Clyde have a few doubts however I think we'll line up

I would imagine we will go something along the lines of what we played against St Mirren on Saturday, maybe a change or 2 if we can get a few players back from knocks. Hopefully Allan McManus and Brian Wake recover from knocks and we can put out our strongest available team, Allan Jenkins aside.

--------------------Stewart

-----Greacen--McManus--Weatherson

Finlayson--Paartalu--Masterton--McAlister

------------Russell--Wake--Newby

Much like last season's games, I expect this to be a tight affair but I'm hopeful that our new found solidity in defence, coupled to the apparent decline in the quality of Clyde's, will see us pick up the points.

I'm predicting 2-1 Morton, Iain Russell amongst the goals after an impressive pre-season.

I'm just waiting for VikingTON and his obsession with all things Clyde related to appear in this thread.

Looking at those two line-ups, it will be about 17-17! Trouten and McLaren will have a field day against... err... no full backs whilst it's gonna be three-on-three at the other end of the park!

I think this'll be a very tight game, although there may well be a good few goals in it like last year's opener.
Hopefully we'll turn out something like this:
Stewart
Greacen McManus Walker
Finlayson Masterton Paartalu McAllister
Russell Wake Newby

From the limited action I saw of the front three on Saturday, they looked more than capable of causing sides serious problems this year.
Main concern for me is the centre of midfield against an alleged Clyde 3: its safe to say they didn't look too convincing against the Scum, although there will be a clear decline in quality and hopefully a lot more dig on Saturday.
If Clyde do play wing-backs they'll have their work cut out hopefully our wide players can push further forward.
I'm not going to demand a win on Saturday by any means, but I'm hoping for a 3-1 win.

Or is it my obsession with all things Morton?




McAllister and Finlayson would be playing a wing-back, run-around-like-headless-chickens role.
If Clyde lined up like that I'd expect it to weaken their midfield threat rather than boost it.

We have bigger fish to fry before this game

If Ruari MacLennan is fit and international clearance is received for Michael Ohnesorge, I'd put them in for McKay and Roddy MacLennan, with Trouten moving to the right.

I think it will be a good game but i can see clyde winning it 2-0

1st game of the season anything can happen, ill go for a score draw

Can't see us losing this one.

2-0 Ton

Morton's main problem last season was that their defence was awful. Now Irons has looked at it and strengthened with the capture of McManus. I've always liked McManus and I think he'll prove to be a fantastic signing for the 'Ton. Attackingly, they look very good and with set-pieces from Masterton, Clyde really can't afford to give away daft free-kicks like they did all season.

Hutton
Gibson Brown Higgins
Trouten McLennan McGregor Kettlewell McLaren/Ohnesorge (if he gets his permit.)
Clarke McSwegan

A tight encounter with Morton just scraping by 2-1. Stewart will, no doubt, gift us a goal at the death.

I'm going for a score draw here.

The defence is very makeshift and Weatherson is an even bigger liability than Graecen and Harding on their bad days. But I reckon we've got people who can get goals. It's been something that Irons has worked on. The strikers are better positionally than they have been before, so they can make chances.

Lets say 2-2.

Agreed

I think Clyde will win 2-1, giving them false hope that they are a better side and will finish above us, which will make it all the sweeter when they dont.

Will be a good game regardless of the score IMO.

I think Trouten and McLaren will give attacking sparks down the wings.
Gemmill looked a decent catch against Annan but thats the thing, it was against Annan no offence.

We can't give away silly free kicks like last year, us Clyde fans know too well what Steven Masterton can do from 25 yards out.

Whatever, i'll be there! C'mon the Clyde

we haven't even had a glimpse of that yet.

You will

I wouldn't be so sure about the 3-4-3 for ourselves tbh. It is expected that Chris Smith and Alan Reid sign for us this week. Left and right back respectively, although they can play as one of 3 CBs as well so who knows. Lee Robinson will sign for us and although I hope he starts ahead of Stewart in goal, although I don't think he will.

If we do play 3 at the back I would not agree with the posts above. It'd probably be
Weatherson - McManus - Smith or Greacen - McManus - Smith.

If we play a front 2 then I hope it's Russell and one of the others.

I can see Alan Trouten scoring for them, and Stevie Masterton scoring for us in a 3-2 Morton win with Russell and Newby getting the others.

I agree. His set pieces have been very poor from what I've seen

Yeah, Masterton was poor last season but came into things in the play offs (albiet against 2 division 2 sides) as a makeshift centre back and done pretty well.

Anyway, onto the game. Both teams have strengthened from last season (in particlular Mortons defence with the capture of McManus and our midfield/attack, so it will be a really end to end game. Can see us scraping it 3-2, just like the home team did in last seasons opener.

I would go with,



Subs: Cherrie, Gemmill, Roddy MacLennan, McLaren, McGowan.

Looking at that, theres not great depth in our defence, although McGregor could move back, as could McGowan and Ohnesorge to left back. Oh yeah and Waddells still injured.



Mon the Bully!

I'm still far from convinced about our defence although McManus should prove to be a good signing. If Clyde have any pace on the wings then we could be in for a long afternoon. I'd be happy if we can take a point.

I think we'll put ourselves in a false dawn with a easy 2-0 win.

Chris, are you aware of Mikeys departure to QOS mate?

David McGowan

I reckon it will still be freezing despite the baking heat across the country.

David McGowan dumbass.

It'll be a tight early season affair, with both teams trying to avoid mistakes.

5-5 draw

A 3-2 win for us. I'm being completely original!

Aye, still waiting to see when this is going to transpire.

Too slow at times and hogging the ball which is eventually taken off him.

I thought he put over some pretty good corners against the Midden that would have probably caused some more problems against a first division defence. I'm still hopeful he'll turn out to be the man to win games for us with a great pass (similar to his through ball to Newby for the opener on Saturday) or a good set piece.

This was always my problem with Masterton. He has the ability to win games almost single handedly if he wants to. His abilty from set pieces is unquestionable, but in the middle of the park he quite often gets muscled out the game which for a guy of his size shouldn't happen. He rarely made a killer pass from the centre of midfield through to a striker in his time at Clyde but his goals and assists from free kicks kept him in the team.

He does have the ability pass the ball about with ease and dictate a game and when he's in form he is very very good. When he is not on form he is god damn awful. There is no medium with him.

3-2 Clyde, with Morton having a seemingly good equiliser disallowed for dubious reasons.

It's only fair

edit: Then in 8 months time you go intot he play-off's by a single goal

0-0 in a mind numbingly awful game.

No. No, no, no. We'll be play-off free this year.

Says who, proof

fixed it for you.

Automatic then?

After tonight I'd take this team out

Fully expect Morton to be on a par with Annan. 2 or 3 nil Clyde.

Can't see their being much between the two sides. It will be either a draw or a one goal win either way. I am going for 2-1 to us..... which probably means we will lose 5-0.

i wouldnt mind being on a par with Hibs.

Saturday will be a whole new ball game, Tough 1 to predict but home advantage might just swing it our way

You make it sound like their play suffers due to being on their period.



You going, mate? Can't really think of a less appealing opener than bloody Clyde. Still in two minds but will probably head up. Might even wear a pair of shorts and be a right fuckin' nutter.

As for the game, I reckon we'll win by the odd goal in three. I do worry who'll create the chances for us, though, with Jenkins being out and Stevenson away back to Alloa on loan. I pray McManus makes it as big Greacen's seriously lacking match practice/fitness and I don't want Blufferson anywhere near the team if it can be avoided.

We really need to get off to a flier on Saturday with St Johnstone visiting next week and I reckon we will.

Clyde for the drop.

Reckon I am going - been stuck in all week so far with the weather being too crappy for a hillwalk, so am escaping on Saturday.
Will be checking with the old man to see if he's up for it - might be doing a fairly large detour!

Greacen is our only recognised, remotely fit centre-half at the moment.
This is a major concern.

It will be interesting to see if last nights performance will have an effect on Browns team selection. Gemmill and McKay's performances were better than anything Clarke has produced in pre-season.

What's the matter with the others?

McManus - injured
Harding - injured
McGregor - injured
Walker (acting centre half - injured)

Back 3 on Saturday will most likely be McGuffie, Weatherson and Greacen/Smith (if signed)