Match Thread - Morton vs Alloa Championship 17th October

[TheGoon 569]

That was diabolical. Clinging on for dear life against 10 man Alloa. Fitness levels clearly nowhere near where they need to be yet.

[GiGi 1076]

Seeing the replay that was not a dive from McPake. Not a penalty but he went down under a challenge.

[Drew Busby's Moustache 7]

On the plus side.... CLYDE 1   -  PATRICK FISSUL 0.

[GiGi 1076]

5 home wins to start the league off as well.

[Mr.Blue 193]

If we are going to play a high tempo pressing game all season then the players need to be fitter. 

Clinging on to that lead at times and not holding into the ball. Will take the win and a clean sheet but room for improvement 

[Cet Homme Charmant 557]

8 minutes ago, Mr.Blue said:

If we are going to play a high tempo pressing game all season then the players need to be fitter. 

Clinging on to that lead at times and not holding into the ball. Will take the win and a clean sheet but room for improvement 

That's the way I saw it. We were comfortable if not outstanding until McPake got sent off, and then we capitulated. That's got to be a worry, as a fitter and stronger team would surely have punished us for that.

[vikingTON 3122]

6 minutes ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

That's the way I saw it. We were comfortable if not outstanding until McPake got sent off, and then we capitulated. That's got to be a worry, as a fitter and stronger team would surely have punished us for that.

If our main cause for concern is fading while already going deservedly in front and the opponent pushing harder for an equaliser then we'll do not too bad overall. The issues before a ball was kicked this season mostly centred on our questionable quality of our defence. Two clean sheets on the bounce - especially with whatever was meant to be our left hand side in today's team - is an encouraging sign. It's good to see Salkeld chipping in with a goal and to hear that McPake has started strongly.

I think that default expectations can be upgraded from 'potential 13/14' disaster to 'brutally efficient 7/8th placed finish' at the moment (though of course we also kicked off 13/14 with a home win over modest opposition).

[port-ton 129]

The players had months off and came back part time to begin with. We've had two competitive games before today with mostly different players to get everyone game time so I wouldn't be too worried about the apparent lack of fitness at this point. I think the first half was the version of this team that we will see more often than not and the fitness will come with game time and match sharpness. 

Thought for the most part the defence played well and looked solid again and the midfield looked decent in the first half. Not sure we will create enough or take enough chances to give us many comfortable results this season but I have much higher hopes for this squad than the one at the beginning of last season. 

[Cet Homme Charmant 557]

1 minute ago, vikingTON said:

If our main cause for concern is fading while already going deservedly in front and the opponent pushing harder for an equaliser then we'll do not too bad overall. The issues before a ball was kicked this season mostly centred on our questionable quality of our defence. Two clean sheets on the bounce - especially with whatever was meant to be our left hand side in today's team - is an encouraging sign. It's good to see Salkeld chipping in with a goal and to hear that McPake has started strongly.

I think that default expectations can be upgraded from 'potential 13/14' disaster to 'brutally efficient 7/8th placed finish' at the moment (though of course we also kicked off 13/14 with a home win over modest opposition).

I agree, overall it's been a decent start to the season with definite positives, McPake and Fjortoft being two obvious examples. But being under the cosh for the last 15 minutes against a part-time team should be a cause for concern.

[Doddie 13]

We ended the game like we had 1 less man than Alloa. Before that we were comfortable. Really lacking a number 9 - orsi / salkeld / maciver / Oliver aren’t the answer. Sooner strapp is back the better 

[Scott 426]

Are we able to appeal the 2nd yellow? 

[Madton 248]

Looked really comfortable up until Mcpake went off. McLean should have put the game to bed. They created absolutely nothing for 75 minutes, albeit they did pass the ball about much better than us. Far too many aimless punts from us 

Real shame Mcpake will miss next week, kind of player we need going to places like Dens.

Last 10-15 was a tough watch, we need to be better at seeing the game of out as there was too many nervous moments towards the end but it's a winning start and clean sheet, so happy days.

Stream issues appear to be behind us too.

[port-ton 129]

It's a 27 game season this time isn't it? If so then I'll take our fair share of scrappy 1-0 wins all season. 

[vikingTON 3122]

37 minutes ago, Cet Homme Charmant said:

I agree, overall it's been a decent start to the season with definite positives, McPake and Fjortoft being two obvious examples. But being under the cosh for the last 15 minutes against a part-time team should be a cause for concern.

What difference does their part-time status make? Unless you are the Barcelona 2009 team up against a Brechin 2018-20 select, you are going to come under pressure when defending a 1-0 lead and more so in the closing stages. The only cause for concern is if you chuck in goals under that pressure on a regular basis. 

[vikingTON 3122]

15 minutes ago, Madton said:

Looked really comfortable up until Mcpake went off. McLean should have put the game to bed. They created absolutely nothing for 75 minutes, albeit they did pass the ball about much better than us. Far too many aimless punts from us 

If they created absolutely nothing while we should have been at least two goals ahead then our passing was quite clearly 'much better' than theirs and the punts not as "aimless' as you claim. 

[TheGoon 569]

McPake missing next week is a pain but we’ve plenty of other options.

[The Bewilderedbeast 210]

35 minutes ago, Scott said:

Are we able to appeal the 2nd yellow? 

Don't think a yellow can be appealed

[Cet Homme Charmant 557]

36 minutes ago, vikingTON said:

What difference does their part-time status make? Unless you are the Barcelona 2009 team up against a Brechin 2018-20 select, you are going to come under pressure when defending a 1-0 lead and more so in the closing stages. The only cause for concern is if you chuck in goals under that pressure on a regular basis. 

We should, theoretically at least, be fitter than them, so we should have been able to see out the game more comfortably than we did, that's my only (mild) criticism, Overall I'm happy with the start to the season, but our inability to kill off inferior opposition, and then hang on for in the last 15 minutes, should be something we acknowledge and address. 

[Madton 248]

54 minutes ago, vikingTON said:

If they created absolutely nothing while we should have been at least two goals ahead then our passing was quite clearly 'much better' than theirs and the punts not as "aimless' as you claim. 

I'm sensing you didn't watch it?

 

[irnbru 452]

1 hour ago, port-ton said:

The players had months off and came back part time to begin with. We've had two competitive games before today with mostly different players to get everyone game time so I wouldn't be too worried about the apparent lack of fitness at this point. I think the first half was the version of this team that we will see more often than not and the fitness will come with game time and match sharpness. 

Aye, a shorter pre season wouldn't have helped either. 

I thought we had a higher intensity and pressed a lot more than last season (for the first hour anyway) but there needs to be an understanding of when to press and when to just leave them with the ball and conserve energy. Hopefully that game management will come over the next few weeks. 

As someone else said, I think the last week or two has shown that expectations shouldn't be as low as we first feared. 

Edited October 17 by irnbru

[Mr.Blue 193]

Have to say I was really impressed with big fjortoft. Won everything in the air and looked solid throughout. 

[GiGi 1076]

2 minutes ago, Mr.Blue said:

Have to say I was really impressed with big fjortoft. Won everything in the air and looked solid throughout. 

Aye MotM for me as well.

[vikingTON 3122]

30 minutes ago, Madton said:

I'm sensing you didn't watch it?

Didn't need to seeing as the facts that you very kindly provided about the game completely contradict your own interpretation as to which team was using the ball well and which one was not. 

If tippy-tappy, possession-based tedium with no incisive threat is what you're looking for in a game of football then there's a dung, Jonatan Johannson led team out in Finland for you. 

[Madton 248]

8 minutes ago, vikingTON said:

Didn't need to seeing as the facts that you very kindly provided about the game completely contradict your own interpretation as to which team was using the ball well and which one was not. 

If tippy-tappy, possession-based tedium with no incisive threat is what you're looking for in a game of football then there's a dung, Jonatan Johannson led team out in Finland for you. 

Thought so, cheers!

[Ton4life 73]

6 hours ago, GiGi said:

Replays at half time now, what a show.

Yes good on Tuesday also.

No fulltime relays did they decide none worth showing. Pity really as I could only tune in from 16.15 and from the comments I missed our best period.

Why did we get pinned back for the last 15 was Hoppy not shouting for them to get up the park where are our leaders in the team.

With such a short season every win is a success but my nerves may not hold out.