watching dobbie closely yesterday and noticed that for most parts he had 3 partick defenders around him. With dykes playing a bit deeper I thought queens missed a trick as there was so much space as a result of dobies marking. As a result dobbie was having to try and keep it from 3 players rather than finding a strike partner in the free space. Obviously a tactical decision to keep dykes deeper and can't argue with it as we won but it was frustrating to watch
I thought Naysmith's defensive tactics were bang on. I have to applaud him for putting a defender at the back post at the corner near the end of the match when Jordan scooped the header off the line, - but that should be the tactic at every corner!
I thought Martin played with a lot more self belief and so I will plug away at requesting that the keepers continue to receive intensive training at cross balls.
Perversely, Dobbie's enforced absence with a hamstring issue might work to Queens' advantage! As Fatfan pointed out, in his post above, Dobbie was surrounded by 3 defenders (which has been the tactic for every club this season) and so allowing players to express themselves without feeling the requirement to 'feed the king' at every opportunity, might pose more problems for the opposition.
Against Ross County, I'd be tempted to bring Semple into midfield alongside Jacobs to increase the strength of the backbone, with Norman and Sterling on the flanks and Harkins at the top of the diamond, and Dykes as the loan front runner.
As someone suggested in an earlier post, Semple shouldn't be "staring" - he should be "starring."
Finally, regardless of whether Semple and Norman are leaving the club, we need to make the most of them while we have them, - not plan now for when we don't have them (by not playing them).........that is quite frankly insane, - particularly when we can consider replacements for them in the January window, - if and when they do depart.
Dobbie wouldn't have been surrounded by 3 defenders if we had played a extra man up front. That's why for the vast majority of the game we offered little goal threat.
Delighted with the result and it probably mattered more on this occasion than the performance but imo we were far too defensive for playing at home against a team struggling at second bottom. We set up like we were playing away from home looking for a draw.
That's a pity about Norman, e was a decent player improving in every game, and a lot of fans appears to have taken to him.
Have said this before, at 19 years old Semple has been excellent. For CB so young he has not let us down. It does look as though the thought of dropping Mercer or Fordyce to play Semple is not something GN is going to do.
Not sure why but for me it’s a strange decision and if Semple was offered the chance to stay in January he would not.
Same with Norman. A young player who has got better and better but as soon as more experienced players are fit he is dropped. Once again I doubt he would hang around even if offered the chance to stay.
I have to agree Mug........its a shame that both players 'have' to go.
Semple has proved that he is a prospect and he will definitely get games in the future down south, - but I think another few months up here would have honed him.
Norman, on the other hand has been exceptional in his development and Vancouver will be the beneficiaries.
Once again, - I'd be saying let the boy go home for Christmas and New Year, - but extend his parent club the offer to bring him back until the end of the season...........they can only say "no."
However, when they see how much he's improved in a few weeks, - they'll maybe be happy for him to come back if they don't have a starting place for him in the team.
Norman, - could go really far..........he is a tremendous player.
Any word on S. Dobbies injury would have been scanned today?