Inchcolm

Nobody played poorly today, O Halloran should start every game, Played so well against United but is dropped for County last week, Now plays today and was probably the best player on the park
Wotherspoon was showing signs of Liam Craig from years gone by, playing on the wing but coming inside throughout the match, final ball was more consistent and has a real desire to keep going. 
You could see how frustrated Craig was to be playing in that poor a Hibernian side, easily their best player. Still think he will return to us one day.....

And I was wrong, O'Halloran was good - I guess I was frustrated by the amount that the midfield gave the ball away that I labelled him along with MacDonald and Dunne - criticism withdrawn.

I gave it to O’Halloran because of his all-round performance, also for his efforts to be creative and use of the ball. Spoony was a close second. Its amazing how football is a game of opinions as Mortosesaintee said he was poor. But I suppose that what makes it a great game.Top 6 again great achievement let’s hope this bunch of youngsters stay together and get a chance to develop into a top 3 team. We can all dream.

You are vey observant not many people spot my number dyslexia (alcohol induced) maybe I should have written four five one. However with 1 5 4 I am open to suggetions who to play as the four forwards

We were poor in every department and every area in an attacking sense last night. Dunne and McDonald completely lost the battle in midfield but much like when Hibs visited Perth in September, County played a narrow four so were able to overrun us in that area and then get the full backs, especially the left back pushing on. For all the pitch is poor, County managed to pass it alright, whereas our passing was very poor. Croft and Hasselbaink got absolutely nothing out of the full backs and Wotherspoon did no better. May at least got a modicum of joy against the impressive Cikos. Folk can question whether taking Croft off was right or wrong but for me, he looked like he didn't have a clue how he was going to get past the left back. May through the middle was probably as quiet as he's ever been in a home match and MacLean looked like a guy who'd been out for months, wasn't his usual self at all.
 
So for all the criticism of the manager, the players weren't good enough last night either.

Something that was touched upon last night was when somebody asked how often we come back after losing the first goal. It was pointed out we've done it twice this season but worth looking at the numbers in black and white. Since May 2013, we've lost the first goal in a match on 16 occasions and not only have we gone on to lose the match 14 times (drawing the other couple), we've only scored 6 goals in reply.

Last season, although we only won once after going behind in the league (against Celtic, bizarrely enough) we at least showed in games like against United, Inverness etc... that we had the ability to fight back and take a point, something which seems to be sadly lacking this season. Indeed in the one league match where we managed it, we benefited from a poor piece of goalkeeping by Paul Gallacher of Partick Thistle.

Yesterday for me really highlighted the issue though as after going behind there was almost a sense of panic and the team started trying to force everything, attempting to squeeze passes through their defence when really we should have been holding onto the ball and looking for a gap, as we undoubtedly would have done if we weren't behind. I don't know what Motherwell are doing right but they have a really strong record after falling behind. Maybe worth the management having a look at the games in which they've managed it?

Another more general issue is our lack of goals but I think the most alarming concern at the moment has to be the fact we appear a beaten side if we fall a goal behind. Of course, it should be noted we have an outstanding record when scoring first but much like the (previous) home/away form discrepancy, that just makes the negative aspect all the more frustrating.

Agreed, you have to be a decent team to be able to roate your squad and get a consistency in performance. Would say that was probably our worst performance of the season and it was quite honestly embarrassing that it was on live tv! What I would do for us to have some bite in midfield. Yes the whole team with the exception of ando were awful but our Achilles heal is undoubtedly that disaster of a midfield. Mclean's strength as a player is his link up play but last night we were using him like he was a target man. We've all wondered why May's not been scoring but look how much he's been pulled back up the pitch to support the non- existent midfield. For a big guy McDonald has no physicality about him, no ability to play a killer pass and slow at moving the ball forward. Nigel had a poor game and he continues to let the ball drift about 10yards away from him after his first touch. I've never seen a saints team who have no ability to counter attack it takes us an age to get forward! Our striking options are a worry too. What is the point in signing these journeymen who are passed it and a waste of a wage. I've never known a man to actually look smaller when he jumps for a ball. I'd much rather see us bring Kane back and give him a chance.

We can't kid ourselves on that this was a one off performance. We beat Raith who had been in really poor form. We did pretty well against United but on another day they would have taken those good chances they had and probably got one of their pen shouts and we all witnessed the disaster that was last night. There's a real need for us to get a grip ahead of this semi final, players should be fighting to prove they deserve a starting shirt for the game instead of being allowed to just turn up

Watched the game in Preston not happy. Going back to the point I have been making for some time. TW is playing squad rotation and continually bringing Iwelumo on as sub proves it. Lets use Wotherspoon, O'Halloran, Hasselbaink and Dunne as an other example.
Aberdeen Wotherspoon and Hasslebaink start (loss) Next game change
Forfar Wotherspoon and O'Halloran start (win) Next game change
Celtic Wotherspoon and Dunne start (loss) Next game change
Inverness Wotherspoon and Hasselbaink start (loss) Next game change
Motherwell Hasslebaink and Dunne start (win) next game change
Aberdeen Wotherspoon, O'Halloran and Dunne start (loss) next game change
Raith Hasslebaink and Dunne start (win) next game change
Dundee UTD Wotherspoon, O'Halloran and Dunne start (win) next game change
Ross County Hasslebaink and Dunne start (loss) next game change
 
Watch out for next change Wotherspoon and O'Halloran turn to start
anyone willing to bet against it
If we are going to get win after win we need continuity not rotation.

Watched the game in Preston not happy. Going back to the point I have been making for some time. TW is playing squad rotation and continually bringing Iwelumo on as sub proves it. Lets use Wotherspoon, O'Halloran, Hasselbaink and Dunne as an other example.
Aberdeen Wotherspoon and Hasslebaink start (loss) Next game change
Forfar Wotherspoon and O'Halloran start (win) Next game change
Celtic Wotherspoon and Dunne start (loss) Next game change
Inverness Wotherspoon and Hasselbaink start (loss) Next game change
Motherwell Hasslebaink and Dunne start (win) next game change
Aberdeen Wotherspoon, O'Halloran and Dunne start (loss) next game change
Raith Hasslebaink and Dunne start (win) next game change
Dundee UTD Wotherspoon, O'Halloran and Dunne start (win) next game change
Ross County Hasslebaink and Dunne start (loss) next game change
 
Watch out for next change Wotherspoon and O'Halloran turn to start
anyone willing to bet against it
If we are going to get win after win we need continuity not rotation.

I am a great believer in continuity. Who thinks we should change the team from Wednesday if all are fit? He should not change it. I do not think squad rotation does anything to improve the team.
 
The only reason I would change is if it was for a change in formation two up front (May and McLean). I would then play Dunne and Witherspoon as holding midfielders (their tackling mid week was outstanding). They would also protect our weakend back four. That leaves any two from three wide (Croft, O'Halloran and Hassslebaink). I
 
Whatever he does lets hope he picks a winning team.
 
Gutted I will miss the game in Preston but willl find a pub and cheer on the boys.

As exciting as it is when May gets the ball and you can feel the anticipation of him 'having a go'.....tonight's goal for me doesn't entirely vindicate his recent approach of rarely passing and just trying speculative efforts all the time.
 
Thing is, maybe, say, 1 in 10 (being generous) go in (and tonight's by all accounts was down to dodgy keeping).....that ratio could perhaps be increased (to 2 or 3 in 10) if he made the correct decision whether to shoot or pass to a team-mate in a better position more often.
 
Of course, that is a thing we can never know as you can't rewind time and see what would have played out if an alternative choice was made

Why all the doom and Gloom. We are in the semi final of the Scottish Cup. So what we got Aberdeen. We went into their back yard and gave as good as we got. The result went against us, had the gods been with us we would have won. If TW is positive and goes at them I believe we WILL beat them. So Cheer up all you sados

Why all the doom and Gloom. We are in the semi final of the Scottish Cup. So what we got Aberdeen. We went into their back yard and gave as good as we got. The result went against us, had the gods been with us we would have won. If TW is positive and goes at them I believe we WILL beat them. So Cheer up all you sados

Why all the doom and Gloom. We are in the semi final of the Scottish Cup. So what we got Aberdeen. We went into their back yard and gave as good as we got. The result went against us, had the gods been with us we would have won. If TW is positive and goes at them I believe we WILL beat them. So Cheer up all you sados

I have coaching licences from SFA and FA (did this course when I was in the Army) A number important rules that was was common to both. Play a formation that suits your players. do not try and make your players fit a formation. When making a substitution try and make it a direct position swap i.e. center mid for centre mid Do not take of centre mid, move forward to wide mid, wide mid to centre mid and sub put on up front. And relevent to his thread when you have a winning team keep playing it if you lose or draw do not change it as it could be a hic up or you were just beaten by a better team. 
Therefore TW should have kept his winning team. Only reason I can see for him changing it. He wanted to rest McLean for cup tie or wanted to keep his players happy by rotaing the team. But not a good enough reason for me  

Your quite right. I did not have the heart to put Millar's name on the team sheet but I suppose we are better off with 11 men on the park even if only 10 play

Could not agree more. For me Wotherspoon behind May with O'Halleron and Croft wide. Let's go for a win 

I'm glad Radford has been to all this trouble as it backs up my thinking over the last few days. People are really turning on Wright saying he's cost us games recently with his selections and stating they were clearly wrong and that the games were lost before we even started. But we went through good runs with those guys in there and they are perfectly capable.

That said, I also believe Millar and, particularly, Macdonald are badly off form just now, so something has to give. There's also been a lot of grief aimed at Wotherspoon lately too. I wonder if moving him in to the middle in place of perhaps Millar might work?

Tough selection to be made going into this game. Get it right and we can certainly win this which could be a big turning point in our season.

Never seen the point in changing a winning team. We played with pace and were clinical against Forfar. I'm sure Lennon wouldn't of expected to see the same team at Parkhead. We ve went from teams trying to stop us playing to us going defensive and it doesn't suit us. Very disheartening.

Your quite right. I did not have the heart to put Millar's name on the team sheet but I suppose we are better off with 11 men on the park even if only 10 play

Are you Tommy in disguise?

The thing is. Anyone with half a football brain can see it to.
MacDonald by no means the worst today. Millar on the otherhand.

Team selection absolutely bizarre when u think about it. At home. 3 holding type midfielders picked ahead of Dunne Croft & O'Hallaron? We had zero width and yet again we keep trying just hopeful balls into the box or forward from our own half which leads to giving the ball back to them.

Nigels open goal miss sums it up.

Also coming out the end hearing supporters blame the referee for "gifting them the game". He was crap but the reason we lost was because so we're we.