Kmcalpin

I wouldn't say that it was worse but it was certainly poor. All in all the United goal was a team effort.

The defending on our left flank was far worse. The United player was afforded all the time and space he could reasonably ask for to whip over his cross. I just wish our wingers were given that degree of freedom.

Hartley was poor last season as was Tait, and Grimshaw, faults and all, replaced him on merit. We've got off to a poor start this season not helped by injuries. New players settling in - maybe. On paper we have a strong squad but that hasn't been translated to the pitch yet. Many keep on referring to our formation as a 4-3-3 but its not. More accurately its a 4-2-3-1 with a lone striker most usually Long, left a bit isolated. To play that formation well you have to have good link up play with the guys immediately behind but thats not happening. You also need to have specific skill sets, espcially in midfield. Long doesn't have the skills or physique to play in that role as others have said. I like him but not in that role. The wingers too aren't setting the heather on fire. The problem is that we don't know our best formation or line up. David Turnbull will obviously take some time to recover his form. There's a good quote from a post on FPC "As a deep playmaker is unlikely to work because we don't have the players around him for it do so. If he's not yet fit enough for him to play his proper game more dynamically we should either be asking him for just 45 minutes of it or leaving him out until he's actually ready." I think thats very true.

The first question is "Is Donnelly fit to play". If he isn't then its academic. We would have a choice of Mugabi, Maguire, Devine or Hussain. Personally I'd opt for one of the first two but management will know the fitness and readiness of individual players.

I’ve thought that our preferred formation was 5-4-1 but that’s. A crude assessment. Apparently it’s 4-2-3-1. The fitness of defensive personnel will be crucial tomorrow. If Donnelly is fit to play I hope it’s not in central defence.

If Sky decide to change things at the 11th hour, it shouldn’t. McGinlay now out for 4 to 6 weeks. Donnelly doubtful too.

Access fine for me with no problems.

IF we field 2 wingers on Saturday then we have to play with a pairing of Watt/White/Long up front i.e. a 4-4-2 formation or start with either Watt or White on their own up front but not Long (just seen your post WEllwell91 after posting myself) Looking back on last night I just wonder if our disrupted pre season led to a lack of preparation? I had thought that Robbo would have tried to give his preferred 11 a 90 minutes run out beforehand to iron out any snags or issues or finalise experiments. Maybe he was like a kid in a toyshop; just too many players from which to choose a starting 11. Certainly he overthought things. Anyway lets hope we don't repeat organisational mistakes from last night or indeed last season. Right back? Maybe time to test Donnelly there or give young Dean Cornelius his much overdue chance.

A disappointing but, not entirely, unexpected start to the new campaign. I was a bit surprised by the amount of pre game optimism but thats a new season for you. Like many I was surprised by the formation and team line up both in midfield and up front. Surprised that Campbell didn't feature and am looking forward to an explanation for that. I can only assume that we badly underestimated Ross County beforehand by selecting both Turnbull and Polworth. Turnbull out wide??? Long and 2 wingers???? If we play Long he needs to play alongside someone like Watt or White. I thought we'd learnt that lesson last season but obviously not. Likewise, although I'm a big fan of Polworth, a corner kick taker he isn't as he proved last season. If you try something and it doesn't work don't be surprised if you try it again and it still doesn't work. Tonight was one of those games that was lost before kick off. The best you can hope for is no red cards and no bad injuries and we almost achieved that. In a season you get games like this - in our case it was the first one. On paper we have a good squad but we need to play to its strengths. Most things can be rectified but I still have fears about our defence, especially right back. We do have options there lets use them early on to tease out the best solution. McGinley did ok at left back. We go again on Saturday and must be prepared to win a battle first before we can bring the squad's undoubted talents to bear on the proceedings. We should be under no illusions, United will be formidable opponents.

Is McGinley not a central defender? Are the full backs receiving any protection on the flanks?

Steady on there that’s a step too far.

Yes but Steven Thompson comes with 2 not inconsiderable pluses. He did play for Sevco and St Mirren. You shouldn’t underestimate that.

Welcome. Enjoy following us, the Steelmen, or to older fans, the Dossers.

Thats what I would think given that Robbo has said that Long is behind the others fitness wise. I still think we'll go more with a 4-5-1 set up or a variation of that. Lang will need some game time to get him up to speed.

Yes. I hope though that our midfield is good enough this year to take a lot of pressure off them and offer them a protective shield until they settle in.

Very sad. Willie was part of the the first Well side that i can remember watching. A very talented player. RIP Willie/Billy.

Welcome to the forum. You're spot on I think. With no reserve side this season, players have been competing for gametime and very few have notched up a full 90 minutes in a game, so fitness will be an issue - for Ross County as well I presume. 5 subbies will allow us rotate the squad and freshen it up during a game as legs tire as you say. At this stage, fitness may be a key factor in team selection. At the moment there's questionmarks over the fitness of players like Gallagher, Turnbull, Hylton, Seedorf, White, Long and Lang. However ultimately management will know best about how they want us to play and who is fit or not fit.

Yes he can play right back Andy. However it’s only in truly exceptional circumstances that I’d move him out of central defence. He’s the massive rock on which our defence is founded. If we were to move him out wide it would destabilise the middle of our rearguard. We do have a couple of more preferable options to fill in for Grimmy should he be indisposed.

I'm looking forward to the start of the new season albeit under coronavirus restrictions. We look to have a very strong squad this time round with plenty of exciting midfield and attacking options which will hopefully translate into a good few goals. Hopefully DT will regain his form as he's been quiet pre season. My only fear at the moment is our defence. Carroll is out injured; I'm not sure about Grimmy at right back; and Lamie and McGinley will take to settle and prove themselves. How fit is Declan Gallagher? It'll take a month or two to settle on our best 11, if indeed we ahve one; it may be horses for courses, given the hectic fixture list. Exciting days.

Livingston's adult season ticket works out at £17.11 per game, so if they'd charged say £18 or even £19 that might have been very slightly more palatable. Their concession season tickets work out at £11.84 per game, which is a lot less than £20. I'll give this away game a miss.

St Johnstone charging £17.50

I did wonder about that. Probably a few of our lads have not yet played a full 90 mins. Not normally an issue but our first league game is in just over a weeks’ time. Still Robby & Keith will know best.

Ditto. This has frustrated me for years. I'm no football manger or tactician so don't know the reason for this. Its been the same under several managers and involved many full/wing backs. Is it a weakness of our full backs or are they asked to play this way? Just looking back to the brief spells of the Rangers game that I was able to see on Wednesday it was notable that on one occasion when our wide man was in possession near the corner flag he was closed down by 3 defenders and lost the ball. Now, on the night, that may have been down to the fact that Rangers were far fitter and/or have much quicker players than we do. However it happened freqently last season against all levels of opposition. Even when defending in depth we play very narrowly. If we're going to play like that then you have be very certain indeed that your defenders and keeper will gobble up crosses. Unfortunatley they haven't been, maybe for good reason.

Yes, early days and all that. We shouldn't read very much into pre season results but we seem to be losing a good few goals. Certainly, the defence has comprised a fair number of new lads who will take time settle so its all the more important that our midfield shields them as far as possible. I think today's team will be pretty close to the one which starts at Dingwall.

Absolutely. Its all too easy to blame Nicola Sturgeon/Boris Johnson, testing labs et al but it is a complex and evolving situation where even the so called medical and scientific experts don't agree. It might be the labs' fault it might not we just don't know. No party be it be MFC, the "Government" or NHS should be above scrutiny.