buster.

It's not even true that we started that well IMO. Kilmarnock sat back and let us have the ball. We were busy, we were ok but we weren't cutting them open and creating good chances. Our goal came from the rebound of a rare shot from outside the box and the Morelos header from a set-piece.

Right time, right place....Clarke's success at Killie doesn't mean he'd be able to deliver what is wanted at Ibrox. He might, as he's the nearest thing in Scottish management to Walter Smith in terms of respected knowledgeable pragmatism..... but hypothetically, I tend to think Walter would simply ask for a much bigger budget if he were to be expected to win the title.....but in such a hypothetical scenario, he wouldn't get it and wouldn't want the job. Clarke wouldn't want the job either.

No Goldson pretty much knocks any faint possibility of a 3-5-2 on the head. Continuing lack of a creative midfielder makes options far from convincing.

I wonder if the players are really looking forward to this game to put things right (what they'll say) or they are at least partly dreading Livingston on plastic ? SG&Co have some big calls to make and the unrelenting pressure builds once again. Bottomline, we need to find an effective and consistent solution for playing against deeply parked autobuses. Two quality players have been brought in so as to increase options but neither are match-fit yet. We had a week in Tenerife to work on it but when asked a question on Wednesday, we remained aimless. Getting beaten by Kilmarnock isn't as big a deal as in years gone by. Apparently they got the most points in the top flight during 2018 and they have the best pound for pound manager in the League. They CONSISTENTLY do a lot with very little. Livingston aren't as good as Kilmarnock, are struggling for goals and will be setting up for a 0-0. We should manage it but I'd like to see the team before saying we will or making a prediction about the match.

The manager has to take responsibility for playing the team/formation he did. IMO he got it wrong on both counts. Kilmarnock wasn't the place to give Davis a first start (unless he had been flying in training).

You raised this point before and it was pointed out why this happened. #League_Cup_Final

I'm not completely writing Katic off. My comment was based more about the here and now of this season. Sorry to hear about his family situation. It would appear as family circumstances for both Katic and Coulibally took a fair bit away from what SG had put together in the first few weeks of the season.

McGregor Goldson - McAuley - Katic Tav............McCrorie.............Barisic Davis...........Arfield Defoe.....Morelos

I agree with Frankie that it almost seems a mental block at times. They don't make so many good sharp runs within what is very tight spaces because they don't really expect the pass to reach. Tempo drops, safe option often preferred,.....

They without doubt improve our squad tenfold but I don't think they solve the specific problem we are talking about. They can contribute towards a solution but whether it be now or in the summer, we need that creative midfielder option.

In this type of situation (bus parked in front of us) we are obviously too often blunt and players seem to go through motions (best example was at Dundee in December). We need a player that provides more of a creative spark between the middle and front, someone that gives the midfield/defence, a focal point of sorts. This is a problem that SG solves or it will be his undoing.

I don't think Davis and Defoe are the answer for that problem. #creative midfielder_10

I think same formation/players will give us a similar type of frustrating 90 minutes that will decided on who takes the chances/mistakes. I think you have to change it. If Barisic and Goldson are ready I'd be tempted to go 3-5-2. I'd start McCrorie.

Kilmarnock are a better team but Livingston are well organised and will much represent the type of challenge which we too often struggle to overcome.

Looking forward........ We now have a not disimilar type of game on Sunday at Livingston. What does SG do ?

Football economics are only mirroring that of general society these past few decades. Money flows upwards, buys power, regulation and more money flows upwards.

Agreed, but McCrorie would be in my starting XI every week. Spent a fair bit of cash on the central defence this season and we seem to have one fairly solid and consistent defender out of it.

Wrong team and shape IMO Poor performance (players and mgmt) Consistent inconsistency = Forget the Title

Surprised by line-up. Onus is on both Davis and Defoe to start quickly,..............best way if it works. Would be nice to see Defoe score a couple .....and for Morelos to bag another hat-trick

Still a choker ! You bring through what may well be a once in a decade level of talent and you get a fee to cover around 3 months wages for Pena and Herrera.

Agree with much of what you say but I just think that at this challenging but vital juncture it'll be more about attitude and determination. It's what won us the OF game and it's what we need if we want a good return from the next 3 league aways.

Forget the formation for a moment and think attitude and determination (plus match-fitness/in press). For me these next three away games in the league will need the attitude and determination in spades. This was the main reason we got the monkey off our backs on the 29th and those who stood up to be counted deserve more gametime.

Makes you choke when you think how much we didn't get for Billy Gilmour.

Tend to agree with keeping same XI (minus Goldson) unless Davis has showed up particularly well in training. Don't think we can play Defoe from the start tonight and you certainly can't start both Davis and Defoe in this type of game at their stage of match fitness.

Game may be in doubt..................