Saints vs. Greenock Morton 12/04/08

[The ghost of Jim Morton]

Right.It,s time for the team to get their collective arses in gear,roll their sleeves up and give us a performance that will send us to Hampden a week on Sunday filled with hope and belief that we can progress to the final.The last few weeks have frankly not been good enough.We have created a lot of chances in some of the games,granted,but overall we have been well off the pace.Last weeks game at Hamilton was the cherry on the icing, on the cake.
Enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!We need to get a decent result and the players need to get the winning feeling back.I,m pretty sure it,s going to be a shite crowd again which is disappointing as well.We desperately need some atmosphere going at McD. Maybe the visit of Davie Irons will get us gee,d up a bit.I hope so. I want to see fight,determination,style,skill,thought,belief and chartecter on Saturday.I want to see flowing football with slick passing moves,the ball being played on the deck and the team getting some width,with players getting to the bye-line and crosses of quality being swung into a packed goalmouth....What I don,t want to see is a laclustre,insipid display of ineptitude and bone idle laziness with huge punts to know one in particular
and the concentration levels of small insects. You may think I,m asking for too much and I probably am but they are capable of it so why should,t we expect it..The team?????I honestly haven't got a Scooby,but I,ll give it a whirl as it would be rude not to.

Main?/Tucuth
Irvine,Rusty,Anderson,Stanic.
Morris?/Quinn?/Weatherston Craig,Moon, Sheerin
McBreen?/ McDonald, Jackson

Subs.Tucuth/Main,Hardie,James,Weatherston McDonald,Milne...

I've heard that Morris is doubtful as is Rocco.Main I,m not sure.I,d have McBreen on from the start if he,s okay after the reseve game....

Whats your opinion??????

[superhans]

superhans says....

main,
irvine, rusty, ando, stanic,
quinn morris sheerin
weatherston, peaso, jackson

that is if jody morris and rocco quinn are fit

[templeofsaints]

If there are any doubts over Rocco and Jody they won't be risked. Either way though I still want to see us go out for the win - there's pride at stake and the need to shove it right up Irons. :)

[THE LARK SAINT]

Christ ghosty, you dont w
ant much do you?The lark goes with:main:irvine:stanic:craig:rusty:lurch:quinn:mo rris:jackson:milne:sheerin>sub cuthbert(only because obriens on loan) hardy:moon:macdonald:monaghan:):)

[monkfish]

We won't be allowed to play yon trialist will we?

[Radford 72]

We won't be allowed to play yon trialist will we?
Pretty certain we can't but the amateur route might be open to us. I don't think we'll do that though and he's headed back down south anyone, although is coming back next week.

Can't see Morris or Quinn featuring and would guess McInnes will want to get Hardie more game time ahead of next week. Del is saying all the right things about the game but he's pointed out himself that Morton will be aggressive and look to get in about us. Irons will know that they have to do that as our players might not fancy it and I do worry that our guys won't want to risk missing out on next week. Good to hear that James, Hardie and McBreen are progressing but I think Hardie is the only one that has a chance of starting either game.

Main

Irvine - Rutkiewicz - McManus - Stanic

Hardie - Moon - Craig

Jackson - Milne - MacDonald

Subbies: Tucuth, Anderson, Sheerin, Weatherston, McBreen.

Be good to get a look at Chris Millar ahead of next season as well. Really excited about his arrival as the Morton fans have been raving about his performances over the past few months.

[slf]

get intae they muppets

[Finners]

i cant see any fans being too up for this but i will be totally expecting Del to get the players riled up and get a confident win against morton. I think the players will be taking this game very seriously as well due to it being the last game before the semi! Mon saints

[541ntees]

I think the players will be up for this one knowing cup places are there for the taking but then that didn't inspire them last week.
Del has some tough decisions . I think he'd like to try his cup team without risking anyone with niggles. Not sure if he'll go 433 or 442 like last week?

so my team is-
Main
Irvine Rusty Ando Goran
Craig Hardie Mooner Sheerin
Jacko Milne

Subs-Bert McManus Morris(needs some match practice before cup so would give him last 15) Peaso McBreen

[saint_markperth]

do we have any chris millar songs yet?

[O'Rourke]

do we have any chris millar songs yet?

Chrissy was a Diddy Man, a Diddy Man, a Diddy Man, etc

Would be good to get a bit of confidence going ahead of next weekend. Hopefully we wont pick up any silly injuries....

[Dunfermline Saint]

From OS:

Some long-time absent players come into the starting line-up for this afternoon’s match against Morton. Kevin James and Martin Hardie both put months of injury anguish behind them and David Weatherston joins them in the eleven.

Daniel McBreen gets a place on the bench

SAINTS: Main, Irvine, Stanic, Anderson, James, Craig, Weatherston, Hardie, Jackson, Milne, Sheerin.
Subs: McManus, Moon, MacDonald, McBreen, Cuthbert

[Scobby_SJFC]

I see a bit of apathy towards this game!!! one eye on next week!!

[Finners]

I think with QOS winning against aberdeen this game might look a bit more appetising

[Dunfermline Saint]

YAS! 1-0 Jacko!

[Scobby_SJFC]

1-0 Jackson

[Jings]

I don't think big Kev & MMM will be the least bit apathetic about this game. It's about cup semi's and careers for them.

[Scobby_SJFC]

I don't think big Kev & MMM will be the least bit apathetic about this game. It's about cup semi's and careers for them.

Thats what I thought last saturday and look what we got!

[Dunfermline Saint]

Think any apathy will come from the fans. Looking at the team today James and MMM are only 2 of a few in the 16 that want to stake a claim for the semi.

Tomorrow's Partick v Rangers game has more bearing on our season than todays game has. Obviously still always want to see Saints win, but most fans will have more than one eye on next weekend's game.

[Dunfermline Saint]

2-0! Jacko again!

[Scobby_SJFC]

get in

[Finners]

nice one. - anyone ken how we are playing?

[injured saint]

playing ok

[Dunfermline Saint]

More from OS:

Two headed goals from top goalscorer Andy Jackson have given Saints a 2-0 lead over Morton at half-time in today's game.

The first came from close range when he got on the end of a David Weatherston cross in 23 minutes and then he headed home in some style from further out just four minutes later after meeting a pinpoint Liam Craig cross from the left.

[Dunfermline Saint]

2-1 Brian Wake

[angus-saint253]

i can see us cocking this up.

[Dunfermline Saint]

i can see us cocking this up.

You were right 2-2....

[O'Rourke]

2s up

[injured saint]

2-2 pen ian russell

[Dunfermline Saint]

Moon on for Weatherston

[angus-saint253]

man alive, be good if we at least showed some interest, c'mon boys pick it up. drop points today and we may well have qos noses up our arses.

[Dunfermline Saint]

3-2!!! Kevin James! Get in!

[Finners]

Well done - good ground out win for saitns by the sounds of it

[SJC]

We dominated the first half, then hit the panic botton. Morton got a goal back, and we settled down again.

Then for some reason Anderson punches the ball above his head in the box with nobody near him, he was lucky not to be sent off- completely bizarre decision.

James scored a header about a yard out, to be honest it was worth seeing Morton equalise just to ruin Davie Irons (who as usual, was acting like a complete twat throughout the game).

Nice one Davie, you absolute fanny!

[angus-saint253]

well done guys . good effort . i recon it stands us in good sted for next weekend. sounds like moon maybe influenced the game when he came on, if so well done to him and another well done to del

[mainstand]

well done guys . good effort . i recon it stands us in good sted for next weekend. sounds like moon maybe influenced the game when he came on, if so well done to him and another well done to del

Don't think he had much impact at all,

[monkfish]

well done guys . good effort . i recon it stands us in good sted for next weekend. sounds like moon maybe influenced the game when he came on, if so well done to him and another well done to del

Didn't really have time to do much. Was worth him coming on to hear all the middle aged mean cooing everytime he touched the ball. 101 Saint is not alone!

[MUZZ]

actually feel a bit sorry for morton. didnt think much of our new boy millar to be fair. hope he has more to offer than he showed today.

[monkfish]

actually feel a bit sorry for morton. didnt think much of our new boy millar to be fair. hope he has more to offer than he showed today.

Thought he looked a similar player to Mooner. Good skill but bit lightweight.

[templeofsaints]

Should have won by a much more comfortable margin but too many players seemed to have an eye on next week. James led the back line well but Ando was pretty inconsistent and conceded a needless penalty. Jacko took his goals well (2nd was a crackiing header) but again both he and Savo were denied much service from midfield.

Of the other comeback boys, I thought Hardie looked nervous - certainly backed out of some 50-50s which while it might be understandable given his injuries, should count against him for next weekend. McBreen won a lot of ball in the air but doesn't look fit enough - wore a big strapping on his knee when he came on.

Plus points - Goran and Irvine played well, Craig had a decent game despite Finlayson trying to pick a fight with him most of the 2nd half. Still a lot of work to do for next weekend though.

Disagree about the Millar comments as well - thought he did well at the centre of their midfield and looks comfortable on the ball.

[Barca-Saintee]

I thought skins was good today, he looked a constant threat on the right wing.
there was one brilliant piece of play in the first half as well where hardie, sheerin and skins/irvine made a few quick, short passes that gave sheerin space to hit a shot from 20 odd yards which he unfortunately missed.
Hardie also looked like he was trying to pass on the deck more but he lacked match fitness- probably on the bench next week

[ancientsaint]

actually feel a bit sorry for morton. didnt think much of our new boy millar to be fair. hope he has more to offer than he showed today.

I thought millar was mortons best player - held the ball up well and passed it to his own players - personally think he was holding back against his new club - as he had several opportunities to shoot but didnt.

As for Davie Irons - pressure getting to him as he heads towards another relegation UNLESS he gets an offer elsewhere of course and jumps overboard.

[ancientsaint]

Cant understand why Craig was booked in his "handbag" dispute with Finlayson who raised his hands and escaped a booking.

[THE LARK SAINT]

Cant understand why Craig was booked in his "handbag" dispute with Finlayson who raised his hands and escaped a booking.

iI was amazed at that point as it looked to me that finlayson had sruck craig, and was about to be shown a red card,then the ref pulls over craig and books him:shock: as the game itself i thought we played very well in the first half and jacko took hus goals well, awith good service from weatherston. Q the second half and christ was that really the same team. ton pulled 1 back and as often happens panic set in. Then coco the clown anderson gives away a needless pen and its 2.2, mind you i dont thik the normally relliable irvine helped his cause with his stupid header accross the face of goal and putting his fellow defenders under presure.anderson by the way should have walked:evil:saints toiled for a while and morton were on top and missed a couple of chances with the rock solid alan main pulling of one point blank reflex save from 3 feet and a steady james in front of him.All mortons good moves came from our new man millar, and whist he looks a bit lightweight he looks a decent prospect.:) milne was a bit unlucky with a good effort that was only inches over there bar, but i dont know he just seems to be lacking something from his game just now. Then just as i thought we were going to have to settle for a draw at best, up pops big kev to snatch us the 3 points.points from 10: MAIN:8 IRVINE:6 STANIC:7 ANDERSON:3 JAMES:7 CRAIG:7 WEATHERSTON:8 HARDIE:6 JACKSON:9 MILNE:6 SHEERIN:7 SUBS: MACDONALD:5 MCBREEN:5 MOON:7

[Capital Saint]

actually feel a bit sorry for morton.

Yeah, I felt sorry for Morton too. I spoke to a few of their fans before the match and they all seemed to be decent guys. A guy I used to work with is a Morton fan and I met him after the match. He was raging at Davie Irons and wants rid of him as soon as possible. I for one hope Morton manage to stay up.

[THE LARK SAINT]

Yeah, I felt sorry for Morton too. I spoke to a few of their fans before the match and they all seemed to be decent guys. A guy I used to work with is a Morton fan and I met him after the match. He was raging at Davie Irons and wants rid of him as soon as possible. I for one hope Morton manage to stay up.
There were some morton fans in the saints club today, and like you i thought they were pretty decent guys, one of them told me that irons is a clown, and wants shot of him. he also told me a story of why jim mcinaly quit so i am go ing to post his story on fitbaw chat. i too would want them to stay up for there decent size support, and along with dundee ,dunfermline,partick and queens , we should get some good crowds at mcd next season if we are near the top of the league and get of to a winning start:)

[Dunfermline Saint]

Mention for Jacko to say that him, Offiong and Dobbie are all sitting on 19 goals for the season from open play (open play = not including pens) Great goal scoring season for him.

[Radford 72]

Mention for Jacko to say that him, Offiong and Dobbie are all sitting on 19 goals for the season from open play (open play = not including pens) Great goal scoring season for him.
Just Jacko and Dobbie on nineteen I think, Offiong drops down to fifteen without PKs.

Staggering to think of Jackson was our PK taker and had scored them all (unlikely maybe) he could be sitting on 33 goals for the campaign!

[Scobby_SJFC]

I hope Morton stay up, rather see Clyde go down, who have no fans and is a boring day out, as old and crappy as it is, I do kind of enjoy a trip to Cappilow.

[Dennistoun Saint]

I hope Morton stay up, rather see Clyde go down, who have no fans and is a boring day out, as old and crappy as it is, I do kind of enjoy a trip to Cappilow.

Here here. Not to mention the fact Clyde are a bit of a bogey team for us.

[541ntees]

I didn't make the game on sat, ive seen the team line up but could someone tell me what the positions were apart from the obvious main in goal back 4 of irvine ando james an stanic.

was interested to find out what formation he tried considering most of the season we've played 433 and hamilton the week before was 442.