No leaders

[CapitalGreen]

It struck me today that our team is lacking in leaders on the pitch. With Gray and McGregor out the first XI we don’t have anyone I would describe as a natural leader on the pitch. Hopefully Porteous will develop that with experience.

[Smartie]

I thought Hanlon played well and looked every bit a leader.

We don't have any midfielders who can take a game by the scruff of the neck, or players in the middle of the park who can pull a team through a weak team performance with sheer grit and bloody mindedness.

The midfield is short of ability, character and everything you need to win football matches. That's where our problems begin and end.

[CapitalGreen]

I thought Hanlon played well and looked every bit a leader.

We don't have any midfielders who can take a game by the scruff of the neck, or players in the middle of the park who can pull a team through a weak team performance with sheer grit and bloody mindedness.

The midfield is short of ability, character and everything you need to win football matches. That's where our problems begin and end.

I like Paul and for the first time in a very long time our defence is the least of our worries however he has rarely been much of a leader on the pitch in the mould of Gray or McGregor.

The bit in bold is pretty much how I’d describe a leader on the pitch tbh.

[Smartie]

I like Paul and for the first time in a very long time our defence is the least of our worries however he has rarely been much of a leader on the pitch in the mould of Gray or McGregor.

The bit in bold is pretty much how I’d describe a leader on the pitch tbh.

Hanlon can lead by example, win his personal battles and shout a bit - all of which he did today.

There's not much more any leader can do when the folk around them are just not up to the task.

Our best teams have had captains right through them.

Leadership isn't all about the captain though, and I think our captain is fine.

We just need folk with more ability and spirit.

[CapitalGreen]

Hanlon can lead by example, win his personal battles and shout a bit - all of which he did today.

There's not much more any leader can do when the folk around them are just not up to the task .

Don’t disagree with that, I have no issue with Hanlon or his performances, they have been top drawer.


Our best teams have had captains right through them.

Just 1 or 2 would at least be an improvement just now.


Leadership isn't all about the captain though, and I think our captain is fine.

We just need folk with more ability and spirit.

Didn’t say leadership was all about the captain, my very point was we were lacking leadership throughout the team, from front to back.

[Brightside]

This no leaders stuff is nonsense.

[scuttle]

This no leaders stuff is nonsense.

Yep, no midfield more like

[Stokesy's on fire]

Gogic strikes me as a leader shame he was told he wasn't allowed to play...maybe if our players had intentionally broken some rules we would have been allowed to play our games at a later date and field the team we wanted....

[Brightside]

Yep, no midfield more like

Exactly. Was David gray going to come on and help the midfielder pass a ball or win a 50/50. It’s just nonsense chat that I’d expect from the punters on sport scene.

[S4uzee]

Exactly. Was David gray going to come on and help the midfielder pass a ball or win a 50/50. It’s just nonsense chat that I’d expect from the punters on sport scene.

So like today if we go a goal down, who do you see in the team that will lead and drive us forward to get back in the game?

Before we’d have Ambrose bringing the ball forward, McGinn/McGeouch getting on it. This team has nobody like that. It always seems like we need to need score first to have a real chance of winning.

[MWHIBBIES]

It's like Cliché bingo on here. Energy, leaders, drive, grit and determination, fight.

Leaders aren't the difference between Boyle clearing it and Wright finishing a 1v1 instead of passing.

[Tully]

We also lack a dirty bassa who can put the boot in when required and can get players geed up

[MWHIBBIES]

We also lack a dirty bassa who can put the boot in when required and can get players geed up

Yes. The SFA decided he wasn't going to play today.

[Smartie]

So like today if we go a goal down, who do you see in the team that will lead and drive us forward to get back in the game?

Before we’d have Ambrose bringing the ball forward, McGinn/McGeouch getting on it. This team has nobody like that. It always seems like we need to need score first to have a real chance of winning.

Hanlon did that. Won his battles, carried the ball out of defence.

Porteous did his bit. Big challenges, doing his job, leading by example.

Fullbacks were fine.

The midfield was garbage because the midfielders lack the basic ability to play midfield.

That's the problem. It is leadership of sorts - players who are prepared to take responsibility and get torn in when things are going against them.

We don't have that sort of player in the middle of the park.

(Edit - I get the point above - Gogic has it).

That shouldn't be used as a stick to beat Paul Hanlon or anyone else, who did everything that you could ask of him today.

[CapitalGreen]

It's like Cliché bingo on here. Energy, leaders, drive, grit and determination, fight.

Leaders aren't the difference between Boyle clearing it and Wright finishing a 1v1 instead of passing.

Maybe it is, doesn’t mean it’s wrong though.

[Brightside]

Maybe it is, doesn’t mean it’s wrong though.

It’s bollocks.

[CapitalGreen]

It’s bollocks.

So you’ve said before without any explanation to the contrary.

[percy veer]

We grind out results to get joint top of the league not because we have leaders but we are lucky, all if a sudden lose 1-0 no leaders, actually embarrassing our "support" sometimes.

[Basildon Hibs]

We also lack a dirty bassa who can put the boot in when required and can get players geed up


We also lack 2 dirty bassas who can put the boot in when required and can get players geed up.:aok:

[Hulk1875]

We grind out results to get joint top of the league not because we have leaders but we are lucky, all if a sudden lose 1-0 no leaders, actually embarrassing our "support" sometimes.

👏🏻

[Pretty Boy]

I'm not sure if 'no leaders' is the right turn of phrase.

I do think we lack a player who is willing to take a game by the scruff of the neck and make something happen though. Does anyone in our midfield currently stand out as being that type? Boyle is the most likely but he's not at the races.

Tam McManus referenced it in commentary, we passed the ball about in front of Aberdeen a lot today and looked uncomfortable when they pressed. On more than one occasion we resorted to a long contested punt and got little reward from it.

There's a lack of something in the middle of the park. Quality and balance are the obvious but the composure and confidence to actually take control of a game are also issues.

[Davy Mac]

Guys like McCrorie cost £350k and Aberdeen have spent far more than we have over the last 2 or 3 years.

You do get what you pay for in my opinion, they pinched him from under our noses because we are an emerging threat.

[Broken Gnome]

I'm not sure if 'no leaders' is the right turn of phrase.

I do think we lack a player who is willing to take a game by the scruff of the neck and make something happen though. Does anyone in our midfield currently stand out as being that type? Boyle is the most likely but he's not at the races.

Tam McManus referenced it in commentary, we passed the ball about in front of Aberdeen a lot today and looked uncomfortable when they pressed. On more than one occasion we resorted to a long contested punt and got little reward from it.

There's a lack of something in the middle of the park. Quality and balance are the obvious but the composure and confidence to actually take control of a game are also issues.

A bit of drive would do a hell of a lot of good. Something like Aberdeen have with Ferguson who is actually willing to move for a ball and be happy taking it 30 yards on.

Not sure McGeouch would help us, for instance, as he'd be fairly guilty of what all our central players are in that Newall and Allan are only ever wanting a simple pass to feet, but it's all so static it can only really go long or sideways as a result as there's no space. Boyle being ineffective or marked out of games makes it even worse as we've lost another out ball.

[Pretty Boy]

A bit of drive would do a hell of a lot of good. Something like Aberdeen have with Ferguson who is actually willing to move for a ball and be happy taking it 30 yards on.

Not sure McGeouch would help us, for instance, as he'd be fairly guilty of what all our central players are in that Newall and Allan are only ever wanting a simple pass to feet, but it's all so static it can only really go long or sideways as a result as there's no space. Boyle being ineffective or marked out of games makes it even worse as we've lost another out ball.

I think we are largely singing from the same hymn sheet.

Aberdeen are organised and they are disciplined in what they do. It takes a spark and a bit of invention to drag them out of position and create the chances to beat them. We managed it once or twice today but for the most part they were comfortable, I can't remember Lewis making a save of real note. The Doig effort but you expect the keeper to save that every day of the week. Rocky has had to make 2 saves right out the top drawer and a 3rd more routine one from McGeouch and that's with our defence largely playing well.

Aberdeen are a better side than us. They have players who have clearly defined roles and they are good at them. As a 'neutral' watching them I could see exactly how they were set up and as you say Ferguson gives them that drive and momentum.

[Stokesy's on fire]

Guys like McCrorie cost £350k and Aberdeen have spent far more than we have over the last 2 or 3 years.

You do get what you pay for in my opinion, they pinched him from under our noses because we are an emerging threat.

Correct

[Stokesy's on fire]

Guys like McCrorie cost £350k and Aberdeen have spent far more than we have over the last 2 or 3 years.

You do get what you pay for in my opinion, they pinched him from under our noses because we are an emerging threat.

Forgot to add...they haven't paid for him yet..its like a have now pay later deal they have. The great Dave Cormack isnt daft.

[Ryan91]

We grind out results to get joint top of the league not because we have leaders but we are lucky, all if a sudden lose 1-0 no leaders, actually embarrassing our "support" sometimes.

I don't know why anyone is surprised by what happened today, we have leaders, we have a midfield, but this game was never going to be an easy one. Aberdeen are a hard team to beat, even more so when they get their usual lucky/undeserved goal and proceed to park the bus for the rest of the game. I think most midfields in the league would struggle to break down that Aberdeen team once they went a goal up today.

I've said elsewhere there are a lot of positives about our performance so far this season, sure it's not been pretty, but we've ground out results and sit with 13 points from 18 and still haven't conceded from open play. 4 weeks ago, if you'd told users here that would be our record after 6 games, they'd have bitten your arm off.

[Nicho87]

I’d put mcgregor back in for leadership alone. I’d play McGinn at right wing back and get Boyle up front.

[MWHIBBIES]

I’d put mcgregor back in for leadership alone. I’d play McGinn at right wing back and get Boyle up front.


So we'd put 2 players out of position to play a 35 year old on the right of a back 3? Gotta disagree on that one.

[500miles]

Leadership is one of those vague terms people like to throw about because it sounds like an answer.

The truth of the matter is we were creating up until they scored. When Aberdeen go a goal up they are strong, athletic and organised enough to smother teams that try to hit a target man (Doidge), pass through gaps in he middle (Allan) and keep up with fast wingers (Boyle).

That means you have to take players on individually, and be able to find space as soon as your defenders get the ball back. We don't have that kind of player.

[Brightside]

I’d put mcgregor back in for leadership alone. I’d play McGinn at right wing back and get Boyle up front.

This is what I mean about the whole leaders shout being bollocks. Our defence has been top class and you want to change that to put a big lad in with a beard. It’s nonsense. We need midfielders that can do their jobs properly. Gogic was the start and we still have space for 2 more who have creativity AND dig!

[Edinburgh Green]

A bit of drive would do a hell of a lot of good. Something like Aberdeen have with Ferguson who is actually willing to move for a ball and be happy taking it 30 yards on.

Not sure McGeouch would help us, for instance, as he'd be fairly guilty of what all our central players are in that Newall and Allan are only ever wanting a simple pass to feet, but it's all so static it can only really go long or sideways as a result as there's no space. Boyle being ineffective or marked out of games makes it even worse as we've lost another out ball.

Yip we need a ball carrier in midfield or at least Ross drum it in to the players that the safe backwards pass all the time will not be tolerated. Aberdeen are a very well drilled team when it comes to holding onto their shape but we made it even easier for them by not trying to run through them.

[JimBHibees]

I thought Hanlon played well and looked every bit a leader.

We don't have any midfielders who can take a game by the scruff of the neck, or players in the middle of the park who can pull a team through a weak team performance with sheer grit and bloody mindedness.

The midfield is short of ability, character and everything you need to win football matches. That's where our problems begin and end.

Totally agree thought it was one of his best games read the play brilliantly and his passing was imo very good.

[JimBHibees]

This is what I mean about the whole leaders shout being bollocks. Our defence has been top class and you want to change that to put a big lad in with a beard. It’s nonsense. We need midfielders that can do their jobs properly. Gogic was the start and we still have space for 2 more who have creativity AND dig!

Don't think the fact he has a beard should come into the equation. :greengrin

[Heisenberg]

This is what I mean about the whole leaders shout being bollocks. Our defence has been top class and you want to change that to put a big lad in with a beard. It’s nonsense. We need midfielders that can do their jobs properly. Gogic was the start and we still have space for 2 more who have creativity AND dig!

Exactly this. The last part of our team currently needing worked on is the back three/four. Central midfield needs work and has done for years. Time for Mathie and Ross to earn their money and find us what we need in that area.

[B.H.F.C]

Depends how leadership is defined. For me, it’s someone who will grab the game and try to drive you forward. Especially late in games when you’re losing. Don’t see enough of that, too many waiting on someone else doing something.

[Hiber-nation]

Depends how leadership is defined. For me, it’s someone who will grab the game and try to drive you forward. Especially late in games when you’re losing. Don’t see enough of that, too many waiting on someone else doing something.

Yep, anyone who has played football will appreciate that, it's not a McPake-type bully who just slaughters you, it's someone who can lead by example, be positive, be brave and drive you forward as you say.

Nothing whatsoever to do with "a big lad with a beard" or whatever was slavered earlier.

[Stuart93]

On the contrast Aberdeen’s teams full of them

[CapitalGreen]

Depends how leadership is defined. For me, it’s someone who will grab the game and try to drive you forward. Especially late in games when you’re losing. Don’t see enough of that, too many waiting on someone else doing something.


Yep, anyone who has played football will appreciate that, it's not a McPake-type bully who just slaughters you, it's someone who can lead by example, be positive, be brave and drive you forward as you say.

Nothing whatsoever to do with "a big lad with a beard" or whatever was slavered earlier.

These guys get it 👆