IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

A lot of criticism has been merited but not to the venemous degree of some. I think some peeps think are living on past glories and the expectation that we are a top league outfit. Dunc has always had a tendency to speak before he thinks and is crap at post match interviews. I suspect that he has also been taken back by the abuse directed at him. I suspect that he also realises that he has been used as a fall guy and promised to him about the future are up in the air. He is not an experienced manager and tried to install a play from the back system in a team with no settled formation or understanding of each other. BUT what was the evidence on Friday. He has been too concentrated on defence and has been amiss in how he has played individuals - McKay, Doran, Devine and Lawal being examples. He also did not recognise the importance and impact of contracted players. His dislike of Roddy McGregor is surprising. We had eight loanees on the park at the end of the end of the Raif game. They may end up saving our season and I would gladly keep at least 4 of them.

That is a major concern and probably came about due to the confidence about monies from the Battery Farm. And another reason for taking on Ferguson who would have attracted better players with better wages and prospects. I am afraid that this season was all about survival and that was apparent when we jettisoned some worthies to save on the wage bill.

I don't think that it was because we had a bad 10 minutes. That was simply to be expected. It was a defensive lapse at fault and a rare lapse at that. I am in no doubt that if we had another decent forward to partner Samuel that we would have been in the play offs. I think that Lawal has a lot of potential but not yet playing in a central midfield role. I would take the risk of playing him up front and letting Billy play in a number 10 role. I think his pace will frighten other teams and Samuel has an out card which he hasn't had all season.

Oh dear - same old excuses - same old script - clearly delusional and body language shows that he really doesn't care

Where would we be if we had another forward to support Samuel ?

The way McKay is being played as a number 10 simply is not working as he no longer has the stamina to go forward. Pepple simply is not good enough. I bet a few will think that I have totally lost it but I would play the palindrome up front with the Tinkerville Taz.

So who and what are the alternatives on the bench ??

How about raising the crossbar 3 feckin inches

Raif have 3-5-2 which suggests that they have sussed us out. We need to change now.

Well we are bossing it and should be at least 2 up. But what role has been given to Billy. I was fuming to see him near half way looking for short ball and knock offs. That should be the role of Anderson and Longstaff and now McAllister. What a waste.

There is no smokie without fire ?

tm4j is the Luke Littler of Reviews and Reports

Prefer Nob End maself

It would not surprise me that Dunc will go for the same starting X1 as Hampden. That has positives, maybes and negatives. Playing the same 5 at the back will provide the stability required and hopefully another shut out. I can see this allowing Harper to be more of a wing back but Kerr is not really that type of player. Anderson and Longstaff ran and ran and tackled and tackled. But they are stuck in the middle of the park and with only Samuel as the forward option. Starting Doran and Billy is risky. Both can produce something different, especially from free kick positions, but they need to support Samuel more. That's why I would play Doran alternating wide right and left. Billy did have a couple of chances at Hampden but I would play him closer to Samuel. As for the Tinkerville Taz then same again please. He will not give the Raif defence any breathing space and he is a cert to win free kicks. And with Billy ploughing likewise for an hour both may get more clear cut opportunities. What we can't allow to happen is giving away an early goal. Raif at home is a far more difficult task than the Spiders away. But I reckon Dunc and his dogs of War will be howling at the end of 90 minutes AND I would take a point if offered now

Anyone thinking about Friday ?

When you are forced to shop at Poundland and the more promising loanees break down then you actually are left with the choice of the duffers on the sale shelves.

Of course I thought he would score and it was an absolute sitter - almost as bad as Lawal - which would have put us in cruise control. I actually thought that Billy would score in the first half as well. We had five at the back - Ridgers and 4 stalwarts + Kerr. We had Anderson and Longstaff battling away in central midfield. And the "problem" was that Doran was playing in a drifting role and played more sideways and backwards passes than anyone else. Billy was in a number 10 role but rarely supported Samuel. Samuel is the blessing. He does the work of two forwards BUT he is NOT a target man. BUT he is our ONLY real attacking option. Doran and Billy were whacked when taken off. I suspect that we will go for the same on Friday as Lawal and Peeps are not really starting options. Only one thing for it which was only too evident yesterday - Dogs of War football.

Sorted

"we never looked likely to score" ?!! - Billy and Lawal missed absolute sitters. Billy missed a clear chance in the first half and we had 2-3 efforts blocked. As I alluded to before Samuel is our ONLY up front option. Billy and Doran were played due to the need for their presence and we went 5 at the back - but still should have won comfortably.

What is happening folks - was Dunc spot on in his summing up ?

Well I wouldn't exactly say that it was comfortable but we looked in control for the most but survived some hairy moments. Rodgers wasn't really tested but that is due to the back four being simply immense. Devine was absolutely outstanding and Boyes, Duffy and Harper were close behind. What a free kick from Harper which turned out to be the winner. Kerr played in a strange position in a cross between a full back and wing back. Anderson outshone Long staff although committment was never in doubt. Disappointed in Doran and Billy and both are past their sell by dates. Billy would have had a comfortable brace in days of you're. Samuel is a McGinn version of a centre forward and sure knows how to win a foul. I have seen all the comments about not going forward enough or shooting enough BUT the ONLY player running the line up front was Samuel. Everybody else goes wide !! We have NOBODY to support Samuel. And don't tell me that Dunc told Lawal to cut the ball back The worst feeling for me is when the chant of we are staying up started with 3-4 minutes to go. But the Dogs of War mentality was clear to see and that was a big, big result. Noticeable that Dunc left the players to take all the acclaim at the end. Another ++ for the big man

I can't remember the last time I felt so nervous going to a game. What should I do ?

Ach - what's the panic - the spondoolicks from the Battery Farm will come through - so we can recharge, flash the cash and bounce around like Duracell bunnies again - heading upwards with Europe as the goal and not trips to Cove and Montrose.