Kmcalpin

The way to deal with that is to continually coach players to eradicate their weaknesses and if that doesn't work replace them. Not my words.

I should qualify what I wrote. At this point in time he isn't as good as Pearo, and may never be, who knows. However he made a reasonable start yesterday no more no no less. As you say some have gone overboard. I've always been a great believer in replacing like with like, as far as possible as it keeps the teams shape consistent. As things stand, if Pearo is out for a game or perhaps two I think young Cadden would make a reasonable deputy. I'd rather play him again than another more experienced defensive midfielder (if we had two) or another experienced winger. More than any other area of the team midfield has got to be a blend of the right kind of players and its that that is causing Mark McGhee some trouble at the moment. The midfield wasn't right at Tynecastle and it wasn't right yesterday. He seems to be going through a process of trial and error to find out what combination works and what one doesn't and thats entirely right. So far he's found out what doesn't work although it is a matter of degree. My ideal midfield, if there is such a thing, would comprise a speedy winger, a fit box to box versatile player, a defensive and mobile hardman, and a creative type.

If we can strengthen the midfield this week I'm optimistic of taking something from the game otherwise I'll be more pessimistic. Still we're due a bit of good luck and I don't care how we take something from the match.

Not overly concerned if we lose Pearo for a game or so, albeit he is doing the business for us. Young Cadden has shown he's capable of stepping into his box to box boots - its the other central midfield positions thats causing us problems.

No major blunders from Collum yesterday but he had a generally poor game. Why was the Ross County player not asked to leave the pitch when he went down with what seemed to most folk like a head injury? Some bizarre decisions had us scratching our heads. Still he wasn't at fault for us losing yesterday - that was all our own doing.

I doubt if Faddy is being paid much, if anything at all. To Reid we might also add Twardzik/Clarkson/Robinson

In fairness Allan, Pearson was asked to play in a deeper more defensive role and that just isnt his game. We lacked an unglamorous defensive worker to rush about put in tackles and blocks and generally shield our defence. Someone to rush out and harry attackers. None of the central midfielders on our books fit this role.

Absolutely. Both Johnson and Ainsworth are speed merchants suited to an open game. If the opposition score and elect to sit back and soak up our attacks they become less effective. What is then required is guile and trickery which neither possess. After a shaky start, County were able to double up on Johnson as we seemed unable to serve him with the early ball that he needs. Not the first time this has happened.

On today's evidence Kennedy is not a right back. Steve Hammell had a poor game riddled with bad decision making. Felt sorry for Louis Moult - he worked his socks off but had little service and he missed Pearo's support. Cadden is a strange one. He seems to be a box to box attacking midfielder in the Pearo mould but the problem was that Pearo was also playingthough through necessity in an unfamiliar holding role. Cadden showed pomise but he needs the right midfield set up around him. For next Saturday surely Louis Laing should start in a defensive holding role to allow Pearo to revert to his normal role. Full backs remain a problem. Not convinced of Chalmers at all. We were the better footballing side today but credit to County they were the better overall side. Not great to watch but they are very efficient, hard working, and streetwise. A bit like St Johnstone and ICT. Incidentally, I counted 2 handballs today not unlike Keith Lasley's recent penalty against Accies and neither foul was given.

We need a replacement for Grimshaw and fast. Today's midfield was unbalanced and I can now understand a bit clearer McGhee's dilemma last week. He might not know the solution, in terms of the current squad, but he'll have a better understanding now of what isn't the solution.

He admitted he got it wrong against Accies a week or two back Greg.

As far as Marvin Johnson' is concerned potential predators will not just be assessing his form to date although that is important. They will be assessing his character and talent. They will be asking whether their coaching staff can take a player with great potential and move him up a level or two, comfortable in the knowledge that their coaching, medical, management facilities are far better than ours.

Well, if they're not, and they may not be, all they have to do is deny it publicly - but then again that might mean nothing.

Its interesting that Mark McGhee has said neither Louis Laing nor Jack Leitch has done enough to convince him that they're challenging for a starting slot.

Any time I've seen him play for United he's dived all over the penalty box - not a trait we want to encourage at Fir Park.

Absolutely. An easy bid to reject.

Agreed, but we have to find buyers first.

Willie Collum is the referee. Be prepared for some controversial game changing decisions.

He was released by Hearts, as he was considered to be too small (the same reason Dom Thomas left Parkhead). Incidentally how many young players do we release because they are too small - I'd guess very very few or none, as we can't afford to. As far as Faddy is concerned I think he first signed on when he was very young like 11/12/13.

I think Stevie Hammell was picked up and then rejected by Leeds United before he came to us.

Very true - let the others do the work and provide the energy and he'll provide some quality.

What do you mean by "our academy"? If you look at Dundee United for example, much probably most of their top young players didn't come through their much vaunted academy either. Players like Souttar, Spittal, Gauld, and Robertson were predated from other clubs when they were in their mid / late teens. I'd like to find out where Hamilton sourced their youngsters. Did players like Crawford, Gordon, Hendrie, Devlin etc all sign up when they 11 years of age? Most of us agree that our youth system hasn't delivered as much as it should have done. As the Captain has said, we've fallen down in developing talent in their late teens. However, is it also true that we are simply not picking up the brightest young talents? Its easier to bring through a young lad if he's got great potential than if he's got reasonable potential. I don't want us to fall into the media inspired Hibs syndrome as I used to call it. young player + Hibs = great young player. Is it possible that Mark McGhee and / or Stephen Craigan / Steve Robinson simply don't rate our current crop of youngsters or that they are simply not good enough? I like to see us bring through our own young talent but it has to be real talent. Our youth system went downhill after John Park left us for Hibs. He was the guy who picked up Faddy and Pearo.

You can probably add Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen and Dundee United to that list.