weeyin

Given the success McCall has had by adopting the strategies he's adopted, there is no way he was going to start throwing in youngsters unless his hand was forced. That's just the way it is in the modern game - you aren't going to change a winning team unless you absolutely have to. The irony being that if we were struggling around 6th or 7th every season, there would be more flexibility to experiment with the fringe players. Even in this comparatively unsettled and transitional season we are sitting 3rd in the league and challenging for a Euro spot again. However, we have reached the stage where we are running out of fit bodies to put on the field, and I'd be happy to see 2 or 3 debutantes take a starting position for the next game. Even if they only get an hour - anything we can do to give the injured lads a break will benefit us in the run in. It's unusual these days for someone to come through the ranks of 7 year olds all the way to the first team, so the fact that ZFA, Kerr etc. weren't permanent fixtures doesn't bother me. They got their chance in in our youth set up and were promoted to first team duties. I'm OK with that.

Well last season's team was the culmination of 4 years of building (and with more money to spend). Come the summer I'm sure there will be some more ins and outs to move us forward, but with the best will in the world we weren't going to reach last year's peak in a single season.

The league is about points accumulated over a season. If there is one thing you can say about any team that qualifies for Europe based on league position it's that they deserve it.

We need to freshen up the squad. We don't have anyone to bring in. So bottom line is we just need to grind it out as best we can until we get a few more fit bodies again. Not ideal, but reality sucks some times and now is the part of the season where the team needs as much support as we can give them.

Think he just needs a rest, but a great option to have coming off the bench later in the game when defenders are getting tired.

Slot in a right footed right back into Friday's team and I think we'll do OK. EDIT: Just saw the team on twitter. Faddy and Ainsworth out for Reid and Anier.

Sometimes the only way to develop at the next level is to play at the next level.

Wasn't too surprised by the final result. Just very frustrating to hand them a 2 goal lead. Even on our best days, we'd struggle to salvage that against Utd. While we are struggling for players, the one thing we need to do is focus for 90 mins and keep mistakes to a minimum. Thanks to Partick, no great harm done.

I'm a fan of playing kids, but throwing in a bunch against an on-form Utd at Tannadice is not the time or place.

You'll also want to add John (Polaris) MacDonald, then.

Not Wullie Pettigrew, surely?

Agree with MJC about the politics. I'm all for freedom of speech and very much a political animal myself, but I don't want any of it inside my football grounds thanks - legal or illegal.

They might just give us the one on the left as our away.

Peter Grant Ally Mauchlen (until he signed for us, of course) Gerry McCabe John Robertson Gordon Strachan Derek Johnstone These days, I'm too old for that stuff.

He takes the blame for not finding a league sponsor, though, given that was one his primary tasks. Even the Skrill Conference, Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League and Press & Journal Highland Football League managed that.

First game back after the break, injury list as long as your arm, going a goal behind (twice), coming back for a win. And some excitement to boot. Take that any day of the week.

He's 16 apparently (according to the official site). Turns 17 in March. Was a good performance from the boy.

Ramsden is out. Some players have been getting injections and on 10 day rest. 5 or 6 of the bench will never have played a first team game before. It's a long list. Need to get it cleared up before our run of rescheduled games.

From the Press Conference it sounds like we have more injury problems now than we did before the break.

I think that's doing him a disservice. He may not have been the most mobile player, but he was more skillful than many gave him credit for. Could finish with either foot, and to use that well worn cliche, great touch for a big man.

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Aye, he split our fans into "people who know at least the basics of the game" and "clueless".

I was thinking the same thing when I read that. Just need to add: when we play teams that have a new manager when we play teams on a losing streak when we play teams on a winning streak when we play teams that have guys we let go (because they always score against us)

Swings and roundabouts. If they play all their new signings, they won't be quite as fluent while they find their feet. We may be a bit rusty too, but hopefully the bounce game and the enforced rest will have us a bit more fit. If we can keep it tight early on, I think we can win this with a strong 2nd half performance as we come up to speed.

Was there too. Was mostly interested in seeing who topped the goal charts for us as Irvine and McLaughlin were neck and neck. Even if we won, I seem to remember that Killie needed to have a 5 goal advantage in their game to pip the Jambos to 2nd. When they announced the half-times, Killie were 5-0 up! If Hearts had managed to get a draw they would have gone up instead of Killie. But they didn't.