Cold Light Of Day Time

[HK Blues]

We've been here before, haven't we? With the immediate disappointment of yesterday passing let's try some perspective.

For the 'big stuff', PH identified good cup runs and a top-6 finish. Obviously we didn't manage this. Close but no cigar. Scottish Cup was ok with q-f, league cup not, league place (as it stands) fine margins between achieving objective and not but we didn't make it. B-

For me, biggest disappointment is not not making top 6 in itself, but missing out on the chance of a place in Europe. And even putting that in perspective, it would have been a backdoor qualification so not something we should necessarily gauge success and improvement on.

Also, we cannot ignore the financial aspect of less prize money and gate receipts- perhaps 350k?- of not making top 6. I suspect our owners will not reduce next season's budget on the basis of this, but let's be honest, it could well impact on any additional players PH might have wanted and even our attractiveness to new players IF we had been able to get Europe.

No point dressing it up, not making 6th and all the knock on financial and other consequences will slow our progress but surely no more than a speed bump?

Another step forward, a smaller step than we hoped for, if not expected. Hopefully PH can find a way to motivate the squad to finish the season in 7th and we can look forward to another step forward next season.

[Dandy McLean]

We've been here before, haven't we? With the immediate disappointment of yesterday passing let's try some perspective.

For the 'big stuff', PH identified good cup runs and a top-6 finish. Obviously we didn't manage this. Close but no cigar. Scottish Cup was ok with q-f, league cup not, league place (as it stands) fine margins between achieving objective and not but we didn't make it. B-

For me, biggest disappointment is not not making top 6 in itself, but missing out on the chance of a place in Europe. And even putting that in perspective, it would have been a backdoor qualification so not something we should necessarily gauge success and improvement on.

Also, we cannot ignore the financial aspect of less prize money and gate receipts- perhaps 350k?- of not making top 6. I suspect our owners will not reduce next season's budget on the basis of this, but let's be honest, it could well impact on any additional players PH might have wanted and even our attractiveness to new players IF we had been able to get Europe.

No point dressing it up, not making 6th and all the knock on financial and other consequences will slow our progress but surely no more than a speed bump?

Another step forward, a smaller step than we hoped for, if not expected. Hopefully PH can find a way to motivate the squad to finish the season in 7th and we can look forward to another step forward next season.

Good post. I agree.

[Souppie1893]

We've been here before, haven't we? With the immediate disappointment of yesterday passing let's try some perspective.

For the 'big stuff', PH identified good cup runs and a top-6 finish. Obviously we didn't manage this. Close but no cigar. Scottish Cup was ok with q-f, league cup not, league place (as it stands) fine margins between achieving objective and not but we didn't make it. B-

For me, biggest disappointment is not not making top 6 in itself, but missing out on the chance of a place in Europe. And even putting that in perspective, it would have been a backdoor qualification so not something we should necessarily gauge success and improvement on.

Also, we cannot ignore the financial aspect of less prize money and gate receipts- perhaps 350k?- of not making top 6. I suspect our owners will not reduce next season's budget on the basis of this, but let's be honest, it could well impact on any additional players PH might have wanted and even our attractiveness to new players IF we had been able to get Europe.

No point dressing it up, not making 6th and all the knock on financial and other consequences will slow our progress but surely no more than a speed bump?

Another step forward, a smaller step than we hoped for, if not expected. Hopefully PH can find a way to motivate the squad to finish the season in 7th and we can look forward to another step forward next season.

Can't argue with that mate a very fair and honest assessment

[petercaproni]

In any other league we would have been 7th this morning 3points behind the team in 4rth with 5 games left and whose to say that we wouldn't have actually attained that placing by the end of the season? The split is a manufactured "prize" which imo is a piece of nonsense-no other league in the world(that I know of) has such a split. The sooner it is binned the better and I'm not just saying that because we haven't made it-I run the risk of repeating myself but really is nonsense.

[Souppie1893]

In any other league we would have been 7th this morning 3points behind the team in 4rth with 5 games left and whose to say that we wouldn't have actually attained that placing by the end of the season? The split is a manufactured "prize" which imo is a piece of nonsense-no other league in the world(that I know of) has such a split. The sooner it is binned the better and I'm not just saying that because we haven't made it-I run the risk of repeating myself but really is nonsense.

They Cypriot league does it, but their league is a shambles oh yeah so is ours

[chomp my root]

In any other league we would have been 7th this morning 3points behind the team in 4rth with 5 games left and whose to say that we wouldn't have actually attained that placing by the end of the season? The split is a manufactured "prize" which imo is a piece of nonsense-no other league in the world(that I know of) has such a split. The sooner it is binned the better and I'm not just saying that because we haven't made it-I run the risk of repeating myself but really is nonsense.

44 games was considered too many, especially for teams competing in Europe.    38 games and the top/bottom six compromise was born. Basically it suited the OF at the time. Saying that, especially this season the artificial target of making top 6 has made the league interesting this season with so many teams being in with a shout. I'm with you though, I'm not a fan and if there is league expansion it will be consigned to history.

[Mr Gandosaur]

For me the season can only be marked as a disappointment. We wanted a cup run or top 6 and got neither despite having our strongest looking squad (and probably biggest budget) in a long long time.

When it's mattered most, in 3 of the biggest games we have produced arguably our 3 worst performances (Dunfermline, Rangers, Hamilton). The players totally froze at Ibrox and again yesterday.

There is a huge mental hurdle at this club when it comes to big must-win games when it's all on the line that needs to be overcome. We will never win a cup or never get into the top 4 until we can get this mental fragility sorted out.

[gedee]

Without going too far into the blame game game ..... because it really is time to try to move on (imo), why did we not get that result yesterday ?

Was it down once more to us playing on an artificial pitch again ? And some players just not feeling comfortable on it (although I do recall a poster saying before the game, this surface will suit our players today) ? Another poster again before the game highlighted DFC never seem to play well after coming off, what might be described as a hard. but successful, mid week game. Is there a fitness issue here? Or is it, on the day we faced a team, that had the better attitude, and simply, a greater will to win ?

Although I don't want to go into the the quality & attitude of our manager & individual player (because I am not sure there is much to gain at this time in doing so) a solid win here by DFC would not have been too much to expect, and put us fans in a state of ectasy.  Even against a team whose last home win was in September last year (I think)

Still believe however, under PH we are more than going the right way. And we will progress. But although relegation is unlikely, we all must be still aware, it is still possible.

However PH does it, he must make sure the  players chosen for the next few games know we have no ***-given-right to win, irregardles of the opposition. He, and them, must make sure ALL players give their all for the full 90 minutes. And treat each of the next five games as a cup tie.

Now time to move on I suppose.......

[DusanVrto]

My short assessment is as follows.at the start of the season Hartley concentrated too much on avoiding defeat instead of winning games.at this stage myself and a lot of others thought Hartley wasn't the man for the job.since the turn of the year he has changed tactics and the transformation in viewing has been vast.ultimately the start to the season has cost us but I firmly believe we can push on next season now.

[Densparker]

When we made the top six last season didn't we just get 1 point? In the bottom six we have a realistic chance of at least 11 points, crazy!

[offshoredee]

Too many draws have killed us this season, a couple of wins and we're challenging for 4th IMO.

Ultimately do I think as a club we're progressing? Absolutely, I have faith that we are going in the right direction with the right people involved.

Keep the faith DDYB

[Dee_Dee]

In any other league we would have been 7th this morning 3points behind the team in 4rth with 5 games left and whose to say that we wouldn't have actually attained that placing by the end of the season? The split is a manufactured "prize" which imo is a piece of nonsense-no other league in the world(that I know of) has such a split. The sooner it is binned the better and I'm not just saying that because we haven't made it-I run the risk of repeating myself but really is nonsense.

If the league contains 12 - 16 teams, a split is entirely necessary to give the teams a viable amount of league matches.

With the TV companies getting their "dream" of 4 Old Firm games back next season, good luck with changing it.

It's never going back to 18 teams home and away and even an expanded 16 team league would only give 30 games home and away so you'll probably need a top 8/ bottom 8 split to take it up to 37 matches.