starchief

Naismith is one of Scotland's biggest divers but I don't think he dived for the penalty. It was a pinpoint tackle by Tokely but Naismith would also have had to have gone over as, where there was once ball, there is now leg. Lots of good tackles end with the opposing player on their face but not necessarily diving.

It'll be interesting to see what the ref gives when he has a second look, as he promised Butcher. I do think that the first handball should have been a penalty, maybe the second. Refs have new guidelines to what constitutes 'deliberate', i.e. it doesn't have to be deliberate (only in football...) but will be given if the arm moves towards the ball or the arm is in an unnatural position. Hogg's arm was for the first. Second was touch'n'go.

Depends how it's played. I've gone for a 5-man midfield, full of goalscorers. If I could have picked Tudur-Jones or even Proctor at the back, then I would have. Yep, possibly not the greatest of defenders but if we can pass out from the back to a midfield of ball players, we can go for the patient build-up. It's different to the old Rooney system of 4-2-3-1.

I think Aberdeen have a reasonable, not great though, squad that hasn't gelled. They'll be ok. Hibs have a poor squad and a manager that failed to convince last term. I think they'll struggle. We've shown enough in patches that we'll get out of this. Dunfermline are firing on adrenalin. They'll struggle. Still favourites for the drop. St. J are like us - lost a lot but decent replacements that will take time.

I'm shocked you think that. Seemed a great tackle to me. Bobby Moore or Alan Hansen class. Why do you think that?

Be fair though. Sensational in the first game. Injured in the third. No pre-season with either us or Norwich, it appears. I seem to remember Eagle being a far better winger than Hayes in the trial matches, so let's not rush to judgement. Give him a few games to get bedded in at least.

Esson Piermayr - Hogg - Aldred - G.Shinnie Hayes - Ross - Tansey - A.Shinnie - Doran Foran

As said, great tackle from Tokely. Never a sending off or a penalty. Second was a penalty. My big concern is the long ball. A good few were punts away from incoming Rangers players, rather than a tactic, I suggest. However, Hayes, Foran, Tade and Sutherland all looked as though they could have done something, given the ball more. If he's not too injured, I'd be prepared to sacrifice one of the 'stone walls' at the back for Tudur-Jones. We desperately need someone that can pass to the midfield. That might mean shipping a couple of goals but it will benefit us long-term. The punt up no more suits us, than it did Hibs last season.

You appear to be hinting - I'm just not sure who that hint would be though

I still prefer last.fm* *which, in case you don't know, it's a piece of software that listens to what you play, then compiles your own radio station of played, related and recommended tracks. I like the whole randomness based on history of it all, as opposed to selecting tracks. Completely free too.

TV viewing is also obviously not overly dependant on how good clubs are. It's difficult to see how much worse it could get for the OF (and others) in Europe. So, a more equitable payment would see a more exciting league with possibly more reasons for tuning in. The current line-up? As, was it Walter Smith? (I could be wrong, might have been Martin Bain or someone), said, Rangers (and Celtic) need the money to carry the flag in Europe. If we look at the evidence, there's either not enough money for the OF, or some other problem (like competitiveness). Either way, that money isn't improving our European results. So, the question is: should the SPL be structured to ensure one of the twins wins every year? Well, we did better in Europe and it was more exciting when the league was more competitive...

I think we're ok here. G.Shinnie should come in. If he's not fit, then Tokely's done ok at LB before with Aldred and Hogg in CD (which they may well be anyway). No real cause for concern there. That's a decent back four, considering G.Shinnie, Gillett, Meekings and Proctor can all return in a few weeks, with Cox also being possibly in there when he's back. Or Jones if there's another one out.

Tokely or Wilson...Tokely or Wilson....just can't decide. Maybe it will come down to astronomical wages? I also hear Carlos Tevez is looking for a new challenge. Or should we stick with Tade that's another tough call.

National Service? No. Keep the Army professional. Especially in this day and age. Community service - absolutely. Not 13 weeks or whatever. Something like 3-5 years. Every weekend, cleaning buildings or the like. They'd hate that to begin with. But at the end...they'd be so precious about those they were cleaning regularly, I'd bet they'd turn out voluntarily, such is their pride. Ecologists kind of do that already. When we're working with contractors, we try to get them involved in the wildlife. They do a better job then and feel part of the project...giving away trade secrets here! For youth in general? I think it could be a good idea. Not something soul destroying but something to improve the environment or help the community. As long as it's not punishment, but inspiring (and doesn't take away real jobs), I think it could work.

Chain gang - make em pick up their own damn mess. That's a great idea.

I think you're probably confusing the first protests with what is happening now. This is no socialist revolution by the dispossessed but the natural order of a dumbed-down, neighbourless Britain obsessed with celebs and consumerism. Stealing Nike trainers and burning bakers (anybody make sure the flat above was unoccupied by babies or pensioners?) isn't a protest against police brutality, the cuts or racism - merely mindless opportunism by those obsessed with materialism. A right-wing rant? Nope, quite the opposite. Respect for community is left-wing (and what's left of One-Nation Tories - but they died out long ago). Curfews? The Army? Tasers? Plastic bullets? Sounds good to me. The community isn't a bunch of kids having fun stealing and burning buses (buses for *!$%'s sake - the bastion of the poorer in society) but the ones losing their jobs over it, whilst the economy goes south. But the rain is coming soon. The Arabs protested through bullets and an often fatal (literally!) heat for an end to dictators and torture. Ask these loons if they'd rather more social inclusion or an X-Box...well, it's not worth getting your hair wet when you've already get a Nintendo DX from last Xmas. For my money it went wrong with 'greed is good' and 'no such thing as society' - and that's New Labour too in case you're wondering. This is the end result.

A man's a man for a' that...

With a midfield of Tansey, A.Shinnie, Ross, Hayes and Doran, it would be madness to play the long ball as a first choice. Definitely the short passing game. Foran's also decent in the air but it's not his forte. Nor is it for the more obvious target men of Tade and Sutherland. Slow build up, keeping the ball, rather than a mad blast up and chase.

I only saw about the first quarter of the match but Hayes seemed to have two, even three, men on him as soon as he picked up the ball. It's going to be tough.

Esson Peirmayr - Hogg - Aldred - G.Shinnie Jones Hayes - Ross - Tansey - Doran Foran As I said on the tactics board, I think we've got a good attacking midfield that would allow us to play a very effective 4-1-4-1. Tokely/Hogg/Aldred - well, we're still seeing the right combination. We'll try this combination and see how it goes but Tokely definitely on the bench, ready to come on.

I think Tel would have to win a cup or get in at least top 5 for that to happen.

If I look at where our strength is, it's in the creative midfield. Both Tansey and A.Shinnie can get goals from midfield, whilst Doran and Hayes will provide. That's why I think we should be changing to a 4-1-4-1 tactic. Jones (or Cox) will hold the defensive mid, allowing Tansey and Shinnie to get forward much more than a 4-4-2. Foran is intelligent and hard-working enough to play that role up front on his own - holding up the ball as the att mids get up. It's fluid, it plays to our strengths and can help the back four when under the cosh by withdrawing to a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3 if the oppositions full-backs are weak. It's a bit slower, more technical and a shorter-passing game but I think our players would prefer this.

Aaaarrrggghhhhh!

Yeah, I was watching that too. Thought we looked the better team at the time. Foran looked a bit rusty but was convinced we'd win the game. I still don't think too much cause for panic.

Although I agree with 'you're out means you're out', I don't agree that means another club should take their place. A fail in the SPL to reach Europe should also mean just that. No back doors - what have they done to deserve special status other than fail to win? I'd actually want the whole Euro competitions revamped completely anyway. No knockout rounds, just Champions competing against Champions. The Cup Winners' Cup would also be resurrected. A cup competition for Europe's cup specialists. Sounds better than the Europa Cup for second-stringers that failed in their league. Can't understand Ally McCoist though. Two players sent off. Players still not match fit this early in. Yet he doesn't use two of his three subs? Doesn't seem right to me.