Quote Originally Posted by Chick A Saw View Post
Baffling how Shankland is being brought into this when he wasnt even our top scorer last season, and as much as he is derided on here, TC is on record that he has not played that top scorer Clark in his favoured position this season, more than likely because he has had to play McNumpty when fit!

Is it to TCs credit that we cut 10 players? We got money for Shankland last summer, then Fuchs and Smith in January, but i would expect Asghar is the one to have dealt with that, and all the loan deals.

Not so sure he rectified our poor defence and more than likely landed lucky. Cant help but listen to stories that Mulgrew was inbound before Mellon departed and Mark Reynolds was coming to the end of his time anyway, and we just needed Connolly as far away as possible. Then there is the emergence of Freeman, Nielsen and Graham, and while TC has the remit of giving youth the chance, they have to be good enough to get that chance in the first place. Most disappointing thing now though is i think our best defender has played his last game for the club!
It's not baffling at all. Mellon had a very good striker at his disposal. Tam doesn't. Whether or not Shankland was used effectively is another matter. 8 or 9 goals he scored was it not. That's an 8 or 9 goals striker than we haven't had this season. Those goals/points could've been massive for us this season.

Of course its to Courts' credit. How many other teams can lose 10 players and still finish the season in an equal, if not better position than they were when those 10 departed. Most would go to f*ck imo.

Landed lucky? Come on man. 😂 Some people just do not want to give the manager any credit whatsoever. Courts made Mulgrew his top priority. Personally meeting him and getting it over the line. He also brought in McMann, who, for the first part of the season, when we had our water tight defence, was a mainstay and played a big part. The youth have to be good enough yes, but the manager has to have the balls to play them. An 18 and a 21 year old playing in a 3 man defence vs Rangers at the weekend. Freeman who Mellon wouldn't play being given his chance and taking it. All decisions the manager made rather than sticking with the tried & trusted. Something Mellon was guilty of over & over again.