ascender

Our formation just doesn't suit him, but at the same time there's been countless times where we have been playing with one up front and the ball's gone in to the 6 yard box but there's been no-one on the end of it.

I think WS is using his Scotland experience and applying it to the SPL.

They were a credit to Scottish footy and it looked like a good atmosphere too.

Have heard that Boyd and McCoist had a run in on the training ground. Something along the lines of someone had played a long ball, McCoist had expected Boyd to chase and get it, had gone off his head at Boyd not doing this and Boyd retorting that he'd like to see fat McCoist get it. You get the idea.

 

Malky

For some reason that made me laugh

Its a baffling one, isn't it? Its like McCulloch being played up front when he's been rank rotten in that position for a few games on a trot.

Is there any substance to the rumours about Boyd's attitude being stinking? The guy seems to have lost weight recently which would at least suggest he's training harder or taking care of himself, so is that not a positive thing? He always comes on and looks interested and invariably scores, so its not like he's a big sulk and not even trying. There's been times this season when Cousin has looked even more lazy and disinterested, but that's a whole other subject.

We don't know what's going on behind the scenes tbh, but its starting to look like WS thinks that his Scotland tactics of 4-5-1 will make us hard to beat and that outweighs any risk of playing a more attacking formation. Over the course of a season he reckons that's the way to grind out a title win and is going to stick with it?

I'm assuming there's also something more to this, possibly on the training field. But when Boyd plays he scores, so it must be something pretty serious to put him down to 4th choice striker. If that's the case, why haven't the tabloids picked up on it?

WS is in charge though and what he says goes. We certainly can't argue with the results as we're top of the SPL which is our priority this season.

Interesting.... but do you not think Naismith is wasted stuck out on the left?

So, in a fantasy land where you get to pick the first team, going on what you've seen from players this season, what would your first XI be? This isn't a knee-jerk reaction to last night, just interested to see how far away from Walter's selection we'd all be.

It doesn't matter if players are currently injured, let's assume they're all fit and ready and your selecting them is based on how you feel they've performed when they've played recently. Doesn't matter who the opposition was or how long they got on the pitch, pick someone if you think they've shown they have potential or might bring that something different to the team.

My first XI is below and I have to say, there's a few variations on that selection, with a few players who would probably be ahead of players who are actually in those positions in the real world.

My team would be playing a 4-4-2 and trying to play the ball on the deck.

_____________________McGregor___________________

Whittaker_____Broadfoot________Cuellar________Smith

____________________Thomson____________________

Burke________________Gow______________Da Beasley

_____________Boyd_________Naismith______________

Broadfoot has looked good at RB so could do a job at CB which is his preferred position. But then so could Webster who has impressed me whenever I've seen him play, albeit when he's played for us its only been a fleeting glimpse! I'd also have Papac at CB ahead of Weir in my new regime as I think Weir is just too slow now. We're defending much deeper than we should be to compensate and while we're still fairly solid, I think our defence is looking more shaky than it has done since Weir came and with the other players we have, I think its more shaky than it needs to be.

Which is the same for Gow. I think he's worth a punt given the flair & confidence he showed in the cup. You could of course swap his name for Buffel if you think he deserves another chance. And there's a very good argument for his inclusion given that he's often been played out of position when he has played for us. You could even argue that Fergie should be in there, but I still think he is far too inclined to drop deep and that his insistence on everything going through him has a negative effect on the rest of the team.

Burke and DaBeasley both bring pace and width to the wings. But you could just as easily put McCulloch on the left if you wanted to shore things up a bit more.

Boyd and Naismith would flourish in that formation as they would complement each other and unlike most of our strikers, they have actually played together at Killie. They also linked well at ICT when they were both played together up front for a while in the second half.

But the truth is I think you could play a number of combinations of front pairing from our list of strikers and they'd score goals. But that's assuming we don't play with three defensive midfielders, a system which really seems to limit the amount of good chances being created.

I think we've got a very strong squad just now with options all over the place, but I'm baffled as to why we're not actually using these other options we have. We should be able to experiment a bit in the SPL while still having more than enough to win games. Otherwise, why have we signed many of these players in the first place?

But then I'm not a manager, I'm just a fan with too much time on his hands who thinks he knows more than WS

Why are we prepared to accept a 0-0 home draw in the UEFA cup against an average team?

Why are we playing such negative tactics in all competitions?

Why are we playing many players out of position?

Why are we playing a system which suits a lone striker when we don't seem to have a single player on our books who thrives in that position? And I mean thrives rather than someone who just does "OK".

Why are we bothering to sign players who will either warm the bench, play in the reserves constantly or be played out of position in the first XI?

I know we're top of the league and much better off than we have been in years. And I'm really, really pleased that we're looking like we're going to actually win stuff this season. But why am I finding it so depressing to watch us this year and why do I find myself really worried for the future? There just seems to be a depressing inevitability about the way WS is playing and some of the decisions he's making. I really stuck up for him when he was appointed, saying that he's improved tactically when he was with Scotland and that he'd learned from the mistakes he'd made when he was with us before and at Everton. But I'm now starting to realise how wrong I was.

We're 4 points clear in the league but I can't help thinking that given the players we have in our squad now, we should have built up a double figures lead over Celtic by now.

I guess there's just no pleasing some

Broadfoot has looked good, even though he's been playing at RB. Maybe he'll get a chance at CB in a few years time when Weir retires.

Why did we play so negatively against such an average team? What a missed opportunity to finish the tie off.

Wow. How depressing and predictable was that performance then?

Fook me. That's grim reading.

Is WS actually watching the same games we are?

Yeah spot on there in the first paragraph which is what ive said. If its one upfront then Cousin is the only man for the job. If its 2 up top then any 2 can play.

 

Second point - what does that say about our current strikers if he has grown in stature!!!

I think we're a fickle bunch really! TBH I wasn't so much talking about this forum as we seem to be a more, um, how do I put this, reasonable bunch and seem to be more willing to debate stuff in a reasoned manner. Man, that sounded pretentious. But going by other forums, many of our fans seem to have elevated Cousin to this amazing striker who can do no wrong and is the only reason we're top of the league.

If we play the 4-5-1 then Cousin could be a big loss to us if he doesn't play. However, if we play a 4-4-2 and play the ball on the deck, I don't really matter who plays up front, I think any 2 of our current strikers can do a job for us just now.

As for Cousin, much as I really rate him and have gone on about how he is a quality player, he seems to have grown in stature by not playing and is regarded as an even better player than he has been for us. He was never perfect and was often looking very disinterested and lazy on the pitch, so its strange to see just how much people are saying we'll miss him.

If WS plays a bit more positively in terms of tactics and team selection, I don't think we'll miss him one bit.

As for comparing him to Gio, I think that's bollocks frankly. Gio was a younger player who came here and was prepared to play for a few years to improve, get more experience and then move on to the EPL. I don't have a problem with that.

Cousin came here and the rumours started fairly quickly that he just wanted to play in the EPL. Given his age and his agent, it was obviously another Boumsong situation and apart from making everyone a little bit richer is just taking the piss IMO. The only one's winning are Cousin and his agent.

Our recent form has been excellent as the statistics prove.

As to how we've played during that time, its been pretty poor at times to say the least. But I'm not overly bothered about that if we win the league and take steps in the summer to try and sign a couple of flair players.

I don't understand the "tactic" of playing the ball high to McCulloch, he's not that sort of player although he can be good in the air at times.

I'd like to see Naismith and Boyd given a chance up front. Having a front pairing who have at least played together in the past and complement each other's style would be a big step in the right direction for me.

"Lanky streak of piss" was how many described him when he was linked with us a couple of weeks ago.

If we're going to sign players like that, I wouldn't bother. We'd be better of spending half the money on someone from the SPL and saving most of our budget to add 1 or 2 special players who can change a game. But that would be down to us having a decent scouting system in place obviously....

I can see it being McCulloch up front. As for Boyd, I don't think he's started many European matches for us has he?

What basis are we appealing on? I thought that while there was very little contact, the decision was fair enough.

Not sure really, I thought Papac was very good again today for us. But McGregor kept us in it.

Lol. That's the exact same thing I was thinking Stewarty. I was wondering why managers can't see the bloody obvious when its starting them in the face. Or is that why they get paid so much money and we're just supporters? Do they know something we don't?

Its exactly like watching Eck make some of the most bizarre tactical decisions and personnel changes which seemed to make no sense at all.

In the last couple of games, McCulloch and Adam have both brought nothing to the team. Yet they've both kept their places and the tactics have been the same.

I still think we need a settled front-line, regardless of whether that includes Boyd or not. And if JCD is fit, why didn't he start today instead of Naismith or McCulloch? If he wasn't fit, why was he brought on before Boyd?

Why were we playing a long ball game which hasn't worked for us all season? We have the personnel to play a game with the ball on the deck, but with LM in the side that doesn't seem to be the game plan.

And since Burke came back and looks on form, we need someone in the box for him to hit. That's either someone who can really attack the ball in the air (McCulloch??) or someone who will be hanging around the 6 yard box (Boyd??). I've lost count of the times over the last 4 games or so where Burke has put a ball in to the box and there's no-one even attempting to get on the end of it.

At the back, Davie Weir badly needs a rest, but again, can any of us see him being dropped this season?

As for the midfield, could we not at least try something different? We're (still) lacking creativity in the middle and a solid left-sided midfielder. Surely WS has to give one of the other guys (Gow, Buffel or Davis when fit) a chance now?

If we can get a fit Webster in for Weir, then I think our back four will be a lot more solid than it has been. The next step would be to get a proper left back in and try to get some consistency for a while.

Weir has been great, but mistakes are creeping in to his game now for some reason.

He said not heard anything, only heard about Davies

Whooooooooooo?

Now that's a promising looking signing. A 23 year old midfielder with Premiership experience, Northern Ireland internationalist and a Bluenose too.

Hopefully his loan is just the start of a long & successful career here.

He told rangers.co.uk: "It really is a dream come true for me. I have been a fan all of my life so to get the chance to come to Rangers is fantastic.

 

"I grew up as a fan and I have remained that way so when I heard that Rangers were interested in taking me it was a no-brainer really.

 

"Since the manager has been changed at Fulham things have not worked out for me so I welcome this chance to come to Glasgow.

 

"I'm finally getting my chance after missing out when I was a kid. I came over for trials when I was 12 and I played in the same team as Stevie Smith.

 

"I'm glad he's doing well again and I look forward to meeting up with him when I get there tomorrow."

 

Davis could be highly useful to boss Walter Smith with Kevin Thomson out for a period following a hernia operation and he aims to take his chance.

 

He said: "Rangers are in a great position right now as they are challenging on all fronts and it will be fantastic to be part of that.

 

"I hope to win trophies with Rangers in my time with the club. That would be fantastic. I obviously know who the players are and to play in the same team as Barry Ferguson would be great."

It gives them an erection.

Go on, say it to yourself.

"My source says we're signing Ronaldo".

I can feel a stirring already.

Why not just say....

"I heard on Radio Clyde/read on the Evening Times site that WS is bolstering forward line by signing Craig Brewster".