ex-montrosesaintee

29 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

Haven't really mentioned the VAR stuff but none of it's unexpected. Is there any real positive to having it at all? I was always fine with just having refs and accepting that they'd miss things and make mistakes from time to time. It was better than what we've ended up with.

Perfect summary of VAR.  We've ended up with just as many talking points, just ridiculous delays during the match that massive dilute the atmosphere of just about every critical moment.  The whole celebrate - wait for 4 minutes - maybe celebrate a bit more or maybe swear at the invisible man is pathetic.

Aye, 72 goals in 44 games for East Craigie 2 years ago.

On 12/17/2023 at 5:27 PM, Willie Peat said:

Brechin have a young lad called Grady McGrath scoring for fun (fourth hat trick of the season yesterday). Wonder if he might be in the thoughts of Craig Levein and Andy Kirk?

Mentioned Grady when we first heard about the Levein/Kirk appointment.  He's the best forward in the highland league by a country mile.  It's very hard to judge striker's potential though - he's brilliant in a mediocre team on shite pitches, he might be brilliant in a better team on better pitches, or he might not.  What he does seem to have is that extra time on the ball that seems natural to good players, first touch is superb, and he is an instinctive finisher.  Provides plenty of assists too.  Think he scored something like 70 goals in a season in the juniors in Dundee before joining Brechin.  38 goals last season, 4 hat-tricks already this season. 

Personally I think if he stepped up a level or two he'd still excel, but highland league to SPFL is a big step.

**** me that was awful

So much better organised.  Still loads to improve but a massive step in the right direction. Terrific goal and 3 points.

Disappointing result in the end, but it felt like Levein was watching the McLean/Cleland approach.  I don't think any sensible manager would try to introduce a new approach in the 24 hours leading up to a game, especially when one of the key issues seems to be players lacking individual confidence, as well as confidence in the system.

Going forward I think the first 45 minutes and the last 10 minutes gives Levein and Kirk an excellent platform to build from, and not having made radical changes makes it easy for them to dismiss the other 35 minutes as 'the old St Johnstone' and move forwards.

I'm feeling pretty positive and think we'll see an altogether better 90 minute performance that the weekend.

I'm definitely in the this could go either way camp.  I do not dislike Levein but worry he's championing Kirk as the next big thing in scottish football management, and I'm not convinced at all. 

Also fear that Brechin will crumble with them gone and it's kinda handy following them when I live 200 yards from Glebe Park 🤣

Maybe they'll bring Grady McGrath too.  Lad could score goals in any league.

Think our budget is a bit bigger than many league one sides, but we still got humped by Stirling Albion.

20 minutes ago, RandomGuy said:

They're spending a fortune aren't they?

Sure the guy who owns Mackie Motors bought them after they got relegated to the Highland League and is pumping money in.

You are the guy with the secret financial intel on every club in the northern hemisphere, I'm not looking for an argument.  Just correcting an accusation that Brechin, Kirk and Levein are not doing a good job.

Brechin have lost one highland league game in 2 seasons.  The structure makes it an almost impossible league system to get out of.  They lost on sudden death pens to Spartans last year, after a sadly uncharacteristic nervy performance in the first leg of the playoff.  Spartans are now 3rd in div 2.  I'm far from convinced that Levein or Kirk or both are a solution for Saints, but the job they've done at Brechin has been pretty spectacular.  The whole town (city) is right behind the team again, the feel good atmosphere around the place is really special.

8 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

TBH I wouldn't be against Craig Levein helping out until the end of the season to help us steady things and then make a call on what to do next when we reach the summer and see what division we're in.

Hypothetical question for everyone: if we play the Motherwell game with Cleland still in charge, and we win that game, would people be in any rush to change things? Not saying Cleland would be a long-term option for the job (I don't think he even wants it), but if he's getting a response out of the players and getting results, why not just let him carry on for a bit, perhaps with an extra coach brought in to help him?

Interesting situation isn't it.  At what stage do you conclude that a coach has no ambition, and isn't a good candidate for manager?  Tony Doc was another case, looked destined to be Del's 2nd in command forever, and then seems to be doing OK at Dundee (last night excepted).  Cleland has seen everything first hand, good and bad about our management since McInnes, there's no question that he SHOULD know what is required to succeed.

Levein seems to spend his whole life watching football matches, fair play to him for the positive input he has at Brechin, but I don't get the impression he's looking for a managers job again.

Christ, we looked like a football team, great shift and result.

depends on how he is utilised - if he's good enough to be in the team, he's good enough to use to his full potential IMO.  Potentially the best corner taker we've had since Sheerin I reckon, but I worry that responsibility will lie with the 'senior pros' in the team.  Decades of corners floated to the 18 yard line... does my head in.  When wee Max was at Brechin, they scored barrel loads of goals from his corners and free kick deliveries.  He scored some belters of direct free kicks too.

Looooong season ahead.  Grim.

Finishing 8th is a genuine possibility, and I expect would have a massive bearing on whether Macca was a genuine candidate for the managers job for next season.  Motherwell are playing well and can secure 7th tonight, so strong favourites to beat Livi. 

An opportunity for manager and players to stake their claim for next season.

0-0 then.

On 5/9/2023 at 12:59 PM, blueheaven said:

Definitely reckon there could be an Ali Crawford-shaped hole in the Dundee jigsaw.

I feel like we are in a slightly unusual position where a whole list of potential managers could do really well initially, and certainly ensure we avoid relegation.  We have a big squad and the players required to put a good team on the pitch, we've just had a manager who let his arrogance that his tactics were the be-all-and-end-all, despite that system being completely dependent on Kerr, McCann and Rooney being on the pitch, overrule any logic or common sense.

I think the priorities have to be a manager who has recruitment skills and also isn't completely against giving young players (or any new players) more than 30 minutes to prove themselves.

I also feel like the job might be attractive to more potential young managers, who will surely see that they won't be sacked as a knee jerk reaction to a few bad games and destroy their CV.

Trying to see some positives here...  

8 minutes ago, Saline Saint said:

Stephen Thompson on the radio earlier saying it wasn’t a red for Phillips,maybe worth an appeal?

One of those that was never a red, arguably not a yellow, but there is one freeze frame that without context makes it look like an intentional leg breaker - and we know how the authorities love a freeze frame analysis.  Pathetic decision.

No mention of the additional cost, and unpleasantness, of cleaning up after the orcs for the return of the season ticket holders in the East Stand.  Or maybe they were on their best behaviour and didn't break/piss on/smash bottles on anything.  I noticed that the no large flags rule was ignored, so suggests that there wasn't much security in place for them.

Frankly after yesterday I'd welcome anyone if it meant getting rid of Callum's tactics and slopey shouldered attitude.

Voted yes as it was the only non-Callum option.

Really wanted to believe that Callum was making headway pre-world cup, and things were going to get better and better again.  I think I even posted my positivity on this thread several pages ago.  How wrong I was.  This is utter shite, to the point I almost wanted us to get absolutely humped today when the 3rd went in, to try and force the issue.  Surely he has to go, before he completely destroys both the club and his own future in the game.

Closing in on the worst defensive record in the league now, after shipping another four goals.  Average 1.64 per game (1.3 last season saw us finish 11th).  When you consider the negativity in the starting lineups, that's utterly horrendous.

double shit

I take back my earlier positivity, it was clearly delusion,  That was utter utter shite.

Not just results, I think so many teams are so closely matched that almost any team with a hint of momentum can go on a bit of a run. However, the quality of football compared to last season is like night and day, a lot due to the new signings, which I had zero faith in when they were made.

14 points from 18, preceded by a really unlucky loss to celtic doesnt feel like a fortunate blip (like the post Christmas upturn did last season).  We are one or two results away from looking like genuine European place contenders.

Well done to Callum, I was wrong.  Delighted.

Brilliant for him, been really impressed with how quickly he's got back up to speed, changing games.  In my opinion, one of the most individually skillful players in the league.  

Hope he gets some game time in Qatar.