couttsy

Yip, a definite possibility, although on that pitch it might not be the worst idea in the world as long as we get some support to him. Shaw and Wilkinson have been so poor, and Biereth won’t be allowed to start, so I see it as the best of a bad bunch of options.

Very tough decisions to be made on Saturday. I think I’d go with a 3-5-1-1. McGinn, Butcher, Casey Spencer, Davor, Miller, Paton, Odonnell Spittal Bair (we’d all have Biereth but that’s not happening, particularly on that pitch) Spencer on the right, O’Donnell reluctantly on the left (don’t think we have anyone else). Deffo do not want to see Slattery or Wilkinson starting. Reluctantly going for Bair up front as he’s at least got a presence and works hard, not sure we’d get that from Wilkinson or Shaw. Biereth to come on last 20 mins and get the winner!

For the first time since getting the job Kettlewell has a lot to think about in terms of formation, tactics and personnel for Saturday, as that was completed unacceptable tonight. We’ve lost 7 goals in the last 2 home games, so clearly something’s wrong at the back. Then despite scoring 5 goals, remarkably all of them have come with Biereth on the pitch even though he only played 60 mins across the 2 games! Starting Biereth and Butcher would go a long way to helping these issues, however I assume Biereth still won’t be allowed to start, particularly on the plastic, I also wonder if we’d be concerned about starting Butcher on the plastic as well. Sadly I can only see another defeat 😞

Thank god Slattery’s off. Don’t think I could have taken another 45 mins of watching his efforts to win fouls (ignoring the ball)

Exactly the team I expected SK to pick! Let’s hope we see Spencer on the right, although I very much doubt it!

Can’t see Spittal being dropped, and despite being poor on a Sat I don’t think he should be to be honest. Also, I think we have to see Spencer at RWB, I think he could be a real threat going forward on the right. I’d go Kelly, Spencer (RWB) McGinn, Butcher (Mugabi if he’s not fit enough to start), Casey, Odonnell (LWB), Miller, Paton, Slattery, Spittal and Wilkinson. Not ideal having Odonnell at LWB, but I don’t think Gent looks ready yet. We would all want Mika starting but judging by what Kettlewell said I’d say Arsenal have a big say in how many minutes he’s allowed to play!

Suspect we’ll only see 1 change, Wilkinson coming in for Miller, with Paton or Slattery dropping deeper. Would be great to see Butcher and Biereth get some mins. Fancy us to win today. 2-1

Terrible performance, and one of our worst this season. Thought the midfield was very poor, Paton and Spittal in particular. Although in fairness it was likely heading towards a no or low scoring draw until the red card. Very surprised to hear Faddy say he thought it was a red, I’m still struggling to see enough contact for that to be deemed a foul, in fact every bit as much contact, if not more, on Wilkinson when he gets booked for diving (and I’m not saying that was a pen). Need a rethinking for Perth, would like to see Spencer on the right and a genuinely left footed left back come in. Also think we need to go 2 up top to be a threat, which 2 I’m not sure! Still think we’ll finish mid table.

I agree, a tough day for him where he was pretty isolated the whole game. Then when we went 2 up top towards the end he was (rightly) taken off. He was far from being our worst player on the day, but he seems to be the fall guy at the moment.

Gutted with that today, and will take a bit of getting over, like us all I thought we had rescued deserved point at the death, only to go to sleep 2 mins later. Thought Kelly was deffo at fault for the first, not so sure about the 2nd to be honest, looked like we lost a runner into the box, disappointing given how well we had defended for 86 mins. But as others have said, an encouraging performance versus a team with 20/30 times our budget. 3 or 4 winnable games coming up, let’s hope we can stay organised and find some goals from somewhere!

Kelly and Spittal both fit to start, great news!

Wilkinson out, presume injured as not on the bench. My god we’re thin on the ground for strikers.

Honourable mentions for McGinn, Mugabi and Souare, however it has to be Mika!

Great news seeing Boyle not in the starting line up for Hibs.

Hard to judge until the new guys bed in and we see what they’ve got at this level. For what it’s worth I think we have 3/4 key players that if they stay fit (get fit soon in Butchers case) we’ll be ok, just. However If we spend any length of time without Kelly, Casey, Butcher and/or Spittal I think we’re bang in trouble.

A wins a win lads 🙂

Yip, Lamie 2 yellows!

Mugabi + Lamie = Goals

Thank god Obika got a goal, otherwise you fear the missed chances would have preyed on his mind!

Looks that way to me! He’s also left footed….

Looks to me like a 3-5-2 with ODonnell, Mugabi & Blaney then Ross, Slattery, Miller, Spittal & Wilson then Obika & Wilkinson.

Was it Slattery that scored? Stream so bad it’s hard to tell!

Looks like a back 3 again with O’Donnell RCB. Making most of the running and should be at least 1 up with Obika’s miss. Although we’ve had a couple of hairy moments at the back!

Happy with no commentator, but would be good to at least hear the crowd noise!

Yeh, it’s an interesting one that and I think he would be good in there (when fit), however he’s played so so well at centre half it would be a big call to move him out of there. I suppose it'll depend on how the defence does without him at the start the season!