League Cup 2024/25

[so72]

Midfield could really benefit from someone like Grimshaw. I don't think we really have someone in there who can impose themselves on a game through that sort of physicality and determination. Perhaps Wilson will fill that role when fully fit but I'd like a leader in there.

[TONofmemories]

Let's not be complete panic merchants as yet. 

St. Mirren lost to us then went on to lose to montrose in this very cup but had a great season. 

[Drew Busby's Moustache]

16 minutes ago, TONofmemories said:

Not really comparable though. This is a complete style change, if we stick with it. Quite why folk think its just gonna click is beyond me. 

Yes...you're right. It is a complete style change and some players (Baird) are never going to be able to change.Its against his natural instincts.

My point is Airdrie are further down this road and are accomplished exponents of how it should be played.

We're going to have our work cut-out on catch-up.

[Drew Busby's Moustache]

15 minutes ago, so72 said:

Midfield could really benefit from someone like Grimshaw. I don't think we really have someone in there who can impose themselves on a game through that sort of physicality and determination. Perhaps Wilson will fill that role when fully fit but I'd like a leader in there.

Dunno....I think Moffat is going to come good. Similar energy levels to Crawford last season.

[AyrshireTon]

That was poor stuff. Impressed by Ballantyne, Moffat and Delaney (2nd half). Reynolds looks like he’s never played the game before.

That was so dull that the highlight was the ball boy getting relieved of his duties for throwing the ball away from the keeper.

[Drew Busby's Moustache]

1 minute ago, AyrshireTon said:

That was poor stuff. Impressed by Ballantyne, Moffat and Delaney (2nd half). Reynolds looks like he’s never played the game before.

That was so dull that the highlight was the ball boy getting relieved of his duties for throwing the ball away from the keeper.

lol.....Aye...agreed   (will a report go to the SFA?...he seemed a rather LARGE ball boy!).

[so72]

15 minutes ago, Drew Busby's Moustache said:

Dunno....I think Moffat is going to come good. Similar energy levels to Crawford last season.

I like Moffat. Wouldn't want him having to play the deeper role I was envisaging.

[LargsTON]

56 minutes ago, TONofmemories said:

Not really comparable though. This is a complete style change, if we stick with it. Quite why folk think its just gonna click is beyond me. 

I have to agree.  I'm as pessimistic as they come but you can't just throw a team together and expect them to click right away.  I actually think the midfield is the really pressing concern more than the defence or attack.  We've nobody to put a foot on the ball although Lyall was decent at times and I was impressed with Moffat.  You have to take into account the level of opposition though.  One other thing is the distinct lack of height in the team which could be problematic too.  I'm trusting Imrie to get it right though.

[LargsTON]

I actually thought Reynolds had something about him but seemed to lack real conviction throughout the game.  You can see he has a footballing brain though so hopefully just needs time to settle.

[TONofmemories]

3 minutes ago, LargsTON said:

I have to agree.  I'm as pessimistic as they come but you can't just throw a team together and expect them to click right away.  I actually think the midfield is the really pressing concern more than the defence or attack.  We've nobody to put a foot on the ball although Lyall was decent at times and I was impressed with Moffat.  You have to take into account the level of opposition though.  One other thing is the distinct lack of height in the team which could be problematic too.  I'm trusting Imrie to get it right though.

I agree. I'll wait to see how it pans out. We've never had the most patient of supports and that again was evident by very auidible booing. Strange IMO 

[Drew Busby's Moustache]

6 minutes ago, TONofmemories said:

I agree. I'll wait to see how it pans out. We've never had the most patient of supports and that again was evident by very auidible booing. Strange IMO 

Well it wisnae me booing....I payed for the stream.

[TRVMP]

3 hours ago, so72 said:

I like Moffat. Wouldn't want him having to play the deeper role I was envisaging.

I feel the same way, Moffatt needs to be free to cause havoc further forward. I think he's going to be great for us.

[dunning1874]

3 hours ago, TONofmemories said:

Not really comparable though. This is a complete style change, if we stick with it. Quite why folk think its just gonna click is beyond me. 

We've got a style change that they don't, but Airdrie are still the most comparable team to us in being a Championship team who have recruited essentially an entire new attacking unit who you'd think would need time to gel. They've immediately gone and smashed eight goals past a team who are much better than our opponents tonight, who we laboured to a 1-0 win against via a third ball from a terribly defended corner.

All the caveats about it being early and needing to give the team time to gel are still valid, but if you were looking at all the new signings as trialists tonight then discounting Boyes due to his injury, the only two who'd be within a million miles of a contract offer are Ballantyne and maybe Delaney. Even Moffat and Lyall who are obviously a level above Davies and Reynolds and clearly have something about them, you try to give them credit because you're seeing they're trying to make things happen looking for forward passes and let them off for the many misplaced passes on the grounds that it's all a good idea, just poor execution. Then Gillespie comes on and he immediately shows you what an actual good idea of a pass is and executes it, which Lyall and Moffat haven't gotten close to conceiving never mind playing all night. Even the two of them looked like players who'll maybe have something about them in a couple of years but are miles off being ready for first team football.

That's fine for a team who are newly flung together and needing to gel in friendlies, but we're two weeks away from playing Championship football and at least 50% of our squad are labouring like that against a Highland League team.

Plenty of teams have terrible League Cup campaigns then are fine so we don't need to go full 13/14 panic yet, but ignoring the multiple signs of it right now would be head in the sand. This team needs an absolutely drastic improvement in the next two weeks and there's no room for error with the remaining signings, which can't wait until September with the state of the squad right now.

[TopCat]

Worth noting that Dunfermline lost to Forfar, Hamilton lost to Stirling Albion on penalties and Raith needed a last minute winner vs Stranraer. 3 fairly settled championship teams struggling with League 2 opposition. I'd be surprised if any of them looked particularly good last night.

It's far too early to be writing off any of the new signings, but the need for an experienced holding midfielder to bring a bit of composure looks to be no. 1 priority for the next couple of weeks.

[vikingTON]

18 minutes ago, TopCat said:

It's far too early to be writing off any of the new signings

Why? If you are fully fit and can't perform to an even adequate level against League Two and then Highland League opposition respectively, then the problem is your ability rather than some nonsense like 'team gelling'.

It's becoming clearer and clearer that since day 1 a parade of excuses have been used to cover an entirely underwhelming set of performances. There's another reality check coming very soon though unless new and old players get the finger out. 

[Mr.Blue]

Seen a video going around social media of a young fan throwing a cup of juice at a steward. Looks like he was aiming for their keeper. He also went onto the pitch at half time and full time. Get the wee fanny banned. All for kids having a laugh and a joke but this isn't a good look for the club.

[RossMcC1874]

The performances against two lower league teams have been far from ideal and really need to improve drastically if we want to achieve what we want this season. 

We have went from guys in the squad like Oakley, Muirhead and Crawford who all know the league and were fairly consistent last season to guys who are completely unproven at this level. 

It's a big gamble to bring guys like Reynolds and Davies in particularly when the others around them are guys like Bearne, Garrity, Moffat etc who again have little experience in this league. 

I still think we will bring in one or two and the priorites for me has to be a proper striker who knows the league and someone with strength and a bit of dig in midfield ideally ASAP before the league campaign starts.

[Mr Toon]

45 minutes ago, RossMcC1874 said:

The performances against two lower league teams have been far from ideal and really need to improve drastically if we want to achieve what we want this season. 

We have went from guys in the squad like Oakley, Muirhead and Crawford who all know the league and were fairly consistent last season to guys who are completely unproven at this level. 

It's a big gamble to bring guys like Reynolds and Davies in particularly when the others around them are guys like Bearne, Garrity, Moffat etc who again have little experience in this league. 

I still think we will bring in one or two and the priorites for me has to be a proper striker who knows the league and someone with strength and a bit of dig in midfield ideally ASAP before the league campaign starts.

I suspect that every Morton supporter and more importantly Dougie knows that we need two more signings in the areas identified here and by many others. An imposing midfielder (an Alan Power of three years ago) and a centre forward/striker who can 'lead the line' and provide a focal point, not least at set pieces. 

[vikingTON]

23 minutes ago, Mr Toon said:

I suspect that every Morton supporter and more importantly Dougie knows that we need two more signings in the areas identified here and by many others. An imposing midfielder (an Alan Power of three years ago) and a centre forward/striker who can 'lead the line' and provide a focal point, not least at set pieces. 

Right, but what happens if those magically available players sign... and then get injured? Reverting to this current horseshit level for weeks at a time because one or two key players aren't there is not even going to sustain our place in the Championship this season. It will get punished like Arbroath last season. 

It's therefore not good enough to make excuses and play wait and see for further new signings; if the current squad can't perform better in their own right then many of those players shouldn't be at the club. 

[Cet Homme Charmant]

13 hours ago, Drew Busby's Moustache said:

Well it wisnae me booing....I payed for the stream.

Me too, but I still booed. Make no mistake, the missus and cats were left in no doubt about my feelings.