mfc88

Never a first booking for mchugh, morelos made an absolute meal of it. And Thompson wasn't going to book him for the handball either until morelos went and told him to. Which says everything you need to know about the untouchable referee. Mchugh went flying in with his hands above his head and for me it's a pen. I can see where michael stewart was coming from, it wasn't deliberate, but come on.... We were hard done by in some ways and looked not bad at 1-1, but unacceptable, pathetic second half showing.

A good performance I thought, though a bit nervy at the end. Glad Robbo's finally moved away from the 352, and I hope it carries on, though we've still got square pegs in round holes in places - have to say though the midfield has absolutely worked. Turnbull has been a breath of fresh air since coming in. His composure for a 19 year old is incredible. And great to see cadds rediscovering himself. As another poster mentioned we need more out our strikers - I was at the game yesterday with a neutral fan, who asked who our top scorer is............. Johnson? Doesn't say on website but in the league I have him and now Turnbull on 2! All in all a great few days, 2 clean sheets, 6 points..... and away at ibrox up next

I'd say our youth setup is pretty fruitful tbh. The athletic Bilbao stat above is indeed impressive, but look at our own graduates to cement a first team spot in the last 5 seasons: 14/15 - Erwin 15/16 - Cadden, Hall 16/17 - N/A 17/18 - Campbell 18/19 - Turnbull? Ross McLean was unlucky with injury in the 16/17 season, and currently got Maguire firmly knocking on the 1st team door. Averaging 1 a season seems reasonable to me, I think..... that said I've no idea what the aim/ expectation is.

Does the compensation fee for a young player change depending on where they end up? I mean I know it's often a mutual agreement between clubs. But if its not, and it goes to tribunal surely the fee is calculated objectively?

I see where you're coming from with a lot of your post, except have to disagree with this bit. The loss of kipre and Moult was no doubt massive, but we should have been able to deal with it a whole lot better than this. For me his failing has been the failure to sign players to fit the system he's trying to play. As much as i hate the 352, if we are playing it, do it right! And if it's not working, a plan B. I feel that he was so focussed on plan A working that we don't have the flexibility to implement a plan B. Our squad is bloated with central players. We've 7 or 8 centre mids around the 1st eleven, while only 2 naturally left sided players, ATS and frear, who Robbo clearly doesn't fancy. As a result we're forced to play one of our only 2 naturally right sided players (tait and cadds) on the left. As much as I want plan B to be reverting to a 442 or 451 for the next game(s), I've been trying to plot out a team, but despite the plethora of midfielders and generally bloated squad, I can't get a left side I'd be confident with. (Dunne wasted at LB, IMO) Carson Tait aldred/hartley Dunne ATS/livingstone? Cadds Turnbull Campbell rose frear Main By the sounds of things Livingstone looks the part, but I've not seen him enough myself. Would love if he was the answer but slightly discouraging that he's not been on the bench much tbh.

That today was 2 sh*te teams cancelling each other out for 90 mins and them nicking it, which was so so predictable. The only ray of hope was Turnbull. Our most composed player is a 19 year old.

Last week I said I'd give him another 2-3 games to convince me, but after that I change my mind. Time to go. The system isn't working, we didn't sign the players to make it work in the summer, and just about every player is devoid of confidence. Thanks for last season.

After last season I have to think Robbo is deserving of some time to put things right. While the last 2 weeks has been some of the worst football I have ever witnessed, I still reluctantly stand by it. However, the next 2 games are massive. If we're no better off, at least performance wise, or don't see any attempt to shake up system or personnel, it'll be near impossible to keep that up.

Had an evening to ponder on it and let emotion pass but yep.... that is the worst performance I have seen. I genuinely believe any other team in the league would have thumped us - we have Livingstons brand of anti-football to thank for that. The manager has to take the rap for the failure in the summer signings and persisting with a system thats not working, but my main worry is has he lost the dressing room as well? It's beginning to look that way.

Yeah i read that post from ya bezzer and thought it was a good one. I take your points re signings. I guess regardless of whether they were in fact signed as starters or not, the general quality could have been higher had we been a bit more sensible about numbers. Would a greg stewart have been a possibility for example? Someone tried and tested at this level who can offer something different, and could really make a difference. Similarly, as you mention, some contract extensions: I'll see your grimshaw and raise you Newell, who is miles from the first team now after the summer additions! I am far from the "Robinson out" camp just yet, but do feel he's made some serious errors here. I hope I'm wrong. The next few games are critical.

IMO: Mchugh, Donnelly, possibly cadds and bigi? I'll be surprised if Maguire isn't starting next Saturday.

Have generally tried to stay positive but that.... was f**king shite.

That's the thing for me and i think many others - how the budget is being spent. No one is suggesting compromise the budget. Our squad wasn't exactly thin at the end of last season ( at least compared to recent years, e.g. under McCall). So spending the same amount in total on 3 or 4 quality starters, instead of 7 or 8 bench warmers is surely how you build on last season's success. Selling our best defender and signing a bench worth of players isn't the way forward IMO.

I agree with a lot of the above comments. It was a difficult start to the season and barring the accies game, none have gone dramatically against expectations. Another point or so would have done a lot for confidence though. We've no right to be beating hearts at tynecastle, let alone a hearts team who've started the season on fire. Main concern is we seem to be gifting a goal a game at the moment. My feeling is the sooner Dunne is fit the better as it will give our back line some much needed pace again. Recruitment in the summer was baffling tbh. I've lost count of the number of centre mids we've now got on our books. Johnson potentially looks a neat addition, and i understand Carson was expected to leave hence the move for Gillespie, but the rest, other than maybe aldred, I just don't understand. None of them are poor players necessarily, but are any of them starters? And after selling kipre I'd argue we've a weaker first eleven, despite signing about 8 players in the summer!!!

Totally agree with this comment. We have regressed! In the end of the day, we've lost one first team player and signed, what, 6 or 7 over the summer? Early days still, but not one of them would you put in the starting 11 with our full squad fit. I really don't understand that philosophy. Add depth yeah, but (1) signing 2 or 3 quality starters does that by default if you don't lose players. And (2) how much depth do we need? I've lost cost count of the number of centre mids we have on the books. Oh and yeah, f---ing woeful yesterday.

I'd have expected a bit more for kipre given he'd recently signed an extension. I was thinking we'd be flirting with a record fee, maybe in the region of £1.5M plus sell on clause. But looking at the bigger picture, we took a punt a year ago, and sold him for reportedly £1M with sell on. I'll take that every season thank you. Big jersey to fill but i'd love to see Maguire stake a claim for Cedric's spot. I suspect we may lose another player before the end of the month too. And best of luck to Kipre! Love the big man.

Is this official? Or as good as? Not seen it online anywhere.....

Don't post on here much, do often follow the forum from a distance though. I have renewed and frankly do so every year without thinking. Probably ends up not being value for money after missing games due to holidays/ plans but I love our wee team too much to care. Fully appreciate folk have different priorities and circumstances in life, but i would love to see more home fans through the gates. Up the well.

On a side note, do the spfl still take action against dives? If so boyles yesterday was a stick on. Did the st Johnstone boy (Cummins was it?) get any retrospective punishment?

A lot to be positive about after yesterday. Another great 2nd half performance, some individual performances too and of course a convincing comeback away from home against a good hibs team. Felt we might have gone on to win it in fact. Looking at the bigger picture, this time last year we would have lost that 3 or 4 nil after going 2 down. A lot of credit due to Robinson for the change in attitude around the place.

This! And im excited to see how things pan out next season. Even in his last interview he mentioned he only had a couple days break down south during which he was still focussed on us. Makes a welcome change....mcghee used to get that every week! On the signings, so far so good imo. Don't know much about bigirimana but sounds like he has all the attributes and needs regular football to progress. I liked Fisher when I saw him play last year. Sounds like he had his injury problems at caley but hopefully a decent pre season with us and he can carry his recent form into next season. End of the day 8 goals in 25 games (1 in 3ish) last season isn't a bad return at all, all be it most of them in the run in.

Thanks Scott. Many will disagree but I would have him up there in, or around, the legends category. IMO if it wasn't for him, Moult wouldn't have been such a success. I hope if he's ever back, he doesn't get boo'd like before. As a side note, I met him once, after he left us for Celtic. Absolute top bloke - was more than happy to stand and have a chat for ten mins or so, even though he was with his mates.

A few players had a good game imo. Mchugh despite the heart in mouth moment, henegan, hammell, great save from griffiths at 0-0, felt ainsworth made an impact when he came on. But in a scrappy battle, one man was the difference between the teams.....LOUIS LOUIS LOUIS!!!

Dont disagree with your first point, he did dig us out a hole last season. But from memory mcghee came in around November(?) and we were still looking at relegation until we hit a run of form around march. Then look who he signed over the summer. Bowman, belic, clay, lucas, blyth, brill. All contributed the sum of fuck all. Only tait and mchugh worked out. Then let go of Kennedy and laing in January.... to sign jules. And Robinson is getting the blame here?? Edit: don't get me wrong I appreciate everything mcghee DID do for the club, particularly his first season with us. But he made some bad moves this time around and his time was up.

Robinson has been left to try and clean up the mess that mcghee left behind. Add to that an unfortunate injury list and he has had to make the best of what's in front of him. Admittedly i expected results to have been better too, but I personally won't be judging him until next season, whatever league that's in.