Again, don’t disagree with best players in best positions.
But, Kone apparently didn’t train all week pre Bradford and was a bit out of sorts. We can only speculate as to the motivations behind that but I have never been a fan of dropping a player back in the side - even your best player - if he hasn’t trained well in the weeks previous to a game. I’d be shocked to see isak near a starting line up next week if he is still at Newcastle, for example.
And I am one of Kones biggest fans. My heart wanted him to start on Saturday. But my head had that nagging feeling about “what if he’s already half checked out”. I don’t think he is that sort of player, but I’m not there every day at training. It could also be as simple as him carrying a slight knock.
I’d be interested to know what the half time xG stats are, as we’ve been comprehensively outplayed in the first half of both games before creating more once the opponents dropped intensity at 2-0 up.
After the first half against Bradford I was shocked at how low their intensity was second half, albeit they should have gone 3-1 up immediately after we scored and looked very dangerous on the break, winning over half the duels with our centre halves.
There’s no doubt there’s reason for optimism from a player ability point of view. The stats bear this out, and once we go two down we look ok. But the problem i can’t get away from is whether or not Dodds is the best man to bring the best out of these players. I’m a long way from being convinced yet.
When all is said and done, we need a little time to settle in all the new players, some of whom are injured, namely Fink and Henderson.
Tilley, Boyd-Munce and Mullins all look good prospects and Abbott obviously has the class to be a major player for us this season. Junior also looks promising if played in the right position.
Let’s also throw into the mix the fact that I believe we have only scored in the first half in two out the last 20 games I stand to be corrected on that
Fully agree Leahy does not work in the no 6 role and Udoh is ineffective playing as the loan striker . This number 6 position is a real concern . I understood abbot can play there but this was not the case saturday .
Having read through the above 574 posts, noone has been able to properly explain the first half right-side formation.
Therefore I’m going to put forward my own…
Theory 1) In the week the team practiced with a back four of Grimmer, Casey, Allen & Harvie. When Connor signed Dodds just added his name and forgot we couldn’t play 12 men. Only when about to hand in the team sheet did he realise his error and in panic crossed out the first player he thought we could do without (even he knows we can’t play without a goalkeeper) and just crossed his fingers.
Theory 2) When naming the team they actually draw straws at 1:30pm and then try to figure out a formation in the 90 minutes upto kick-off.
I’ve been struggling to catch up with at least some of the 120 or so comments posted since I was last on this thread but I’m a slow reader and I find some of the long, negative and repetitive posts a real turnoff.
What a treat therefore to come across your post. As @barneysmith says, absolutely spot on. I’ve only one minor comment. Caolan Boyd-Munce is surely another serious contender for what I can only refer to as the pivotal Morley role
Thanks @micra, that’s very kind. You are certainly right regarding Boyd-Munce. I haven’t seen enough of him yet to make that judgement but he certainly was a very good footballer from what I saw on Saturday. It would be great if he was even close to Morley’s talent, fingers crossed!
The funny thing is I bet the playing style that Dodds keeps talking about implementing isn’t a million miles away from what Bloomfield had us playing last season.
I’ve a feeling Boyd-Munce could well prove to be as effective as Morley in that pivotal role but the basis for that feeling has no more substance than the fact that significant numbers of St Mirren fans were extremely sorry to see him leave and, even more flimsily, the fact that their chant was “Boyd Munce in the middle of our team, Boyd Munce”!