Ross County vs Morton

[dunning1874]

There's a 0% chance JJ gets sacked anytime soon, seems a bit pointless even discussing that tbh

It's obviously not a route the board'll want to go down and we could get good results making this redundant, but what if we don't win any of the next three games? That would leave him with only one win in nine, and the excuse of just being in the job that saw him escape much criticism after appalling performances against Dunfermline and Ayr won't have the same weight if we again fail in winnable games against Partick and Alloa.

 

It's only hypothetical at this point, so far we look like we have enough to limp into 7th or 8th with grinding out draws, but if we did come out of the next three games with only three points or less you'd have to seriously question our ability to stay ahead of Alloa and Partick.

 

In many ways Johansson can argue he's been dealt a shite hand even discounting the debate about the standard of the squad. It was always likely to take a first time manager a few weeks to get up to speed, then after his first few games as he finds his feet the fixture list throws up three difficult away games in the next four, with Ross County being the best team in the league by a mile, ICT being unbeaten in ages and a QoS team whose home form has been good.

 

There's also a reasonable argument that all the draws so far have been creditable results in isolation - I think that's a stretch with Dunfermline but certainly draws at Tannadice and ICT are fine. He's also won the obviously winnable game in that tough run by beating Falkirk.

 

I think the next three games will define how his previous six should be viewed as well. Was our failure to win games a consequence of a manager still learning the role combined with an unkind fixture list, with beating Falkirk showing that he's capable of getting results and an improvement is imminent, or have we just landed ourselves with a manager incapable of winning games at this level, with the fact we beat 10 man Falkirk saying nothing about Johansson and everything about how bad they are in a game where a draw would have been a disgraceful result?

 

If we take 5 points or more from the next three and put a real gap between us and 9th the former looks to be a credible argument. If we take three or less it's pretty clearly the latter and the conversation already moves to when he gets sacked rather than if. If it's four, we can muddle on with massive question marks still hanging over him.

[Deego]

[Clydeview]

Next 4 games are massive for JJ. A couple of wins and all would be fine, if were were to have a winless November you'd have to think his time would be up...

[TONofmemories]

We were second when McKinnon left. Since then, we can’t pull a performance cr together.

 

Granted it is McKinnons squad but can’t help but feel there is a lack of tactical direction from JJ.

 

The aratwmwnt Made by Lazlo slating McKinnon, I was talking to someone last week about it we did due diligence on signings I.e. Johnston but none the less we don’t have a plan B.

 

Reading Jim’s comments, he has said that Hawke was badgering him for a while to sign. He should stay out of signing affairs as making a big enough mess off the field.

RE the last paragraph, he should stay out of our club full stop. The guy's an absolute whopper.

[Ton in Shawlands]

We started this season with an untried back four, a midfield short on pace & going by some games, little stamina (& we're toothless/injured up front). The performances before McKinnon fucked off weren't as good as results suggested. Johansson hasn't impressed, the least he should be doing is drilling that defence into some sort of shape. If he can't get progress on that he's had it by christmas.

[TheGoon]

That third goal, suffering fuck.

[delboy66]

If you can't make a coherent, half-decent team from the players we have you shouldn't be close to a dug out. It's patently obvious that Johanssen doesn't have a clue what he's doing, there's no point making excuses.

 

4 points from the next two games or he has to go.

Give JJ a break for F#CK Sake first gig at management & it needs time the problem also is there is to many in the Dugout also with to many ideas get Anderson & Sutton back upstairs or running the under 20s let JJ & Housty do there Jobs.. Yes We have taken two heavy defeats against Ayr & County Yesterday but get something on Tuesday & beat Thistle on Saturday & We move on.. & do We have a New Manager in the Dugout its Johansson..

[Malt]

Give JJ a break for F#CK Sake first gig at management & it needs time the problem also is there is to many in the Dugout also with to many ideas get Anderson & Sutton back upstairs or running the under 20s let JJ & Housty do there Jobs.. Yes We have taken two heavy defeats against Ayr & County Yesterday but get something on Tuesday & beat Thistle on Saturday & We move on.. & do We have a New Manager in the Dugout its Johansson..

But what if we don’t get something Tuesday and get beat Saturday?

 

I’m sorry, young manager or not, it is not good enough.

[delboy66]

But what if we don’t get something Tuesday and get beat Saturday?

 

I’m sorry, young manager or not, it is not good enough.

All ifs buts & maybes the bottom line is lets see & hope He is given time to get His first gig & the Team moving in the right direction..

[Mr Toon]

Every manager inherits somebody else's squad. The idea that you need 22 of your own players is flat out bollocks.

I agree entirely with that and it is not at odds with anything in my post.

[vikingTON]

I think JJ needs a transfer window to judge him. He’s been left with a **** of a squad that McKinnon put together, I know the snake got us 7/9 before he ****ed off, but he got lucky in a few of the games, nothing to say we wouldn’t be in the same position if he was still here.

 

Under normal circumstances the manager absolutely deserves to build his own squad but these tankings are not acceptable. He's put himself under this pressure for that reason and if they don't stop then he'll be getting hounded by Christmas. 

[TheGoon]

Sutton & Anderson shouldn’t be in the dugout but I think their influence is being overstated a bit.

[TONofmemories]

Too many cooks n all that

[Malt]

Sutton & Anderson shouldn’t be in the dugout but I think their influence is being overstated a bit.

I don’t understand the hate people have for Anderson and Sutton. Have I missed something?

[Mr Toon]

I don't subscribe to the 'Scully is rubbish' camp, but after watching the highlights I think it is time to bring back Derek Gaston.

[irnbru]

I don't subscribe to the 'Scully is rubbish' camp, but after watching the highlights I think it is time to bring back Derek Gaston.

We've been shipping goals with him so he does need dropped. I said it before but at least with Gaston there's a bit more of a presence and he's more vocal. Scully seems nervous and doesn't do much organising. It's no coincidence the defence haven't been strong when he's in goal.

[dunning1874]

Unimpressed with Johansson's failure to take responsibility. The whole defence embarrassed themselves with individual errors, particularly Buchanan, and you could argue a manager can't do much about individual mistakes from players he didn't sign who aren't good enough, but it goes further than that. The defensive shape is routinely all over the place with no line to speak of at times, players letting their men go and win free headers at set-pieces is the norm and we don't have an answer for runners breaking out of the opposition midfield.

 

There's an abject lack of defensive organisation and that can only be blamed on the manager. Even if the likes of Buchanan, Kilday and Tumilty are going to make individual errors on anything from positional sense to sloppily losing possession in dangerous areas and you feel Johansson can't be blamed for that, the overall lack of organisation can only be on his head. The number of ridiculous goals we've lost already in his tenure just isn't acceptable and he needs to fix it rather than shrugging it off as the fault of lazy defending on an individual basis.

[TRVMP]

Just watched the goals. Gregor Buchanan is dreadful. He plays his own offside line with no regard for where anyone else is. He just stops at the second goal. Goals one and four show just how simple it is to get behind our defensive line. 

 

MacLean is very naive at the third goal. The fifth goal was just lazy by Kilday.

 

It is far too easy to create chances against us. Look at the highlights of any game this season and you'll see the same thing - a terrible defensive line, non-existent marking, and all-round defensive naivety. JJ doesn't seem to have a clue how to fix it, but it would be a mistake to think that our defensive players are ok - that back four is atrocious. I've said it quite a bit this season, but Buchanan has been nowhere near good enough in all but one or two games. There is no-one in defence who is directing the back line. 

 

Having only seen the highlights, this all seems correct to me. A better manager could maybe put something together but it would be a very, very tough ask. Horrific.

[SpoonTon]

Unimpressed with Johansson's failure to take responsibility. The whole defence embarrassed themselves with individual errors, particularly Buchanan, and you could argue a manager can't do much about individual mistakes from players he didn't sign who aren't good enough, but it goes further than that. The defensive shape is routinely all over the place with no line to speak of at times, players letting their men go and win free headers at set-pieces is the norm and we don't have an answer for runners breaking out of the opposition midfield.

 

There's an abject lack of defensive organisation and that can only be blamed on the manager. Even if the likes of Buchanan, Kilday and Tumilty are going to make individual errors on anything from positional sense to sloppily losing possession in dangerous areas and you feel Johansson can't be blamed for that, the overall lack of organisation can only be on his head. The number of ridiculous goals we've lost already in his tenure just isn't acceptable and he needs to fix it rather than shrugging it off as the fault of lazy defending on an individual basis.

 

I would absolutely agree that JJ has some influence over the overall organisation, but it's not only on his head. Being able to organise and work together as a unit is something that the players have to do on the pitch. If you don't talk to those around you, or you give your defensive partners bad advice, then the shape can fall apart. And you can scream at them from the sidelines, but many players are limited to what they have beside them. Buchanan didn't play in a very good Dumbarton defence, and even in that defence he was often beside or behind an experienced player like Darren Barr (whatever his faults later in his career, he was an experienced defender who could talk players through things).

 

Look back at the goal we conceded at home against Ross County at home. Buchanan clears the ball and loses his man behind him, so he points to McKeown to cover behind. There are a couple of problems here. McKeown already had a man on that side, and his covering only served to play two players onside. To prevent the chance occuring, either Buchanan has to ask Kilday to cover (or Kilday reads the danger and take charge) or he steps up and controls the line to play the runners offside. Much of our shape comes with what the players do on the pitch. And we can coach and advise to shore up those weaknesses, absolutely, but we look rudderless on the pitch, and that's a big problem. It's a problem that's been there since the very start of the season at Ayr. We can blame McKinnon's experimenting there, but there are too many basics we failed at that day - and those failures have been consistent all season. 

[Pedrodelawasp]

Hmm... look back at just about everything I've predicted or passed comment on over the last few years. I am usually very accurate... rarely wrong.

 

You stole Trump's gimmick...