I'm a football fan because I like to watch the game. I enjoy watching my team play well and want them to win matches and trophies, though seeing the game played is probably the more fundamental pleasure. Scotland has an embarrassing problem these days because, like an STI spread between the muckier dregs of society, there are increasing numbers who care less about the product on the park and more about what goes on off it. These genital warts on the landscape of football fandom would prefer to try to win boardroom points because their team can't win enough league points, would be happy winning a trophy by default without their side ever being the better team on a park, love an attack in the media more than seeing one in the opposition's half of the pitch.
So with the better, more genuine footballing perspective in mind, who do you think our best XI is, now that we've had ample time to bed in the new players and see what they offer? Not actually as difficult to think about as it might have been in the past as we've got a pretty small squad now.
For me:
In defence Foderingham has definitely secured the No.1 spot, Tav and Wallace have to be certs for the full back positions, and it's pretty close between the 3 but Kiernan and Ball have both been a bit better than Wilson in my eyes.
Halliday and Holt have both had off periods but I think they've brought most to the centre of the pitch. Law edges Zelalem because, while Zelalem is a very tidy player with huge potential, I think Law's energy suits us better. It's hard to say for sure because teams started shutting up shop against us but for me we were playing better before Zelalem came in to the picture. Shiels is a distant 5th place.
Up front McKay and Waghorn are pretty much stick-ons. I like Oduwa but, like Zelalem his introduction changed our style and tempo, and while he's good individually the team maybe suffers a bit from him holding on to the ball too long. But I still have to include him ahead of Miller who started well but has faded in confidence, and Clark who has chipped in with a few goals but has also missed plenty of sitters and struggles with his limitations. If Templeton (remember him?) ever manages to recover and sort of fitness I wouldn't put him ahead of any of that lot based on his past form for us.
So with the better, more genuine footballing perspective in mind, who do you think our best XI is, now that we've had ample time to bed in the new players and see what they offer? Not actually as difficult to think about as it might have been in the past as we've got a pretty small squad now.
For me:
Foderingham
Tavernier-Kiernan-Ball-Wallace
Law-Halliday-Holt
Oduwa-Waghorn-McKay
Tavernier-Kiernan-Ball-Wallace
Law-Halliday-Holt
Oduwa-Waghorn-McKay
In defence Foderingham has definitely secured the No.1 spot, Tav and Wallace have to be certs for the full back positions, and it's pretty close between the 3 but Kiernan and Ball have both been a bit better than Wilson in my eyes.
Halliday and Holt have both had off periods but I think they've brought most to the centre of the pitch. Law edges Zelalem because, while Zelalem is a very tidy player with huge potential, I think Law's energy suits us better. It's hard to say for sure because teams started shutting up shop against us but for me we were playing better before Zelalem came in to the picture. Shiels is a distant 5th place.
Up front McKay and Waghorn are pretty much stick-ons. I like Oduwa but, like Zelalem his introduction changed our style and tempo, and while he's good individually the team maybe suffers a bit from him holding on to the ball too long. But I still have to include him ahead of Miller who started well but has faded in confidence, and Clark who has chipped in with a few goals but has also missed plenty of sitters and struggles with his limitations. If Templeton (remember him?) ever manages to recover and sort of fitness I wouldn't put him ahead of any of that lot based on his past form for us.