Sorry @swaddon min, have too much to rant tonight to wait for the match thread to appear.

Just how significant is the Falkirk game now?

If we lose to Falkirk, they will leapfrog us and we'll fall to eighth. Since we'll be in January, that's sackable territory.

A reminder of Dave Cormack's statement on 31 January 2024 when he sacked Barry Robson: 

"There is a talented squad of players at the Club which makes our current league position unacceptable." We were eighth, after three wins in 11. Robson's final game was a draw.

Jim Goodwin was sacked on 28 January 2023 with the club in seventh, with two wins in 11.

Stephen Glass made it all the way to 13 February, with the club in ninth, with four wins from 11 (two from nine).

Unlike two of the above, Thelin is still in the Scottish Cup, and unlike all three has won a trophy within the last eight months. The sporting director's recent arrival also buys him time as he unlikely doesn't want a sacking on his record too soon. And, Thelin also hasn't had the January transfer window.

So all these things to me would suggest even defeat at Falkirk wouldn't mean Thelin is in any immediate danger.

However, fail to win on Saturday, and that would be three wins in his last 11 (four in 14). And a double header with Rangers is after that. Lose the cup game to Raith Rovers and you know what, that might be when the club did need to act to stave off angry fans.

 

Jimmy, I don't want to read in two years about your first league title at some Scandinavian club where everyone is raving about your 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 hybrid. For the love of fuck, FOUR AT THE BACK ON SATURDAY!

 

I'm guessing a very attacking 4-2-3-1

Shinnie at left back. Sitting two of Aouchiche and Armstrong with Karlsson, Nisbet and Keskinen in behind Bilalovic.

1 minute ago, RicoS321 said:

I'm guessing a very attacking 4-2-3-1

Shinnie at left back. Sitting two of Aouchiche and Armstrong with Karlsson, Nisbet and Keskinen in behind Bilalovic.

That would make sense with nisbet at 10 but I actually think we go with topi and bilalovic outside to try to get width and spacing.

24 minutes ago, Panda said:

 

FOUR AT THE BACK!!?? 🙏 

Ok, it looks like a change in formation (back to another one that didnt work, but still) but will there be a similar change in tactics, attitude and approach?

Cause without that its just gonna be more of the same shite we’ve been watching for a year…

Former Don (and Maroon on loan) Finn Yeats in the Babies’ starting XI. 

all our players upfield and we pass back to Mitov from half way line

First ten minutes an uncomfortable watch so far 🥴

Started well again then… ☹️ 

I fancy us to win today.

I feel it in my water. It's either a win or my prostate is playing up again. 

should be a goal down,theyre moving the ball about much better than us

Before this game goes any further..

Dylan Lobban. I'd go with the Lob-ban pronunciation, but it's Low-ban in commentary.

Until this matter is resolved, it's hard to see us holding onto the ball for more than five fucking seconds.

Same shit different day. Second to everything, they look comfortable on the ball, we struggle to keep possession. We just don’t look like a team that are up for it, going through the motions.

It really was a wild setup. That midfield of Aouchiche and Armstrong is winning nothing unsurprisingly. 

Willie is spot on with red tv commentary. It’s a hard watch and we’ve got plenty of all players but very few ball winners. I think it’s just a matter of time before they score, we just aren’t good, can’t keep the ball and other than one early cross, create nothing.

19 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

I fancy us to win today.

I feel it in my water. It's either a win or my prostate is playing up again. 

Better call yer GP min…

First time I’ve seen karlsson fight to win the ball and he injures aouchiche. Maybe not be a bad thing if Kjarten comes on, better balance.

Nilsen.

Sivert on, exciting player, one for the future.

It's Nilsen on 🤯

This is fucking shit. We are so fucking soft. Crying out for a midfield enforcer in this team. 

Losing a player to injury caused by another one of our players just seems like such an AFC thing to happen

A 4-2-4 with Nilsen and Armstrong is absolutely mental.

21 minutes ago, Panda said:

Before this game goes any further..

Dylan Lobban. I'd go with the Lob-ban pronunciation, but it's Low-ban in commentary.

Until this matter is resolved, it's hard to see us holding onto the ball for more than five fucking seconds.

Update: Have discussed the issue with tonight's Sportscene commentator, and I am assured it will be Lob-ban on the highlights.

We can all settle down and enjoy the game now.

Looks to me like a 4-2-4 by the way...

Very normal game these days. Flat and uninspiring. Not the better team. Cant keep the ball. Create nothing. It’s the same most weeks, depressing. At least we aren’t losing. Yet.

Nae to be greedy like,but a cheeky shot on target wouldnt go amiss