LA-Don

Would like to hear him explain the mcgeough sub and how that benefitted us today?? More defensive player, killed the momentum, and killed the clock. All for.......??? utter joke.

To be fair to cormack, this is a season where the focus is survival of the club. We cannot afford to pay off a manager during the season. I’ll judge him on this summer, lots to fix. Can we afford to change manager this summer? We have to in my eyes, interest is dying. On the pitch I’d say Lewis, Ferguson, mccrory, and possibly an aging considine and a declining Hayes are our only starters. We have no forwards, no quality wide players or #10, Taylor is a decent back up and Hoban and hedges are away. Do we want mcinnes signing anyone??? Brutal when you think about it.

Mcginn and Hayes in their day were arguable two of the best wide players in the league. They are a shadow of their former selves, Kennedy and McLennan are mediocre players at best in this league. Can’t recall a dominating game from either. No wonder we create little. Kennedy, like main, was signed based on a couple of good games against us and isn’t our level in my opinion. Another very quiet game from Ferguson, and mcccrory is wasted on the right.....even though he was central right in a 3??

Last few games and be seen haven’t seen anything from Hayes on the attacking side and we create very little on the left. Same today so far.

To be fair, Campbell did little, not one of his better games.

Based on this Celtic will score again and cruise to victory. Celtic have time to put a foot on the ball, look up, and play a pass. We’re not challenging them to work to keep the ball. They move well and we allow them to keep the ball and cruise. Easy. Painful.

Our pressure isn’t really pressure, we allow Celtic time to control the ball and be very comfortable. When we get the ball it’s pressure, go backwards, then long ball and lose it. mcGinn is done, nothing but set pieces. Very disappointed. Expect him replaced by Henry and we’ll go more long ball.

Yup, we’re too deep now and it’s all Celtic. As commented on red tv (Lee who??) , we need to be brave on the ball, hoofing it long with nobody up top doesn’t help. this is where we need mccrory Ferguson and Campbell on the ball, give the wing backs time to push up. We have three in the middle and getting totally dominated. Poor from those 3 so far.

McLennan is poor. Have to say, not a great start but not our worst, we look better without a big unit up top. We actually try to play football. Still a bit too much long but it’s better.

Interesting to see Lennon resigning. Would like to think McInnes sees that he needs company. Lennon wins 5 trophies in two years but fails this year so walks. what he’s done isn’t acceptable or good enough for Celtic. Anything worst than 3rd for us isn’t acceptable or good enough. Don’t see us 3rd for another year. Any cup loss to a team other than the old firm isn’t good enough. Plus the amount of wins we have over the old firm isn’t good enough (and I’m realistic, I’m not asking for many!) progress and improvement is required in Europe and we aren’t doing that. While we’ve been knocked out by some better teams, it’s been a few years since we’ve beaten a better team on paper like rejika or Groningen. And quite often the manner in which we lose isn’t good enough. with the money we throw at the team, and at the manager, we are failing. Does DM see that? Being really shit before DM came here and not being really shit now isn’t success. Being a top six team isn’t our goal. The last 3 years has been regression, results and standings prove that. Isn’t it time DM owned up and did the right thing, like Lennon?

We’ve spunked a fair amount of money on shit transfers in recent years. Would that have been better spent on upgrading our scouting? In recent years we have signed caley players, Hibs targets, and ex dons amongst others. We just don’t seem to be very open minded. I think we can do better, and as mentioned, there’s a ton of leagues to look at if we are willing. Money is certainly different now, gone are the days of signing Dutch internationalists, but there’s still plenty of affordable talent out there. Case and point, and he’s not been our worst player in recent games, but is bringing back Ash Taylor the best we can do?

I like the look of kamberi. Think he would have thrived in the team early season when wright hedges and co were moving the ball well and we played decent football. Do we see kamberi as a loan to buy??

Agreed, the result is all that matters but yet another game where the other team pass better.....with weaker players and lesser budget. And their form is as bad as ours. We can and should do better. As for the goal, I know we haven’t seen one in a while, but it’s a basic goal. Nothing special or fantastic about it. Absolutely terrible defending and (I haven’t seen a replay) but I think a free header from 6 yards right I front of goal. What else should we expect from a professional football who is a forward ? It’s a plain old goal, nothing special. But a goal!!!! anyway, hoping for a few more goals and an entertaining second half. I’d rather not be a negative cunt for the whole day.!

Delighted for a goal and the lead but good god it’s an awful watch. Absolutely brutal, can we not pass to a teammate or is it pump it long all day....and is ash now our team throw in expert???

This isn’t the time for this type of thing. The team is shit right now and all that will result is challenging questions directed towards both mcinnes and cormack, animosity, argument etc., when finishing the league as best possible should be the only focus. No change in leadership will happen until the summer, if at all. There’s no clearing the air right now, DM has a few games to save his job but cormack won’t say that. Even the Hernandez signing is questionable but that can get clarity later, doesn’t need to be now. What are the benefits to having this meeting now???

I think canceling or rescheduling is for the best. As much as many want answers about many things, this would be a damaging meeting for mcinnes. And damaging for cormack where he’d have to either ignore questions or be very defensive, plus be careful not to say things that upset mcinnes at a crucial stage of the season. We’re right in the middle of a euro qualification fight, that should be the main focus.

I agree with much of that but I think you’re first point is totally wrong. I’ve coached in gale force winds into the face, behind you, swirling wind, frozen pitches etc and you adjust your tactics to the conditions. That doesn’t mean fuck it, go long the full game. Mcinnes is a way better and smarter coach than me (I hope) with much better talent. Today was a day for two things, you play behind them, but also underneath them. You go long as you reference with Campbell, but you also play short combinations in front of the defense to go through them. Going long stretches them out but also creates space in midfield in front of their defense. Add to that our width was really poor which allowed them to be more compact which didn’t help us. Kamberi, mcginn, Kennedy, Hayes, Ferguson, and mccrory are all skilled enough to play short passes and combinations in the middle and final third, plus we needed our wingers higher up to stretch them. Mcinnes didn’t coach this game. His line up and formation was also poor, even confusing, and I’m still not certain what we played. Your point is excellent, Goodwin appeared to make changes to influence the game, possibly win it. Hendry for Hornby is like putting on main for cosgrove, minimal change in tactics and doesn’t really make the opponents have to figure out or adjust to a change. Likewise McLennan for mcginn to an extent. Both lazy and unimaginative subs if you ask me. As for Ross, that’s just a desperate cunt hoping for the best throwing in a young guy who will no doubt be nervous with little or no time to warm up or get into the game. I don’t think st mirren caused us major trouble and we could have subbed more creatively. Although I’m certainly speculating what instructions and tactics went with our subbing. I’d say after an hour stick McLennan on for Kennedy. Move mcginn left, McLennan right. There was space on the left, Kennedy just got nothing from it and is shit. Tell McLennan and mcginn to play higher up the field than Kennedy, Hayes and mccrory had the space behind. While I don’t particularly rate McLennan he has the beating of defenders with his pace, mcginn wide or cutting inside has been effective for us before and even though he’s a lesser player, he could have caused damage there. I’d also have thrown Logan on for Ferguson around that time too. He’s not the player he once was but gives us better width and positional play than mccrory in that position. Put mccrory back in his better position, driving forward from midfield. He influences games there and Ferguson was having little impact. Lastly, be brave and try to win the game. Put Ross on for hornby at that time too and push kamberi right up. Ross and mcginn play wide left and #10 and interchange. Both can play with the ball at feet and are capable wide. It’s no wonder mcginn lost his way in the second half, long ball shite is not his game. With kamberi, our attacking players now have a #9 who has skill to combine with. it’s certainly easy being an unpaid armchair fan. I just think our manager has run out of ideas.

Beat me to it. Had 2-3 times to go wide but doesn’t have the pace any more. Plus saw a st mirren attack where the guy appeared to have him for pace. Without his pace he’s limited, especially in the position he’s being played. mccrory was a waste in whatever position he was playing. Mcginn anonymous. Ferguson did little today. Kennedy is shit. I don’t blame our forwards, our midfield is really unimaginative and really lacks flair.....and ability. Did we have an real chances today? I’d say Campbell and kamberi get pass marks today. That’s it. as for DM putting Ross on is the 86th minute, go fuck yourself. What do you expect from him at that point??

Boring as fuck. Ethan Ross for Kennedy please, McLennan for mcginn. I don’t blame our forwards, service and creativity in the team is shit as usual.

Yet to see Kennedy have a good game for us, no where near a quality replacement for mcginn or Hayes. Is mcginn even playing today??

Haven’t seen all of the second half but it does look we are getting absolutely zero from the right. Yes conditions are shit but still too much long ball, and surely in the wind that’s harder. Painful watch.

it’s been a positive first game for kamberi so far, tries to play football. im thinking it’s a back 3 with mccrory and Kennedy as wing backs/wide mids. Mccrory is wasted there. Square peg round hole. I’d take Ferguson off and move mccrory central based on what we’ve seen so far, and put a proper winger wide. We know that won’t happen.

When multiple people can’t figure out a formation, I don’t think that helps us. Looks like two left midfielders in a deeper Hayes and Kennedy? Or Hayes at left back?? Is McCrory right back? No right mid? Where is mcginn playing?

We just signed 3 forwards on loan and recalled Anderson and Ruth, only to send Anderson out again. What's the point in recalling Ruth? But to me, what's the point in signing 3 loan players if none are long term permanent signings. Sign a main one e.g. Hornby, knowing he's short term, but the other should be a permanent option. It's padding out to me, we didn't need 3 loans plus Ruth. Worst case we stick McLennan up top, or McGinn, if injuries/suspensions left us stuck. I fully agree, our recruitment is shit, and we allow DM to sign more than he should. It's a coaches job to ensure so many don't flop too, they are his targets we sign after all.......with Hernandez maybe being the exception.

I think a little harsh on Leigh, I actually thought he wasn't too bad at left back last year, but with DM going with a back 3 he really hasn't been needed this season. I don't think it's unfair to say DM has done a really poor job of developing talent in his 8 years here. In my opinion, certain back ups must be youth, Anderson, Campbell, Ngwenya, even adding Ethan Ross here. These guys should get the playing time of Main, Ojo, Leigh etc. I'd even argue McGinn shouldn't really play anymore. It doesn't appear based on playing time that DM think McGinn can't contribute much so I'd rather see Ethan Ross instead. Why are we signing the likes of Nicky Maynard, Miles Storey, Wes Burns etc? More recently, did the Jon Gallagher signing limit a youth being developed? How about Dom Ball? In the last few years we've signed a bunch of squad fillers that really didn't contribute much. At present we've signed 3 attacking players on loan, why??? Do we have zero youth to back up a couple of main forwards, especially when we usually play one main forward? I know it's hard to tell what signings will work out but DM definitely signs too many for our squad IMHO and pads out, and that restricts youth development. Even more so this year when there's no reserve/u21 league, youth need minutes. Shouldn't a club like us be fully committed to youth development, players coming through, and selling to bigger clubs?