Russ

I was always a massive Tom Taiwo mark but I can completely see why he was punted. His injury record was absolutely terrible and it looked like after the Rangers games last season (where he was horrific) Hartley didn’t really trust anymore and clearly wanted to bring in his own player to play that role. FWIW really don’t understand the stick that Paton has been getting so far. He’s there to do a job and think he’s been perfectly fine so far. Could Dennon Lewis not potentially be our main striker this season? I do think he still need another striker in as well but don’t understand why he can’t be the ‘recognised striker’ you are talking about.

First quarter? If we lose the first game against Inverness the usual dribbling morons will be out in force telling us all how shite Hartley and all the new signings are.

Ffs Sheps.

I don’t think we really need a right-back however Nicky Devlin would be a fantastic signing. Brian Graham? Meh. He was fucking shite last time he played at this level for Hibs. Would much prefer Nelson tbh.

Tbf we all know big Sheps loves a steak pie.

Nah he’s a downgrade on Durnan imo. Still better than Scobbie though.

Paul Watson is ok at this level. Not great or shite just bang average really. As has been said he was great during our great run a few seasons ago playing alongside Peter Grant but when paired with anyone else he didn’t look anywhere near as good. Certainly a better option than playing Stewart Murdoch there. Be really surprised if he ends up at Dundee United however. Really expected him to end up at like Queen of the South or Raith. A team probably paying the lower wages of full-time football.

Getting that absolute shitebag off the wage bill whilst weakening a rival what a great move that would be.

I don’t expect this to be true but I’d definitely take him. We’re crying out for another winger and striker. Both should be priority over a right-back imo.

He wasn’t great but thought he played well enough wide left in the second half. He was fucking horrific up front in the first half however.

Perhaps but that does leave us with Sammut not playing though. That back 4 is probably our best and I really liked the look of Lewis and Mackin up top. Perhaps the only position that is really up for grabs is wide left at the moment thought both Turner and O’Hara looked quite good out there today. I suppose we could play TOE out there as well but I feel it’s important that he starts in the middle as I feel that 2 of Paton/Sammut/Kidd playing there could be too defensive. Playing 4-4-2 though does leave us with Froxylias not really fitting in to that formation.

A lot better in the second half. The changes at half time and the change in formation made a massive difference. Team just looked so much more settled and we actually started to play well. Back 4 looked more solid and McGhee and Robson getting forward a lot more effectively. Owen-Evans and Paton proved a lot better partnership in the middle of the park and Lewis started to really stretch the defence and linked up well with Mackin. Petravicius is going to be really frustrating this season. He’s still really raw and doesn’t seem to have a great deal of game intelligence. However he has some pace and has got a good delivery on him. Took his goal really well too, thought he’s wasted the opportunity not going first time but was a great finish with his left foot. The pass from Dallison though [emoji7]. Thought Paul Paton really stepped up the second half and was our best player second half. Was really getting stuck in and was making some great runs forward. Really pleased with his performance. Finally best player on the park tonight was Dylan Easton imo. We couldn’t get near him and his use of the ball was great. Oh come on Sheps. I’m not going to claim he changed the game or anything but he was really busy when he came on and played well coming in from the left. Would be happy to see him get a start out there.

Tom Dallison [emoji7][emoji7]

Bit harsh on Froxy imo. Aye he’s a passenger defensively but at least he was trying to get on the ball and do something. 4-4-2 now with Lewis wide left.

Lewis and Owen-Evans coming on. I’d guess Kidd and Turner to be hooked.

Big Sheps liking one of my posts. No happy with that all. Erm. It’s 0-0 m8.

Really poor first half. Forfar really should be 3 or 4 goals up here. Missed the penalty and the sitter after it, though was a fantastic save from Mutch, they’ve hit the post twice and Hilson and they’re number 11 both missing sitters. Dylan Easton running the show. Pretty similar to Saturday but Forfar look a lot better than Montrose we look like a team of 11 players just thrown together but that’s really what we are at the moment. Granted it’s a lot worse than anyone thought it would be so far but still early days. We’re so slow in possession with the back 3 no really knowing what to do with the ball and not being helped by the midfield not turning up so far.

This looks spot on. I’d imagine McGhee in the middle of the 3 with license to push up and carry the ball into midfield. This.

I’m pretty sure Hartley was talking about using the group games to keep experimenting and to make sure everyone gets game time. I’m not too sure about Kidd as part of a 2 man midfield. He’s perfectly fine in a 3 but if it is him and Paton as a 2 not sure it will really give us much. With the ‘keepers I was expecting Mutch and Mitchell to start 1 game each with Fasan getting the other 2.

5 changes tonight. I’m going to take a guess that we’re lining up Mutch McGhee Harrison Dallison Robson Paton Kidd Petravicius Froxylias Turner Mackin Could easily also be a 4-4-2 with Froxylias or Robson playing left midfield.

If we’re going to play a back 4 consistently this season then I’m more than happy to play Jordan McGhee there. One of his biggest strengths is his use of the ball and carrying the ball out of defence and pushing further forward which he would do all the time in a back 3 last season but if he’s playing in the middle of a 4 then that’s something he would have to cut out. I really don’t think we would be able to bring in someone better than him with our budget in this league. I’d say he’s probably better going forward than defensively. Decent enough at this level but a downgrade on Mikey Doyle.

Don’t think he was ever 100% fit while with us however he was really shite. Offers absolutely nothing from midfield. The centre mid equivalent of Alex Harris.

Aye you’re right. We’ve lost our first game which definitely means we have no chance of winning the league this season.

Some amount of knicker wetting going on in that second half there. First game of the season and still 3 weeks before the league season starts and already some idiots writing off Hartley and some of the new players. Aye we were poor today but the players are clearly still getting to know each other and to gel. It will take time. If it’s like this around October/November time then fair enough but it’s still July ffs.

Some folk actually booing the team off at half time [emoji23]