The Long Man

An anonymous post, with no details, a 'board' composed of 6 unidentified people, and a vague promise to put things right, whilst appearing not to have a clue who the members are of this organisation. What is your remit to make any announcement at all, and who do you represent? Not the supporters because they have no way of knowing who you are or what you intend to do, especially as they have been shut out and ignored for months, if not years. The whole thing needs scrapped and reformed, with open, identifiable people answerable to their members and supporters. I expect another two to six months of complete silence. Graeme Rae will throw you out on your ear, quite rightly, until a responsible, professional organisation is established.

Some pretty straight talking from Robbo and some scathing assessments of his players' attitude. I hope some of them are listening.

Don't forget about Austin. He looked very promising when we saw him briefly, so I hope if it is injury that is holding him back then he will return soon and fulfil some of that promise.

Great stuff, Robbo, very well said. If the players can't respond to that kind of motivational talk, they should be doing something else.

Another excellent result. The pleasing thing is that Robbo can change things around a bit, and still field a strong team. So he has options from the squad he has built.We have to have a good chance in the replay. Looking forward to Austin getting some game time. The neighbours took another hit today, lol.

Maybe, but a lot of what is reported as such and such a player's wages is speculation, gossip and rumour. And shouldn't be the basis, anyway, of judging a player's merits or otherwise.

We've had this in us for a while - the good passing and movement, just the finishing to improve. Hope this is a sign of things to come. Only 3 points off 4th/5th place. Encouraging.

A thoroughly enjoyable game. As my first look at this team, I came away very impressed. Our league position is false. I was expecting a tough game from Livvy, but not in the way they planned it. That is to say, I expected a good test from the 3rd placed team in terms of football, but all we got from them was physical challenges, fouls, obstruction and blocks. They didn't offer any convincing goal threats, and were set up to park the bus and try to pick up some breaks. For the first twenty minutes we completely outclassed them, bursting forward with waves of attacks, intelligent passing and movement. Doran was at the heart of many of those, and was very unlucky not to make it two with a lovely chip over the keeper which came off the bar. With the dominance we had it was a shame we couldn't get the second we merited. Oakley deserved his place, but was constantly harried and obstructed in a very frustrating way, which was clearly part of their game plan, and so found it very difficult.

The turning point was obviously the sending off, and it was the first utterly needless yellow which led to it. The second was hard to tell with the stramash in the box, but the Livvy defender went down like he had been poleaxed, so another bit of cunning play from them. But even though we expected a second half blitz, they couldn't even manage that, and in fact we had the better chances to make it two, some neat interplay again, a fizzing header cleared off the line. Their goal was always on the cards with an extra man, but the altercation which led to the free kick from which they scored looked like an absurd piece of amateur dramatics. So, even though they spurned a great chance at the death, they were fortunate to get a point, such was the lack of ideas they had, and we very nearly got three points with ten men once again.

The highlight was seeing our new boy, Austin, who was fantastic as soon as he came on. Wanting the ball all the time, when he got it, he wriggled through two or three defenders more than once, and curled a lovely shot saved by the keeper. If he can keep this up, he and Doran will score goals, absolutely no doubt. Very exciting to see we might have a real prospect on our hands.

Overall there was no doubt whatsoever who was the better team. As I said to my mates, this was the best football I have seen us play in a long time, and in particular is a long way better than anything Foran ever served up. Instead of that disjointed, jumbled mess, we had a team who passed the ball creatively and intelligently, ran into spaces, were compact, organised and positionally sound. We can take loads of positives from today, not least as good as two new players, Doran and Austin, who will have lots to contribute this half of the season. There is no reason we can't be in the playoffs, and although I wasn't expecting anything from St Mirren on Saturday, we can go there and give them a real game on this evidence.

The only fly in the ointment was Neil McCann being at the game, who was clearly there not for a day off, but to run the rule on any players he can poach off us. So get lost, Neil.

We are on the way back. But best of all, playing the kind of football we have always played at our best. Well done, Robbo.

Great result. A draw was beginning to look a decent result, to turn it into three points with ten men - excellent.

I think he’ll get better coaching here, and here’s hoping he can recapture the form and goals that had SPL clubs scouting him. Sounds like a good punt to me.

Looking at his bio, he was very promising when Falkirk signed him. It didn’t work out for him there, but the type of player who is young and keen enough to be worth a second chance - it has worked for us before.

Listen to what Robbo said about the pitch. His after match comments are always good value, and honest insight into the team. I particularly like his remarks about January signings where he says he has three earmarked, but will only consider players who are better than what we have already. Some very welcome common sense and practical attitude after the last two dreamers.

Well, people said they wanted a football man on the board. They've got one now!  Good choice.

Fighting talk from Robbo. Love his passionate defence of our team and his integrity. Three cheers for that man!

With all the teams under st mirren taking points off each other, if we get a reasonable haul of points we could be well placed for the second half of the season. Here’s hoping.

Interesting that Robbo is talking about losing two or three players in January and bringing in one or two. Sounds like good management to me that we have kept our options open, aren't stuck with players we don't need and can improve the squad. Should be a very interesting second half of the season.

Really good night's work, especially with the other results. Keep this up and we will gradually pull ourselves up to near the top five, so to be thereabouts with the second half of the season still to come would be very satisfying after the tricky start we had. Well done, Robbo.

I take it that's sarcasm, and I think directed at Hughes who acted like a salesman on every post match interview.

Give it a rest, it's ancient history now,. Amazing people are still banging on about it. Robbo knows us since our formation, and that's fine. As it should be.There is no agenda.

I'm up for that. How short are you?

I'd love to have him back, but he is getting Premier League wages, so it is probably unlikely, and understandable if he had reservations about coming back here after the way he was treated.

Robbo's positivity is great, and very persuasive. Good to hear.

12 hours ago, Caley Stan said:

Rae's won me over with the dolphin analogy.

Yes, hard not to warm someone who sees our club in the context of our dolphins. What a marketing opportunity!  We've got dolphins, you've not. 

Well done, that man. 

Just don't follow in the footsteps of your predecessor who got MoM around this time last year. Lol, only joking, I think. 

The problem was it wasn't 'factual'.