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Captain Trips
14-10-2017, 05:28 PM
I do have to say I am a bit disappointed to be 10pts behind Aberdeen at this juncture. I thought and still do we had a squad very capable of pressing for 2nd.

Of course it is my opinion that the squad was of the quality I think some others may think it isn't as good. Perhaps then some players are not as good as I thought?

I think we can come good but thus far and thats the annoying part we have had a few very good results.

neil7908
14-10-2017, 05:40 PM
Central midfield is brilliant. Bartley, Slivka, McGeouch and McGinn are all quality players.

Equally the defence are beginning to come together, although we need some competition for Lewis.

We definitely need more going forward. Out wide Barker and Boyle aren't really doing enough week in week out. Stokes has looked good but we don't have an effective partner for him.

I don't think we're miles away but I'd like to see us bring in a forward in January and possibly a left winger.

S4uzee
14-10-2017, 05:45 PM
Strikers are poor IMO. We needed a big target man like Rooney and ended up with Devydas

Hi Heid Yin
14-10-2017, 05:52 PM
On paper we have an incredibly strong-looking squad, but are lacking that cutting edge and guile that both Celtic and Aberdeen are demonstrating regularly.
We have drawn games we have dominated because of these failings.
This coupled with inexplicable defensive and collective lapses in concentration against both Hamilton and Motherwell have seen us collect far fewer points than we might have at this stage.
There is absolutely no way that Hearts have anywhere near our collective quality, yet a single point separates us from their mediocrity.
We have kept 1 clean sheet in the league and this tells its own story.
On the plus side, we have not yet played the first round of fixtures.
Neil Lennon is seeing our failings and I have every confidence that, come the seasons end, he will have us a lot closer to Aberdeen than we currently are.

Captain Trips
14-10-2017, 05:53 PM
I think the starting line ups in some games have not been right and we just are not getting away with it if we make any errors.

For me we should start matches with 2 strikers.

Golden Bear
14-10-2017, 05:54 PM
Strikers are poor IMO. We needed a big target man like Rooney and ended up with Devydas

Having a big mobile striker would bring that extra something to the squad. Its all about genetics I dare say.

Hi Heid Yin
14-10-2017, 05:58 PM
Having a big mobile striker would bring that extra something to the squad. Its all about genetics I dare say.

A younger, fitter and faster Grant Holt would make a huge difference.
He would compliment our current strike force no end.

danhibees1875
14-10-2017, 06:00 PM
Strikers are poor IMO. We needed a big target man like Rooney and ended up with Devydas

Has he had a chance to be disregarded?

Today was screaming out for us to go 2 up top to stop Stokes being so isolated. Lennon again confused me with his decision making at the subs.

Gmack7
14-10-2017, 06:00 PM
worryingly Lennon doesn't seem to know our best\preferred formation. our home results have been very poor although I don't think we played to badly today

emerald green
14-10-2017, 06:03 PM
I'm not trying to be funny, and I know it's an old cliche, but it doesn't matter how good people think a squad is on paper. It's how good they are on grass that counts.

Steve20
14-10-2017, 06:08 PM
Our squad is good on paper because people have overrated them. We are not that good and our squad is unbalanced. Chuck in the fact people think our manager is a god, when he's actually quite average and we are probably about right in 6th place.

BT58
14-10-2017, 06:12 PM
SJM showed that if you shoot you may score. Today we looked like we never learnt that lesson. We played well but never really troubled their goalie. Thought Murray should have been on earlier rather than Barker. Its like the team prefer to play away from ER for some reason. I dont get the short corners when our Defenders are waiting for a cross that never comes.

Davy Mac
14-10-2017, 06:14 PM
Due to work commitments this was my second game of the season so not really in a great position to comment to harshly but what I watched today was a bit disappointing TBH.

Positives:

Hanlon & McGinn were excellent and great crowd of 19k

Negatives:

Shape and formation was a mess at times and player changes were too late in the day
Too many players did not fight for the 2nd ball, ball watched all day, naive (Aberdeen were so streetwise), played like individuals
Outfought, out-thought and we lacked creativity

Needs:

Need a left back and another striker, play Stokes just in behind main striker (Adam Rooney please)
Singing section look like they have sent to the naughty corner and the atmosphere is scattered
NL needs to accept that he will get it wrong from time to time and stop looking for a scrap, waving at Aberdeen fans was quite funny but having spats with the crowd is not good IMO.

Any confidence I had for the semis (I'm going) is dwindling and NL needs to spring a surprise

Smartie
14-10-2017, 06:19 PM
A younger, fitter and faster Grant Holt would make a huge difference.
He would compliment our current strike force no end.

Last season's Grant Holt would make a huge difference, the 35 year old slow one that we had.

He turned the semi-final last season against the same team that we couldn't even get close to breaking down today.

Matulevicius doesn't look a patch on Holt to me, who was fairly under-appreciated last season.

I'm sure Stokes would rather be up there with Holt rather than trying to do his job.

Hi Heid Yin
14-10-2017, 06:24 PM
Last season's Grant Holt would make a huge difference, the 35 year old slow one that we had.

He turned the semi-final last season against the same team that we couldn't even get close to breaking down today.

Matulevicius doesn't look a patch on Holt to me, who was fairly under-appreciated last season.

I'm sure Stokes would rather be up there with Holt rather than trying to do his job.

I loved Grant Holt and thought he did a fantastic job for us last season, but the inferior quality of the championship allowed him to prosper. The SPL is that bit faster and I really think that he would struggle against fitter, quicker defenders.

Smartie
14-10-2017, 06:25 PM
I loved Grant Holt and thought he did a fantastic job for us last season, but the inferior quality of the championship allowed him to prosper. The SPL is that bit faster and I really think that he would struggle against fitter, quicker defenders.

I thought he looked better against the good teams that we came up against in the cups than he did against the duffers in the league.

Captain Trips
14-10-2017, 06:30 PM
I thought he looked better against the good teams that we came up against in the cups than he did against the duffers in the league.

Funny enough he did. I would like big Davy get a run to give proper judgement.

cabbageandribs1875
14-10-2017, 06:31 PM
Lennon seriously p****s me off sometimes with very late subs, chasing a game and he brings on a fresh striker with 5 ******g mins left, WTF is that all about, and i hate seeing stokes having to come so far back to get a touch of the ball, it was the same with cummings, at least twice stokes was waving other players to come further up the park, i bet that seriously pees him off

SingaporeHibs
14-10-2017, 06:33 PM
I agree with the opening paragraph of the OP. We certainly have the 2nd best group of players in the league and play the 2nd best Football in the league. On our day we should be able to beat anyone. However, there is certainly something not right about our formation or the players that are being played in that formation. This sits with Lennon. I don't think he has worked out how to get the best of the players. Slivka is wasted on the right, he is a middle of the park player. I like him but I wouldn't start him before McGinn or Dylan. Therefore he wouldn't start for me. Square pegs in round holes has rarely worked well. Which formation we play or who fills the roles could be argued about. Injuries at the back haven't helped. If McGregor or Fonts were fit I would have played 3 CHs today. Not possible tho. So with a 4-4-2, I would have had SDG at right back at Whittaker right mid. Whittaker is at his best further up the pitch, he can't tackle. Barker is direct and dangerous so I probably would have started him left mid. Front 2, should Murray get the nod? I like the speed of Boyle but are we getting anything significant today from that? Prob not. Stokes needs to be quicker to pull the trigger, too often running with the ball at a wall of defenders after taking one or two touches too many and getting no where. We certainly aren't streetwise on the pitch. Aberdeen were taking yellows when needed, don't have the stats in front of me but they must have made way more fouls than us and a lot of them at important moments. The ref was terrible today. McGinn was getting plenty treatment. Aberdeen are not better than us but they have a system that works and Mcinnes has them drilled in it. That's the difference. 1st half they closed us down quick, didn't let us get into our game. 2nd half they played a lot like the championship teams did at ER, sat back in numbers and tried to break. Was it good Football in its pure sense, no. Did it work, yes. Are they happy tonight, you bet. We need to get our mix correct. Has Lennon worked it out, absolutely not. Does it sit with him, absolutely does. He needs to get more from this group. Formation and the best starting 11 are the first challenges. We should be way better than 1 point ahead of a poor Hearts team. Are we too easy to play, I think so far the proof is that we are. We have run over teams and only got a point. Today, we deserved something and got nothing. It all points to a problem that needs solved. I hope Lennon makes the changes to get it right. If he does that I have no doubt we can be strong from here but the clock starts ticking pretty quickly and before you know it we are either fighting for 3/4th or we're fighting to stay in the top 6. Over to Lennon

ballengeich
14-10-2017, 06:39 PM
Central midfield is brilliant. Bartley, Slivka, McGeouch and McGinn are all quality players.



They're all excellent players in the role they perform, but none of them scores many goals so maybe the blend isn't right and that's why we don't convert possession into points. We don't have the equivalent of McGregor at Celtic or Davidson at St Johnstone or Pat McGinlay in the past.

Smartie
14-10-2017, 06:48 PM
They're all excellent players in the role they perform, but none of them scores many goals so maybe the blend isn't right and that's why we don't convert possession into points. We don't have the equivalent of McGregor at Celtic or Davidson at St Johnstone or Pat McGinlay in the past.

Danny Swanson?

It's not happened for Danny yet, but surely he's that kind of player?

I thought he showed great feet on a couple of occasions today, but that overhit cross he put over right on the final whistle was inexcusable. You can't excuse a professional footballer with that much time and space to put in a good cross on their strong foot not doing better than that when it really mattered.

I remember Brian Hamilton just about getting lynched for something similar.

SingaporeHibs
14-10-2017, 06:59 PM
Swanson needs more time on the pitch. He is the type of player that the Aberdeen team (as today's example) is full of. Maybe I would have started him left mid before Barker as I suggested in my previous post. He is a smart hard working type player and capable of being the Pat Mcginlay of the current side. i don't know the guy but on the pitch he looks like he needs to believe in himself a little more. I hope the pressure of joining his boyhood heroes hasn't placed to much pressure on his shoulders. He is certainly capable of being a very important player for us. Again, back to my last post, a lot of it is maybe finding the correct role & position for him on the pitch rather than just having him on the pitch and expecting something from him.

SRHibs
14-10-2017, 07:03 PM
I like Slivka, but he should be in the centre. If he’s not playing there, don’t play him.

ballengeich
14-10-2017, 07:07 PM
Danny Swanson?

It's not happened for Danny yet, but surely he's that kind of player?


Another good player and more of a goalscorer but one who works wide rather than one who gets into the box to support the forwards.

houstonhibbee
14-10-2017, 08:25 PM
I think the starting line ups in some games have not been right and we just are not getting away with it if we make any errors.

For me we should start matches with 2 strikers.
I thought so too. Consensus on here was to keep the same team v Celtic

AgentDaleCooper
14-10-2017, 08:59 PM
IMO, if we sell mcginn and bring in moult, we'd be a better overall team

lugz
14-10-2017, 09:09 PM
I think peoples expectations including the media were far too high for this season. It's our first year back after 3 years away and it's a different level. Over a season we're not ready to compete with Aberdeen and probably rangers. Realistically we should be aiming for top 6 then competing with Motherwell, StJ and hearts for 4th.

Thegreenside
14-10-2017, 10:20 PM
I like Slivka, but he should be in the centre. If he’s not playing there, don’t play him.
100%:agree:

Diclonius
14-10-2017, 10:34 PM
Strikers are poor IMO. We needed a big target man like Rooney and ended up with Devydas

He's barely got a game. We have no idea if he's good or not.

houstonhibbee
15-10-2017, 12:04 AM
I agree with the opening paragraph of the OP. We certainly have the 2nd best group of players in the league and play the 2nd best Football in the league. On our day we should be able to beat anyone. However, there is certainly something not right about our formation or the players that are being played in that formation. This sits with Lennon. I don't think he has worked out how to get the best of the players. Slivka is wasted on the right, he is a middle of the park player. I like him but I wouldn't start him before McGinn or Dylan. Therefore he wouldn't start for me. Square pegs in round holes has rarely worked well. Which formation we play or who fills the roles could be argued about. Injuries at the back haven't helped. If McGregor or Fonts were fit I would have played 3 CHs today. Not possible tho. So with a 4-4-2, I would have had SDG at right back at Whittaker right mid. Whittaker is at his best further up the pitch, he can't tackle. Barker is direct and dangerous so I probably would have started him left mid. Front 2, should Murray get the nod? I like the speed of Boyle but are we getting anything significant today from that? Prob not. Stokes needs to be quicker to pull the trigger, too often running with the ball at a wall of defenders after taking one or two touches too many and getting no where. We certainly aren't streetwise on the pitch. Aberdeen were taking yellows when needed, don't have the stats in front of me but they must have made way more fouls than us and a lot of them at important moments. The ref was terrible today. McGinn was getting plenty treatment. Aberdeen are not better than us but they have a system that works and Mcinnes has them drilled in it. That's the difference. 1st half they closed us down quick, didn't let us get into our game. 2nd half they played a lot like the championship teams did at ER, sat back in numbers and tried to break. Was it good Football in its pure sense, no. Did it work, yes. Are they happy tonight, you bet. We need to get our mix correct. Has Lennon worked it out, absolutely not. Does it sit with him, absolutely does. He needs to get more from this group. Formation and the best starting 11 are the first challenges. We should be way better than 1 point ahead of a poor Hearts team. Are we too easy to play, I think so far the proof is that we are. We have run over teams and only got a point. Today, we deserved something and got nothing. It all points to a problem that needs solved. I hope Lennon makes the changes to get it right. If he does that I have no doubt we can be strong from here but the clock starts ticking pretty quickly and before you know it we are either fighting for 3/4th or we're fighting to stay in the top 6. Over to Lennon
good points.
I also dont think we worked hard enough off the ball to get into spaces and support. Aberdeen worked a lot harder than we did I thought.

CMurdoch
15-10-2017, 02:15 AM
Hibs are a good squad but are badly missing a second quality striker and free kick specialist.
If we could combine the two in one player that would be perfect but a thumb quality player would be outside our price range. Would settle for Moult quality meantime.
At the start of the season I said we should be looking to finish 4th. Nothing has changed.

J-C
15-10-2017, 07:29 AM
I don't think Lennon knows his best formation yet and is still playing around with players in different positions, he's definitely not getting the best out of Dylan, Slivka and Stokes and for me Gray is a better RB than Whittaker who is started to show his age, looked slow and ponderous yesterday.

eastcoasthibby
15-10-2017, 07:34 AM
We dont have enough up front its blatantly obvious Stokes is never a one up top striker he needs someone to play with or off ! The two we have Murray and Big Dave would be.decent.enough 3rd choices ..but a bit off whats needed at the level we are playing at.
The.left back position continues.to be an ongoing weakness in the all round ability of whats needed in that position .

Heisenberg
15-10-2017, 07:35 AM
I don't think Lennon knows his best formation yet and is still playing around with players in different positions, he's definitely not getting the best out of Dylan, Slivka and Stokes and for me Gray is a better RB than Whittaker who is started to show his age, looked slow and ponderous yesterday.

If Whittaker is getting picked out for criticism yesterday then I think it’s only fair Stevenson does as well. GMS had him in his pocket. A rare off day for Lewis.

neil7908
15-10-2017, 09:37 AM
I like Slivka, but he should be in the centre. If he’s not playing there, don’t play him.

Agree with this completely. We had 4 central midfielders playing yesterday and it didn't give us the right balance. They felt shoehorned in.

Time to make some tough decisions and except that we'll need to drop at least one of them.

I'd like to see us go 4-3-3 and that way only one has to go and we can get a partner up front for Stokes.

neil7908
15-10-2017, 09:39 AM
If Whittaker is getting picked out for criticism yesterday then I think it’s only fair Stevenson does as well. GMS had him in his pocket. A rare off day for Lewis.

Yup, a couple of misplaced passes by Whittaker but otherwise than that he looked very solid and as always, gives us a attacking threat going forward (he set up Slivka for his shot against the post).

I like Lewis and he had a hard job yesterday so I don't think there is any need to lay into him but Whittaker has been good in the last few games.

Borderhibbie76
15-10-2017, 09:57 AM
I agree with the opening paragraph of the OP. We certainly have the 2nd best group of players in the league and play the 2nd best Football in the league. On our day we should be able to beat anyone. However, there is certainly something not right about our formation or the players that are being played in that formation. This sits with Lennon. I don't think he has worked out how to get the best of the players. Slivka is wasted on the right, he is a middle of the park player. I like him but I wouldn't start him before McGinn or Dylan. Therefore he wouldn't start for me. Square pegs in round holes has rarely worked well. Which formation we play or who fills the roles could be argued about. Injuries at the back haven't helped. If McGregor or Fonts were fit I would have played 3 CHs today. Not possible tho. So with a 4-4-2, I would have had SDG at right back at Whittaker right mid. Whittaker is at his best further up the pitch, he can't tackle. Barker is direct and dangerous so I probably would have started him left mid. Front 2, should Murray get the nod? I like the speed of Boyle but are we getting anything significant today from that? Prob not. Stokes needs to be quicker to pull the trigger, too often running with the ball at a wall of defenders after taking one or two touches too many and getting no where. We certainly aren't streetwise on the pitch. Aberdeen were taking yellows when needed, don't have the stats in front of me but they must have made way more fouls than us and a lot of them at important moments. The ref was terrible today. McGinn was getting plenty treatment. Aberdeen are not better than us but they have a system that works and Mcinnes has them drilled in it. That's the difference. 1st half they closed us down quick, didn't let us get into our game. 2nd half they played a lot like the championship teams did at ER, sat back in numbers and tried to break. Was it good Football in its pure sense, no. Did it work, yes. Are they happy tonight, you bet. We need to get our mix correct. Has Lennon worked it out, absolutely not. Does it sit with him, absolutely does. He needs to get more from this group. Formation and the best starting 11 are the first challenges. We should be way better than 1 point ahead of a poor Hearts team. Are we too easy to play, I think so far the proof is that we are. We have run over teams and only got a point. Today, we deserved something and got nothing. It all points to a problem that needs solved. I hope Lennon makes the changes to get it right. If he does that I have no doubt we can be strong from here but the clock starts ticking pretty quickly and before you know it we are either fighting for 3/4th or we're fighting to stay in the top 6. Over to LennonCan't agree on Whittaker for me should be nowhere near the team mate. He looks like his legs have gone and I'm amazed we gave him a 3 year deal. It a scandal He is in the starting 11 before our club capt imo

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Borderhibbie76
15-10-2017, 09:59 AM
I think peoples expectations including the media were far too high for this season. It's our first year back after 3 years away and it's a different level. Over a season we're not ready to compete with Aberdeen and probably rangers. Realistically we should be aiming for top 6 then competing with Motherwell, StJ and hearts for 4th.Spot on mate talk of 2nd and 3rd is just u realistic after 3 years away...it takes time. Yes hearts got 3rd their first season back up (before anyone shoots me down) but that was a top flight minus us and Sevco.

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Borderhibbie76
15-10-2017, 10:01 AM
If Whittaker is getting picked out for criticism yesterday then I think it’s only fair Stevenson does as well. GMS had him in his pocket. A rare off day for Lewis.At least Lewis gives 100% yes he was at fault for goal yesterday but there was a point in 2nd half were Aberdeen broke on us and Whittaker was stranded up field and just gave up...he didn't even try to get Back!! His legs look gone to me mate...he just doesn't look fit enough

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J-C
15-10-2017, 11:12 AM
Can't agree on Whittaker for me should be nowhere near the team mate. He looks like his legs have gone and I'm amazed we gave him a 3 year deal. It a scandal He is in the starting 11 before our club capt imo

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:agree:

At least Lewis gives 100% yes he was at fault for goal yesterday but there was a point in 2nd half were Aberdeen broke on us and Whittaker was stranded up field and just gave up...he didn't even try to get Back!! His legs look gone to me mate...he just doesn't look fit enough

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Stevenson was caught between a rock and a hard place with the goal, the midfield allowed the player to come through and then had 2 men to cover, the ball through was precise and really nothing Lewis could've done about it, other than that GMS hardly troubled him all day, did a fair bit of moaning due to not getting it all his way.

SingaporeHibs
15-10-2017, 06:48 PM
Can't agree on Whittaker for me should be nowhere near the team mate. He looks like his legs have gone and I'm amazed we gave him a 3 year deal. It a scandal He is in the starting 11 before our club capt imo

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I certainly agree that SDG should be playing right back before Whittaker. My only real point on Whittaker is the best of his game is further up the park. Whether he should be playing further up on the right or someone else is a different debate. I'm fairly sure Slivka isn't the answer on the right but of course there are other options.

superfurryhibby
15-10-2017, 06:58 PM
:agree:


Stevenson was caught between a rock and a hard place with the goal, the midfield allowed the player to come through and then had 2 men to cover, the ball through was precise and really nothing Lewis could've done about it, other than that GMS hardly troubled him all day, did a fair bit of moaning due to not getting it all his way.

This.

I'm amazed that anyone thinks GMS gave Lewis a torrid time. They had a good ding-dong and with GMS scoring you could argue he gor the better of Stevenson. I can't say I thought GMS was particularly good yesterday.

Equally surprised that there is a comment about our players efforts and being second to the ball etc. Eh, we dominated the second half against a very good side and were worthy of a point. We struggled first half and I accept that we never created many direct chances but the Sheep knew they were in a game yesterday.

crash
15-10-2017, 07:12 PM
:agree:


Stevenson was caught between a rock and a hard place with the goal, the midfield allowed the player to come through and then had 2 men to cover, the ball through was precise and really nothing Lewis could've done about it, other than that GMS hardly troubled him all day, did a fair bit of moaning due to not getting it all his way.

He didn't have 2 men to cover,his job yesterday was to mark GMS and it was a total mismatch.Mcinnes got his tactics right by attacking our weak left side.GMS was mom yesterday.

ancient hibee
15-10-2017, 07:20 PM
Gray is a better defender than Whittaker who is a far better user of the ball than Gray-all depends what the manager wants from them.If he plays Slivka wide where he tries hard he might be as well playing both Gray and Whittaker wide right instead.

J-C
16-10-2017, 07:37 AM
He didn't have 2 men to cover,his job yesterday was to mark GMS and it was a total mismatch.Mcinnes got his tactics right by attacking our weak left side.GMS was mom yesterday.


I take it you missed Hanlon moving forward and getting caught out of position, it was highlighted on Sportscene, thus leaving Stevenson exposed for the through ball to GMS.

Brightside
16-10-2017, 07:48 AM
Yup, a couple of misplaced passes by Whittaker but otherwise than that he looked very solid and as always, gives us a attacking threat going forward (he set up Slivka for his shot against the post).

I like Lewis and he had a hard job yesterday so I don't think there is any need to lay into him but Whittaker has been good in the last few games.

Whittaker takes an age to get back in position when he does attack. We are always open on that side.

Brightside
16-10-2017, 07:50 AM
He didn't have 2 men to cover,his job yesterday was to mark GMS and it was a total mismatch.Mcinnes got his tactics right by attacking our weak left side.GMS was mom yesterday.

GMS was nowhere near MOM yesterday. Their RB was different gravy for them.

carnoustiehibee
16-10-2017, 08:01 AM
I take it you missed Hanlon moving forward and getting caught out of position, it was highlighted on Sportscene, thus leaving Stevenson exposed for the through ball to GMS.

Said the exact same at the game. That was GMS only run all day across the back, player who couldn't get a kick at Celtic and hardly played this season was ripping Stevenson apart. Hanlon has to see this and help out and cover not wander forward. If Ambrose done it they'd be s thread about it. Lennon shoulda also taken Stevenson off after being booked. Mcinnes knew are weak spot at targeted it well

patlowe
16-10-2017, 08:11 AM
I think the suggestion that we have a better squad than Aberdeen, or even one equal to theirs, is stretching it a bit IMO. Lewis, Shinnie, Logan, Christie, May, Stewart, GMS, Rooney and McLean would all get into our first 11 pretty comfortably IMO. Not seen enough of their central defence or the boy who sits in midfield but they also looked very comfortable. We have a decent squad but it's certainly lacking in certain areas, most notably in attacking positions.

I also feel we are behind Aberdeen in terms of know-how and game intelligence. It was a very tight game on Saturday and Aberdeen didn't do anything particularly special but they knew how to win the game. We are not savvy enough yet IMO.

Having seen most of the teams now I think a great achievement would be winning the mini-league likely to be between ourselves, Well, St Johnstone and Hearts - ie 4th.

madhibee_again
16-10-2017, 08:18 AM
Whittaker takes an age to get back in position when he does attack. We are always open on that side.

This.

His lack of effort to even attempt to get back is shocking. If he's not fit enough to do so he shouldn't be in the side.

number9dream
16-10-2017, 08:22 AM
We need to start keeping clean sheets. Am I right in thinking we have conceded the first goal in all but two league matches and only kept a blank once in nine? It's asking too much to come back every time.
Is Porteous ready? A back three might steady things, with wing-backs and three of our four central midfielders playing, allowing Boyle or Murray to support Stokes.
Not sure a Hampden semi-final against the champions or a derby is the right time to throw in a teenage defender though...

pacoluna
16-10-2017, 08:23 AM
At least Lewis gives 100% yes he was at fault for goal yesterday but there was a point in 2nd half were Aberdeen broke on us and Whittaker was stranded up field and just gave up...he didn't even try to get Back!! His legs look gone to me mate...he just doesn't look fit enough

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Give it a break. Stevenson offered absolutely nothing yesterday where as whittaker at times looked dangerous going forward. I would rather have a player who is attack minded and drives forward than a slow and ponderous defensive minded player who "gives 100%" but heehaw going forward. If that goal came from whittakers side on sat there would be a 10 page thread about it. On another note Ambrose who also gets laid into a lot compared to others along with Whitty was excellent yesterday and showed why when on the ball he is ne of the most natural footballers we have.

Borderhibbie76
16-10-2017, 08:29 AM
Give it a break. Stevenson offered absolutely nothing yesterday where as whittaker at times looked dangerous going forward. I would rather have a player who is attack minded and drives forward than a slow and ponderous defensive minded player who "gives 100%" but heehaw going forward. If that goal came from whittakers side on sat there would be a 10 page thread about it. On another note Ambrose who also gets laid into a lot compared to others along with Whitty was excellent yesterday and showed why when on the ball he is ne of the most natural footballers we have.Your entitled to your opinion like the rest of us but for me Whittaker doesn't look fit. When he does go forward...and I don't agree he was that dangerous as he out over several poor balls in 2nd half on Sat when in good positions, but when he does venture forward he doesn't exactly bust a gut to get back...keaving us exposed in defence which happened all 2nd half on Sat...the whole East stand could see that on Sat mate. He may be better suited playing further forward but against the better teams in the league, for me Gray should always be our right back

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