weeyin

Most managers don't say what they are really thinking in post-match interviews. What happens in the changing room stays in the changing room and all that. We'll see by the reaction in the next game if what he actually said to the players made a difference.

Like I said in the other thread, McGhee gave an interview where he was pretty clear that his first target was to get 40 points - as that is what he felt would secure our SPFL status - and that would be with his more experienced players. After that, whether that happened in January or April, he was going to play more of the youngsters. The interview was immediately after he had been to see Les, and I imagine that was one of the topics of their conversation. That seems like a reasonable approach, and I'm happy to wait to see if that happens.

Or we are playing 4-5-1 (not that I'm in favour of that formation).

I think we need both. At the weekend, swapping in an experienced Las replacement plus one of the youngsters would have been an improvement. It sounds like McGhee is actually keen to blood the youngsters. However, on MFC TV (or whatever it's called these days) he said that would happen after we hit 40 points - the number he thinks will ensure we stay in the league.

McGhee is aware of it too. Any time I have heard him discuss bringing in players he has talked about how we need experience to cover for Lasley and Hammell.

His worst tactical display since Nancy.

Would have been an improvement. And let's face it, not any crazier than having Skippy drop back to mid, which we have done plenty of games.

I totally understand the team selection issues today, but every once in a while McGhee overthinks his tactics and tries to be too clever. Should just have been a straight swap to replace the 2 missing midfielders and leave the rest as they were.

Not a drill to win headers, it seems.

He discussed this shortly after he joined us too. I didn't hear anything wrong then, and I didn't read anything wrong in that article. And I say that as someone who, despite liking the guy, was one of his biggest critics when it came to him loudly and frequently expressing his desire for managing Celtic/Aberdeen etc. I actually think he learned his lesson about that, and I have noticed this time around he is much more measured about the way he describes his career and ambitions. I'm under no illusions he will want to move to a bigger club after us - but if he does, that's a good thing, as it means he will have done well at Fir Park.

He wouldn't be my first choice, but he might fare better than a lightweight Leitch in that role. And he's as much a midfielder as Laing.

For a one off, if we are looking for some hard men in the midfield, we have guys like Kennedy, Laing and even Fletcher who might be OK in there. I'm not sure this is the game for 2 wide men even if we had Pearson and Las available.

I think McGhee could do for Law's career what he did for McCormack's. However, no chance he'll be back at Fir Park.

If Hearts play the same pressing game they played against Aberdeen, they are ripe for being picked off by our speed merchants. Would still be delighted with a point, though, given the personnel issues.

"I can understand why Stranraer lie so lowly, They could save a lot of points by signing Hib's goalie"

I heard not only were we close to keeping Grimshaw, but a permanent deal was in the offing. Which makes it more disappointing - but that's the downside of loans. Sometimes you get a Grimshaw you want to keep, sometimes you get a Jake Taylor.

Still a step up from the mince he was associating with last season though.

It's still a step up from the SPFL play-offs.

Long was playing against Man U at the weekend.

Cooper and Russell in the same team. Not too bad. We also have them to thanks for Ross McCormack, Dom Thomas and back to guys like Vic Davidson who was a great foil for Wullie P. And almost, but not quite directly, Tommy Coyne. EDIT: Guys like Kenny Lyle too, but enough said about that.

Lifted Baraclough's quote from last season, IIRC.

I'd still like to see a list of players from other teams that meet the "brought on" criteria. I think it would be a pretty short list these days. Guys like Harry Kane are said to be a product of the Tottenham Youth system, for example, but he was at Arsenal when he was 8 and had a spell with Watford when he was 11 before joining Spurs at 11. Does that mean he doesn't count?

Laing has more experience. I'd have him in there first.

Are there any teams in the UK that have many players coming through the ranks that way? People (and players) move around a lot more freely these days and even at a young age have agents whispering in their ears about moving to enhance their careers. Just like there are almost no one-club-players these days, I suspect "through-the-system" players will be equally rare. For example, Jamie Murphy joined us when he was about 12 or 13. Is that young enough to be considered someone we brought on?

Laing and Kennedy in a 5 man mid? Only half joking.