BountyBairn

Was just gonna say something like this. Kerr has been missing and folk still talk like he's the messiah. It seems to stick out to me that he frequently misplaces 2,3,4 passes in games where he's having an issue with concentration. Far too casual about and rarely drives forward.

I'd be very surprised TBH. Been a long way off his best for a while. Actually he's been pretty poor all season compared to his level last term.

Corners as well, absolutely terrible making them count as well.

If only it was a number 10 or CM we needed when he was brought in eh? The answer to our right hand side issue may well be setting up like we did yesterday. Only concern would be who would lead the line if Super Lee is unavailable, not sure what other forwards are right for lone striker in that type of 4-2-3-1 system.

No sorry im afraid that my psychic abilities only stretch to knowing we won't get a cup run. Would happily wager you now that we won't make it to Hampden this year unless we make good signings in January. 50 quid? Interested how you think this is a harder league this season? Rangers are gone, united aren't as strong as them, Hibs are weaker in my view and we finished above them last term, beat them in the playoffs. We need to be progressing each session to get out the league. So far we look like being some way away from even matching last years achievements - that's disappointing.

Good point on loan market. We've got Danny Rogers who definitely improves the squad. Suprised Houstons not went to Celtic for any loans actually given his role there before coming to us.

Forgot about Kidd. He was doing i before injury actually in fairness. I guess it's just frustrating as imagine Rankin and Craigens wages together could have got us a player of a better calibre, maybe a good player for right mid! Same goes for Watson and Muirhead though Muirhead being able to play RB means he's got some utility other than at CB. I don't believe Craigen will come good and the Austin situation isn't great if he's seen sitting behind McHugh, Baird, Miller and Shepherd - none of which have been great so far this season.

Some decent points here. But what do we mean handful of games? Is it not only Gasparotto, Austin and Craigen who came in during the summer? Neither of the latter two have been good enough to get much game time. Gasparotto has been ok, getting better as the season progresses. He's compensating for Muirhead and Watson though - who both been here since before the summmer. I like Houston, but he's bought the wrong people if they can't get a game and we've not exactly been playing that great.

Just checked OS and you are right, it was Holt.

I even forgot about Craigen! He's just awful. Done zero for us. dont get me wrong the other two signed dudds as well but some really good ones in there too.

No. bought by Pressley and played by Holt IIRC. Even if it was though the point stands, Houston hasn't signed anyone of the standard and potential of his predecessors.

These aren't new achievements, we're fortunate enough to be regularly at Hampden given our relative size with several 'almost' got there with semis and finals. We frequently are 'close' to promotion as well. Houston has bought very poorly since coming in. Muirhead, Watson, Austin, Hippolyte aren't the same stuff as Grant, Leahy and Vaulks - no where near it. Yet he's had deeper pockets than Pressley.

Quite obvious, rather than wasting money on the guys he's signed get some better quality in and supplement with youth. No doubt he's a better coach than Pressley or Holt but they done miles better on player recruitment with much lesser budgets.

Listen son, I don't think that I'm being at all naive in being concerned with recent events. Several board members leaving in quick succession, real 'Falkirk Men' does concern me then all this stuff with Taiwos appeal is enough to think we have trouble ahead. Further comments about pitch being fucked too? It's a bloody mess and anyone can see that we'll be struggling come the summer with no players to sell or cup run, the 'cash in bank' will evaporate in a single summer. Opportunity missed again by Houston and the board to get us up and out this hole.

All feels like financial trouble ahead to be honest. how on earth have they managed to mess up again?

Yeah don't think O'Hara has been given much of a chance, would've liked to see him getting game time with us. He's better than Shepherd, who is really our only 'breakthrough' player this season - even though not his first season by any stretch. Concerns me a fair bit that Houston has wasted money on journeymen and so far only got us marginally closer to success than Holt or Pressley who blooded a lot of guys who we're sold on for money. Who exactly do we think will go for money come the summer? Grant is only realistic option IMO and he's just back from a very serious injury. If we don't get a cup run we'll be back in financial bother.

I didn't say he was right either. I just don't get this thing about it reflecting badly on us to be honest. No one cares that much that his comments will affect anything to do with FFC, the fact that the daily ranger printed it is a clue.

Massive over reaction here. Smith like Houston has his views, just like everyone on here he's entitled to an opinion. He's a good guy and I certainly wouldn't draw any parallels with the last 8 years and him somehow holding us back. The fact it's a daily record article tells a lot though. Whilst i don't agree with the solution he proposes at least he's willing to talk about the issue. Player development is an issue in this country. The whole game needs to work out what to do about it. As a club we've fallen way back in this regard ourselves so before lobbing insults at a guy who works hard for our club why not criticise Houston for not playing more youngsters from our academy? Is that because it doesn't suit your MO to spout shite?

Yeah some idea on the Austin situ is needed actually. I Completely forgot about him. no disrespect intended to McHugh, Baird, Shepherd or Miller but Austin must pish if he's not forced himself into the team and isn't injured.

Cheers, i think we need to consider bringing him back. He's shown promise in the first team when in last time he got a few games. Big Lee isn't getting any younger and both him and shepherd need to be getting game time and let's be honest more options up front would be handy when things aren't going well up front - he offers a bit of pace.

Anyone got updates on how Ohara is playing, think I seen that he played in development squad recently - has his loan finished?

Here's hoping Grant is ready to come back. Even if it's just playing in a back 4 and Luca or McCracken drops out. totally agree that Luca struggled cause McCracken is having a mare but I just can't see Luca and Grant as a CH pairing, abilities aside it's a very inexperienced pairing and we shouldn't dismiss what McCracken brings in that sense. RB slot is a major worry though. Been a problem for years and while Kidd has done pretty well it's still a soft spot we've had for far too long.

I know this has been covered before but anyone think there's a realistic change of Houston adopting a 3-5-2 playing Grant, Gasparotto and McCracken? A back line of Kidd, Gasparotto, Grant and Leahy with Rogers in goals is very inexperienced - but you want to be playing Gasparotto and Grant as they are both young with potential (more so Grant than Gasparotto)

Yeah agree about the subs Houston hit them all wrong. It would seem Kerr has not been 100% which makes it even stranger he left him on. The only way we should even think about Kerr and Rankin in the same midfield is if we were playing a 3-5-2 with two holding players.

I'll be hoping for a draw between Hibs and Queens. It's hard to see either of them dropping many points this season. Of course Queens may look a bit different if Dobbie were to get injured, like a blatant kick to the heel and put him out of action for months for example.