Coventry Saint

What a massive improvement that was. Only saw patches of the game but our movement and intent was light years apart from the weekend.

Crywank?

That fucking run from Ryan Flynn in the 80-something minute of his first full game in a a year. Ryan. Flynn.

I am a gambling expert.

I've made the mistake of thinking that before!

I can't wait to see how Goodwin has moulded those guys into a 3-5-2.

Ryan fukcing Flynn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for flagging - I didn't know that either. Sadly, that's the only time I get all day with the kids so might have to make do with Alba later.

This is what I'd go with tonight. It won't happen in a million years, but it'd be interesting to see it. I'm going McGrath wide left as a harder-working option than Durmus, which will offer Mason more cover, but because McGrath would be cutting inside, I'd want to see Mason hitting the overlaps more. Erhahon to stay switched on and provide cover down the left too. Tough to drop Fraser, perhaps, so you can keep him in for Tait if you want. But I do want to see an actual left-sided left back in the team. Tait - Shaughnessy - McCarthy - Mason Connolly - Foley - Erhahon - McGrath ---------- Obika - Brophy -------------

In my defence, I did mean 'create' in the very literal sense. I have seen little to no evidence of any meaningful on-pitch chemistry between McGrath and any of our strikers. The goal vs Rangers was peak 'attacking mid arrives in the box and links up with our strikers' but I think it's happened far too rarely. I'm not meaning to be being critical of him, I'm just saying the job he currently does can pretty much be done from a deeper position. Plus, he might bring benefits back there, too, in terms of speeding up play and allowing us to go two up front.

Thing is, do we know for sure if Flynn can even kick a ball at the moment? If the reserve league (or whatever the f**k it's called) was running, maybe he'd be closer, but I can't see how we can drop him straight in, as much as peak Ryan Flynn would be exactly what we need right now. I feel like if he was fit, in any meaningful sense, we'd have seen him from the bench a few times by now. Actually not sure I fully agree with that - I always felt Flynn was better through the middle. But actually, yes, probs better to go with Foley/Erhahon for the time being. As I've said elsewhere, of our current crop of midfielders (including wingers and AMs), I reckon only Erhahon, McGrath and McAllister, possibly Cammy at a push, will still be with us for the start of next season.

Reasonable point, but he's our penalty taker and that wouldn't change. I was just trying to think which of his goals wouldn't have happened if he'd been a proper CM instead of an AM. Potentially the Rangers goal, possibly the Motherwell one. But I see him being given more of a front-foot, box-to-box type role. He's absolutely got the energy and application for it. I reckon he could still very much be popping up on the edge of the box (Aberdeen winning goal, Motherwell goal) from that position. Even the Rangers goal was a sweeping move that started from deep and he continued his run.

There's a few around today if you Google Jim Goodwin. He's also confirmed that LB from Huddersfield isn't coming in, but has said he's still hoping to add 'one or two' players this window.

Ah ok, cheers. I'd read a lot of good things about him - seems he's been a qualified success so far. Also, you'd imagine, given the atypical wage set-up they have over there, that he'd be ideal for them in that he's a good performer without being a megastar/on giant wages (you'd imagine.)

Wow. Might be a bit of a short loan - doesn't their season start fairly soon? On the flip side, he needs exposure asap if he's got half a chance of going to the Euros. ETA: I really can't se it happening. He's got a new manager and surely he'll want to be right in his face in the first few weeks.

I agree with all that; looks a decent line-up. I don't actually think we'll miss McGrath being further up the pitch. He really doesn't create that much... But he does have the work rate and the tenacity to play a deeper role. Plus, he can actually turn and move the ball along in tight spaces, so that role could be perfect for him.

Quaner is the new Chabbi. You heard it here first.

Couldn't see a thread, apologies if there is one. Obviously we suffered a disappointing performance and result at the weekend (where the definition of 'weekend' is a period of time that stretches back over the past five games) so need to dust ourselves down, find a working formation, play people in their natural positions and try to take the game to United. Close results between us this season; the 2-1 at Tannadice was, as it turns out, at the height of our Covid affliction, with Zlamal in goal. From memory, I don't feel the game was that actually close and I was fairly impressed with United that day; obviously less impressed with Tait completely losing his head. I literally can't remember anything about the 0-0 at our place. For absolutely inexplicable reasons, Bet365 currently have us as favourites for this, which is mental. Gamblers should be all over the home win at those prices.

Yeah, I knew very little about him other than that which was publicised. He seems ok, and is obviously doing a ridiculous job at Livi right now. I know we all had our suspicions that he was pulling the strings all along: the managerial form of David Hopkin since he left Livi would certainly appear to back that up. I understand Martindale has that 'fit and proper' hearing coming up. He absolutely must be given the chance to continue in his job. Sad indictment on our society generally if someone can't be allowed to rehabilitate after serving his punishment.

If you wouldn't mind jumping on a quick Zoom call I'll run you through our xG and highlight where I feel improvements can be made.

I'm rarely openly optimistic, but I think we'll be fine. By my very rough calculations, four more wins and four more draws would be enough, getting us to 39 points. I can't see all four of the teams below us beating that total. We're currently on 1.09 PPG; we'd need 0.94 PPG for the rest of the season to reach 39 points. The danger is that Jim susses this and plays for draws for the 17 games.

There's the problem, though. Three in the middle or two up top. Don't disagree with a word you've written, but I honestly don't know the solution.

I think Jim is still hoping Mason will morph into a different footballer. His comments about Mason's pace - saying he's the quickest he's ever seen - suggest he's got this idea of our wingers both being incredibly fast guys. Fine in theory, but neither is convincing as a footballer at the moment. Mason shat it out of a few challenges yesterday, too (though he wasn't the only guilty party on that front). I hate getting on footballers' backs - especially the young guys - but we started with midfielders aged 22 and 19 and, frankly, it showed. I know JDH is only 22 as well but definitely has more of a maturity to his game. I suspect we're too far into the window now to get any meaningful business done in the middle of the park, but an experienced CM has to be top of the list, perhaps on a PCA if we can sort one out. I think that vast majority of our squad movement next summer will be in the middle of the park. I doubt McPherson, Flynn, Foley, JDH (for different reasons), Durmus and Connolly will still be with us by the start of next season.

I'm far from an expert, but the difference in Brophy when Obika's been next to him Vs when he's not has been so clear. Can't be lost on Goodwin. Just shifts the problem to a different part of the side.