Leaderboard

It's quite simple. He's more than likely going to be judged on the entire season, and quite rightly so, which has been a success as far as our actual results go. When the first ball was kicked this season I seriously doubted we'd make the top six. When the league consists of the teams it does at the moment, the top six should usually be a combination of Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee united, and Aberdeen. I saw that as a tough group to crack, especially considering their wage budgets and overall resources. Our "current form" is that we've just qualified for the top six, we've gotten to the quarter finals of a cup, and we're sitting one single point off fourth place. If we all put aside our "fan brains" and thought about this logically, we'd surely have to accept and realise that the club would have to be daft to sack a manager who has just accomplished the above? Our recent run hasn't been great, but again, we judge on the entire season. The actual league positions, the points. Stephen Robinson parted ways with the club when we were on a winless run of nine games, but were sitting tenth, two points off the bottom of the table. If we find ourselves in a similar position around November or December then I'm sure questions will be asked and a similar result reached. The question I'd ask you is what exactly you want to happen? You're voicing concerns over our form, which is fair enough, but what would you have the club do? Sack a manager in the summer who could potentially get us to fourth in the table? Who at the very least has, over the course of a season, gotten us into the top six? if you don't want to see him gone, then what's the answer? For me, he's been handed a list of requirements at the start of the season, and regardless of how he's done it, he's managed to hit those targets. The football hasn't been pleasing on the eye, the results since Christmas haven't been good enough. But we put enough in the bank early in the season to carry us through, and just as much as Alexander is deserving of criticism for his teams performances post-Christmas, he deserves credit for the performances pre-Christmas surely? He's hit his targets for this season. We still have a chance of a European position. Next season? Well, it all begins again, doesn't it? He's handed the remit that he was at the start of this season, and it's his job to make sure he hits or even exceeds those targets again. If it looks like he's in danger of falling below that remit, just Robinson, he'll likely move on. I'm not going to concern myself with next season until we're a week or so away from kick-off. By the time next season rolls around we'll have a fairly different squad of players. We'll be playing against different teams, and all of those will have different squads, so we really have no idea how it's going to play out. My only concern is seeing us do enough to push for 4th. And if we're honest, that's a nice target to have at this time of the season. I bet Hibs and Aberdeen fans wouldn't mind concerning themselves with that.

David, normally I agree with almost 100% of what you post. And I more often than not disagree with 100% of what Yodo posts. (no offence meant as everybody has the right to their opinion). And to be clear, I don't know either of you. But since you like facts here is something to consider. And something that perhaps explains why a large number of our fans are extremely concerned. At the winter break (Late December) every team had played 21 games and we sat comfortably in fourth place with a grand total of 31 points. So despite the style of football we played most people were accepting and supportive of our Manager. Particularly as he dragged us out of the relegation mire last season. Credit to him for those achievements. Since that date every team has now played a further 13 League games. Points gained by those crap teams in the bottom six as follows - (if the tables I unearthed are accurate!) Dundee 10 points, St Johnstone 17 points, St Mirren 14 points, Aberdeen 8 Points, Livingston 18 points and Hibs 12 points. I'll add Ross County with 19 points because I think what they have achieved is fantastic and they were third bottom at the break. Other than one post split game, all those sides played the exact same teams as us. We have amassed 9 points, so only Aberdeen have gathered less than us in 2022. And given their Budget (and manager) I would suggest their poor performance will not be repeated next season. So the question is. When does current form take over from historical form and become the basis for predicting the path that lies ahead? Add to that the lack of light at the end of the tunnel and Alexander's apparent reluctance to alter an approach that has been failing since the restart.... having been sussed by every other team in the League. You clearly have great faith in our Manager and credit to you for that. But fans....even Yodo...have grounds to be concerned. That does not mean that most of us hope the present run continues. I prey we can at least overtake Ross County and secure a European place. But I'm far from convinced that will happen and I worry even more about what next season will bring if the current trend is not reversed. And I'm also far from convinced that Graeme Alexander even recognises the need to adapt his approach. Hopefully I am wrong and his supporters are correct because I don't think he is going anywhere.

top 6 is an excellent outcome. No quibbles with the outcome of our league position. Anything higher will be an even bigger bonus. How we got there was brutal and will continue to earn debate until we get some form of entertainment.

You do come across as a bit of an arse in your replies. I mean, it's a football forum. If this isn't the place for wild opinions then I don't know where is.

If there was a post of the month award, I would be voting for this.

Nail on head grizzly!

Been lot of debate on both sides of argument which is good as we all have our own opinions. I think a big problem is Alexander's personality, he doesn't come across as a manager you woukd want to play for and his interviews are cringeworthy. At end of day if we beat utd on Saturday this forum is a tad more upbeat but I still feel GA has a lot to improve on. This is a man who despite being a full back seems to have a problem recognising a good one..ie..Carroll...mcginley and playing bevis there...COYW

Yodo it’s not even a debate, he’s going to get the summer to rebuild, no way is he getting sacked. I’m struggling to believe you or indeed any other supporter genuinely think he’s getting sacked at the end of this season regardless of what you think of him. Not sure what the odds are at the bookies but take a punt and make some cash if you think it’s going to happen.

Where I think its worth giving Alexander the benefit of the doubt over the selection and recruitment is the covid factor and the decision to carry a large squad to deal with it. He's said he'd prefer a smaller squad and alot of what we're seeing in terms of selection may be die to him not being able to manage a large squad effectively. He thinks he has to rotate to keep guys happy but hasn't been able to get the balance right. That would also go a way to explaining some of the more industrial performances as he doesn't think the players have the quality required. In the year 2021 Alexander got the third highest points tally of any club. You can cherry pick time periods to make him look the dogs bollocks or dog shite, neither are true though. He's a mediocre SPL manager at a mid sized SPL club. Yet here we are, shocked that we're sitting middle of the table, again.

Win the midfield battle - win the game Kels Bev. Sol. Rikki Sod? Deano. Slatts. Jake Woolery. Tierney Shields

And another… Wind your neck in. Never have done the mock team selections & certainly not for fear of ridicule. High percentage posted are nowhere near what those paid to do so select & it only serves to fuel ire at Alexander by not getting with their programme. As for offering differing opinion, I reply in kind. Some of the theory on here is open to ridicule rather than debate given the outlandish nature - smacks of not reading the room at any rate.

It's easier said that done but we should be bringing in half the amount of players that leave this summer and looking to bring in a better standard of player,we have a recruitment team and manager that are getting paid to improve us with in that area.other than the goalkeeping department we need to improve,if we could add one good player to the defence, midfield and up front it would be a great start and could make all the difference at this level.by all accounts johnstone and oconner are doing well on loan so there's two younger players that could be brought into contention without going and bringing in any lower league english gambles.

Really think our problems run deeper than the manager. We have the same discussions every single year about whoever is in charge that season. I've no doubt the people who run the club have its best interests at heart but keeping the club running seems to be our only objective. I see zero ambition within the club to win anything meaningful or give the fans something to be proud of. As someone said earlier we knew what we were getting with Alexander and it just shows the level we are aiming for, mediocrity. I'm not asking or expecting a cup win every other year but we have to look to put some entertainment on the park at the very least. Countless managers have failed to deliver this. Can probably count on 1 hand the number of entertaining seasons in the past 25 years or so. I understand lot of the 'reality check' comments. We can't and won't spend millions to chase success but how are we meant to attract and retain fans when we do nothing but plod along in the league year after year. I'm getting sick of it. Maybe a season or two (or more) in the Championship will bring a level of excitement back for me. Clubs attitute seems to be that Championship is our level and we're punching above our weight and lot of fans are buying into that shite.