Mcgowan Up Front

[Desnold]

Where does this notion come from that Thompson cannot be arsed?

I sat and watched the Kilmarnock match and he won almost every high ball that came in his general direction. With the best will in the world, the guy can't be expected to win a ball in the air and then knock it on to himself to create a goal scoaring chance from.

I think the whole legend/hero/God status thing is probably hanging very heavily round his neck just now. You talk about the level of expectation placed on Bahoken following on from Isma, but I also think there is huge expectation on Thompson following on from his heroics last season. I would have been astounded if he could have picked up from where he left off.

In common with all of his team-mates, Thompson's head is down. For me, that does NOT equate to him not being arsed. There is only so much that it is reasonable to expect the player to do.

I don't think it's so much that he can't be arsed, but maybe more that his tank is low. A couple of times we were unable to attack quickly as he was walking back to the halfway line to get onside after having challenged their keeper.

[Drew]

I don't think it's so much that he can't be arsed, but maybe more that his tank is low. A couple of times we were unable to attack quickly as he was walking back to the halfway line to get onside after having challenged their keeper.

I wouldn't disagree with that assessment.

[buddie]

I don't think it's so much that he can't be arsed, but maybe more that his tank is low. A couple of times we were unable to attack quickly as he was walking back to the halfway line to get onside after having challenged their keeper.

Yep, fair enough! Maybe just needs a goal to get going? Off topic a bit, DL should have 2 players practising free kicks in training. For me Grainger and Teale should be given the FK duties. Granted, Graingers have been poor so far but he certainly has the ability. Even if they scored 2/3 in a season it could make all the difference.

[Desnold]

Yep, fair enough! Maybe just needs a goal to get going? Off topic a bit, DL should have 2 players practising free kicks in training. For me Grainger and Teale should be given the FK duties. Granted, Graingers have been poor so far but he certainly has the ability. Even if they scored 2/3 in a season it could make all the difference.

Yes, I was surprised Goodwin was taking them when we had a number of free kick specialists on the field

[stlucifer]

I don't think anyone is 'slating' Harkins, to be fair. The thread is about where McGowan could be deployed, and it is reasonable that some discussion of Harkins' role and whether he should play alongside McGowan etc., will take place.

He is undoubtedly an accomplished player, and I don't agree with some in respect of his work-rate. We need a balanced starting 11, however, and where Harkins fits into that is worth debating.

There are quite a few on here decrying him as lazy and not tracking back. That slating IMO, and wrong. From where I sit he seems as ready as the next player to do the non possession work.

[SouthSection5]

Gowser should only be played just behind the strikers, in front of the sitting midfielders. He's the kind of player who feeds of scraps, and isn't suited fora striking role.

[Drew]

Gowser managed 1 goal from open play last season. Somehow I don't see him being the answer up front.

Now if we still had Hasselbank up front feeding off Thommo then I don't think we would be in the same mess.

Hasselbank gave Saints a speedy outlet who was capable of turning defences. It was a mistake to get rid of him and Tessalar.

Also was a big mistake getting rid of Samson and despite him being a pain I think a better man manager would have got a better return on investment on Imrie.

DL wasted a load of cash on Imrie that would easily have retained Samson, Tess and wee Nigel.

It also seems apparent that Newcastle have a "we will pay his wages if he plays" regarding Newton and previously with Dummett. I'd sooner have McGinn in place of Newton but as long as he remains on-loan from NUFC then he will most likely start ahead of McGinn.

No-one got rid of them. They opted to leave.

Do you genuinely know for sure that more money would have ensured these players stayed?

Even assuming it would have, would you advocate chucking money at what are, after all, pretty mediocre players?

[lovestreet]

Can't be arsed reading through posts but McGowan as a striker? Yes why not? Didn't he play as a striker for Celtic?

[Drew]

Ok. 'Got rid of' was meant to mean - 'did not try hard enough to retain'.

In the case of Samson our manager refused to even speak to him about a new contract until late on in the season. Given Samson was a free agent in January, and had not missed a game through injury or suspension, I'd have done a lot more to retain his services than what DL did.

As for describing all three players as 'mediocre' that is harsh.

Possibly a bit harsh, but I was thinking along the lines of chucking money at them to ensure they stay. All of them were emminently replaceable, though whether they were adequately replaced is perhaps open for debate. Still, no reason to throw money at them to ensure they stay, as they really weren't that special (in my opinion).

[TsuMirren]

Doesn't matter who is up top so long as we're blootering the ball up front. Maybe Bahoken doesn't want to chase the ball all day, maybe he'd like it to feet.

[Bloomsbury Bud]

Why are we even talking about playing McGowan up front as if it is a good idea? When we had Guy and Parkin in the squad, and they weren't exactly setting the heather alight, why didn't McGowan easily oust them from getting a game up front?

I think Gowser was injured for a long part of that period. When he got back into the team we were picking up points , and then Goncalves was brought in. By then Guy and Parkin had slipped down the selection.

[Yardley]

McGowan up front - no thanks. He's a creative midfielder who's game is about getting on the ball and trying to make things happen.

I'd like to see us go 4-5-1 Teale and Harkins as the two wide players, Thompson up top running the width of the 18 yard box - he shouldn't be chasing lost causes down the flanks. McGowan/McLean as the attacking midfielder and two holding midfielders Newton and McGinn.

Some of our best performances have been when we played this system. We need a settled team and formation that forces other teams to change.

Butcher has his team set up the same way week in week out and its worked out not too badly for him.

[Bloomsbury Bud]

I'm not inclined to think McGowan playing as a forward is a good idea. There are enough comments on other threads about players being selected to play out of their favoured position.

Bahoken should get another starting selection, he should still be given the benefit of the doubt if his fitness improves as he fits into the squad it may come right for him and us.

As for Harkins, I think McGowan is a superior player in the advanced midfield position and McGin is superior in a more defensive role, I'd drop Harkins to the bench, I'm convinced McGin should be starting, he made an impact last season when he was brought into the starting XI and he's clearly better at matching up to strong midfield opponents than anyone we currently have starting.

if Bahoken isn't making an impact on Saturday then Harkins may well be better option as a sub than Reilly.

[Griff]

We havent won a game in six outings this season ,so we should give anything a try , especially if it enabled us to get our best eleven players on the park

[TediousTom]

I opened this thread expecting it to say

McGowan was up front about Dan the manager mans position today. Paul McGowan was interviewed earlier outside his lawyers office when we approached him and asked him about the precarious nature of Daniel Lennon's employment status. Paul did not shirk any questions and said to our roving reporter "If he is not sacked by lunchtime then I think he will be alright but that leaves us nowhere. I mean I got a big fat contract out of Mr Lennon so I am hoping that he stays as long as possible although I cannot understand why he often plays me out of position, I really can't".

But alas it was just someone else suggesting that we yet again play someone else out of position.

[Lord_Flatcap]

He scored 2 goals against kilmarnock (I think) 2 years or so ago when he played on the left of a front 3.

As mentioned before, he was a striker before coming to st mirren. He would undoubtedly do a job up front

[Frank McGarvey' wonky legs]

Been thinking about this for a while and feel that Gowser is totally wasted in a deep role. Would like him up top with Thommo. Surely cant be any worse than Bahokken. In his loan season he played further forward and did ok.

It will also allow us to play either Mclean or Mcginn in their preferred centre mid.

Thoughts?

Now we know where Danny gets his tactics. Black and White Army!

[chico]

Always said he wasn't a centre mid.

[ulysses]

It was great to see McGowan playing in (what I think) is his best position.