Second Bottom, time to change things!

[Guest Get_off_the_park_Wyness!]

Ian Black... Dear oh dear, what has happened to 'the king'? Early on last season he was looking like a superstar, for the past few months he's been a shadow of his former self, a headless chicken, like Mark McAllister in disguise. He seems to have gotten it into his head that he's a hardman, and constantly plays up to this role. (wee man syndrome perhaps?) We don't need a liablity like him in the middle of the park. His temperament apart, when is the last time he had a good game? You wouldn't exactly call him a talented playmaker (let alone a 'Scotland future' player) from what you've seen of him this season would you? It's been all aggression and no brains. The lad needs to het his head sorted out before he becomes the new Sandy Robertson. He shouldn't expect to get his place back after his suspension, a kick up the *rse is exactly what he needs. (I suggest his new nickname should be Buckie, because he's been playing like a ned)

Ritchie Hart deserves to start in the attacking midfield slot, the number of headers and tackles he wins in phenomenal, he's the kind of player opponents hate to play against, a real battler, and tricky to defend against. Unlike Blackie he doesn't give away a dozen stupid fouls per game. He also gives us a sound return of goals and assists.

John Rankin hasn't done the business at all. He never wins any headers, he can't tackle, he rarely does any covering (count how many times Barry Wilson busts a gut getting back in comparison) and never does anything remotely skillful or creative with the ball. Morgan is a much sturdier player out there, he holds the ball superbly and combines well with Hastings on the overlap, plus he's a much better crosser, and set piece taker.

Roy McBain should be played in the midfield anchor slot, he's the kind of experienced, level headed, intelligent, 'switched on' player that we need in there to pull the strings.

Graeme Bayne has improved over the last few months, and he always gets stuck in, but he's not a 90 minute player for me. He's at his best coming on with 20 minutes to go, rattling tired defenders and causing havock. He always does a job for us in this role and that's how he should be utilized to best effect.

Dennis Wyness... Has he had an operation off season and changed his name to Denise? Because he's been playing like a girl!

Gary McSwegan.... Signed as cover for injured Wyness, but takes longer to get match fit than Denise! But he's still a class player, and I'd like to see him in there when he finally get's fit.

Rory McAllister should be given a run of games. He's shown promising touches when he's played and may improve exponentially with first team football. With the other strikers off colour, he deserves a chance.

[CaleyD]

If you check the league table again you'll find we are 9th and nearer to 3rd place than we are to 12th in terms of points and Goal Diff.  The true fact of the matter is that everyone is taking points off everyone else in the league this year and apart from Celtic, nobody is creating a safe top 6 position for themselves yet.

With the possible exception of Motherwell who seem to be having an absolute howler of a season so far a top 6 is there for any of the other teams to take and there is a long way to go yet so no need for panic or wholesale changes to the team.

[tm4tj]

Fair points GOTPW

Black does need to mature in the mental attitude, and Rankin for me has not started yet.

Wyness was off the boil, but he definitely has the skill to turn a game, something we do lack.

Still, dubbing us as 2cnd bottom is a bit unfair/

[Alex MacLeod]

I actually thought Rankin had a very good game yesterday. Agree about Black though.

[us2]

A win at home this saturday will send us back in the right direction :clapping04:

Would like to see Hart start as we felt he played very well on Saturday when he came on. Both subs played very well. :notworthy01:

[Scotty]

Would like to see Hart start as we felt he played very well on Saturday when he came on.

Radio commentators made the point that the team performed a lot better when Hart came on. I will defer to those who were actually at the game, but it sounded like he did enough to get on from the start this weekend.

[Alex MacLeod]

I've always believed Richie should get a start but not on the wing. He's much better in the centre.

[kaiser]

I've always believed Richie should get a start but not on the wing. He's much better in the centre.

..hey thats fine but most of our midfield would prefer to play , and are probably better in the centre - if we had someone offering something different out wide then perhaps the centre wouldn't be requiring tweaked as often as it is...

Just a thought.

[Dmacca]

If we could get back to back wins on the board things would look a whole lot better, that is all it takes and obviously could be achieved in 8 days.....seems simple really !!