Reidy

Sacking him this week would be making a decision based on emotions from a one-off game. I wouldn’t say waiting until the season is over and assessing the overall picture (with a new CEO in place) before deciding what route to go next is.

Well that was grim. Easy being a smart-arse in hindsight, and there’s nothing to say we wouldn’t have shat the bed last night regardless, but I thought at 3-0 up at HT and game done vs Ross County on Tuesday we could’ve made some subs earlier to rest a few players ahead of last night. On the manager, handshake and part ways when his contract is up in the summer feels like the most obvious outcome. As much as last night was evidence to the contrary, we still should have enough to finish a minimum of 10th.

So this just isn’t in my imagination then? As I’ve felt like there’s been a significant shift in how Craigan talks about the club in the media more or less since Robbo left as Manager.

I’d echo that, majority of the book is dedicated to his time with us (hardly any wonder as it brought back to mind how absolutely mental an era that was). Worth a read on the provision you can take with a pinch of salt Pat’s self-styled “not your average footballer” schtick and some teflon reflections of his role as Chief Exec (he takes the blame for not putting a sell-on clause in McCullochs sale and practically nothing else).

Early front-runner for 2024’s Victor Nirrenold trophy.

I’d be surprised if Kettlewell made those assurances to any signing tbh, let alone Halliday. I think the extra year we’ve given him at this stage in his career is more likely to have swung it (if indeed there were other clubs in the league keen).

Aye, it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere. Unless Alexander sticks around somewhere long enough to come back in for him..

I’ve probably slaughtered Daws as much as anyone but in fairness I think one of the main reasons our recruitment seems wild now is he’s working with his 3rd manager in as many years. I think these set-ups work better when there’s a strong relationship between the manager and his role. Foyle and Robinson for example seem to work hand in glove and you can see the benefits of a stable “type” of player that they know to look for. Daws probably had that with GA, for example I’m sure I remember seeing one of the main reasons behind Sol and Ojala signing were that the numbers showed them as being strong in winning duels within the penalty box etc which is an attribute that suited the way we played under him (love it or loathe it). The whole thing looks a lot less joined up now and there’s probably a strong case for Daws leaving when the rest of that group did, however I’m sure there’s financial reasons why that never happened.

I can’t remember ever being less confident with a player (with pace) in a one-on-one situation as I was when Shaw broke clear last night

Just watched the full video back, id forgotten about Jordan Jones ending David Ferguson’s career that night. Did he even make it to HT before he got dragged off?

Had to google it to remember the name but I’m sure James Okoli signed at the same time as Chiba. Didn’t stick around for long either. Probably misremembering but wasn’t that Rangers game both of their debuts?

Went along to a couple of Thistle games during the WC break and he was a stand-out. Hoped we’d maybe be one of the circling vultures for him after their financial statement yesterday but think he’s still under contract so would need a fee. Turner looked a decent footballer as well but is built like the gable end of a fiver.

Understand the incentives for them but I’m trying hard to think of any of the glut of young players in the last 7/8 years that were pinched prior to playing first team football for us that have so far went on to do anything of note? Ironically you could probably argue a case for McKinstry being the one who has made the most headway unless there’s an obvious one I’ve missed

Aye, I’m sure he was thinking something else in his head from what came out but it did make me chuckle.

Who was todays guest? Didn’t catch his name but believe he is a sportswriter. Someone texted in at the end of the show to clamp all the cliche wistful nostalgia by highlighting that statistically Adams and Dykes international goal return per game is actually more favourable than Jordan/McCoist etc and his counter that “they didn’t play as many games in those days” unintentionally had me in stitches.

I’m guessing the club have maybe taken the approach that there’s more chance of him blinking first and willing to agree to some sort of severance if he realises he’s got absolutely f**k all chance of playing?

Interested to see if this turns out to be Tam’s “Richard Keys” moment with the BBC. Always felt once the BBC emptied him he’d go all-in at somewhere like PLZ Soccer (still to work out who the f**k watches that) where he’s got more of a licence to explore the full limits of his out of touch Da patter without having to begrudgingly toe the line as he does at Pacific Quay.

Could be a tough call to be made on this one in January if he isn’t showing anything by then. Burrows would be as well just deleting his Twitter if we decide to hand him back.

That’s pretty much it for me. I think the initial bounce we got under Hammy wearing off + injuries + a stinking run of fixtures have led us into a spell now that I think most sensible heads were accepting would happen back in August. I very much like the general ideas behind what Hammy is looking to do but realistically it’s going to take him 2/3 windows to get the players required for it and rid of the others, therefore what’s the best approach in short-term given that first and foremost we absolutely need to stay in the division? Keep doing what we’re doing or tweak things slightly (or significantly)? On the KVV conundrum, he’s had a good season up until the last few games (as @thisGRAEME pointed out earlier probably no coincidence that he’s dropped off since Moults injury) but he’s always been erratic. The biggest issue is our current over-reliance on him which obviously isn’t his fault. Feels like there’s more questions than answers just now, WC and then the transfer window can’t come quick enough tbh.

I never thought I’d say this even just a month or so ago but we’ve really missed Joe Efford the last couple of games. We struggle to progress with the ball when we have it or stretch teams when there’s very little pace in the team. I know injury prognosis’ are a lot more top-secret these days, but has there been any word on Efford, Moult and/or Aarons likely lay-off times? Season-defining is probably an exaggeration but the remaining games prior to the WC are certainly massive now and the fact the squad is crumbling is a concern.

Did we not have George Newell (Mikes son) round about the same time as Connor Ripley? Edit - Alex Bruce at Killie as well

There was a car-crash 30 seconds or so yesterday where they managed to cram in mistaking Marvin Bartley/Marvin Andrews when discussing the Livi game to quickly moving on to the “Nations league” draw and the threat Christian Eriksen could pose alongside Haaland for Norway. More fool me because I do still seek it out most weeks but now more frequently treading a fine line of whether i can stick it out for longer than half an hour or so. The quality or otherwise of the guest tends to swing it.

Must’ve been the only time last season that he hit the deck and never earned a free-kick for it.