Greenock Morton vs. Saints 12/09/06

[Radford 72]

I know there's ther quarter final thread but thought we needed a dedicated match thread.

Who is all heading through? Should be a cracker of a game at a good old fashioned ground and we're in a section that's condusive to building a good atmosphere. At t'end of day, as much as this is a diddy cup it's still a quarter-final of a national cup competition and it should be a great game. I'm actually really looking forward to it.

I'd line up:

Cuthbert

Lawrie - Anderson - James - Dyer

Stevenson - Sheridan - Sheerin - Stanic

Scotland - MacDonald

Subs: Halliwell, McManus, Jackson, Doris, Coyle

Resting Mensing because he's played every game this season and Milne because he picked up a calf knock on Saturday. Hardie and Chalky are just back from injury so leave them out too.

I'd encourage everyone to go after the way we played on Saturday and the style of both sides. Really should be value for money.

[Broon]

Sheridan doesn't play midweek games does he? Whats the crack with him anyway - how often does he train with us?

[Davey]

im going down, heading straight after work! SO BEVE IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE REMEMBER AN WAIT FOR ME ta :wink:

[Radford 72]

Sheridan doesn't play midweek games does he? Whats the crack with him anyway - how often does he train with us?
He played in a few last season when we got to the later stages and when the games were further south. I expect he'll play since he was only a subbie on Sat.

Travels up and trains with us Friday then heads back South after the game.

Think he trains with his brother's side during the week. Oldham?

[The Real Saints]

From the BBC match preview-

New Saints signing Willie Miller is cup-tied having played in the competition for Airdrie.




:roll:

[Cagey]

I would go with your team Radford but with Jackson instead of McDonald.

[chopper]

Think he trains with his brother's side during the week. Oldham?

Correct

[Scobby_SJFC]

Are we standing at this game?
Hope we are!

[Radford 72]

Are we standing at this game?
Hope we are!
No.

We are in the old Main Stand, a section near the Wee Dublin End that holds about 400.

Should be a cracking atmosphere.

[Scobby_SJFC]

Thats crap, looking forward to it mind you!
Pretty sad we cant get more than 400 now a day, suppose its the challenge cup!

[dunblanemike]

Has the official site got the price info wrong? It says 12 quid but http://www.gmfc.net/club-news/news-view.asp?id=24 says 14. I've emailed Paul to check.

[Radford 72]

Has the official site got the price info wrong? It says 12 quid but http://www.gmfc.net/club-news/news-view.asp?id=24 says 14. I've emailed Paul to check.
It's the same as at McDiarmid, away fans get in to the Main Stand for terracing prices, or what would be East Stand prices at McD.

We're £12 and £7.

[Saintkev]

What's that coming over the hill?
It's Simon Mensing, and he's a monster!

'Mon The Saints!

[Saintkev]

Right back to work for a couple of hours, then it's up to the Twoser... Mickey-Mouse Cup, but it gave us our most enjoyable game and atmosphere of last season, so let's be up for it and hope for more of the same!

M, O, R,
T, O, N,
Morton are the Muppet Men!

Nananananananananaaaaaa, Ooh!

[Ronaldo]

I can't see Owen playing the whole of the first team tonight but probably a core plus some fringe players. That's what he has done in gthe Challenge Cup to date but without douubt Morton are a different proposition from Raith Rovers and Queens Park.
If you take the first team squad to be be the team that played against Partick plus Lawson then I think most of the bench will get a game. I'm not sure whether the fringe players of Willie Dyer, Moon,Jackson, Doris, O'Donnell and Coyle :wink: will ALL play against a team who are really First Division standard.

Partick game: Halliwell ,Mensing ,McManus ,James ,Lawrie ,Hardie (Stevenson ,83 ) ,Sheerin ,McLaren (Sheridan ,74 ) ,Stanic ,Milne (MacDonald ,69 ) ,Scotland
Subs not used Cuthbert,Anderson,

Challenge Cup - Queens Park: Cuthbert ,Lawrie ,Dyer ,Mensing ,Anderson ,James ,Stevenson ,Sheerin ,MacDonald (O'Donnell ,82 ) ,Scotland (Jackson ,72 ) ,Stanic (Moon ,79)
Subs not used: Halliwell,Coyle,

Challenge Cup - Raith Rovers: Cuthbert ,Anderson ,Mensing ,McManus ,Stevenson (sent off 83),James ,Young (Moon ,90 ) ,Dyer ,Milne ,MacDonald (Doris ,60(Coyle ,105 )) ,Sheerin
Subs not used: Lawrie,Halliwell,

I've seen some of their players before like Derek Lilley (well travelled) and Chris templeman (also very experienced), but Paul McGowen (Celtic loan) and Weatherson are seemingly decent players.

We've got Airdrie Utd on Saturday, then a potentially lucrative tie against Dundee United ... then a run of Livingston, Dundee and Gretna in a row :shock: so we don't want any serious injuries or suspensions playing this game. IMO.

[Hazel1884]

I'm fair looking forward to my adventure to a new ground today - i hope we can recreate an atmosphere like we did down at Maryhill last season. however, the PSJ boys won't have been out on the pish all day so it remains debatable! :***: :wink:

Are there any clubs left who DON'T have alternative lyric to Monster? :roll: :***: :wink:

[Saintkev]

Are there any clubs left who DON'T have alternative lyric to Monster? :roll: :***: :wink:

Loads, and if you an atmosphere, you need to have songs... :roll:

[garymcc1874]

Has the official site got the price info wrong? It says 12 quid but http://www.gmfc.net/club-news/news-view.asp?id=24 says 14. I've emailed Paul to check.
It's the same as at McDiarmid, away fans get in to the Main Stand for terracing prices, or what would be East Stand prices at McD.

We're £12 and £7.

I'm probably a bit too late here but make sure you go in the right bloody gates, away fans have been moaning about being charged full main stand price because they can't find the away turnstiles :***:

Looking forward to a good game, Paul McGowan's hamstring might be rested, other than that we will go with the team that started on Saturday at Cowden:

Gonet
Weatherson Harding Greacen Keenan
Stevenson Millar McLaughlin McAlister
Lilley Templeman*

*If McGowan IS rested that is.

If not, your defence will hate him, he's a tricky we player with bags of talent, you may say he's only playing in the 2nd division but this guy has a future at LEAST in Division 1 IMO.

My only concern is that our central defenders lack any real pace, and Keenan is naturally right footed. Gonet(our 2nd choice goalkeeper) is a good shot stopper but a bit dodgy in the air.

Stevenson, Millar, and McAlister all have the creativity to cause problems, no doubt about it, McLaughlin is a superb holding midfielder who is great at breaking up attacks.

Lilley has started brightly after being given a boot up the arse at the start of the season(on the bench and behind Templeman).
McGowan is a handful if he plays.
Templeman, IMO, is STILL no where near the standards we should be aiming for but he can hold the ball up and bring others into play.


Enjoy the game, and goodbye, i'm away. :)

[Broggy Man]

FAO Perry I dont think you get the commentry down there. I am a bit (doh) slow but i could in the future set up a pc at work with remote so you can get it if you promise to be good and not turn into some delingquant hacker and wreck my work system :***:

Possibly leave my laptop on or something and give remote access thru VNC

[SJFC1988]

Does anyone know the starting line-up? :roll:

[perthsaint1884]

just missed it but i know sheerin is playing and savo and scotland are upfront

[Victor]

FAO Perry I dont think you get the commentry down there. I am a bit (doh) slow but i could in the future set up a pc at work with remote so you can get it if you promise to be good and not turn into some delingquant hacker and wreck my work system :***:

Possibly leave my laptop on or something and give remote access thru VNC
Great offer Broggy but the game is live on the internet version of Sportsound after all.

Mind you, its really annoying of Morton and Saints to get in the way of the BBC talking about tomorrows Man Utd v Celtic game. :evil:

[The Real Saints]

just missed it but i know sheerin is playing and savo and scotland are upfront


Full line-up

Cuthbert

Lawrie
McManus
James
Stanic

Stevenson
Mensing
Hardie
Sheerin

Milne
Scotland

[perthsaint1884]

1-0 saints mensing

[perthsaint1884]

forgot to add. about 30 yards :shock:

[Broggy Man]

Sounds like Morton have the upper hand

[Broon]

Sounds like Morton have the upper hand

Yeah, worrying!

[Broggy Man]

Jesus this is not good to listening

[Broon]

Really struggling to listen to this, nerve wracking! Its only a matter of time for them to score by the sounds of it. I wonder why we are playing so poorly? :?

I suppose its a cup game - difficult place to go.

[Begbie's Moustache]

"sense of injustice" says richard gordon

get it up ye sideways, ya fud - gus Mcpherson is a fanny too.

FACT.

[Broggy Man]

FAO Perry I dont think you get the commentry down there. I am a bit (doh) slow but i could in the future set up a pc at work with remote so you can get it if you promise to be good and not turn into some delingquant hacker and wreck my work system :***:

Possibly leave my laptop on or something and give remote access thru VNC
Great offer Broggy but the game is live on the internet version of Sportsound after all.

Mind you, its really annoying of Morton and Saints to get in the way of the BBC talking about tomorrows Man Utd v Celtic game. :evil:
Only in the uk Victor :shock:

[Broggy Man]

*** the media darlings 1-0 down

[Broggy Man]

*** the media darlings 1-0 down

*** make that 2

[perthsaint1884]

media lovers 2-0 down :***: :***:

[Broon]

I'm not laughing at anyone until we get to the final whistle - scary first half! :o

[Broggy Man]

doesnt sound good
They will get a goal with that amount of pressure

[garydavidson]

i was happy with the score until i read all the comments on here!

good to hear about gretna though!

What's that coming over the hill?
It's Simon Mensing, and he's a monster!

'Mon The Saints!

did he put money on him scoring or something? :***:

[Broon]

You could argue that for all their pressure they have hardly created a clear cut chance. Suggests were defending well. We could easily have had a couple more goals too if Scotland had his shooting boots on.

I wish the commentator would realise there are two Stevensons on the pitch and we don't always know which is which :evil:

[perthsaint1884]

Stevenson is off. any idea why?

[perthsaint1884]

1-1 :(

[perthsaint1884]

2-1 down :(

[marc05-sjfc]

2-1 :( :shock: ... Paul McGowen (54)

[Broggy Man]

Oh well its only a diddy cup :?

[marc05-sjfc]

I see Gretna have just pulled it back from 2-0 to make it 2-2 against Ross County :roll:

[Broggy Man]

2-2

[SJFC1988]

2-2, mensing

[Broggy Man]

who said it was a diddy cup :roll:

[saint in the city]

yes we are back in it Mensing again

[The Real Saints]

YASSS!! I'm crying here! :oops:

[marc05-sjfc]

:) C'Mon Saaaaints!!! :wink:

[SJFC1988]

scotland was denied a stonewall penalty :cry:

[garydavidson]

i was in such a bad mood till that goal was scored :) got to get another now cant go a whole extra time thing again

[marc05-sjfc]

3-2 down :cry:

[Broggy Man]

3-2 mooorttooon

[perthsaint1884]

3-2 down :cry:

[SJFC1988]

what a sshite score

[Broon]

Oh well. Gutted.

[SJFC1988]

fcuk tahat referee

[Victor]

Only in the uk Victor :shock:
Took 'down there' to be the usual Scotland/England reference. :shock:

[perthsaint1884]

all over

[Broon]

Absoultely sh*te. I do remember us having a few bad games after our 5-1 win last season too. Not good enough though :x :cry:

[SJFC1988]

cant believe we were beaten by MORTON, :evil: there shite

[garydavidson]

off to the fridge for some stella. gutted

[AyrshireTon]

cant believe we were beaten by MORTON, :evil: there shite
The radio chappies don't share that view.

Anyway - hard lines guys, sounded like a classic and I'm gutted to have missed it.
All the best for the season ahead (especially when meeting Gretna).

[Broon]

cant believe we were beaten by MORTON, :evil: there shite
The radio chappies don't share that view.

Anyway - hard lines guys, sounded like a classic and I'm gutted to have missed it.
All the best for the season ahead (especially when meeting Gretna).

Well done - sounded like you deserved it over the piece. Hopefully we won't see you next year even if you do get promoted :wink:

[garydavidson]

my god even the most boring team - clyde- managed to get through.

ah well we never win this cup anyway.

hopefully we can turn over utd in the same way it sounded like we got done over tonight!

glad i stayed in now saved a few pennies.

[dave mc]

Slightly worrying how easily Morton constantly outpaced us from the midfield.Not entirely a shock,they are flying and are always hard to beat at home.Hope it's just a blip,but we don't have great pace in the middle,and it was almost a full strength team!

[Lee-G]

cant believe we were beaten by MORTON, :evil: there shite

No they're not ! Arguably in the top 3 teams outside the SPL !

[SJFC1988]

i was just annoyed, i never ment it :o

I never knew there were as good as the top 3 ouside the spl!

[sAiNtE BrIaN]

sorry but i kind of doubt that think about saints! gretna!!!! dare i say it dundee :O

[Cagey]

Really dissapointed especially as we did not make too many changes & we were leading until 49 mins. Pity the elation of the good result on Saturday has been blown away so soon.
I expected Morton to be better than Partick (but not that much better) as they were unlucky not to come up this season.
The play- off system is a farce & there is no way a team so far behind on points after a long season should come up on the strength of a couple of games.

Good luck to Morton. Hope they go on to win it now.

[garymcc1874]

AyrshireTon i really do feel sorry for you if you missed that game, entertaining stuff so it was. Fantastic performance from Morton.

The better team on the night won without a doubt, no Saints fan can deny that.

The referee was a useless bastard though, he'd give EVERY decision St J's way for about 10 mins then the next 10 mins he'd give everyting the Ton's way.

Was absolutely outstanding tonight, credit to EVERY ONE on the pitch and to Macca and Clarke.

Our defence was great all night especially the two centre backs.

McGowan is OUTSTANDING, this boy deserves to be playing at a higher level. Took his goals well.

So basically, it was a good team performance. With a wee bit of excitement thrown in as well.

I'm not familiar with your strongest team and whether that was it tonight or not, we DO have the quality to compete with 1st division football IMO.

[Scobby_SJFC]

sad night to be a St Johnstone fan!

Poor performance, poor away crowd just want to find a hole and crawl in it tonight!

[Victor]

Arguably in the top 3 teams outside the SPL !
Long arguement.

[SJFC1988]

scobby, on mortons performance wwhere would you rank them if they were in the first division?

[Scobby_SJFC]

Top 5!

But c'mon we went down with a whimper, sad sad performance, only Mensing for me was decent on the park!

Ive always felt sorry for Cuthbert, but he was poor, as was Stevenson and Lawrie

[SJFC1988]

would it have made a difference with bryn in goal

[Scobby_SJFC]

Perhaps, hard to say with what if's but looked poor at crosses, flapped even missed 1

Milne for me was the biggest letdown, runs were nothing special, looks unfit even
Wish id never got the night off work

[HertsSaintee]

Gutted, but we can't really have any complaints about that - Morton were the better team and deserved the win. We were never really at the races and couldn't cope with the pace that they came at us with, so what did we do? Yep, resorted to the old panicky high ball game that just doesn't work. Generally an enjoyable game though, spoiled by a stoppy-starty referee who made some totally bizarre decisions. James probably handled in the box first half, but Jason was scythed down near the end in the clearest penalty you'll ever see only to get booked for an alleged dive. I felt Lilley, who had been diving all over the shop should have been red carded when he got his booking, as he should have been carded previously for the dives - nothing like consistency, eh? Great strike from Gunther for the opener though. They absolutely tore us to pieces for their second which was worrying, and their winner, I have to admit, was a beauty. Have to say that Peaso and Jason don't play well together - probably OC would be better bringing Jacko on for Savo from now on. Difficult to pick a MoM as it was so different to the performance on Saturday - probably Simon Mensing for me. Two goals and and some decent committment - including a stonker of a tackle on the far side bye-line! Do you guys get the beach ball back from the teacher looking bloke who confiscated it at half time, by the way?! :***:


Herts

[dunblanemike]

Do you guys get the beach ball back from the teacher looking bloke who confiscated it at half time, by the way?! :***:


Herts
Yes they did.

[Scobby_SJFC]

How bad was that stand?

The leg room was shocking

[HertsSaintee]

How bad was that stand?

The leg room was shocking


Agreed, almost crippled myself.

Probably everyone in Greenock is wee and malnourished anyway, so they don't need so much space - did you notice how small their team was, and the chicken legs on their keeper? :***:


Herts

[SaintSam1884]

I'm usually one of Cuthberts biggest allies but he was pretty poor tonight, his kick outs to Stevenson became tiresome and predictable and as has been mentioned, he flapped the ball when it seemed for all the world much easier to catch.

I also felt that Andy Lawrie was particularly poor, especially for their third goal. Despite having James screaming at him time and time again to mark this guy, he failed to.

Morton raped us out wide, we couldn't cope with their pace and they ran out very deserving winners.

[Scobby_SJFC]

what was with the poor support, Think it may be a while till am back at a game!

[templeofsaints]

I'm usually one of Cuthberts biggest allies but he was pretty poor tonight, his kick outs to Stevenson became tiresome and predictable and as has been mentioned, he flapped the ball when it seemed for all the world much easier to catch.

I also felt that Andy Lawrie was particularly poor, especially for their third goal. Despite having James screaming at him time and time again to mark this guy, he failed to.

Morton raped us out wide, we couldn't cope with their pace and they ran out very deserving winners.

I thought Cuthbert's distribution was ok - certainly the defence seemed a bit more confident with passbacks etc than with Halliwell.

Lawrie IMHO has had enough chances. I don't think he made once decent tackle / pass all night and the last goal was the final straw for me. :evil: McGowan had all the room in the world once Lawrie backed off.
Interesting that Stevenson was hooked at half-time (another underachiever) in order to allow Mensing to move to the right to support Lawrie.

Morton deserved their win based on the chances they created and the hunger they showed (Millar and Stevenson showed how midfielders should move with the ball - eh Ryan? :evil: ). :x

But it sticks in the throat because it was possibly our best chance of finally getting a trophy and we'd seen what Saints were capable off only a few days earlier. And I'm not buying into the excuse that they're knackered - Scotland, Stanic, Mensing and Sheerin all still managed to run their arses off tonight so WTF can't the rest :evil: :x

[Scobby_SJFC]

summed it up well there temple!

[SaintSam1884]

I'm not so sure I'd drop Andy Lawrie actually, I think he's been coming onto a game these past few weeks. He was poor tonight, and he was at fault for the third goal but he has improved in the last few weeks as I said. There's no-one else to play there unless we resort to 3-5-2 and then you'd have a gap wide right unless you allowed Hardie to fill that slot.

Tonight we were exceptionally poor, but a fair minded Morton supporter has actually said we looked good and were the fastest, fittest and strongest team they'd played all season! For me, it was easily the worst performance of the season, if not dating back until Gretna in Jan!

[templeofsaints]

I'm not so sure I'd drop Andy Lawrie actually, I think he's been coming onto a game these past few weeks. He was poor tonight, and he was at fault for the third goal but he has improved in the last few weeks as I said. There's no-one else to play there unless we resort to 3-5-2 and then you'd have a gap wide right unless you allowed Hardie to fill that slot.


Drop Mensing back to right-back and go with possibly Hardie/Stevenson on the right wing - or even Jackson.

As it stands with CarCrash there we're totally ineffective on the right wing. Not just his inability to get forward but the fact that 9 times out of 10 someone else has to drop out of their position to cover for him (Stevenson, Mensing, Hardie and McManus all did it tonight meaning we lose most of our attacking options on one side of the pitch). Unfortunately the other 1 time out of 10 the feckin opposition get a free run at goal. :evil:

I don't honestly think he's been improving but more a case that we've been getting the results which has hidden how little he contributes to the team.

[SaintSam1884]

I'm not so sure I'd drop Andy Lawrie actually, I think he's been coming onto a game these past few weeks. He was poor tonight, and he was at fault for the third goal but he has improved in the last few weeks as I said. There's no-one else to play there unless we resort to 3-5-2 and then you'd have a gap wide right unless you allowed Hardie to fill that slot.


Drop Mensing back to right-back and go with possibly Hardie/Stevenson on the right wing - or even Jackson.

As it stands with CarCrash there we're totally ineffective on the right wing. Not just his inability to get forward but the fact that 9 times out of 10 someone else has to drop out of their position to cover for him (Stevenson, Mensing, Hardie and McManus all did it tonight meaning we lose most of our attacking options on one side of the pitch). Unfortunately the other 1 time out of 10 the feckin opposition get a free run at goal. :evil:

I don't honestly think he's been improving but more a case that we've been getting the results which has hidden how little he contributes to the team.

Drop Mensing back? Are you crazy? I'll drop you back in a minute! That's ludicrous.

[templeofsaints]

Drop Mensing back? Are you crazy? I'll drop you back in a minute! That's ludicrous.

Why - yes he's been great in midfield but he's also a natural right-sided defender and that's what we need. With Hardie, Sheerin, Sheridan, Stevenson etc we have plenty of options in midfield. Right-back (assuming we stay with a 4-4-2) is currently IMHO our major weak spot.

[101 Saint]

Would it have been an idea to swap Hardie and Stevo tonight? Wasn't there, nor at Partick, but by all acounts Hardie played well on the right on Sat and Stevo generally has looked OK in centre midfield and would probably compliment Gunther? Thoughts please...

[MUZZ]

diddy cup anyway 8)

[Saint Paul]

I am with Richard on the Lawrie opinion. He has had enough chances and has shown that he is not good enough IMO.

I thought that once Ruti was fit we would revert back to 3-5-2, but we could have done that with Ando as the 3rd central defender, but it seems we are to play 4-4-2, which makes sense if we are to get the best out of Willie.

Therefore, we have a problem again at right-back. Mensing was brought here as a right-back, as was Ando, but Mensing has been imense in the midfield and dropping him back into defence would mean bringing Sheridan back into the midfield, and I think that the team is playing better, and quicker, without him.

Ando has never cut it at right back, and fully admits his best position is centre back, so I would have reservations about playing him there.

The only one that leaves us that could, I stress could, play at right back is Stevo, but again, would not be that confident.

I haven't seen much of the young guys this season, but is there not a young right back at the club that deserves a chance to show what he can do ? Surely giving a young lad a chance is safer than sticking with Lawrie every game !

[Ronaldo]

Morton were better on the night on their own patch. Saints were very poor at the back as regards communication between Cuthbert and the defence. Maybe since Cuthbert was to play in all the Challenge Cups they should have worked on that Monday.

Jamie Stevenson is a fantastic player and Morton were very good going forward. "Oor Wullie" (McLaren) would probably have done a similar job for us. Paul McGowan and derek Lilley were also fine for them. I think Lawrie will turn out a good player because what he is attempting to do but not quite successfully at the moment . He is correct to keep doing that and it will come good hopefully. His crosses/assists were poor but he''s getting forward on the flank and then back as required in a 4-4-2 system which is better than 3-5-2 in my opinion because it allows wingers in front of the full backs. Peaso and Milne didn't quite get into it but Jason created a few chances and could have scored plus should have got a penalty.

The referee was a complete diddy making diddy after diddy decisions in a diddy way but thankfully he didn't favour any side but could have turned it into a diddy game if it were not for the philosophy of both footballing sides. Morton should make a good addition to the 1st division.

[Broon]

I agree with everyone who says take Lawrie out the team for Mensing. I know Mensing has been excellent in the middle of the park but it seems everyone has forgotten about Paul Lawson to come back from injury. He will slot into the defensive midfield role no problem.

[Bryantonfan]

It was a cracking game, however the ref and the linesmen were poor both teams should have had pens.

[chopper]

It was a cracking game, however the ref and the linesmen were poor both teams should have had pens.

It was a tremendous cup tie - action at both ends, some poor decisions (how we never got a penalty is still beyond me, even now!) and some excellent play, especially from young Stevenson.

Bryan - where was this penalty you talk about for Morton (I can't remember anywhere that even resembled a penalty!)

[dunblanemike]

Chopper, i'm guessing the penalty incidence must have been in the first half. Overhearing conversations in the loo at half time (as you do!) I heard some Morton fans reckoning they should have had 2 penalties! There was a possible handball incidence I think with James but don't remember any other, apart from their no 9 diving (which quite a few of them did by the way).
I thought the ref was taking his cue from the crowd in the second half, if they shouted at an incidence he gave it. Are referees born with different eyes???

[Radford 72]

Chopper, i'm guessing the penalty incidence must have been in the first half. Overhearing conversations in the loo at half time (as you do!) I heard some Morton fans reckoning they should have had 2 penalties! There was a possible handball incidence I think with James but don't remember any other, apart from their no 9 diving (which quite a few of them did by the way).
I thought the ref was taking his cue from the crowd in the second half, if they shouted at an incidence he gave it. Are referees born with different eyes???
Indeed, I'm happy in the part I played in getting Derek Lilley booked! :***:

I'll paraphrase what I put on P&B...

I was fully expecting to come on P&B and read Morton fans telling us how poor a side we were (but they didn't) as frankly we were terrible last night but that doesn't mean Morton weren't very good. Easily the best side we've played this season by a long, long way although I'd be interested to know if that amount of effort goes into every game? We never got a second on the ball all night and it'll be interesting to see how you do on Saturday as there are sure to be some tired legs. Some of our players certainly don't have that excuse and if they could sit in the dressing room at full-time and say they gave their all they are liars. The all white kit was very apt for Mr Sheerin in particular. I know he doesn't like the physical side of the game but he was anonymous last night.

Positives were Simon Mensing in the middle of the park and Jason again, who is improving as a player in his time with Saints. He was effectively playing on his own up front and although the two big centre-backs did ok against him, I doubt they'll get a harder game this season.

Stevenson was his usual self but unless he was throwing him in the deep end as they say, I don't see the logic in bringing Willie Dyer on in that situation. I've stuck up for him but Andy Lawrie was poor to and their winner was easily preventable if he'd stopped the lad getting a shot in on the two or three occasions it was possible. He stood off and stood off until it was too late. Good finish though although I imagine Halliwell would've got it. I hope to never see Cuthbert in goal for us again. Final straw last night, did he actually do anything of note other than flap at numerous crosses.

Owen got tactics wrong too, 3-5-2 would've suited us much better last night as all the problems were coming from the middle of the park.

It was a clear penalty but I could live with the ref making a mistake if he didn't have to go and book him! Linesman was a disgrace though, did he signal the dive? If so then again, ok, honest mistake but I don't think he signalled anything.

All told, Morton deserved to win by far more than the scoreline suggests and we should've been buried by half-time. Reminded me of our cup quarter-final at Falkirk in 1997 where we were on a good run but were outfought by a team who just wanted it more than us.

Good news though, I had 3-2 Morton, Mensing first goal in the predicition league!

[dunblanemike]

the crowd was officially 2300 - am I the only one thinking there looked to be far more than that.

[chopper]

Are referees born with different eyes???

No comment :***: :wink:

[Bryantonfan]

It was a cracking game, however the ref and the linesmen were poor both teams should have had pens.

It was a tremendous cup tie - action at both ends, some poor decisions (how we never got a penalty is still beyond me, even now!) and some excellent play, especially from young Stevenson.

Bryan - where was this penalty you talk about for Morton (I can't remember anywhere that even resembled a penalty!)The was a handball incident that the guys on the radio agreed with me that it was a pen, and there were a couple of times Hardie was holding a bit too much, but it can be argued that they might not have pens!

[Aitchy]

Poor performance all round from us last night. There is absoloutely know way that Owen Coyle should allow his team to get away with being out-fought, hopefully there will be some arses getting kicked this morning. The lack of effort and fight last night was worrying. We seemed to get dragged into the long ball game, which is useless, there wasnt one player barring probaly Stanic who wanted to try and play the game on the deck. Ive got to agree with Temple. Lawrie has to be dropped. His distrubution is poor, he cant tackle, his marking is awful.... the list goes on. I know Mensing has been superb in the middle, but with the amount of midfielders and especially Paul Lawson who i understand is a holding midfielder, we have room to move Mensing back to right back. Steven Anderson would be doing a better job than Lawrie. Paul Sheerin again was a passenger last night, i know he has a kind of "fan-club", but is anyone else of the opinion that he just dosent perform as often as we need him to?

Overall i wouldnt read to much into this game, Morton were decent, but it was the old thing about playing a team a league above them and wanting to prove themseleves. Im sure we will bounce back, and hopefully show some more fighting-spirit in future matches.

[Radford 72]

Paul Sheerin again was a passenger last night, i know he has a kind of "fan-club", but is anyone else of the opinion that he just dosent perform as often as we need him to?
Because he turns it on against the lesser sides in this league, people forget about him rattling the chains when we come up against better sides. He hide again last night.

[Zimmerman]

Was not at the game, but it seems from what people are saying and from what iv seen this season, that the right side of our team is just not happening. Lawrie has had enough chances. He can't get past a man, so can't play in midfield and he is too easily beaten in defence. I just dont think as a defender he reads the game well, he got totally ripped by that hamilton winger!

Stevenson is a waste of space as well. Im not ando's biggest fan, but him at right back and hardie or mesing at right midfield would be more effective. When Kev comes back to defence, could either him or mcmanus play right back? I can't help but feel if we had a good right sided midfielder, then our team would look good! What was there stevenson boy like?

[Shaggy Jenkins]

Ruti at RB could be a shout

[Radford 72]

Ruti at RB could be a shout
Disagree totally.

Far too slow, would get done for pace all the time.

Only decent options are Lawrie, Mensing, Ando or Lawson, who has played there for Celtic's first team.

[chopper]

Rephrase Radford's point as Mensing...........still thinking of another one............no can't do it!

One thing last night must have been how much we missed McLaren (after just 1 match for us!). I wan't at Thistle but the reviews were of an excellent player and we had nothing wide at all (either offensively or defensively) last night.

[Radford 72]

Rephrase Radford's point as Mensing...........still thinking of another one............no can't do it!
I'd be loathe to take him out of the middle of the park though.

Thought ToS called it spot on with the Paul Cherry comparisons.

[Saintkev]

Lawrie has been dreadful so far... and Big Kev James must have been fuming when he was screaming at him to mark up for that third, that said, Kev Cuthbert should have saved it... he dived with his arm protecting his fall rather than stratching for the ball.

I understand Coyle's reason for making the substitution, i.e. Sheerin wasn't getting close to that wee fast guy (imagine him on the right, McLaren on the left 8, it would be like Maskrey & Moore again! 8) 8) ) and Dyer would have had a better chance of matching him for pace.

But he made three positional changes to get there and meant taking the biggest positive from the first half out of his position... I think his undoubted love of Paul Sheerin cost us, as he arranged the team around him moving into the centre, at worst, Hardie should have moved right. Don't think Stevo was as bad as Sheerin though.

[chopper]

Was Stevo's substitution injury or tactical. If tactical then it may quite possibly be the worst Saints sub since the McLelland days. If injury, fair enough as there was no direct replacement on the bench.

[Bryantonfan]

I understand Coyle's reason for making the substitution, i.e. Sheerin wasn't getting close to that wee fast guy (imagine him on the right, McLaren on the left 8, it would be like Maskrey & Moore again! 8) 8) ) and Dyer would have had a better chance of matching him for pace.
Paws off :D

[Zimmerman]

Just spoke to a celtic season ticket holder, he seems to reckon that although lawson played right wing back against man united, he is definetly a defensive midfielder. In the mould of lambert. Could be we move mensing to right back and put lawson in the middle with sheerin and hardie on the right. Thus, moving stevenson and lawrie to the bench. mmm...

[nach0king]

How bad was that stand?

The leg room was shocking


Agreed, almost crippled myself.

Probably everyone in Greenock is wee and malnourished anyway, so they don't need so much space - did you notice how small their team was, and the chicken legs on their keeper? :***:


Herts

The legroom's awful, but I'd rather have a team full of Greenockian midgets (despite the fact not one of the players is from Greenock) than bloody Hen Broon at centre-back and your #3 (whose sole contribution while at left-back in the first half was to fluff a header and play a single passback.)

Look forward to your two return journeys next season - bring a bigger crowd and you get the unsheltered bench seating behind the goal :***:

http://www.greenockmorton.net/

[SaintSam1884]

How bad was that stand?

The leg room was shocking


Agreed, almost crippled myself.

Probably everyone in Greenock is wee and malnourished anyway, so they don't need so much space - did you notice how small their team was, and the chicken legs on their keeper? :***:


Herts
The legroom's awful, but I'd rather have a team full of Greenockian midgets (despite the fact not one of the players is from Greenock) than bloody Hen Broon at centre-back and your #3 (whose sole contribution while at left-back in the first half was to fluff a header and play a single passback.)

Look forward to your two return journeys next season - bring a bigger crowd and you get the unsheltered bench seating behind the goal :***:

http://www.greenockmorton.net/

I'd rather have a team playing in the first division, than constantly failing to achieve promotion from the second. :P

As I said on the other forum, your only real stand out was number 8 who looked too good for that level, whereas we played the worst we had all season. It's no real indicator of the quality of our players, and indeed the two you mention there are two of our best.

[Bryantonfan]

I'd rather have a team playing in the first division, than constantly failing to achieve promotion from the second. :P

As I said on the other forum, your only real stand out was number 8 who looked too good for that level, whereas we played the worst we had all season. It's no real indicator of the quality of our players, and indeed the two you mention there are two of our best.Excuses excuses :D

[Rossco_Ton]

I thought St Johnstone looked ok but a few players looked very weak. The keeper was a complete nightmare for yous when coming for crosses.

I couldn't believe we scored from a set piece against yous as you had a lot of big players in the box defending the set piece.
Jason Scotland has an excellent touch and holds the ball up well but didnt have much support at was isolated at times. The other forward (no9?)Milne i think it was, was absolutely dire and done nothing at all.

An excellent cup tie with 2 clear penalties denied. Our first claim was for climbing but their never given so i wouldnt say it was a penalty but the second was Kevin James's block to a through ball with his hand, how the ref never seen it from 10 yards away i'll never know. The less said about the Scotland 'dive' the better, a stonewaller if i have ever seen one.

Another hardworking performance from Morton who are excellent at closing teams down when in possesion and very fast on the break when required.

Yous may say yous had a crap support, but that would equal any away support from other teams in our division.

Good luck for the rest of the season and hope yous go up instead of Gretna who are going through a bad patch.

[StDuncM]

Loads of posts.

Started to read them but got weighed down in doom and gloom and petty anti Morton remarks and comments.

IMHO it aint the end of the world and we are not the first team to be beaten by a team from a lower division. They are top of the 2nd so cant be all that bad.................can they?

Just wait until Saturday and there will be a difference.

[dunblanemike]

as a matter of interest, how big is the morton pitch? It seemed mighty narrow to me but that may just be coz we were sat almost on the touchline.

[garymcc1874]

as a matter of interest, how big is the morton pitch? It seemed mighty narrow to me but that may just be coz we were sat almost on the touchline.

St J's pitch - 115 x 75 yards
Morton's pitch - 110 x 71 yards

[Scobby_SJFC]

Did people honestly think it was a good cup tie, I thought it was pretty poor!

Also on Temple, it says a decent away support, something I also disagree with

[templeofsaints]

Did people honestly think it was a good cup tie, I thought it was pretty poor!

Also on Temple, it says a decent away support, something I also disagree with
For a neutral it would have been an excellent tie - decent skill on show, the balance changing a lot and plenty of drama and controversy.

As for the support for a midweek match on the West coast in, no offence, not very glamorous surroundings, Saints had a good travelling support through.

[Mabawsa Ritchie]

[quote=Scobby_SJFC]
As for the support for a midweek match on the West coast in, no offence, not very glamorous surroundings, Saints had a good travelling support through.

You had 132 fans at the match. Relative to your average home gate, that's not too bad for a Tuesday night game which was also live on the radio. :)

[Radford 72]

You had 132 fans at the match. Relative to your average home gate, that's not too bad for a Tuesday night game which was also live on the radio. :)
It's a pitiful number and the people of Perth should be ashamed. If we can't muster more than 132 (although I think the number could be distorted as more than a few went through the wrong turnstile) for any game we have problems.

[MUZZ]

You had 132 fans at the match. Relative to your average home gate, that's not too bad for a Tuesday night game which was also live on the radio. :)
It's a pitiful number and the people of Perth should be ashamed. If we can't muster more than 132 (although I think the number could be distorted as more than a few went through the wrong turnstile) for any game we have problems.

i remember the days we'd take no less than a thousand away from home. it wasnt even that long ago.

[t]

You had 132 fans at the match. Relative to your average home gate, that's not too bad for a Tuesday night game which was also live on the radio. :)
It's a pitiful number and the people of Perth should be ashamed. If we can't muster more than 132 (although I think the number could be distorted as more than a few went through the wrong turnstile) for any game we have problems.

But it was a Challenge Cup game......in Greenock....on a Tuesday night..........and me and 'T' junior went in the home gate.

I didn't think it was too bad considering we only had 140 at Dumfries for the first away match of the season.

[Saintkev]

I think crowd-wise it was slightly less than I'd expect at that game in the circumstances (stupid cup, big journey, midweek, price of football, disolusionment with the club, on the radio), but even more disappointing was the lack of backing we gave the team... it's not just some players that looked like they never tried!

Game-wise, I'm sure it was a good one, for an old-skool neutral... an up-and-at'em type tie... i'm old skool so can see i'd have enjoyed it if I was a Saintee, where we let ourselves down by not coming close to what we could and recently have...

Kick up the arse before Airdrie and a few tips for getting in about Scumdee United though...

[Tranmere Saintee]

Me thinks there has been a bit of the old Celtic 'biscuit tin' if 132 is the official figure :roll:

[chopper]

Me thinks there has been a bit of the old Celtic 'biscuit tin' if 132 is the official figure :roll:

I think 132 is about right for the little section we got (which the policeman mentioned held 300 or so) and the amount of people there. 2300 did seem a slightly small figure though, that was maybe in the covered terracing alone!!!

[Ronaldo]

There'll be a bigger crowd at the Dundee Utd. game and that would include if we were away from home as well. The reason being it's a bigger trophy, bigger game, 20 miles along the road for them (or us if we were away) and the prospect of an SPL club wth not too much hassle for the fans in midweek is a bigger attraction i.e no leaving work/Perth early etc..

We can all have off-nights in a cup competition and it was a surprise to see that Morton went out of the League Cup to Brechin away in a midweek game in August.

Would you want to get injured against Morton when you've got a chance of playing against Dundee Utd. next week? Is Willie McLaren cup tied again?

[Radford 72]

Would you want to get injured against Morton when you've got a chance of playing against Dundee Utd. next week? Is Willie McLaren cup tied again?
Yeah, he played and scored in their win over Raith in round one then again against United in the last round.

[Ronaldo]

Would you want to get injured against Morton when you've got a chance of playing against Dundee Utd. next week? Is Willie McLaren cup tied again?
Yeah, he played and scored in their win over Raith in round one then again against United in the last round.
Ity, we could have done with him since he looks really versatile.
We can still beat United.

[Radford 72]

Ity, we could have done with him since he looks really versatile.
We can still beat United.
I've not expected us to win a league game this season (pessimist I know!) but I'm predicting us to beat United.

Really looking forward to it and pretty confident! :D

[Bryantonfan]

Me thinks there has been a bit of the old Celtic 'biscuit tin' if 132 is the official figure :roll:

I think 132 is about right for the little section we got (which the policeman mentioned held 300 or so) and the amount of people there. 2300 did seem a slightly small figure though, that was maybe in the covered terracing alone!!!http://www.tontastic.com/index.cgi?dir=2006-09-12-ChallengeCupQF-H-StJohnstone&med=i&pag=8 if anyone is bored they can count

[Radford 72]

Me thinks there has been a bit of the old Celtic 'biscuit tin' if 132 is the official figure :roll:

I think 132 is about right for the little section we got (which the policeman mentioned held 300 or so) and the amount of people there. 2300 did seem a slightly small figure though, that was maybe in the covered terracing alone!!!http://www.tontastic.com/index.cgi?dir=2006-09-12-ChallengeCupQF-H-StJohnstone&med=i&pag=8 if anyone is bored they can count
Reckon about 200.

[big dugs nib]

rekon about 169 ! braw photie of me though ! lookin good ! 8)

[Victor]

http://www.tontastic.com/index.cgi?dir=2006-09-12-ChallengeCupQF-H-StJohnstone&med=i&pag=8
Insult has now been added to injury - we were knocked out by a side wearing tartan jerseys. How very last century. :shock:

[SaintSam1884]

Was that not Mortons third strip? I think Radford pointed out that both our home and away strips clashed with both of theirs too, and we don't have a third strip so they wore theirs? I agree though, it's mingin'

Our away strip is the best strip I've ever seen us produce.

[Bryantonfan]

Was that not Mortons third strip? I think Radford pointed out that both our home and away strips clashed with both of theirs too, and we don't have a third strip so they wore theirs? I agree though, it's mingin'

Our away strip is the best strip I've ever seen us produce.Its the third this year your lucky it they didnt wear the right shorts, i hate it.

[Victor]

Was that not Mortons third strip? I think Radford pointed out that both our home and away strips clashed with both of theirs too, and we don't have a third strip so they wore theirs? I agree though, it's mingin'

Our away strip is the best strip I've ever seen us produce.
Ive lost track of which club wears what in which competition, but why couldnt we wear our blue strip and they wear their white top/yellow shorts? There should be enough blue in our strip to differentiate between that and a solid white top/yellow shorts.

Radders...advice please!!

Must ask that if a team has a blue and white stripped shirt, why on earth isnt their alternative a third colour??? Is that too easy???!

[Bryantonfan]

Was that not Mortons third strip? I think Radford pointed out that both our home and away strips clashed with both of theirs too, and we don't have a third strip so they wore theirs? I agree though, it's mingin'

Our away strip is the best strip I've ever seen us produce.
Ive lost track of which club wears what in which competition, but why couldnt we wear our blue strip and they wear their white top/yellow shorts? There should be enough blue in our strip to differentiate between that and a solid white top/yellow shorts.

Radders...advice please!!

Must ask that if a team has a blue and white stripped shirt, why on earth isnt their alternative a third colour??? Is that too easy???! we have a blue and white stripped shirt, a white shirt and a tartan one.

[Saintkev]

rekon about 169 ! braw photie of me though ! lookin good ! 8)

I look in a right grump everytime I'm on it... :evil: