Kmcalpin

Any word on Bevis? If he's out too then I suppose the back 4 will comprise SOD and Gent at wing back and Blaney and Spencer in the middle. Hopefully at least one of Butcher Mugabi and McGinn are fit enough to start. Spencer can play in the middle.

Is that not censorship David? I get that offensive posts ie foul language, sectarian or racial abuse etc are not acceptable but posters should be able to discuss what they like whether or not you or I approve.

Absolutely. That scenario would be in no one's interest, least of all SK's. We have a duty of care here

Where do we start with this thread and its already Wednesday morning! Who will be in charge? What players are fit, especially in defence and midfield?

Its in everyone's interests, including SK's, that the Board now acts swiftly and decisely. In my view they've already dithered and delayed and time is not on our side. In all of this furore though lets not forget that SK is a human being and the club should treat him with respect. He's lost the fans and probably the players too. This is only going to end one way. Letting him linger on until Saturday is completely pointless and damaging.

Just viewed the "highlights" from last night. First goal typical poor defending from a set piece/cross ball. What do we do in training? Second goal - same problems as Saturday. Deep lying midfield and failure to close down an attacker who finds space and time on the edge of our box. Kelly should be raging at them. Third goal - much the same as the first although Kelly makes a complete hash of it. I don't quite get the annoyance at Kelly. Could we source a better keeper? Yes, he is overrated. No argument from me thats he's on a bad run; his confidence is rock bottom; he has little protection from those in front of him (goals 2 and 3 last night). However he has never ever been a big commanding keeper. We knew that when we signed him. If we had wanted someone bigger and more commanding then we should have gone for someone else. Recruitment at fault here.

Some truth in that MJC. We're not down yet though. Far from it. However for us to survive this year, will require the Board to act decisevly and quickly. SK must be replaced quickly with a relatively experienced man and some funds made available to strengthen next month. Where I agree with you is that the current Board has made a few dubious decisions over the past 2 or 3 seasons and questions are arising as to whether they're up to the job in hand.

If they do it'll be a huge mistake. Atmosphere would be toxic.

Board needs a different approach this time. Identify a handful of targets and go for them. Any interested parties will throw their hats into the ring anyway.

Ian Murray?

Yes, we should. Opportunity wasted.

I haven't seen any of the game but what's the bet we are playing a 7-2-1 formation with Biereth on his own up front.

You've been very reasonable and patient with SK so far Grizzly and if you're saying this, it really is time for him to go.

No clean sheet for us tonight then.

It does indeed. Maybe it will work a treat but it's a very strange line up.

Not the only one. Beck was also afforded the freedom of Fir Park. He motored up and down his wing from box to box unhindered.

Agreed. In normal times, a draw in Dingwall is a perfectly reasonable result. These aren't normal times though.

Yes, looking at this clip, he is indeed onside. I stand corrected. Horrific disorganised defending.

I've watched the highlight over and again and still reckon he was off. If he was onside it was gey close and yet no VAR check. Odd, given the nitpicking over other decisions in the game. Even if he was onside weren't the other 2 Dundee players interfering with play given their proximity to our goal line? At the very least they would have been distracting Kelly.

John Chapman, a farmer by occupation, told me exactly the same thing. It bakes the soil.

In theory you're right although I suppose it depends on the definition of "asked"

I really think SK is on borrowed time and we are simply delaying the inevitable. Very few other clubs would retain a manager with a record of 4 points from 33. Most, though not all of us, would agree that his summer transfer dealings were poor. Why then should we expect his January dealings, if there are any, to be better? The team, not just 2 or 3 individuals, has lost form. That has to be down to the manager. He seems incapable of changing tactics or formations to turn things around and we are making the same errors month after month now. If there is to be a change then we have to do it soon, as any new appointee would want a full window to se what he could do in the market. I really cannot see a significant improvement in results in the next 2 games, or even beyond that..

Agreed. Did VAR overrule the ref yesterday? It seems to be the case that if 2 players are going for a ball at the same height and one gets caught, then the later of the two gets red carded. Paton may not even have seen McCowan steaming in from the side yesterday, as he was focused purely on the ball. He clearly thought that a yellow card was harsh.

On paper I agreed too, but on the field it soon became apparent that the actual formation was causing us serious problems. An out of touch Butcher was playing almost as part of a back 6, with a 2, possibly 3 man midfield and an isolated striker having to feed off long aerial balls. After an encouraging early goal, we sat back and packed our penalty box. Dundee were allowed to swarm all over us and were afforded as much time and space as they wanted. In short we were far too passive. Again we looked very narrow and Dundee took full advantage of space out wide. They knew our weaknesses. Dundee were no world beaters, but looked faster and better organised than us on the day. The team does have something though to come back a man down and snatch a late leveller, not for the first time. Our defending was abysmal and we looked disorganised. When out of possession we lost all shape. A lot of these weaknesses are down to the manager. Players who were playing well months ago are now playing poorly en masse. Thats down to the manager. All things told I reckon it was a point gained and not two lost - a sad indictment on how poorly we played. VAR spoiled today's game and provided plenty of talking points. Overall though, the ref had a good game considering he was rookie at this level. After having watched the highlights, I’m baffled as to why there was no VAR check for Dundee’s first. When the ball is lofted back in there are 3 Dundee players, including the scorer, clearly offside. Was there a very slight deflection? I can see now why Mugabi’s goal was scrutinised for fouling – maybe 50/50. Harry Paton’s red card -wrong. A yellow card, as originally awarded by the ref. He was going for the ball, which was at knee height, as was McCowan. Is it a case of who gets there first? A bizarre incident late on, when Boateng went down injured after being pulled back. He fell to the deck clutching his ankle to waste time, and was asked to leave to the field by the officials. He complied only to be blocked by Tony Docherty and pushed back on again. You couldn’t make it up.

Yes. We score then retreat into our own box with a 6 man defence and deep lying midfield. Despite that Dundee were easily able to play football unhindered in and around our box. Shocking formation. You'd think we were playing a top European side the respect we showed them.