Ya Bezzer!

Prediction - we won't have the sprinklers on during the warm up.

We scored quite a few headers at the start of the season and a lot of that was down to Carroll's delivery from set pieces and crosses. Since McGinley came in that has completely dried up. Putting any defensive merits aside (which may or may not exist), McGinley really gives you nothing going forward. I'd play Carroll over McGinley too.

Like Ross County? Like Dundee? The fact is we don't have the players to play more football. Never mind succeed playing football. We need to be pragmatic about it until we have midfielders worthy of the term.

We need a wee bit perspective. We've 14 points and we just lost away to high flying Hearts, Dundee Utd and Celtic without getting turned over. Obviously we don't want to go on a bad run that could effect confidence and the performances could be better but that's why this is a more important tie. This is one we should be looking to win where, realistically, we were underdogs in the last three. None of our limited midfielders are going to turn into Modric over night so I think it's a bit knee jerk to change a system that's got us where we are right now but I do think for this match St Mirren's system might cos us some problems.

He got ripped apart against Celtic and kept his place.

Pretty much although I suspect Alexander, given his post match comments, will give the players another chance against St Mirren. St Mirren are coming into form as well, while we seem to be leaving it and in fact St Mirren have only lost to Celtic in 7 away fixtures this season so they obviously like it on the road. As I also mentioned elsewhere St Mirren often play with 6 in midfield which is going to make it difficult if we play a 4-3-3. I think the 'numbers in midfield' idea is a bit simplistic but when you are talking about a 2 to 1 ratio rather than 1 or maybe 2 extra players that's a different story. Finally, St Mirren can leapfrog us if they win (assuming they don't today against Rangers) and that would put us out the Top 6 which would be a bit of a blow. The game isn't going to decide anything but I think it it an important one given our tough looking fixture list it's important to get confidence back up and stay in the Top 6.

You know I love my stats, so I wanted to see where we are in terms of defending crosses into the box, following the Edwards goals. Turns out we aren't that bad and a couple of other teams have much bigger problems there. HEADED GOALS CONCEDED Ross County - 8 Hibernian - 7 Aberdeen - 3 Celtic - 3 St Mirren - 3 Dundee Utd - 2 Hearts - 2 Motherwell - 2 Rangers - 2 Dundee - 1 Livingston - 1 St Johnstone - 1

That was a bit worrying. I mean we weren't as bad as some people are making out but the managers assessment was just as far, if not further than the truth.

And Jordan White missed a penalty for Ross County.

That's a month without picking up a point and team and individual form is on the slid. Big match coming up midweek. We need to arrest this dip as we have some difficult matches coming up Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee Utd again in the next 6. Think we are going to have to re-think it over the next few days as St. Mirren play 6 in midfield a lot of the time.

That's one of those 'decisions even themselves out over the season' type penalties.

I was talking more about not scoring two games in a row when our success so far this season has been efficiency in front of goal.

Dundee United have the most clean sheets in the division but the only time they've scored more than once at home this season was against Elgin City in the league cup. The 3-0 win against Hibs last week was a great result but in terms of goal scoring it's a bit of an anomaly. I'd expect this match to be fairly close but the form shows if we can score we'll have a decent chance of getting something out the game. To be honest I'm more concerned about our form than Dundee United. Started the season well but we've gone into a wee dip in the last few games and it's important we don't let that continue, especially since we haven't scored in the last two. The main improvement we'd shown was we were taking our chances and scoring regularly and I wouldn't want to see that slip.

I think the thing is that you are being very dismissive of something you have no experience of. I'm not a regular at Scotland games but I do support Scotland and any time I've been it's been an amazing experience. It's different from club football. Club football is all about agendas, factions, tribalism etc and that's fine. Who doesn't like a bit of that abrasive side of football? However there is something really refreshing about going to a Scotland match and having pretty much everyone on the same side and behind one team. When Scotland win or Scotland score at a packed Hampden there is nothing like it. There's different sides to football. I've been following Motherwell home and away for nearly 40 years now, but I also go to Scotland matches for the reason above and I also like to pop along to random matches, usually lower league games, and just sit and watch as a neutral with no real stake in the game. Last time I did that was Alloa v Partick and it was a great game with one of the best goalkeeping displays I've ever seen (Jamie McDonald had an incredible match). I'm going to sound like a mum at tea time but 'just try it, you might like it'.

Maybe this is harsh on Grimshaw I think if your major skill set or attribute, in his case 'hard working, gives his all etc' can be equally applied to working in a bakery or an Amazon warehouse as it can to being a footballer then you have a problem. Football shouldn't be a non skilled profession.

O'Donnell made what was probably a goal saving tackle. Celtic boy was straight through.

Shape or players? Bit of a chicken and the egg situation. However our midfield has been absolutely garbage in every match I've seen this season. We've had 40% or less possession in 5 out of 9 matches this season and we've averaged 38% over all the matches. I think we've been reasonable at the back, we've scored in most of our games, midfield is where the improvement needs to be.

Mugabi. Has been solid every time I've seen him this season.

Pretty toothless and anaemic performance today but what's really disappointing is how Celtic were obviously honking across the back four and the goalkeeper and we've not managed to create a single real chance or make Hart make a save worth the name. I thought we started the better team but even when we got down the sides we were aiming at one shirt in the box. Woolery and Roberts don't really cut inside off the ball like say Jamie Murphy did and therefore we didn't really have bodies in the box when a couple of decent balls went across the Celtic box. After about 10 minutes Celtic started to come more into it and the goal was coming when it came. After that we were pretty much a deflated bouncy castle. Celtic deserved to win but I didn't think they were really up to much either.

Honestly I'd pick Clark over Kelly right now. He's won trophies, he's more experienced in general but crucially he has more big game experience. It'll be interesting to see what happens with McLaughlin at Rangers cos he has a much better record in goal this season than McGregor but generally I don't think you should be selected for internationals if you aren't playing club football. Maybe goalkeeper is slightly different from outfield positions but overall I'm not keen.

Thank you for saving me some typing! I don't think Woolery has been involved much in the matches I've seen but when he has been there has been some result from what he's doing - a goal, an assist, decent delivery etc. I'd be happy to persevere with him for the moment to see if he can continue contributing to the important part of the game which is setting up, or scoring goals. Totally agree on McGinley/Carroll and the midfield situation.

Well maybe not anywhere but certainly at Tynecastle. Wouldn't exactly say Hearts home results have been poor but they have been better away from home this season. Aberdeen and Hibs went there and got something so I don't think we should be trepidatious about it. Have to say Barrie McKay has looked good since he signed though so our left back will need to be on his toes.

Biggest issue I have with McGinlay is going forward he gives you nothing. Maybe people getting behind him is a problem but defending with the ball in front of him he's OK, made a couple of good tackles today.

Nah. Under Robinson we often looked like we could play all day and not score. Even though we didn't play well today we always looked competitive. When we go forward now we just look like we can score and the stat I just posted proves that. There isn't a lot of quality in midfield but up front and at the back we are much better.

Under Alexander we've scored in 22 out of 25 league matches. That's impressive.