capt_oats Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Good post. My overall impression is that we've improved since last season whilst rival clubs have tended to tread water or deteriorate. We have an improved squad, look to be better organised and have had a better season injury wise. That said, there's still considerable scope for improvement. The goals we lost on Saturday and the first at McDiarmid Park are still goals that we were losing 3,4,5 years ago. Maybe we're now losing less of them? We are scoring more and our striking department is definitely better than it was ie compare Moult and Sutton. Freak results like Tynecastle can always happen and hopefully it'll be a one off this season. I think where it's quite interesting is where the improvement has been. For example, when Baraclough was emptied we had 2 wins and a draw from 8 games so 7 points from 24 that was exactly the same as McCall's opening 8 games last season. A limited sample granted but it works out at 0.87 ppg or 29% of the points available (just for the sake of comparison by the time McCall eventually walked it was 7 points from 36, 0.58 ppg, 19% of available points) Since McGhee's come in, for better or worse in terms of performances and regardless of the extent to which he may or may not have rubbed some fans the wrong way, he's taken 22 points from 18 games (1.22 ppg or 40% of points available) so with that information alone and especially considering he's had exactly the same squad of players to work with as Baraclough had (the 6 month loan of Gomis being the only addition to the squad he inherited) there's been an improvement not only from where we were last season but from where we were when Baraclough left. There's still clearly massive room for improvement and results could obviously have been significantly better had it not been for lapses in concentration from players or unnecessarily messing around with shape but as a bare comparison between where we were and where we are now it's definitely small steps forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goggles & Flippers Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Certainly helps when some of the players are giving you 100% opposed to downing tools like they did in the past it could be argued. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Killie are already a goal down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnstone Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I have said it before, but outwith Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts all the other teams could beat each other. Also all the other teams have similar budgets... The only team in that group who have been consistently poor is Dundee Utd and also they have a high player budget, but they also seem to have come on to a bit of a game. As Skippy said 'making the top six is the best chance to avoid a relegation battle' and I think we have every chance of making that. As do about 6 other teams!! It's a crazy season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Bezzer! Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 There's still clearly massive room for improvement and results could obviously have been significantly better had it not been for lapses in concentration from players or unnecessarily messing around with shape but as a bare comparison between where we were and where we are now it's definitely small steps forward. I don't think there is room for "massive improvement". We can be better than we have been but we've come through a period where the bigger city clubs were in disarray and that period looks like it's over now and everything is returning to 'normal'. Aberdeen and Hearts look miles ahead of any provincial club this season and certainly Rangers and perhaps Hibs will be in the top league again next season and you'd have to imagine they will be Top 6 sides. Right now we are 4 points behind the best of the provincial clubs and I don't really think there is much chance of us competing beyond that level, ie, with any city clubs in the near future with the exception of Dundee United. I grew up in the 80's and back then Motherwell finishing higher than 8th was eye popping. The year we won the cup we finished 6th in the league which was an amazing achievement in itself in an era of football when Aberdeen, Rangers, Celtic, Dundee, Dundee Utd, Hearts and Hibs basically had a hegemony in the top half of the league. I reckon we are going back to the days when gate money basically determines where you finish in the league - with the odd anomoly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dezz Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Results going in our favour tonight, particularly with Killie losing again. Not really looking like Clark is giving them the new manager bounce that you often see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 I don't think there is room for "massive improvement". We can be better than we have been but we've come through a period where the bigger city clubs were in disarray and that period looks like it's over now and everything is returning to 'normal'. Aberdeen and Hearts look miles ahead of any provincial club this season and certainly Rangers and perhaps Hibs will be in the top league again next season and you'd have to imagine they will be Top 6 sides. Right now we are 4 points behind the best of the provincial clubs and I don't really think there is much chance of us competing beyond that level, ie, with any city clubs in the near future with the exception of Dundee United. I grew up in the 80's and back then Motherwell finishing higher than 8th was eye popping. The year we won the cup we finished 6th in the league which was an amazing achievement in itself in an era of football when Aberdeen, Rangers, Celtic, Dundee, Dundee Utd, Hearts and Hibs basically had a hegemony in the top half of the league. I reckon we are going back to the days when gate money basically determines where you finish in the league - with the odd anomoly. I don't disagree, perhaps I was overstating a bit by saying a 'massive improvement'. I wasn't necessity meaning an improvement in league position more in terms of performance. Given some of the cheap goals we've lost this season that have cost us points there's room for us to be better in that respect. In turn even a marginal improvement could/would have a fairly significant impact on our season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 Results going in our favour tonight, particularly with Killie losing again. Not really looking like Clark is giving them the new manager bounce that you often see. We can't rely on others doing us a favour but yes this was a good result for us. Our crowds aren't great but Killie only attracted 2,600 or thereabouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dezz Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 We can't rely on others doing us a favour but yes this was a good result for us. Our crowds aren't great but Killie only attracted 2,600 or thereabouts. Totally agree. You saw what happened with County last year and the run they went on to get out of trouble so we can't rely on the teams below us continuing to drop points. With Killie away at Aberdeen next, and Partick playing the top 3 plus St Johnstone away in the next two weeks you'd hope both those sides won't be adding much to their points total. It makes our game against Accies huge and a positive result could see a bit of a gap opening between us and 11th. All ifs and buts obviously but I quite enjoy looking into all the permutations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 If we time a purple patch right, we may be lucky and scrape top 6. Even 7th would mean teams below us cutting each others throats. Win our game in hand and we're 6 ahead of Killie with games running out. Very much up to us if we stay up or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Killie are easing my play-off fears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Win our game in hand and we're 6 ahead of Killie with games running out. 7 points ahead surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Killie are easing my play-off fears. Killie will be easing Dundee utds relegation fears with the form they are in.We seen it last season and hibs the season before,once you start sliding its hard to stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texanwellfan Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Looking at our 5 games to the split I think we need to take 6 points form the accies and Utd games. Might not get a lot from Aberdeen, Caley and Celtic, although with Motherwell you just never know. Then win 2 games after the split and I think we should be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaag Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I think 2 wins before the split will see us do enough to remain in the top flight. Could get used to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 We had 36 points and hibs had 35 in the 2 years of the play-offs. We are already on 32, can't see us not picking up another 8-10 points from our 10 remaining games. Which should see us safe?? 7+ points before the split might see us pip St Johnstone or Dundee?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Bezzer! Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 We had 36 points and hibs had 35 in the 2 years of the play-offs. We are already on 32, can't see us not picking up another 8-10 points from our 10 remaining games. Which should see us safe?? 7+ points before the split might see us pip St Johnstone or Dundee?? Don't think 35/36 points will do it this season. 40 points keeps you safe three quarters of the time but doesn't guarentee it. Think we should be looking to put another 10 points on the board, minimum. The highest points total for 11th is 43 points I think and that was the only time it's been above 41 points. It will be interesting to see if Dundee Utd can keep up their revival, if they do they could take valuable points away from the other bottom 6 teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeyin Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Certainly, earlier in the season, 40 points was the number McGhee was quoting as "safe" and when he thought he could bring in more youngsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 We should be looking to target at least 41-43 points. We only need around 10 points to achieve this target, a target that I would be surprised if we didn’t reach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Bezzer! Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 With goal difference we basically have a 5 point lead and a game in hand against Kilmarnock. Could do with Aberdeen, Celtic and St. Johnstone all winning tonight though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Could do with Aberdeen, Celtic and St. Johnstone all winning tonight though! Yes this would be helpful. The way Aberdeen have been playing of late I think United will get at least a draw. And I wouldn’t put it past them to get all 3 points, to turn the screw on Killie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Not a great start, 2-0 Thistle after 13 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The African Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 While I'd rather Thistle lost, this result would keep Saints in the mix. We really could do with a win on Saturday. Have to do the business ourselves, then anything that other results give us is a bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 St.Johnstone have been poor of late. I am sure Thistle have a good record against them, so this result is not a surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Aberdeen 1-0 up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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