Saints vs. Dunfermline Athletic 10/11/07

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Lets move on from the disappointment of Saturday and now look forward to part 1 of the Dunfermline double header.

Bearing in mind they have been humped three games on the bounce, do we believe their as bad as they seem or will they up their game for us???? Can we bounce right back with a good win??? Will OC change the team or the long ball tactics??? So many questions and so many opinions.Will Savo make the bench???Where is Rusty??.

I would like to see

......................................Main
Irvine.....................McManus.. Ando........................Satanic(Typo butam leaving it in)

.........................................Rusty.... ..............................

Weatherston.........................Rocco......... ............OOR Wullie...

.....................Deuchar...................... .............................
............................................Jacko. ...............


Subs. Cat,McInnes,Sheerin,Lawrie(if fit)Daal???or Peaso!!!!or Savo??

[Stamford Saintee]

Don't give the Pars a "Ghost" of a chance.... :***: sorry Jim!!!

5-0 the Saintees and most important three points :D

[Radford 72]

I don't imagine the Pars can be as poor again and am expecting a tough game. For the first time in a few months, I'm not sure the side picks itself but it's important players aren't just dropped because of one poor game on Saturday. They have all done well since Ross County.

Keeper and defence picks itself really, especially since the guy that maybe is struggling a bit, Stanic, has no competition for his place.

Rocco is a certain starter and at home I think you have to play McLaren. Sheerin is the one for me that could maybe do with a rest, giving Weatherston or McCluskey a chance.

Jacko and the Doc up top and would like to see Mooner on the bench if he's fit, we could have done with him on Saturday.

[MUZZ]

away win.

[Nairn Saint]

Where's Rodgers when you need him?

Stephen Kenny will receive his P45 courtesy of a convincing Saints victory!

[Kevin]

away win.

Eh? You fancy the Pars to win Muzz???

[Kevin]

Stephen Kenny will receive his P45 courtesy of a convincing Saints victory!

Maybe I could do a formal presentation of it on the pitch :***:

[Ray Blair]

If we dont win,and win well,then we are pish.4-0 Saints guaranteed

[Calypso Kid]

The level of cockiness on here is a bit worrying.

[wee lee #1]

should win but we have been pretty poor aswell so for both teams a must win game

[templeofsaints]

Actually pretty nervous about this one - after recent form we can't afford to go into the break on a downer and at the same time I can't see the Pars dismal run continuing.

Agree with Radford - same team as at Dens but bench Sheerin and put Wullie left and Weatherston right. By all accounts the Pars defence is a total shambles so we should be pressing them from the off and using our pace on the wings. I'd also make sure that Jack and the Doc are told to drop back no further than the halfway line - I'm sick and tired of seeing them having to come back and do the midfield / defence's job.

[sconesjfc]

at home I think you have to play McLaren.
Why? Am i missing something here? I dont know what he brings to us, fair enough he can cross a ball but does that make up for the fact the boy cant shoot, tackle, head a ball or run past anyone. I think we need the likes of Weatherston or McClusky on....but need for than 10 mins at the end of a game to prove their worth.:evil:

[Indicator]

The level of cockiness on here is a bit worrying.

Aye, I have had a feeling over possibly the last two or three seasons that a number of teams, that have been on a bad runs, started picking themselves up after getting unexpected results against us. No doubt the stataticians will prove me wrong but it's just a feeling I've had that on occasions we've been suckered into believing we were too good for the opposition. I hope our players don't read all that is being written about Dunf. in the press either. We were on a good run up to the last International break. Let's hope we can get back on one before the next (becoming more annoying) two week break.

[garydavidson]

livi pumped clyde - we never
livi pumped the pars - we haven't

at least we pumped livi.

[+Super Trooper+]

I'm just desperately hoping they hang on to kenny until they play us. I f a new manager comes in their whole team will get a boost and will be out to get an impressive result. team for me would be:
.......................................Main....... ..................................
Irvine...............McManus...................And o................Stanic(not at his best but to drop him would shatter his confidence - no real cover anyway)
Weatherston..............Rocco..........Sheerin... ...........Willie
....................Doc........................... .....Jacko................

dont think this is what oc will do but i think we should come out all guns blazing and put their defence under as much pressure as possible.

[St Mikey]

Poor performing players need dropped. No ifs or buts. Sheerin out - willie out to the left wing and weatherston on the right. Drop McInnes for moon if he is available. We need to freshen up. Drop main for cuthbert. Start wit Deuchar and peaso up from and when their defense is knackered bring jacko on. Stirling put 3 by them, livvy 4 and hamilton 5. I think this game will be far more difficult than some of you are acting. We have failed to shoot outside 18yrds. 2-1 saints.

[SJC]

We absolutely must win this one, Dunfermline are in big trouble and are being pumped by every team they play.

If OC can't put a team out capable of beating a team in that situation then we are in big trouble also.

3-0 win for us.

[Noose76]

Shakey display and an unconvincing 1-0 win for me.

[MUZZ]

Eh? You fancy the Pars to win Muzz???

aye. got a hell of a bad vibe about this one.

[Al C]

aye. got a hell of a bad vibe about this one.

Same here, not looking forward to Saturday at all, we can't really win regardless of the result. Dunfermline surely can't be as bad as they have been and will raise it against us. Would take 1-0 easily.

[lawman]

Can't believe after Saturday you would all have McLaren in the team again! He was absolute pants, and I'm talking bloomers rather than anything sexy! You could almost forgive him if he seemed to making an effort but you only have to look at him trying to go for a header to see how hopeless he is ( a professional football player apparently frightened of the ball, for God sake). Sincerely hope he goes in the January window!

[Ali91]

main

irvine mcmanus ando stanic

wetherston mcinnes quinn mclaren

Deuchar Jackson


3 1 saints.

[MUZZ]

main

irvine mcmanus ando stanic

wetherston mcinnes quinn mclaren

Deuchar Jackson


3 1 saints.

agree with that team

[garydavidson]

where is the keep the faith people? thats what we need right now :)

edit - just found them all in the there thread!

[Rodgers]

where is the keep the faith people? thats what we need right now :)


Am still here:)

but NO - ONE should be losing faith at this stage in the season!


MON THE BLUES!

[Tranmere Saintee]

but NO - ONE should be losing faith at this stage in the season!


:***: :roll: :***: :roll: The grammar of modern youth - I thought you were the guy who kept the faith :***: :roll:

[Rodgers]

:***: :roll: :***: :roll: The grammar of modern youth - I thought you were the guy who kept the faith :***: :roll:

I do keep it i never lose it, am on about all the non faithers that gived up last season with 15games to go?

[Chuck Norris]

I do keep it i never lose it, am on about all the non faithers that gived up last season with 15games to go?
And ignoring the last-day drama, they turned out to be right.

[popman]

at the moment the Saints are playing better than the Pars, but they were not playing that badly up till a few weeks ago. you will start as favourites but does that mean you will win? agree with a few posters on here that this could turn into a bannana skin for you.
been on the dafc .net board and they are not happy chappies many talking about not coming up to perth for the game, that would be a shame as they have the biggest travelling support in our league (so far at Hamilton anyway) and it would mean a large loss in revenue for Saints and teams in our league need the clubs with the so called bigger support (Pars,Dundee,Partick) to come and spend their money.
a tight game might be on the cards they cant keep loosing goals like they are and if they get afew of there injured players back(says twelve on their boards) who knowes, but a draw suits us in Hamilton.

[Broggy Man]

The pars are no way as bad as there results sugest. Come on remember EEP we got a major get out of jail card there.

[Rodgers]

And ignoring the last-day drama, they turned out to be right.

But the whole week before it and during the game at hamilton, i had yous all thinking we can do it!

[DePARessed]

If I were a betting man, and I am, I would stick quite a few bob on a comfortable home win for Saturday.

I have never betted agaist the Pars but could well be tempted this week.

We are absolutely clueless all over the pitch, WE ARE AS BAD AS OUR RECENT SCORES SUGGEST!!

4 - 0 Saints at a canter, and less than half full away stand.

[Stamford Saintee]

If I were a betting man, and I am, I would stick quite a few bob on a comfortable home win for Saturday.

I have never betted agaist the Pars but could well be tempted this week.

We are absolutely clueless all over the pitch, WE ARE AS BAD AS OUR RECENT SCORES SUGGEST!!

4 - 0 Saints at a canter, and less than half full away stand.

Only 4-0? :rolleyes:

[eddie malone]

Can't believe after Saturday you would all have McLaren in the team again! He was absolute pants, and I'm talking bloomers rather than anything sexy! You could almost forgive him if he seemed to making an effort but you only have to look at him trying to go for a header to see how hopeless he is ( a professional football player apparently frightened of the ball, for God sake). Sincerely hope he goes in the January window!


Totally agree with this, i know its going of the post slightly but i do not understand why people think Willie McLaren is a good player or has potential??

Hes been here long enough to show any potential and in my eyes he looks way out his depth.

Im not normally one for getting on players backs but on this occasion in my eyes Willie Mclaren is not good enough for St johnstone!

Back to the original post, 2-1 home win!!

[DePARessed]

Only 4-0? :rolleyes:

1 out of 2 is a banker, less than half full away stand, take your pick from 2 to 6 on the exact score:?

[Steve Maskrey]

1 out of 2 is a banker, less than half full away stand, take your pick from 2 to 6 on the exact score:?

What do you think will happen with Kenny? Will they get rid of him? I thought he was a decent manager but the players are letting him down.

I would imagine that we'll be going all out from the start to get an early goal, learn from last week and try and get a good lead by half time

[pavel]

There running 3 free buses to the game, how sad is that! Next they will be paying there fans to go.

[Chuck Norris]

I would imagine that we'll be going all out from the start to get an early goal, learn from last week and try and get a good lead by half time
That's exactly what we tried at Dens - it worked to a point, but the likes of Sheerin and McInnes were breathing out of their backsides by the hour mark.

[Dunfermline Saint]

Michael McGlinchey has been signed on loan to Dunfermline from Celtic. He's quite a young lad and the Celtic fans rate him. Same as Quinn, O'Brien, etc etc.

Should be playing for them tomorrow.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Seize the day Saints

As early as it is in the season Saints MUST today take the opportunity to end Dunfermlines championship hopes and begin the winning run that will take us to ultimate glory and a place in the SPL. Make no mistake , if we lose today we better get ready for another season in the First Division.

We DEMAND that the players show a never say die attitude today and for the rest of the campaign. It is time to be brave and to stand up and be counted. Fear Knowbody and begin to believe that with hard work and application WE will be at the top come the end of the season.Fight for each other but also use brains . Think about what you do. Pass and move, pass and move.Lets ALL get behind the team today and every match day. There may be the odd setback but we've had most of them all ready.We're all in this together and we MUST show solidarity.We are PERTH ST.JOHNSTONE FOOTBALL CLUB..

There are no hiding places left, no quarter to be asked and none to be given

We cannot and should not carry passengers.What players have done before was then but this is now.Reputations and past glories are for the history books.Take a long hard look and ask yourself if you believe, if you are willing to take the pain that may be coming and how much desire you have to be the very best that you can be.If you cannot say yes then move over, take a seat, and watch those that can.The time for heroes is here..............
.................................................. .................................................. .


LETS ALL BE HEROES AND LETS START TODAY


COME ON YOU SAINTS
COME ON YOU SAINTS FANS

[monkfish]

Put the Gladiator DVD down.... :p

[Tranmere Saintee]

Michael McGlinchey has been signed on loan to Dunfermline from Celtic.

Always laugh when I see a comment like that - unkess they go to the reserve games against Rangers then the majority will never have even seen him, as according to their own site he has made one sub appearance 2 years ago.
:***:

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Put the Gladiator DVD down.... :p


Thats exactly what we need. A attitude somewhere between Gladiator and Braveheart.We've had past heroes and legends like Brogan, Baltacha,Tam McNeil,Roddy and Drew Rutherford(And plenty more)Who,s going to emerge from this team as a hero and a legend????It,s there waiting for them, they've just got to step up and be that guy.:!:

[monkfish]

2/1 Alan Main turns up with warpaint and a claymore this afternoon.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

2/1 Alan Main turns up with warpaint and a claymore this afternoon.
I hope the usless twat has been practicing his kicking:***: Only kidding. He's all ready been a hero and a legend.

[blueheaven]

He's quite a young lad and the Celtic fans rate him.

Fans rate all of their club's young players. They probably thought that awful keep they gave us last season was the next big thing too!:)

[Real Madrid]

With their poor recent form we need to score 4 or 5 today to prove we are serious contenders

A 1-0 win will show were not going anywhere

[Moray Blue]

With their poor recent form we need to score 4 or 5 today to prove we are serious contenders

A 1-0 win will show were not going anywhere

Sort of agree with this.

While I like to see free flowing, sexy football at the moment I think we need to get 3 points and start catching up with the top 2.

It might not be pretty or entertaining but come the end of the season it's who has most points that's going to be promoted.

[Moray Blue]

Unchanged side again this afternoon.

[StDuncM]

A 1-0 win will show were not going anywhere

Don't agree. A win is a win and if the other 2 lose we will head upwards, so thats where we will be heading.

[Nairn Saint]

A must win game for Saints but I fear Stephen Kenny will get the most out of his under achieving Pars side today. I think we are in for a tough afternoon!

I would take a 1:0 Saints win right now.

[7-2]

A must win game for Saints but I fear Stephen Kenny will get the most out of his under achieving Pars side today. I think we are in for a tough afternoon!

I would take a 1:0 Saints win right now.
Totally agree. All the talk of 4, 5 and 6 goals is schoolboy stuff. Do they honestly think Dunfermline will continue to lose that amount of goals every single game until the end of the season???! They will come good and given Saints story over the decades chances are it will start against us!:***:

[Moray Blue]

So here we go again. 0-0 HT. Time to step it up second half.

C'mon Saints!

[Moray Blue]

tum tee tum - it's too quiet today

[Coltrane]

Is anyone else around..I'm falling asleep...

[Indicator]

A must win game for Saints but I fear Stephen Kenny will get the most out of his under achieving Pars side today. I think we are in for a tough afternoon!

I would take a 1:0 Saints win right now.

Di-Dum Di-Dum

[StDuncM]

Cagey game with the final coming up.

[Nairn Saint]

Pretty please..............

[garydavidson]

hrrrrm hope the cup final has a bit more life. according to the official site the pars have the upper hand and both have had goals cut off.

[Moray Blue]

its at that stage now do you go far the win or take the draw?

[7-2]

its at that stage now do you go far the win or take the draw?
Got to go for the win. Should have been doing that from the start of course!

[Nairn Saint]

This does not reflect well on Saints.

[Moray Blue]

of course, but then you leave yourself open at the back

[7-2]

Draws have cost us dearly over the last few years and we are again drawing too many games this season. Got to take the risk and go for it.

[Nairn Saint]

Jim Hamilton's on for the last five!

[Moray Blue]

Jim Hamilton's on for the last five!

Pies?

[Nairn Saint]

Twelve points behind Hamilton! Poor stuff.

[Scobby_SJFC]

Season over for me after today, too far behind now!

[Nairn Saint]

Season over for me after today, too far behind now!

Even Rodgers will be losing faith!

[Saintly Child]

TOTAL CRAP

Enough said.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Just got back from the game.................

No changes from last weeks starting 11
no goals, no skill. no change of tactics,no fight, no flair, no passion,no pars fans and really no point( even if we did get one) only thing we had today was luck...We were lucky they did not win. Pretty pish :mad:

Oh! and I don,t care who gets annoyed with me but Willie McLaren is not fit to wear the blue of St.Johnstone.He has no bottle and his skill is questionable.He really is SHITE( and before you start I know there are others but I,m talking about him only)

[wee lee #1]

that was rubbish just hope the cup final is a lot better than that:!::(

[Cagey]

First half was absolute push but we had a perfectly good headed Deuchers chalked off for climbing & good penelty shout for Bambi climbing on Deuchers. Ref was crap but we can`t blame him for not getting a result as we were poor & Dunfy couldn`t score in a brothel as they had more chances than us.

Was willing to give Wullie the benifit of the doubt but today he was poor. He can`t tackle ,goes up for headers as if he was trying bit does not want to get near the ball.

Wheatherston made a difference in the second half as he was able to win & hold the ball meaning we had more possesion but his cross in the last couple of minutes was really poor.

Mcmanus`s tackle on McManus was dreadful & should have been a straight red but the ref got it wrong again by giving advantage & letting them go through 3 tackles before blowing for the foul because they didn`t get advantage.

Is Coyle too engrossed in the game to think about subs , bringing on Peaso with 5 mins to go & McLaren should have been subbed at half time instaed of after yet another 5 yard pass that didn`t find his man.

We had little chance of winning the league but it is gone now.Is the club happy to stay in the First Division ?> it certainly looks like it.

[Euanwilkie]

absolute waste of time.

[MUZZ]

same shit, different day

[SJC]

That was absolutely garbage. We did nothing all game.

McManus gets the ball every time the play b reaks down then just punts it straight up to the away keeper, and every time we get near the box we have to cross it even when a player is clean through he heads to the wings looking to cross the ball- why on earth is Coyle telling the players to do that?!

McClaren was awful today as was Quinn, Deuchar, McInnes, Sheerin and Irvine.

Hamilton are well ahead of us- Coyle has to get this sotred out or he'll have to be sacked.

[MUZZ]

That was absolutely garbage. Coyle has to get this sotred out or he'll have to be sacked.


the pressure is on coyle now

[Real Madrid]

Can anyone remember either keeper having to make a save today?

While Deucher has been a good addition to the team, we now just play long balls all the time and its not working

180 minutes against Dunfermline, the team everyone gets goals against and we still have not scored.

[Shaggy Jenkins]

12 off top potentially 10 of 2nd we have never been in this league from day one. This cant go on! If the same targets are being set within the club that are being sold to the fans, then there comes a time when it becomes apparent that what we have in place is not working.

This is was the make or break season for OC IMO and its not happening for him right now, fall any futher behind and I have to say thanks but no thanks. Last season in the league was wofull most weeks and again this year its not much better, again we are too hot and cold.

However in his defence the club need to look also at our wage structure as I think this has tied OCs hands to a certain extent.

SPL is the goal or it is not, we will not do it on a shoe string

[Shaggy Jenkins]

That was absolutely garbage. We did nothing all game.

McClaren was awful today as was Quinn, Deuchar, McInnes, Sheerin and Irvine.


Thought Quinn was the only one with pass marks in the midfield today, it did not work out for him but some of his ideas were great. Would agre that McInnes and Sheerin are past it now and McClaren is a waste of space, playing him on the right does no one any good

[SJC]

Quinn looked as if he was going through the motions a bit, then came on to a decent game later on.

McClaren would be much better off on the left, not out on the right wing with no support from the midfield.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Quinn looked as if he was going through the motions a bit, then came on to a decent game later on.

McClaren would be much better off on the left, not out on the right wing with no support from the midfield.

Sorry but McLaren would just be better off.

[HertsSaintee]

Agree with most of what's been said already. We are right back to the mediocre garbage that we saw at the start of the season. What's frustrating is that it's exactly the same team playing this pish as who went on the good winning run. Makes no sense - like the players have been replaced by their incompetent evil twins.

Apart from the fact that it's obvious there are several players off the boil at the moment, the worrying thing is that there doesn't seem to be any spark or sense of urgency anywhere in the side at the moment. The players need to learn that they need to work and fight much harder than they are doing to compensate for lack of form. Our last three games have been poor, but although we only lost the one last week, we could easily have lost today and when we played Clyde. We have no mobility in midfield, can't seem to string two passes together, are second to everything and it's difficult to see how the front two scored that barrowload of goals given the way they are playing now. How close is MMM to fitness anyway? Because by god we need some inspiration from him right now.

For what it's worth, Ando was the best Saint today IMO.


Herts

[Nick]

Where do I start? What about the same way I;ve started the past 3 weeks.

Exactly the effing same! FFS Coyle. How clueless are you. The problems are there so visable but he ignores them for some reason! If he cannot see them, then he's not a good enough manager. Simple as that.

Sheerin IS passed it! Why on earth does he drift in ALL the bloody time? This leaves LOADS of space out on the left, cutting down out options we have going forward. He can't keep up with the pace, his creativity has all but gone, and his tackling is laughable.

McInnes. Why does he man mark? Has he been isntructed too? He can;t keep up with his man and can;t tackle his man! He should be sitting just in front of the defence to stop their attacks. He doesnt, which is why nearly EVERY single Dunfermline atack was from the driving through the middle, where McInnes is suppose to break up. But hes to far up the pitch to do that. Even if he were in the correct position, I doubt he would stop the attack without giving away a freekick!

Since we play Duechar we are resorting to punting the ball to him. He isnt blessed with skill at his feet! Part of this problem is down to there being no one in left midfield, and a left footer at right mid. (clueless).

And why is it Quinn that goes to the defence to try and recieve a pass. If McInnes is the holding player that should be him, and Quinn should eb offering a pass. Quinn's having to do the job of 2 players, potentially 3 when there is no one out left.

We are desperatly needing Hardies dig in midfield back. We are second to EVERY ball.

Iv stuck up for McLaren, mainly becuase I think he suffers from playing on the right hand side, but he is a poor player. Whether its confidence I don't know, but Coyle isn't doing him any favours.


I said it last week and I'll say it again. These mistakes are the mistakes which cost us the league last year. And Coyle isn't learning from them.

[StDuncM]

Pat Nevin said on BBC Scotland tonight that he thought Saints were the best team in the division last season and it would be hard to keep up the momentum from then. It would appear that this is the case and we are chasing shadows. Sacking Coyle is not the answer but when James and Milne come back we will see a difference. From where I am it seems we lack leadership and the sooner the old head of James is back the better.

[templeofsaints]

Absolute rubbish today - persisting with the high balls pish (a ridiculous tactic in conditions like today), practically the whole midfield too slow and strikers off form.

There is no urgency or sharpness in the side - too many of the players seem to believe they will get a starting jersey week in / week out and aren't trying and Coyle yet again shows a lack of imagination with his team selection. Why is Sheerin being forced to play 90 minutes when neither he nor McInnes have the legs? Why is McLaren's confidence being ripped apart (not helped by his own lack of movement) by sticking him on the right instead of the left wing? Where is the creativity in the side - Quinn can't do it all on his own?

But I'm more worried with this punt the ball forward for the Doc all the time - no imagination at all and against Bamba and Wilson we were just conceding possession again and again.

I agree we miss Hardie, but I think we're missing James badly - there's precious little sign of leadership on the park (no shouting or encouragement like we saw last season).

One thing's for sure -we play like that again in a fortnight and it'll be another disappointing cup final.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Pat Nevin said on BBC Scotland tonight that he thought Saints were the best team in the division last season and it would be hard to keep up the momentum from then. It would appear that this is the case and we are chasing shadows. Sacking Coyle is not the answer but when James and Milne come back we will see a difference. From where I am it seems we lack leadership and the sooner the old head of James is back the better.

You a lucky man to be where you are. From where I was today we simply not even nearly good enough and to be fair the buck stops with the boss. Tactically we are very very one dimentional. Either these are OCs tactics or the players are just not listening to him. If it,s the first then were in bother and if it is the latter then why is he not changing the starting line up???

Big decisions need to be taken NOW either by Coyle dropping some of the untouchables or by Geoff Brown and the rest of the board seriously looking at alternatives.Never say never but surely even the most optomistic amongst us realise that the time will come very soon, where we will need a miracle to win the league. As I,ve said previously I fully support OC , but we must show improvement if we are to have any hope of challenging next season( if indeed this season has gone tits up). It,s fine to say were missing some key players but thats life at all levels of football.Things have got to get moving very soon or OC will have to go.If he is still with us come the transfer window and then the club decides to let him go after it closes then the new man ( Who ever he might be) will not be able to bring in the players he needs till the summer giving them less time to settle and we could end up exactly the same this time next year..Some one within the club MUST tell OC he,s getting it wrong with the high balls and keeping in, some of the guys who need to be dropped. We want you to stay Coyle but you gotta give us a team we can be proud of, playing decent fast flowing attacking football

[Norsaint]

We can't keep playing both McInnes and Sheerin in the same team. Also I don't like picking on a player but McLaren has no bottle and if his confidence is down he is a liability.
I am a Savo fan so I hope he comes back soon but the team will have to change tactics if he does.
Also supported OC before but he has to realise when things are going wrong quicker. Time is running out rapidly this season.

[THE REBEL SAINT]

[QUOTE=templeofsaints;107551]Absolute rubbish today - persisting with the high balls pish (a ridiculous tactic in conditions like today), practically the whole midfield too slow and strikers off form.


i think this is the way gretna played when deuchars was there last season and saints are just doing the same with him up front, instead of playing there own style of play of passing the ball through midfield

[Calypso Kid]

Im just really frustrated with turning up every saturday and seeing the same underachieving players starting. Its not HUGE changes we're needing its basic ones like playing a right winger on the right wing.

Ando was excellent today i thought.

The game itself turned into a bit of a free for all with both teams going for it. Willie Mclaren is not up to the standard required on that side and Weatherson must be wondering what he has to do to get in.

The quicker Savo, Hardie and James get back the better.

[templeofsaints]

i think this is the way gretna played when deuchars was there last season and saints are just doing the same with him up front, instead of playing there own style of play of passing the ball through midfield

That's fair enough but it's the same style for 90 minutes - it's telling that the best chances this week and last have come from keeping the ball on the ground and breaking through the wings.

[THE REBEL SAINT]

That's fair enough but it's the same style for 90 minutes - it's telling that the best chances this week and last have come from keeping the ball on the ground and breaking through the wings.

at least we seem to be seeing the same game,
i agree with what your saying so you would think somebody on the saints bench would see whats happening and tell them to keep the ball on the deck,
but as long as the target mans on the pitch ie deuchars they just seem to punt the ball up to him, and bypass the midfield.

[sconesjfc]

Punt, long ball, av it, get tae ****..Mcmanus, Sheerin, Maclaren, Mcinnes utter pish, our best player once again Rocco is away in 3 games...Another season in this divison. Where has it all gone wrong? dont knw why OC doesnt mix things up..:evil:

[Indicator]

Well - I've looked at all the comments on this thread so far and, it's obvious that although it's not an irretrievable shambles, it's obviously all wrong. Fine, forget about the disappointment this week, and hark back to the disappointment last week, and then the disappointment the week before that... How long before OC goes back to playing what these players are best at, or how long before he doesn't insist in playing a player out of position (I assume he's got cover?) when the man is totally uncomfortable there. What about pulling the wrong players off and replacing them with the wrong players. It must really frustrating for the people turning up to matches week in and week out when, they can see all this and that they just want the team to go back to playing the style of football that was pulling in results week after week. CAN NOBODY ON THE PLAYING/COACHING SIDE SEE THIS!!

[monkfish]

Utter Pish. Didn't even pretend to play football for the first ten minutes like we have been doing, just started punting it up from the get go.

I've no idea how Coyle or Sandy Stewart cannot see the problems that every other bugger can.
The only hope is now they realise this season is fecked we can start trying to play some nice football at least.

Ref was a joke but we should be able to beat them without looking for penalties.

[sjfc]

Where do I start? What about the same way I;ve started the past 3 weeks.

Exactly the effing same! FFS Coyle. How clueless are you. The problems are there so visable but he ignores them for some reason! If he cannot see them, then he's not a good enough manager. Simple as that.

Sheerin IS passed it! Why on earth does he drift in ALL the bloody time? This leaves LOADS of space out on the left, cutting down out options we have going forward. He can't keep up with the pace, his creativity has all but gone, and his tackling is laughable.

McInnes. Why does he man mark? Has he been isntructed too? He can;t keep up with his man and can;t tackle his man! He should be sitting just in front of the defence to stop their attacks. He doesnt, which is why nearly EVERY single Dunfermline atack was from the driving through the middle, where McInnes is suppose to break up. But hes to far up the pitch to do that. Even if he were in the correct position, I doubt he would stop the attack without giving away a freekick!

Since we play Duechar we are resorting to punting the ball to him. He isnt blessed with skill at his feet! Part of this problem is down to there being no one in left midfield, and a left footer at right mid. (clueless).

And why is it Quinn that goes to the defence to try and recieve a pass. If McInnes is the holding player that should be him, and Quinn should eb offering a pass. Quinn's having to do the job of 2 players, potentially 3 when there is no one out left.

We are desperatly needing Hardies dig in midfield back. We are second to EVERY ball.

Iv stuck up for McLaren, mainly becuase I think he suffers from playing on the right hand side, but he is a poor player. Whether its confidence I don't know, but Coyle isn't doing him any favours.


I said it last week and I'll say it again. These mistakes are the mistakes which cost us the league last year. And Coyle is learning from them.


listen to sir alex..... shut up u t!t

[slf]

loyal supporters we see you in scumtown

[Nick]

listen to sir alex..... shut up u t!t

Considering everyone else has said the exact same, it looks like your the t!t!

You don't have to be Sir Alex to see where the problems lie. Its actually quite obvious.

you do realise this is a forum? It would be a boring place if everyone ignored the negatives.

but if you think everythings jolly, and would be happy with another year in the first division good for you.

[slf]

hey we see you in the cup ya fife bams and you all stink of pi@H

[Calypso Kid]

I'm from Fife does anyone else have a particular problem with that?

[SJC]

It would be fantastic if we won the challenge cup wouldn't it?

Never mind the fact that we will have to replace at least 8 players for next season, we will win the cup in which if you are a decent team you either can't enter or don't give a flying monkey about.

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

The ghost has been out had a few drinks but still I say we MUST change tactics now.We have some players who can run at the oposition and when they do the other teams are shit scared. This punt it to the Doc stuff is total bollocks. When your in the shit at the back then by all means punt it but only then. There might just still be time to save it but OC has to act NOW. If not he will lose support very quickly

[McCallum]

Pat Nevin said on BBC Scotland tonight that he thought Saints were the best team in the division last season and it would be hard to keep up the momentum from then. It would appear that this is the case and we are chasing shadows. Sacking Coyle is not the answer but when James and Milne come back we will see a difference. From where I am it seems we lack leadership and the sooner the old head of James is back the better.

Correctimondo, Dunc. Read through most of the thread and a lot of it is just angry, frustrated digs at Coyle - Ok, fair enough we did seem tactically inept today, as we have been on other occasions this season. It's fine having the manager tanning liquorish, hurling all sorts from the the touch line throughout the game, but if we don't have a natural leader on the the park, then I feel thats already a big mountain to climb in itself. Kevin James is a big, big, good, good, personal player for us and I think a lot of folk are forgetting that.

True, injuries are a big part of the game and every team has it's fair share, but we are missing our whole back bone of what WAS clearly the best team in the league last year. Obviously Mensing and Scotland have gone but James, Hardie and Savo were massive players for us last season. The fact is- as awful as we were today, when these guys come back, coupled with the January transfer window, I think (or certainly hope) things will be on the up for Saints. There are so many points to play for- I'm not saying we'll win the league but it's far from over. Stanic For Scotland. :twisted:

[Steve Maskrey]

I think you're right Dunc, once we get James, Hardie and Savo back we'll be a much better team. All three are capable of scoring goals. For the cup final, I would start Weatherston in place of McLaren. DW seems more interested in taking players on

[templeofsaints]

It would be fantastic if we won the challenge cup wouldn't it?

Never mind the fact that we will have to replace at least 8 players for next season, we will win the cup in which if you are a decent team you either can't enter or don't give a flying monkey about.

Crap - winning or losing the cup won't make a blind bit of difference to changes to the side for next season. And having never seen Saints lift a bit of silverware of any meaning personally I'm looking forward to a one-off game which there is no doubt that the Pars will give a monkey's about.

[templeofsaints]

I think you're right Dunc, once we get James, Hardie and Savo back we'll be a much better team. All three are capable of scoring goals. For the cup final, I would start Weatherston in place of McLaren. DW seems more interested in taking players on

Whilst I agree with you, the problem is James, Savo and Hardie (well not so much the latter) shouldn't be relied on to be fit every week. OC should look to the current side and see about changing the skipper - personally I'd go for McManus or Ando instead of McInnes.

We've also got to remember that not matter what happens in Jan in all likelihood we lose the Doc after the Partick game - so Owen has to get the team adapting to varying tactics before then. The Pars know how we play now and going into the cup final without changing the way we play is going to be suicide.

[SJC]

TOS, didn't you see us lift the Forfarshire cup in Arbroath?

The Challenge Cup isn't much better than that in my opinion.

If people want to treat this as a proper final then that's great, but I can't get excited about it given our current league form.

[blueheaven]

True, injuries are a big part of the game and every team has it's fair share, but we are missing our whole back bone of what WAS clearly the best team in the league last year. Obviously Mensing and Scotland have gone but James, Hardie and Savo were massive players for us last season. The fact is- as awful as we were today, when these guys come back, coupled with the January transfer window, I think (or certainly hope) things will be on the up for Saints. There are so many points to play for- I'm not saying we'll win the league but it's far from over. Stanic For Scotland. :twisted:

The thing about that, though, is that I don't think there has ever been a point in my Saints-supporting life when I haven't thought "Things will get better once we have player X, Y and Z back from injury". But the chances are that by the time those guys are all back playing regularly, we'll have different key players out injured. It's just the way things are - you hardly ever get to play with your first choice team for very long. That's why Coyle has built a squad, and why we have to always be able to do better with what's available.

[monkfish]

It's fine and well saying we are playing badly because we are missing key players. Most people are not saying that it's their loss that they're frustrated with though. It's poor tactics and team selection that are the main topics.

It's a choice to play basically 3 central midfielders by putting Sheerin on the wing giving us no width, and it's a choice to have punt it up the park tactics. I'd agree we're missing Hardie and things might change if he came back, but there's obvious problems now that aren't being addressed.

[McCallum]

The thing about that, though, is that I don't think there has ever been a point in my Saints-supporting life when I haven't thought "Things will get better once we have player X, Y and Z back from injury". But the chances are that by the time those guys are all back playing regularly, we'll have different key players out injured. It's just the way things are - you hardly ever get to play with your first choice team for very long. That's why Coyle has built a squad, and why we have to always be able to do better with what's available.

That is a fair point, there will always be problems with injuries throughout the season. It could sound like an excuse saying when player X, Y and Z are back playing regularly, things will be better - you're right, that goes through everyone's head. However, when you say the chances are we'll have different key players out injured once these guys are back, do you really think many current players could be as a big a loss as:

James - Our best Captain in years and a massive presence in the team.
Hardie - 15 goals from midfield last season and generally a hero.
Savo - 14 goals last season despite being out for some time.

I feel these players bring the grit and experience that can get you out of this godforsaken league. Unfortunately, I don't think we will win the league this season but we can at least hope for our classic too little too late push for promotion sometime in March.

Anyway, these players won't be back for a bit and I fear it could be too late when they return but things will definitely improve. As you say, we have to do better with what's available just now. A change in Captain wouldn't go a miss - McInnes is a good professional and works hard for the team but I just don't think he has good enough leadership skills to get the team fired up and organised, in fact nobody comes close to Kevin James, in my opinion. Just now I'd probably go for Alan McManus.

I think OC needs to give Weatherston a start now, and seriously think about bringing McCluskey into the equation. We need to keep the ball on the deck and spread it to the flanks to properly utilise these wide players. The punt up is becoming embarrassing. If things are going wrong we need change things round at half time instead of the 70 minute mark or most times, never. Alex Rae took action asap last week and it worked wonders for Dundee. But most of all we need to look like we remotely want to win the league week in, week out. We need to be first to every ball and dictate games which we are more than capable of doing. Easier said than done, I suppose.

We will win the Challenge Cup.

[St Mikey]

I can't comment anymore until we start playing again.

I'll re-post "hahahahahahahahaha" after every game until we improve
:D

[templeofsaints]

TOS, didn't you see us lift the Forfarshire cup in Arbroath?

The Challenge Cup isn't much better than that in my opinion.

If people want to treat this as a proper final then that's great, but I can't get excited about it given our current league form.

So what about the CIS cup - no European place at the end and the OF treat it like a reserve tournament so perhaps we shouldn't bother with it. The Scottish Cup? Again it's only a UEFA Cup spot so perhaps we won't bother with that either.

The Challenge Cup is a chance for us to see Saints win a national trophy - no it won't set the world alight and it probably won't mean hee-haw in terms of our league form but at the same time I'd much rather be in the final than having to sit on the sidelines where the league form is still just as sh*t and the injuries / squad problems still exist.