HMIP Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 6 minutes ago, No_Problemo said: Definitely partly that, but I would say Mark Kerr was a more important part of that midfield! An on form Murdoch could play the Docherty role, no one can play Kerr’s. Murdoch picked up a career threatening injury before Doc signed with Partick. Too much of our midfield planning has been built around the assumption that he would immediately be back to the player he was. And if I’m honest, I don’t think he was ever as good at the midfield holding role. Like Crawford, we’ve only missed Docherty after he left. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BukyOHare Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, HMIP said: Like Crawford, we’ve only missed Docherty after he left A support is often divided on a particular player during his time with a club. It's only when he leaves, and isn't adequately replaced, that you appreciate what his true worth actually was. We've had more than our fair share of these type of players over the past 30+ years. That worth isn't always identified by goals or assists either as it's often not the flashy headline grabbing player. Its often the players with a strong mentality that are equally as difficult to replace. Those that can bring the communication or encouragement between colleagues that avoids throwing away leads late in games. It can be a last ditch block or tackle and overall just that inherent will to win, whatever it takes. You can never have enough of them in your team. Edited August 5, 2021 by BukyOHare 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_Problemo Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 1 hour ago, HMIP said: Murdoch picked up a career threatening injury before Doc signed with Partick. Too much of our midfield planning has been built around the assumption that he would immediately be back to the player he was. And if I’m honest, I don’t think he was ever as good at the midfield holding role. Like Crawford, we’ve only missed Docherty after he left. Murdoch at his best, was better than Docherty IMO - they are different players though. Docherty was a fantastic player btw, and we have most definitely missed him. If we were choosing, I would rather have a Mark Kerr style player though. I was certainly in the group that appreciated Crawford too. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superhursty7 Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Doc could not get back in the team when he came back from injury because of Murdoch/Kerr, he only got that starting spot again after Murdoch got injured 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Jaffo Posted August 5, 2021 Author Share Posted August 5, 2021 Docherty was really good when he came back into the team after Murdochs injury and in fairness to him, his performances never dropped after signing the PCA. I just felt overall he could be replaced at this level and the fact he hasn’t been is more down to poor recruitment rather than him being a brilliant player. If I had the choice between signing a midfielder or another striker I’d take the midfielder all day long. It could be the difference between a good and a terrible season for us. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_Problemo Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 11 minutes ago, D'Jaffo said: Docherty was really good when he came back into the team after Murdochs injury and in fairness to him, his performances never dropped after signing the PCA. I just felt overall he could be replaced at this level and the fact he hasn’t been is more down to poor recruitment rather than him being a brilliant player. If I had the choice between signing a midfielder or another striker I’d take the midfielder all day long. It could be the difference between a good and a terrible season for us. Completely agree. The Mark Kerr style player was much harder to replace, but the Docherty role shouldn’t have been as difficult as it’s proved. I don’t think it should even be a question whether it’s a central midfielder or striker, and I would be even more worried about this season if the manager prioritised a striker! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diegomarahenry Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Before anyone makes any hilarious Messi signing comments it wasn’t funny the last time 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 12 minutes ago, diegomarahenry said: Before anyone makes any hilarious Messi signing comments it wasn’t funny the last time We already have our own Messi. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North British Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 On the topic of Crawford , he was a luxury player in a team that was fairly loaded with them . Ironically he would be a better fit in the current side , with plenty of others around to lift the piano . Hopefully O’Conner can live up to the hype and be our piano player . On Saturday we must find a way to have him on the field at the same time as Tommi and Johnnie . With that three on the pitch we really need a Kerr style player with some legs in the centre of midfield . Could Chalmers do it , not sure he could ! Pretty much means we need to sign one . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superhursty7 Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 On the topic of Crawford , he was a luxury player in a team that was fairly loaded with them . Ironically he would be a better fit in the current side , with plenty of others around to lift the piano . Hopefully O’Conner can live up to the hype and be our piano player . On Saturday we must find a way to have him on the field at the same time as Tommi and Johnnie . With that three on the pitch we really need a Kerr style player with some legs in the centre of midfield . Could Chalmers do it , not sure he could ! Pretty much means we need to sign one . 100% this no point having Adeloye, Afolabi and O'Connor if we are just going to pump it long every time 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Crawford suffered from being shoehorned into the team in left midfield. He was always better in the middle but Uncle Ian stuck him wide left. McCall loved playing centre mids out wide. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Superhursy7 said: 100% this no point having Adeloye, Afolabi and O'Connor if we are just going to pump it long every time I'm not convinced we will pump it long versus Arbroath. However, I expect any game where Hopkin thinks we are weaker or the underdogs it will be a bit like Monday night. Resolute defensively and then shell it long. Fucking brutal to watch but hopefully winning/drawing more than we lose? Against teams he perceives to be weaker I expect we'll play a bit more expensively - more like how we played against Hamilton. (at least I hope we will). Edited August 5, 2021 by Trogdor 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North British Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 5 minutes ago, Trogdor said: I'm not convinced we will pump it long versus Arbroath. However, I expect any game where Hopkin thinks we are weaker or the underdogs it will be a bit like Monday night. Resolute defensively and then shell it long. Fucking brutal to watch but hopefully winning more than we lose? Against teams he perceives to be weaker I expect we'll play a bit more expensively - more like how we played against Hamilton. (at least I hope we will). Take your point but I think he had Accies down as the same caliber as Killie . Same team same formation just a different outcome . Reason : we were about 10% better at our work against Accies ... My feeling is , as mentioned by another poster , that we’ll be going for three points in every home game and maybe just trying not to lose when away from home . However don’t expect a cavalry charge on Saturday , we just ain’t that side these days . I would love to see a 4-4-2 on Saturday but i’d settle for a 5-3-2 . The 4-5-1 at home would give me the fear .. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffster Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 18 minutes ago, Trogdor said: However, I expect any game where Hopkin thinks we are weaker or the underdogs it will be a bit like Monday night. Resolute defensively and then shell it long. I agree. Concede one goal and we are stuffed. "They shall not pass" has never been a particularly successful slogan even when the intention is good. Unrelatedly, are people content with Hopkin getting the first round of league games before passing judgement? A 2-year deal suggests we might be in it for a long time, not a good time. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No_Problemo Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 I’m actually starting to look forward to Saturday now, not entirely sure why but I think it’ll be good to see three half decent attacking players on the pitch for us. Still got some hope for this campaign, hopefully it isn’t completely extinguished on Saturday. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North British Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 14 minutes ago, wuffster said: Unrelatedly, are people content with Hopkin getting the first round of league games before passing judgement? A 2-year deal suggests we might be in it for a long time, not a good time. Any hint of relegation from Hopkin or any other manager employed by Smith and there would be changes . I expect finishing between 7th and 5th will be enough to get the second year of the contract . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callum-ayr Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 16 minutes ago, No_Problemo said: I’m actually starting to look forward to Saturday now, not entirely sure why but I think it’ll be good to see three half decent attacking players on the pitch for us. Still got some hope for this campaign, hopefully it isn’t completely extinguished on Saturday. Yeah, if you take the emotion out of the games, we’ve qualified for the last 16 of the league cup and lost to the league favourites in the opening game of the season having not played for nearly 2 weeks. Add to that Killie having had a couple of results to boos their confidence going into the match. I’m still optimistic for the season, result needed on Saturday though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BukyOHare Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 11 minutes ago, North British said: I expect finishing between 7th and 5th will be enough to get the second year of the contract . And so it absolutely should. Call me defeatist, but I'd be delighted to finish between 5th and 7th this season, given last year's troubles. It would definitely be seen as progression which is what we all want and what the club ultimately needs. It provides some stability on and off the field and let the club keep planning longer term. To keep flirting at the bottom of the table is not the desired performances of a team with ambitions for promotion. As far off as that may be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diegomarahenry Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 53 minutes ago, wuffster said: I agree. Concede one goal and we are stuffed. "They shall not pass" has never been a particularly successful slogan even when the intention is good. Unrelatedly, are people content with Hopkin getting the first round of league games before passing judgement? A 2-year deal suggests we might be in it for a long time, not a good time. If we had put up a fight against Kilmarnock and lost 2-0 I’d have said yes. It was the first game a team got in our faces and we crapped it. We could end up having a team boo’d on to the park for the first home league game of the season. Arbroath normally start the season slow so a defeat on Saturday and I think the calls will start. 20 games, almost a whole new team and the same bad results and performances wouldn’t be fans being fickle. I’d hope there were clauses in his contract on performance but if there is, it probably won’t kick in till the 3rd quarter should it continue to go wrong. As long as we don’t get in to a Daziel situation where Smith keeps giving him money rather than taking action. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLIS Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 On 04/08/2021 at 18:58, D'Jaffo said: Is Jacobs not finished? He’s someone I thought Hopkin would’ve been interested in but I thought his legs were away. He broke his leg about 2 seasons ago now and hasn't played a game since. Would be a huge gamble on a player who was only ever lower Championship level in the first place. Think it was Hopkin that brought him back from his year abroad in South Africa though so he has signed him before but I think it was more of a formality of him just returning to the club 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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