grumswall Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 There are very few out and out strikers available, and even if we found one I'm not sure it would make a great deal of difference, the problem imho is still in midfield It's not really. We have enough quality in midfield to play a few different ways. If we don't have the focal point of an actual striker who can do the most basic job of a striker and put the ball in between the sticks then it heaps pressure on the midfield to do it on top of actually trying to create the chances for themselves. Gullan is not the answer. Varian and poplatnik have proved it this season as well. They all offer something but goals isn't it. We're not a bad team. We're just missing that all important ingredient to make us a good team. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIT THE CHANNEL Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Does anyone know when the TV picks for the SC are revealed? Had a wee search on google but nothing obvious. Wondering when we will know so I can try and plan that weekend! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyline Drifter Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 11 minutes ago, HIT THE CHANNEL said: Does anyone know when the TV picks for the SC are revealed? Had a wee search on google but nothing obvious. Wondering when we will know so I can try and plan that weekend! There's no "set" time for that. They'll announce it when they are ready. Given there are no replays now and the ties are all known I don't think it will take them long. Chances are you'll know by midweek. It would be a surprise if Premier don't pick up Celtic v Raith though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.R.FC Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 9 hours ago, TxRover said: Absolutely true, and absolutely a position we are missing, as many have identified. However, more worrisome is that the other teams in the league have clearly figured out that we aren’t moving the ball with enough speed/precision to break a high press of our back line when we try to pass it out. We can have that #9, but without movement of the ball forward, we’re still screwed…so hopefully that’s what JMcG is tinkering and yelling to fix. The two issues aren’t mutually exclusive though. When Varian was on form earlier in the season and we were at our best, there was great variety to our play. It wasn’t always built through the phases from the back, we were quite comfortable going longer to Varian to hold up which he was doing well. Having that option forces teams back 10 yards and means they can’t press as aggressively which creates more space for the midfield and our passing game. The best example is probably the first home game against Arbroath. They played a really aggressive high press but we were still able to deservedly win that game because Varian had a great game against their centre half’s allowing us to mix it up between playing out when it was on or going more direct. Varian has been off form (like the rest of the team) for a while now but I don’t think it’s any coincidence that his best game in recent weeks was our best recent performance away at Inverness. Obviously there’s not one single thing that will fix our issues immediately but a physical number 9 that can be relied upon to hold the ball in and bring others into play, allowing us to mix up our game, as well as chipping in with goals himself would make a huge difference. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIT THE CHANNEL Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 52 minutes ago, Skyline Drifter said: There's no "set" time for that. They'll announce it when they are ready. Given there are no replays now and the ties are all known I don't think it will take them long. Chances are you'll know by midweek. It would be a surprise if Premier don't pick up Celtic v Raith though. Cheers mate! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specky Ginger Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 2 hours ago, HIT THE CHANNEL said: Does anyone know when the TV picks for the SC are revealed? Had a wee search on google but nothing obvious. Wondering when we will know so I can try and plan that weekend! Fairly safe to say that Premier Sports will pick our game and Annan v Rangers. They're only interested in two teams so won't be seeing a penny from me. I'm not sure if Celtic have a European game on the Thursday before. If so, that will probably see our game moved to the Sunday or Monday. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 6 minutes ago, Specky Ginger said: Fairly safe to say that Premier Sports will pick our game and Annan v Rangers. They're only interested in two teams so won't be seeing a penny from me. I'm not sure if Celtic have a European game on the Thursday before. If so, that will probably see our game moved to the Sunday or Monday. Celtic play Aberdeen away on Wednesday 9th Feb, the Euro ties are on the 17th & 24th. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIT THE CHANNEL Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 If we are picked, and Celtic don’t play Thursday, hopefully it’s a Saturday slot, rather than a Sunday. It’s a little under 3 weeks away, so it would be good to get some clarification in the next day or so. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Algorithms Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Interesting to see if the Celtic fans who greeted about missing the League Cup semi final and final after skipping the tie against us will have learned their lesson... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beastie Russell Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I see Aiden Keena has left Falkirk to go back to Ireland, would have taken him. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Algorithms Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I see Aiden Keena has left Falkirk to go back to Ireland, would have taken him.Seen a few folk on their thread speculating that Morrison might go to Accies for a fee. If we can, we should go after him. Looked excellent both against us and against other clubs. The only player of theirs I'd take. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxRover Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 3 hours ago, R.R.FC said: The two issues aren’t mutually exclusive though. When Varian was on form earlier in the season and we were at our best, there was great variety to our play. It wasn’t always built through the phases from the back, we were quite comfortable going longer to Varian to hold up which he was doing well. Having that option forces teams back 10 yards and means they can’t press as aggressively which creates more space for the midfield and our passing game. The best example is probably the first home game against Arbroath. They played a really aggressive high press but we were still able to deservedly win that game because Varian had a great game against their centre half’s allowing us to mix it up between playing out when it was on or going more direct. Varian has been off form (like the rest of the team) for a while now but I don’t think it’s any coincidence that his best game in recent weeks was our best recent performance away at Inverness. Obviously there’s not one single thing that will fix our issues immediately but a physical number 9 that can be relied upon to hold the ball in and bring others into play, allowing us to mix up our game, as well as chipping in with goals himself would make a huge difference. Very correct, in that a true target man would hopefully allow more movement to try to open the defence and get that magic chance. But the ability of a much lower level team to successful press us, and disrupt our buildup, as they did a moderately good job of, is worrisome when placed alongside our league form. I’m hopeful that Stanton and Williamson, as they settle in, will address some of this and increase the pace of our passing, but the lack of urgency we often see as the back line putters about with passes is contrary to our goals (literally). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raith Against The Machine Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 What is Ethon Varian if not a target man? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ro Sham Bo Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Zen Archer (Raconteur) said: Celtic play Aberdeen away on Wednesday 9th Feb, the Euro ties are on the 17th & 24th. It's hard to see the game not being played on the Saturday or Sunday on that basis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Been going too long Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 20 minutes ago, TxRover said: Very correct, in that a true target man would hopefully allow more movement to try to open the defence and get that magic chance. But the ability of a much lower level team to successful press us, and disrupt our buildup, as they did a moderately good job of, is worrisome when placed alongside our league form. I’m hopeful that Stanton and Williamson, as they settle in, will address some of this and increase the pace of our passing, but the lack of urgency we often see as the back line putters about with passes is contrary to our goals (literally). Miss Brad as well, great wee player who just oozes quality 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Been going too long Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 13 minutes ago, Raith Against The Machine said: What is Ethon Varian if not a target man? He definitely is and a good team player just not a goal scorer so far, hendry back to st Johnstone from Killie, Mcglynn tried for him earlier so maybe again or todorov benchwarming at the pars, got to be worth a shout 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SanStarko Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 21 minutes ago, Been going too long said: Miss Brad as well, great wee player who just oozes quality Spencer is a huge miss. I'm going to go all TX here but the stats prove it; Where Spencer has played the full game we average 8.13 shots, with 4 shots on target and 1.88 goals Where Spencer has played part of a game we average 9.29 shots, with 3.71 on target and 1.71 goals Without Spencer, we average 6.63 shots, 2.5 on target and just 0.63 goals. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renton Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 I get the feeling we are going with what we've got tbh 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RR #1 Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Beastie Russell said: I see Aiden Keena has left Falkirk to go back to Ireland, would have taken him. 1 hour ago, Broken Algorithms said: 1 hour ago, Beastie Russell said: I see Aiden Keena has left Falkirk to go back to Ireland, would have taken him. Seen a few folk on their thread speculating that Morrison might go to Accies for a fee. If we can, we should go after him. Looked excellent both against us and against other clubs. The only player of theirs I'd take. Don't know what you two are on but there is absolutely no danger we should be considering signing any of that mob. Especially a winger who is not as good as the 3 we currently have and a striker who has scored 1 every 5 games in the league below. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raith_Rasta Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 40 minutes ago, RR #1 said: Don't know what you two are on but there is absolutely no danger we should be considering signing any of that mob. Especially a winger who is not as good as the 3 we currently have and a striker who has scored 1 every 5 games in the league below. Players ad take from pars and Falkirk Falkirk: Morrison Pars: Thomas, Wilson and mibby O’Hara 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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