But he didn't actually have to do that. Yes we needed to sign players, but he could have managed the turnover a lot better than he did. He appears to have escaped criticism for Kjartansson feeling he wouldn't be given a chance. Shinnie and Mitov could have been persuaded to stay and help the transition. I think we can gather from his leaked "fuck off topi" shout at the FC Twente friendly that he wasn't too arsed about Keskinen leaving. Again, not all the signings are his, but of the 13 outfield players signed, I'd say seven are considered subs, and a lot of the times because they don't fit how he wants to play. Goodwin's scorched earth policy four (?) years ago was a big mistake, and Robinson has repeated it with a smaller budget, so he didn't even have any Miovskis or Ramadanis coming in as replacements. The Motherwell game we looked good in short spells. However, we had 30% possession and scored with all four shots on target. And that is the most impressive we've been under Robinson. And he hasn't managed to get close to that level of clinical finishing since, which suggests it was a bit of a fluke rather than the beginning of an upward trajectory. The games we have won (and Dundee United), there's been little spells where we temporary rise above mediocrity. But at no stage do I think we're actually improving as a team, it's more just some individual performances ("Mouloua looks handy", "Ronan scored a good goal", "Mine defended well"). I don't think we're any better as a team now than we were on the opening day of the league season, or even in April/May when we had three wins from four. Under Robinson I always think we might pull off a few results here and there, but I really struggle to see us going up a level consistently. For example, we could have sneaked the semi-final, had a great result, but the long term prospects for the team would remain the same. If we were at full strength, maybe Milne doesn't concede a penalty v St Johnstone, maybe we defend a goal or two better in other games, but as an attacking threat I still think we'd be as poor as we have been. We've been punished a wee bit more, but we'd likely still be labouring week to week. What's interesting about Hearts, Dundee United and Falkirk in particular - they've all had their fair share of bad results this season, but you can see real improvement in them, and that's why there's belief in their support. Even in defeat on Sunday I thought Hearts looked alright and were doing the right things, they were just weakened way too much by an injury list that is a lot, lot worse than us. Hibs - it's early days. Motherwell too. But as a neutral I'd have more belief in them improving long term than us.