MearnsWell

Feeling good already, best performance in several weeks, first game at home under the new management team, and MJC has predicted a defeat. Win is now on the cards...

Haveny really posted on Gannon over the past few weeks, however in retrospect a few things appeared to be amiss. The recent OF games, I was disappointed he'd basically conceded defeat beforehand, and sent out a young, inexperienced side as cannon fodder, in much the same way Wenger does in the league cup down south. In Scotland, even though you know you're probably gonny get gubbed, you never concede defeat beforehand to the OF, its the one game the fans want a positive attitude to, albeit it's not often reflected in the result. The repeated statements about not having tactics without technique were also a bit contradictory. Surely as a manager, you adjust your tactics to suit the resources at your disposal, not the other way round? By all means have ideals, but balance them with pragmatism. Finally his post match interview on Saturday was f**kin awful, even my SO who was in the car at the time commented on it. As a manager, the buck stops with you, you never blame your team in public, you take the blame, then have the hard discussions in private. Saturdays interview was just totally unprofessional. Think reading between the lines it's probably a combination of factors. He may have been happy, as would Boyle to work without a contract for a short period, which could suit both parties as either can pull the plug without compo if things ain't working. However I would hazard a guess a combination of all the other off pitch factors, plus media and squad type issues led Boyle to pull the plug. If it was me, I'd have hammered him after Saturdays post-match interview. Acknowledge he did some good things initially with the younger players and playing style, however obviously for a variety of issues recently it had went sour. At this stage we need someone experienced in the SPL, even as a short term fill-in. Wouldny be unhappy with Calderwood, or even Craigy Broon as a short-term stop gap until season end.

Mmmm...interestingly Faddy features in a helluva lot of the teams Al, and he played in a team that finished bottom, so going by your logic...? Even in those 11 games, Vadocz showed enough class to stick in a few folks minds, mine included, as potentially one of our best central creative midfielders for a number of seasons. Way ahead of e.g. Steph Hughes (probably would've been cheaper as well, but thats another moot point) He'd be my pick in that role in a hypothetical best team for that reason, not because the team he played in (the arse end of the Malpas era) didny get results. Just my opinion mind... © M. Bragg.

McGhee knocked back the chance to sign him at the start of his reign, although there were rumours that he was understandably hacked off with the Malpas-era anti-football. He went to Nimjegen for a season then got transferred to Osassuna for 9 million euros, where he is to this day. Don't think we've ever had that class of central midfielder in terms of ability or transfer value in recent memory. Only half a season or so, but good to hear ia few folk still remember him, and its no' just me being the Vadocz saddo yet again

GK - Ruddy RB - Kaiser CB - Craigan (from two seasons-ish ago) CB - Reynolds (ditto) LB - Hammell LM - Faddy CM - A McCormack CM - Vadocz RM - R McCormack CF -Porter CF - Skippy Fluid kinda 4-4-2, 4-2-4. Went for Alan McC instead of Keef in the middle, owing to him having a wee bit more attacking drive and edge. Both would've been fine partners for big Krisztian in the middle, sadly don't think it ever came to pass.

For me, Forbes albeit relatively slow and lightweight, offers a lot in terms of range of passing, set piece threats etc. He's the kind of midfielder who needs someone with dig and drive beside him to complement his skill set. Coke is pretty decent, would say he's not just as mobile as Lasley or as good as getting 'stuck in' about the opposition, however undoubdtedly offers more of a physical presence and quality of passing. From what I've seen of Jennings, he's got the drive and quality bt down pat, maybe not the same dig as Lasley. Its your classic swings and roundabouts conundrum really, clearly Gannon thinks Forbes justifies his slot for reasons outlined, Coke is just ahead of Jennings and Lasley in the partnering Forbes stakes. Hately for me, has been our most consistent midfielder in terms of quality and contribution thus far. Agree with Melvin that we do miss that slight edge that Coach and Clarky brought, arguably not so much their contributions in individual positiions however. Although reading the Mooty thread, some folks beg to differ...

Not too worried about it according to the Rancid today : McGhee Rancid article

Your classic Milan formation is a 4-4-2, with the midfield tight, almost diamond-shaped, relying on full backs for width. The midfield would be set up with one holding guy in front of defence (Gattuso or Ambrosini) which would be Hately. The other two midfielders would be tasked with sitting back, and creating, to do this you weed need at least one with a decent range of passing and technique (Pirlo obviously with Seedorf as the other), so these would be Ross Forbes and Coke. The other midfielder would be given more a free reign, and play behind the front two or anywhere required really. In seasons gone by this would be Kaka, now it's Pato, our equivalent would be Jim O'Brien. Finally the front two can be varied, Milan have had success with a target guy (Borriello or Huntelaar) plus poacher (Inzaghi) or fast, nippy, skilful (Pato). We obviously used two target guys yesterday to good effect.

Would ove to be able to vote two at one for Hutch and Saunders, who I though were immense at the back today. Reynolds did well at LB, Coke and Hately also decent. Errrr, Saunders.

Delighted with the three points, as someone else has said, the Jambos rank only behind the OF in kudos/pleasure stakes when it comes to taking points of them. Thought Gannon (and he's said as much post-match) mixed it well today, letting the back four go for the long ball to the Duke and Sutton when it was on, but not doing it exclusively a la Malpas. Was very impressed with our central defensive pairing of Hutch and Saunders, and to be honest think the writings now on the wall for Craggs, Gannon obviously doesn't fancy him and rightly won't tolerate sub-par performances. Thought Hately and Coke were back to their best today, Forbes is kinda frustrating in that his midfield contribution is lacking at times, yet he will score goals and win games, our Kris Boyd? Reynolds did OK at LB but doesn't have Hammels flair going forward, but he did well today. Yass's strong point ain't defense but, hey, we knew that already, didn't make it any easier on the underwear when they were punting it to Driver in the last 10. A good day at the office, and we're in the top 4 again. Unlike St Mirren or Aberdeen. Tragic....

No' bothered, Doddsy has predicted a 1-0 defeat, as has MJC. All is now well with the world, and set up nicely for us getting point (s) tomorrow. I get more worried when the pundits predict a win, because statistically thats when we fall flat on our faces...

Tricky one between Hammell and the Hump, but just shaded the latter for the first half in particular.

Composed and tidy in the first, obviously taking our foot off the gas in the second. In context of that, I'll take three points. Plus points, Hammelll in the first especially was outstanding, as was the Hump. Second half was one one to forget really. Poor Eddie May was on the radio saying sometimes a team plays rubbish like Motherwell and gets three points, we've been on the end of too many of those results for me to even feel a twinge of guilt. Life sucks pal, get a f**king helmet. Onwards and upwards...

Well if wee Stevie was a bit taller, and had Jim Patersons legendary, mythical pace and by-line hitting ability ( ) it'd be a no-brainer. Seriously, how well does this refelect on the SFA's English scouting network when someone only gets a shout when they join the OF? Same old, same old...

In MJCs defence he doesn't, in contrast to stereotype he predicts wins occaisionally, although when he does, we tend to lose. He is predicting a draw tomorrow along with wee Doddsy the Antichrist, so go figure....

Was good to see Chris applauding the fans at the end despite the defeat, would like to think all the good wishes in this thread maybe played a part and he's read them, or someone at the club passed them on. Looked a real threat when he came on, hope to see him get a full 45 or 90 soon. 'Mon the Hump

Mooty was scintillating going forward and tracked back well, but was posted missing in his defensive remit on a few occaisions. Stevie Hammell was excellent most of the game, as was the Hump for his slot at the end. Wee Stevie for me (wish he was taller though.... )

Re; the Zemmama debate, very clear cut - look at the incident with Adebayor and the Arsenal fans, he deliberately incited them in exactly the same way as Zemmama did, he even got a table thrown at him FFS. He got a 3 match suspension from the English FA and the wee turd today didny even get a booking. A bad day at the office? Indeed, we payed the penalty for two defensive lapses, plus the fact they took an opportunity at a set piece, we didn't with Forbes ballooning a free kick over the bar from the same kind of position. Not too downhearted, but we need to come out firing on all cylinders against the Bairns.

Interesting thing for me last week was having an attacking right back with pace and decent enough first touch to kill a long pass and attack quickly - we got loads of width out of the combination of Hately's passing and Mooty out wide. No offence to Coach, but most of those passes would've been taken statically or put out for a shy. If I was Levein, I'd be looking to stifle the passing from midfield as that is arguably our biggest threat at the moment. In Coke, Hately and Jennings we have three very tidy passers indeed, strange feeling having squad depth and options...

MJC and BBC pundit Billy Dodds predicting a defeat so everthings set-up nicely for at least a point in our favour tomorrow, which is eminently do-able. No point in even trying to second-guess a Gannon starting line-up or formation, just hope we do ourselves justice and keep the unbeaten run going.

Think Gannon put it quite well in the lead up to the Dons game that the players who didny get a game under McGhee shouldn't be motivated by this, along the lines of you should try and impress the guy who does believe in you, rather than prove the guy wrong who didn't. Good analogy for the whole McGhee thing, yes he clearly wasny interested for the last half of the season with his eyes on pastures new, whatever, but we've ended up with arguably a better potential manager, who has delivered so far, and who looks beyond the short term. Lets focus on what Gannon can and is delivering and not get too hung up on McGhee, and how he's ended up, tempting though it undoubtedly is.

+1. One of the best midfield performances at FP in a long time.

Mixed emotions as other have said, delighted at the way we played and controlled the majority of the game but massive downer that McGregor saved the 'nalty at the end. We are now seeing the Gannon way of keeping it on the deck, which is great and we have the personnel to do it in the middle in particular. Only minor downside is that our strategy of non-hoofing it at the edge of our box leads to some squeaky bum moments but the overall plusses outweigh the minuses. Thought that our midfield was awesome today, Hately in the first half was pinging some great long passes, keeping it neat and making himself available when required - Vadocz-esque and I can pay no higher compliment... Coke was great also, as was Jennings in the second, can we start the affectionate "He's just a fat Stevie Gerrard" chant now? Mooty looks to be an asset at right back, looked to strain a hamstring right at the end though, and credit also to Reynolds and Saunders in the middle, when I saw their names on the teamsheet I thought we'd struggle but kudos to them we didn't. A good day at the office, shame about the penalty.

Wouldn't be surprised if Hammell left if an offer came in - think Gannon is being pragmatic and would prefer to have Reynolds who can do a job there, plus central defence and holding midfield (albeit weakest at the latter). Shame as I've always rated Hammell and he's been a good servant, however there's no room for sentiment yadda yadda...

First game witnessing the Gannon revolution in person, overall delighted. Impressed by Coke, solid, breaks it up passes it well and delighted with Forbes, great left foot, range of passing and willing to shoot, which makes a refreshing change. Thought Hutchison was also impressive today, was not intimidated by Kyle in the slightest, and cracking goal. Hately looks to be an asset in terms of being able to put in a solid shift, as does Jennings. My one concern would be the apparent embarrasment of riches in the middle and being a bit light for cover in defence and up front. At least Gannon is on the case, await the signings with interest. Nice to see a manager who when we're 3-0 up, makes changes and brings on players to freshen things up. Not wanting to curse us this early with high expectations, but this looks to be a very interesting season in prospect...