dead_ball_specialist

I honestly believe we can push Celtic for the title this season.

It's all very well putting a positive spin on our 'great season', but truth be told we should have been miles clear of St Johnstone by this stage. Looking back at all the games we dominated, all the sitters we missed, all the sloppy late goals we've conceded. We will never have a better chance to qualify for Europe, it was there on a plate for us and we totally blew it, allowing a much weaker team to trundle over the line ahead of us.

Considering the Sheik has spent over £500,000,000 on the playing squad at city since he took over you can't blame him for having high expectations. They were tosh in europe this year.

Interesting selection but not shure if Hogg is ready fer that kind of role. I have to concede that I have my concerns about OTJ on that pitch and his committment. That may push TB into such a selection.

Hogg looks super fit to me. He made a run all the way into the DU 18 yard box at one point yesterday, haven't seen an ICT centre half do that since Nauris Bulvitis. I think he'd add a bit of much needed bite to our midfield in the absence of Foran and Draper. Agree on OTJ, think he's a bit too Barrowmanesque for a pressing, high tempo, scrappy game like next week. Although his long range shooting could come in handy on such a mickey mouse small pitch.

I hope they win today. Worst case scenario is neither Highland team getting into europe.

Lee Cox doesn't have a club.

They need to win. Let's sit in and hit them with pace on the break.                                

Reguero

Raven       Meekings        Devine       Shinnie

Hogg      Taylor

Sutherland       A Shinnie        Doran

McKay

The negativity in this thread is OTT. The players put in a massive shift yesterday. They were out on their feet at the end. We dominated most of the game. On another day we would have won by a comfortable margin. It was a bit of a freak result imo. Sometimes your luck just isn't in.

At least it's still in our own hands and we have one of the most exciting spectacles ever to look forward to. A highland derby for europe.

More like we wish we could play them every week.

Once again Caley cheated and dived their way to a win.

 

In contrast to County, who cheated and dived their way to a defeat.

He makes Neil Lennon look balanced.

Gary Warren. Best centre half we've had for years.

Don't know what I enjoyed more, the three points or Dererk Adams customary meltdown.

Don't think we've gone off the rails. It's more of a repeat of the start of the season. We're playing good football, creating lots of chances but not getting the breaks in front of goal. Meanwhile every duff pass, shot and cross at the other end of the park seems to ricochet straight into the path of an opposing striker for a tap in. We're just running bad, not playing bad.

                        Esson

Meekings   Warren   Devine  G Shinnie

                      Draper

Doran                                   Roberts

                     A Shinnie

         Foran                Pepper

If you want bigger crowds, don't charge £25.

Not sure why Roberts is taking so much flak on this site. The stats speak for themselves. Our results have been better on average when he's been in the starting 11 than when he's been dropped.

I think you should take a closer look at that tackle at the end of the first half. Holt takes a wee break from writhing in agony to have a sly look up at the referee. There was no heavy contact and nothing wrong with him. Just pure cheating from a diving wee sh*te.

Euan Norris had a shocker by all accounts and lets be thankful he didnt send Foran packing as well ..... sounds like we could have had little complaint about that.

I would complain about it. His original yellow card was a nonsense.

When he was booked for 'time wasting' there was still music blasting from the loudspeaker system. Surely the shootout could not have started until that was resolved? Very odd decision.

If the shoe was on the other foot you can bet your bottom dollar hearts would be all over this demanding a replay. We should too. The rules have been broken.

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet but Hearts diving was absolutly shameful yesterday. One of the worst displays I've ever seen. Their goal came from a free kick which they dived to win. They were playing to get Foran sent off, feigning injury any time he went near them. Their fans are a bunch of drama queens, stamping and screaming every time. Hope they get pumped in the final.

He made it far too easy for the Hearts penalty takers imo. Didn't seem to be paying any attention the the Hearts players run ups, just picked a direction to lackadaisically fall in at random. Even if Roberts had scored we still would have lost. Hearts could have scored 20 in a row easily Reguero was so soft.

Obviously the smoke must have obscured Billy McKays view when he missed those 2 sitters.

" In speaking to any Dons fans I may, of course, refer to what a diving cheating squirt Fraser is, but the reality is he was on the receiving end of some tackles which should not have been made."

I disagree. After the OTJ challenge he reacted as if he had a career ending injury. Red card comes out. Two minutes later he's sprinting up and down the park again, absolutly nothing wrong with him. Scumbag. When a player conducts himself like that he deserves to be dealt with in the harshest manner possible. My only complaint is that Foran didn't kick him hard enough.