SpoonTon

It looks like this game comes potentially right in the middle of Rangers trying to qualify for the CL. So this probably increases our chances of success, albeit from no chance to virtually no chance. Horrible place to visit, but at least we're not losing away to Motherwell again.

I read this type of thing a lot. We're a full time club, are we paying him part-time wages? And if so, are there not better part-time players out there? He played about 30 minutes of football in the second half of last season - that's not great value for whatever he's being paid. Per minute played, he must be about the most expensive in the squad.

Let's put this another way. If Michael Garrity wasn't already under contract, would we be looking to go out and sign someone with his record over the past couple of seasons? He sat on the bench for the most part of the second half of last season, playing no meaningful part, after a loan move to Dumbarton which didn't work out. It's less a judgement on his ability and a more an observation that he hasn't really broken through and doesn't really seem to be part of Imrie's plans. There is nothing much on the pitch to suggest that Imrie trusts him to play a significant role.

I can only imagine what he would have thought of the state of the pitch a couple of years ago The pitch was very sticky, that's for sure. Pretty much every ball was worth chasing down because it was holding up on the bounce. Tbh, though, the only real issue looked like it could have done with being watered. There didn't seem to be much else wrong with the way the ball moved about or how the players dealt with the ball. The pitch has seemed increasingly bumpy in recent years, perhaps the damage of overuse at times, but it's tough to see what the specific issue is. In any case, it wasn't the best idea to say things like that to the paper. Doesn't seem like the brightest move.

Strapp's height is not an issue. He's exactly the height you'd expect a left back to be. Maybe he seems shorter than he is because there is a weakness around his game in the air, but it's not his height. Some players are 6'6" and struggle to win high balls...

He has all the attributes needed to make the step up but there's definitely a couple of question marks there. I get the impression that he didn't always follow Imrie's instructions and there's maybe a bit of a weak point over his defending at set pieces. You never know with players making the step up, but I think most Morton fans would think that Strapp is destined for the step up a division sooner rather than later. Imrie doesn't necessarily agree.

I tend to think Garrity will leave if we can move him on and if there would be funds to replace him I think that would be ideal. A creative attacking midfielder with a bit of guile to play either inside or wide is probably the option we're lacking there at the moment. It's just such a pity about losing Grimshaw. Having a player like that who can play in midfield as well as at right back was a great asset. I agree that 20 would be better, and we'll probably end up there, but maybe not immediately. I think we will need defensive midfield cover at some point, but that might have to be something which develops later.

I don't think that Roy was costing us a massive amount (I don't have any inside info but this has been said). I'm not sure if Ali Crawford is someone we're necessarily going to be able to replace at this stage - after all, we only had him for 2 or 3 months (which obviously isn't the same money as signing a player for the season). Realistically, I think we need to replace Grimshaw, Carlo (in some way), and a sub 'keeper and then save any remaining budget for what might happen during the season (e.g. like when we were forced to bring in Waters for Strapp or when we brought in Ali Crawford to try to strengthen the squad for the run-in). This would leave us with: Goalkepeers: Mullen, New Defence: Baird, O'Conner, Broadfoot, Waters, New Midfield: Gillespie, Blues, Crawford, McGrattan, King Forwards: Muirhead, Oakley, Boyd, Quitongo, Garrity With one more player who could add competition/cover in midfield/defence. This would leave us with a squad of 18. Ideally, we'd replace Garrity with a player who would be a bit more useful for us (that's where a signing like Deane would have made sense). We're going to running with a thin squad, we always do, and we'll need space to adjust things as the season goes on.

From about halftime in the Hamilton game he was a different player and had an excellent run-in, but that wouldn't have been his only purple patch as a player when he would go onto later disappoint. I honestly have no idea where his career will go from here.

That statement just keep going and going, and then, just when you thought that the lack of self awareness was complete, it went on some more. Do people running football clubs never have any media training?

Schwake seemed very technically sound at what he did for the most part. Kicking/throwing was solid, handling was solid, shot stopping was pretty good. He made a few mistakes but certainly no more than average at this level. But I think it remained very tough to judge him at this level because he didn't often come out of his comfort zone. He didn't come for far too many balls that he might have. That could have been due to not being the fastest at anticipating where a ball was going or it could have been down to his concerns about his physical limitations (being fairly slight as keepers go). Either way I saw it as a major weakness in his game at this point, but maybe not the biggest weakness for their u23 league (or whatever it is now).

He was a class act when he came in for us. Defended the box very well and played the ball out well too (wouldn't have wanted him exposed against a quick striker though). He really helped us out in an awkward moment in our season. He did overdo it a few times and had a stinker at Celtic park, but he's still got quality. The legs are going though, and O'Connor came back in and got stronger and stronger as the season went on. I'm not sure how much he's got left in the tank or if he's up to playing every week over a season but we've had way worse at this level. He wasn't going to displace O'Connor and Baird but he would've been good back up and I'd be happy to have him at league one level. You never know when it's going to be one season too many, but on the evidence of this season he'd be a good signing for any League One club.

I think credit to Ryan Fulton for a couple of outstanding saves in the five minutes they did seem to give up before pulling themselves back together a bit. If we had gone 3 or 4 up in that spell, it could've ended up any number.

You've got to think Blues will come back in if he's fit. Either way I suspect Imrie will find a way of relieving Pignatiello of the right back position after his first half performance last night - he hasn't been very forgiving of Carlo's poorer performances this season. He'll be keen to play Oakley and he won't drop Muirhead. I tend to think Ali Crawford will drop out for Muirhead coming deeper again. As much as he likes Crawford, he rightly hooked him last night and I think that might have been his patience running out there.

There was nothing to review. There was nothing there that could have been a sending off. VAR clearly looked at it and saw that was the case. There was very little difference between what Robertson did and other incidents last night, like Porteous pushing the guy in the back when going to take a throw in. The only difference was Porro simulating meaningful contact with his face and rolling around for a couple of minutes.

I thought Maguire was good against us last week. His movement was clever and caused us real problems. You can see that with his contribution for the third goal - that was a constant problem for us, and we really struggled when we let him into the match. Our good spell in the first half came when we actually managed to press well, and cut of any decent service to the front two, but we conceded cheap goals and fell apart in the second half. On that showing, there's no major problem with Maguire.

I thought it was a red. If the other defender comes over to cover he leaves another Hamilton player on his own through on goal. It's essentially a 2 on 1 at this point. The guy either had a clear one on one with Gaston or he plays the other attacker in to slot it into the empty goal. Either way it's a clear goalscoring opportunity.

I saw him go down in the first half on Saturday. Celtic got a corner and he bounced back off and tried to limp it off. I worried at the time that it didn't look wise, it looked a bad one and like he should have been staying down for treatment. No criticism here, though, I once tried to play on with torn ankle ligaments during a game of 7s (couldn't even feel my foot) never mind a Scottish Cup tie in front of 40,000 - actually, I tried to run off a torn calf muscle earlier this year, I'm certainly not wise when it comes to injuries. It's a big blow. He's such and all-rounder at left back. Proper full-back - we so seldom get those at our level. If he could improve his focus and marking work at set-pieces, then I'm sure he'd easily manage a step up or two.

I did think that, but couldn't remember for sure. I thought it was funny when watching the replay back just how many players left him onside and unmarked.

Apart from the other 2 or 3 players playing him onside.

It says that, but it's not the case. That's how bad the website is. Once you purchase, the mobile and print pdfs are available in Profile>Purchase history>Transaction ID>View.

Hamilton had his two worst performances of the season at Palmerston, so you're view is understandable, but overwise he was very good - better than McCrorie was IMO (although I was less sold on McCrorie than other Morton fans). Technically he looked like an excellent 'keeper, but it in small number of howlers (mostly at QotS) I could see why he was so bad at Dundee. There is the potential for bad errors there, and that could easily snowball into hopeless form. A bit like Colin Stewart, who managed to win PotY awards for us one year, but is also remembered as one of our worst ever goalkeepers - some effort, that. I don't think McCrorie has been tested enough at a decent level to know how good he'll end up being, but I'm sceptical. Hamilton shouldn't be in the discussion. His tendency to errors is exposed too much at a higher level.

The referee was terrible all round, but the ball wasn't actually in play for the first 2 minutes of time added on. By the time the Ayr player had got up, the ref had re-measured the distance to the wall, and realised that Ayr were making a sub (and it was a slow sub), that was 2 minutes that the ball had been out of play. Which, to be fair to Ayr, was brilliant game management. They played every trick in the one move and completely broke up the game. To Bullen's credit, the players all know what they're doing, and were well drilled and organised all round.

I'll be honest. I was in there for a game last season (COVID restrictions) and fell over the seats in front when attempting to celebrate a goal. I get that it's tight. Overall, though, it's similar to the main stand at Firhill, for example - not terribly comfortable, and I'd rather be standing, but not actually that dissimilar to many other grounds. I'd much rather have been in the Cowshed, but I still thoroughly enjoyed watching us from the main stand hammering Dunfermline last year. I was about in line with the 18 yard box. The view was fine and it's not spacious (I did deck it over the chairs in front) but it's not exactly torturous. In terms of comparison. A better view than anywhere in the away end at Somerset, but not as nice as being able to stand. Again, totally put it to Morton that you'd rather be in the Cowshed (and please do complain about the ticket website) but I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon the last time I was in the main stand. It's not exactly torturous.

I can totally understand Ayr fans preferring to be in the WDE or Cowshed. I'm sure if or when that part of the Cowshed becomes available again, they will be over there. But, just to be totally clear, that area of the main stand holds 800 seats. And in today's weather is probably a better option than the WDE. I totally understand grumbles about not being in the Cowshed, but there are loads of other grounds in Scotland with similar arrangements for away fans.