ictchris

Odhiambo, Odihambo, Odi-Odihambo, Odi-Odihambo

After last night's drubbing, I am apprehensive about this game. We have now condeded ten goals in three games (and the opposition missed a penalty in one). Our back line looks very brittle, has no pace and is low on confidence. We also don't have players back in time to change it. On the positive side, Foran's back playing and showed in the first ten minutes of the first half that he is an important player for us. --------------------Esson------------------------- ---Proctor---Tokely-------Munro----Shinnie------- --------------Duff--------Duncan------------------ -----Hayes-----------Odhiambo---------Foran------- ------------------Rooney-------------------------- It's harsh to drop Nick Ross but this is a vital, vital game and Richie's physical power and experience will be invaluable. Shinnie was OK last night and with Golly looking poor he deserves a chance. It's better than playing Rosscoe there - with Innes injured we need him at centre-half. Does anyone know if McCann is avaialble? If he is then he should be straight into the XI.

We lost 5-0 at Parkhead to Celtic in 2007 - next game we beat Hearts 2-1 at home. We lost 5-0 at Ibrox to Rangers in 2008 - next game we beat Hibs 2-1 away.

Odhiambo, Odi-Odihambo

He didn't score but Don Cowie set up three goals as Watford beat Millwall 6-1 at the New Den.

He is injured. Apparently Jim Jeffries didn't want to sign him but Romanov brought him in anyway.

This is mine

Considering some of the utterpish that's played in the Under 21s over the years Nick should be in for a shout. Jamie McCunnie got 20 odd caps for U-21s ferfuxake!

FTP Probably my favourite network protocol.

I am going.

Get the tennis club to put it on

It's on ESPN.

I've never been in the Artisan, but if the collection of wizened crazies who I see outside it everytime I go past is anything to go by it's best avoided! Middletons is a good bar.

What is it with Dundee and dodgy dealings? Giovanni di Stefano, the Marr bothers, Ron Dixon, Angus Cook. Just about everyone who has ever owned Dundeh has been some sort of villian. Anyway, farewell Callum and remember - second is nowhere.

And which route is the best from the city-centre, along London Road and up Easter Road, or down Leith Walk and along Montgomery Street/Brunswick Road? Or maybe there's another, less-obvious, option? Pretty much the same either way really.

1 or 35 go past Easter Road. As above though, it's a 15 minute walk with many quality boozers on the way.

He's a decent signing. We played him in central midfield last time and he did OK, we've looked suspect there in a couple of games this season. He can also cover a number of positions.

So beers in at your place then Chris? No. Off the top of my head there's Middleton's, Iona Bar, Four in Hand, Royal Nip and some other new place on Easter Road. Some of these are a bit rough but I'd rather have a pint in them than some chain shyte hole like Walkabout or Wethersppons. Over on Leith Walk there are numerous pubs as well, Horseshoe Bar, Harp and Castle, Robbie's are all good boozers, there will probably be a few Hibees around on the day as well.

There are loads and loads of pubs nearer the ground than Lloyds or the Walkabout. And better.

I live just up from the ground, I can feasibly leave at 1455 and get there for kick off. We never take as many fans to Easter Road as we do to Tynie, hopefully we can pack this one out. First Saturday away day in the SPL.

I'll be going.

Celtic have signed Anthony Stokes.

Yesterday was a difficult situation - we conceded what was basically an unstoppable goal in the first minute and were faced with a very determined and organised side who were happy to harry us and sit on their lead. In the middle of the park they closed down our players very quickly and in numbers, not allowing our midfield to settle on the ball or to play the ball to our attacking players in dangerous areas. The way to counteract this would be to play our way round the opposition, for our midfielders to offer more movement and angles. Duncan and Cox both sat deep yesterday, what was needed for was them to show for each other and to demonstrate the vision needed to play our way round a pressing game. For example, if Duncan is being pressed by three Accies, Cox could fall five yards back, take the ball off of Duncan and switch it to a full back who could push forward or pick out an attacker further forward. What actually happened is we ended up pushed back by the pressure game played by Accies which meant that the ball ended up with our back line who hit long balls to Rooney. If there isn't a pass for the defenders or midfielders to make then hitting it long is really the only option. I was particularly disappointed with Cox, who I think is better equipped than Duncan to make a difference in the engine room in terms of passing and vision. Another criticism is that both Duncan and Cox didn't put enough pressure on the opposition when they had the ball - at one point in teh first half Butcher was clearly audible shouting 'press the ******* ball'. It seems that our midfields took the 'holding role' rather literally as they simply occupried an area on the pitch rather than taking charge of the play. The upshot of this is that it's not formations that make the difference it is how individuals perform within the system. We weren't undone yesterday because Accies cleverly undid how we were set up to play they just hustled us out of the game - if we'd been playing 4-4-2 or any other formation it would probably have been the same.

Accies finished seventh last season.