The General Ross County Chat Thread

[Stagmaster]

We have, essentially, a first division side. We were always going to be found out and after 3 defeats I think that time has come. Desperately need fresh blood, will Roy dip into his pockets in January?

[tintax]

How long until McMenamin gets punted? was shite last night, can't remember him doing anything so far this season

[yoda]

We have some players who are clearly capable at SPL level but I think the real problem is the lack of any creativity or adventure in the team. I like McMenamin but he isn't a player who can create things himself. He works well with someone beside him and he's a good "poacher".

There's a couple of players who I would be delighted to see the back of but Adams needs to try and bring in a decent striker and creative player in January.

[Stagmaster]

Adams needs to try and bring in a decent striker and creative player in January.

Totally agree. Hope we're safer in league by that time though. Would possibly add a 'keeper to that list, faith in Fraser is diminishing and not sure Brown would do much better. In all reality, what's the chances of County spending decent money? I might want better players but not at the expense of the club's future.

[silverrigger]

FIOS.............................Forever In Our Shadow

[forkboy]

Totally agree. Hope we're safer in league by that time though. Would possibly add a 'keeper to that list, faith in Fraser is diminishing and not sure Brown would do much better. In all reality, what's the chances of County spending decent money? I might want better players but not at the expense of the club's future.

I'd like to see Brown given a chance before bringing in another keeper. He's got SPL experience, might as well give him a go if we do lose faith in Fraser.

We desperately needed creativity in the summer, it's hardly a new flaw, it's just more noticeable now that the defence has cracked in the past couple of games.

Don't think McMenamin was "shite" last night, he's just a striker who doesn't make things happen himself & got bugger all in the way of service. Is he an SPL quality player? Well, probably not. Was he at fault last night? Not really.

[Stagmaster]

FIOS............................

Fletcher Is Our Saviour

Oops, wrong thread!

[top six next year]

We have some players who are clearly capable at SPL level but I think the real problem is the lack of any creativity or adventure in the team. I like McMenamin but he isn't a player who can create things himself. He works well with someone beside him and he's a good "poacher".

There's a couple of players who I would be delighted to see the back of but Adams needs to try and bring in a decent striker and creative player in January.

Not acting the WUM here, but do you think this is due to who you have as a manager?

[yoda]

Not acting the WUM here, but do you think this is due to who you have as a manager?

Not really because you can only piss with the cock you've got. I do think Adams is cautious by nature (that said, I do consider him to be quite pragmatic in his approach as well) but 09/10 and 11/12 saw the team offering an attacking threat with some real creativity. It's more to do with the loss of key creative players (Miller and Gardyne, but also Morrison to an extent) who haven't been replaced and the lack of pace.

It's too early to panic - a relegation fight was always on the cards - and it must be hard to pick a team up after their first defeat in 40 games, followed by a 1-2 defeat at home (the players probably felt robbed, even if the fans didn't), a 5-4 defeat (again a fair result but the players might feel hard done by) then a 3-1 derby defeat.

We just need to get a number of free-kicks with 25 yards of the goal in every game and results will pick up

[top six next year]

I've noticed Stuart Taylor tweeting a lot in the past about Gardyne. Will be interesting to see who county bring in in January.

[ICTChris]

When we lost our year long unbeaten away record we had a slump, losing three or four games in a row. I think sometimes having a record to play for can motivate players and losing it puts a downer on things.

However, as I said in the other thread, County don't look to have a big goal threat, certainly not from their strikers. Maybe they are looking to have forwards who they work the ball up to and get shots and runners off that. That can be difficult to sustain though.

[TheHoodedClaw]

Were coming to get Ross County, your bubble's well and truly burst.

[bunglebonce]

Don't mind me picking picking through this.

Not really because you can only piss with the cock you've got.

I don't think that analogy suits. The only player Adams didn't bring in to the current squad himself was Fitzpatrick, who is a legacy of McStay's short stay. Discounting the fact that Fitzpatrick himself signed as a central midfielder and has been converted to a left-back, Adams has NINE other natural central midfielders in the squad. Sure, some of them can play anywhere across the midfield (as they've been asked to do), but there is an imbalance to the squad that is of the manager's own doing.

It's more to do with the loss of key creative players (Miller and Gardyne, but also Morrison to an extent) who haven't been replaced and the lack of pace.

It's more the lack of pace than the creativity that is missing, in my mind. Miller and Morrison brought the width to last season's team that allowed the midfielders to take different positions on the field. Quinn, like Brittain, is better inside than out and you could tell on Friday that he needed the overlap. Fitzpatrick has got the timing of his runs down well so the left flank is just fine at the moment - he and Vigurs have shown that they have a really good understanding. Maybe Fotheringham can still be the missing link, but it certainly isn't Jimmy Scott as an attacking midfielder.

It's too early to panic - a relegation fight was always on the cards - and it must be hard to pick a team up after their first defeat in 40 games, followed by a 1-2 defeat at home (the players probably felt robbed, even if the fans didn't), a 5-4 defeat (again a fair result but the players might feel hard done by) then a 3-1 derby defeat.

Wasn't the 1-2 defeat the first in 40?

We just need to get a number of free-kicks with 25 yards of the goal in every game and results will pick up

If County didn't have that..! I think it's fair to say - without the stats to back it up - that despite how good Brittain and Vigurs are at those shots, their success % at the moment must be unsustainable over the season. We need to see goals coming from elsewhere.

[RCR]

Were coming to get Ross County, your bubble's well and truly burst.

That would imply that you're moving towards us in some kind of positive direction

[Capital_stag]

Were coming to get Ross County, your bubble's well and truly burst.

Atleast we had a bubble to burst

[top six next year]

Were coming to get Ross County, your bubble's well and truly burst.

Club 12 have absolutely zero chance against ICTFC on the 19th. I wouldn't be surprised if we beat you by double figures. It'll be good to help our friends from over the bridge and move toward sealing Dundee's forthcoming relegation.

[Stagmaster]

Club 12 have absolutely zero chance against ICTFC on the 19th. I wouldn't be surprised if we beat you by double figures. It'll be good to help our friends from over the bridge and move toward sealing Dundee's forthcoming relegation.

For once I will find myself willing your team to victory. Of course, it will hurt.

[yoda]

Don't mind me picking picking through this.

I'll bow to your superior knowledge and more balanced opinion!

I don't think that analogy suits. The only player Adams didn't bring in to the current squad himself was Fitzpatrick, who is a legacy of McStay's short stay. Discounting the fact that Fitzpatrick himself signed as a central midfielder and has been converted to a left-back, Adams has NINE other natural central midfielders in the squad. Sure, some of them can play anywhere across the midfield (as they've been asked to do), but there is an imbalance to the squad that is of the manager's own doing.

That's true enough now I've read your post. It was strange last season seing Adams sign (for example) Quinn and Duncan - and for the record I like Quinn as a player before someone jumps on to that comment - yet ignore the obvious lack of a quick winger, that said he got away with it last season. My biggest moan last season was that Corcoran was the only winger at the club.

This season - with hindsight - it was frustrating to see Adams bring in Scott (and pursue Riordan) when there was a real need for a "new" Gardyne or a winger.

It's more the lack of pace than the creativity that is missing, in my mind. Miller and Morrison brought the width to last season's team that allowed the midfielders to take different positions on the field. Quinn, like Brittain, is better inside than out and you could tell on Friday that he needed the overlap. Fitzpatrick has got the timing of his runs down well so the left flank is just fine at the moment - he and Vigurs have shown that they have a really good understanding. Maybe Fotheringham can still be the missing link, but it certainly isn't Jimmy Scott as an attacking midfielder.

Could Bateson or Kovacevic be an answer to the overlap problem? Having said that, would Adams sacrifice Tokely's defensive strengths for a more attacking right-back?

Wasn't the 1-2 defeat the first in 40?

You're right, it was

[Forfinn]

Could Bateson or Kovacevic be an answer to the overlap problem? Having said that, would Adams sacrifice Tokely's defensive strengths for a more attacking right-back?

If I was playing Football Manager with this squad, I would try bringing in Bateson for Tokely and Kovacevic for Munro. I'd save it and see how it went (reloading when it completely falls on its arse...). A more dynamic defence could allow the midfield some more freedom. I've only seen Bateson in the friendly against Raith (not the league cup game) and he looked like he could have a bit of attacking intent about him. Certainly, the lack of overlapping threat from the fullbacks is a distinct difference from last season. As immense as Tokely is, he's not as good at getting forward as Miller was. Something to think about for games where we might be expected to get points, anyway.

I'd also like to see Fotheringham pushed forward into the Gardyne role. I assumed that's what he was signed to do as we already have a plethora of central midfielders. If he's not the answer, a young creative talent with something to prove is surely the answer. Like Gardyne himself when he first joined. Look what ICT have done getting the lad Roberts in from Arsenal. Surely we could pull off a deal like that?

[bunglebonce]

To answer Yoda and Forfinn:

I get the impression that Adams doesn't trust wingers, which is why there's only ever been one specialist in the squad at a time (Strachan; Moore; Corcoran). To me, I think he's signed the wrong ones in the past which has put him off further.

I don't think Adams likes loan deals, because I think he sees a tightly knitted squad as one of the reasons to the club's recent successes.

I don't think Tokely's that good in defence! He could have stopped Wright's winner for St Johnstone when Tokely's replacement Kovacevic was on the wrong side, but Tokely was indirectly culpable for at least two of Friday's goals on a number of levels and his nervy header against his own team's crossbar couldn't have helped. For a full-back who is reluctant to get forward, neither does he tuck in to be an auxiliary third centre-back. When Fitzpatrick goes forward, that leaves the defence lop-sided and exposes Munro. What's the point in playing Tokely if he isn't going to do what should make him a big asset, by helping to spread the rest of the defence to a back three? There have been so many occasions this season where Tokely hasn't even had a wide player against him so he just buggers about marking no-body, while his team-mates are even somtimes reluctant to pass to him even as the spare man on the pitch.