Kmcalpin

I'm a 70/30 supporter of JBA but its early in his reign and he's got a few issues to sort out. Its how he deals with those that will determine his legacy. Yes, we're playing the best football we've seen for many years. A huge tick. However, we're weak at both ends of the pitch and those deficiencies need addressing, possibly using different methods. Attractive football is all good and well but it has to be accompanied by good results. Yes we're unbeaten in 4 but we've also not won in 4.

I'm not one to get worked up over grammar or spelling. Its what the message says thats important not how its expressed. An old boss of mine had an annoying habit of refusing to answer any letter or memo, irrespective of their importance, that contained a spelling or grammatical error and if they did, just tossed them to someone else to deal with or worse still, into file 13.

If any doubt persisted about our recruitment needs before today's game, then Killie helpfully removed them. A huge couple of days coming up for us that could make or break our season. Clearly we need cover at left back following Wilson's temporary departure. If, as rumours indicate, that Slattery is out for a period of time, then another midfielder is a must. Finally we require 2 new centre backs whether Balmer departs or not. Our defence has largely been ignored in JBA's rebuild but its critical that its now addressed and quickly.

Today was the first I've seen us play for a few weeks and I have to say its the best I've seen us play for many a year. A good crowd today but I thought our fans were a bit flat. More games like this though and they'll come back in even bigger numbers. It was encouraging to hear the applause and cheers at full time and smiling faces talking about the quality of football. The game itself panned out pretty much as I expected and both sides could have won it. We were the better team and dominated possession but weaknesses at both ends of the pitch cost us. There's no doubt we missed Callum Slattery badly and hopefully he'll be back well before Christmas. I thought Killie tested us rigorously with their long ball approach and hopefully that lesson will feed into our recruitment. We did seem a bit vulnerable on the flanks. Some good performances from the likes of Just, Watt and Said. I remain unconvinced about Ap Stam though. He seemed very lightweight against a big intimidating defence. For me though this weekend was never going to be about today's game; rather about our transfer dealings. A final word on Callum Ward. I was 100% against dropping him after last Saturday, as every keeper can have an off day. However, 2 games on the trot? Its rare that a keeper makes not one but two glaring errors in conceding a goal. Time to bring the Ox back.

We're stll adapting to the new way of playing and it'll take time and patience for the players to become comfortable with it. That said though, we continue to have problems at both ends of the pitch. Without doubt we've signed some good players; a better calibre than we usually do, but the squad is still deficient in some types of first pick. The jury is still out for me on our striking options, but I'd like to see a bit more height and muscle up front. Likewise at the back we're short in central defence. I've been a fan of Gordon's up until now but he doesn't seem comfortable with the new system. Likewise, McGinn is proficient on the deck but lacks physicality. Kilmarnock's height and physical approach caused us problems today and we seem uncomfortable dealing with high balls. I'm not advocating a Robinson style approach but if the opposition choose to play direct, when they are in possession then we need to have the personnel to deal with that. Likewise, at set pieces such as corners, we struggle to cause the opposing defence problems due to us being somewhat lightweight.

My thoughts too Joe. Having said that this move doesn't surprise me, as Ewan Wilson has failed to develop after a promising start and doesn't seem to fit our current system.

I'm with you 100% on that. Success in Europe only benefits a handful of our biggest clubs on a frequent basis. UEFA and FIFA are rotten from the core and are only interested in the big boys. The rich get richer and all that. As far as I know, solidarity payments are made not just to us, but also to our rivals. as you say, £5-8m to the likes of Hibs would only harm our chances of finishing in the top 4/5 and winning a domestic trophy. Nothing personal against Hibs or Aberdeen but its just by helping them, it disadvantages us. As far as I'm concerned, it was a good set of European results for us. International football doesn't interest me.

We've had worse managers I'll grant you. However it was his behaviour latterly that turned fans against him. I can understand that although I'm of the view that we should do our talking on the pitch not off it. It appears he was abrasive, given the run ins he had with match officials, but being generous you could arguably dismiss that out of hand as simply showing signs of pressure and stress. However, for me, it was the manner of his leaving that rankled me. He criticised our support as a whole in public, although he later rowed back on that. He also made several allegations about personal/family abuse, which, if true, were totally unacceptable of course. However these were never substantiated and were somewhat contradictory. What really got me though was the never ending media circus following his departure; and in particular his "well" timed public presser on the day Michael Wimmer was appointed. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.

I've no inside knowledge at all, but will be surprised if there's not more comings and goings before Monday at 2300 hrs. One or two additions and the same number leaving, either permanently or on loan.

A hero.

My feelings too. I bear (?) the lad no ill will. He left us for a substanital hike in wages to join his and his father's favourite team. I totally get that. Actions have consequences however, and his football development has suffered. You're paid your money and you takes your choice. Good luck to him.

I suspect Calum Ward. If we change keepers every time they have a bad game, its going to be a very up and down season goalie wise.

Its premature to make predictions about this season for several reasons. In theory, a team can sign better players than they did in the past but what if rivals sign even better players? In short, its all relative. With the exception of last Saturday, we've had problems in converting possession into goals. That might change with the arrival of Hendry and Osong. Who knows? Our midfield is the match of most in the league, although it currently lacks a defensive element. Our defence, including the goalkeeping position, though concerns me. Our goalies are probably ranked in the bottom 4/5 maybe? Full backs? Early days but probably mid league. Central defence? Probably bottom 3/4. All this could change in the next 7 days of course, with the arrival of new recruits hopefully. So far, I like our new style of play but questionmarks remain, for me, as to whether it will be effective in securing results.

Absolutely. We need to keep our feet firmly on the ground.

Post from a Hearts supporting friend. "Well that was a point stolen. Motherwell were excellent today, and the best team I've seen this season. So fair play to them." This chap has played football at a reasonable level, so he's qualified to comment.

He's leaving on a jet plane.

Next week will represent a crucial test for us. A home game against a beatable side. This early in the season, not a six pointer of course but an importnat game nonetheless. Hopefully we'll see a new face or two, but maybe not starters. Rightly, we're reciving plaudits for our attractive style of play. Now though, we need to up our game at both ends of the pitch. Improve our defending at the back and be more lethal up front.

Hopefully we'll see 2 new central defenders and a defensive midfielder (a No 6 to some) arrive in the next week or so to make us more solid. Hearts had 19 shots to our 9 yesterday (9 against 3 on target). Those figures should make us sit up and take notice. In fairness then Ward will have, justifiably, expected better protection from those in front of him. He should start next next week to give him a chance to redeem himself. The goals we lost were down to a combination of errors, not just down to Ward. In truth though , both he and Oxborough would appear to be run of the mill keepers. Hearts gave our defence a thorough test yesterday and it was found wanting.

Just watched the TV highlights too, which didn't do justice to our first half performance. Yes, Hearts' 2nd goal was a close call, according to VAR lines. I was however alarmed by the quality of our defending at times. If we want to turn our good play into points this does need addressed in the next 10 days or so.

A point to mull over folks. Hearts beat both Aberdeen and Dundee United before today scoring 5 goals in the process and conceding 2.

But, not with the defence we have.

Keep the heid folks. It was a very good result. A very tough start to the new campaign and we're unbeaten in 3. Forget about losing 3 late goals; we were always going to concede and Hearts fully deserved their point, as did we. Yes, disappointing to lose 3 but thats football. The big plus for me is that we played Hearts today with over a week of the window to go. It would be far worse to have recorded this result next Saturday. Hopefully, we'll look back on today in 6 months time and say it was a very positive result. JBA has now seen our defence at its worst and should know by now that he has to strengthen the defence and whats more has over a week to do it. He will already have been looking at defenders and Hearts comeback today should crystallise and galvanise his thoughts. All this, and we played some really entertaining football.

Yes, it is. Maybe the likes of Luca Ross could go out on loan to a League One or Championship side. Dylan Wells? Maybe Kofi Balmer will move on as it seems he isn't fancied by JBA. There's also 3 long term absentees amongst the 28 0r so.

You can envisage a scenario where any combination of the three players in question, who are all ooc at the end of the season incidentally, return from injury but JBA doesn't think they warrant gametime. It would be fairer to send them out on loan for 6 months to put them in the shop window and boost their chances of a deal elsewhere.

Are they suited to our style of play? There's also the question of squad size and budget and the fact they're not JBA's players.