Widge
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Posts posted by Widge
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3 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:
I think a lot of our fanbase is going to moan about Smith, a lot.
He looks kind of weak sometimes and he loses the ball a lot. Hes so willing to take match winning risks though, seems like he tries proper defence splitting passes in every match so we get some good movement up front and you could have fun. Thinking of Mays runs in behind finally getting spotted.
Type of CM we need, I think. Hes "busy" and harries, is a risk taker, and doesn't hide from the ball either.
I’ve always said I don’t care if a player loses the ball if he’s trying to be creative and do something productive. But you’re 100% right, there’s elements of our support who’ll be on his back instantly for losing it despite trying to play productive football. It’s a generational thing I think for the most part, but I’m all for taking chances and actually playing decent football, so bring it on.
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Wouldn't look at the MK Dons forum if you want to stay excited by the prospect of Smith....
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These Andorrans don’t like anyone touching them do they!? Very angry team which is going to lead to about 15 cards by the end of the game.
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I’d sign him for the name alone to be fair. We could have him, Max and Dare in the same team, listening to a west coast stadium announcer attempt to say their names would be hilarious.
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I don’t mind us taking younger guys on trial and seeing what they’re about; however what they can’t be is actual senior signings. If bringing in this guy allows Ferguson, Parker and others go out on loan and is a net zero gamble then it makes sense. If he’s being brought in as a first team starter then you start to worry a bit.
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5 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:
Its impossible to know how EPL youths will go, IMO. He should be physically/technically sound due to coming through at Southampton but maybe make mistakes in the senior game.
Initial thought was he'd be used more at right back but ive not seen a single second so just guesswork.
Coming through at that level you’d expect him to be physically strong and fast which does tend to mask basic mistakes. I guess the issue is, like Duffy he’s had no senior games and might fall for the experienced tricks up here. Either way another body isn’t a bad thing and you hope he’s got potential. The fact he’s had a couple of trials already down south and not signed on maybe isn’t a brilliant sign.
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1 minute ago, RandomGuy. said:
CB who can play RB, but doesnt seem to have ever played a senior game.
I’m going to be honest, it screams cheap punt with shades of Wallace Duffy; however we need all the cover we can get right now. He must have something about him to have been at 2 Premiership teams I guess.
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Another game in Max and Ferguson maybe isn’t the worst thing, get Saturday out their system and give them another focus.
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Just now, perthsaints99 said:
Really wanted him to do well at Saints, but in total honesty and with no disrespect intended, you would find more capable front men in the juniors.
Yeah this is entirely fair, I think I'd said previously I've never seen a player get so much good will and support from a fanbase that Theo. I think to a man we all wanted him to come good and show us what he was made of. Unfortunately 18 months later and he never showed anything positive either off the bench or on the rare occasion he started.
I've no doubt he'll score against us and I wish him nothing but the best, but he's not up to this level, not even closer.
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I mean I can’t believe that Kettlewell has been bold enough to try this. No doubt he’ll score a goal or two by sheer luck, but wow, he was destined for the Canadian league for sure.
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4 minutes ago, Stylish Kid said:
Ok I exaggerate and I didn't mean to take anything away from Albion and I recognize that the standard of some of the Prem isn't miles away from the league below
That said, St J made loads of changes and had pretty much nothing to play for
Ohh that’s not the part I was referring to as all. If anything that was the only thing you got correct.
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1 hour ago, Stylish Kid said:
By the sounds of it they basically threw the match the other day. Not sure if that is grounds for sacking.
Feel sorry for him as he's about the 3rd successive St J manager who's been asked to do same with less cash.
I mean you've clearly not got a clue about other teams in Scottish football if that's the extent of your knowledge. How far from the truth you've managed to get.
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If you were to ask me what team I want to play on Saturday, assuming fitness and no new signings it would be -
Mitov
Brown - Gordon - Considine - Gallacher
Phillips - McGowan - Ballantyne
Wright - Jephcott - Carey
It's not even close to a debate and I can't believe I'm about to say this, but it would also allow you to go to a back 5 if you really wanted to. We're just so easy to get at down the middle of the team right now, that I'm not actually as concerned by the width in the team. I would almost be willing to see Ben McCrystal get a game ahead of the likes of Ferguson based on what we've seen so far. At least he came on, on Saturday and looked willing to push folk around and be aggressive, albeit even he was passive at times, but I'll let the kid off for sure, no fault on him.
If Carey isn't fit, I'd be throwing in Taylor Steven down that side. Whilst not very experienced, he's a fighter and willing to go toe to toe with guys a foot taller than him, right now he's got an attitude that a lot of our senior players could actually learn from. For me he's showing up a lot better than Max, Ferguson and Parker for example. OK chances are it won't work, but you just never know. The fact he was suspended on Saturday from 3 sub appearances tells you what he might bring into the team.
We're going to need an upping in level from the whole team obviously, but we need to find a way to get Wright into form, appreciate he's been shunted to right back in the games, but realistically he should be told to be direct at every chance he gets, take the man on and if he loses it, so be in, just work to get it back. Same goes for Carey, as far as my opinion goes, I'd be saying to try things every time he gets in the opposition half. Keep it simple in our half, but the moment he gets a chance to ping a call, or a shot from wherever. He's got the ability and if it comes off 1/10 in a match it's worth losing the ball for.
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3 minutes ago, The Saintee said:
It's more that we're needing him to cover about 4 positions that's the problem tbh.
But in general he's been about average.
Yeah I don't think McGowan is anything more than a solid, average player. But we're at the stage where we need that in about 6 positions which would improve us!
I still stand by my thoughts that the first 2 goals on Saturday don't happen if McGowan is in place of Phillips. He wouldn't be diving in and equally, he'd probably help organise and shield the centre backs.
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I think those clips of Gordon show a major issue. The manager has in no way asked him to shell the ball out of play multiple times a game, yet he’s continually doing it. All the manager can do is find a solution to stop him, but he’s not on the field and can’t think for Gordon. There is a fundamental issue with a number of the players that does stem from the previous management and the lack of confidence, which is one of the big red flags about appointing the assistant from the previous failed regime.
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So I’ve had some time to reflect on yesterday and whilst it was abundantly clear we were playing it as a friendly, Stirling to their absolute credit deserved to beat us and convincingly at that. So all praise goes to then firstly and I wish them well in the next round, hope they get a good draw and they’re a great club from my previous experiences.
Ok, where to begin. I’ll get the slight excuse out the way first and foremost, injuries are seriously hampering the squad right now. There that’s it, the only slight excuse the squad and management get and even then we should have won the group with what was available.
I’ll start with the keeper. I think Sinclair whilst having potential still had a lot to learn. That’s not his fault he’s a 21 year old keeper who won’t hit his prime for almost a decade. If there was any doubts as to why Mitov has been brought in as number 1, yesterday should have seen those squashed. Not that Mitov being in goals would have made a difference to the result, but he’d have been calmer and a more assuring presence, something for Sinclair to work upon for sure, that and communicating with his defenders. Hopefully he takes that on board.
Defenders next, Brown played like a player who hadn’t played any matches in a while so I can almost I’ve him a pass. Suspect the plan was always to give him 45 minutes. Equally the formation yesterday (narrow) doesn’t help him, he’ll be fine with Wright in front of him. Gallacher is probably the only senior player who I think has gone up in what I was expecting. Yes he’s got his issues I’ve spoken about them before, but he is at least looking competent and again with a solid centreback next to him and a winger ahead of him he’ll be fine, nothing more nothing less. Ok, now the big issues the centre backs. Gordon needs to pull his head out his ass, if he’s as big a fan as he claims to be he knows he’s played abysmal for 18 months now. He’s only in the team because we’ve nobody else, but it’s gotten to the point where I’d rather see Considine or McGowan in there ahead of him. Parker, I have some sympathy for, he looked like a kid playing against seasoned pros, but that doesn’t excuse shelling the ball out of play repeatedly under no pressure. It’ll be a lesson for him and I hope a load somewhere does him good.
I’ll keep the midfield section shorter (I hope). Dan Phillips cannot play that deepest role, he’s not got the discipline and is too rash to win the ball back. He’s better going box to box without doubt. Ferguson needs to go out on loan, that much is for sure. He’s got ability (I think) but I think he took the wrong option every time yesterday. That being said he’s clearly better driving forward and playing with his back to goal isn’t his game. Ballantyne was awful as well, not sure a single pass found a man at all, I appreciate his energy but he’s reminding me of Gary MacDonald which is worrying. As for Max, he’s got ability and technical awareness, but I think RG has hit it on the head, he needs to produce things when he gets forward. It’s almost like he’s scared to give the ball away, I’d rather that trying something than meekly giving it away. He’s also a little too predictable and needs to look at Carey to see that you can go outside as well as cutting back.
Now the forwards. Jephcott isn’t match fit that much is for sure, he’s shown enough with his back to goal to show he can link play, ironically he’s the only one playing passes in behind defenders. I think he’ll be a decent addition but he needs to get a yard sharper. As for Stevie May, if we get forwards back (not any time soon though) he needs a spell on the bench. Same as Gordon he’s only in the team by virtue of us having nobody else. He’s back to his infuriating best of hiding and shirking every physical battle and whilst he should have been judged onside yesterday, he’s not even hitting the ball with any conviction. I think this year has to be his last as harsh as that sounds, as good a servant as he’s been for saints, we need to look for better. I don’t think he gets a game for any other team in the league put it that way.
Where do we go from here, who knows. Does MacLean have it in him to illicit a reaction, well he hasn’t so far. I don’t think we’ve got the midfielders fit right now to play with a central 2, I think we need an extra body on there and if that means going one up front for a bit of time until we get players in and back then so be it. If we’re going to improve and survive this season we do need to play more practical as right now we’re far far too open and it’s so easy to get at our defenders and through the middle. Still I’ll be there on Saturday to see what MacLean does, I suspect the team will look different in terms of formation and at least 5/6 changes but I’m not sure that’ll be enough.
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Both goals have stemmed from Dan Phillips rushing in and getting beaten. Shows me he can’t play that deepest role at all, he’s not disciplined enough. If McGowan plays this game is still level.
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32 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:
This is McLelland off the 4th option.
That’s alright, looks like he’ll score goals!
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40 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:
Not sure where to ask on this site, but what do folk think is the fairest way to judge players, using both club and league? Try it every which way and see benefits/truth in them all tbh.
1. League over single season, club over single season
2. League over multiple seasons, club over single season
3. League over single season, club over multiple seasons
4. League over multiple seasons, club over multiple seasons
I mean obviously the 4th one is going to give the most accurate results. Then id say the 2nd one.
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On the plus side, the below demonstrates a hypothetical positive for the club -
Mitov > Matthews/Parish
Jephcott > Bair/Vertainan/Rudden
McClelland > Considine/McGowan (Maybe Mitchell?)
Following that logic, if you can get the below then I'd be a lot more confident about the season -
New Midfielder > Hallberg/Crawford/Spoony
New Winger > Murphy/O'Halloran/McClennan
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4 minutes ago, SJFCtheTeamForMe said:
Presume that would be a loan as he's still under contract.
Charlton appear keen to get rid of him, so wouldn't surprise me if they release him if there is interest in taking him permanently. My only drawback to this, is Cambridge essentially said they couldn't afford him on a permanent deal and I doubt we can offer much more. Then again we did sign Dimi, so maybe they pay even less than us!
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Mitov
Brown - Gordon - McClelland - Gallacher
Phillips - McGrandles - Ballantyne/McPherson/Max
Wright - Jephcott - May/Carey
On paper looks a whole lot better than what we'd been running with even 3 days ago. The issue I've still got is we seem slightly unbalanced in the wide areas. I suspect you run it as a 4-4-2 out of possession and then a 4-3-3 in attack; however the left hand side is still a clear weakness, as whilst Gallacher is improving he's still got shades of Scott Tanser in his defensive play and without a solid base in front of him he'll get exposed. If you allow McGrandles (or another sitter) the chance to sit on top of the defence, it lets Phillips and another loose in the midfield and thankfully the one thing we don't lack in the midfield is engines to go box to box. I actually think Stevie May is the one who's place is most at risk when everyone is fit. He's not showing enough so far this season even with a strike partner and despite his very good numbers last season, it feels like we're moving away and evolving the squad to a point where he'll potentially be 3/4 choice in the next 6/12 months.
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I've never seen a player get so much leeway and good will from a support, as Theo Bair got from the saints fans. I think universally the supporters wanted it to happen for him so badly, but time and time again he simply showed he's being kind....not very good at football. As others have said, he's a specimen and a half, but can't use it in the same way Obika or Mandron showed last season and just looks like bambi on ice.
Lovely guy and wish him all the best, but would be a poor signing.
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Had a quick scan through the Barrow forum and it seems like a lot of them thought he was consistent and really good (which for a 21 year old is good) and that they expected him to move to the high end League 1 or Championship based on the way he had played. Sounds like he's got potential for sure and there was a reason he got an early cap. As others have said, he's come through at Chelsea, so technically he's going to be pretty decent you'd think. I'm not sure we need a dominant centreback, if we can get Gordon back doing what he's best at (i.e. sticking his head on things, instead of grappling) as a tactically aware partner for him will allow him to do that. Big plus from McClelland is that it appears he's comfortable on the ball, which also removes one of Gordon's weaknesses as we won't simply ask him to play a way he's unable to, as so far this season Considine appears to simply want to give Liam the ball instead of taking responsibility. If he's got the same style and ability that Mitchell has then happy days, we totally underused him and I'd love him back.
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Double Winning St Johnstone FC Thread
in Scottish Premiership General Chatter
Posted
Why he’s been playing in MK Dons pre-season games and has done a full pre-season so far, so he should be fit.
Smith is giving my Scott Allan vibes and I’m totally here for that!