Leaderboard

Why would we experiment?

I thought we finally looked like a team that had got it together for the first 20+ minutes. Utd's first goal came against the run of play, but that didn't seem to phase us and the team were sticking to the game plan. The Nick Ross goal seems to getting credited as a "gift" but I disagree. Nick Ross has shown a willingness to be persistent in chasing everything. That together with split second timing is what resulted in him being in the right place to pinch the ball off the toe of the defender and stick it in the net. Anyway, whilst we stuck to our own game plan...which was being well executed...we looked the better team. It wasn't until we got drawn into playing Utd's game that the wheels started to come off. I think we missed Morrison in the middle of the park..in the same way as we used to miss having Duncan in there. Utd did to us what we normally do to other teams yesterday...punished us when hitting on the break. Mostly due to the fact that we spend more time backing off from anyone who makes a run towards the area instead of getting in the early tackle. I joked yesterday that, with the exception of Graeme Shinnie, our back line looked like it could run faster backwards than it could forwards. Foran wasn't right from the start of the game yesterday...he was slow and his reactions were definitely jaded. I was surprised he lasted as long on the park as he did. For the first time this season I came away from a game feeling more than a little concerned. I think it does most of the guys out there a disservice to suggest that we're struggling due to injuries and/or the team not having had time to gel. All Butcher had to do at half-time was get the team back out there playing the way they had for large spells of the first half (especially the first 20+ mins). If Golobart hasn't come off through injury then that change was the first mistake...he might have made a couple of errors, but a reminder to keep it simple would have stemmed that issue. Second error was taking on Shane Sutherland and sticking him out wide..the lad's a striker, play him in his natural position if you want to see the best of him. If Butcher wanted a wide player then we had Chippendale on the bench, given that the Utd defence had shown signs of weakness earlier in the game, then having a player with a bit of pace who, in his brief appearance last week, showed willingness to run at players, would have proved far more effective. In summary...the team lost their way a bit in the first half and just needed someone to get them to re-group...that never happened. Butcher lost his way in the second half and failed to rectify the issues we could all see from sitting in the stand. Yesterday was a bad day...pure and simple. We can't hide behind the "new squad and injuries" excuse any more. Everyone on the pitch yesterday is more than capable of producing a better performance over 90 minutes than we managed to do.

Great summary of the game. We were probably unlucky to go in a goal down at half time, but by the end of the game it felt like we had been well beaten. What concerns me about the second half performance yesterday is the fact that we really didn't look like a team. Obviously we've been very unlucky with injuries, but that in itself doesn't explain why no-one, except perhaps Graeme Shinnie, was prepared to start trying to drive the team forward. The player with most responsibility for doing that would be Foran, I suppose, so I was a bit surprised when he was substituted so early even though he hadn't had a great game. If he was injured, fair enough; but if he was taken off that early because of tiredness or because Butcher felt he wasn't contributing enough, then it is a worry: you would expect your team captain to be on the park for almost all of almost every game. I also feel that Tokely, who as the club's most senior professional also has some responsibility to motivate and organise the team on the park, has looked very subdued all season. Of the rest, Davis looked composed but rather lethargic in the second half, Andrew Shinnie worked hard but looked pretty lightweight and too prone to be knocked off the ball and Nick Ross seemed to be on the margins for long spells. Tansey was arguably our best midfielder, but again didn't really impose himself on the game. Tade was perhaps our most dangerous player, and certainly no-one could accuse him of not trying, but yesterday confirmed again that he's not really a striker. As for Golobart, I contrived to be at the pie stall when the second Utd goal went in, so I didn't see his error, but the fact that Butcher hooked him at half time doesn't bode terribly well for his future. I've not seen any interviews with Butcher yet, but it looked at the end of the game as if he was pretty discouraged: normally he's very conscientious about acknowledging the supporters, and yesterday the team was applauded off the park by most despite the result and the second half performance, yet the manager simply stormed off up the tunnel. I expect nothing from Celtic Park next week, but the St Mirren game is starting to look quite significant. Every side in the league looks capable of picking up points, and at the moment I couldn't convincingly argue why we are less likely to go down than any other team. This absolutely isn't doom-mongering: it's simply an acknowledgement of the fact that we are in a very difficult situation in a very competitive league. If Terry Butcher can get us out of relegation danger with games to spare this season, then it will speak volumes for his management.

Just watched the goals on Sky and I cant believe that we took on Proctor at half time - please, please tell me that he wasnt played as a central defender ? - he was certainly at fault at the second goal. And please tell me that Golobart was injured - and we are not looking at yet another case of destroying a players' confidence and another Aldred scenario ? It is not all about the injuries - the pre season was a shambles and we were wholly caught out by the early start. We kicked off with a new team, with unfit players and no time to gel - and the lack of a recognised central defender, holding midfielder and of course a recognised centre forward. Butcher has to take a fair deal of the blame as he has been chopping and changing the team (apart from injuries)and adhering to a creaky system since the off and his loyalty to some individuals and ignorance of the potential of other is concerning me. For example - Morrison has been solid of late - why was he jettisoned ?

Tades a hidden weapon rated only on his passion FIFA achievement spot tade walking??

Esson far to low. Levein must have made the ratings!

Quite right girls. Great to have women fans nowadays. They add so much that was lacking before. Maybe the club should have a nail painting concession installed by the pie stand, in fact make the pie stand a cup cake joint or some such. Also, sales of work could be a real moneyspinner.

Seems like Section E is not living up to the atmosphere previously in Section G. I kept my seat in Section G and miss the boys - never ever told anyone to sit down there, so, why don't you all petition to come back? And, old sourpuss Dougal, the Supporters Club were not baking cakes at Forres - it was a very special Harry Gow Birthday cake for Kath's birthday - so boo to you........jealous old so and so. Obviously you don't know how to celebrate birthdays with friends.