AJS

I noticed David Clarkson has just been released by Bristol Rovers, I think he'd be an excellent signing if we could get him up here.

3 day weekend...joys of working in Education

Still at the Winchester...its quiet

AJ I'm heading to Dundee for lunch :-) Eagle?

Im heading back to The Winchester...whos keen?

I always laugh at the title of this topic whenever it pops up

Evans goal record in the u20s speaks for itself, id expect him to be here. If I were Pepper I'd be feeling somewhat disgruntled, he was a regular amongst the first team squad but this season hes barely had a look, wouldnt be surprised to see him offski. Reckon Greenhalgh will be off and all. Hope Ali Sutherland gets a new deal, was impressed with him.

With every cloud theres a silver lining... much more entertaining 0-0 draw than the final. Both teams had chances but we probably had the better of them, though McGinns miss in the first half was rather dire given his reputation. A lot of high balls and while there were some nice exchanges of play we seemed to struggle with the final ball, poor Vincent had a mare tonight, I think he managed to dig the ball out of his feet and pass it twice, and have one neat turn, rest of the times he was either shrugged off the ball or his first touch was utter guff, Christie showed more urgency when he came onto replace him. Its a point I would have taken at the start but slightly disappointed we didnt take the win.

It was my birthday yesterday and I wished for a win...I got it Tactically perfect (how refreshing), Shinnie in the holding role proved shrewd. While the welcome return of wingers worked well. Watkins and Doran were top notch. For me though pick of the bunch is Tansey, he controlled the middle of the park. Hardly put a foot wrong and was unlucky not to bag a goal. His best game since his return so far. Chuffed for Billy, finished well and was so unlucky with the chip, he would have deserved it. This was such a great end to whats been a miserable week. Now all we need to do is play like this against everyone else. On wards and upwards from here I hope.

Me plus 3, it will be my belated birthday celebration.

Could Latapy have been there for talks and this was his reason for not being at the match last night?

I wanted wingers, I got no wingers and up until the game had about 20 minutes left I saw no wingers...night was over before it began for me.

Can you include yourself if youve achieved greatness on Football manager?

Tansey at right back was a real clanger for me, almost as hilarious as the days of Proctor playing sweeper and why was Christie dropped? He was our best player on Saturday. I want him to do well so badly just so we can put this all behind us but the last few performances have been some of the worst to date, last night being the real tip of it for me. He has totally altered a system that has brought about so much success for us over the last couple of seasons and has all but returned us to the dark days of hoof ball. Talk of winning ugly with the side is a joke, given the quality of performances seen at the start of the season (with the same players) he shouldnt have to re jig things as much as he has. We were warned about the stubborn nature. His persistence of Vincent as a winger (which he will never be) and not playing any of the 3 currently fit wide players at his disposal (which he should) makes it plain to see. Watkins and Ross are more than capable while Williams may not be the best but would at least be in his regular position, yet theyve been ignored. The only good thing that Ive seen is the development of the young lads. Evans looks promising while Christie has the potential to be a great player for us, last nights goal and cameo paying justice to that, it leads to the question of why was he dropped in the first place? I really just want this season to end, it all but did after the final. We are staggering towards the finish line with very little to show for it after such a great start in the league, i would have expecting a small slump at some point but this has been a major regression that we havent got out of. Hughes maybe cant be blamed for the start he had when he came here but part of me feels he can be blamed for not getting us back on track. 5 wins from 19 is pretty dire, 7 of those games have seen us not win against teams in the bottom 6, including Hearts. Part of me wants to give him the summer, but part of me cant help but think weve got it wrong. I would love to see him do well, its clear he is trying to work something here but its also clear he needs to re think it, this is a results business, we aint getting any and sooner or later something has to give.

wingers wingers wingers wingers wingers ...yeah I like the idea of playing wingers

As soon as I saw the team sheet yesterday I just knew we were going to make a chore of it. Yogi has 3 perfectly good wingers in the squad, all of whom he leaves on the bench in favour of 2 extra centre mids with both spending next to no time on the wings. Add that to 2 more displays of woeful defending and another home game without a win. I really do want Yogi to do well here but all this talk on winning ugly, and making such blatantly wrong moves with the midfield is getting more and more frustrating by the week. I said it mid week and I will say it again, we have the players and the understanding to go out and attack teams, we were doing it with success and confidence at the start of the season, but the wherewithal to have a go just isnt there anymore, maybe theyre burnt out, maybe they dont understand what theyre being told to do but we are under no pressure now for the rest of the season, we should be having a go, there is no excuse for it. The inclusion of Ryan Christie was a bright spark to the day, a few nervous touches aside he didnt look out of place, got past players, tried to carve out openings, definitely more to come from this lad, Polworth had his moments too, great cross to Billy to set up the 2nd goal. Willie Collum never helps, havent seen the red card but Shinnie did look to be covering, though given the size of Magennis and the speed he was going at he would probably have bench pressed Shinnie as well. Can see why Deek over the bridge is seething with Goodwin, got away with everything yesterday, Collum must have feared a damning review from him on Sportscene. Just want this season to end now.

Saw glimpses of what he could do but with Watkins, Doran, Ross and Williams all looking capable it would always be tricky. Plus with most first team players signed up guys like Greenhalgh will have to go to make way for fresh faces.

Draper, Tansey Watkins, Vincent, Doran For me thats our strongest midfield, unfortunately we are trying too hard to include Foran when the reality is he isnt really needed just now, player power perhaps?Dont get me wrong Foran is a terrific player for us but as effective a leader as he is he is not at his best in terms of playing. Draper and Tansey provide a good balance of strength and creativity through the middle. Watkins and Doran are our 2 best wingers and Vincent was at his best at the start of the season when he was playing just off Billy, he provided a good go between from midfield to attack, aint got the pace or positional sense for the wing and dosent have the strength for the holding role. These comments of winning ugly are a tad concerning. We have the players to play good football, the idea of winning ugly strikes me as a bit lazy.

Cant we just go to the Winchester, have a pint and wait for all this to blow over?

08/09 is a tricky one. Morais, Mihadjuks, Kerr and Foran all arrived in January and all established themselves as regulars as well as Cowie leaving...quite a different 11 to that one.

Brill Raven, Meekings, Warren, Shinnie Draper, Tansey Watkins, Christie, Ross McKay subs: Esson, Devine, Pepper, Vincent, Williams, Foran, *Doran *If hes still injured stick Evans on the bench

What a wonderfully refreshing topic, well said E4C. The man deserves a summer to work on his own approach and get his own idea across to the boys, as well as bring in a few of his own signings, the latter shall be watched with great interest. Point 7 is the one that has hit home with me in particular. Vincent spoke to Hibs and Draper im sure would have had interest from other teams and both have committed their long term futures to be here. Having worked under Yogi since November I cant help but think he must have had some influence in their thinking.

Would like to second Roughi's comment. I thought Williams was really good today...mainly cos he was played in his natural position, on the wing! Good pace and a decent cross, only drawback is he is very one footed but still another who there could be more to come from. We have the luxury of having 4 quality players to play through the middle and Yogi seems to be struggling to pick who to cut from the starting 11. While he may have been poor today I wouldnt drop Foran. He is still far too influential to have out of the time. For me Id keep him in midfield and stick Tansey just off Billy or put Vincent back there, he will NEVER be a winger. Alternatively with the season more or less over it would be great to see Ryan Christie get a longer run in the team, think he is perfect for the role just off the striker.

First half was a complete non starter. The only player going in at half time with any credibility was Deano, 3 fantastic stops from Taylor, 2 from open play and one from a free kick. We could barely get out of our own box at times, let alone our own half. Tansey did have one ambitious effort from distance when it bounced up nicely, was unlucky with his effort. Boys came out fired up for the 2nd half. They were fighting for the ball more in midfield and Billy was starting to get in behind their defence some more. Before breaking the deadlock we passed up a couple of guilt edged chances. Tansey going clean through and lobbing it over Gallacher...and the bar, the next up was Billy who was found at the back post with just the keeper to beat, he took the touch, steadied himself but put it well wide when it seemed easier to score...even if it was his weaker side. Well taken set piece for the goal, struck in by Shinnie, knocked down by Draper and headed in by Billy. Rest of the game seemed to peter out. Partick had a few set pieces but Deano seemed to be on hand for most of them. Christie got on again and again looked tidy on the ball, we need to see more of him. To sum it up a win, a clean sheet, a goal and a home win Yogi...cant ask for much more than that after the week we have had.