weeyin Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Or maybe we replace the dead wood in our squad with someone better than them and Imrie? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 I'm not so sure. Is Samson better than Ripley? Mibbes aye mibbes naw. Taylor - I'd agree. Grimshaw - not bad but no standout. Central midfield continues to be a weak area for us and it needs fixed PDQ. Mark McGhee said that we need more cover there. I think this is the thing, much like Desp I think Ripley is the better of the 3 keepers but I don't think at the moment he's substantially better for it to be too much of a loss were he to go back to Boro and we see out the season with Samson with the caveat being that the budget being used is allocated to the midfield and bringing in a player who can affect that position. Taylor is just the wrong player for us on every level. Grimshaw I actually like and I think he's got a number of worthwhile attributes but as I said above we need a player in there who can actually improve the team and I don't think that's him at the moment. I'd argue that we don't actually need cover in midfield but rather we need a player who will be a first pick and will actually improve that area of the team rather than simply being a body there who's just 'alright'. Same goes for a few other positions, take Chalmers for example he was by all accounts brought in as 'cover', a direct replacement in the squad for Francis-Angol if you will. However ultimately given Hammell's increasingly persistent injury record what we actually needed was a player who is good enough to be a first team pick. Law is another one, on his day he's a decent enough right back who does a job and he's improved a bit in a few games under McGhee but to me he's a squad player at best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONeils40yarder Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Our squad is far too big, full of players who just arent good enough. For the 1st time that I can remember, I'm actually unsure as to what my 1-11 would be if I had the choice and everyone was fit, because there are areas of the park that we have 2 or even 3 choices of who to play and they are all as poor as each other. What I want to see, before another player is brought in, is that several are shown the door. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 I'd argue that we don't actually need cover in midfield but rather we need a player who will be a first pick and will actually improve that area of the team rather than simply being a body there who's just 'alright'. Same goes for a few other positions, take Chalmers for example he was by all accounts brought in as 'cover', a direct replacement in the squad for Francis-Angol if you will. However ultimately given Hammell's increasingly persistent injury record what we actually needed was a player who is good enough to be a first team pick. Law is another one, on his day he's a decent enough right back who does a job and he's improved a bit in a few games under McGhee but to me he's a squad player at best. My thoughts exactly, in hindsight my use of the term "cover" was wrong. I wouldn't be unhappy if Ripley went back to Middlesborough and we used that cash to source a defensive central midfielder to play alongside Pearson. We also need 2 replacement first choice fullbacks. The question as to how much Stevie Hammell can give us is fast becoming academic given his injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milo Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Our squad is far too big, full of players who just arent good enough. For the 1st time that I can remember, I'm actually unsure as to what my 1-11 would be if I had the choice and everyone was fit, because there are areas of the park that we have 2 or even 3 choices of who to play and they are all as poor as each other. What I want to see, before another player is brought in, is that several are shown the door. I would agree with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 What I want to see, before another player is brought in, is that several are shown the door. I don't disagree, it's compounded by the fact that IIRC both Reid and Moore's loans are only until January so unless they extend with St Mirren and Ayr that's two players who will be coming back to the club. Realistically who can we move on? Ripley and Grimshaw's loans are only until January so that's two. Taylor's deal was supposedly until the end of the season with the 'break' option in January the club mentioned when he signed so presumably that means the deal can be finished early without too much hassle. Beyond that I suppose we're looking at players whose contracts finish in the summer. Given the recent accounts make harsh reading and given we've already had to sack Baraclough are we in a position to write off the remaining months of a couple of players contracts and bring another couple of players in who are substantially better than what we have or failing that would we anyone be willing to take guys like Robinson or Clarkson off our hands on loan to get them off the wage bill or in the case of Clarkson simply get him playing first team football again? If we were to extend Ripley's loan could we loan one of Samson or Twardzik? Lets assume that the 3 loanees go back to their parent clubs and both Reid and Moore extend their loans, that leaves us with a 1st team squad of 19 players for a match day squad of 17. I may be missing someone but by my count it'd be; GK - Samson, Twardzik DF - Hammell, McManus, Laing, Kennedy, Law, Chalmers MF - Lasley, Pearson, Ainsworth, Johnson, Thomas, J. Leitch FW - McDonald, Moult, Robinson, Fletcher, Clarkson From that 19 I'd have said you'd be looking at a first XI of; Samson Law - Kennedy - McManus - Hammell J. Leitch - Lasley - Pearson Ainsworth McDonald - Moult Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderpig Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 I'd take Imrie over a good few of the dicks in our current squad All you get by punting 2 or 3 Arseholes from the squad and bringing in 1 more is a smaller wage bill, no improvement in quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 From that 19 I'd have said you'd be looking at a first XI of; Samson Law - Kennedy - McManus - Hammell J. Leitch - Lasley - Pearson Ainsworth McDonald - Moult Agree with most of that but think Laing or Johnson would replace Leitch in the starting line up, going by MMcG's comments last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Agree with most of that but think Laing or Johnson would replace Leitch in the starting line up, going by MMcG's comments last week. Fair point, it was intended to be illustrative more than anything else. He seems to want to play 3 central midfielders so unless Johnson dramatically modifies his game I'd imagine it'd be either/or between him and Ainsworth for the position on the wing. I'm not sure how telling this is but I think I'm right in saying that Leitch is the only one of the outfield players in the first team squad who hasn't seen any game time under McGhee yet has been on the bench for 4 of his 5 games. If I'm being honest, in the context of the conversation here, supposing the 3 loan players do move back to their parent clubs, that's the position I'd think we need an upgrade for in January anyway. As I say, I like Grimshaw and he may well go on to have a decent enough career but at the moment he's not better than what we've got and what we need (IMO) is a player who is markedly better than either Lasley, Leitch or Grimshaw himself in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrosshillWell Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 As I say, I like Grimshaw and he may well go on to have a decent enough career but at the moment he's not better than what we've got and what we need (IMO) is a player who is markedly better than either Lasley, Leitch or Grimshaw himself in there. I completely agree. It seems that Jack Leitch isn't going to be given a chance at staking a claim. He's yet to feature under McGee and has now worked under three permanent managers. I thought he showed a lot more potential than Carswell. Some players haven't worked out this term, Taylor, Robinson and Clarkson spring to mind, and we've had some unfortunate injuries. We just didn't seem to recruit any particular quality and I'm more disappointed in McDonald than I ever was with McFadden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kmcalpin Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 I'm not sure how telling this is but I think I'm right in saying that Leitch is the only one of the outfield players in the first team squad who hasn't seen any game time under McGhee yet has been on the bench for 4 of his 5 games. I think you're right about that. From memory, at the recent Well Society evening MMcMG said something like "Jack Leitch wasn't ready to start" in a passing comment. Maybe someone else who was at the meeting could verify that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobey_Dosser Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 In his pre-match interview this week, McGhee hoped that young players, namely Cadden, Thomas and Mackin, could be worked on by him and his staff with a view to being ready for the first team next summer. If Leitch gets an opportunity he needs to take it this time. Otherwise he'll be off in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superward Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 Leitch is getting a chance to impress in the 20's and the games I have seen he hasn't really done that. Not writing him off at all but he needs to do a bit more for a player. Needs to kick on. The 3 mentioned above as well as McMillan and Watt are the ones I am always usually impressed by. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvinBragg Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 Leitch is getting a chance to impress in the 20's and the games I have seen he hasn't really done that. Not writing him off at all but he needs to do a bit more for a player. Needs to kick on. The 3 mentioned above as well as McMillan and Watt are the ones I am always usually impressed by.I would add Ross McLean to that list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busta Nut Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I can't believe how much stick Ripley gets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigeeze Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I can't believe how much stick Ripley gets. I can't beleive how much leeway he gets. If Dan conceded in the same manner people on here would give him way more abuse/ pelters 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busta Nut Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I can't beleive how much leeway he gets. If Dan conceded in the same manner people on here would give him way more abuse/ pelters I think the opposite to be honest, if Dan made these errors they'd be swept to the side by the saves he made. Either way he is 15 times the goalie Dan is. I canny mind what Samson is like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigeeze Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I think the opposite to be honest, if Dan made these errors they'd be swept to the side by the saves he made. Either way he is 15 times the goalie Dan is. I canny mind what Samson is like. I feel if Ripley was that much better we would be better placed despite the short comings of those around him. So let's agree to disagree lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lobey_Dosser Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Twardzik would have been roasted if that was him on Saturday. Ripley was slow off his line for the 1st and after getting caught out of position, his footwork was horrible for the 2nd. He also appears to have no spring in his jump when crossed balls come in. The big unit is nowhere near good enough at present. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Ripley has been an average keeper since he came in. He is no-where near the Ruddy/Randolph quality but also nowhere near the Hollis, Nielson and Twardzik level either. I agree he was a little slow off his line for the 1st on Saturday but he was left completely exposed by the back line in front of him. The second was a superb strike and I wouldnt blame him at all for it. I would be happy enough with him to remain after January. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
something else Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Think we need to give Samson a chance. Ripley was badly at fault for the 2nd on Saturday. The ball travelled a long way and at a decent height, no way should he have been beaten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shire Greats Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I can't beleive how much leeway he gets. If Dan conceded in the same manner people on here would give him way more abuse/ pelters I think big Ripley is better than Dan.The second goal was the type Dan specialised in ,straight through his hands.I didn't think the big man was especially at fault on Saturday and also had a couple of great saves.That's the last 2 managers who have played him in front of Dan,so theyre must be something init Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Mitch has pretty much summed up my view on Ripley; better than Dan/Hollis not as good as Randolph or Ruddy (who was at fault for the goal Norwich lost at the weekend co-incidentally). As far as the 2 goals he conceded at the weekend go yeah he could maybe have done better but he was left exposed by his back 4 for the first and for the 2nd our midfield and defence just let Sow hit it, certainly you can ask a question of whether or not someone of Ripley's size should be beaten from 30 yards but at the same time if a midfielder closes him and puts him under pressure then he doesn't hit it anywhere near as cleanly or he doesn't bother and just shifts the ball out to his left. In the end we stood and watched him. The idea that Ripley was exclusively at fault for the goals is just harsh in the extreme. There's a case to be made for him having cost us a few goals this season, no doubt but I don't think that's the case with those conceded on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiderpig Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I feel if Ripley was that much better we would be better placed despite the short comings of those around him. So let's agree to disagree lol considering some of the utter dross we have had for keepers recently Hollis, Neilsen, and yes Twardzik (3rd choice at Dundee when McCall signed him) Ripley is a step up in class. Granted he is not a Ruddy or Randolph but he is miles better than what we had and if he goes back to Boro in January then we have Samson to step in, who is also better than Twardzik. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Bremner Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 on the ripley debate he's a very good "young" keeper and i hope we sign the lad at the end of the season a couple of more years (if he stays here) he will develop into a solid goal keeper we have to look at ourselves as a developing club in a lot of ways and we have to be more patient with certain players Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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