would have been “rested” by now, however dropping him at this stage for a goalie very few of us have seen much of (and the manager has overlooked for months) would be a huge gamble. Kelly is an experienced player at this stage in his career and given time and support he’ll come good.

Gent, no contest in my opinion, the boy had a cracking game.

With Butcher, McGinn, Casey, Miller and Paton all out, I suspect we’ll see a 5-3-2 again: Kelly SOD Mugabi Blaney Spencer Spittal Davor Slattery Gent Biereth Obika If he starts 3 forwards with Spittal and Slattery in midfield then I think he’s trying to get the sack!

I think you’re letting very recent performances cloud your judgement slightly here. In my opinion Kelly, Butcher, McGinn and Spittal have all proved over a much longer period than the last couple of months that they are more than good enough in this league. Suppose there is a question mark over Mcginn and Butcher age wise but still. Id be happy to keep those 4 and Casey. The 2 loan boys in Beireth and Spencer are deffo good enough but not likely to stay. Miller will come back in after injury, those apart I’d be happy to see the rest go.

As if we weren’t already under enough pressure to get a result on Saturday, that late St Johnstone goal just cranks it up a little more 😞

Agree the recruitment has been poor and that Miller has been a big miss (bigger than I expected or than he should be at 17), but looking specifically at last night he could easily have started Davor and/or Butcher in there.

Ive defended Kettlewell on here and being honest I thought he would turn it around, however last nights team selection after what we watched on Saturday was crazy, if anything we should have been looking at how we get more bodies in the middle of the park, not less! To start with only Spittal & Slattery as proper midfield players playing away from home was mad! However to suggest he’s lost the dressing is nonsense (last night apart) the one thing we have shown in recent weeks is a great spirit to get back into games! St Johnstone away, County at home and Celtic away, all in recent weeks. i think he’ll get Saturday, but with confidence shot to pieces, injuries piling, and a manager that seems to have lost the ability to set us up hard to beat I’m not confident to say the least.

I assume we’re now 3-5-2 with O’Donnell right side of the 3 at the back. Much more like what we should have started with.

Hope I’m wrong but a team with only 2 genuine midfield players away from home doesn’t normally end well.

Not sure we can say whether a draw tonight is a good result or not without considering Saturday. Despite the situation we’re in I still think a point tonight is a good result, however only if we do what is expect of us (bookies will have us as favourites) and win on Saturday. 4 points out of these 2 games would see us going to Paisley unbeaten in 4. I’d take that!

Have to be honest I’m very surprised at so many votes for Bevis. Maybe I need to see the goals again on TV, but thought he played his part in some very poor defending for the goals we conceded!

At least we got a point, that’s the positives out the way! In fairness I thought SK picked the right team, however it was apparent half way through the first half that Dundee were being afforded far too much space (number 10 in particular) Didnt make it to Celtic park last week but Butcher in Midfield was horrible today, he sat too deep, didn’t pick up runners and was generally too slow. That position is a big problem with young Miller out. We deffo have more problems than solutions after today! Fair play to Wilkinson for keeping his composure and winning us a point. Particularly given he’d been terrible up until then!

Interesting to say the least that we appear to have changed nothing at half time.

Have been firmly in the Kettlewell in camp, but that first half was tactically horrific. So so obvious even at 1-0 that it was just a matter of time before we lost goals. Giving up far too much possession at home against Dundee. Worrying times.

A bit of Biereth magic apart, they look a league above us in terms of their passing and creativity.

Wish I was playing 10 for Dundee today, freedom of fir park every time they come forward.

Butcher I suspect!

Nope, Kettlewell deffo said in his interview that Slattery is suspended for tomorrow.