Ross County (h)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arabdownsouth

His system isn't working though, we've continually had to rely on last gasp goals to be where we are. That will not continue indefinitely, unless we are content,and fortunate enough to be this seasons Raith Rovers? We need to be trying to win games from the outset,especially home games against Ross County and other teams in our end of the spectrum.

---

It isn't working but it is. :) The system includes everything he does offer the course of a match surely?

I take your point though, start more aggressively, especially against the likes of RC. I agree, it'd be great to see this on Saturday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TerryTheTerror

It isn't working but it is. :) The system includes everything he does offer the course of a match surely?

I take your point though, start more aggressively, especially against the likes of RC. I agree, it'd be great to see this on Saturday.

---

Whilst I'm happy to be in 4th,albeit Motherwell have a game in hand, I just don't see that trend of saving games in injury time continuing indefinitely. Last season plenty of us ( myself included)were bemoaning Raith Rovers for doing exactly what we are doing now. So to that effect,whilst his system appears on the face of it to be working,we all know it's not going to last forever and we need to change things up. Our record when we score first is so much better than our record if we concede first, so it really doesn't take a genius to work out that we have to start games faster and with more goal threat. I fail to understand why Jim can't see this? Perhaps he can but our recent good fortune has allowed him to keep playing it his way, I'll wait behind the sofa on Saturday to find out! 🫣

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arabdownsouth

His system isn't working though, we've continually had to rely on last gasp goals to be where we are. That will not continue indefinitely, unless we are content,and fortunate enough to be this seasons Raith Rovers? We need to be trying to win games from the outset,especially home games against Ross County and other teams in our end of the spectrum.

---

I disagree, It was working just fine until the injuries after St Mirren

The system we started with kept us in games and we got the first goal the vast majority of them and he still changed things second half If need be and that's great, we have different ways we can go during a game and he's done it often, more recently because the limitations in midfield due to injury

Just because something works from an hour into a game doesn't mean that would work during a frenetic opening to the game

For me we need to be solid to begin and that's worked for us, when we know we are safe and have another window or two to improve in other areas then maybe we'll be more expansive

I think we should keep the faith and see how we get on, it was never going to be without a poor run, hopefully that's not now and we get the 3 pts Saturday but I'll feel better when we get our best defender back, Docherty back from whatever is going on and Moult back

Odada is now a serious option for me which can free Babunski from that position as it isn't working with him and Sevelj and that's been the biggest issue in the last four games, Doc and Sibbald being out since Paisley

On another point County are on a decent wee mini run, a win and two draws including back to back clean sheets so while they aren't great on the road they still pick up pts, they've played 12 league games losing 4

Going to be another tough and tight game as you'd expect

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shedka

I disagree, It was working just fine until the injuries after St Mirren

The system we started with kept us in games and we got the first goal the vast majority of them and he still changed things second half If need be and that's great, we have different ways we can go during a game and he's done it often, more recently because the limitations in midfield due to injury

Just because something works from an hour into a game doesn't mean that would work during a frenetic opening to the game

For me we need to be solid to begin and that's worked for us, when we know we are safe and have another window or two to improve in other areas then maybe we'll be more expansive

I think we should keep the faith and see how we get on, it was never going to be without a poor run, hopefully that's not now and we get the 3 pts Saturday but I'll feel better when we get our best defender back, Docherty back from whatever is going on and Moult back

Odada is now a serious option for me which can free Babunski from that position as it isn't working with him and Sevelj and that's been the biggest issue in the last four games, Doc and Sibbald being out since Paisley

---

So you're saying that something that works at the frenetic ending to a game won't work at the frenetic beginning? OK then 🤔

I agree the injuries have hampered us but so has our playing style. Going out onto the park 3 points must always be the target not playing for a draw and hoping to nick a goal,especially at home. It's not like having 3 center halves is stopping us leaking goals anyway is it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arabdownsouth

So you're saying that something that works at the frenetic ending to a game won't work at the frenetic beginning? OK then 🤔

I agree the injuries have hampered us but so has our playing style. Going out onto the park 3 points must always be the target not playing for a draw and hoping to nick a goal,especially at home. It's not like having 3 center halves is stopping us leaking goals anyway is it?

---

Games clearly settle down to a pattern then it's easier to change and adapt from there, usually the opening is frenetic, what we done want to do is change system and start losing the first goal more often and early at that we need to be on front foot sure and have high energy from start but the three at back system was working until we lost Graham, Doc and Sibbald

We weren't leaking goals as you say as we had one of the best defensive records in the league

At the point of the injuries we had played 7 won 3 draw 3 lost 1 and conceded just 7 goals with 3 cleansheets, that's excellent at this level having just come up

4 games since won 1 drawn 1 lost 2 conceded 6

The Hibs game at home being the only game we've won when we've conceded in a game, show's the importance of being solid

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shedka

Games clearly settle down to a pattern then it's easier to change and adapt from there, usually the opening is frenetic, what we done want to do is change system and start losing the first goal more often and early at that we need to be on front foot sure and have high energy from start but the three at back system was working until we lost Graham, Doc and Sibbald

We weren't leaking goals as you say as we had one of the best defensive records in the league

At the point of the injuries we had played 7 won 3 draw 3 lost 1 and conceded just 7 goals with 3 cleansheets, that's excellent at this level having just come up

4 games since won 1 drawn 1 lost 2 conceded 6

The Hibs game at home being the only game we've won when we've conceded in a game, show's the importance of being solid

---

We weren't leaking goals but we are now, which is pretty much what I said. So when a system stops working it needs changing, and 1 point from 9 suggests it's not working any more to me. We need to have a goal threat or teams will just find us easy to play against. Our performance on Saturday was dog sh*t and we were extremely lucky not to lose a 3rd game on the bounce. You're entitled to your opinion of course but I prefer mine, 442 please Jim, or more likely with our squad I'd say 4231 to get the best out of what we have available.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arabdownsouth

We weren't leaking goals but we are now, which is pretty much what I said. So when a system stops working it needs changing, and 1 point from 9 suggests it's not working any more to me. We need to have a goal threat or teams will just find us easy to play against. Our performance on Saturday was dog sh*t and we were extremely lucky not to lose a 3rd game on the bounce. You're entitled to your opinion of course but I prefer mine, 442 please Jim, or more likely with our squad I'd say 4231 to get the best out of what we have available.

---

Or......... just play 2 in midfield again and yet again get overrun ???

I totally understand we need to get as many points as possible in various/any way, and happy with them so far.

But, please..... no explainations as why 2 can be 4 or even 5........ etc.. Solidify that midfield, no matter what it takes.

4231 give Bubunski an attacking midfield position. Play Miller Thomson on the right. We need to start takimg the game to teams cant be looking to get lucky

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Arabdownsouth

We weren't leaking goals but we are now, which is pretty much what I said. So when a system stops working it needs changing, and 1 point from 9 suggests it's not working any more to me. We need to have a goal threat or teams will just find us easy to play against. Our performance on Saturday was dog sh*t and we were extremely lucky not to lose a 3rd game on the bounce. You're entitled to your opinion of course but I prefer mine, 442 please Jim, or more likely with our squad I'd say 4231 to get the best out of what we have available.

---

And I'll disagree again as the point I was making is we aren't leaking goals due to the system, it's more the injuries, particularly Graham, for me there was a much bigger chance we'd not have conceded both goals v Hibs at home, the one Vs the sheep , Motherwells first or Hibs at the weekend if he was on the park given where the goals stemmed from (his area)

I don't think we have a strong enough CB pairing right now to be confident starting with 4 we at the back without Graham either, just need to see how exposed we looked against ten men on Saturday where Hibs looked the more likely to win it in stoppage time

I think it would be an error and see an even bigger chance of leaking goals than we have been recently, if it isn't broke don't fix especially as Graham is nearly back

That's where we both stand right now

So for me 3 CBs on Saturday