03/01/2008

St. Johnstone To Pay To Get Millar Now

As expected St. Johnstone have bidded cash in an attempt to sign Chris Millar now rather than in May - when his contract expires.

The information appeared in Euan Mcarthur's story about Stuart McCaffrey joing St. Johnstone on loan in today's Daily Record.

It says: "Saints have also lodged a cash bid to speed-up Morton midfielder Chris Millar's switch to Perth."

0 comments

02/01/2008

Stirling Albion 1 - 2 Morton

Stirling Albion 1 - Aitken (61)
Morton 2 - Harding (60), McGuffie (82)

Att - 1,256

A debut goal by Ryan McGuffie turned out to be the winner as Morton grabbed all three points at Forthbank.

This was a terrible match played in freezing conditions in a ground with no atmosphere - a great way to start the new year.

The first half was - and I seem to be repeating this a lot this season - a non event. The boredom was only alleviated when Peter Weatherson was sent clear one-on-one with Myles Hogarth. He slowed to compose himself and from my position (ground level - I was about to get a pie) it looked like he tried to curl one into the top corner but put it into the side netting. I've since been informed Hogarth made a decent save pushing it round the post.

Morton took the lead when Ryan Harding acrobatically volleyed a loose ball into the net from close range. The chance came after a Kieran McAnespie free-kick was deflected into his path. McAnespie's performance and set piece deliveries were one of the positives that can be taken from this game.

The main positive however, was the debut of new signing Ryan McGuffie. Without looking overly impressive McGuffie gave signs that he could be the box to box midfielder we have needed for god knows how long. He has a presence, is strong and tall, can pass and adds a goal threat. Never more evident than in the 82nd minute when he rammed home a sweet half volley from from just inside the box.

Morton's defensive frailties were exposed again in this match. The first mix up came when Ryan Harding apppeared to collide with a team mate which presnted a Stirling player a free run on goal but Lee Robinson was alert and made an excellent block. The second resulted in the Bino's equaliser which came only 1 minute after we took the lead. A cross from the left side of our defence was allowed to run across the box right to unmarked former Morton player Chris Aitken who had all the time in the world to fire past the helpless Robinson.

The only other moment of note was the booing when Brian Graham replaced Iain Russell and not Peter Weatherson. This seems to have been happening for a few weeks now and is clearly angering the fans and justifiably so in my opinion. Russell works hard and offers some sort of goal threat while Weatherson wanders about doing nothing much yet every time the substitution is made it's Russell who's number is up. I'd be interested to know how the player feels about this.

As with a lot of games this season this match would have been one to forget on the basis of lack of entertainment but the fact that McGuffie made an encouraging debut and scored a cracker winner in a match against potential relegation rivals you've got to be happy with the three points.


Morton (4-4-2):

1. Robinson - 7
2. Shields - 6
3. MacGregor - 7
4. Harding - 6
5. Greacen - 5
6. McAnespie - 7 (15. Stevenson - 78 mins)
7. Finlayson - 6
8. McGuffie - 7
9. Weatherson - 5
10. Russell - 7 (16. Graham - 81 mins)
11. McAlister - 7

Subs Not Used:

12. McLaughlin
14. Templeman
20. McGurn

Booked: McAnespie, McGuffie


Robinson
Shields Harding Greacen MacGregor
Finlayson McGuffie McAnespie* McAlister*
Weatherson Russell


* McAlister and McAnespie swapped positions at half time.

Stirling Albion: Hogarth, Nugent, Forsyth, Ellis, Graham, Aitken, Hay, Bell (Harris 37), McKenna, Lilley (Walker 74), Tomana (Taggart 55). Subs Not Used: McBride, Christie.
Booked: Ellis, Hay.


My man of the match: Jim McAlister

Sponsor's man of the match:

Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)















BBC Match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7165336.stm


0 comments

01/01/2008

Transfer News - McGuffie & Linn

Happy New Year!
The transfer window opened last night and Morton have already started to make moves in the market.

The club have confirmed that Ryan McGuffie (pictured playing in the Scottish Cup Final) has signed a two and a half year contract this morning. There is further good news in that he will be available for the game against Stirling Albion tomorrow.

The post on http://www.gmfc.net/ also reveals that Bobby Linn has made his loan move to East Fife permanent. There is no indication of a transfer fee.

0 comments

31/12/2007

Buchanan Nearly Signed For Morton

According to an Evening Times article by Bert Mitchell Morton almost signed Partick Thistle striker Liam Buchanan last summer.

In the article Jim McInally said: "Liam was keen to come in and train with us in the summer and he is a close friend of Ryan Harding's. It was almost nailed down when Thistle came in for him. To be fair to Liam, he has done a great job since going full-time with Thistle and that does not surprise me. We know all about him from his time at Cowdenbeath and he is one of those type of strikers who just keeps showing and is always liable to get on the scoresheet."

Buchanan is Thistle's top scorer this season with 11 goals so far. If the booing that greeted his substitution (pictured) against us a couple of weeks back is anything to go by he's already established himself as a fan's favourite at Firhill.

Cheers to Russell Steele for the link.

0 comments

Minutes Applause For O'Donnell

Morton have announced that there will be a minutes applause for Phil O'Donnell before the Stirling Albion match on Wednesday.

Motherwell's home match against Celtic on 6 January has been postponed as has the Old Firm game, Motherwell's game with Hibernian and Gretna's match against St Mirren all on Wednesday the 2nd January.


0 comments

Gretna Confirm McGuffie Transfer

Gretna have today confirmed that Ryan McGuffie will be signing for Morton tomorrow.The story has been confirmed by both the Greenock Telegraph and Gretna's official website.

The Gretna site states that McGuffie will sign a two and a half year deal at Cappielow.

Gretna manager Davie Irons said: “Ryan has been part of this club from day one. He has been a terrific player for us and will go down in history as one of our most recognised players. On behalf of everyone at Gretna, I’d like to wish him all the very best for his career.”


0 comments

Barry Smith - A Possible Signing?

According to a snippet in today's News Of The World former Dundee defender Barry Smith has been training with Morton.

The story also revealed that he is looking for a short term deal until the end of the season.

He could well be worth a look considering our defensive problems at the moment. However you feel that if he was training with Morton and looking for a club Jim McInally would have already attempted to sign him if he was interested.

Click the image to enlarge.
0 comments

Morton 1 Hamilton Academical 3

Morton 1 - Russell (18)
Hamilton Academical 3 -Offiong (12), Graham (31), Mensing (45)

Att - 2,632

Stewart Greacen and the Morton defence got into the festive spirit by gifting Hamilton a few late Christmas presents as the league leaders ran out convincing 3-1 winners.

Jim McInally went through with his hint that he would play three up front by starting with Chris Templeman through the centre with Iain Russell and Brian Graham playing as wide forwards. Peter Weatherson was deployed in an attacking midfield role behind the strikers. Kevin Finlayson was suspended and Kieran McAnespie dropped to the bench. For me, this formation change was a very strange move when you consider we were playing the league leaders at Cappielow. Hamilton are a team who are particularly strong in midfield (McCarthy, McArthur, Mensing, Neil) and McInally decides to reduce the numbers in the middle of the park and go with more up front. In fact I'd say it was a shocker of a decision rather than a strange move.

Accies opened the scoring in the 12th minute when some comical defending allowed a throw in to bounce across the six yard line for Richard Offiong to nip in ahead of Greacen to bundle home a header. This comical defending was a sign of things to come.

Morton equalised 6 minutes later when Iain Russell - our best player on the day - volleyed home an excellent finish after a Chris Templeman flick on.

The absence of a midfield and poor defending from Ryan Harding led to Hamilton regaining the lead. David Graham - on loan from Gretna - picked the ball up in midfield and ran through a non existent midfield to be faced with Ryan Harding. Instead of going to the player Harding backed off and backed off until around the edge of the box where Graham drilled home a low effort that beat McGurn with ease.

The game was over before half time as more shocking defending lead to Hamilton's third which was annoyingly scored by another loanee, this time Motherwell's Simon Mensing. Graham and Mensing were two players who I would have loved us to bring in on loan - especially Mensing who's solid no nonsense midfield style is exactly what we need. A long ball (possible a goal kick) was flighted forward both Greacen and MacGregor hesitated allowing Graham to nip in between and pick the ball up. He looked up to see an unmarked Mensing bursting into the box and laid it off perfectly for the former Wimbledon and Clyde man to steer the ball past McGurn at his near post.

Game over.

The second half was a non event really as Hamilton saw the game out to claim another precious three points in their promotion battle with Dundee. As Jim McInally said himself "the best team won by a mile."

Morton (4-3-3):

1. McGurn - 6
2. Shields - 6
3. MacGregor - 5
4. Harding - 5
5. Greacen - 4
6. McLaughlin - 6 (12. McAnespie - 71 mins)
7. Russell - 7
8. Templeman - 6
9. Weatherson - 6
10. Graham - 5 (15. Stevenson - 63 mins)
11. McAlister - 6

Subs Not Used:

14. Gardyne
16. Millar
20. Robinson

Booked: Shields

McGurn
Shields Harding Greacen MacGregor
McAlister McLaughlin
Weatherson
Russell Templeman Graham


Hamilton Accies: Halliwell, Parratt (Gilhaney 86), Elebert, McLaughlin, Easton, McCarthy, Mensing, McArthur, Neil, Offiong (Wake 81), Graham (Gibson 78). Subs Not Used: Winters, Cerny.

Booked: Easton.


My man of the match: Simon Mensing (Hamilton)

Sponsor's man of the match: Chris Templeman

Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)















BBC Match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/7162346.stm

Tele' match report: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=18233

Tele' match reaction: http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=2&id=18234

Goals: http://www.gmfc.net/webcast-video-clips.asp
0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)