Robert

We got the job done, which was the main thing seeing what happened in some other games.

I thought we started well and were trying to utilise the pace of Samuel, but after the early disallowed goal by Doran, we reverted to slow build up play and taking passes when shots were on for most of the first half. Gilmour’s goal was needed as otherwise the first half would have been one of our worst 45s this season.

We showed a bit more urgency at the start of the second half and should have been 2 up with the penalty. I felt the red was a bit harsh but he was wresting with Doran for about 10 yards! Samuel’s kick was saved comfortably but he made amends a short time later with Carragher getting the assist.

We failed to capitalise until the late double from Brooks added gloss to the score line. MacKay also pulled off one fine save to maintain the clean sheet.

We started as a 3 5 2 with Duffy and Longstaff as wing backs, with all of Anderson, Carson and Gilmour in central midfield. We switched to 4 at the back late on after Ujdur went off, with Longstaff at left back. He did ok, but I felt Duffy was the more dangerous of the wide players. Carson had a quiet first half but made some decent passes after the break.

It was good to see Doran and MacGregor get game time, along with Samuel and Brooks being amongst the goals.

So job done with a good result after a largely unconvincing performance.

HT 2-0

FT 4-0

ICT Doran

Broomhill Grehan

Crowd 937

29 minutes ago, Satan said:

11 career goals. 

He scored 10 (not counted in the 11) in this season’s North of Scotland Cup, albeit against lower standard teams, but maybe lack of game time has held him back? Time will tell. 

Hopefully just what we need to compliment Mckay up front.

I wonder if County would lend us Henderson too, as he’s not had much game time either. That would be ironic after them (allegedly but from a very good source) telling St Mirren they’d pay them £10k more than anything we could offer when they signed him last summer. 

On 12/29/2023 at 10:52 AM, BobbyDazzler said:

Peter Pawlett wasn't on trial. Will Baynham and Callum Haspell from Rothes have been training with the club and played against NCFC according to rumours 

Haspell has joined Queens Park  who paid a fee to Rothes apparently. 

7 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

So why has all contact with or from fan organisations been ended. Is that acceptable ?

In fairness one of the Board, Scott Young, attends the Open Meetings organised by the Supporters Trust and does his best to answer questions from the fans attending. 

14 minutes ago, Huisdean said:

Welsh had made it clear he didn't want to play for the club again and everything had to go through him from the club. Good servant as he was, the club cannot be dictated to by a player in this manner.

I fully agree with the club not being dictated to by a player, but would be very interested in the cause of Welsh not wanting to play for us again. 

1 hour ago, tm4tj said:

By my calculations, these are the only players capable of first team action unless I've missed anyone.

19 fit players, 2 goalkeepers, 6 defenders, 4 midfielders, 5 forwards and 2 youth. 2 of these on loan

Mark RIDGERS - Cameron MACKAY

Nikola UJDUR - James CARRAGHER - Danny DEVINE - Morgan BOYES (loan) - Jake DAVIDSON - Wallace DUFFY

Max ANDERSON (loan)
David CARSON
Cameron HARPER
Charlie GILMOUR

Aaron DORAN
Luis LONGSTAFF
Nathan SHAW
Adam BROOKS
Billy MCKAY

Roddy MACGREGOR (injured)
Lewis NICOLSON (injured)
Austin SAMUELS (injured)
Harry LODOVICA (injured)
Keith BRAY (youth)
Robbie THOMPSON (youth)

MacGregor has been on the bench recently so we can probably treat him as available for match days. 

2 hours ago, MacOne said:

I have it from players directly that he has been running the team, and club down at every opportunity this season.  Add in the FACT he has played very few games for us whilst drawing a wage, this is the best decision made by the new manager so far.

If true, we don’t know the reasons.

I did hear that the club wrapped him in cotton wool towards the end of last season so he was available for the cup final as he was carrying an injury that could have been resolved so he was available for the start of this season.

I don’t know if that is factual or not, but it sounds like he was wanting to return to the central belt given his house sale but maybe he was unable to do so in the summer due to the injury?

Personally I am sorry to see him move on as, when fit, he was one of our best players. I accept the views of others that his many injuries meant it was time for him to move on.

I do remain concerned that we seem to incur more injuries than most other clubs and whether that is due to our recruitment or some internal reason with our training regime.

1 hour ago, MacOne said:

 

 

 

Any facts here, or are you all looking for jobs with The Sun? lol

Not allowing the podcasters access to players is one factual example. 

17 minutes ago, old caley girl said:

Hiya Scot.....

Oh and BTW no communications from anyone on the non playing side is allowed without his say so. 

Or from players by all accounts. 

Looking at our League results this season, goals we have conceded from the 80th minute onwards have cost us 10 points.

We let teams come on to us too much late in games too often and it is showing in our results and league position.

Noted today were Sean Welsh for Queens Park (typical!), Ross Draper for Elgin and Nathan Austin for East Fife.

In the Highland League, Garry Wood scored for Banks O’Dee. 

Losing to another late goal was a sickener as I thought we were the better team on the night.

As others have said, we took the safe option too often and as a result didn’t make best use of our wingbacks.

Shaw and Longstaff are out of position when we play with 3 (or 5) at the back, which doesn’t let them be as creative as they can be.

On a positive, if we can maintain that level of performance against other teams and be prepared to shoot on goal we should survive ok. Just a pity it’s Raith in our next league game.

As said on another thread, Sean Welsh has been a great servant to the club, but sadly the last few seasons have been blighted by injury so we’ve not seen that much of him.

He deserves our appreciation for what he was able to contribute during his time here. 

Matthew Strachan’s loan to Brora has been extended to the end of the season. 

2 minutes ago, Satan said:

Think Rams' been gone for a while now.

Yes, he moved to Gloucester City. 

25 minutes ago, Joonya said:

Queens Park closing in on Sean Welsh, according to the Daily Record.

Big Dunc allowing him to leave.

That might explain why he’s not been restored to the captaincy.

I know he’s struggled with injuries, but when fit he’s always been a strong asset to the team.

I will be sorry to see him go if the move goes through. 

Kelty @ 1.66 please. 

HT 1-1

FT 2-1

ICT Billy Mckay

United Watt

Crowd 2835

2 hours ago, BobbyDazzler said:

Jamie Carragher son, James on loan from Oldham 

This got a mention during the sports news on Reporting Scotland just now.

Hes only played one EFL Trophy match for Wigan this season so not sure how big an impact he will make.

Hopefully his father keeps name dropping us to raise our profile. 

Two for Rory McAllister and one for Jack Brown for Peterhead last night. 

Ethan Cairns has joined Banks O’Dee on loan after spending the last few months at Forres.

1 hour ago, STFU said:

Even if he was fit I wouldn't want him playing given the circumstances.

I agree.

It wouldn’t be fair to anyone, Wotherspoon, us or United, for him to be put in that position.

I wonder when the club will confirm he is moving on…..?

It’s confirmed that David Wotherspoon will be joining Dundee United when his short term contract with us expires early next week.

Unfortunate but inevitable given his performances and his family being in that area.

Story here:

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-united/4859686/dundee-united-sign-david-wotherspoon-st-johnstone/