Archie McSquackle Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 I see the Daily Record has been carrying a story about Ojala being told nice things about the club by Valakari. They then go on to say he's in the squad for the St. Johnstone game having had to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. He maybe did have to quarantine but he was a sub against Hibs and warming up right in front of me. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermarv Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 If we managed to sign Gotts that’s another top quality signing and real statement of intent from us this year. Without the biased Motherwell glasses on he’d be getting a lot more down at Salford etc and keeps him in the English game. However all he has to do is look at the likes of players that have came to us and went on to much bigger things and as sad as it is the possibility of the ugly 2 and a crack at European football. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busta Nut Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 I am not a fan of SOD. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dezz Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 I’m beginning to think we don’t need to worry about any bids coming in for SOD. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allroy for Prez Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 (edited) I got slaughtered for saying I’d prefer Tait over him any day and I stand by it. I honestly don’t see the appeal of O’Donnell. Got to hope we have some bodies coming in for the next game as what we have at the moment just isn’t going to do. Edited August 8, 2021 by Allroy for Prez 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busta Nut Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 51 minutes ago, Allroy for Prez said: I got slaughtered for saying I’d prefer Tait over him any day and I stand by it. I honestly don’t see the appeal of O’Donnell. When it was Tait, at his Motherwell prime I agree, He couldn't get a head of Liam Grimshaw he was done. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'WellDel Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 7 minutes ago, Busta Nut said: When it was Tait, at his Motherwell prime I agree, He couldn't get a head of Liam Grimshaw he was done. Grimmy would be preferable to O'Donnell at the minute. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0Neils40yarder Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 I think we need to remember that the team are still coming together. That front 3 have never played together and Slattery is only playing his 2nd game up here, and playing beside a guy who has had a full year out on the treatment table. I wont be making any judgements until we've played at least 10 games. In contrast, St Johnstone have a settled side and theyve been settled for years now. Wotherspoon, Craig, Davidson, May, OHalloran , McCann all played for them for years and theyve a very settled defence as well. Won both cups and just took a draw away to galatasaray...they're a good side. That said, I hate the formation we play, 3 up front with no real width and players that dont look comfy playing wide of a striker...the midfield 3 are so narrow and that will only work if the full backs are competent going forward. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0Neils40yarder Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Busta Nut said: I am not a fan of SOD. Nor me 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowsdower Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 (edited) We can't afford to carry Donnelly and Maguire in that midfield. Maguire is improving, but he's getting overrun. Donnelly is miles from being match sharp, and it's going to take more than a couple of games after being out so long. However, until we bring in more bodies they're legit the best options we have. I could maybe see an argument for ohara in for Maguire when fit, bit I don't thing that adds too much. Slattery looms like a good signing, if we can get someone else with a similar pedigree I think we'll be OK. The front 3 need to work their arses off in the 433, and Watt is a big part of that. I hope today was just a case of getting shields some minutes and giving Watt a rest, as he needs to start most games. Oh, and leaving us seemed to work wonders for Tait and Hartley's reputations. Two players who struggled to get a game for us in their last season most likely wouldn't get a game for us now either. Edited August 8, 2021 by rowsdower 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermarv Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 9 minutes ago, rowsdower said: We can't afford to carry Donnelly and Maguire in that midfield. Maguire is improving, but he's getting overrun. Donnelly is miles from being match sharp, and it's going to take more than a couple of games after being out so long. However, until we bring in more bodies they're legit the best options we have. I could maybe see an argument for ohara in for Maguire when fit, bit I don't thing that adds too much. Slattery looms like a good signing, if we can get someone else with a similar pedigree I think we'll be OK. The front 3 need to work their arses off in the 433, and Watt is a big part of that. I hope today was just a case of getting shields some minutes and giving Watt a rest, as he needs to start most games. Oh, and leaving us seemed to work wonders for Tait and Hartley's reputations. Two players who struggled to get a game for us in their last season most likely wouldn't get a game for us now either. Prime Tait was an excellent player for us, he wasn’t particularly displaced by Grimmy it was just anytime Grimmy played we were winning and we had a real good solid team that year and a consistent team selection, IIRC Tait had to actually cover for Carroll at the start of the season after he got sent off and ultimately Grimmy was playing well, wasn’t that he wasn’t good enough. Would Tait and SOD do much difference of a job currently I don’t think not, he seemed to be an above average player for Steve Clarke but he’s slowly regressing and making many mistakes that are costing us games, he is a decent player for this level and it seems to be a curse for some players of being a captain, I’d be inclined to give it to Kelly and let players like SoD talk on the park without the extra responsibility. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
well fan for life Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 SOD is a serviceable right back at this level and him playing for Scotland kind of skews expectations. If my choice was between Tait at his peak and SOD I'd probably take the former. However he's the best we have. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21maxwell Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 It's worth remembering how poor Grimmy was at RB at the start of last season and that's the reason we were desperate for O'Donnell in the 1st place. I think SOD is 100% bang average but he's 100% our best RB. Hopefully we can get Grimshaw back soon though to allow young Max Johnston out on loan possibly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Without wanting to white knight SOD barring his suspension last season he's been playing week in, week out since he arrived including the 3 games through the Euros then chucked straight back in to the LC games after about 10 days off (compared to the month or so the rest of the squad had). Agree with @well fan for life the international position skews things and for the most part he's a decent right back for us without ever looking spectacular and that's...fine? The problem is at the moment we clearly don't have anyone to switch him out for. We saw the reaction when Airdrie cuffed us so I can understand Alexander's reluctance to chuck Johnston in for the LOLZ. Getting Grimmy back would be welcome in so much as it'd at least given us that option. Indeed Grimmy's most consistent season for us was when he made the position his own and bumped Tait onto the bench. I've no idea if this was actually the case or not but it felt like his form started to noticeably dip when he was effectively first choice and there was zero competition. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowsdower Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 O'donnells game gets way over analyzed compared to many others on our team, and it was the same for scotland. He's a good right back at our level, and will have good games and bad games. The current formation leaves our full backs exposed with a lot of heavy lifting to do. We need to do something to reduce the number of crosses that come into our box, and our full backs getting constantly doubled up on doesn't help that. Some cover/competition for places will be helpful, and that's probably going to be grimmy and johnston, as I doubt we will use up budget on a back up right back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermarv Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 We were OK and played some good football in parts today, clear signs of where we CAN and most likely WILL. Looking forward to the season ahead. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropy Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 As much as O’Donnell is our most dangerous opponent at the moment, surely he was entitled to think someone was going to header that ball away. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
well fan for life Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Personally I am shocked that Shaun Rooney's a threat from set pieces. Nobody could have seen that coming. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YassinMoutaouakil Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Apart from centreback I think our biggest issue is still linking midfield and attack. Whether this is solved by Slattery settling in more, Watt dropping deeper or a new signing I'm not sure. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gianfranco Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 It was never going to happen anyway, but Gboly has joined a Turkish team.Also it’s only August and we’ve scored two equalisers already. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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