edinburghhonestman

It might be a decent enough squad, but we're not putting a decent team on the park. We can't afford the luxury of Smith, Walsh, McCowan and Chalmers in the same eleven as none of them could tackle a fish supper. We lack width as our 'wingers' tend to cut inside rather than beat a man, and we've lost the drive going forward that Houston and Harvie provided last season. Moving Muirhead to central defence has tightened us up a bit but we really need someone with his drive and ball winning in central midfield. We know next week that Arbroath will come and fight for every ball. You'd really expect an under pressure Kerr be making some changes to match up better than we did up there.

Definitely agree with the one paced comment. Other teams seem a yard quicker than us.

Welcome Dr. Dre.

Great to be in a position to make substitutions to rest players rather than in desperation.

I always think Alloa's biggest problem is that they let teams play. Rather than stopping the opposition they focus on playing football. I'd be sorry to see them go down.

If he gives a foul there it's probably denying a goal scoring opportunity.

Who knew Bell would be such a miss? I know some folk always felt he had a mistake in him, but he's the sort of character we're really missing.

Bumped into Yogi one day when I was out for a run and he was walking the dog. Stopped and chatted for ages and I just can't understand the dislike folk seem to have for him.

I won't give them a penny after their nonsense in the summer.

Worrying a bit about getting overrun in the Hearts game if we're not careful. Not sure of the line up but shape needs to change. Maybe 4-1-2-3 with Muirhead sitting in front of the back four? Sinisalo Houston Baird Roscoe Reading Muirhead Murdoch Millar McCowan Moffat Smith

Plenty of players below par today and we seemed to be lacking fight/belief, but the system isn't working: - I'm not sure Anderson should be leading the line. We play the ball up to him, but it just doesn't stick, and doesn't give Moffat, McCowan etc. time to get alongside him. - The three behind Anderson all want to play too narrow so we're lacking width most of the time and not stretching defences. - The Chalmers/Murdoch combination isn't protecting the back four enough. It didn't cost us a goal today, but Arbroath made several other chances they didn't take. I had thought the defence was improving over the past few weeks but mistakes today were punished. For the first, although Reading misjudged the ball at half way, Murdoch didn't track the man in to the box, but Baird should have attacked the cross rather than being beaten to it. For the second, we really shouldn't have allowed the shot. I'd need to see a replay to confirm, but it looked like it was Roscoe who should have been all over him. Having said all that, congratulations to Arbroath. Tactics spot on and everyone looked up for it. Took their chances well and could have been more. Since the season we won the First Division I've been impressed with them. They really get the most out of what they've got, and I'd be fairly confident that they'll stay up again.

Really not been convinced by Chalmers. He's not providing much cover defensively and I feel he's slowing play down a bit too much when we're going forward.

Same as most weeks to be honest. Not lived up to expectations yet.

Not convinced Murdoch and Chalmers gives us enough bite in midfield for a game like this.

Is Chalmers fully fit. I'd maybe put Muirhead in there for the extra dig, move Houston over and bring in Reading. Otherwise, front 4 the same.

I don't think Muirhead was bad either, and I think he's earned his return to the team. He can go charging forward at times, but my point is that he doesn't naturally get beyond McCowan to provide another option and added width. Houston can't do it as well on his wrong foot from left back. That leaves us too narrow, made worse by McCowan looking to go inside too often. If we can fix that Anderson and Moffat will get more space to operate in.

Thought our much maligned defence looked pretty solid tonight and Sinisalo had a fairly easy time of it. Roscoe looked pretty solid and I thought we handled Duku well. Going forward, though, we're really not gelling yet. Partly, I think we need Houston back on the right, as with him and Muirhead neither full back really gets forward to add width. Also the front four haven't built up an understanding. McCowan didn't have his best game tonight, but I'd also maybe swap Moffat and Anderson around. We've seen before how central defenders find Moffat's movement difficult, and Anderson might find a bit more space. He looks like he needs a goal to me.

Was just thinking we'd started to bring you down to our level.

Back and seeming fine now.

Got it back for a few seconds but it's gone again.

M0rtonfc making me regret that I can't watch it on Saturday. Sounds like you have a good product and you've put a bit of your own stamp on it. I think that's all anyone can ask, and hopefully the word of mouth feedback on PandB for clubs that do that helps them make a few bob more in difficult times.

Agreed. Having a summariser clearly helps. Lauren from that same Sun article has done a good job in that role so far on Ayr's coverage.

Ironically I thought we'd looked steadier at the back this half.

First touch!

Don't know what they put in the commentator's tea at half time, but they've managed to make him worse.