Got a few points I'd like to make about yesterdays game and unfortunately a couple of things that concern me.
Firstly Hearts look a good side and they'll take points off everyone this season.....they're big, physical and extremely well organized and have a bit of quality with 2 good strikers(Sutton, Kyle) a skillful player in Taoul (sp?) and a fine winger in Templeton so no real shame in drawing with them.
As for us my heart sank when I saw Edu in the line-up.......the guys garbage and to see Ally obviously rating him enough to not only play him but ruin the balance of the midfield just to accommodate him is frightening.
Walter Smith was a fantastic manager for us.....a true legend but 2 things about his tenure did annoyed me........one was his regularly playing guys out of position and the other was his reluctance to change things........no matter the performance it was 70mins before a sub.
Yesterday Ally played Ortiz, who is all right foot on the left wing.......OK worth a try but it obviously didn't work, we could all see that long before halftime so why the f uk wait 70mins to change it???
The last thing is our scouting.........Durrant and I think McDowwell both watched Ortiz in the flesh and reported he was very quick....Ally said in an interview last week he was very quick.........after 5mins of the game I and everyone else could see he has no pace whatsoever........I don't pretend to have a great eye for a player but surely it's easy to tell if a guys quick or not!!!
I don't mean to overreact because we put in a lot of performances like that over the last few very successful seasons and we'll undoubtedly improve but those were the things that struck me about the game.
Thoughts and concerns
posted on 24/7/11
The only reason he wasnt quick was because he was trying to cut in, Edu was one of our better players yesterday.
Yes I agree he needs to improve considerably, but looking at him I think he would be better suited as a foward than a defensive midfielder.
posted on 24/7/11
Clear as day that Ortiz wasn't comfortable hitting the byline and crossing on the left. From the stand I could see that taking off Edu (who I have to disagree that he was good yesterday, I thought he was abysmal) for Wylde and putting Davis in the middle, Wylde left and Ortiz right was the way to play it.
Obv we aren't anywhere near panicking about it but these were my observations yesterday.
Also, I kno he won't play every week but Kirk is God awful and yesterday highlighted the crucial need to sign central defenders, quick.
posted on 24/7/11
Papa
Totally agree about Kirk, shocking at CH but that's not really a worry as we're going to sign a couple.
Edu had 3 chances to slip players in when we were on a break and dithered too long on the ball each time........players were making runs but he was too slow getting the pass away and off-side every time.
Happy to give Ortiz a run of games on the right but he did run McGowan a couple of times and even when he had a yard start he was easily run down.........he's slow.
posted on 24/7/11
Yeah I agree Ortiz is definitely not the 'speedy winger' we were told we were getting. Templeton on the other hand IS exactly that and is possibly a player we could hav attempted to sign for that wide left position.
Edu gets caught on the ball too much, man marks space without running down the ball or picking up a man, he's useless anda hindrance to the team.
I agree about Kirk as well, not a major issue coz he's never gonna be 1st choice but it shows up the current frailty of the squad in that area when he's getting near the team due to one suspension.
On a positive note Naisy and Jela could be a great partnership given a run up top and with Davis behind them he could be a great linkup.
posted on 24/7/11
Broadfoot is decent cover for right-back at best. Whittaker needs do the simple things better. I think the fact jig was not captain will tell you his place is not a given. Edu was decent yesterday and yes i think he is more comfortable going forward. We need some more craft in the team and a dominating centre half or two. I would try bougherra at right back.
posted on 24/7/11
I have to say I wasn't happy at all with the lineup.
If Ally truly thinks that's our strongest lineup he needs his head checked.
McCulloch and Edu should NEVER play together in the middle. They are both battling midfielders. One of them at most should be in the side if at all. Personally I'd have Davis and Ness in the middle, Wylde on the left and maybe Ortiz on the right.
Why you would put a slowish right footer on the left when there's an eager young fast left footed winger in the squad is beyond me.
I don't mean to overreact but as someone above said if we could all see things weren't working why did it take to so deep in the second half for Ally to change things.
I know it's only the first game but the fact Ally set the team up like that on the first day makes you think he thinks it's the strongest team available, IMO it's nowhere near it.
posted on 24/7/11
Very true Wylde has pace to burn and is the best crosser of the ball at the club. Yesterday was frustrating. Ally will get it right. Ness and Davis in the middle. I also like Hutton.
posted on 24/7/11
Alistair in the stands in a suit, and it all goes to shoite on the pitch. Worry less about your appearance and concentrate on the team. Its early days, and i'd say theres a couple more signings.
No need to fret.
Yet.
posted on 24/7/11
I totally agree with this post and about Walter's failings in particular. I was hoping to see the end of the players all over the park situation and the sub situation.
I will back our manager and club, but as someone once said in a Galaxy far away 'I have a bad feeling about this'...