The Ghost of B A R P

Amazing to think that when this was originally scheduled we couldn't buy a win, mainly due to injuries in a thin squad; then went on an unbelievable run; and have now come (almost) full circle back to a point where you'd be worried about where the next win is coming from, again due to injuries... I'd take a point this evening, no more injuries, wee bit of light relief in the cup on Monday - it's basically a free hit - then hopefully back to something like full strength for the run-in.

You might be right - and I hope you are - but if he’s actually playing through an injury, rather than just ring-rusty (which is what it looked like on Saturday), it’s hard to see how he improves fast enough to steady the ship. I just hope Mullen magically reappears very soon. If not, as someone’s said on the match thread, I wonder if Imrie will be tempted to throw the young boy in tomorrow night…

If only that was actually true. Truth is there's a single, unhinged poster we're all pretty much bored to f**k with; the opposite of 'compelling viewing'...

That might in itself be an opportunity: if MacDonald is injured, he shouldn't be playing (for his own sake, as much as the team's); and we would surely get the nod to bring someone in before Monday if we only have one fit keeper going into a cup-tie. KInda hoping that the fact we didn't do that means Mullen won't be too long. Given MacDonald's situation, I really fear for us until Mullen's back... or we come up with an alternative.

Hoped MacDonald would come in and at least be steady… but that second goal gets worse every time you see it. If he is injured, and Mullen will be some time, we really should be looking at an emergency loan, as suggested; if we go back to having to score two for a point, we’ll get sucked back into the scrap below us in two or three weeks.

Those three are a big miss, no doubt, but Crawford (whose contribution we now take for granted) and Power have been just as important as Wilson (excellent though he’s been). We’re also now in a position we haven’t been in for a long time, where injury to a keeper isn’t a full-on disaster: Mullen has been outstanding, but if you’d told me at any point over the last few years that we’d just have to make do with Jamie MacDonald… Oakley is the big one: we can’t directly replace what he gives us, but next best is to get Muirhead back through the middle today and hope he can pull off his occasional impersonation of an actual centre-forward (and hope Oakley is back for Tuesday). Jai to start on the right, Blues (who has also been good) inside. No-one will be surprised if this is a draw… but I’m hoping we can shitfest a narrow win as a highly appropriate marker of Sir Douglas’ 100th game in charge. Mon the actual fkn Ton…

Started the season thinking Queen's Park were the most likely to implode, then it switched to Ayr, but managerial changes appear to have had the required effect in both cases. Then there was a brief spell when Dunfermline were spiralling down fast... but the bantermost option would be ICT stumbling to ninth and getting their arses handed to them by Montrose or Cove. A hounding here - or even a scrappy 1-0 - would go along way to help make that happen.

ACL injuries, as you’re no doubt aware, are very rarely caused by getting kicked. I for one hope we get the three points (or at least one) without kicking anybody at all, which is pretty much what usually happens these days.

8 points over the first third… 28 [twenty-eight] over the second. Unbelievable.

Shite pitch, shite keepers, shite defending, shiiii’ite officials… Pretty good watch all round.

Muirhead… my word. Dunfermline unrecognisable this half; actually pressing the ball with real intent.

Dunfermline are unbelievably passive out of possession… … but this ‘goalkeeper’ character at the other end… fk me and game on…

Still way too early to call this… Arbroath have ICT and QP next; fail to win either of those and that might just about be that… Unless… Dunfermline are away to Partick, followed by two mahoosive games against ICT and Ayr. Let’s see what the table looks like at the beginning of March.

Loving the idea that one of the fittest, hardest-running teams in the league might be a bit tired… eight long days after their last game… What is relevant, tho, is that it’s objectively harder to press on that pitch than it is at Cappielow (there were extenuating circumstances last time, but we were notably more compact and passive than we usually are). Interesting to see if Imrie can/will change our approach; I for one would be delighted to see Quitongo galloping in behind QP’s still duff back line… That said, think both managers would happily take a draw.

Totally agree. The casual observer on Friday night, if told one of the two keepers on the pitch was in the Scotland squad, would immediately have assumed it was Mullen. Incredibly calm and assured for a guy with his level of experience; the sky’s the limit if he trains on…

McPake should have been emptied after last week's display of total incompetence: 'coaching' that would get you laughed out of town in the amateur leagues. I haven't witnessed this week's display of total incompetence, but how many more will it take?

I just don't see him at either of those clubs, for different reasons in each case. From his own perspective, the best course of action would be to turn 'promise' into achievement with us as a platform for something better in Scotland... or something in England that would be so lucrative it would justify the upheaval. Dream scenario, of course, is that we gub 'bottom six more often than not' Ross County in the play-off final...

Whole team played really well, but our midfield out of possession were absolutely fuckin phenomenal.

Motherwell look tidy enough at times, but we’ve out-Dougied them so far. Another 45 at high intensity please.

Obvious thing to say, but our best chance here is to treat them the same as we've been treating any opposition recently: press hard when they have the ball, try to run them when we have it, and hope to take them into extra-time when the effects of Tuesday night might begin to show.

Loving how some of our Highland cousins think that Imrie would uproot to take on one of their basket cases... as opposed to just confirming to his current employer that he has prospects and breezing back to Lanark with a new contract in his back pocket...

It’s credit to Imrie that you think that… our squad is better than theirs, but (I think) on much less money. McGeady and Murphy will be on way more than Power; and, as you say, the loan cost of Chalmers and possibly also Dowds will be more than we pay any player. Even McGinty went there for more than Morton offered (which is good obvs) and Musonda would be on the limit of what we can afford. They’ve spunked a fair bit of money on a squad that isn’t very good… and still had enough to bring in Brown and Whittaker. Good news all round.

‘By all accounts’ doing a lot of heavy lifting…

Part-time players. They’ve no doubt got more cash in hand than us; doubt their total playing budget is more.

Was surprised to see him say that, but I guess it depends what he means by ‘budget’: if it’s just what we’re currently spending on player wages, then agree Arbroath and Airdrie must be lower: if it’s available cash to spend, Arbroath will be well above us… not sure about Airdrie. Ayr, btw, will be spending significantly more on player (and staff!) wages than us.