ictchris

We aren't exactly in amazing form going into this. What do you think the starting line up should be? I think we have a few problems with the '3' in our 4-2-3-1. You need a great ball player like Andy Shinnie in the middle or failing that a dynamic player who can make things happen, make runs, have a shot and we don't really have either. The game yesterday we seemed to have three wingers in the '3' and it didn't work that well, especially in the second half. Greenhalgh didn't impress me, he did well when he hit the post but didn't contribute much else. Doran was good, he is shooting more this season, hopefully trying to replace Shinnie as a regular goalscorer and hsi deliver from set pieces is excellent. Nick Ross seems to just be Nick Ross - solid 6/10 doesn't do much wrong but doesn't actually influence the game that much or make much happen. In terms of changing the players in the '3' there are a couple of options. Liam Polworth could come in and play centrally, which we tried in Perth and wasn't a great success. We could bring in Marley Watkins who showed some good touches when he came on for a cameo yesterday. Polworth lacks experience and we saw in the last derby what happened to Conor Pepper but he offers more of a presence physically and can hold the forward line together. Watkins looks dangerous but is coming back from injury and would still leave us with three wingers. I'd be inclined to put Watkins in for Greenhalgh but I could see Butcher sticking with the same XI as yesterday. Maybe Watkins is best from the bench. As for the rest of the side, I think it picks itself, assuming we have no injury worries. Our back four didn't do as well as we have been used to this season yesterday but the four of them are pretty obviously the best we have. Draper and Foran will be the key men if we are going to get a result in Dingwall, we succeeded last season against County by dominating midfield and we need both the players in there to play the way they did earlier in the campaign - breaking up play, using the ball well and coming out top in the physical battles. County have Kettlewell, Brittain and Quinn in a central area meaning that this is probably their strongest area on the pitch, despite losing Lawson and Vigurs in close season. I wouldn't think about dropping Brill, the mistake for the goal is just one of those things that happens, he's been solid and consistent for the rest of this season. Also, McKay is the only choice up front. Looking forward to going to Dingwall, confirmed that I've got a ticket today. I was there for the 3-3 cup game, a great atmosphere from our fans during the game on the train home. Anyone thinking of taking any flares etc (the nautical fireworks not the cutting edge of Dingwall fashion) might want to think twice as I imagine the police will be cracking down heavily on it after them getting lobbed about last season and the linesman getting hit by a smokebomb in the Spurs-Villa game. I wonder if we'll be getting filmed by cops from the wendy house again

Watched on TV. I thought we were better going forward in the first half but our defending wasn't great in either. For the first Partick goal we gave them too much room from start to finish during the move, it was good play though. We did pretty well after the goal, although I thought Partick looked dangerous. From what I can see the corner goal should've stood, it's pretty annoying to get a decision like that against you. However, in the linesman's defence I doubt he's had a scenario like that before in his career, it's a difficult one. As I understand it the ball doesn't have to leave the quadrant so was in play. I felt pretty confident when we scored the goal straight away in the second half (and it was a great ball from Doran and header from Warren) but we didn't seem to offer as much going forward and I thought Partick responded to the goal stronger. We had to defend well to prevent them breaking through on several occasions. Doran had been at the heart of most of the good work we'd done going forward in the first half but he faded out in the second half. Greenhalgh and Ross were anonymous in the second half, Watkins will have done himself a big case for inclusion next week with his display after the break. The winning goal is just one of those things, Brill has been good since he came in. Disappointing performance really, there are difficulties with the '3' I think.

To quote Messrs Michael and Ridgely, if you're gonna do it, do it right - right do it do it. Don't scrimp, card on every seat, proper quality card.

A few posters on here might like this one

If these things work they are brilliant. If they don't they are paaash.

What were the teams?

Yes, all football hipsters have heard of Bielsa Renegade.

I don't think anyone need apologise. When did everyone become such a hyper-sensitive, tear flecked, pantie knotted wee lamb? The guy with the UJ is in the Army, he's big and ugly enough to shoot people for no reason other than he's told to by an angry man with a moustache then I doubt he'll care about what someone says about his bit of coloured cloth on a website.

The SDL had Scottish flags. I'm sure they've had Israeli and Sikh flags at marches before, for some reason. Loyalist murals and marches in Norther Ireland have also flown Saltires for many years, get them banned. Get them banned, I'm offended out of my tiny little mind.

I remember us having Canadian flags when we had Xausa and Hastings playing for us. Flags are bits of cloth. Nothing is offensive unless you allow yourself to be offended. Just don't be offended.

Should've been tasered, IMO.

I assume that the person who grabbed the flag bursts into tears when they walk past the Castle when the court is sitting and the Union flag is flying. Looking forward to unveiling my Israel-Union Jack-Ulster flag at the County game.

St Johnstone just completely dominated us, especially in the first 30 minutes. They pushed us deep and pressured us when we were in possession, forcing us to hit long balls which didn't work. When St Johnstone had possession they used it well, May looks a very good player. The second goal in particular was superbly well worked. We managed to push our way back into things to an extent although we were never really the better side and didn't threaten, aside from a long range shot by Doran. St Johnstone did to us what we do to other teams, dominated the midfield, tight at the back and dangerous up front. From our perspective we lost the midfield so offered nothing going forward. Butcher obviously thougth Polworth would be better holding position than Greenhalgh and give us more of a physical presence but he was overrun, especially in the first half. He did improve in the second, with some decent touches but we were far gone by then. The defence was imbalanced by Raven being out, who I assume was injured. Devine was pish, it was like the game at Tynecastle years ago when Roy McBain was sent off and we played Grant Munro at full back, he was slow, didn't get forward and thus contributed to us surrendering possession. I feel a bit sorry for Devine, obviously we didn't want to break up Meekings and Warren in the middle. Danny tends to get shunted into an unfamiliar role - he played in centre-mid a fefew times last season as well. For once the international break is welcome, we can regroup, hopefully get injured players back (although I hear Vincent is out for months) and hopefully get a decent win against Partick.

People spend far too much time in this country worrying about flags.

utter pish

Who cares?

Same XI as yesterday. If Vincent is injured then bring in Greenhalgh.

Didn't think we had enough width in the last few games so ----------------Brill-------------------- --Raven-----------------------Shinnie--- --Warren----------------------Meekings-- --Draper------------------------Foran---- --Doran-------------------------Ross---- --Vincent------------------------McKay--

Quarter final line up ICT Morton Hearts Hibs Aberdeen Dundee Utd Motherwell St Johnstone

In the real world, anyone know any word on Foran and Warren's injuries?

Why do people suggest making sweeping formation and personnel changes to a team that's top of the league? It isn't going to happen! Hopefully Foran and Warren are fit again and we can play the same formation again.

Poor performance again from us. We started brightly with McKay scoring and sending another effort just over the bar and Nick Ross hitting the post. We seemed to drop deep as the first half went on and let Dundee have more of the ball. They didn't really threaten until just before half time when their forward (didnt' see who) forced Brill into a great save low to his left. The second half went the same way, we played too deep and were hitting long balls into the channels for McKay to chase. This didn't really work and we weren't managing to get Doran or Ross into the game much. Draper was booked in the first half and after that didn't seem as keen to break up play which meant we lost out in midfield. Vincent didn't perform that well again, he seems to try and tear around doing all the jobs, but he should really be concentrating on playing further up the park, pressing the opposition there when we don't have the ball and trying to make things happen when we do. We didn't retain the ball as well as we did earlier in the season and because of that dropped deep and had to hit the ball long. The two players we lost, Andy Shinnie and Tudor-jones, were excellent at retaining possession and I don't think the players we have in midfield now are as good at that, meaning we might end up pushed deeper. Shinnie could also carry the ball very well from deep. The fact that we were missing Gary Warren also impacted us, he is excellent at carrying the ball out of defence for 15-20 yards which helps us play further up the park. Devine is an able player and is a great option but he doesn't give us that. Apparently Butcher wasn't pleased and was heard berating the players afterwards. We'll need to improve against Hibs on Saturday.

Sad days as insane Italian fascist loses his job. Paulo must be disappointed although I bet deep down he admired the swift, brutal action taken by an unaccountable dictator.

Good news, the main stand at Dens is pish.