Sheeptastic

I agree with this. Nowhere near enough players coming into the first team for my liking, particularly when you see the likes of Motherwell regularly throwing them in. But I wonder how much is that down to fearful managers rather than bad players? There's definitely been a fair bit of singing and dancing about the academy from the club (particularly the performances from young age groups in European comps), we've obviously made some decent fees in recent years from some academy players and Levey was headhunted by Swansea was it? That's all I've really got to go on. Maybe it does need work, maybe it doesn't, but either way I'd like to see more young players involved in the first team squad. Better that than some of the loanees we've seen fill our bench in recent seasons.

Put me on the football monitoring board.

Based on absolutely nothing, I've just had no reason to be skeptical about it. Was it not reviewed externally? Anyway if it's shite fair enough. Who knows really.

Shows up our exemplary youth policy. Don't doubt the academy is likely as good as it can be but we are trusting nowhere near enough graduates in the first team. Jack Milne has played a few times this season and done reasonably well but again probably not enough for an award.

Wonder if he applied for it ... If he did we should cut loose.

The irony. I don't know if you're even making a point other than Gartenmann had a bad game against Watkins which I'm not disagreeing with. You've reinforced that you're not aware of the point I'm making. I'll say it again. Some think it's a case of he's decent against teams who play a certain way (such as continental opposition who pass it) but struggles against teams who are direct with a big target man, but I don't think it's that simple because some of his stronger performances have been against direct sides. That's it. I think his confidence levels play a part in it. It's more nuanced. This is not a defence of Gartenmann and it's not really got anything to do with Watkins. Yes he didn't do well against him. Probably because of his energy and pressing. After all that's how he robbed him and scored at Rugby Park. As an aside, Watkins is having a decent season for someone who isn't 'particularly good'. I'm glad you weren't trying to be witty because I was being sarcastic. Another point you've missed perhaps. Thanks for your facts though, which are actually just opinions.

To be fair, I would agree he did struggle against Marley Watkins - although at 6ft or so I wouldn't say his height or being a target man is Watkins' main attribute. For me, he's a runner who stretches defences. Regardless of that, I'm not saying Gartenmann has done well against all tall strikers. I'm saying that I don't agree with the point that it's simply a case of he's fine against teams who pass it and bad against those who play direct with a big striker. There is no doubt he has dealt with a few big strikers well. Thanks for your witty retort though.

Should we be giving him a year extension? Not sure he has the legs for the pressing style Thelin is after but he's not been a bad signing for us at all.

I don't think they would be willing to pay what we are looking for but anyone else think Celtic will try and low-ball us with a bid for him this summer? That's twice this season Miovski has had their defence on toast and Rodgers has previous for trying to sign players that have impressed against his team. I would expect him to go in the summer for somewhere in the region of £6m and have a feeling it will be Italy.

Not convinced this is the case to be honest. Off the top of my head, he's handled the likes of Vassell (3-1 win) and Bair (0-1 win) well this season. He was also solid against the big striker Yengi away to Livi. It seems to be a confidence issue with him. If he's low on confidence he can be pretty bad to watch but if he's confident and comfortable with who he's playing alongside then he seems to do reasonably well. Probably wouldn't be looking to do a permanent deal unless it was done cheaply though.

Thought he was decent enough when he came on and credit to him for stepping up. I agree with this sentiment. Might be a strange point to make given he missed but I thought it was unlucky more than a bad penalty. From memory I think MacDonald and Milne took quite poor penalties but we got away with it and Phillips' one was quite bad, but watched Duncan's back and it's just slightly too far to the right. I don't think it makes sense for us to be looking to move on any academy graduates who are under contract just now. We've got bigger issues to deal with. Duncan probably deserves a chance or a loan under the new regime. Morris is probably one I'd understand if we tried to recoup some money for from a gullible League One/Two side.

Both sound points but what I'm thinking is - regardless of whether it's a foul or not - if the exact same incident is replicated at the other end of the field, does the on-field referee blow for a foul? I think probably. If he doesn't, does VAR intervene? I'm thinking undoubtedly. Perhaps I'm being cynical but the way that match was refereed on Saturday was an indictment of what supporters from outside of the Glasgow two have had to put up with for a long, long time and if I'm being honest I'm growing weary of it.

Aside from the Hoilett stonewall penalty shambles and the countless 50/50 decisions that went in their favour, I can't shake the feeling that had Carter-Vickers or Scales dallied on the ball and Miovski nicked it the way Kyogo did they would've blown for a foul. I'm not saying it was a foul on MacDonald (for me it wasn't) but that is just the way it seems to work and it makes it difficult to not feel pretty hopeless about Scottish football.

Will be our first choice LB next season whether we like it or not.

Decent showing today. No doubt we struggled to get up the park for a bit when he was taken off.