Likely.
Good team. May end up with Doig/Stevenson in for D’oidge with Boyle shifting to striker.
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4-3-3
Rocky
McGinn/Gray
Porteous
Hanlon
Stevenson
Mallan
Gogic
Allan
Boyle
Nisbet
Wright
Seems to be a consensus that Josh Doig is in the running to start - I for one am going to be really disappointed when he inevitably ends up signing for Arbroath on loan for the rest of the season.
I’m pretty sure we’ll play three at the back and McGinn and Porteous will make up two of those three.
If Doidge isn’t fit enough to start I think Boyle will play up front with Nisbet, with Wright at wing back.
Middle of the park picks itself IMO.
I’d play Doig but I think we’ll play Stevenson.
Marciano
Jackson
Porteous
Hanlon
Boyle
Allan
Gogic
Newell
Doig
Doidge
Nisbet
I’m really hoping to see Newell and gogic at the base of midfield. Newell set piece delivery could be the difference
I see our recent record with Beaton as the ref is played six W1 D1 L4. Hope we balance that up a bit on Saturday.....
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Opening day. Go out and get at them! Gon the cabbage!!
Going by Jack Ross’ interview on YouTube Doidge has missed a fair chunk of pre season and only played 45 minutes. With that in mind I think we will start with 4232
.......................Marciano...................
McGinn.......McGregor.....Porteous......Stevenson. ....
................Gogic..........Newell.........
Boyle..................Allan..............Wright.. ....
........................Nisbet............
Daz and Porty in the same back 4 would not be wise.
Marciano
Mcginn
Porteous
Hanlon
Wright
Allan
Gogic
Newell
Doig
Boyle
Nisbet
I thought we might have gone for a 433 this season but if Doidge hasn’t played all pre-season and Ross is wanting to play a 3-5-2 then I think we’ll go with the above.
I actually thought Porteous had improved massively with his passing and was starting to play out from the back a lot, playing quite clever passes - sometimes trying to be too clever.
I’m also not one for defenders trying to be too clever, Efe is the exception as he was a genius. But centre backs should give the ball to the better players, simple 5 yard pass into someone like Newell in the middle of the park is all they need to do.
I don’t know when defenders started thinking their role was to play the Scott Allan pass from centre half. Let the good players play.
The good thing is Boyle and Wright will give us real width, stretch the game and be an out ball for us so Newell etc can change pay quickly. McGinn will also motor forward with Gogic dropping in for cover.
Also if anyone expects Gogic to get on the ball and dictate play I think they’ll be bitterly disappointed. He will always do the simple pass but knows his role inside out, give it to the best players who can hurt the opposition, be a leader and do the dirty/defensive work.
Hopefully we pick up 3 points and give Kilmarnock a bit of a hiding to get the confidence up early. A goal for Nisbet would be huge and relieve a lot of pressure for him.
I think it’s the opposite, I’m saying our centre half a should keep it simple and give it to the centre midfielders in-front of them and let them play. We need to retain possession a lot better and for longer periods imo so we can camp teams in and make them work to get the ball back.
Completely agree they should all be comfortable with their feet, but it’s having the knowledge when to play and how to use the ball smartly. Also it’s hard to play out from the back when Marciano is horrible with the ball at his feet.
Terry Butcher never done that, he had them sending 60 yard passes to wingers or up to the striker, something I can’t stand to watch. He had Nelson thinking he could zing a ball like Beckham but instead it would instantly gift possession back to the opposition.
As a team we seem to concede very very sloppy goals and seem to gift them to the opposition which we need to eradicate. We need to play in the right areas of the pitch.
There is a time and place for the passing however and at times the defenders need to know when it’s not safe and to play it long. In this league not many teams will press us that high up the pitch with the exception of the old firm, times like that you need to be a bit more street wise. You see it in the Prem when teams like Norwich concede against Liverpool’s by their centre half’s thinking they can play around their own box.
The friendly on Monday against Celtic was the prime example. Jackson played a sloppy pass to Hallberg on the edge of the box, he slipped and Celtic got the ball and scored.
Hanlon, McGregor, Hanlon and even Fontaine’s job was made a lot easier as they had guys like McGeouch, Fyvie and McGinn that would drop deep to get in it and play.
I doubt Doidge will start. He has not kicked a ball in any of the friendlies. It’s more likely Horgan will be up front alongside Nisbet. He has apparently looked impressive through the middle in the pre season kickabouts
Team a recon will be -
Marciano
Mcginn
Porteous
Hanlon
Stevenson
Gogic
Allan
Newall
Wright
Boyle
Nesbit
Doidge is injured apparently and won't play.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fou...-1596213930000
Of course I've stuck him down as first goalscorer in the competition thread. :rolleyes:
As much as I’d like to, I just can’t see Doig starting.
Only turned 18 in May and I wouldn’t be surprised to see us loan him out to a championship team with the view to him starting for us next season.