Pat Fenlon will be lucky to last the week...but who would replace him?
It was the same story as last week for Hibs - the team was set up for no purpose other than to 'try not to lose', and their failure - or refusal - to try to take the Edinburgh derby by the scruff of the neck was their downfall, just as it was against Motherwell last time out. The contrast with Hearts' spirit and determination could not have been more stark. Pat Fenlon's departure is now inevitable, but, as is his right, he will wait to be sacked with a decent pay-off rather than walk away from the mess at Easter Road. The club may regret splashing £200,000 on James Collins which could have been spent on dismissing the coaching staff.
Rod Petrie needs to decide damn quick whether to stick by the Irishman or not - there are less than three weeks of the transfer window left, and there is a danger that the new man - like Fenlon and Colin Calderwood before him - will have to struggle with his predecessor's squad for a few months before making substantial January reinforcements. And surely a few candidates for the job would be put off by that prospect...though Jimmy Calderwood would probably take the job on regardless...
Hearts win at a cost
Given their transfer embargo, Hearts cannot afford to lose players to injuries; worryingly, Ryan Stevenson went down with a damaged knee early in Sunday's game. His versatility is critical to the squad, who, without him, would have only one remaining outfield player aged over 23.
Referees are having an auspicious start to the season
It is often said that you can tell when the referee has had a good game because no-one's bothered mentioning him. Unfortunately we've already had our fair share of dodgy decisions in the first fortnight of the new season. Dundee United were left feeling aggrieved after ICT's Richie Foran saw only yellow for a rather reckless challenge on Gary Mackay-Steven, though cynics might point out Calum 'bite your legs' Butcher's pair of outrageous tackles against Partick last week, which led to only one booking instead of the two red cards and penalty kick that they should have been punished with, and suggest that what goes around comes around. Meanwhile, twenty-four hours after the match finished, no-one has worked out yet why Aberdeen were awarded a second spot-kick at Fir Park.
Impatience at Tannadice
It's understandable that United fans expect better than a 1-0 thrashing by Inverness - for that's what it was - but it came as a shock to see Chris Erskine's substitution cheered by the home fans after 63 minutes of his competitive home debut. Erskine had a poor game, but the winger was impervious for Partick last season, and deserves more time to impress. It was noticeable that his higher-paid and considerably more lazy teammate, David Goodwillie, got far less stick despite missing a sitter and failing to break a sweat in 90 minutes.
Can ICT keep Billy McKay beyond the end of August?
Many thought the Northern Irish striker's goal return would drop after Andrew Shinnie left Inverness, but two goals in two games suggest otherwise. His strike on Saturday was gorgeous, a lovely deft touch which left Sean Dillon floundering followed by a cushioned flick past Radoslaw Ciernziak. Last week's clever glancing back-header to score against St. Mirren was of extremely high quality as well. With him scoring like this, surely there's bound to be interest in his services from bigger clubs - I'm just relieved that we have him under contract till 2015.
Underestimate Partick at your peril
Of all teams, Ross County should know not to expect an easy ride against newly-promoted opposition. Yet Derek Adams chose to persist with his 5-4-1 experiment - an unusual tactical gaffe by Adams, given Partick play just one striker - and got his fingers burned badly. Steven Lawless, a regular scorer in the first division last year despite playing wide, came up with a brace and the 3-1 final score was generous to County. The consolation for the Staggies is the return next weekend of Richie Brittain and Ivan Sproule from suspension - they have been badly, badly missed.
Partick have started smartly indeed. They welcome Hearts to Firhill on Friday night. Before this weekend, Gary Locke would have pencilled that in as a must-win game if the Jambos are to avoid relegation. Even on the back of a derby win, they may feel a bit different about it now.
Motherwell are too slow
Steven Lawless scored a brace for Partick in Dingwall; Motherwell could really do with a player like him...but they let Lawless leave a couple of years ago. Stuart McCall has said himself that his side no longer possess the speed in attack that Chris Humphrey and Henrik Ojamaa provided last season, especially as James McFadden has clearly lost a step (and worryingly, started the season with a bit of a whimper). Motherwell's stop-gap solution is to play quick full-back Zaine Francis-Angol is a more advanced role, which, despite his potential, is simply insufficient for a team expecting a top six finish. Expect McCall to work very hard to find a pacey winger or two in the next couple of weeks.
Are Aberdeen the real deal?
Maximum points so far and a win away to last season's 'best of the rest' can only build up the hopes of the Pittodrie support. Next up? Celtic at home. Last season, Craig Brown's side went into that fixture on the back of a good start to the season, but were beaten with ease and never really looked the same again. But I'd expect a bumper home crowd for this one, and a good result and performance for the Dons would probably guarantee bumper home crowds for a few games afterwards as well.
European hangovers
Motherwell rested John Sutton, James McFadden and Iain Vigurs rather than take them to Russia for a European match which was effectively a dead rubber - and a fat lot of good it did them. On the other hand, St Johnstone looked leggy at Rugby Park and were lucky to escape with a point. Allan Johnston will look at it as an opportunity missed as he searches for his first win as Kilmarnock boss, though he will be reassured that Kris Boyd looks as sharp in the penalty-box as ever, even if his girth has left him about as mobile as a wheelie-bin.
Friendly advantage
Last season showed Celtic are at their most vulnerable after European matches. Following their unimpressive draw in Sweden in midweek, they should have been facing a tricky trip to Paisley...but the league, as agreed in previous years, instead let them play a money-spinning friendly instead. So the club earn more cash, put off an awkward away game, and (since they played a second choice team in Dublin against Liverpool) get to rest their players for an extra few days. How is this fair on the other 11 teams in the league?
I've no problem with Celtic pulling out of league games to play friendlies...as long as the matches they miss are awarded as 3-0 wins to the opposition. The SPFL is now, allegedly, a league for 42 teams, but this rule is purely for the benefit of the Gruesome Twosome.
(That said, St. Mirren were so dreadful last week that they won't have been sorry that this game has been postponed!)
L.
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