Soctty

Confidence, morale, team spirit. Call it what you want, but psychology is a huge factor for players and teams. Livingston managed to keep their team largely together, while strengthening, and with the same coaching staff, and have gone from strength to strength. We lost our manager and assistant, and the replacements we brought in had no real interest in keeping that team spirit in the dressing room, choosing instead to bring in a large amount of new players, many untried at this level. Where we are now is that we have a new guy in charge who understands the psychology of the situation, and knows it takes time to repair players' state of mind. He also knows we don't have the quality required to be as competitive as we'd like. January will be the time to bring in the new recruits required, and the winter break might be the time to start repairing the broken team spirit, if we haven't already begun that process before then. It'll be a scrap to pick up whatever points we can between now and then.

That you exist only to antagonise? Every one of your posts should suffice.

Shame you never grew out of boring people with your pompous lecturing. And I do mean grew out of it.

He's hardly going to come out and say he disagrees with it. As poor a manager as he was, he at least had basic tact and diplomacy in his locker. As stated in my original post, did Murray want Miller as his assistant when he took over? I appreciate you exist only to make feeble attempts to antagonise and have a go at the club/manager/players/fellow supporters, but you really need to attach a modicum of substance to the dross you trot out or you'll continue to have fellow posters point and laugh at you, as I'm doing now...

I agree that we are not going to have the run of form which actually saw us with the best form in the league from 1st February until the end of the season that year, so it is imperative that we are a lot closer than we were at that point in that season come the same point this season, or that we get our transfer business done even earlier in the window. If we can pick up enough points to keep us within a few points of the two or three teams ahead of us, we have a chance. If we find ourselves adrift by 7 or 8 points or more it will be difficult to see us claw it back. However, nothing is impossible.

I can't remember Ian Murray specifically wanting Alex Miller as his assistant when he took over. Miller was appointed by the board over Murray's head, which was the beginning of the end for him. So, there are practically no similarities other than those that exist within your bizarrely constructed mind.

The only one which is different from most clubs of our size in this division is the Technical Director, which is a position the board have created to prevent the scenario we've seen all too often with changes of manager. Remains to be seen what salary Nicholl would be on, given he is also still involved in the Northern Ireland setup, and what kind of contract he has with us. Wouldn't think it'd be a long term deal or particularly lucrative, but I could be wrong. I am also wondering whether Brian Rice will remain longer term or whether Oran has taken time to assess whether he is someone he wants alongside him or whether Nicholl will merely take his place. Once Nicholl is confirmed we will have a better idea of the structure going forward, and possibly what kind of contract he is on. At the end of the day, we've taken on a manager. If we can't back him in making a single appointment he sees as necessary to help then we're surely not being as supportive as we could be.

Kearney knew what he was taking on, and so did we. Seems some of us have shorter memories than others...

What a bizarre post.

This reminds me of the stick Stubbs was getting for bringing in yet another centre mid (his second) earlier in the season. Kearney makes yet another coaching appointment (his first)...

It's up to the manager to keep the players playing the way they have been at home, try to repair the spirit, and we can get that win we've been waiting for. One win can do wonders for morale, of everyone. The manager seems a very positive guy, so hopefully some of that can rub off on the players. The fans have also been great in the games I've been to, but human nature is such that it could change quickly as some get sick of being patient and supportive with nothing concrete to show for it.

I've seen every home game under Kearney, and have been impressed with the competitiveness of the team. We haven't picked up the points our performances have merited, and with a bit of luck could have picked up a few more in those games. Away form seems to be completely different, although I haven't seen those games but the general consensus is that we've been pretty much the opposite away from home to what we have been at home. I think we will once again be competitive on Wednesday night, and with a bit of luck to go with another good home performance, we could pick up three points.

I think one of the things which is holding us back is the attitude of the players. Not that their attitude is bad, more the poor morale, almost expecting to lose every week. Team spirit is almost non existent as well. Getting a good number of new players in could give the squad a lift, and improving the areas which are most needed would improve the potential performance levels. We do need more in midfield, more physicality, and also another central defender as we may not be able to count on Ferdinand being fit every week at his age. A bit more pace up front/on the wings would also help us to counter attack more dangerously. Main thing is that the manager needs to be given the time and resources to enable him to have a chance of turning it around.

I really couldn't care less about a slip of the tongue. Completely irrelevant.

Correct. Morale and team spirit can't be fixed overnight. Patience and support from the fans can help, but more likely a big turnover of players in January will give us a better chance.

Neilson has managed to get a squad who are possibly the highest paid in their division to play to their standard. There really isn't any valid comparison to make with us in the Premiership. He wasn't interested in a job at a club with one of the smallest budgets in the division.

Because of events at a game nearly 40 years ago as far as I can see. Why is drinking permitted at English grounds? Or other grounds in other countries? I don't drink before or after games but I'm not hell bent on preventing others from having the freedom to do so without being classed as alcoholics.

Where has this idea that folk who would like a drink at the football can't go without a drink for a couple of hours? Is the same attitude held against those going to concerts, or to the theatre, or any other entertainment event? All problem drinkers?

OK said in his presser that Anton trained yesterday and they'll make a decision this afternoon about him.

No reason not to allow alcohol to be served before the game and at half time for those who choose to have a drink, but not drinking at your seat during the game. Too many people get on their high horse and this. People drink - that doesn't make them all problem drinkers.

I'm just of the opinion that it's our club, so to continue whinging about every little thing is bizarre as all these little things put money in the coffers. And the distance is an issue because if you live a thousand miles away, chances of getting to a game are limited so seeing via the internet is the only option most of the time. If you live an hour or two's drive away, then it's far easier to get to the odd game if you really wanted to. And before you take umbrage, this isn't directed at you or anyone else, just a plain fact.

Yep...

I haven't seen anywhere near enough of Heaton to make any sort of judgement, but what he lacks more than anything is games. Jack made his debut for us at 18, and has been in and around our first team since not long after turning 19. He is the one who gets the least plaudits and the most criticism of all our youngsters over the last few years, and never shirks responsibility, always comes back determined to improve. Until Heaton gets a number of games under his belt (one would be a bonus) I won't be making a judgement on his ability.

Fair enough. It seems to be the sole reason for you starting your account, so I accept that it is not trivial to you. Some of the people moaning the most live a fraction of the distance you do away and just love a good moan though...

I have used it, and it was fine. Not great quality but allowed me to follow the team when I couldn't be there. And honestly, it is trivial...