Matty-RCFC

It’s my absolute bug bare on P&B when I see punters gub on about how team X is shite and there’s nothing surer that team Y will beat team X when they play each other in their upcoming game. However, this County side look absolutely rubbish. We look devoid of ideas going forward and ultimately rely on our two centre halves digging us out of a hole. I think we need a fresh shape as we’re too predictable. If we’re going to play direct to Jordan White and bypass the midfield every time, why not change shape to a 4-4-2 and have someone like Akio running off him with his pace in behind. This is how I’d line up the side: Laidlaw Johnson-Baldwin-Iacovitti-Purrington Olaigbe-Loturi-Tillson-Sims White-Akio As I say, I suspect this is a game in which we will have the minority of the ball so why not change to a shape that allows us to be direct when we win it back. I feel like the back 4 picks itself - full backs are solid yet unspectacular. The midfield is probably where there’s most contention. Callachan needs a spell out the team for me; he looks far more interested in getting into battles than getting on the ball and linking play. I don’t think our current 4-2-3-1 suits many of our midfielders - I don’t think Callachan has the discipline to play in front of the defence and Cancola isn’t sharp enough to play in a 2. I think he does his best work in the middle of a 3 where he can sit deep and get the ball of the defence. Hence why I’d go with Loturi and Tillson in a two because they give us legs and bite which we’ll need tomorrow. I’d go with Sims and Olaigbe on their natural sides to try and isolate them 1v1 with full backs and get crosses into the box - maybe harsh on Owura but I think Olaigbe is the better player personally. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no tactical mastermind but why not try something different in this game as it genuinely is must win at this stage of the season. If we play with the same midfield 3 as Saturday, there is no doubt we will lose. I just hope the players realise how big a game this is for us as lose this and we’re 8 points behind Motherwell already and that’s a lot of ground to make up even at this stage.

Can someone also tell me what Ben Paton gives the team? He’s so one footed it’s unbelievable, he’s not quick, he’s not strong and he’s so safe with his passing. Yet we’ve got our club record signing sat on the bench.

It’s a must win which, at this stage of the season, is worrying.

Was it not your lot that struggled past a 5th tier side just one week ago? Yes it was - riddy!

Seriously, where are our goals going to come from this season? Long throws and corners look our only threat.

Caveat this by saying thought Hibs were superb and some of their new signings look like great finds - wish we could say the same.

I don’t know if this is toys out the pram and knee-jerk, but we’re in real real trouble. We’ve got two very capable centre halves and not much else. I don’t know what our plan is going forward other than launch it to White. I don’t think a single new signing has proved themselves yet other than maybe Purrington. Our attack looks disjointed and teams look like they’ll score against us every time they come forward and you can’t say fairer than that. There’s already a 5 point gap between ourselves and Motherwell and I can’t see us even scoring on Tuesday, let alone winning. Embarrassing.

We’ve got a decent record up here against Hibs IIRC.

I’d say the free Terrace podcasts are as good as you’re going to get in Scottish football. You tend to get a Monday episode, which is generally 3 of the panel (seems to be about 12–16 in the panel but that could be wrong) looking back at the weekends 6 premiership games, and I’d say it’s the most in-depth and insightful podcast in terms of reviewing the weekends games. You often get a Thursday/Friday episode which is normally geared towards the lower leagues, which tends to be done by Shaughan McGuigan and Craig Telfer, though it’s been a mix of several others too so far this season. The aforementioned pair’s knowledge on the lower league is impressive and they did a 4hour podcast at the start of the season previewing every side in the league which is absolutely well worth a listen if you’re a fan of a Lower League side, even if you were to just listen to bit where they talk about your club. They also do a subscription based podcast where, depending on the tier you buy, you get several more episodes per week. I subscribe to the £5 tier and just whack the podcast whenever I’m at the gym. Recommend them highly. It’s the same guys that do the “View from the Terrace” show on BBC iPlayer that is returning, I think, this Friday. On another note, Open Goal is okay but not what it was in my opinion.They used to be very good, when Si Ferry interviewed old players. They added Paul Slane, who made the podcast funny for a while but his patter generally got a bit samey. They then started all the OG Broomhill stuff which personally isn’t my cup of tea but you might it quite interesting. They still do a weekly review of the games which is normally with Si Ferry, Paul Slane, Andy Halliday and Kevin Kyle. However, you generally get an hour long podcast with 20 minutes dedicated to each side of the OF, a 5-10 minute Hearts conversation then a quick skim of the rest of the results. It’s probably the next best in Scotland if you’re wanting a review of the games though.

It’s going to be very interesting as to what County do in our next game vs the OF, which is (correct me if I’m wrong) Rangers on Christmas Eve. The last time we faced OF opposition we gave Celtic the full east stand, normally just giving them the east stand extension. I assume that our away end was built with the same purpose as Motherwell’s; just make it as big as possible and then you don’t have to worry about extending away allocations because you should probably fill the demand in that stand alone. However, the number of County fans attending games in general is decreasing to the naked eye - whether that’s because of dissenting views of the manager, the cost of living crisis or maybe some teuchters that are scared of COVID or whatever. This then, I’m assuming, made Fergie think it was okay so supplement the decrease in fans by extending the away allocation, and giving County just the main stand and the Jailend which are the two smallest stands in the stadium. The home turnout was as poor as I’ve ever seen it, and that’s including league cup group stage games. The match day experience was completely unenjoyable - shut your eyes and you were at Parkhead/Ibrox. I wonder maybe if season ticket sales were less than projected this season and we used this fixture to try and make up for some of the losses we’d made, but it’s then disappointing to then give up the chance of a potential major cup quarter final against a likely winnable opposition. It will be very interesting to see whether we give Rangers the full shibang on Xmas Eve seeing as home turnout will likely be very low again, but the club are surely aware that should they handout similar allocations then numerous County supporters will simply not return for these games until allocations are back to regular.

3/1 at Bet365 on Thursday. Mental.

I was surprised it wasn’t the OGB v Brora game the beeb originally picked, given they’d probably love to get their lips firmly round the cock of OGB should they go on a “fairytale” cup run. That and because it looked on paper a more competitive game which it proved to be.

I’m unsure on Loturi so far. Looks shit scared of a challenge. Also runs like a goblin which is strange - Declan McManus-esque. Suppose, there’s only one way to be proved wrong about a player and that’s giving him minutes.

Laidlaw Johnson-Baldwin-Iacovitti-Purrington Tillson-Callachan Owura-Dhanda-Olaigbe White Arguably Akio for one of the two wingers seeing as they’ll swap sides throughout the game and potentially Cancola for Callachan but I think the deeper role suits him. Dhanda yet to prove himself but I feel this is the sort of game he can thrive. Everyone else picks themself IMO.

Don’t be fucking silly mate. Incident? What incident?

He quite clearly goes studs up into Johnson’s knee and doesn’t win the ball. Also, if by goalie taking out Miovski, you mean Laidlaw punching the ball and Miovski hitting the deck like a prime fud then you’ve got a point. Agreed on the last sentence though.

Just seen Sportscene there, fucking woeful tackle from Clarkson. Thought it was bad at the time but surely after the farce with Baldwin’s tackle you’d think Clancy would give himself a shake but clearly not.

We’re several games in now and the squad is certainly getting to the settled status. What is the general opinion on recruitment this season? Good? Bad? Undecided? For me personally, I am a big fan of Edwards and Olaigbe. Think they both have bags of potential: quick but also sharp, technically smart as well but most importantly they both look more than willing to put in hard graft. Purrington looks a steady find too, the type of player you’ll get a 7/10 from every week. Once Randall gets himself back in I think that’s a right good back 4 as I’m not quite sold on Johnson yet. I think the majority of the rest though I’m undecided on. Players like Akio, Hiwula and Dhanda have shown glimpses but not enough to warrant a start each match.

It’s been a bizarre myth ever since he left that his loan spell was this big success because loads of Rangers fans and John Hughes said so. He was one of the safest players I’ve ever seen at Ross County and is miles behind what Livi have imo. That being said, wouldn’t surprise me to see Martindale make a player out of him.

Your defending from said long throws was Highland League stuff too.

Hopefully one of the Dons fans on the park got themselves a blade of grass to make it worthwhile All pish patter aside though, it was a tight game that Aberdeen probably edged but for all their pressure I don’t think they had too many clear cut chances other than Besuijen in the first half unless my mind is failing me. I swear to god though, if we don’t go 433 and take the game to Motherwell next week I think I’ll cry. We had all our pace and creativity sat on the bench today.

I think we’re playing a diamond in midfield with Cancola at the base of it. Be interesting to see how Hiwula and White link up together.

Celtic 4-1 Rangers Hibernian 1-1 Kilmarnock Livingston 0-1 Hearts Motherwell 2-2 Dundee United Ross County 1-2 Aberdeen St Johnstone 0-1 St Mirren

I’m not doubting he should’ve done better, but I think that slight change of direction probably throws him off. I hope he’s given another chance to show his worth.

I reckon he will. I thought he played well against Killie and I think the game tomorrow will really suit us as we look to hit Aberdeen on the break.