Kmcalpin

Some of these rumours articulated on P & B too. Like StAndrew7, I hope we don't announce any names until their seasons end, but that may be outwith our control i.e. the now infamous Tom Wright announcement. Certainly we do have a good track record, as a club, in this regard. I watched Obileye very closely indeed on Saturday and it was mixed bag. He saved a couple of potential goals with fantastic interventions but also made a few blunders. Bevis MK2? I'm actually optimistic for next season. Clearing a fair bit of deadwood will free up wages and SK has now had ample time to to fully assess his squad. There are virtually no players I'd hate to lose - maybe McGinn and possibly SOD but thats about it. If Bair and/or Miller move on so be it but we shouldn't overrely on those moves financially. The chances of retaining Vale and Gent only become realistic if you've been using a hookah. The defence needs 100% strengthened, not just with positional requirements but also with personality/character ones as well. A commanding goalie; commanding central defenders; mobile defensive midfielder for starters. We badly need oprganisers/leaders on the pitch. By my reckoning we need anywhere from 14-16 new lads but that doesn't take into account internal promotions from the Academy. Strikers: as things stand we probably need another couple and certainly one with the physical attributes to replace Bair, in a lone role, should he get injured or suspended. A few issues to be clarified: Ewan Wilson - worth a new deal? Sam Nicholson - worth a deal in my view Ross Tierney - mutual or punt out on loan again? Mark Ferrie - needs another year in the development squad, although he is 18.

I didn't have a good enough view at the time so couldn't comment, but yes, the TV highlights suggest that it was a penalty. The defender wasn't jumping or off balance, but his arm was out and appeared to move towards the ball. The chalked off equaliser? It happened not far from us and we had a grandstand view. We were all shouting for a blatant foul, which it 100% was. The only issue was why the ref allowed play to go on. Yes, Livi were quite streetwise; quite a few instances of our lads just about to make a pass when they were pushed/punched in the back and made to look really quite foolish with a misplaced effort.

Ah so its still King Louis.

Our second biggest win of the season, which secured our top flight status for another year, so theres plenty to be positive about. Thoroughly deserved. At worst we'll finish 10th, and a few months ago many would have settled for that, including me. I thought yesterday's line up was a bit of an odd mixture in midfield and didn't know what to make of it. Maybe a one off for the Livingston game? It looked pretty positive on paper, albeit with only 1 striker, but the midfield looked lightweight without a clear defensive player and some mobility. Early on Livi caused us trouble on the break as they drove through our midfield. Having built up a clear lead we sat back a bit and they enjoyed plenty of possession, without troubling Kelly apart from cross balls/corners. We defended too deeply and it was inevitable they'd score at some point, given our default defensive frailties and their physical prowess. Some of the overelaborate faffing about at the back, usually involving Kelly, frustrated many. That said, he didn't do much wrong. Thems the negatives and there has to be some, given no performance is ever perfect. I suspect SK & SF will have identified far more negatives than I have. Plenty of positives though and they markedly outweighed the negatives above. We won 4-1, so SK's planning was proved right for the day. We played some very open entertaining football in spells and converted not a few chances. The defence did what it had to do in the main, with the exception of a few lapses. I thought Georgie Gent was a standout, with his pace and crossing. Lennon Miller was impressive too, although I'd like to see him play a bit further forward. Spittal was better than of late but Nicholson caught the eye and topped off a good showing with his spectacular goal that will be remembered by many for a very long time indeed. One for the history books. Up front the Bair played very well and was MOTM. His headed goal was a peach and his overhead effort really deserved better. Very pleasing to see Harry Paton take to the field. He has his faults, but we have missed his energy big time in midfield. Encouraging too, to see Luca Ross get a few minutes at the very end. All in all, an entertaining day for the fans with a practical outcome which will be recognised by the SPFL, in their decision to award us 3 points. PS: I think Theo Bair has now broken Louis Moult's season's best, of 15, by a goal.

The Bois did themselves proud yesterday - a lot of thought and effort went into that display and it added to the atmosphere. Generally I'm not a fan of pyros due to the effect smoke can have on those nearby. However yesterday, it was confined to one corner of the East Stand, with no-one affected in the South Stand. I am still of the view that we need to take a consistent view pyros, whether they are in a football stadium or on a protest march. Football fans shouldn't be singled out unless there's a serious incident. Fireworks over the East Stand! Thats a first.

True to a certain extent although the principle remains the same. If you're happier to extend this comparison to local rags then they're full of crime reports, controversies, road accidents; deaths; crumbling schools; terrible planning applications and political shenanigans etc (based on recent Dundee Courier articles). The odd good news item is chucked in. I'm depressed just thinking about it! Its an old adage that good news/events don't create interest. In short, this Forum is no different to society as a whole. I'll post my, hopefully balanced, match summary in the morning to try to stimulate some debate.

True, although its not peculiar to this forum. How many newspapers or TV news bulletins promote good news stories? It's human nature to wallow in negative stories. Plenty of talking points in yesterday's game.

Well, at the very worst, we'll now finish 10th and avoid the play offs. Hopefully now we can now start preparations for next season in earnest.

Sorry I meant the Scotland wide vote. Is that tonight also?

Why was this vote closed so early? Surely Sam Nicholson's screamer today would have been a top contender?

Yes. I thought we had a slight edge though. Didn't see the penalty clearly at the game, but Sportscene pundits agreed it looked like deliberate armball. On the basis of a poor TV angle, I tend to agree. Livi's chalked off goal? Bizarre. We were sat not far away and it seemed like a clear foul on McGinn but ref never gave it. Then Pittman scores and its chalked off. Correct decision though. Odd VAR check late on for red card. I thought the 2 players were tussling and Butcher was fouled first. Denying a clear goalscoring opportunity?? Correct decision though.

An enjoyable encounter which sealed our safety for yet another year. That will allow SK to take his squad planning a stage further.

Seconded Grizzly. Lets get behind the team 100% today, ignore any mistakes, and encourage them.

Agreed.

As I wrote, I don't say that it's right but it's a fact. It's OK to disagree and we'll do that.

Of course. Football is is a physical contact sport and injuries and emotions are only to be expected. However, some players go into challenges with the express intention of harming and injuring an opponent, sometimes under instruction from a manager. I do apportion blame for that kind of incident.

That's not how it works. Yes, there are a few fans who go along and spout constant abuse. I'm not referring to those. I doubt there are many who go along with the premeditated intention of mouthing off to make themselves feel better. As the original poster wrote, for some it's a way of relieving the pressure of everyday lives. As you'll know very well, people handle such situations very differently. Everyone is an individual. I'm not saying it's right, just that it's a fact of life.

I would say it doesn't apply to messageboards, although the principle of respect certainly should. Shouting at a game tends to be more spur of the moment and impetuous, although there are exceptions. Posting on a message board is more of a detached, measured and thought out process. Again there are exceptions for example in terms of personal and abusive posts. Robust debate is fine but abuse is not. The term "troll" is much misunderstood and misused though.

Absolutely. There's criticism and there's abuse. It's a fine line to tread. Downright abuse isn't acceptable. Footballers though aren't totally blameless. Quite a few behave in such a way that if they did so in the same way off the the pitch they'd be arrested and charged. Its about rough and tumble banter but with respect.

Every so often a post appears somewhere that grabs your attention and stands out from the morass. I've just read one such one on P & B. Of late, there's been a lot of criticsm by some posters on P & B of our fanbase. I'll park that. However yesterday AnderooMFC posted the following: "Football crowds allow a release of the pent-up emotions and frustrations of everyday life, even the negative emotions. That scapegoat is a temporary stand-in for every asshole customer/boss/partner/child/parent/authority figure/system/patriarchy/nameless horror that they are not allowed or unable to express frustration at from Saturday 5pm-next Saturday at 2.59. So come 3pm kick-off there's a lot to be vented. Holding it in is not good for your health. We exist to improve people's lives. Even moaning-faced twunts." That sums it up perfectly. Well done sir/madam. Football is an emotional game and a safety valve for many

Not quite. If you have a few hours to spare, feel free to check back my post match comments. I may criticise refs in most/many games but by no means every single time. That's an inaccuracy.

There are several issues at play here and its not all down to VAR. I do get the unnecessary delays and the micro analysing decisions i.e. an incident should be clear and obvious. However, what its poor performance to date does highlight is the level of inconsistency in decision making and the defensive/secretive attitude of the SFA. There is then the adoption of ridiculous rules and guidelines about handball and red card tackles. A final word on the Jack Vale red card - why was Butland only yellow carded in the St Mirren V Rangers game?

So, Lennon Miller's "goal" was rightly chalked off. That being the case, Ross County's goal ought to have been chalked off earlier in season?

I was just stirring it Allan. 😁

So, with Jack Vale being unavailable for Saturday do we bring in Sam Nicholson or Moses or maybe Oli Shaw in midfield?