What was unconvincing about it? Did we look like conceding? Where we backs to the wall? Or did we put in a professional performance? My glass is half full (literally)This patter is always trotted out after an unconvincing performance. Awful.
Reminded me a bit of those types of performances we had under Walter - tough watch but get the three points and onto the next game.
End of the day, it's three points. Performance won't be remembered if 55 arrives. Sometimes you gotta grind out a result.
I'm just relived to win when we're without key men.
I think we're dicing with disaster if we hope Morelos and Defoe is going to be enough. The way referees go after ALfredo…..we can't, like, rule out the possibility that there will be more suspensions for him. Fair enough Defoe's got the winner today, but I'm always nervious without Alfredo, and I do have concerns about Sunday without him.
My concern with us relative to the mentally challengeds is that nothing ever feels like a formality to us. I'm bricking it in home games versus Kilmarnock and St Mirren, whereas with them I don't even consider the possibility that they might drop points in a home game to the smaller teams.
If I took a step back, I'd probably realise that's all psychological on my part. They've had a few narrow home wins and we haven't dropped any home points either bar the loss to them. But yeah, still, there's always that nagging doubt. People thought tonight might have been a banana skin for them. I didn't, and nor do I think they'll drop any points in their run of away games like some are hoping. The gulf is too much and things are getting serious - I don't see any more 1-1 draws at the likes of Hibs for them.
I really do think this is going to come down to those last two old firm games, with the pessimist in me screaming that we'll probably draw at Kilmarnock or something before then.
The pressure is just intense now, at least that's one box ticked tonight. I'm nervous for Sunday but wish it would come around tomorrow as well.
I get the reasoning that ugly wins are still worth 3 points, and if we do that for the rest of the season we get 55. However, the reality is that if we're 1-0 up going into the last 10 mins of every game for the rest of the season, we'll likely concede 1 or 2 late equalizers.
The facts are, in our last 3 games starting Defoe we've not been on it - two 1-0 wins and Alfie actually had to come off the bench to save us in one of those games.
We need to have another option besides Defoe when Alfie is unavailable.
I'm not a Defoe critic by any stretch, I think he will be an important part of our squad in this title race but our luck in these games will eventually run out IMO.
I really hope SG is looking at possible strikers to bring in. I don't think they have to be fantastic strikers that have pedigrees like Alfie and Defoe, we just need something different when Defoe is suffocated by defenders around him.
With the excellent service our full backs can deliver, I think someone with a presence and height in the box could be the difference in breaking these teams down. Plenty will probably accuse me of not wanting to play "attractive football", but we already put plenty crosses in the box in open play to Defoe, and they get batted away by every SPL defender. Wouldn't it be nice if 1 or 2 of these crosses actually were converted, or even challenged for?!
I think it's possible to find a solution to this problem in this transfer window that won't break the bank.
Totally agree mate, our game plan seems exactly the same whether playing Alfie or Defoe. Not Defoe's fault at all, but if the Gaffer is determined to play the same way when Alfie is unavailable, maybe he needs to consider acquiring a striker with more similar attributes to Alfie.I genuinely don't think that this is Defo's fault. Our gameplan and tactics remain the same no matter who is playing up top. The system is far more suited and is in fact built for Morelos in all reality. Defoe is much better with players closer to him and providing service for him.
Alfie completely changes the way we play, absolutely no offence to Defoe but Alfie up top and we are a totally different team.
It is also nights like this when Tav doubters should take stock of what he offers us.
Still, 3 points is all that matters.
I will take turgid football from now until May if it means I'm doing the bouncy in George square.
If it gets us 55 so be it.Of course I would take a turgid 1-0 in every game for the rest of the season but that was a tough watch.
And TavIt was grim viewing but got the 3 points which was most important. Shows how important Alfie is for us IMO.
We were not at our fluid best tonight, first league game after the break.
First game back to our 'strongest' available 11.
Missing our captain and huge creative force, missing our main man up front.
It is indeed a title race, and a position we have not been in for the better part of a decade.
I want, we all want a performance, but if it means 55 then 3 points is all that matters each fixture.
It's coming home.