Quatermass

Kettlewell there deciding to stick with things until we completely gub a 3-0 advantage. It’s been obvious since Duk scored with his first touch. Amazing that the majority of the support thought no matter what happens against Aberdeen it won’t be more of a riddie than getting dumped out the Cup to a Championship side live on tele. Never change season 23/24. Never change.

No, this is a resign performance. We won’t sack him and he won’t walk away. We’re buggered. If we offer him a new contract we deserve everything we get.

Has Kettlewell made any changes on the park? I know there has been no subs but has he shuffled things?

Comms on REDTV have literally got this game won for Aberdeen. Some turnaround. Thought they were going to leave early as well.

Looking forward to the entirety of the second half being played like we are 1-0 up in a Cup Final with five mins to go.

An all time top flight epic. However, in Hibs’ defence they never actually lost the game. I could easily see us getting done by a couple of goals here.

I mean if you told me we’d be 3-2 up after 35 mins, I’d have been happy but if there is something we haven’t ticked off the debacle that has been season 23/24 it’s been a mega collapse from a big winning position. This looks like the night.

I think it might suit Kettlewell himself to walk away if he keeps us up. He’s guaranteed a fresh start somewhere else with no baggage which he arguably has with us now (3 in 22). Admittedly, it could be at someone like Morton, Thistle etc. but I reckon he will have impressed enough people in the know within the game for him to be seen as a viable option for quite a few Clubs. I’m just convinced he’ll be with a team at a lower level than wherever we end up. Whether he is successful enough to be employed 18 months later is another debate and probably not one we’ll over concern ourselves with.

I understand fully the financial reasons why Kettlewell is still our manager. If last season we were paying for three management teams at the same time then that is really bad management/luck and that has an effect on any short and long term decision making. He has landed lucky with this chance and been able to navigate through a period that under other circumstances would have likely ended a wee while ago. Come June we will be in a nice position of not paying for any management teams. If Kettlewell’s inconsistent (at best) or very poor win ratio continues, which has been ongoing for nearly five and a half months now, and we choose to offer a new contract then a decision has been made on our footballing ambitions. I’d love for him to turn it around in the next 14 fixtures and have us completely safe by the start of the split but I just can’t see it. Some of that is down to what he has inherited, what he has signed and his own failings in respect to changes/substitutions. If he keeps us up, I think he could walk away without a stain on his record despite some honking recent stats…….but I think his next job would be in the Championship.

Yes, I was at the game and I understand what you mean. I’m just at the age where it doesn’t get to me like that anymore. I’ve witnessed so many of these nights firsthand over the years and I suppose, just personally speaking, my priorities have shifted so much and I don’t go to as many games now, that I get disappointed after a result like this but not upset. Something like relegation where livelihoods would almost certainly be affected, the status of the Club, the even lower quality of player you could expect, the fear of not getting promotion and the Club getting in a state maybe even it’s future at risk does worry me. I know if Morton get Rangers at Ibrox in the Quarters we will have missed out on some dosh. Plus a riding. What I do know is next season we will have at least three League Cup games and one Scottish Cup tie. Another crack at it. What’s not yet certain are 38 top flight games. Gun to head and was asked to pick a win against County or Morton I probably would have went with the reality. Again, I understand many, maybe the majority, would have went the other way. Can’t argue with that.

Kelly must be a very strong character in the dressing room and Kettlewell is worried about losing the squad by dropping him and bringing on an almighty sulk. Either that or Oxborough is utter filth. It’s inexplicable that he keeps getting selected. We have Kettlewell and Kelly for 14 more games. Tonight doesn’t sting me as much as it has others on here. I understand very much why it has but I’m more concerned about the league. We have been put out of the Scottish Cup for the last 33 years in a row. It’s nothing new sadly. We haven’t been relegated once in that same period. This holds untold consequences which, let’s face it, on tonights showing could be absolutely brutal for everything about the Club. Once our fate has been secured for next season the Club need to quietly start looking for a new gaffer. Even if Kettlewell keeps us up we shake his hand and thank him for his time and efforts………but it’s move on time for everyone. It’s unthinkable that he takes charge of us on a new contract next season.

I’ve said it before but no way would I trust ANYONE in this squad in a two legged play off against, for example, a team like Raith Rovers. Or Morton. Was this a shock to anyone? Really? It’s another stark warning to what could face us when/if we hit the trap door. Three wins in all comps in 22 games. We haven’t won two games in a row since late August/early Sept. Away to Morton just seemed 50/50 at best. I was impressed on Tuesday but it never changed my mind. Kettlewell has to go. Kelly has to go. We need to empty that squad as much as possible.

They’d still have stumps though so I’d be inclined to persevere.

Cheers. Had no idea that match was taking place at the weekend. Thought there had been a full wipeout due to the Scottish Cup. We’ll just need to win then!

A draw at Aberdeen next week would see us pay a wee visit to the top 6. What a daft league.

I’ve only been able to get to Fir Park five times this season. 3-3 against County, 3-3 against Dundee, 3-1 against Alloa, 1-1 against Killie and 5-0 against County. I absolutely refuse to see us get beat Fir Park for goals though eh?

Outstanding result. Thoroughly enjoyed the game. As mentioned it should have been at least 8. Mental. The team that strangely lost three on the bounce at the start of the season to Celtic, Rangers and St Mirren by the odd goal but looked really good in the process seem to be back. Let’s hope we can maintain the recent performances and get into a comfortable position. I can’t see top six but would be more than happy with getting a gap between us and 11th. Finally, Blair Spittal has a better move in his future than St Mirren. That’s not inside info. That’ll just be the amount of teams who will now be on his radar. Can see him going down South for better money.

I don’t think that’s the question really. I don’t think any of us think he WILL be sacked so that has ended the debate. We’ve just been gazumped by Killie (and St Mirren) for KVV. No way are we binning a gaffer in Feburary and getting stung with those costs. Even if County and Morton beat us, I still expect Kettlewell to be in the hotseat. The only thing that would get him his jotters would be if we ended up bottom of the league. That‘s a bit unlikely at the moment and if it did happen there might possibly only be a handful of games left and would seem very late especially with the current run of 1 win in 19. One win in half a season of games and keep your job. Absolutely unthinkable not that long ago for a gaffer who has been in the job for less than a year to keep their post during that……but that’s what our recent history and finances have dealt us. Many to blame for that. For me the question is do you want Kettlewell to be the manager for season 2024/25 whether it’s in the top flight or the Championship? My answer is no.

KVV is by no means fat……but it’s not the same lean scoring machine of 7 or 8 months ago. Might take a good few weeks until he is capable of a full 90 which makes the estimated wages spent that bit more of a gamble. In saying that I hope he cracks in a few on Tuesday night. Beyond that he’s a Killie player now and anything he does that doesn’t help us I couldn’t care less about. I enjoyed the game today. Thought we shaded it and was happy with the fight. Kelly got it snug from someone in the Main Stand after we went 1-0 down. He looked but he did well not to react. Maybe he tried to keep playing at the halfway line to keep out the guys way. Some ball by Spittal and finish by Bair. Was impressed by the shift Paton put in as well.

Of course! Don’t know why I missed him. Jamie Murphy, although started with us so is a little different, was never as prolific with anyone else.

Kinda mental that Higdon, Moult, Watt and KVV all had the best goal scoring periods of their careers with us. When we do bring a striker in to be our top man, over the last few years anyway, it tends to be fruitful. I mean Bair is already there………but we weren’t talking prolific at any stage. A ‘wins’ a win though.

As far as I can see KVV hasn’t played a competitive game since 24/11/23. Ten weeks ago. Throw in the wean being born etc., things clearly not working at his ‘new’ Club etc. and I strongly doubt he is anywhere near match fitness. Could be a piece of brilliance by Killie or one of the absolute worst loan deals in recent Scottish football top flight history. I’d still expect him to be on the bench and get 15 or 20 mins if Killie are coasting or chasing a goal for the equaliser/winner (). However, if the above is an accurate assessment of where mad Kev is, and the bold yin walks on and scores we’d be as well just forfeiting all remaining fixtures this season 0-3 and take our chances in the Play Off (sorry Livi). It would show just how bad we are at the back and would be just another painful low in a season of troughs.

Sorry, I’ve lost the train of this folks. Genuinely. Have we signed a forward this window?

Try and 0-0 ourselves to safety.

KVV going to Killie shouldn’t impact us that much. In fact watch me put a positive spin on it. As we are likely to be done with Killie after Saturday he could very well damage the teams round about us when he faces them. Can easily see him try his wee temperamental huffy heart out against Livi, County and St J as he knows it’s for the greater good. In all seriousness, as mentioned, the BIG takeaway here is we are being bodied by Killie, St Mirren and Dundee in the transfer market. That has major concerns for us going forward. If it’s not this season it currently looks odds on we are going down in the next three……and that’s being positive. Best we can hope for is one of these teams to buy very poorly and us to be smart and lucky. It’s not a game plan that’s working so far.