bdu98196

21 hours ago, Gringo said:

So, basically, we've missed out on a money spinning tie and allowing our stadium to be overrun by their supporters and pyrotechnics. 

I suspect they would have offered to swap the venue to forfeit any chance of sporting success on return for increased revenue and a day out in corporate areas of 'the big house'

Does anyone really believe if we never took loans or short deals this season (including Wotherspoon) we would actually get points persevering with start of season the Dodds squad?

Pros - we can afford them and they are willing to come and play

Cons - we can't afford anyone better or risk longterm contracts because if we are relegated to the seaside leagues it'll bankrupt us

Fans were happy to defend dodds during utterly horrific runs of results yet seem to want the new guy out after a few months when trying to sort out our **** show that was left

Perhaps the fact he inherited a squad with only a 34 year old striker and zero creative players which was leaking goals might be worth considering. The point he has seen all these issues and with our limited budget managed to bring in during what is seen as a difficult transfer window some options, more time is needed to see if it works.

All those wild shouts for imrie need to consider we can't afford compensation and ultimately that Morton squad exceeds our quality levels so why would he have chosen to leave a club he has turned around to walk into a (smaller club) with a worse financial mess?

1 hour ago, Huisdean said:

We are not quite  As for Shaw,  what has happened to him?.

Have to agree. While be had some credit in the bank from last season, he's run out of that this time. Too often his touch is poor, lightweight, bad decisions and passes which questions whether he's deserving of a start. We all hope he turns it round but right now a waste of a shirt unfortunately.

10 hours ago, Robert said:

We need to follow Morton’s example.

Realising when a player like Oakley is at your club play him in the right position and you see the benefits rather than letting egos get in the way. Out of all the Robbo/Dodds recruitment decisions letting or wanting him gone is one of the worst.

Anyway, Martin Boyle plays well and we will loose, contain him and we can win. I expect hibs to come at us more than visiting teams in the league so hopefully more space to get in behind which we seem better at.

Not ensuring a percentage of any long term profits at the expense of reducing the initial lump sum may prove an unwise move.

28 minutes ago, DavidG said:

Is Duncan Ferguson immune from criticism?  That was another shocking display, every bit as poor as any under Dodds. I'm not convinced he has a clue what he's doing.

Not sure that's the case. He clearly identified there were weaknesses in the squad which he has looked to address, however we need to wait and see if the recruitment he has undertaken is better than those jettisoned where he felt they had levels of culpability.

In patches we moved the ball well but it was too infrequent and in areas that offered little forward threat. Latter chasing the game was reverting back to high ball, hit and hope which agreed is verging close to Doddsball.

Overall we have gone from rock bottom with a solitary point and looking like loosing every week to sitting above relegation with remote possibility of pushing up the table although promotion play-offs are highly unlikely. Is that progess, a little I guess.

Controversial and early days but I'm not convinced some of these guys are going to be better than Carson or Welsh. Although others have improved positions. However I do expect given how deep visiting teams set up against us we will get more success away from home.

I expect QP to be negative as all Davidson teams are. Another game of the visitors sitting deep but hopefully now we have some creativity to break them down. Can't see is getting many as I doubt QP will open up even if behind, but after the RR result we should have some confidence among the squad and new guys.

9 hours ago, Yngwie said:

So we haven’t been able to offload Lodovica this window? Wouldn’t be surprised if he gets mutual consented in the next few days.

Loan to Elgin is surely an option

5 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

Need to get some defenders in before the window closes

Or at least a defensive minded coach for the many we have?

4 hours ago, Satan said:

After 6 games 7 points still between 9th and 4th.

Only our position has changed,  marginally.

How does your glass look...?

That and our average of 0.15 points per game has almost improved 10 fold to approx 1.5.

Continuing at that rate we should get around 22 points from our remaining 15 games which should be more than enough to avoid relegation. But we all hope for continued improvements throughout

7 points separate 9th to 4th. I defeat and we could be bottom but if that's a win we could be 6th.

Hardly the doom and gloom times when Dodds left, we were rock bottom and 10 points off the playoffs.

Points taken since Dunc arrived

Raith = 31

DUtd = 30

Partick = 26

Morton = 22

ICT = 20

Airdrie = 18

Ayr = 17

Dunfermline = 12

Queens = 11

Arbroath = 6

Better going somewhere to play than sit on the bench for the rest of the season if the manager doesn't think he's ready. Suspect if we get short on numbers etc he's able to be recalled and at his age doesn't need to relocate.

All this chat about orange strips but nobody mentions the lost in football history of the orange ball. That needs a come back in winter.

Whether the strip is right or wrong I guess now it's here the proof of the decision is based on sakes, profits and turnover. If its making the club good money then its a success otherwise its another concern fiasco vanity project.

Dunc's possession football right now I consider as part of a transition to be solid and prevent conceding or being easy to open up. As said we lack the pace and cutting edge to open up significant opportunities which means there is a large gap in the transition from back to front. However, its still better than the 'hot potato' high punting and hit and hope Doddsball we ensured - some of those performances and results were honking.

Its always a waiting game and bit of poker though isnt it? Need other clubs to complete business so they are willing for loans to go out or need players to realise they arent getting a better move so its us or rotting in reserves.

Will it be an influx of young, developing and upcoming talent though or old and past it on the decline. Gambles probably all of them.

Worried we are an injury to Billy away from being relegation fodder though, so we definite need a forward option.

7 hours ago, Gringo said:

These things should be banned for good.

Would that affect the 'rockets' in the directors box?

46 minutes ago, caley100 said:

I'd be worried if by next Friday we have no new players!  Think the squad we have should get us past Broomhill ( touch wood + fingers crossed )

Not if Billy doesnt play. We're a team that could play for days and never score unless he is on the park (especially now Wortherspoon is gone)

Why do the directors need to talk direct to players anyways other than passing pleasantries? Contractual matters are through agents and any comments on playing (which have nothing to do with directors) should be channelled through the manager or coaching hierarchy.

The comments on Welsh may be true or otherwise but he won't be the last player to leave that fans start talking negative about to make it sound like we are better rid.....

Tbf I'd sti question whether 2 of the listed forwards are actually even options at all and will only still be here as they are injured so probably can't be shifted on.

6 minutes ago, robbo1985 said:

Take on board your reply but I respectfully disagree.  I don't think gifting one of our better players to one of our relegation rivals was sensible from either a football or business perspective...today being a case in point.... 

Reality is though he only plays 50% of games so technically in terms of value is costing twice what a player with better fitness does. Couple that with being in his 30s and probably leaving end of season it's a gamble being made which will hopefully allow some fresh quality to come in.

43 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

3. Substitutions weaken the team 

This. We have such lack of quality and depth the drop off between first team starters and the bench is possibly the biggest gap I can recall. So little options to change or turn a game.

Been a great servant and probably played all his best football with us including winning the Scottish cup. Given the criticism during his spells at Partick and Dunfermline he's proven a shrewd return.