Kmcalpin

Yes, a wins a win and we're through. Not a classic performance though from what I hear. Great support - over 1,000 fans (according to the font of all knowldge the BBC). Out of interest who played left back?

Who is at left back????? Slightly odd looking defence.

In this instance then, I'm probably one of the "negative" posters. I guess then everyone looks for something different from this place. Personally, I look for a range of different opinions to allow me to gauge the mood of the support, as a whole. How likely that is in an internet forum, I don't know. If there are negative, or indeed positive, elements within our support, I want to know about them. A degree of negativity within any group is natural and shouldn't be ignored. Sometimes its justifed sometimes its not. Without listening we run the risk of forming a skewed or false view of matters.

Matt Connelly joins Stranraer on loan until the end of the season.

Queens Park too? I'm sure we'd prefer a permanent deal.

An interesting article from the Rancid on Logan Dunachie. Very one sided and it shows our place in the media pecking order...........below East Kilbride. No way would the article have been written in that way if either of the gruesome twosome was involved. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/east-kilbride-boss-responds-motherwell-28978532?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

I suspect we knew some time ago that Penney would move back to Ipswich this month. Presumably then we're looking to find a left wing back? In the meantime, if SOD is still unfit who do we play in that position? AFAIK Max Johnston is purely a right back, as is Paul McGinn. IF thats the case, then the only real option, however undesirable that may be, is to field Ricky Lamie there.

No huge surprise there. We move on. My only concern is who replaces him.

All young players have dips in form. Allan Campbell is rightly famed for his work ethic and deservedly earned his move south. All that said, he had dips in form and in his last season with us he went off the boil for perhaps 6 weeks/2 months. I remember remarking on this at the time.

Granted he has a created a few. However, his contribution over 90 minutes, week in week out is minimal. Last Saturday, for example, he was anonymous. Now thats fine if you're the kind of player who does all the dirty, unseen work like a young Keith Lasley, but he's not. He struggles to get up and down the park. He doesn't support KVV as he should and he's often posted missing in defence. In short, I can't see what he really brings to the team apart from the odd telling cross or pass. Probably a decent sort but not our required level.

Young Cornelius might not be world class, but there's a good player in him. I don't think he's been given a fair chance given some other midfielders who get picked regardless. He's also not been played to his strengths. That's all down to management.

I think their last game was 6 November.

A good comparison. Both were excellent on the ball. Hammell was fast and had a great cross in him but he couldn't defend - Penney is exactly the same. As Inflato says, he's regressed since he joined us.

Agreed Grizzly, but if SOD isn't available for whatever reason, like yesterday, can McGinn play on the left side?

If SOD is out can McGinn play on the left? If not does Lamie move to LB?

Callum Slattery will be available, if selected. Does anyone know the reaon for SOD's absence yesterday?

It's what football fans do. Quite a few had concerns about the personnel before kick off yesterday although they didn't voice them. There was also some debate about the formation. How we lined up wasn't clear until the game kicked off. As regards your second point, there is a middle ground. It doesn't have to be one of the 2 extremes.

You can add to the list "We're too good to go down". Stevie Hammell has lost my support. I said at the turn of the year a return of 5 points from 3 "easier" games Livingston (A), Hibs (H) and (Ross County (H) was the least we should expect. We came nowhere near that with a measly 2 points. At the end of the day, its points that count and will keep us up not playing promisingly, not hitting woodwork etc etc. Hard points. Thems what matters. Relegation would be disastrous for us. He's a club legend and if he wasn't, the cries for his dismissal would be far louder. The club is bigger than any one individual. He seems a very decent guy and a true professional. But is that what we need? Football is a tough unforgiving business and we need someone to motivate, organise, and kick asses. His win ratio is now 26% which is a wee bit above Jim Gannon and Harri Kampmann, but just below Maurice Malpas. Apologies, probably the wrong thread for this post.

Maybe some merit in that. Apart from the Head of Youth Academy we still haven't filled the vacant Media post as far as I know. Could that be a factor?

A good summing up. As for yesterday's game, once again we looked disorganised with long standing weaknesses evident. A lack of leadership both on and off the field. Central defence was poor but suffered from lack of protection from wing backs and midfield. Midfield was painfully slow and didn't really compete. No links between midfield and KVV and him and wide men. We resorted to long hopeful, aimless punts for which Lacovitti and colleagues were very grateful. In a way, good to see Max Johnston start but was perhaps the wrong choice yesterday. Promising going forwards but was caught out of position several times when defending. Maybe better to have started with McGinn at RB? Central defence? Deary me - Blaney must be bad but why put him on the bench then? McGinn isn't a midfielder. Spittal was anonymous yesterday and just doesn't have the pace or engine to support his strikers. Seems to have a nailed on starting place irrespective. Better options, although different kinds of player - Cornelius and Tierney. Midfield is often about the mix of players and how they gel and yesterday again it just wasn't right and changes ought to have been made at HT, if not before. Up front, I thought Crankshaw looked promising but maybe ran out of gas later. McKinstry was my MOTM with some good runs and a splendid finish. Unlucky with his shot that hit the post. Both wide men found it hard to link up with KVV who was ineffective. Didn't quite get why Goss was subbed, unless injured, and Maguire had little positive impact. I just hope that our young lads, like McKinstry and Johnston are getting decent coaching, although I have my doubts. For those who think that Hammy will be in trouble if we lose next weekend, I'd say he's already in deep trouble and is on borrowed time. With every passing week he reminds me more of Maurice Malpas.

Hammell does have options. Assuming he sticks with the same set up and he doesn't have to, he could change personnel. Maybe in a minority of one here but I didn't think Johnston played well today. McGinn could have played RB. Blaney could have replaced Lamie. There's 2 options for starters. Cornelius could have started in MF as could Tierney. Spittal could have been dropped. A few options there.

Rossco have signed a Hibs midfielder on loan.

Yes, forgot all about that. Could well be a factor in football as it is in other industries. It certainly won't help our recruiters.

We should obviously look at strengthening all positions but I wouldn't have thought this to be a priority position unless we are going to offload players and bring in 4/5 others, which I doubt. What do I know though?

Just a tabloid rumour at the moment. If there's any truth in it, what position does this Japanese lad play?