Anchorman 0 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 You can hardly judge the team on one friendly, especially when we were missing players such as Wallace, Jig, Black and Macleod. I think I can. And it is not based on one friendly. It is based on the step up from a dross 3rd divison team on Sunday to a newly relegated SPL side in Dundee, along with the fact that we created next to nothing in all other friendlies. Are we honestly still saying we are a seriously weakened side without Jig? Also I would argue we are a stronger side without Black. If we had Wallace and Macleod how different would our tactics have been? Dundee ran us absolutley ragged in the first half. Forget the score - did you see it? It wasn't the personnel - it was the formation and tactics. If we are in trouble whenever we lose Wallace and Macleod then by God why have we been bringing in all the players we have? I really hate to say it but if we get drawn at Breezeblock Boulevard in one of the cups it will be 'Dont Watch Alone'. Barring one or two sides in the SPL e.g. Hibs, I wouldn't fancy our chances one bit against the others. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltersgotstyle 297 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 I think I can. And it is not based on one friendly. It is based on the step up from a dross 3rd divison team on Sunday to a newly relegated SPL side in Dundee, along with the fact that we created next to nothing in all other friendlies. Are we honestly still saying we are a seriously weakened side without Jig? Also I would argue we are a stronger side without Black. If we had Wallace and Macleod how different would our tactics have been? Dundee ran us absolutley ragged in the first half. Forget the score - did you see it? It wasn't the personnel - it was the formation and tactics. If we are in trouble whenever we lose Wallace and Macleod then by God why have we been bringing in all the players we have?I really hate to say it but if we get drawn at Breezeblock Boulevard in one of the cups it will be 'Dont Watch Alone'. Barring one or two sides in the SPL e.g. Hibs, I wouldn't fancy our chances one bit against the others. Complete over reaction for one reason - it was a friendly! Do you think Newcastle fans will take much notice if we beat them on Tuesday, no of course they won't. They will see the bigger picture. The players who played against Dundee are still trying to gel. If we can beat Motherwell with the boys we had last year I am pretty confident we can go one further this year. Let's not forget outside of Celtic we have the most experienced squad with a decent amount of full internationals. As for tactics time will tell, but I for one am quietly optimistic about this year. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotter 0 Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Yep, we've played one competitive game this season and I thought we did fine. Progress was there to see. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilledbear 16 Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 We have played well once so far, against Albion Rovers, time will tell how we will fare against better teams. What will be noticable against Newcastle, going by the SW game, the difference in speed, thought and physique. It was like men against boys at some points during the Sheffield game. I hope we cope well. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anchorman 0 Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Complete over reaction for one reason - it was a friendly! Do you think Newcastle fans will take much notice if we beat them on Tuesday, no of course they won't. They will see the bigger picture. The players who played against Dundee are still trying to gel. If we can beat Motherwell with the boys we had last year I am pretty confident we can go one further this year. Let's not forget outside of Celtic we have the most experienced squad with a decent amount of full internationals. As for tactics time will tell, but I for one am quietly optimistic about this year. There is no over-reaction on my part at all. "It was only a friendly" is a fair enough excuse if it is at the beginning of the close season. If it is just before your campaign kicks off it's a lame excuse used by managers (and some fans!) to paper over the fact that the team is not ready to hit the ground running when the real stuff starts e.g. if we get an unfavourable cup draw. Friendlies at this stage of the season should be about playing your strongest side available, with the formation you intend to use, so that the transition into the real games is seamless. To think otherwise is wrong. Plain wrong IMHO. "Do you think Newcastle fans will take much notice if we beat them on Tuesday?". The fans might not but the manager sure will. Newcastle are the perfect example of what I've stated above. Pardew has, in his last couple of friendlies fielded very strong sides who have put in very strong performances. That is for the reason stated above i.e. he wants them hitting the ground running when the season kicks off. Why did this thread start? Pardew intends to field his strongest side. Do Newcastle care about their performance? - Absolutely they do. Was our intention to be close to our finished article by the time the season has started? - Absolutely it was. Are we being deluded by still playing our "it's only a friendly" joker card this close to the season kick off? - Absloutely IMHO 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Ally 0 Posted August 2, 2013 Share Posted August 2, 2013 Team that beat Motherwell: 01 Alexander02 Argiriou 03 Cribari 04 Perry 05 Wallace 06 McCulloch 07 Faure 08 MacLeod 10 Shiels (Crawford - 75' ) 11 Aird (McKay - 81' ) 09 Sandaza (Hutton - 24' ) Substitutes 16 Gallacher 12 Hutton 14 Crawford 17 Stella 15 McKay Potential Strongest team now: Bell Foster Mohsni Cribari Wallace Little McLeod Law Templeton Daly Clark Team this year looks stronger overall to me with some better quality options in a few position. Going OT but people were discussing this sort of thing in some posts. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,596 Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 Hearing that tickets sold for this game was standing at approx 24k yesterday,anyone know for sure? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ser Barristan Selmy 222 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 (edited) Even during Eck's most parsimonious spell, we were in a different league to the likes of Fulham. Now the tables have truly turned. How many times in the past 10-15 years have we beaten Premiership teams? We beat a poor Fulham side 1-0. I seem to recall us beating Man Utd in my younger years through a David May own goal but that was many moons ago and I think it was a testimonial. Edited August 3, 2013 by Ser Barristan Selmy 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
54andcounting 0 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I fear a real drubbing after that Forfar disgrace 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tannochsidebear 2,352 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Hearing that tickets sold for this game was standing at approx 24k yesterday,anyone know for sure? Don't know but we are unlikely to sell many more after today!! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.