So the league is fucked.  Such is life, it's not unexpected.  Gutting because it was impossible not to dream a little bit but not unexpected.

9 games left and with ICT trailing by 8 points you have to think second is all but confirmed  (yes I know we threw it away last year but I don't think we will now).  I think this is a good opportunity to give Shankland a run in the team.  Eg go 442, drop flood, play Maclean and Jack in the centre and give the kid a run up alongside Rooney for a few games.  Low should be given an opportunity too, he looked pretty decent earlier in the season.

First place may well be gone but I don't think it's time to take the foot off the pedal or mix it up too much.  9 games left is a potential 27 points, which is a huge points haul.

 

We need to keep the season going, show fans, players and teams that we're a club on the up.  Secure our place a handful of points behind the Tims and kick on next season.

 

We need to finish the season on a high because despite the placing, we're going to win fuck all.

Agree with ST, it's not the time to be tinkering about with the team too much. I know you say you don't think we'll fuck it up but without a reliable GK and the defensive lapses we've seen doesn't fill me with complete confidence.

 

That all being said, I'd like to see more of shankland and if anything , I hope McIness has learnt that he needs to make substitutions earlier.

 

Next season is going to be a hell of a lot tougher with hearts back in the division, another one of our traditional bottle spots. A missed opportunity this season, despite all the great progress that has been made. Just shows we've still a long way to go. Something Milne has even said.

I'm not suggesting taking a foot off the pedal ST, just changing things up a wee bit.  It's hardly unwarranted either as we have looked a bit less fluent recently and our results have shown that, only 4 points from the last 9.  Add to that the goals that we got against Motherwell were a little fortunate.  Not saying we didn't  deserve to win the game but the points were very much gifted to us and I don't remember too many other gilt edged chances.  This combined with the poor second half performances at Dens and the San Giro makes me think a few changes are warranted both in personnel and strategy.  I would argue that the team needs to have a bit more practice at playing in a more attack minded way for the games to come where we need to throw caution to the wind to get a goal.  Not going to win the league but 8 points clear of third with two games to come against them is a good position to be in and I think DM can afford to experiment a little more than he normally would.  With Shankland scoring a brace internationally last night it's time to be giving him some starts I reckon.

I agree with you, tlg.

 

Plenty of young guys that need to get some experience and the best time to do it is when we are going well and chances are being created. Throwing those guys on with 7 minutes to go is never going to help much.

I'm not suggesting taking a foot off the pedal ST, just changing things up a wee bit.  It's hardly unwarranted either as we have looked a bit less fluent recently and our results have shown that, only 4 points from the last 9.  Add to that the goals that we got against Motherwell were a little fortunate.  Not saying we didn't  deserve to win the game but the points were very much gifted to us and I don't remember too many other gilt edged chances.  This combined with the poor second half performances at Dens and the San Giro makes me think a few changes are warranted both in personnel and strategy.  I would argue that the team needs to have a bit more practice at playing in a more attack minded way for the games to come where we need to throw caution to the wind to get a goal.  Not going to win the league but 8 points clear of third with two games to come against them is a good position to be in and I think DM can afford to experiment a little more than he normally would.  With Shankland scoring a brace internationally last night it's time to be giving him some starts I reckon.

 

The team that achieved 'only 4 points from the last 9' were probably the same team that went on the long unbeaten run.  Regardless of how many points we've gathered so far this season I could still imagine us fucking up royally and losing as many on the trot.

 

I dunno, I've just seen too many disappointments with AFC to go thinking we're in the clear.

 

I also doubt the team that put us in this position would take too kindly to getting binned or replaced by the youngsters.  Players want to play every game, especially when they're having the season they are.

 

3-0 and cruising then aye, give someone a run out.

 

27 points still up for grabs?  Nah-nah min.

 

We go full strength until the league is out of the question.

 

The last thing we'd want is Celtic to drop points and think what might have been. Again. If they drop points, we have to be there to put pressure on them, especially as we've got another game against them to play.

 

They've got five games in 15 days, Brown is suspended for one, Bitton is probably injured. Keep them honest.

 

There'll be a time to play the kids, but it's not yet.

Full strength and not making any decent use of subs isnt getting us 3 points now tho is it - we were terrible in that 2nd half against Dundee so I think the team needs freshened up

Full strength and not making any decent use of subs isnt getting us 3 points now tho is it - we were terrible in that 2nd half against Dundee so I think the team needs freshened up

 

The problem is, we don't seem to know what "full strength" constitutes at the moment. Presumably McGinn was rested, but Pawlett certainly looked brighter than most when he came on.

 

I'd agree we've looked lethargic in the last two games, but I'm not convinced it's time to throw loads of kids in when there's eight games to go.

The problem is, we don't seem to know what "full strength" constitutes at the moment. Presumably McGinn was rested, but Pawlett certainly looked brighter than most when he came on.

 

I'd agree we've looked lethargic in the last two games, but I'm not convinced it's time to throw loads of kids in when there's eight games to go.

 

This point is true for more than the last two games.  I do think Pawlett needed a kick up the backside so hopefully benching him has done the trick.  I know McGinn has been getting stick (pre international break), but I never saw a logical reason for it.