Matt O'Riley

We are going to have to mix it up one way or another today.

Abildgaard himself admits he's not ready to be playing a significant amount of time.

Starting Mooy at St Mirren didn't work and unless someone slips amphetamines into his drinking water it won't work today for the same reason.

Ideguchi even if he is ready to get back on a pitch in terms of his injury hasn't played for ages and has the same fitness issues as Abildgaard.

That leaves McCarthy.

 

Surely Mccarthy has the same fitness issues considering iv also never seen him much either. Between the 3 thatll cover 90 mins easy. Get big apple garden on and see what he's made of. Even share a half between him and indi. Only way to get fit is to push yourself in a game.

 

Yeah true tbf, but he isn't coming back from a bad and fairly complex injury like Ideguchi so would probably still put him ahead in the pecking order.

 

You are going to get your wish today.

 

Hit the post and should've had am assist but I thought he was really poor with his passing today..

 

The one two with Hatate second half was a goal all day if he’d been more precise with the return.

Definitely a bit off form the now, but hopefully he’s saving it all for Tuesday.

 

Just like Jota, Abada and Maeda - he's woefully off form.

 

Doesn't seem able to take the ball deep and turn with it to make something happen.

Just doesn't link up defense and attack without McGregor there to do the initial work.

 

I’m not on his hype train, that’s for sure.


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Just don't get the hype to be honest.

He's decent and has some nice touches, but if there's genuine interest in him for the figures banded about I would snap your hand off for it.

 

I like him.

But he was pish today.

 

Wasn’t at the races the day, I’m saying that I felt like he was playing deeper which didn’t suit him at all.

 

People under estimate how hard it is to play that deep lying play maker role that McGregor does so well, they assume that because they have a good touch, are good footballers and make things happen up the other end of the park they will just be able to slot in there.

Or they think they can just stick a defensive midfielder in there and we will click just the same but the tempo is completely different and we won’t progress the ball up the pitch anywhere nearly as effectively.

Unfortunately it’s not that easy even though McGregor makes it look like it is. It’s one of the hardest positions and roles to play those players that do it well are very very rare.

The next few games I think people are in for a rude awakening playing without McGregor. If we don’t drop any points in the league from now until his return I will be delighted but surprised.

 

I like him and like his candidness.

However, a bit of negativity kicking about there and if that’s the atmosphere in the camp then we’re not winning tomorrow I’m afraid.

 

He seems very nervous but I thought the same in the Real conference and we played very well (even of we lost) Sometimes forget how young Matt is and how big a step up this is from playing in the English 3rd tier which is where he was this time last year.

Don't think Matts nerves necessarily mean the rest of the team are feeling that way.

 

Thought he was decent tonight but I’ve never seen a player who seems incapable of putting his laces through a shot. Literally every single shot is a side foot pass

 

Not convinced. He doesn't stand out for me. Dunno