ictchris

I posted on the other thread - we need to be consistent and keep our points total ticking over. In 2008/09 we beat Aberdeen, Hibs and Rangers away fromhome but still got relegated. We need to make sure that the DUndee Utd result doesn't fall into this pattern. We've now got Hearts and Hibs to play, both difficult ties before what will be a big match-up against St Mirren away. If we went into the Saints game with six points of more I'd be fairly pleased.

He was probably our best outfield player yesterday, certainly our best attacing player. The majority of chances in the second half came from his area, he made more space and put more balls into the box than any other attacker. He took the wrong option a couple of times but he made more impact than any other player going forward. He does need to strengthen himself a bit but he's still relatively young and obviously has talent. I do thinki that Foran needs to come back into the side as he gives us more options but to slate Ross for his performance hyesterday isn't justified, in my opinion.

We didn't really deserve anything from that. Imrie's goal was an absolute stunner, utterly unstoppable. There's nothing you can do about hits like that, to be honest, we should've been thankful that we had 90 minutes to claw it back. Accies were committed and every time we had the ball in the middle of the park or up front they crowded us out, putting pressure on us in twos and threes. Hayes in particular was singled out, or rather doubled out. Effective stuff from Hamilton and they could've extended their lead a couple of times - Esson saved from that Jedward guy and Hassailbank was through a couple of times. We didn't offer anything in the first half. In the second half we improved but didn't really get any clear cut chances. Nick Ross (our best player I thought) created space a few times and on one occasion should have had a pop but tried to square it. There were a few scrambles but not much else. We looked best when we sent Tokely up front! Regarding Imrie, he's obviously a bit of a p***k but if you are going to shout 'Paedo' at someone for 90 minutes they probably will have a go back. Was pretty funny Tokely giving him the w****r sign though It concerns me that we haven't built on last weeks result - this is how we got relegated last time out. The season we went down we beat Hibs, Aberdeen and Rangers away but lost too many games against the other 'bottom six' teams. There's no point in beating Dundee Utd easily then losing to Hamilton at home - we need consistency. In terms of tactics, I was again disappointed with our central midfield pairing, they were crowded out of the game meaning that we couldn't get any decent passing going and rarely got the ball into our danger players in good areas. Duncan and Cox need to be bit more dynamic in the middle, they just seem to sit there sometimes and the match happens arond them. Cox is capable of more I think, I'd like to see him taking more control in there.

They have funny accents, the Elgin fans. I couldn't understand what they were singing half the time.

I was at the game - thought I'd go along it was only a tenner to get in. The only cash gate was for the away end so I was in the with Elgin fans. Blackie didn't get dogs abuse as such but when he got subbed someone shouted 'Caley *******' at him and all their fans started singing 'if you hate the ******* Caley clap your hands' They sung it a few more times during the game, it was probably the song sung with most gusto. Bless.

Good to see David Weir back in the squad. Must be a bit galling for Garry Kenneth to be pumped out of the squad for someone old enough to be his father though.

Someone on the Scotsman website has commented on their match report saying: Linkage Surely he's misheard that, can't imagine something like that being sung.

Amazing result for us - aside from wins over the Old Firm that's probably the best result we've had in the SPL since we first got promoted in 2004. A four goal win away to the previous season's thrid team and the Cup holders? Not bad. The city of Dundee are now ALL our bitches. All this without our longest serving player and our captain. I really didn't expect that result and it's reallyheartening to hear that we played well and fully deserved the win. Eric Odhiambo is getting good reviews for the game - I thought he was our best outfield player against Celtic and he seems to be coming onto a game this season. This is excellent news for us as he is in the vital central position behind the lone striker. Hayes is also having an impact in the SPL.

--------------Esson--------------- ---McCann--Tokely--Munro--Gillet-- ----------Duncan---Cox------------ -----Hayes----Odhiambo---Ross----- --------------Rooney-------------- I don't think any of the other options we have are better than the XI who started against Celtic. I have put TOkely in this because I've not seen him listed as out anywhere. If he is then presumably Proctor will slip into his position, which makes us far less solid. I don't really think Ross did much against Celtic, he clearly wasn't our best player either. He was OK though and deserves to keep his place, at least until Foran is back.

Chris Coleman, he's had a good managerial career.

I agree with CaleyStan. A twenty team league would consist of the current SPL plus Falkirk, Dundee, Pars, Queens, COunty, Partick, Raith and Morton. TV isn't interested in most of the SPL teams at the moment there is not a chance in the proverbial that a game betwen, say, Raith and St MIrren or us and Partick would be an attraction for anything. The point about ramshackle stadiums is also a good one - I can just picture the eye-rolling and head slapping from ESPN and Setanta execs everytime they showed one of the Old Firm play at Accies or Falkirk and were faced with a camera covered in rain, shots of grassy slopes and half empty stands. It doesn't look good - at least our three stand job looks OK on telly and has a nice view. I think that the SPL could just introduce a play-off between the 11th SPL side and the runners up inthe SFL. That would be a good step and would liven up the bottom of the table.

Yes, he's a decent manager but the way he's bummed up in the press (linked with Man Utd and England) he isn't as good as all that. I see Villa signed Stephen Ireland today as part of the Milner deal - strange, what happens if the new Villa boss doesn't want him?

Playing a targetman wide in midfield is a good tactic - this Sutherland lad is quite good in the air isn't he? Perhaps Butcher sees him slipping into Foran's role.

Villa's wage bill is massive - ?71m or 85% of turnover (Link. MON resigned because the club wanted to recoup some money by selling Milner and, possibly, Young. Given the money he's spent not to even properly challange for a Champions League spot is poor. O'Neill was successful early days at Wycombe and Leicester but plenty of managers do well with lower league clubs without being considered the new Clough or Ferguson, as O'Neill is often talked about. As for his record as Villa boss, he's certainly done a better job compared to total duds like David O'Leary or Graham Taylor (in his second spell) but he was about on a par with John Gregory and Brian Little (Little even won a trophy). Of course, Gregory had other 'issues' which meanhe won't really be remembered fondly.

The Keg opens at nine and is just round the corner from HoHo hostel, a salubrious city centre boutique hotel.

We'll really miss his leadership and physical prowess now. These are aspects that are vital when facing the Old Firm, or playing in any big game. If we stick with 4-2-3-1 then we could line up something like this: -----------------Esson------------------- --McCann----Tokely-----Munro-----Gillet-- --------Duncan--------Cox---------------- ----Ross-----Odhiambo------Blumstein------ --------------Rooney--------------------- that's a little light in the '3' to me. Perhpas Hayes will swap in for Ross and Sanchez for either Odhiambo or Blumstein. That still leaves us a little easily brushed off in that area, which could mean that we struggle to keep the ball in offensive areas, can't get it up to Rooney and face pressure on our defence. It's always good to have someone good in the air in an offensive position as well to hit with set pieces, goal kicks, cross field balls as an option to keep the pressure off. We don't really have that option without Foran.

When you consider how much money he spent the fact that Villa haven't got into the Champions League is a big disappointment. Only Manchester City have spent more money in the last few seasons than Villa. Here is an interesting link on net spend and position for Premiership clubs. Celtic also spent heavily when he was there - Strachan won as many titles in less time with fewer resources. Gabriel Marcotti has a good article on MON here.

He doesn't playin the SPL. I agree with Bougherra, he's a fantastic player.

Hiya CaleyD! *waves to CaleyD*

I think it's overly optimistic to look at getting into the top six this season. Not all players who did a job in the First will be able to maintain that form in the SPL, as we saw last time we got promoted. The most important thing to our success is if Adam Rooney continues his form - I think he will score more goals than he did in 2008/09 but we can't rely on him for 20+ goals. We need guys like FOran, Hayes etc to chip in as well and that might be easier said than done. We also shouldn't underestimate some of the other bottom six teams - Accies had a great season last time out as did St Johnstone. Personally, I will be happy if we stay up and are clear from relegation, in the manner of our first three seasons in the SPL last time out.

Today I went to ScotMid for the paper, then went to the gym. After that I went into town for a look around, then went down Leith Walk to get a sandwich.

Darren Dods.

Looks like the Sun have been trawling this website for it's stories!

ANyone know when/if the tickets are going on the eticketing site?

For a winger (well wide midfielder) he had zero pace and rarely went past anyone. He used the ball fairly well, didn't give it away much but he never really created anything going forward. He did seem to improve a bit in the latter stages of the season - the derby game up in Dingwall, he came on and played very well, hitting the post. I clapped his back when we all invaded the pitch after winning the league.