Jack Rae2 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Also to add as a makeshift left back Murray does a great job. Only other option, which may I add isn't the best, is to do last seasons tactics and put Mathews RB, Thompson LB then Davo and Murray middle 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raith Against The Machine Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 I absolutely hate it when we play without proper fullbacks at fullback. I know it can't be helped, but it's a deceptively specialist position. Guys who are filling in rarely strike the balance between defence and attack.Hopefully this season we've got enough up front for the guys to create and finish their own chances, but it totally killed us last season, and the season before that. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paco Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Worrying stuff, as well as we've started I think we'd all admit this league could end up being decided by injuries. With our two goalies, captain/best CB and only left back now out, all for a couple of months yet, it isn't looking great. McKay breezed the cup game against Cowden but Smith has been very reluctant to use him since taking him off at Alloa, even playing Robertson at CB on Saturday instead of him. I think we might see a bit more of that sort of thing while we wait for players to come back. If we have a full-back in the u20's, it's time to try him out. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachbum Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Matthews played loads of games for the u20s as a full back. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover the Moon Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 We certainly can't continue with Robertson at CB. He did well considering the circumstances but was badly caught under the ball a couple of times and lacks the defensive know-how needed in that position. Get McKay/Valentine/whoever is the most appropriate and competent defender out of the kids and throw them in. This is how they learn and progress - and it can also act as a spur for others that they can get their chance in the 1st team. He'll have experience around him to help and we're also going to have most of the possession/pressure so it's not a bad game to do it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Scorpio Posted September 12, 2017 Author Share Posted September 12, 2017 His quality alone was probably enough to get him by at full back in the 20s. In the first team he's ok cover at best. Leave him in midfield. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastie Russell Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Scary Bear said: Murray doesn't look particularly comfortable at left back. A lot of Ayr's attacks came down his side. I've not seen McKay at CB. Is he any good? I would have thought Davo and Murray at CB. I thought Murray was a CB. I think Murray's performance was more down to his opponent (McDaid) who looked rapid. We needed an experienced player at the back against Shankland and Moffet, and Robertson fitted the bill. It affected our midfield, but putting McKay in there would have been a massive risk. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael W Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Well, the simple choice is that we play McKay or move Murray into the middle and play either the dev squad LB or play someone out of position. I think my preference would be to play McKay and leave Murray. LB is particularly hard to fill with an out of position player as most are right-footed. It can be done and you do get right-footed LBs, but if an unfamiliar player is put under pressure with the ball on his weaker foot, that's asking for trouble. Bit of a nightmare, this. If Thomson/Davidson get injured or suspended, we're screwed. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachbum Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 3 hours ago, Ro Sham Bo said: McHattie due to see a specialist, no funds to sign a loan player so the youth players will need to step in - Smith in today's Courier. Today's Courier 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottydog Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 We may be looking at a combo of Thomson, Murray, Davo and McKay, though in what permutation who knows. McKay played RB in pre-season, Murray and Thomson can play anywhere across the back four, Davo is CB or RB at a push. The only other obvious option for a back 4 (perhaps the better one) is to play Ross Matthews at RB and slide Thomson to CB or LB. Could potentially go 3 at the back with Thomson, Davo and Murray. Flood the midfield with Matthews or/and Robertson sitting in and Barr and Herron pushing on. Which ever way it could prove to be a tough 2 months.....or who knows it might be a revelation. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dafcburty Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Lewis Vaughan - "Without my team-mates I wouldn't be able to score" https://jordanburtfootball.com/2017/09/12/lewis-vaughan-without-my-team-mates-i-wouldnt-be-able-to-score/ This is an interview I conducted last Monday on behalf of KingdomFM after Lewis picked up his August SPFL Ladbrokes League One Player of the Month award. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.R.FC Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Scottydog said: We may be looking at a combo of Thomson, Murray, Davo and McKay, though in what permutation who knows. McKay played RB in pre-season, Murray and Thomson can play anywhere across the back four, Davo is CB or RB at a push. The only other obvious option for a back 4 (perhaps the better one) is to play Ross Matthews at RB and slide Thomson to CB or LB. Could potentially go 3 at the back with Thomson, Davo and Murray. Flood the midfield with Matthews or/and Robertson sitting in and Barr and Herron pushing on. Which ever way it could prove to be a tough 2 months.....or who knows it might be a revelation. All of those are options but in situations like this, I always think it's best to disrupt the shape and lineup of the team as little as possible. McKay straight swap with Bene for me. At a push, Murray to CB to replace Bene and Valentine at LB but pretty sure he's only 16/17 probably a bit soon for him. Would leave Thomson, Matthews, Robertson etc in their natural positions, no point disrupting other areas of the pitch. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Rae2 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 All of those are options but in situations like this, I always think it's best to disrupt the shape and lineup of the team as little as possible. McKay straight swap with Bene for me. At a push, Murray to CB to replace Bene and Valentine at LB but pretty sure he's only 16/17 probably a bit soon for him. Would leave Thomson, Matthews, Robertson etc in their natural positions, no point disrupting other areas of the pitch. Bringing in valentine at such an early age may be a bit too much, nothing to say he wouldn't be alright but best option has to be Thompson, McKay, Davo and Murray 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pub car king Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 At the end of the day we need to blood youngsters at some point. It's not ideal but there simply isn't any other option. Luckily the forwards are scoring for fun. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Algorithms Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 53 minutes ago, pub car king said: At the end of the day we need to blood youngsters at some point. It's not ideal but there simply isn't any other option. Luckily the forwards are scoring for fun. 4 hours ago, Jack Rae2 said: Bringing in valentine at such an early age may be a bit too much, nothing to say he wouldn't be alright but best option has to be Thompson, McKay, Davo and Murray Pretty sure @Zen Archer said the same thing preseason. Valentine is one of numerous players with talent, but it might be a bit soon for him. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadly Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 From the little I've seen of him so far McKay looks raw and nervous on the ball. If he gets his chance, hopefully he grows in confidence and does a job for us. Murray struggled at Alloa (possibly due to the narrow 3 man midfield) and against Ayr at LB. I feel for him as he's playing out of position to help the team. Agree with most that Davo had a great game on Saturday and long may that type of form continue. I don't see Robertson as an option at CB, mainly because we need him in CM. Keeper worries me. Seems to communicate well but has flapped a few times and I'd love to see Lennox back ASAP. Whatever we do defensively is going to be far from ideal and we're just gonna have to piss with the defensive cock we have. Sadly it's looking a bit like a baldy half incher at the moment. Agree with everyone else who says we're strong in attacking areas, and we may need them to kick on even more to help us through the defensive situation. Spence hasn't been scoring a great deal but he occupies defenders, makes unselfish runs creating space for others, and retains possession well. Buchanan looks to have been playing through a wee niggle but is looking sharp again and is a proven scorer. I don't see that changing. Barr has been great the last couple of weeks and I don't need to say anything about Vaughan. Osei looks like he needs someone to remote control him as he appears lost when he's on the park. I'd like to see Court ahead of him but I wonder if Zanatta will jump ahead of both now?Winning the east development league is a good achievement but the step up in standard / physicality from u/20 to first team is huge and sadly it may be too big a jump for the majority. Great start so far and we just have to believe in the manager and squad to get us through a hard period. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachbum Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 The team that lines up against Cowdenbeath u20s tonight might give us some idea of who's playing on Saturday. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Rae2 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 The team that lines up against Cowdenbeath u20s tonight might give us some idea of who's playing on Saturday. Definite point, anyone know if this is available to go to? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 6 minutes ago, Jack Rae2 said: Definite point, anyone know if this is available to go to? Yes and it's free entry* *No one has asked money for the league games in 3 years. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGuigan1978 Posted September 12, 2017 Share Posted September 12, 2017 Judging by Saturday's performance, Iain Davidson is now possessed by the spirit of Bobby Moore, so I'm not overly concerned about our current injury predicament. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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