No_Problemo

Adams dropped in and linked up several times when he came on, so that just isn’t true. Something that Dykes just didn’t do in his entire time on the park.

I’m not sure who the answer is then tbh…

There isn’t really anything to berate him for tonight either, so some pretty blatant bias on show there - I said it after the Netherlands game but it’s tragic behaviour. He got thirteen minutes to try and turn things around. Writing off Adams is just about as bad though.

The entire way we play is built on midfielders running beyond the striker linking play though. Adams is a lower end English Premiership striker, who basically gets a goal in four/five at that level. He certainly isn’t a goal scorer, but with the right midfield set up can be effective while still chipping in with goals occasionally.

Well, it is an argument given Dykes is one of his main rivals to start. Considering his lack of starts he has scored plenty this season. You quite clearly need your lone striker to act as a focal point and link things though.

He also links play, holds the ball up and has eight more goals than Lyndon Dykes this season. Suggesting he only works hard just isn’t true.

There’s legitimate criticism, which is fair enough and there’s making outlandish negative statements after a friendly defeat though.

Yeah - he came on in the 78th minute FFS. I still think Adams should start and he showed why when he came on with how he linked the play, but Shankland should be first sub if we need a goal and then Dykes after that if needed.

Yeah, it was never going to suit him tonight. Unless we are going really direct though, I don’t really want Dykes near our starting side.

As pish as it was, folk need to calm down. It was a friendly, they’ll be ready come Germany. NI had a better intensity, but that’s hardly surprising given it’s their big game and a game in which our players just don’t want to get injured.

I genuinely don’t think this is even a debate - Adams is miles in front as a footballer. You saw it in glimpses when he came on.

Dykes can’t be near starting for us right now, Adams has at least dropped, got involved and linked up play

I mean it’s still shite but it’s hardly surprising we look slightly better with some actual technically capable players on the pitch in the forward areas.

It’s weird behaviour to boo your own players during a friendly tbh.

How the f**k does one of our best players in recent times deserve to be booed by his own fans for a shite corner in a friendly.

Who the f**k is booing McGinn!

Christie and Dykes don’t remotely suit this style of game, and yet Christie is still on. Armstrong is far more dynamic for breaking a side down.

I don’t normally complain about Clarke subs anymore, but how is Dykes still on the park.

What even is this post

Not sure when he last touched the ball…

The same Porteous who was excellent in qualifying?

I struggle to see us beating anyone if we need to line up with a back five including Tomlinson, Murphy and Sanders. Particularly if the players in front of them include McKenzie and Bryden. That isn’t a dig at the formation, as I don’t know what else you do either. I suppose there isn’t any point playing utter shite and then having Dempsey on the bench, so I would maybe just play a back four of McHugh, McGinty, Sanders and Stanger. Amartey, Dempsey, Syla and McKenzie in front of them and ideally Willoughby and Dowds up front. If Willoughby is still out then I guess you just push Amartey up one and have to bring Bryden in. I don’t think that team will play but still.

We desperately need to get Bryden out on loan and get rid of Rose. Having those three as forward options signed up for next season is hugely depressing.

Yeah - my concerns about him aren’t really as a manager, more just in terms of what I want to see. I’m sick of rancid, defensive football and prioritising players that work all over the pitch over anything else. If it continues next season it’s not something I’m willing to regularly pay to watch anymore tbh. I guess that there will be workers out there with more footballing ability than McKenzie or Bryden though, we have just struggled to find them!

I hate this at any point during a game, unless you are defending a lead late on. To do it when you need a goal towards the end of a game is lunacy, particularly when you have someone with the pace of Amartey as an out ball. Just stick three players up at such a late stage. If I’m completely honest, it adds to some of my (very) early concerns about Brown in terms of being so defensive and just setting up with workers. It isn’t a fair judgement at this point, as we won’t know until next season but it concerns me that the mentality is defend first at that stage of a game…