Greg Taylor

Having to come into the middle of the pitch has helped him massively. Looks comfortable in that role than having to hug the touchline for 90 minutes.

 

Goal aside he was very poor and always seems really unfit.

We need a big upgrade at LB.

 

Thought he made some really timely interceptions and tackles in the first half.

Couldn't get forwards most of the game but same was true on the other side too.

 

He was terrible. Just got no pace whatsoever. Quick drop of the shoulder and he's done.

 

Tavernier absolutely murdered him all game, thought he was awful, deflected goal aside.

But it did fall apart JJ going off injured and ralston and welsh being fbs.

 

I know a lot have been over the top with their criticism of him and he did his bit for our goal but he was defensively woeful today. Kept getting done by Tavernier when trying to defend him 1v1. Their tactic nearly the entire second half was hump diagonals to our left back slot and Tavernier had the freedom of the park out there. Their equaliser came from that too. It was the opposite to the good defending at Ibrox.

I am not one who shouts for Juranovic at left back but I was thinking about that change with Ralston on before he had to go off.

 

Certainly 1 position we need a massive upgrade on. I like him, he's good enough against spl. Need 10x better for big games.

 

A belter of a gane vs St Johnstone doesn't make you a player.

Definitely looking for a replacement in the summer.

 

I like the wee guy and he’s turned into a pretty reliable player but should be looking for better for the starting XI.

Someone a bit more athletic and attack minded.

 

Don't agree with those saying he was rotten.

I think both full backs were severely limited in what they could do, due to the ineptitude of our midfield 3. They rarely moved into space to give the option for a pass and the result was we had to go long to Maeda, Kyogo, Abada etc. which is obviously far from ideal.

Took his goal well and did the basics well. Wasn't exceptional but there were much, much worse players on the day than Taylor.

As with all players though, if better players come available in the summer we should be looking to bring them in.

 

Scored but thought he was brutal.

When we play opponents at a certain level he just gets left behind. There’s only so much you can do when you’ve just no physicality at all.

 

When did one of them get the better of him?

I thought he tracked back well and dug us out of danger a few times if anything (Ramsay off the top of my head)

 

Tavernier got the better of him in the first half a couple of times one on one and in the second half onwards was constantly in behind Taylor who couldn’t get near him.

That diddy Wright completely done him twice when he came on as well.

 

The reason they kept getting in wide wasn't because of players deficiencies; it's entirely down to Ange's system. He cedes the wide ground as it's a "low xG" area for the opponent to be in. Bodo did the same to us. I'm more concerned about our inability to press to stop the diagonals out wide.

Can't remember any times in either half were a player took him on and went by him, could be wrong on that but don't think Taylor was anywhere near our worst players on the park today.

 

It's more his positional play that's the issue, whether that's down to Ange or him I don't give a *, it's an issue nonetheless. It's too easy to pick a player out down his wing.

 

There’s a difference between letting opponents have the ball wide (Ibrox) to players constantly getting in behind and Taylor getting caught out. At Ibrox Tavernier was getting the ball deep and in space while we flooded the box. Today they constantly fired it over the top to him wide right.

He was done about 3 times in a 5 minute spell in the first half and was all over the place to the point the commentary team were slating him.

 

I mean it's certainly an important when apportioning criticism. If a player is carrying out instructions as requested then they're doing their job.

We don't play a flat back 4 under Ange, which is effectively what you're asking him to do when the full backs hug the wings like Tavernier and Barasic did.

Ange asks the RB and LB to play 5-10 yards further forward than the CBs because: A. It's difficult to land a precise diagonal to them (provided the rest of the team are pressing appropriately) and B. It's the lowest xG area of the pitch. Ange's system actively funnels opposition from the more dangerous central areas, to the wings.

If our CMs and Front 3 applied pressure the opportunities to keep putting them in behind, wouldn't have arose.

There's a reason Ange likes Taylor in spite of his relatively unpopular esteem with the support and that's because he carries out Ange's instructions to a tee.

Out of the starting XI I'd say only Hart, CCV and Maeda played better.

 

McGregor and Starfelt as well. And Juranovic.

 

I know how we play. I’m not blaming him for today just said he was brutal.

Him getting caught with long diagonals has always been an issue no matter what system he plays or what team he’s in. There’s a reason they kept doing it to Tavernier today.

Juranovic and Ralston don’t get caught out with it as much like Taylor does because they’ve got the pace to get out and physicality to challenge the attacker. Juranovic in particular is excellent at it.

Players not closing the person passing the ball down doesn’t mean Taylor wasn’t getting exposed with diagonals.

I’ve praised Taylor more than anyone on here this season about how good he is for the system and defended him to the hilt. He was excellent the last couple of games against them but he was awful today.

 

McGregor I could accept at a push. Definitely not Starfelt - gave the ball away on more than 1 occasion and let them break.

Juranovic was dependable but didn't do anything exceptional that I can remember, Taylor's goal would put him ahead IMO