lady-isobel-barnett

Perhaps if there were replays I'd be a bit more confident. A draw over 90 mins may have not been that optimistic. Think tho' we'll really struggle to get a result. Feel we need more pace in the side. That lack of pace has been noticeable against the two clubs above us in the league so assume County will be much the same. I'm thinking Doolan may change things a bit tho' I doubt there'll be wholesale changes. Perhaps we'll go to a slightly more defensive formation. O'Reilly is indeed cup tied.

All been said above. Very sad news indeed. RIP

This is spot on. James is a midfielder who operates primarily in forward areas. There's rather an overload of competition in that area at present. If he is loaned out it's important he goes to a club who'll play him in an advanced position as opposed to being used as some sort of midfield cover. It's Lyon's goal threat, direct and assisting, that should be utilised.

You can say that again 👍

Agree entirely, tho' suggestions as such deserve a thread of their own. Better than here and getting dwarfed in what's turned into something more suited for a seminar.

Wouldn't be surprised if Doolan, who normally selects a predictable line up, will experiment a bit at Dingwall rather than change things from new at Airdrie. I'm not sure Airdrie are as physical as Morton. Our obvious weakness is in defensive mid, so a lot depends on whether McBeth is deemed reliable/fit enough to fill that role on his own. If that's the case then we can play an attacking midfield. My read is that playing both Bannigan and Alston doesn't offer enough mobility regardless of the centre mid situation. Guessing here but if McBeth starts then Bannigan would also start. The advanced midfield role, if Graham starts, probably still goes to McInroy by default. Further up the field I feel that if Graham is in the starting line up then both Lawless and Fitzpatrick are automatic picks. If Big Brian doesn't start then there's a good few more options available in both personnel and formation. Clearly O'Reilly has to start soon. Regardless of form, Muirhead (he was solid at Cappielow) definitely needs a break to rest/repair a couple of separate injuries. Whether he's played till the fixture break in February or not is anyone's guess.

Not much really as Diack played quite wide. McBeth coming on seemed to help push the other two midfielders a bit further forward. So a combination of that and fresh legs made it look a different set up. My impression of the referee was if the game had gone on much longer he'd have waded into the crowd brandishing yellow cards to spectators. Looked like he'd totally lost the plot.

Watched a bit of the game last night. Poor is an understatement. That said I should hardly have thought a midwinter match in Inverness was likely to be entertaining. Our problem with the top two has been taking only one point out of a possible twelve against them. Somehow we need to reverse these results AND win away at grounds where drawing should be acceptable. Kinda feel the damage has been done. Tho' we no doubt need a win today to stay in touch, a draw should be welcome. Morton are on a roll and should be expecting to win at home.

Don't think I'm making a totally relevant point but there has already been broad consultation with TJF members via questionnaires. As a specific fan attitude/wishes re youth development, primarily the way it is hoped to be funded. So imo we're at least already at the stepping stone stage.

Hi Will 👍 Muirhead did indeed play def mid often enough for Ayr. And played there against us at Firhill. I can foresee a situation where he's brought off the bench to play there but probably not as a starter. Perhaps if we were protecting a lead to play alongside another centre mid. If Aero was starting as centreback then it's more likely Neilson would slot into centre mid. Doolan has more or less stated that. Not dissimilarly the signing of O'Reilly gives us the option of playing a back three, yet in doing so not be over defensive. Neilson (played in the middle of the three) is good on the ball and moves forward with pace. Probably coming a game or so too early but a narrow pitch like Cappielow suits a 3-5-2 (3-5-1-1) line up.

Muirhead has been playing thru an injury so wouldn't be surprised to see him benched. Depends perhaps how much training O'Reilly has done alongside Neilson. Be interesting to see if McBeth also gets a start. Guess would be one of the two start. Far from my favorite away day. Hate the way we're treated at Cappielow. Coming away with a win would certainly help. Be difficult to get all three points, methinks.

Much depending on how McBeth steps up but it certainly give us that option. Also could go to three at the back without being too negative a move. Neilson is ideal for a free role in the middle of a back three.

A natural left sided centreback. About 60 games experience in our division. A really good signing.

I heard it did with one of the four. The extra funding coming a day or two too late.

Agree. The main differences with the summer window are fairly obvious. Very few players will be out of contract in January. Many who might be available only become "surplus to requirement" if and when they can be replaced. Even then those players will often weigh up pre contract offers against moving on. Effectively a move can often occur only after a whole chain of events outside the control of both the buying and selling clubs. Guessing here (but fairly logical) that above situations suit agents who'll be a few steps ahead having the knowledge just who on their books wants to move on and who maybe have to cajoled into leaving their present club. Doolan like any other manager is rightfully open to criticism re their signings (and those they voluntarily release) but I feel they should be given a fair bit more latitude re what happens or fails to happen in January.

Doubting Thomas, in other words?

Even if we have the dosh Thomas is probably a year or so too old for us to be forking out much on transfer/signing on fees.

Probably saying much the same thing but I thought we were simply lethargic in the first half. For a full time team we looked the side that was off the pace. Second half a complete turn around.

Don't know what was going on but Big Brian initially won the ball by sheer pace. Sliding it in from an angle, again something you don't necessarily associate from the big fella. Someone else pointed out that Brian was by and large staying on his feet as opposed to going to ground when tackled for much of his game today. No idea myself if that was significant but he did look that bit more of a constant problem to defences today than recently.

Fitzy deservedly MotM but Bannigan ran him close

Peter Bonetti. A lot of folk thought he got the nickname due to his athleticism but it was really because he could jump up on to a mantlepiece and lick his bollocks.

Fair enough, but the guy is just returning from injury, if indeed fit to play. What I wonder is if Sneddon has an average game tomorrow (no daft mistakes, no match saving saves) will he retain his position when Mitchell is 100% ready to return? Asking a similar question to whether Doolan will drop Graham or how poor Big Brian will have to reach to get dropped. I don't believe it's so much a loyalty issue with Doolan as more his value of continuity. So that said holding that value AND dropping his captain would be a major decision. My guess is Kris for another week at least will stick to his guns and pick, injuries aside, an unaltered starting XI

Think it would be fair to say McBeth will be reasonably match fit. Level of fitness from juniors to our division will be a big jump but he's been training with us for a few weeks now. Would reckon he'll play alongside Bannigan till he can be fully assessed. Whether he'll then be able to solo as defensive mid is of course a big ask.

Said it often enough, Harry is best header of the ball in the squad. That's both in the attacking and defending sense.

I think our main problem regardless of who we play upfront is getting a central midfielder into an advanced role often enough. Stems again from the lack of a ball winner in defensive mid. Two (usually Bannigan & Stanway) do the job of one. In turn the supposed advanced midfielder (McInroy/Alston) is drawn back, rarely able to get close to support our striker. We're fortunate that we're relatively strong in attacking wide positions as we're not too clever thru the middle.