How do we compare to last season

[Tambo]

I was just reading an article posted today about our starting lineup last season for the first game Vs St Johnstone.

Marshall

Cadden
Rocky
Porteous
Cabraja

Kenneh
Newell

Melkersen
Henderson
Jair

Youan

This was the lineup that day, we did have some players unavailable due to injuries Nisbet and Magennis, Hanlon and Stevenson also had knocks and some players had not arrived yet.

How do you think it compares to what we could see for this seasons opener I have included Fish even though it's not official.

Marshall

Miller
Fish
Hanlon
Obita

Levitt
Newell
Campbell

Boyle
ALF
Youan

We have no idea how Johnson plan's to use Levitt, I honestly thought he was a more attacking player compared to the way he played the other day, in which I was impressed.

I have also added Obita as left back even though we have never seen him play in this position yet.

We all hope Boyle is going to be up and ready intime for this one but we might see him being eased in back in.

still time for more ins!

[B.H.F.C]

The potential team is stronger than the team from first day last year, middle to front at least.

[WeeRussell]

I could’ve swore Tavares just came on as a sub that day. Must be mistaken.

Maybe Campbell came on for him as he was involved in the goal I’m sure.

Maybe all of the above is incorrect and I’m just getting old.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Its hard to say at this point.

DEFENCE:

If you take last season as a whole our defence simply has to improve, we lost 59 goals, one less than 2nd bottom Ross County. Fish definitely improved us in the 2nd half of 22/23 so getting him back is a real bonus. Hopefully Wollacott will be an upgrade on Marshall and not being able to rely on Cadden in a defensive role is a bonus, the guy can't defend for toffee, so anything surely has to be an upgrade, be that Miller or Megwa. If Obita was signed as competition for Lewis it seemed strange not to play him at LB against Europa and the fact that Youan was played on the right against Bournemouth has me asking if LJ sees him as a left winger ... if that's the case is he really hoping to squeeze yet another season out of Stevenson?

Whether our defence will be better is still up for debate, but surely to goodness it can improve on the 59 goals it shipped last time around ... it has to FFS.

MIDFIELD:

As for the midfield I simply have no idea at this point. On paper Levitt should improve it, but he couldn't influence Dundee Utd enough to stop them getting relegated ( I appreciate that doesn't necessarily make him a bad player ) but a half against Europa and being part of a midfield that barely got a kick off the ball against Bournemouth is hardly enough to tell whether he is the player we all hope he will be for us. JDH actually put in a couple of performances at the end of the season and was not bad in Spain, so perhaps we will see more from him. Newell is absolutely fine with the right players around him IMO. Jeggo is ok at what he does, but he probably could be improved on. Campbell's form dropped off quite a bit latterly, we have to hope he regains his mojo. The rest you can chuck a blanket over to be honest.

My big worry is that we are a bit lightweight and as a poster said on another thread, we had better be good at retaining possession against the other sides, because it's hard to see how we are going to win the ball back when we do lose it.

FORWARDS:

A fully fit Boyle and the Youan of last season certainly gives us pace and a threat on either wing, with Obita looking like he can play left wing too. McKay could be the threat off the bench we lacked last season, which wouldn't be difficult, coz we simply didn't have any. But that's the end of the positives for me. I can't see Le Fondre being our go to centre forward and allegedly Doidge, who only scored 4 goals for Killie last season, could well be out the door.
IMO we absolutely have to sign a half decent striker with a bit of presence about him .... failure to do so could undo any good work we might have done in this window.

The jury is still out IMO as to whether what we have now is any better than last season.

[Since452]

I was just reading an article posted today about our starting lineup last season for the first game Vs St Johnstone.

Marshall

Cadden
Rocky
Porteous
Cabraja

Kenneh
Newell

Melkersen
Henderson
Jair

Youan

This was the lineup that day, we did have some players unavailable due to injuries Nisbet and Magennis, Hanlon and Stevenson also had knocks and some players had not arrived yet.

How do you think it compares to what we could see for this seasons opener I have included Fish even though it's not official.

Marshall

Miller
Fish
Hanlon
Obita

Levitt
Newell
Campbell

Boyle
ALF
Youan

We have no idea how Johnson plan's to use Levitt, I honestly thought he was a more attacking player compared to the way he played the other day, in which I was impressed.

I have also added Obita as left back even though we have never seen him play in this position yet.

We all hope Boyle is going to be up and ready intime for this one but we might see him being eased in back in.

still time for more ins!

Jeezy peeps man talk about powderpuff. I'd be surprised if those three were anywhere near our team for the St Mirren game. Be surprised if they're still at the club!

[Silky]

I don't know. The season hasn't started in earnest yet and I haven't seen any training, bounce games or anything to even remotely have an opinion. Maybe after the first round of league games I'll be in a better position to answer but until then, for me, there is no comparison at the moment.

[Tambo]

I could’ve swore Tavares just came on as a sub that day. Must be mistaken.

Maybe Campbell came on for him as he was involved in the goal I’m sure.

Maybe all of the above is incorrect and I’m just getting old.

You are right, Campbell did come on as a sub and did score the winner.

[babahibs]

I was just reading an article posted today about our starting lineup last season for the first game Vs St Johnstone.

Marshall

Cadden
Rocky
Porteous
Cabraja

Kenneh
Newell

Melkersen
Henderson
Jair

Youan

This was the lineup that day, we did have some players unavailable due to injuries Nisbet and Magennis, Hanlon and Stevenson also had knocks and some players had not arrived yet.

How do you think it compares to what we could see for this seasons opener I have included Fish even though it's not official.

Marshall

Miller
Fish
Hanlon
Obita

Levitt
Newell
Campbell

Boyle
ALF
Youan

We have no idea how Johnson plan's to use Levitt, I honestly thought he was a more attacking player compared to the way he played the other day, in which I was impressed.

I have also added Obita as left back even though we have never seen him play in this position yet.

We all hope Boyle is going to be up and ready intime for this one but we might see him being eased in back in.

still time for more ins!

If these two teams played each other, I think this seasons beats last seasons quite comfortably

[Alex Trager]

I can’t get excited about the squad as it is. I was hoping for more in by now to give them time to settle. It’s still a way off being where it needs to be.

I do think it is a bit better than the team that started in Perth.

[Paul1642]

We are in a better position than this time last year without any doubt. I also feel like hearts are weaker and Aberdeen not much stronger than they were going into last season.

The fish deal sounds as good as done and we are only a couple more away from having a really good strongest 11 with a little depth. It’s also a fairly settled team which always helps. We definitely did not have any of these things last year.

[BlackSheep]

I find it quite interesting that everyone lines up with Obita as LB yet he hasn’t played there at all during preseason… I’m sure that’s just been down to personnel availability but perhaps LJ hasn’t signed him as a LB…?

[Tambo]

I find it quite interesting that everyone lines up with Obita as LB yet he hasn’t played there at all during preseason… I’m sure that’s just been down to personnel availability but perhaps LJ hasn’t signed him as a LB…?

I think alot of people would want Youan on the left and Boyle on the right.

I do agree though that we've not seen him there yet so hard to judge him over Lewis in that position, I was hoping he would of got a run out at LB Vs Bournemouth for periods of the game to have a look at him.

[BlackSheep]

I think alot of people would want Youan on the left and Boyle on the right.

I do agree though that we've not seen him there yet so hard to judge him over Lewis in that position, I was hoping he would of got a run out at LB Vs Bournemouth for periods of the game to have a look at him.

Totally agree, but there’s definitely a case to wonder if LJ sees him as a LB first and back up LM/LW second.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Wallacott

Miller
Fish (hopefully)
Hanlon
Stevenson

JDH
Newell
Levitt

Boyle
Le Fondre
Youan

Would be my team and it’s a decent bit stronger than last seasons starting 11 imo. I don’t think there’s anyone from last seasons team that isn’t in this seasons I’d be in a rush to get back in it.

[ian cruise]

Totally agree, but there’s definitely a case to wonder if LJ sees him as a LB first and back up LM/LW second.

I wonder if he's been playing him there to see if he needs to also buy a back up LW or if Obita could cover, already feeling pretty confident in his ability at LB?

[Donegal Hibby]

Marshall.
Miller .
Fish . ( Hopefully).
Hanlon.
Orbita .
Levitt.
Newell .
Campbell.
Boyle.
New no 9.
Youan .

I'd be starting with Campbell instead of JDH as I think both Newell and JDH have fairly similar attributes and I just don't think they are a good pairing in midfield together.We need somebody chipping in with a few goals and Newell and JDH aren't goalscoring midfielders and never have been either. Whoever we play in midfield I still think our midfield lacks bite tbh .

A new striker is massively important after losing Nisbet imo and as much as I like Alf I don't see him as a first team player in fairness .We really need to spend money and get a good 20 goal striker in .

I don't think our bench will be as bad as last year either with Wollacott, Rocky , Stevenson, Alf , JDH , Mackay , Melkersen, McAllister, Rudi , Megwa , Delferrere etc to choose from , plus with Cadden and Mckirdy to come back as well. Still think RB position is concerning in if we lose Miller to injury all we have is young Megwa even though he's a good young player I don't know if he's ready yet tbh .

[Alex Trager]

Marshall.
Miller .
Fish . ( Hopefully).
Hanlon.
Orbita .
Levitt.
Newell .
Campbell.
Boyle.
New no 9.
Youan .

I'd be starting with Campbell instead of JDH as I think both Newell and JDH have fairly similar attributes and I just don't think they are a good pairing in midfield together.We need somebody chipping in with a few goals and Newell and JDH aren't goalscoring midfielders and never have been either. Whoever we play in midfield I still think our midfield lacks bite tbh .

A new striker is massively important after losing Nisbet imo and as much as I like Alf I don't see him as a first team player in fairness .We really need to spend money and get a good 20 goal striker in .

I don't think our bench will be as bad as last year either with Wollacott, Rocky , Stevenson, Alf , JDH , Mackay , Melkersen, McAllister, Rudi , Megwa , Delferrere etc to choose from , plus with Cadden and Mckirdy to come back as well. Still think RB position is concerning in if we lose Miller to injury all we have is young Megwa even though he's a good young player I don't know if he's ready yet tbh .
That bench is nowhere near good enough for me tbh mate.
I’m not seeing much coming off it to change the game, McKay and Alf perhaps but in reality it needs to improve

[The Spaceman]

Our starting 11 looks good and is a 3rd-place challenging 11 without a doubt. But the lack of depth is concerning and could be our undoing - we don’t have anyone who we can bring on (yet) who can turn the game about. Would like us to get in a starting CF (Myko would be perfect), CAM, Will Fish, and an absolutely rapid Winger to swap in for Youan if we want to shift him in the middle when chasing a game or playing on the counter. Get those four and I’ll be a lot more comfortable.

[Key West]

At this moment in time we look vulnerable defensively,Levitt should improve the midfield,on the flanks we have to hope that Obita is the answer to our problems on the left and up front we are definitely short in options.