Watched as many clips as possible re: McGeehan and while watching these clips started to compare him to Hourihane. Positives. Younger player that has time to develop. Higher energy - more box to box. Gets into opponents penalty area more regularly - hence scores more tap in's. Taller and causes more problems when going forward - scores from headers. More powerful and direct running forward which draws defenders towards him. Good at short passes that can put strikers in on goal. Negatives Hasn't got the sweet left foot (but how many have?) that Hourihane has - so hasn't got the ability for long range passes - or the ability for those whipped and dipping crosses that forwards thrive on. Hasn't the ability for long range powerful shots. Needs to stay on his feet for longer before committing to a tackle - times his tackles badly - but Hourihane wasn't a great tackler either.
Good assesment and fair from what I've seen. Wonder who Hecky fancies adapting to a deeper lying playmaker role that Hourihane ended up playing. Probably Moncur. He has an incredible range of passing, and a cracking long shot on him. Also has a turn of pace and can beat a man. Imagine if Hecky and co can coach him into the correct off the ball positioning and discipline that the deeper role relies on. If McGeehan and Moncur develop this season they could be dynamite by the end of the year. And if we play a 3 then Mallan and Mowatt playing in a more advanced role. Our centre midfield seems full of riches again! A couple of wide players to compliment and push on Hammill and Hedges (and Mallan who's played there for st mirren), a new striker and a starting left back and our starting 11 looks strong across the board with a few options from the bench.
Another positive is that he's playing for an up and coming young manager that relies on his own talent to improve his players and not one that has always been given millions to buy the ready made article(s).
I think Hammill will flit in and out of the starting 11 this season. I'm expecting another permanent 2 wingers and another 2 strikers with maybe another defender - that's another 5 permanents. Plus of course another 5 to 6 loans. All in maybe 12 to 14 new players by end of August.
