So Morton won 2-1, we're staying up, we're great, slaps on the back all round.
Well not quite. For one of the few times this season we got a result, but were a bit jammy. A good save from Stewart in the 1st half when Mendes got through was crucial, but a second half save from point blank range following a corner was really a wonderous contribution.
We had about 3 shots on target, and scored 2 of them. But make no mistake Morton are rank and without some major surgery we will be in this position again next season.
1st things 1st. The manager. Should Grady stay? I'm not really too fussed. He's come in, kept us up but really any progress is difficult to see. What I would say is that apart from Don Simmonds (who was woeful today, and ironically cheered off the park when he was subbed) we have generally signed good players.
David Van Zanten, Michael Tidser, David Witeveen, Kevin McKinlay etc. We also took on Alan Reid, who made a contribution without being brilliant.
If we managed to maintain this level of incoming player, then surely we'd be a better team next season. Also, another case for keeping Grady is anyone new is an unknown quantity, a further cost to us and YET another change. My feeling is that Grady will get a one year contract.
So players.
I'm happy to keep Colin Stewart as keeper. We also have Cuthbert who is also a decent keeper, but probably we would be best moving him on in order to free up a wage.
Defence. I reckon we should keep Greacan and also try and keep Shimmin. These two are both decent centre halves at this level and could potentially form part of a promotion winning team.
Would def like to keep Ryan McGuffie as right back and I think there is no major problem with McKinlay at left back. Would also keep Dave McGregor and Alex Walker as defensive cover. Alan Reid to depart (assuming Walker can prove his fitness).
Midfield. It seems certain that Jim McAlister will depart to the SPL. Erik Paartalu is leaving (thank feck) which leaves us with Tidser (must keep), Jenkins, McFarlane, Finlayson, Masterton and Monti.
We should def keep Tidser and I'm sure McFarlane has a contract for one more season. I would also keep Monti who seems to be an able replacement for Jim McAlister.
Finlayson MUST go. He set up Monti for the second goal today, but I think this is only his 2nd or 3rd assist of the season. He has no ability and no final ball. All the effort in the world can't make up for this lack of ability.
So Allan Jenkins. I'm a big fan of his. But it seems managers have had real problems with him. Clearly Grady has frozen him out to an extent, and there seems to be question marks over his fitness.
If Jenkins can stay fit there is no doubt he is a top division 1 player. However, his contributions this season have been minimal. If Grady stays I fear he will be moved on, and given he will be a high earner this seems another negative for the Jenkins defence.
I reckon Masterton will be moved on. He's an able player, but perhaps a luxury we can ill afford and there is greater surgery needed elsewhere that his wage would assist with.
So we will def need a replacement for Finlayson, potentially a repalcement for Jenkins/Masterton in the centre and perhaps a versatile wide player to give us options (Cocoran from Thistle perhaps, who doesn't get much of a game?).
Up front! Well Weatherson is with us, and a fit Weatherson is a division 1 striker, no doubt. We surely will not keep Simmonds (he is rank), and we have really seen enough of Brian Graham to know that he is not going to score many goals at this level, despite his undoubted efforts in the chasing of lost causes.
We also have Witeveen on loan. I think we could do a lot worse than try and get him. I can't see him making much of an impact at Hearts and if he is honest with himself he surely knows he is not going to be an SPL striker.
But failing that we need to bring in a couple of division 1 strikers. I reckon we could do worse than sign Dennis Wyness. Not sure what his situation is with St Mirren, but he isn't getting much of a game and he has division 1 pedigree in abundance.
So I am certain our tactic in the summer will be to retain our better players and sign one or two key players. We will undoubtedly have a tight squad, but if enough of the squad can stay fit then we can hopefully win a lot more games.
In reality if we wanted to challenge for the title we would need to spend a lot of money and probably bring in 8 players to have a good all round squad, as well as improve markedly on what we have. I cannot see us doing that given Rae's patience is probably running out and he is now trying to cut his losses with regard to the 'millions' he's thrown at the club since he took over.
But at least we will be in division 1, as I'm sure none of us really had the stomach for another spell in division 2.
Well not quite. For one of the few times this season we got a result, but were a bit jammy. A good save from Stewart in the 1st half when Mendes got through was crucial, but a second half save from point blank range following a corner was really a wonderous contribution.
We had about 3 shots on target, and scored 2 of them. But make no mistake Morton are rank and without some major surgery we will be in this position again next season.
1st things 1st. The manager. Should Grady stay? I'm not really too fussed. He's come in, kept us up but really any progress is difficult to see. What I would say is that apart from Don Simmonds (who was woeful today, and ironically cheered off the park when he was subbed) we have generally signed good players.
David Van Zanten, Michael Tidser, David Witeveen, Kevin McKinlay etc. We also took on Alan Reid, who made a contribution without being brilliant.
If we managed to maintain this level of incoming player, then surely we'd be a better team next season. Also, another case for keeping Grady is anyone new is an unknown quantity, a further cost to us and YET another change. My feeling is that Grady will get a one year contract.
So players.
I'm happy to keep Colin Stewart as keeper. We also have Cuthbert who is also a decent keeper, but probably we would be best moving him on in order to free up a wage.
Defence. I reckon we should keep Greacan and also try and keep Shimmin. These two are both decent centre halves at this level and could potentially form part of a promotion winning team.
Would def like to keep Ryan McGuffie as right back and I think there is no major problem with McKinlay at left back. Would also keep Dave McGregor and Alex Walker as defensive cover. Alan Reid to depart (assuming Walker can prove his fitness).
Midfield. It seems certain that Jim McAlister will depart to the SPL. Erik Paartalu is leaving (thank feck) which leaves us with Tidser (must keep), Jenkins, McFarlane, Finlayson, Masterton and Monti.
We should def keep Tidser and I'm sure McFarlane has a contract for one more season. I would also keep Monti who seems to be an able replacement for Jim McAlister.
Finlayson MUST go. He set up Monti for the second goal today, but I think this is only his 2nd or 3rd assist of the season. He has no ability and no final ball. All the effort in the world can't make up for this lack of ability.
So Allan Jenkins. I'm a big fan of his. But it seems managers have had real problems with him. Clearly Grady has frozen him out to an extent, and there seems to be question marks over his fitness.
If Jenkins can stay fit there is no doubt he is a top division 1 player. However, his contributions this season have been minimal. If Grady stays I fear he will be moved on, and given he will be a high earner this seems another negative for the Jenkins defence.
I reckon Masterton will be moved on. He's an able player, but perhaps a luxury we can ill afford and there is greater surgery needed elsewhere that his wage would assist with.
So we will def need a replacement for Finlayson, potentially a repalcement for Jenkins/Masterton in the centre and perhaps a versatile wide player to give us options (Cocoran from Thistle perhaps, who doesn't get much of a game?).
Up front! Well Weatherson is with us, and a fit Weatherson is a division 1 striker, no doubt. We surely will not keep Simmonds (he is rank), and we have really seen enough of Brian Graham to know that he is not going to score many goals at this level, despite his undoubted efforts in the chasing of lost causes.
We also have Witeveen on loan. I think we could do a lot worse than try and get him. I can't see him making much of an impact at Hearts and if he is honest with himself he surely knows he is not going to be an SPL striker.
But failing that we need to bring in a couple of division 1 strikers. I reckon we could do worse than sign Dennis Wyness. Not sure what his situation is with St Mirren, but he isn't getting much of a game and he has division 1 pedigree in abundance.
So I am certain our tactic in the summer will be to retain our better players and sign one or two key players. We will undoubtedly have a tight squad, but if enough of the squad can stay fit then we can hopefully win a lot more games.
In reality if we wanted to challenge for the title we would need to spend a lot of money and probably bring in 8 players to have a good all round squad, as well as improve markedly on what we have. I cannot see us doing that given Rae's patience is probably running out and he is now trying to cut his losses with regard to the 'millions' he's thrown at the club since he took over.
But at least we will be in division 1, as I'm sure none of us really had the stomach for another spell in division 2.
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