ANEWHOPE

And yet debate it I am. But you changing the terms of the debate. I didn't say if you had only to pick from staters we have. I'm just arguing that I don't think anyone so far has done enough to convince me they MUST start. I would expect a team wanting to win the league should have a nucleus of a team that picks itself. A core that is strong and that there is limited debate about. I don't think we have that and by that deduction that includes Taiwo.

OK. If if I conceded that he has played well (I don't concede that) has he played sufficiently well enough to guarantee a start? Absolute nailed on must start? And even as I suspect you will say yes, does it not worry you that you see only 3 players as stick on names on the team sheet.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Guess I will be getting to f**k then! [emoji112] But to say that based on the start to the season so far, the good, the bad & the ugly that any player has put their hand up and staked a sure fire start is not basing that on performance based evidence. Loy, Hippo & for the purposes of your point should be be starters I agree, but not based on the games so far. For one reason or another they have all shown frailties & to say are guaranteed starters is based on reputation and a few glimpses but don't say it is based on performances, please don't say that.

You will drive yourself even more demented that you are if you spend anytime seconding guessing him.

O'Hara wouldn't deserve to be dropped but a pairing that showed sparks of life was when Shepherd & Austin were paired together upfront for a brief spell against United toward the end of last season. Maybe a bit desperate this early but couldn't be much worse that the shit I've witnessed so far. Regardless that some see positives in Luca at RB it is pretty awful that we are in a position that our options are Muirhead & Luca in that position. Add to this that this will be 2nd season of debating if the players in that position are ok, poor or completely shit!

Must have passed me by the clammer for him to be dropped. The whole defence has been poor so to single him out is bizarre. Without any real conviction I would make a case for Watson over Luca but both not of the quality I want. Watson offers no physicality for me but is at least mobile more mobile than Luca but that hardly an endorsement. A concern for me is that there isn't a single player I'd say is an absolute guaranteed starter. Early days I guess but I'd like to think we should at least have a solid core. Houston's interview seemed to indicate more than 1 had answered back or tried to shift the blame elsewhere. Muirhead has previous I guess.

Unfortunately the 2 red cards will prove particularly costly as they will allow Houston to deflect any criticism of him for today & give him a ready made excuse for next week. Scrambling around for any positive...thought Gallagher had his best game & O'Hara was OK. Other than that, dreadful stuff.

I bet the 40 folk that signed up to give Houston transfer cash will be desperately trying to cancel direct debits just now. Although if they announce the money could be used to pay Houston off then numbers will be through the roof.

Shove yer fair assessment ya p***k [emoji847]

I will counter your counter by saying surely this inability to get off to decent start another reason to get rid. There would be no knicker wetting if he sorted out this failing? I'm also once of those people that you are suggesting have the tendency to overstate anti Houston issues. However I don't feel I have & feel that many have overlooked these issues by being seduced by 2nd place. I have at least been consistent with my views, relentless and pessimistic, but consistent.

And why single out Harris when there are so many others to choose from to highlight the point [emoji108]

Hey it's ur list! And all about options as you say. Not fully understanding the difference between good enough as a player v performance based but as I said earlier agree with the vast majority of it. Actually surprised me just how many I think are good enough. Makes me think something not quite right, if only I could work out what (or who) that might be...[emoji848]

Is Muirhead on your list based on him as a RB or what you might think he'd be like as a CB? Him & Luca I'd swap to the not good enough list, but can't disagree with the rest.

I'm a bit impatient but has anyone heard anymore about the meeting on Wednesday? How much they looking for people to commit to? How long for? Can't make it myself but interested to hear feedback. Plenty of flyers handed out on Saturday. Wish Houston's picture wasn't on it tho as that won't make me anymore willing to part with my cash.

Agree with Sibbs but why Luca over Watson?

I can't work out if this is just a clever wind up or not? If it is then bravo & hats off but sadly I suspect it is genuine. No one is arguing that we have a divine right to win every game surely? But there is a difference between believing that and thinking we should have done much, much better in the last 3 games. Also just because people moan on here doesn't mean that they are not backing the team. The whole point of a forum like this is to discuss, debate, vent, persuade and argue but you seem to miss that. However more worrying is that you can't see why people would be unhappy & are critical. You fail to see that assessment on things can take in more than just the last few games, that's not how it works. Things don't just reset at the end of the season and we start from scratch and make judgements from there. That would be the case if this was the management team's first season, it's not. But more bizarre is that you feel that only if we are bottom then can moaning be justified!! Good luck with that.

Can I withdraw my arsehole comment & substitute bawbag instead? Is that less over the top? All other points still stand.

[emoji90] I wish I had read this message before posting my last message, sorry.

Recalling ONE post in which you came across as a spectacular arsehole doesn't constitute an agenda but whatever makes you happy. I hadn't realised there was a time limit on how long you are able to revisit something but I will keep that in mind. Also think my reference to your 'meltdown' is not the result of selective reading but is entirely valid given what was being discussed at the time. You may not see it that way but however given the fact that you think I have an agenda then maybe your judgement is not the best. I genuinely have no idea of your views on Houston, or on Shepherd, I'm sure they are insightful and informative. What I did think then and still think now is that there are some people that think any criticism of the club is an act of betrayal and sign of disloyalty and start the how long have you supported the club bullshit. I was making this point and choose you as a prime example of such a person because from that ONE post, that is exactly what you did. Granted it was in response to my numerous criticisms (which I still hold & stand) but it was way over the top, a total overreaction and I still find the phrase 'how fucking dare you' very funny, so I will without doubt keep that one and use it from time to time. However to be clear I wasn't intending to call you a Houston apologist or a happy clapper and you say you aren't any of these things, so I take you at your word. I was merely suggesting that some people (and by some people let's be clear I mean you) are arseholes, [emoji108]?

Not saying worse shape but I'm certainly not in good shape. I cut him a bit of slack and hoped he return ready to go but nope. Overweight & looks unfit and for me that not good enough. He would have struggled with it as a centre half but highlighted more so with his new role. The positive is that seeing him in a Falkirk kit gives me a glimpse of how bad it looks on the larger frame. However to place any direct blame on him for performances would be harsh. Collective failure.

Don't agree it has bit them on the arse severely. Gallagher hasn't started off fantastically but in the last 3 games not many have. He is the only one that Houston has deemed worthy of giving any meaningful game time to, so can't agree he relying on youngsters. If the plan is to play a few more in the hope if selling them on I think they got the wrong man, the fact he has steadfastly refused to play one there and chosen to play a player that struggles with mobility at the best of time. Chosen to play a player ill equipped to play that position and a player whose professionalism should be called into question due the physical state he has returned to the club in. I think the board are happy with Houston as he delivers what they want and that is the playoffs. I think Houston secretly happy with the board as anything else would be real pressure and he happy to collect his wage and make his tee off time. A marriage made in mediocrity for me and to continue my crappy analogy, us fans will continue to play the role of bridesmaid. We do our bit, time and time again. This is our time? Bullfuckingshit!

My point was that you cannot read anything into a single photo. I'm sure there are pictures of me were it looks like I am smiling!! But as you know that doesn't depict what is actually going on. [emoji22] I don't think having an injury/suspension in one position should be that hard to anticipate and to solve it by playing Luca is desperate. He may have thought he had cover but he doesn't, certainly not adequate cover. Although to be fair Luca wasn't terrible there yesterday but the deficiencies in that position hamper everything else in my opinion and ultimately having Muirhead back is no real comfort. We will never know if my moans would have diminished if we had a winning league start. One of the issues I have is that after 3 years the same is true, we start badly and have to play catch up. Instead of the gimmicks tho, how about just give us some ambition & promotion. These would all look better if the team won. That should be priority number 1. I honestly think that some of Board went home thinking that was a success as we got a wee photo of that shit in the paper.

[emoji23]

Genuine question as you often seem quite a reasonable poster but what makes you still think Houston still the right person. I'm like a broken record on this issue & therefore interested to hear the counter argument.