Bush

Hope you're wrong with your assessment RiG! I would have thought the club might have had a look at Scott Boyd as possible cover. He's a decent enough defender and is being squeezed out over the bridge. Would be more than competent cover in my view and would be certainly fit into our budget.

Strong line up, but Raven and Meekings missing. Are they both injured?

BBC website confirms Draper is out, but no mention of Meekings' suspension. I'm sure I saw him listed in the match day squad too. I'm sure the club are on top of things tho'.

The latest BBC report seems to suggest the case was dismissed because the incident had been seen by the match officials after all. The article states "In his report, referee Steven McLean had explained he had sought the advice of Alan Muir - the official behind the goal - and was told by him that he thought the ball had struck the defender's head". This being the case, should the CO have even been involved? Officials saw the "offence" but got it wrong. I thought the CO could only cite for things missed by the match officials?

I know this has been mentioned on another thread (can't find it just now), but is there proper clarity on the most likely permutations that would see us qualifying for European football? As I understand it (& this could certainly be wrong!) the most reasonable possibilities are:- * We finish 4th in the league (behind Aberdeen & Motherwell) & Aberdeen play The Rangers in SC Final * We finish 4th in the league (behind Aberdeen & Motherwell) & Aberdeen beat Dundee Utd in SC Final Is that correct, and are there any others that could see us qualify?

Really frustrated! Yet again team selection sets us up far too narrow and we are crying out for width. Eventually Yogi makes some changes and we get some width, ultimately resulting in a cracking goal from Christie. I felt we actually matched Motherwell pretty well & their 2nd was a real sucker punch. We certainly seem to get punished badly for almost all small gaps left at the back. Tansey seemed unhappy at being pushed to RB when Raven came off. When will Yogi get it - we need wingers playing on the wing, stretching the play, getting in behind defences. That's what we are good at and, when he does do it, we improve!

We were second best in the first half but improved in the second half. Maybe just about merited the win, and certainly needed it. Onwards & upwards now. I wasn't too keen on Vincent playing on the left as he instinctively kept coming inside leaving us very narrow. Glad to see Nick & Marley coming on, and think they need to feature more in coming games (especially if Dorans out). I think we can only have three of Tansey, Draper, Foran & Vincent playing at any one time. We'll gratefully take the three points and move on.

Feck off you tw@t. Ditto - complete & utter tw@t.

So equally we can also completely ignore the following, and a lot more about the so called "shape of an independent Scotland", from the 670 page publicly funded SNP Manifesto published last November? Thirty hours of childcare per week in term time for all three and four-year-olds, as well as vulnerable two-year-olds. Trident nuclear weapons, currently based on the Clyde, removed within the first parliament. Housing benefit reforms, described by critics as the "bedroom tax", to be abolished, and a halt to the rollout of Universal Credit. It would be in Scotland's interest to keep the pound, while the Bank of England would continue as "lender of last resort". BBC Scotland replaced at the start of 2017 with a new Scottish broadcasting service, continuing a formal relationship with the rest of the BBC. Basic rate tax allowances and tax credits to rise at least in line with inflation. A safe, "triple-locked" pension system. Minimum wage to "rise alongside the cost of living". Nope....it is exactly what every UK party does before every election..........puts forward what they'd do if they got into power. It's called a manifesto and the SNP made no secret of the fact that part of the 670 pages included what they would hope to do if they became the first iScotland Government and depending on the results of the negotiations. Nicola Sturgeon said as much on a GMS interview post the publication. It was in there mostly as an example of what could possible if we had the control of our own economy, compared to what we know will happen in the Union if we vote NO. Before the end of negotiations we won't know stuff like......will we have our share of the debt or no debt....... will we have our share of assets or none of them.......but it was written on the assumption that Westminster wouldn't tear up the Edinburgh Agreement (given the current Westminster rhetoric, that assumption was most certainly wishful thinking). Could give you links to the other parties ideas on what an independent Scotland could be like if they were in power. Personally, I don't expect to have many , if any, majority Governments in iScotland, which pleases me, because consensus politics is a lot less wasteful than adversarial politics. Still waiting for a cogent response to post #576, btw. Is it an election? The referendum is not an election but, in the event of a yes vote and on full independence, there would be a general election in iScotland to determine who would form iScotland's first "proper" Government.

Is that definitely the ruling? I'm not doubting you at all, but just wanted to make sure this is the definitive position and not just your understanding of it. If correct, then we definitely need to just leave the red cards to stand for the greater benefit of having both Watkins and Tansey available for Sunday's game. It also gives a few of the fringe players a bit of game time to show what they can do.

A really poor day all round. Should have being using a 4-2-3-1 formation against an in form team, not 4-4-2. The Celtic game should have been enough of a lesson on that front. Comedic defending & a soft penalty killed the game, & was hard to take. Tansey red might have been harsh, but no way we'd win an appeal. Watkins really poor decision & I would expect an appeal to be successful. What's the craic with those reds in terms of suspensions? If we appeal, I assume they'd be ok to play vs Hibs (hearing after it), but if upheld would they then miss the final? If so, should probably just take the medicine & move on - although we'd play a weakened team vs Hibs which we really need to take a confidence boost from. The joys of being a Caley Jags fan!!

Hibs play Motherwell in the league on Saturday so, unless they win that game, a win for us next Tuesday would guarantee a top six finish. A really big week coming up which will define our season - cup QF, possible top six guarantee and cup final! Bring it on. I hope that, win lose or draw, the team do themselves justice in these games.

Completely agree. We need to start with our best 11 & make it clear that we're taking them seriously. Once/if the game gets comfortable we can make some changes (like maybe Devine for Warren - build up a partnership with Meekings - Polworth and Ross).

And what was wrong with his performance today? Picked the right team, they were creating countless chances and, on another day, would gave had 3/4 goals. Can't blame Yogi for this one in my view.

The only thing that really neede to change was a wee lucky break. We pretty much dominated but Hearts seemed to have the luck in front if their own goal - blocks, saves & woodwork. Disappointed with the result as we really deserved much much more. Still, on another day we'd have won be 3 or 4 comfortably - maybe next week!!

Agreed. Not sure who it was, but a real credit to himself and his club. We should show respect to a man who showed respect to our players and club.

Wouldn't it be ironic if their game vs County was postponed today after all this rain. They'd end up with a game midweek and RS would still miss the semi-final!!!

I think that Yogi put out the best team possible (given injuries & suspensions) and played players in most suitable positions. Hopefully he'll now grasp the nettle & make this his team - as opposed to trying to continue "as you were" with the team inherited from TB. A decent enough performance and result - and nearly a bit better. Onwards to the next game now.

Is there any chance of an appeal against Drapers straight red today (it was a straight red wasn't it?)? Didn't think the challenge merited a straight red and we really could do with him as CDM for Saturday. I think if we appeal he'd be available for selection (unless it went to one of those quick hearings).

------------------Brill Raven Warren Meekings Tremarco ----------------Draper Shinnie Watkins-----------------------------Doran ------------------------Ross -------------------------Mackay Press them hard early on, lots of energy, closing them down so that they are unsettled. With their current lack of confidence, and some robust challenges from our players, they might lose the mind games early (before they then go on to lose the real game as well).

A big well done to Davie and CJT at large for their efforts here.

I think it's really important to start the game very brightly, close them down quickly and put them under pressure. I think if we can do that, they'll crumble readily. They're confidence must be shot, & a bright start for us would fill them with the jitters. C'mon the Caley Jags!!

But only regarding travel arrangements. As said, County are absolutely honking at present!!

Want to retract anything you've said Dougal?

Typical negative garbage from you Dougal. CC couldn't break into a talented 1st team at Celtic and came back north to reinvigorate his "stuttering" career. Not a bottler, but a wise man with the balls to start over after it hadn't quite worked out at Celtic. Missing in big games - like his MotM performance in the 3-1 cup win vs Celtic? I think I'm right in saying that his stats as manager are actually quite good. Also, if rumours are true, one of the determining factors in quitting as manager was the impact it had on his family. A real man, putting his family first. Bottler my arse. Dougal, I think you should consider the impact of your posts before sharing them. Mr Christie jnr is likely to read this thread following his first team debut and your unwarranted, inflammatory and misguided comments will do him, his family, the players at large and the club no good whatsoever. You have, as RiG said, managed to turn what should be a positive thread into a sideshow of Dougal Negativity. If Mr Christie jnr turns out make half the contribution to this club that his father did, then he will have been a real success in his own right. He has the potential, and now needs EVERYONES support and encouragement to assist him in allowing it to materialise.