John Bonham

Not gonna lie, we are seriously in the shit

No. It’s a shambles. Absolutely sucking the joy out of games. I’m not even blaming the on pitch refs here, they have been allowed to become completely reliant on it. That’s on the governing body.

Whatever happens VAR will ruin it and suck any joy out of the game. Honestly what’s the point

I think tbh you have to look at the quality of the whole league. It’s so very poor and imo has dropped considerably in last 2/3 years. The teams around and above us are just as bad, the standard of the OF has dropped considerably etc. Appreciate everything you say but quite honestly the entire league stinks

Which Smith We all dream of a team of Smiths

Sky sports reporting Robinson is coming back….

Yeah I think we’ll see a 3-5-1-1/5-3-1-1 on Sarurday with Carey off Kane, and Smith, Sven and Phillips all starting in midfield. We’ll look to keep it tight and get a hold on the midfield early. Probably same against Celtic too. It might not be pretty but I can see a lot of sense in it against the likes of Hearts and the OF. kane will allow us to get up the field when we can with Smith advancing when we’re on the front foot? it will be asking a lot of Robinson and Costelloe, assuming they get the nod at wing back but they have both been coming on well and look like they have the legs for it now. If we can keep shankland quiet we might be ok. Maybe an argument for Sven to man mark him through the game?

I think you’re overthinking it, he ticks so many of the right boxes and will bring a much calmer head than maclean. Time will tell I guess but I see it as a solid appointment, and far preferable to most of the other names kicking about.

Levein would be a good appointment imo, certainly up against a lot of the names kicking about. fits the bill for what Stan is looking for, is very much in to youth development, should have a good contact book. Always like the way he speaks about the game. we could do much worse imo.

Good going on the travel support if that’s right

Sven is also very decent. If we have a couple of things to thank macca for from his time as manager its bringing in mitov and sven imo.

I think I recall a number of players who have played under lennon before saying he was a great manager to play under? Maybe the outward bravado/p***k-ish behaviour is for public consumption only? yeah I dont particularly mind if neilson just plays solid football (I think hearts fans didnt like the lack of sexy football from him) as that’s what we need to get back to. Dodds would be a mistake imo. I dont want another ex player (including the likes of morris)

With Stan, rightly imo, saying we will go for experience, and assuming we can’t pay compo so fishing in the free agent market, the obvious ones look like lennon and neilson? I honestly can’t stand lennon, he’s an annoying wee p***k, but if he was our annoying wee p***k I think he would be capable of creating a dressing room seige mentality which I think we need in the short term at least, and is probably capable of lifting the players. Neilson hard done by at hearts imo and capable of getting results in this league. Not sure about his style of football though? I can’t see us going massively leftfield and we’ll be looking for a fairly safe bet but lets see.

We’ll start the game solidly but with 1 up front. Pass the ball about well then concede a soft goal after 20 mins. The game will be fairly even then at about minute 70 we’ll replace our 1 striker with another lone striker but push up a bit higher. Somewhere between 80 and 90 mins we’ll concede a second soft as we’re pushed up so high and lack the pace to filter back. Macca to boot martindale in the puss in injury time. 0-2 at full time and heads gone all over the east stand

4 4 feckin 2 please, for the love of god! if jephcott us the natural finisher he’s meant to be get him on the pitch with a hard working striker (May/Kane)

I was really surprised JTC didn’t start yeaterday. One of the better ones agains Dundee and looks to have a bit about him.

Brilliant attitude in his interview! cult hero status incoming hopefully

No idea what Hamilton’s situation is but I wonder if Crawford was ever interested in finishing his career where he had his best and longest spell in Scotland? No idea if they are still full time or not

Newcastle fans seem to really rate JTC so that sounds positive

I’ll be happy if we keep the score anything close to respectable tbh

He’ll fit in well

I heard the club might be looking further afield at the Asian market given the success other clubs are having with players from there. Specifically I understand Saints are taking a look at Somyun Guy. Make of that what you will.

Max just isnt suited to playing on the right of a 4 unfortunately. I think its difficult to judge him as a player out there. If he gets a chance to play more central he’ll need to grab it though.

That would be my starting 11 for Saturday based on who is likely to be available

Very fair points - the majority of the injured ones are quite injury prone but I was thinking back over the last couple of years and seem to remember a whole bunch of muscle injuries and niggles? Most of them probably to the injury prone players right enough Wright probably shouldnt have started Saturday but we’re short on the wings so needs must. Steven is more of a forward but might be able to do a job there this weekend? Unless we change shape and maybe go 433