Mainstand Sweary Mob

I'm getting impatient (and I know is shouldn't), but I really want us to address sooner rather than later the real lack of pace. This would make me feel easier with how things are as it's is really really missing. You can see JG wanted to address it as he was wanting o'halloran during the summer, who has pace. This was after the likes of Connolly was going as I'm sure he was looking for higher wage and more game time from down south. Guess players with Pace, especially with a lot of teams now adopting some for of this 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 type stuff are looking for fast players to play wide. If Kennedy was fit, did he have pace? Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

I am just trying to get in the head of Jim and what they could add and how they could fit in. If he is sticking to this system, do you think they would work in a 3-4-2-1? With their pace since we miss out the midfield with the current tactics? The 2 behind the striker sitting wider adding in the pace we need, but also being the players the long ball is going to, so they can use their pace to get onto these balls? This would also allow the striker to actually stay more central as at the moment they are dragged out wide constantly. This could potentially allow the wing backs to overlap? Allow Tanser to get his crosses in? This will look shite while trying to explain. Below I have taken out McGrath as could be away (and wouldn't you want to if missing the midfield out.) -----------------Alnwick------------------ Fraser - Shaughnessy - Dunne Millar -- Power - Ronan -- Tanser ------Wright --------------- Kennedy -------------------Brophy------------------- This would allow the striker to play as a target man in the middle. If long diagonal ball, this allows the pace to run on to them. On the kick out with the wing backs playing so high this would then look like Millar------------------------------- Tanser --------Wright-----------------Kennedy -------------------Brophy----------------- The tactic to kick up to Tanser to head on is ok, but we need more options if this is the system. Again just trying to see how the pace could work and if we are missing the middle out. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

I feel we have given maybe higher wages this season that all budget is currently locked in on current players. We need them to leave to get players in. Also with the lack of game time and visibility of what they can do, who would take a punt on taking Erwin or Dennis off our hands knowing what they could offer their teams? I'm worried that the teams in the bottom half of the table with us all have someone who seems to be able to bank roll them potentially out of their issues and we don't. If McGrath goes we need it sooner so we can get in some creativity and pace that we really really need. The next focus needs to then be to get rid of the forward deadwood and get in someone that can make a difference. I thought when he first signed Main might do a turn as looked to trouble defenders. Sadly at times when he gets man handled, he is so strong he gets f**k all for it. After all the game time, he isn't the answer. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

I just live in hope we can find someone who can score goals that plays up front. [emoji1787] Need rid of Main, Dennis and Erwin. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Read this morning that Beerschot are looking to offload Shankland. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/lawrence-shankland-puts-spfl-clubs-25889060 Would people think we should take another chance on him? Would he be better or worse than the likes of Main, Dennis or Erwin? Did he play for Utd this season that would mean he couldn't play for any other Scottish club this season apart from them as will have already played for 2 clubs already? Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Damn shame as he has a bright future. Ball going through him is when we have played well. I was just living in hope. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Cheers for that. Couldn't remember. Could be he wants to sort that position out asap in case. Kinda like signing Kiltie as a replacement for McGrath (though I don't see that comparison now). Anyone know if Ronan was a loan to buy as that would be great ( if we had decent money) [emoji1787] Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

I'm sure I read on the signing of Power that he was more of a number 8 than a number 6. Is it maybe looking at playing Gogic as the 6? Also is power out of contract this summer and JM wanted Gogic way before power ever signed? Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Players JG has openly tried to chase or admired were Gogic and Kennedy. I also thought he was an admirer of Hakeem Odoffin when he was at Accies as he could play defensive mid and CB. Though he then signed for Rotherham. Personally I would take them all if we could and if they were all fit: Kennedy would add width and pace we need. Gogic is same as Goodwin was when he was playing i feel. We have missed that. Odoffin would allow to not be 3 at the back and allow to go 4 at the back and in attack would allow him to make it a back 3 if need be. Make the formation a bit more fluid. Just need someone who offers something different upfront as well. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Same as others I feel getting rid of the deadwood would be good. I think we need to look to shake things up in the striker department and I really feel we need pace and width. I would like us to have variation in the squad when things are not working with the 3-5-2 or 3-6-1. I find the current set up does pulls the striker or strikers wide and out of position as we are quite narrow. Where you get a decent cross in from Tanser, there is no striker there to get on the end of it. I also find Millar very limited in skill and can't cross a ball. With the diagonal long balls we bypass the full midfield, again dragging our strikers out of position. I would like us to maybe try 4-5-1 as this would allow us to get a bit more with. It would allow us to then maybe get a bit of overlap in the wide areas. This might let us go back to being solid like last season in defence. As last season it was scoring that was the issue. With the 4-5-1 you are able to use the CDM to slip back when needed to make it 5 at the back. When attacking can go to more of a 4-3-3. This would allow width, keep the striker central and allow overlaps wide. You could play Tanser as the winger, but not the left back as he is more attacking. The need would then be a left back or get Tait there. Fraser was good I thought last season at right back, so the need would be someone right footed to play the right winger role. If we sell McGrath you could then have a central midfield 3 of Power, Ronan and Kiltie maybe or you could go Reid, Power and Ronan as I feel Reid has been great in the CDM role when I have seen him and for some reason Ethan is not playing. I don't think we will get rid of Main. He frustrates me as because he is so big, he doesn't get any free kick even when he is man handled. Shame Brophy is injured. Only way we get another striker in would be Erwin and Dennis going then. I think we need someone then who brings something different. Someone tall that can get on the end of a cross would be good. All my opinion and all shite and rambling on, but feel we need options to change. That's what I could worked last season as we didn't always play the same formation. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Not bad as missing strikers that can't score and midfielder that Hoofball bypasses anyway. [emoji23][emoji1787] Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

Is the fact this has come up again is potentially because this is a way that Jim could get Kennedy, who he has wanted for some time? Can Kennedy not play wide, which is something we have really missed this season, width, as the wing backs have to cover a lot of ground and the hoof ball into corner areas means the strikers are the ones dragged out of position? Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

My issues with today's game. The system and formation don't work against teams who have width and pace. Boyle (diving scum) and Cadden are both quick players. We are weak on counter attacks. This is due a lot yesterday I felt the the hoofball and the ball spending a lot of time in the area. Millar is a weird player. Thought he was coming in to help balance the teams with pace. I don't find him to be that fast. His first touch is rubbish and can't seem to cross a ball. Tanser can deliver a decent cross and with Hoofball the ball up to him he can win the knock on, but found him shit out of tackles a couple times. I don't see the point in the 6 in the middle as Hoofball cancels them out a lot. To bring them in the game you have to play it on the deck. Hoofball pulls the "striker" out of position lots. With the ball making its way to Tanser, when he crossed it in, there was no one really threatening as they were out of position. If we had more defenders I'd play Joe up there now FFS. Last season we seemed to change the formation depending on the opposition. This season it's the same no matter.... And doesn't work a lot when they figure it out. Width is a huge issue and we are weak on counter attacks. With Hoofball I feel we would be better to play a 4-3-3 with Hoofball. You can bypass the middle as we seem to like to. Hoof up to the wings, you would have then overlap that could help out and middle could cover space that is left exposed? Means might keep a "striker" central? People keep calling for Dennis getting more time, but not sure he is the answer. Is Erwin shit in the air? Could stay central to put a head on it? In the front 3 could you have likes of main doing what Jim wants him to do the now? I don't know how it can be fixed or not. Just not working. Sent from my IN2023 using Tapatalk

A fair few times the ball was at their feet tonight and they didn't do much either.

I think that can work if the non creative mids can place a pass. It also can work if wing backs can take a man on with the ball at feet and your attacking players can also take a man on with the ball at feet. Otherwise the issue ends up being long balls hoping that the attacking players can get to it. For the formation of the 3-4-2-1 to work you need: 3 CBs that are strong and have a bit of pace. 1 CDM who is there to cut the passing and do the digging. 1 Box to Box mid who can work hard. Need wing backs with a lot of stamina who can play both ends of the park AND take a man on with ball at feet rather than looking for someone to off load it to, then make the run off the ball ALL the time. The 2 more attacking mids need to be able to control the ball well, take a man on. You then need a striker with a bit of everything; got pace to burn, strong enough to hold his own to hold the ball up for the 2 attacking mids to link up and run through, able to creat goals from nothing and eye for goal. The problem is (and this is where I agree with you) with our budget we can only get players who maybe could do 1 element of what we need them to do in that system, which makes it frustrating at times.

I would hope with Ronan and McGrath then we try keeping it on the deck and using the midfield instead of going with the route one we have so far this season. These boys should be able to help get the ball up the park with pace. Excited to see this play out as hope we get it up Utd.

Thanks to you both@jaybee@FTOF for your input. I waffled on a lot. I agree with you both. I feel if we stuck with how we were set up the start this season might not have been as bad. I think the fact new and old players with a new system does take time. I also believe we were missing some key positions being filled before the start. I feel as we were hoofing the ball up, we were missing someone in the middle to take to ball and help move it up the park and dictate play. I hope that is Ronan from the chats of him in articles. I hope Millar brings the pace we have missed in Connolly, but brings the added engine and defence. I like the idea of 352. Can be very versatile and attacking if have the right people. I feel at times to help with width the strikers are pulled out to aid the wing backs, but not then got the drive coming from the middle to move into the space left. I feel that was why he had McGrath and Kiltie on to do that, but wasn't working. I think the middle needs someone to cut the passes and dig in like power. It needs a box to box that I hope Ronan can be. Finally needs an attacking threat that is McGrath. I also feel to help not drag both strikers out, McGrath could be an option what ever side the Ball is at, to go support the wing back and allow them to overlap with him, he can then slink back to middle at the edge of the box. Waffling again. I do like Jim a lot. Was my favourite player back in his playing days. I hope it all works out and it clicks for us like it did for St. Johnstone and we can push on higher again. I like that we didn't just jump for anyone (that Hibs deal I'm not sure where Wright would have fit in) and we have got Miller who should fit the system.

Not being arsey or anything, but I would like to know your thoughts on what don't agree with? I like to hear others thoughts in a respectful debate. I was waffling on in the post you quoted, but trying to see the difference to last season and with the new set up. What I liked about last season is the back 4 were very solid. I felt our issue, like most teams not Celtic, Rangers or Hibs was attack and goal scoring. I was hoping with Fraser signing on that the defence side was secure and we would look at the attack more. I think for me the thing that has unsettled everything wasn't just new signings having to fit in with an existing bunch of players, but the existing bunch having to try fit in to a new system too with the 352. I do feel we haven't filled Durmas or a striking options that brings something different (goals would be good haha).

Got the 3 of ours today. Hopefully they works on Saturday. I cannot wait for the Utd game. Cards easier to remember than paper barcode, catering is open to introduce my son to a pie and bovril and after speaking to him Marcus Fraser is going to come to the barrier when warming up to allow my son to thank him for his signed boots. The wee man is very excited for this and to show him his Fraser 22 top.

You got your card through? I haven't got anything yet. Hopefully before get it before the game at the weekend.

We have been played with wing backs so far this season and Flynn is t getting a look in. He also I wouldn't class as having pace TBH either. I do wish he was getting some time on the pitch as Erhahon is very inconsistent and I think Flynn could potentially help link play in the middle instead of playing Hoofball

G'day Matthew. This is exactly what we needed. Gives us pace and width down the right. Can play right back, right wing back and right mid. Fantastic signing that we are lucky was on the free market.

If the rumours are true and we are signing Matt Millar this is a step in the right direction if we are set to play 3-5-2 system. What I know about Millar is he can play right back but seems more natural at getting forward like a right wing back. He might not be incredibly creative but has pace, which we really need, he seems to be able to get forward and can cross a ball in. He seems to have a good engine as well to continually get forward and back. Likes to get forward like Tanser does, so would hope this balance the side out and gets us what we have needed (pace), but fits the system we are playing now. My take on it, but last season was pretty good finish, but this was playing with what was a soild 4 at the back formation. I like the signing for people that can play multiple positions as should then allow for th eformation to change depending if at home or away or depending on the other teams set up. Early days yet to see if this will happen as we continue with 3-5-2 no matter what. What we lost from last season and have found replacements for: LWB - Mason = Tanser CM Doyle-Hayes = Ronan ST - Obika = Main CDM - Sheron/Foley = Power Lost and potentially signing a replacement to fit the system: RM - Connolly = Matthew Millar (RWB/RB) Potentially going & replacement: CAM - McGrath = Kiltie Players we are yet to replace: Durmas Quaner/Morias We then needed maybe 2 more in to build on last season's form, but to either fit this system or to allow the ability to change it up. Needs not met: * Pace/Creativity - LWB/LM/LW * either/or Tall/Strong/Fast Striker What we could look like if Millar comes in (Starter / Backups) 3-5-2 GK - Alnwick / Lyness / Urminský RCB - Fraser / Finlayson CCB - Shaughnessy / McCarthy LCB - Dunne / RWB - Millar / Henderson LWB - Tanser / Tait CDM - Power / Erhahon / Reid CM - Ronan / Flynn CAM - McGrath / Kiltie / McAllister ST - Brophy / Dennis ST - Main / Erwin 4-5-1 GK - Alnwick RB - Fraser RCB - Shaughnessy LCB - Dunne LB - Tait CDM - Power RM - Millar CM - Ronan CM - McGrath LM - Tanser ST - Main 4-2-3-1 GK - Alnwick RB - Fraser RCB - Shaughnessy LCB - Dunne LB - Tait CDM - Power CDM - Ronan RAM - McAllister CAM - McGrath LAM - Kiltie ST - Main 4-4-2 GK - Alnwick RB - Fraser RCB - Shaughnessy LCB - Dunne LB - Tait RM - Millar CM - Power CM - McGrath LM - Tanser ST - Brophy ST - Main

Top printed today with my son's favourite player name and number. Cannot wait for him to see it. Looks great. The guys in the shop have made the place look great and the service/experience is top dollar.

Yeah there are. My brother bought my son some.