Kmcalpin

Good post OTF. I was at the game yesterday and we deserved our draw, which I thought was beyond us before kick off. St Johnstone had the better of the first half and we had the upper hand in the second and finished the game quite strongly. Both teams had their strengths as expected and we tried to play the better football whilst Saints played their usual game - hard working, organised, solid and streetwise. They had the better leading up play, courtesy of our midfield and defence, whilst we created the better chances. Fortunately they were toothless up front. We were totally exposed down the flanks, especially on our left side and more clinical opponents would have taken more advantage of the space we offered them. I'd hate to be playing in our central defence right now - no protection from the front or sides. Defencewise we were unorganised and shambolic. I thought substitutions to bring on fresh legs, especially in midfield were required midway through the 2nd 45 were needed but only Shields appeared. I'm not a fan of 4-2-3-1 or similar at all. Maybe thats unfair of me - perhaps its just the way we implement it or we don't have/play the players to suit it. Up front I was pleasantly surprised to see Moult start and last 90 minutes and he worked damned hard. The problem was that he was too isolated. As a few others have said, KVV was played far too deep and he didn't link up with Louis. Not KVV's fault. Moult is not a lone striker; thats not his game. I have to question our coaching. Week after week, the same problems manifest themselves i.e. we appear disorganised defensively, midfield doesn't function and the lone striker is left isolated. Thats not the fault of individual players. Two main positives for me: an unexpected point, and Moult getting 90 minutes Finally, the less said about Nick Walsh the better.

Assuming the worst case scenario comes to pass, and based on recent selections, Hammy will probably still opt for one striker, most likely Shields, as Moult is most unlikely to start. Morris could well start. Hopefully though a young lad or two will get some game time depending on how things are going - even a couple of minutes would signal Hammy's commitment to youth.

I agree but how does he do that? If he comments, the press and media will largely censor/suppress it and won't report it or highlight it.

It would depend on the situation. I think most folk would have difficulty in instantly estimating the difference between 8,9 or 10 metres, but most would immediatley know the difference between 2 metres and 10 surely? Again down to common sense.

A clash of 2 complete opposites in footballing terms. My expectations and hopes for this game are very modest indeed. We make St Johnstone work hard, no injuries or red cards and we see a young lad or two actually come on at some point as per Stevie Hammell's promise to promote youth (whatever happened to that BTW?). If we can achieve that, I'll leave Perth happy on Saturday. Ross County, Kilmarnock and Dundee United also losing will elevate my mood no end. St Johnstone will do what they do. They'll be very well organised; work very hard; be abrasive and competitve, and try to smother us, grinding us down. We can't rely on them making a mistake. However, entertaining football won't be on their agenda. Injuries will have an impact on our team selection and Shields may well have to start, with Moult coming on at some point. Hopefully the World Cup break will give us a filip, but I'm not counting on that. Longer term, if we're 10th or above or even 11th but competing in the mix come 3rd January, I'll be content. The January window will be huge for us, but make no mistake it will be very, very difficult to source and secure a number of much needed decent additions. A lot is resting on that.

Dean Cornelius?

Its ok Grizzly, I wasn't suggesting that you were. More of a comment on the relative perspectives of the different supports. We'll get a similar insight into that on Saturday.

For tomorrow, I'd reinstate Dean Cornelius to give us some drive, mobility and energy in the middle. He'd also provide VV with better support than he's been used to. Tierney might be talented but, at the moment flatters to deceive and is a bit lightweight. He's also been playing too deep (instructions?) to be of much help to VV.

If he was in charge at Fir Park, there would be massive unrest on the terraces (if there were any). He might get results but the punters would loathe and hate his brand of football.

Pretty much agree with that. However Hammell will never get the media exposure that Neilson gets and if he had said the same things it would hardly have rated a mention.

Lamie is another player who has regressed this season. In my view, and its only my view, we need 2 first pick central defenders. Lamie is the best of a poor lot. In an ideal world he'd be ok as back up, as he was at Livingston, but thats about it.

Thats a sweeping statement. I agree about Morris and Maguire, but not about the rest. In any event they're all different kinds of player. Slattery is our best midfielder and he's a good Premiership standard, but he's not performing just now - we can only guess why. Goss too is a decent player but he requires the right formation and players beside him, but thats not happening right now. Tierney is work in progress and not ready for regular first team football yet. Again not being used correctly, when he has appeared. Cornelius is a decent player who needs gametime. He brings energy and drive to the midfield which is what we need at the moment. Not sure about Spittal either way - what is his best position? He's not a winger and isn't suited to playing just behind Van Veen.

You're aware that Hammy said recently that we signed Louis Moult on loan knowing full well that he would probably never be fit enough to play a full 90 minutes for us?

At least today's performance proved that we need several players in January. Whether thats remotely possible or feasible, I don't know. For starters, a commanding centre back who can organise. In midfield some pace please and an experienced old head as an anchor in front of the defence. Oh, and two strikers.

A tad harsh and perhaps impetuous Greg, but yes you do have a point, and a valid one at that. At what stage, or date, do fans stop blaming Alexander for absolutely everything, including today's tactics, and accept that Hammy is maybe at least 1% responsible? We're making the same mistakes and have the same weaknesses game after game. The fact that he is a very popular former player shouldn't cloud folks' judgement. I've stopped listening to his post match interviews as they're tedious and all the same. As for today, why did we sit back at 2-2 and let Hearts come at us? Losing 3 goals to a ten man team just isn't acceptable and serious questions need to be asked. The squad does have serious weaknesses especially in central defence, centre midfield and up front. However its the lack of leadership and character that worries many. Something is not right. Having said that, we do have some decent players who just aren't performing and who have gone backwards - Kelly, Slattery and VV for example. I'm not saying its all Hammy's fault but..... We are stretched for bodies but we do have alternatives in midfield and I'm not sure he's getting the best out of what we have. The personnel and formation with a lone striker just doesn't seem right and it isn't working.

Some truth in that. Does KVV come deep because he likes to play like that; because he is forced due to being a lone striker without much support; or because thats his instructions? I agree about Ross Tierney and think that Dean Cornelius would be a better fit to provide more support.

I've just watched this and completely changed my mind. Its a red all day long. If Watt tried to pull out of the challenge, why did he rake his studs down Goss' shin? As far as I can tell, he simply walked off with no backchat or complaint - unlike Tony Watt eh? He knew perfectly well what he did.

A very importnat and indeed satisfying win. Watt's red card was downright wrong but this is the type of decision of we've very very rarely gotten at Tannadice over the decades and I missed it! The seethe from United fans would have made the trip worth it - a humourless and grim set of supporters if ever there was - East Stand patrons pale into insignificance by comparison. We ground out the win and that was about it. Just watched the highlights and some of our defending was horrendous. Even early on we defended far too deeply. Again missed chances. We showed United far, far too much respect with both 10 and 11 men. Still a wins a win! Happy days.

It depends what you mean by compete. If you mean win a cup or reach top 6 probably not. If you mean stay clear of relegation then maybe, just.

Thats been a feature of our play for quite some time now. I often make the same comment but am not sure if thats only how it looks. Is it down to poor awareness, organisation, instructions? As recently as the Aberdeen game last weekend they were working their socks off to close us down and harass us, where as we stood off them. Whatever the reason, why make it easy for the opposition? I know we're limited for bodies just now but the midfield mix just doesn't seem right. Slattery is off form and I just don't know where Spittal fits into the team. I'd have Dean Cornelius starting every week - he brings drive and energy to the table that we so often lack.

Aaaaarrrggghhh!

Yes it'll be a tough game- aren't they all? Largely agree about what we need but I'd add another CB to your shopping list and possibly a winger also.

A start would be to change the formation to stop VV being isolated, or at least change the personnel to suit the current system.

As others are rightly saying, surely the review should be active in order to examine the full game and not simply switch off at the final whistle. This seems a ludicrous explanation. Surely the paying public are due an explantion from the VAR staff/match officials. As it is, we don't know for sure what the actual explanation is. We don't even know if the match officials/VAR staff have even discussed it post match.

Looking at the highlights our defending is very poor. Could Kelly have made it harder for the scorer at the first goal? He seems stuck in no man's land. Even at Aberdeen's early disallowed goal, Lamie has no idea that Duk is unmarked and behind him. Their 2nd goal, you're right Spit_it_out, it starts off with Aberdeen players breaking and unmarked in midfield - no challenge or closing down at all. McGinn is left totally exposed with no cover in front of him - Spittal? He's been hung out to dry. The cross comes in and the scorer is unmarked between 2 defenders. There are several other examples in the highlighted clips. Must do better.