nelsjfc

Break should allow us to hopefully get to the point where only the two long term injuries are left. Wouldn't be surprised to see a bounce game next weekend for Bryson, Rooney etc

Alexander's comments after the game about being "too open" would send shivers down my spine if I was a Motherwell fan. Assume he must of recoiled in horror too when his players were trying to get Davidson sent off after his comments last week. Saints not really at it in an attacking sense although it's hard to be overly critical of either side on that disgrace of a pitch. Hats off to the ground staff for making it even worse with the over watering. Club really could do with addressing it in the summer longer term. Absolutely reliant on Hendry in an attacking sense. Back three defended well particularly McCart who I think had been our second best of player since Kelty. Hopefully Murray's okay, we lost something the minute he was booked. Hopefully have Bryson back available next week too. Forms been a bit better since the break. Aberdeen winning is another kick though - feels like everytime we win it coincides with the 10th place winning.

Fitness dependant, that would be my side too. Hoping at least one of Davidson or Bryson makes it leaving only one space for Crawford, MacPherson or Butterfield. Doubt many will agree but I'd probably go for May alongside Hendry as they've looked the most like a partnership this season. None of the options are really filling me with optimism though

Agree the social media output seems to have dropped in the last few months. Coinciding with Ross leaving? Also, you can't be teasing new pies in the email subject and not actually tell us what they are!

Bryson being back is a big plus. Him and Davidson fit alongside Hallberg means we might look competitive in that area again.

Appreciate this isn't great placement under the above posts, but skybet offering evens for Salah to have a shot on target at anytime

A year ago we could chose from Craig, Davidson, Bryson, McCann and Wotherspoon to fill our midfield two/three. Yesterday - Butterfield, MacPherson, Crawford, Hallberg and Gilmour. There's been issues at either end of the pitch at various points (arguably throughout Davidson's reign at the business end) but the midfield area is the consistent issue and only one signing there in January seems incredible. It would be less frustrating if we changed shape to counteract we've a bunch of shitebags in that area now but we're still playing a system that requires a high press from those three if we want to be a threat at all.

Of the current bottom six, we'd be due Aberdeen, County and St.mirren at home and Dundee and Motherwell away but that would give us a 20/18 split so imagine we'll be sent to one of those sides again. Given how changeable the bottom six will be can't be bothered looking at what the other side's are due yet.

Thank god. Anyone any tips on parking tomorrow?

Definitely would rather have seen Craig start in place of Butterfield or Crawford. Big test for two new wing backs too.

Parish starts. Brown in for Cleary which is a bit of surprise. Butterfield and Crawford in a middle three - about as unphysical as it gets.

All got a bit farcical last half hour again. Cifici dropping incredibly deep (playing wide in a three?), two wingers at full back. We seem to have such a lack of plan to chase games. Big issues today a keeper that isn't anywhere good enough and too many midfielders that aren't mobile or tough enough to battle in this division.

The exact opposite of ours. Aggressive and battling. We've spent years in this division winning games in that area only to have the likes Butterfield and Crawford hiding most weeks now.

Is there some sort of rule that Crawford can't come off and we must squeeze him into whatever we're doing?

Terrible keeper, nice as guy as he is. Need to improve this midfield somehow, hopefully Davidson back next week. I'd rather see Craig back in place if Crawford or Butterfield.

Both sides of Callum Hendry in 5 minutes.

Yeah, think it made a real difference last week having both Davidson and Hallberg be doing a power of work defensively freeing Crawford. Butterfields better on the ball but really lacks mobility. Hopefully Davidson not unavailable for long. Any news of when Bryson is back available?

Kucheriavyi signs for Kelty until the end of the season. Good test for him.

All blue from now on?

What a relief. Better team for the first hour and maybe deserve that bit of luck we got the last 10-15 minutes. Turning point was losing Hallberg who was fantastic again. Keeping him fit is absolutely critical to our chances of staying up. Having him and Davidson doing the ugly stuff meant that Crawfords off the ball failings aren't keenly as felt and allows him to play almost as a third striker. Gallacher and, in particular, Sang were impressive at wing back. Sang looked really good all round and dealt well with GMS defensively too. Gallacher isn't totally convincing defensively but adds much more going forward - seems an age since we've seen one of wing backs regularly go past their opposite numbers. Two forwards didn't have many openings but gave everything. Parish gives me palpitations. Sort of keeper who looks troubled whenever has more than a split second to think about things. First half looked the most organised we've been but lost that a bit last 20 minutes. Didn't think the any of the subs added much. Much more promising but a long way to go.

Tbf, I think Davidson made reference to pulling his calf as a player and how long he took to recover. Not sure, he was aware about how serious or not the injuries were at the time.

My comments weren't to disparage Craig but rather a reflection on the fact that we've signed 18 players this season and May and Craig are still the guys that we are relying on. He's signed Crawford, Gilmour, MacPherson, Hallberg and Sang that can all play centre midfield and I'd argue that only Hallberg looks like an improvement.

Maybe. Think that's the area we really could have done with another decent signing in (even before MacPherson and Hallberg's injuries). We have such a lack of mobility in that part of the pitch. Craig being used last night just highlights this - doesn't say much for Davidsons opinion on Gilmour either.

Be fascinated to see heat maps and pass completions for Middleton, Crawford and May that be second half.

Davidson will point to another very soft decision again in a second half that we didn't look like conceding in but I don't think you can just surrender as an attacking force the way we did once Hendry went off. It's not a ringing endorsement of the two new strikers on the bench he brought on May and left a clearly fucked Middleton - who put in a real shift but barely touched the ball the last half hour - on till the end. The lack of midfield legs is a real worry with Craig at 50 still looking more energetic than Crawford and Butterfield. We've signed 18 players this season and they're all either dreadful, injured or complete distrusted by Davidson. I genuinely can't believe we're still at a point where May and Craig are our changes after that many signings. And why is Crawford left the highest player most of that second half with Middleton doing his defensive work? Pluses are the back three played well especially once they sorted out Ramirez peeling off Gordon and we were a threat during the first half. Clark and Hendry being out long term would feel like the death knell on this season.