The African

Has anyone mentioned Stuart Baxter yet?

Chapman was brought in as longer term cover for Fox. It made sense to play him when Carson got injured and Archer had only just arrived. Once it became clear that Atprcher was the better keeper and was up to speed, it made sense to play him. It now transpires that Archer, to all extent and purposes, wasn't available last Saturday it made sense to give Chapman another chance, which he clearly didn't take. Hopefully Liam Kelly, or whoever comes in, can hit the ground running.

Based on one performance, it looks like Lasley is more part of the problem than, going forward, part of the solution. We don't have the time to muck around here so hopefully the search for a truly able replacement is already underway. We can probably write off the chance of taking anything except a pumping from the next three fixtures.

Fair comments. Whyte is not of the required standard for this level. Giving him the final twenty minutes, two goals and a man down, and expecting him to be able to make a telling difference is tantamount to workplace bullying.

Well that was sh*t*. I generally believe that changing manager mid season is a huge gamble and one which can often go the wrong way. Having said that, managers tend to have a shelf life and when it is over, it is time to say goodbye. We are a team devoid. Lacking in all fundamentals. No organisation, no fight, no skill and no belief. Change is required and sooner rather than later. I really don't like calling for people to lose their jobs and livelihoods but we cannot go on as it is.

Played for Wellington Phoenix in the A league for a number of seasons. Was considered a decent player here, where the tempo of the game is slower than the SPL.

Your, I assume, unintentional, use of happy ( sometimes predictive spellcheck is not your friend) made me smile as it is certainly not what you would describe the McLean brothers as. I remember Jim saying he called Tommy the grumpy one in the family.

Indeed. Puts a little perspective on our onfield issues. A genuine legend of the Scottish game and complete one off. RIP Jim McLean. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Like the Aberdeen game, before kick off I would take a point.

I think we might do better at throw ins if we returned to calling them shys. Don't ask me to explain why, I just do. The same goes for "goal kicks". Bring back the by kick and we will be okay.

With regard to throw ins, I have often wondered why nobody seems to have come up with a ploy that takes advantage of the " no offside from a throw in" rule.

Just following online and it sounds pretty dire. Still, I would have taken a point before kick off. A safe and Merry Christmas to all 'well fans, wherever you may be.

I wonder if the terminology is a bit disingenuous. Free cash to top level football clubs would be a difficult pill for any government to swallow, politically. The question really is, is there much expectation that these loans will be repaid at any stage?

Not as daft as you might think. Was it Mick Channon who used to go mental about "bodies in the box" when working as a World Cup pundit for ITV? Something that any Agatha Christie creation cannot be criticised for lacking.

I am not sure we can bank on them missing their penalties.

Are we talking a fee?

Poor result and what sounds like another lacklustre performance. The kind of result that, if things are allowed to continue, will see us in real trouble at the end of the season. The fact that we have been on this track for a few weeks now is worrying. Things have to change for the simple reason that whatever we are doing now just isn't working.

Given the disruption caused by the loss of two probable starters just a few hours before kick off, I'll be happy with a point. I generally see a draw as points dropped, but in this instance, one point is better than hee haw.

I would say it happens because we allow it to turn into a game that they can win. Generally, we are a better quality team from front to back, but they somehow manage to drag us down to their level, then beat us through their greater experience there. Throw in their abomination of a playing surface and it suddenly isn't so difficult to see why. Of course, if we can see it, it begs the question of why our coaches and players cannot do something about it. I am sure they are trying.

They seriously don't give a f*ck. A very sad state of affairs for. once proud institution. Just the ways things have gone across the board for the Beeb.

Goalkeeper is a unique position. One that you enerally don't change unless you have to. Chapman has possession of the jersey, but only by the most tenuous of margins ( sixty minutes or so). Still, he did nothing wrong on debut so I would be tempted to start with him. Longer term, a decision will have to be made by the manager. Important that he gets it right as the difference that a good goalie can make to the whole team's performance is significant.

My eyes! My eyes!

Is it just another symptom of these crazy times that Tony Fitzpatrick appears to have turned into Lady Macbeth? Anyway, to paraphrase the Bard, methinks he doth protest too much.

With news of the injury to Mugabe, I am now in the " a point wouldn't be the worst outcome" camp. It will be interesting to see how Robinson set up the team. I hope that the confidence that Gallagher and O'Donnell should bring back from the international aqua isn't allowed to be thrown away with a cack handed decision to be too clever by half with our selection. We have two options. Retain the back three, but with Gallagher in the central position, or go to a back four. Both have some merit, but are also not without danger, given the talent available. Right now, I'd look at a back four of O'Donnell, Gallagher, Lamie and McGinley. The lack of a genuine left back is still an issue but two holding midfielders in the shape of Grimshaw and Maguire should help bolster things. I think that the injury to Mugabe shows that we were wrong in not looking for experienced cover for centre half during the transfer window.

Any kind of win will be a very good result. Hopefully we can find a decent performance and that will be enough but we have been so inconsistent this season, you wouldn't bet on it with any conviction.