nelsjfc

Assuming we've recalled Sinclair to sit on the bench?

Parish. Oh god. Assuming there's no change in change in shape and Brown and Montgomery are WB with McGowan dropping back. Could be a 4-4-2 with Carey and Wotherspoon wide though. Ballsy midfield if it's a three.

Didn't think it was a red first time round but surprised the red was over turned. Really felt like one of those interpretation decisions and struggling to understand what the VAR/ref would have seen to have changed his mind. Already played better than that and lost so will take the three points. Really disjointed on the ball again with only May, who was excellent, looking a danger. Need to get the balance in midfield sorted. Hallberg further forward today but Carey just inheriting the same problems. Not help with Brown at LWB again - madness sticking with it. Davidson really must not rate Gallacher/Montgomery. Positives are winning a game that you imagine would have been lost last season and May's continued good form. Defensively good as well - can't remember Remy making a save - and seemed to stop Killie playing at all.

Maybe to try and counter Armstrong? I'm being kind.

Think Wotherspoon and Phillips replace Murphy and McGowan and at least all three give you something defensively. He played Carey there against St.Mirren but we were outbattled against Killie down there so think you need at least someone willing to battle. What's the script with Murray? Thinking along these lines Wright Mitchell Gordon Considine Montgomery Phillips Hallberg Wotherspoon May Clark. The amount of attacking midfielders we have is ridiculous. Two out of the three midfield starting plus Crawford, O'Hallaron, Murphy, Carey and Max all not there.

Ive missed an opportunity. I should have asked Goran's son if he plays ammies in Salou.

Wright's been good at RWB and been a consistent out ball who can carry it up the pitch and Stevie May has been reborn. So we move one and drop the other. All so we can again try and shoehorn back in the 5-2-3 which has been a disaster pretty much everytime its been given an outing this season. McLennan was brutal and for a player described as a "powerful runner" by Davidson he doesn't half get pushed off the ball easily. Bottled a challenge with Portoeus too when the latter looked in trouble too. Strikes me as thinking he's a better player then he is. Hallberg stands out when he has a bad game because there's too much put on to him to always be the one getting on the ball. Subs worked out perfectly with the 10 men. Wotherspoon's risk taking means hes probably not the deep lying midfielder for most games but having him (and Murphy who I've not been overly impressed with till now) suited the situation. Amazing what having players that look for and keep the ball can do for you in attacking sense. There are positives - two strikers that look to have goals, depth of squad beginning to provide options to change matches and the feeling that there are the players there to be more progressive with the ball than currently showing. Need too- Scrap the 5-2-3 in all but holding on situations; Sort the centre midfield out so we can actually have an element of control in some games; Get McGowan back in the back three so we can play out more ; Play actual wing backs in the wing back positions. No more Brown, McLennan etc there. The first hour last night was every bit as bad as anything from last season. Noticed that Davidson said it was the angriest he's been which is all well and good as long as he recognises his part in it. Thought Brown going to LWB hampered us down that side too and it really wasn't until the sending off that the changes had any effect. As an aside, Mitchell didn't look at all pleased about coming off.

That or Wright behind McLennan and Clark. Unbelievably harsh on May though.

How wrong we were! Just after this I had to go to down to reception as room key wasn't working. The guy behind the counter gives me a massive smile and asks if the strip I am wearing is this years. I say its last years and he enquire how on earth he knows about saints. "My dad played for them. I live here now but moved to Scotland when my dad played for Raith Rovers, then Livingston then saints..." Only bloody Goran Stanic's son! Told him his old man was a cracking left back.

Hopefully see a more balanced side for this if either Gallacher or Montgomery is available. Don't think its coincidence that the two games we've struggled in possession this season have been when Brown has been at LWB. Clark back too which can only improve us from the Livingston game too. I'd like to see a change in midfield too. Murphy and Crawford aren't getting involved enough in games. Would like to see either Max get another chance after doing well against Celtic whether in the 10 role or pushing Hallberg forward and/or Phillips come in if fit to allow McGowan to give us a least a chance of playing out. A lot depends on who is fit though Remi McGowan Mitchell Considine Wright Montgomery Phillips Max Hallberg Clark May Start Spoony over Max/Phillips if fit enough. In Spain, I wasn't massively popular for watching the Livi game by the pool so unsure I'll see this one!

Be interesting to see we line up. Assume Murphy playing May's role and Max taking up the front of Hallberg and McGowan in thr midfield three. Every chance its back to 5-2-3 though. Suspect there's an element of not wanting to risk Gallacher in a game like this. Maybe see Spoony get 10 minutes once the games gone.

A lot to agree with here. Tried the same system again but the difference was Killie matched us in midfield where United let McGowan and Hallberg run over them and Killie pushed two wide players on top of our wing backs (both of whom were really poor). The latter actually gave us our few good moments late in the first half as Armstrong didn't track back but didn't make the most if them. We are side painfully lacking the pace Killie have in Jones and Armstrong. Need to sort out the 10 role if we are going to play this formation. To be frank, I'm getting fed up wasting time on playing Crawford. Agree totally that Max showed much more on the ball in that 15 minutes. Need the guys in midfield coming back to show they can add and give us a few more options there. Not sure why Spoony is on the bench if not an option tonight tbh. Not going to get too down in the same way I wasn't getting carried away on Saturday. The really concerning thing is could see exactly how it would play out after the second - still not a side that looks that ever being capable of coming from behind. Whenever we desperately need to chase we end up with an unnecessary raft of subs and formation/position changes with in 10-20 minutes. The spell we were left with Crawford, Clark and Murphy as a front three seemed a total waste tbh. Felt very much like a McInnes/Wright win in reverse for us. A side that knew exactly how the other would play and played to counter it.

Spend a good part of the last season asking him to change it only for the one time he goes and does it, it looks like this....

Those changes. Wow.

How long do you think Wotherspoon and Gallacher can do? Would certainly address the weakest spots in this line up.

Unbelievable strike. Stupid free kick to give away right enough.

United strike me as an even more extreme version of saints from last season - a team tied to a system they are nowhere near equipped to play. Centre halves looked totally exposed and there was gaps all over the place the first hour. Flat going forward too - not surprised the goal came from a mistake. Can see how they lose 7s and 9s. From a saints point of view, further growth on the momentum. May was terrific and the game suited him perfectly. McGowan was the force in the middle if the park United missed. Big disappointment was that there was any sort of nervousness towards the end because the game should have been dead by then. Feel I'm always targeting him but I don't really see the point in Crawford coming on unless going to 5-2-3. McLennan was the only sub I felt I could understand the thinking behind. Eta - what a great assist from May at the second. The position he picked up, the vision and the pasd

Agree about McGowan. Solving an 18 month problem in the middle of the park. Needs cover/assistance in there - could have done with replacing late on being on a booking - and it robs us of a ball playing centre half but in the last three games we've controlled periods of games which has not happened much recently. Issues with the formation improving with the summer signings but still the squad balance needs addressed. Carey, Phillips, Davidson and Wotherspoon fit makes a massive difference to the options today though.

Delighted for May. His work the last few weeks meant he deserved that. Great finish and great assist. United are a mess defensively.

Same side again. No Davidson or Phillips on the bench so have to hope nothing happens to Hallberg or McGowan. Good to see Gallacher back on the bench.

Be interesting to see what Davidson does today. McLennan doing well in close door games and adds something we don't have with Kane out. Bair scoring too. Think he'll stick with with May and Clark though and they probably deserve that chance. Midfield is more a conundrum. McGowan has done okay but moving him away from the back three limits us playing out. Not convinced about Murphy at the head of the three and assume neither Carey or Wotherspoon are ready. Be tempted to bring in Phillips if fit and push Hallberg further forward. Questions at LWB is Gallacher is fit too. Nice to be talking about best options rather than "least worst" again. Horrendous feeling that Davidson will go back to 5-2-3 today though. Missing a saints game in Dundee for the first time in years. I dont usually moan too much about prices but 60 quid for an adult and two kids is absolutely outrageous. Add in no trains and it's 90 quid+ simply to get to the game and watch it.

Will have to leave it at home

At least the penalty shouts will give Callum something to distract us with post match. The "flexibility" he sought in the summer appears to just flicking endlessly between 5-3-2 and 5-2-3. Genuinely just about got up and left when I saw McLennen go out wide. Tedium

Did appreciate Oliagbes sticking his tongue out. Not enough juvenile stuff like that in the game. Been decent enough without too much clear cut. Wonder if we'll see Crawford or Wee Max for Murphy soon.

McGowan into midfield and Gordon in at the back. Strengths the midfield at a cost to ball playing. More injuries in an area already straggling in but at least Murrays made the bench