Thoughts for the coming season.
Since January we've lost probably the three players we had who could get a goal out of nothing and change a game for us.
Maybe we got decent money for them but there's no way we have the players to replace them.
Which makes the manager's role even more important.
How he picks his team, his tactics and how he motivates them.
Unfortunately based on the last six months Jackie doesn't inspire me in any of the areas.
We don't have a first choice keeper which is a worry for me.
Rado might have let in some howlers but he did the business as well at times.
We definitely need a settled back four which looks like being MacGowan, Morris, Durnan and Dixon.
Not the best defence we've ever had.
If he sticks as likely with 2, 3, 1 in front of them then probably Rankin and Souter.
No idea who the 3 and the 1 would be.
I really don't think we have the quality of player to play that system and hope the manager sees what he has in pre-season and picks a system to suit the players.
I'd love a helping of humble pie but I see a long hard season ahead with a struggle to make the top 6.
I can even see a struggle to avoid the bottom 2.
Hows that for Mr Happy before the season's started.
Ivan et al ( sorry Hobo ).
posted on 8/7/15
OSB, Thought I'd come on and cheers you up but the news is bad.
Last season you scored 58 goals in the premiership.
GMS 5
SA 6
NC 14
=25
25 from 58 = 33
So in raw stats you would at least have scored more goals than St. Mirren (30) who went down, but you would indeed struggle. But hey ho some other players will take their place and surely score goals? Even just another 8 would have bettered Motherwell (38).
So cheer up it's not all doom & gloom.
posted on 8/7/15
At present, I'd guess our team to be:
Szromnik
McGowan Durnan Morris Dixon
Rankin Souttar
Dow Erskine Spittal
Muirhead
Bench: Zwick, Dillon, Paton, Telfer, Connolly, Bilate, Anier (or Murray)
Goalkeeper is a bit iffy but if the players play to their potential, then that is not a bad squad. As you said, there are serious doubts over McNamara's ability to get players to play to their potential. The likes of Erskine and Dow have shown themselves to be very handy players at times, but then they go missing for weeks. In McNamara's first year he looked like a great motivator, then it all fell apart for whatever reason. We need another strong start to this season or the pitchforks will be out rather quickly considering the way we ended last season.
I don't think we'll be anywhere near relegation, but it could be a scrap for top 6. If that happens, let's just hope Dundee overspend again and we can pinch their manager for cheap.
posted on 8/7/15
Ah! you read my mind. So is that who your alternative manager wound be? Hartley, another ex celt Have you not learned your lesson? .
So this how it works you send us good players and we send you 'developing' managers?
posted on 8/7/15
I'd probably give him a wash and a shave first and it'd be mostly to annoy Dundee, but yes.
posted on 8/7/15
Jimbo,
As the stats man, when you have minute can you tell us how many of the 33 goals had assists from SA, GMS and NC.
Hobo,
I can't see many goals from that team.
There's no obvious choice for the automatic relegation place and if we get off to a bad start I can see us being in the mix at the wrong end of the table.
Erskine sometimes looks a half decent player but just a wee bit short of making it.
If he's going to play Spittal find a position for him and play him there and we'll see if he can hack it.
Telfer too must be as ready now as he's going to be for the first team and after paying £200k on him we need to find out if he's going to make it.
posted on 8/7/15
Can't help with further stats I just Wkid's that stuff. But you mentioned Telfer I thought he was a good prospect but you have him as a sub?
posted on 8/7/15
He was mostly a sub last season. It's pretty much a toss-up between him, Connolly and Spittal for that third midfield spot. Spittal seemed to have it towards the tail end of last season, so I assume he'll keep it for the moment.
posted on 8/7/15
Some decent players in there DH. Suppose a lot will depend on how they come back from the break, how they do in pre season stuff. But Ivan's concerns always revolve around Jackie's selections - stupid TBH and formations, lack of ability to change tactics during games. It's a shame, I loved him as a player at Celtic (& Simon) but he seems to be struggling as a manager.
posted on 8/7/15
posted on 9/7/15
I can't say I disagree with the OP to be honest.
I have genuine concerns about Jackie and how he's going to manage this. What I will say is that with the players we have he simply can't continue with the formation and tactics we used last season. They won't work with the personnel we have. Our lack of pace going forward makes it simply impossible to play the way we have done.
Although I wasn't there, I believe the team (albeit a development team) played something more like a 442 against Arbroath during the week there. I'm not necessarily saying that 442 is the answer, but if it suits what we have then that's what we should use.
The keeper situaiton worries me and from whispers I hear it might be that we start with Zwick, the German guy who was an amateur with us last season. We'll wait and see.
As for seasonal aspirations....I genuinely fear that Dundee will finish above us this season. In fact, if we enter the season with what we have now, then I expect that to happen. Bottom 6 awaits.