Broonerz

Think it’s a bit early to get rid of Duncan, but would be good to know who drove the January changes. Could field 2 defences now, but not one competent attacking unit.

Bigger worry for me is we have half a dozen loanees who don’t care what happens to us end of season as they will return to their parent clubs irrespective the outcome, just seems a hap hazard approach IMO.

That was a fairly depressing watch. As many have eluded to, having possession is all very well but there has to be an end product.

When we break forward there is little or no pace involved, giving the opposition plenty of time to get back and reorganised, and I just can’t see anyone in our current squad who is going to create anything.

Strange decision changing two central defenders when we need to chase a cup game (know this has been used to good effect previously), and as for Pepple, he gave the impression he wasn’t remotely interested once he came on. Hopefully he is just getting up to speed, but personally I have my doubts.

We need to improve dramatically in the final third, but hard to see what with.

Absolutely nothing in the final third.

defensively a lot better (goal apart) but created nothing. Worrying times.

Given Scott Brown couldn’t settle in Aberdeen, I have my doubts he would settle in Inverness.

Not the way we should go IMO, but what do I know.

On 8/25/2023 at 2:32 PM, ictchris said:

Our squad is much weaker this season than last.  Of the regulars from last season we've lost Deas, Allardice, Henderson and Mckay and none of them have really been replaced.  Deas hasn't been replaced at all, we've just not signed anyone in his position.  We have signed Charlie Gilmour in the middle where Allardice played but I'm not sure he is a similar player and isn't someone who is going to dominate in there the way Allardice did.  Henderson and MacKay both had pace and the ability to deliver a great ball in and while it's early days I'm not sure Brooks or Longstaff look comparable.

We are weaker in ever area and unless we make some excellent signings in the next few days I honestly think 8th is about the limit of our ambitions this season.  We've done well on loan in the last few years - Jamieson, McAlear, Chalmers, Pearson and the aforementioned Henderson and MacKay were all good contributors - so maybe we can use that market.

The fact the season is a month old and we have not signed any kind of centre back speaks volumes for the management. Surely they know we need at least one CB. They probably knew Deas was leaving at turn of the year and have clearly been inept at sourcing a replacement, or even worse not thinking we may need one. Worrying times.

Brilliant outcome to another inept Willie Collum showing. Defended brilliantly and whilst we didn’t do enough to win it in 120minutes, same can be said of Arbroath.

Couple of points re the Young fans behind the goal, your support of the team was magnificent and really helps, but please stop with the throwing things onto the pitch, what on earth do you get from it? All that happens is the club get fined, and to be honest I cringe at that behaviour, and like to think we are better than that as a club.  Really unnecessary.

11 minutes ago, Robert said:

How did McAlear do tonight?

He was the one plus for me. Looked quite accomplished, but got little hep from those around him.

Can’t believe we have wasted part of our budget on Broadfoot and Gardyne. Both hopeless. Would have preferred to give our kids a game, couldn’t be any worse. Drapes played centre half for Cove and probably didn’t need to go for a shower afterwards. Communicated to his fellow defenders throughout, something Broadfoot seems incapable of. Not sure what he brings to our club.

Worst performance I can recall. Outdone for desire, fitness, quality. All by a part time team. Pretty shameful

a game with very little in it, and always likely to be decided by a mistake. Our final ball into their box was dreadful, and always ended up behind our strikers.

Expect Sunday to be another tight affair, as really nothing between the teams.

Defence looked worse once Col went off and McKay went to centre half, was always a case of trying to hang on after that enforced change. 

Cant believe we don’t have the guile and savvy to see a game out, not a bunch of kids we have playing.

58 minutes ago, hislopsoffsideagain said:

I would strongly agree with those who have said that our unbeaten run has helped mask big problems with the squad - problems that were laid bare for all to see on Saturday.

First there is the defence. We have been unlucky at left-back with Tremarco injured and then Calder (correctly) being punted. McCart looks solid enough defensively but offers no attacking threat at all there. On the other side Rooney is as erratic as QOS fans said he would be. His attacking play has improved and he offers a set-piece threat but lapses like the one that led to Falkirk's second goal are all too frequent. Brad McKay is going through a dreadful spell of form too. Add in a return of the yips for Ridgers in the last two games and you have a backline that are conceding too many cheap goals, all too often when we are on top as well.

At the other end, we've regressed right back to where we were a year ago. The midfield are badly hindered by the lack of pace, movement and holdup play from whoever is playing up front. We seemed to have solved the problem when we got in Austin but he's had a rotten season so far. White (too slow, doesn't win enough against smaller CBs, poor in front of goal) and Oakley (fouls defenders too often, too predictable with his movement) put in typical performances against Falkirk, though at least Oakley got a goal. I think our midfield setup is pretty good but too often Welsh, Walsh, Polworth and Doran got possession in decent areas and didn't have anyone to play the killer ball to - the exception being the opening goal.

Our Plan B is to go 4-4-2, which we did for the second half of this game and against Morton too. But then our midfield play breaks down, we only have Walsh as a natural wide player and Doran is a fish out of water as second striker...but White and Oakley are a dreadful partnership. But what else can you do when you only have two senior outfield players on the bench?

And therein lies the biggest issue of all. Our squad depth is pitiful. Sure, we had four players out injured this weekend but should we really be down to the bare bones. Our failure to augment the team with loan players is bizarre - just look at the impact Zak Rudden and Aidan Keena have had against us in recent weeks. We have signed only one loan player since Robbo came in - Matthew Elsdon. At one point in February I believe we were the only SPFL team (out of 42!) who didn't have a player in on loan.

We can still finish fourth, but to do so we need reinforcements, up front at least.

Agree with pretty much all of the above, but think the biggest thing we lack is pace throughout our team. Too slow and ponderous, and sadly with Tremarco out the team it is sadly evident we have no leader on the pitch, willing to demand more from the other players

Not often I don’t enjoy our games, but that was turgid. Jordan White is not mobile enough, doesn’t hold it up well enough,  or good enough in the air to play the lone striker role. When we played it long, in the unlikely event of Jordan winning the header, the 2 wide men were 30 yards away front him and not in a position to react. When we got the ball on the ground we did create problems, but didn’t do it often enough. I think we have better players than this, but there again I don’t see them every day in training.

Am I not right in saying Nick has already turned down a short term contract with us, and was hoping to go and play lower league in Spain? Would be good if we could sign him, but doesn't look like he sees any future with us.

Like any new manager Robbo will, and should, be judged on the results after he takes control. I understand some of the scepticism, but in the grand scheme of things we aren't the most attractive of propositions, (finance, crowds, salary, to name 3) how many of the people mentioned would even want to come here? I can't think of getting excited at any of the names linked to the job, so to that end this doesn't put me up or down.We keep being told it's difficult to recruit players to the 'far North' so maybe it's the same issue getting a manager in.

I wish Robbo every success, in the same way I would have done to any incoming manager.

Bottom line Is this was the only sensible decision going forward. Have to separate Foran the player from Foran the manager. As a player was everything you want, quite the opposite as manager.

Lessons to be learned all round, but we have to move on in an upward manner. 

Unfortunately due to mismanagement at both Board level and Management of football side, a lot of people's jobs are at risk.

Have to agree with all of the above re youth development. Growing up , AstroTurf was the surface sold on making first touch and passing better, yet as a country we produce fewer first class players now than we did when kids played on streets and in fields with jackets as posts. I know the game is greatly different now, but kids are over coached from an early age, instead of letting them enjoy and learn to love the game before we get into serious stuff.Do we think Patrick paying £4m for training facilities will produce more talent and better end product than currently? Can't see it myself.

Better end the post as starting to sound like my Dad, and besides, they are away to lock the doors to my care home.

Wow, we are chronically bad. Playing a keeper who looks well less than 100%, and a team selection based on a Wooly pick n mix. I feel sorry for the fans who have made the trip, are being conned at what that are having to watch. The club accepted our fate months ago.

Post match Richie says he is 90% to blame for the position we are in and the players 10%. Much as I admire his honesty, the 10% improving is not going to do much. He has been shown amazing loyalty by the fans, given what has been on offer this year, and any other manager would have made to walk the plank a long time ago. If we want to stay up we need to have a change of manager now, if we want to survive in the championship next year the change needs to be made at the end of the season. Much as I like Richie, he clearly doesn't have it. We are really on the edge of the abyss.

a tad worried by line up.

looks like a team bereft of any width, given Aberdeen have decent wide men, looks a free run at our full backs

Big call whether we play him again this season. Is he really going to be 100% committed to the predicament we are in just now? In our position we need everyone to give 100% to try and save ourselves. Not a go at Tansey but if our survival is to depend on a 50/50 tackle where injury is likely, will he stick his foot in? He isn't playing for his future, that's safely tucked up now.

I don't think we have the personnel to line up 3/5/2 5/3/2, as we don't have an Andy Shinnie or Ryan Christie with pace or guile to break and support in this system. First half was awful, and on couple of times we broke, the midfield were 40 yards behind Billy and Arnier.

First 10 minutes of second half were better, as we had an urgency about us, but once we had the lead, and County were pressing, couldn't understand why we didn't change our shape, at least to make it a bit more difficult for County.

Thought Vigurs was good before he hurt his ankle, although really disappointed with Ian Polworths contribution when he came on. Am a big fan of his but Don't know if it was petted lip time or not, but he doesn't do himself justice with performances like that, he is better than that. Hoped he would want to prove a point, but certainly didn't look like it.

like other posters, am having serious doubts about whether we can save ourselves now. So hope I am wrong.

Thought we started well but lost the goals at key moments. Two decent balls into the box which we were unable to defend. Great to see a bit of fight in our boys and got a point, when you could argue we deserved all three.

Esson was poor and doesn't inspire any confidence  so OFW has to return. Thought our full backs were very good and both put their bodies on line to stop shots etc. I feel Gary Warren has lost half a yard and is being found out of position more than ever before, and on this viewing McCart is very green and not ready for this level yet, and feel we have better options available. 

Going forward we were very good, with the movement of Mckay and Arnier causing problem, but I question the use of Drapes that far up the park. Feel we have better options to play that role, and Drapes could be far more effective in the holding role. Vigurs is ponderous and his lack of urgency when we were 2-0 down really irked me.

in short a good point being 2-0 down, but not seen enough to convince me we will survive. However special mention for the 2 Billy's, they were outstanding today, and Mckay seems even better player than first time around

Can't agree with previous post. Doumbaya may have scored, but guilty of missing 2 gilt edged chances prior to scoring. He was ineffective and any headers he wins, he has no control or no idea where ball is going. Boden held up ball well IMO and brought others into game, but he provided little in way of goal threat. Overall I was disappointed in the performance, and didn't see any reason to be optimistic for the coming weeks.

On another note, the young lads can provide fantastic vocal backing for the team and am generally all for them, but please stop with the flares, and the need to run 50 yards to a segregation fence for a bit of posturing. We as a club are better than that and don't need that kind of behaviour.