04-02-2015, 22:51
So here's how we're shaping up for the remainder of the season as I see it:
Simonsen - Has actually made some terrific saves including one at point blank range against Celtic, but his inability to come off his line does nothing to inspire confidence in the defence or the fans.
Bell - Scheduled to be returning about now but I have no idea where he is fitness-wise at the moment. He may not be back this season at all. Probably no better a shot stopper than Simonsen but stronger in other areas and a more calming presence for his defenders.
Robinson - Hasn't displaced Simonsen and while he's a decent keeper he's also a bit small and therefore also unable to command his area.
Wallace - You could see his confidence and form dip after every Scotland rejection, but until this season there was always the excuse of the division he played in. No such excuse for the Scotland manager to use this season and his disillusionment with that and with our own plight has dragged him down. Still assured at what he does but no longer the rampaging threat he was on the left.
Smith - Never going to challenge for left back, not dynamic enough to be a winger. His dead balls and crossing are his biggest weapons but he only gets to use them sporadically.
McCulloch - I won't criticise his character and without his goals and leadership from the front we might have struggled to make it out of the bottom division. Last season he again provided goals and filled a space we needed filling at the back. But central defender is a specialist position and he's never going to be as good as the real thing. Needs to be dropped.
McGregor - Quick, robust and good in the tackle. He's good enough to be in the team but will continue to make mistakes as long as he has a partner out of position and a goalkeeper he doesn't trust.
Zaliukas - Has missed most of the season injured and has been mostly forgotten. He's getting match fitness now and could return to the team, and while I'm not his biggest fan I'm hoping his presence can bring some assurance back to the defence.
Mohsni - Was a total bombscare in the early part of the season, scuppering any chance of forming a partnership with McGregor at the back. His antics at the ACoN suggest he still can't help courting controversy. He might at least provide a goal threat if he comes back in.
Foster - Jekyll and Hyde performances. Can be a potent attacking threat when he gets it right but gets beaten at the back too often. He needs to ignore the boo-boys and get his acts together consistently.
Faure - seems to have been bombed right out of things. A decently dependable defender either in the centre or at right back, so it seems odd that when we need exactly that sort of reliability he's not been given a look in.
Templeton - The odd great game, a couple of terrible games and long periods out of the team altogether. This has been the pattern since we signed him. He's undoubtedly a weapon, but who needs a gun that's as likely to backfire on you as hit the target?
Aird - Tries hard but hasn't developed much as a player lately. He had improved but now he's become predictable and wasteful. Desperately needs to add something more to his game.
Law - Often accused of being lazy, and just doesn't appear interested in anything going on when the opposition has the ball. Careless too as we saw against celtic. Probably our only real attacking threat from midfield though and maybe just needs better support and some confidence.
Black - A spell on the sidelines doesn't seem to have done anything for him and he looks afraid to be on the pitch now. It's frustrating because I've seen him play really well for us, but most of the time he's just awful. Has a real will to win but doesn't know how to convert that to anything useful.
Shiels - (see Templeton)
Hutton - He's been quite anonymous since he came back in but to be fair he's not had much chance to get a run in yet. He fills a space in the team and anonymous is better than awful, but I don't see him adding anything in particular.
Daly - Can be a huge threat if we play him in the right way and give him the right service, but he won't make anything happen on his own.
Miller - Trying hard to be the player he was, but hasn't been getting the rub of the green and the way we set up makes it difficult for him to do anything really.
Boyd - Can be difficult for defenders to handle but we need a goalscorer and his confidence and finishing have been sorely lacking. He's always been the first one you'd choose to drop when he's not scoring, although I think his overall contribution is underestimated based on perceptions of him in the past could be a decent partner for a more mobile striker like Clark or Gallagher.
Clark - Probably our best 'established' striker but last in the pecking order whether due to experience, prestige, salary, whatever.
Crawford - Didn't do enough at Morton, rarely did much in particular for us. A bit like a more athletic Kyle Hutton, and it's hard to see what in particular he brings. Having said that, I'd be willing to give him a shot in the team.
Gallagher - Returning from injury after his loan spell. He could be a useful addition to the squad for the 2nd half of the season but I can't see him getting a chance up front. If he has the pace he could push Aird for a place on the wing.
Ferguson - Left sided player who can put in a decent ball. A bit like a younger version of Smith with a bit of a pace/experience trade off.
Mbabu - I've seen him described a defender who can play in the middle or right of defence. We have a long history of using guys in that way (McPherson, Porrini, Khizanishvili, Faure, McGregor) with mixed results, so he may be a master of both positions or of neither.
Streete - Could be the man we need in the centre IF we're allowed to play him. Or he could just be a young, inexperienced lad who merely looks the part.
Vuckic - He might turn out to be the midfield presence we need and was close enough to the Newcastle first team that he stands a reasonable chance of playing. Fingers crossed for this one.
Bigirimana - A bit small for my liking. Nothing wrong with that per se, but against celtic it was apparent we struggled in the midfield with Law and Black providing no physical presence, even against a gnome like Brown. On the plus side he's played and scored in the Premier League so maybe has something about him.
Anyone I've forgotten?
Simonsen - Has actually made some terrific saves including one at point blank range against Celtic, but his inability to come off his line does nothing to inspire confidence in the defence or the fans.
Bell - Scheduled to be returning about now but I have no idea where he is fitness-wise at the moment. He may not be back this season at all. Probably no better a shot stopper than Simonsen but stronger in other areas and a more calming presence for his defenders.
Robinson - Hasn't displaced Simonsen and while he's a decent keeper he's also a bit small and therefore also unable to command his area.
Wallace - You could see his confidence and form dip after every Scotland rejection, but until this season there was always the excuse of the division he played in. No such excuse for the Scotland manager to use this season and his disillusionment with that and with our own plight has dragged him down. Still assured at what he does but no longer the rampaging threat he was on the left.
Smith - Never going to challenge for left back, not dynamic enough to be a winger. His dead balls and crossing are his biggest weapons but he only gets to use them sporadically.
McCulloch - I won't criticise his character and without his goals and leadership from the front we might have struggled to make it out of the bottom division. Last season he again provided goals and filled a space we needed filling at the back. But central defender is a specialist position and he's never going to be as good as the real thing. Needs to be dropped.
McGregor - Quick, robust and good in the tackle. He's good enough to be in the team but will continue to make mistakes as long as he has a partner out of position and a goalkeeper he doesn't trust.
Zaliukas - Has missed most of the season injured and has been mostly forgotten. He's getting match fitness now and could return to the team, and while I'm not his biggest fan I'm hoping his presence can bring some assurance back to the defence.
Mohsni - Was a total bombscare in the early part of the season, scuppering any chance of forming a partnership with McGregor at the back. His antics at the ACoN suggest he still can't help courting controversy. He might at least provide a goal threat if he comes back in.
Foster - Jekyll and Hyde performances. Can be a potent attacking threat when he gets it right but gets beaten at the back too often. He needs to ignore the boo-boys and get his acts together consistently.
Faure - seems to have been bombed right out of things. A decently dependable defender either in the centre or at right back, so it seems odd that when we need exactly that sort of reliability he's not been given a look in.
Templeton - The odd great game, a couple of terrible games and long periods out of the team altogether. This has been the pattern since we signed him. He's undoubtedly a weapon, but who needs a gun that's as likely to backfire on you as hit the target?
Aird - Tries hard but hasn't developed much as a player lately. He had improved but now he's become predictable and wasteful. Desperately needs to add something more to his game.
Law - Often accused of being lazy, and just doesn't appear interested in anything going on when the opposition has the ball. Careless too as we saw against celtic. Probably our only real attacking threat from midfield though and maybe just needs better support and some confidence.
Black - A spell on the sidelines doesn't seem to have done anything for him and he looks afraid to be on the pitch now. It's frustrating because I've seen him play really well for us, but most of the time he's just awful. Has a real will to win but doesn't know how to convert that to anything useful.
Shiels - (see Templeton)
Hutton - He's been quite anonymous since he came back in but to be fair he's not had much chance to get a run in yet. He fills a space in the team and anonymous is better than awful, but I don't see him adding anything in particular.
Daly - Can be a huge threat if we play him in the right way and give him the right service, but he won't make anything happen on his own.
Miller - Trying hard to be the player he was, but hasn't been getting the rub of the green and the way we set up makes it difficult for him to do anything really.
Boyd - Can be difficult for defenders to handle but we need a goalscorer and his confidence and finishing have been sorely lacking. He's always been the first one you'd choose to drop when he's not scoring, although I think his overall contribution is underestimated based on perceptions of him in the past could be a decent partner for a more mobile striker like Clark or Gallagher.
Clark - Probably our best 'established' striker but last in the pecking order whether due to experience, prestige, salary, whatever.
Crawford - Didn't do enough at Morton, rarely did much in particular for us. A bit like a more athletic Kyle Hutton, and it's hard to see what in particular he brings. Having said that, I'd be willing to give him a shot in the team.
Gallagher - Returning from injury after his loan spell. He could be a useful addition to the squad for the 2nd half of the season but I can't see him getting a chance up front. If he has the pace he could push Aird for a place on the wing.
Ferguson - Left sided player who can put in a decent ball. A bit like a younger version of Smith with a bit of a pace/experience trade off.
Mbabu - I've seen him described a defender who can play in the middle or right of defence. We have a long history of using guys in that way (McPherson, Porrini, Khizanishvili, Faure, McGregor) with mixed results, so he may be a master of both positions or of neither.
Streete - Could be the man we need in the centre IF we're allowed to play him. Or he could just be a young, inexperienced lad who merely looks the part.
Vuckic - He might turn out to be the midfield presence we need and was close enough to the Newcastle first team that he stands a reasonable chance of playing. Fingers crossed for this one.
Bigirimana - A bit small for my liking. Nothing wrong with that per se, but against celtic it was apparent we struggled in the midfield with Law and Black providing no physical presence, even against a gnome like Brown. On the plus side he's played and scored in the Premier League so maybe has something about him.
Anyone I've forgotten?
