alternative maryhill

Sorry if this is being negative IHE, but I think the reason we tend to show well against Celtic in particular is because they try to play a passing game instead of killing the game or lumping it up the field. This means we get more time and space when we're in possession and our best ball players - Rankin, Wilson, Black - get the chance to build moves and show what they can do. When we play a team that don't have any real flow we too often get sucked into doing the same - hence why the games against Aberdeen are invariably keech and why that game against a Hearts team that barely knew each other two weeks ago was such a godawful spectacle. With our strikers out we don't have the players to grab the half-chances that crop up in such games. Unfortunately I can see a lot more 0-0s in the run-in.

Black WAS fantastic and I agree his substitution was probably the turning point. To give Charlie the benefit of the doubt, though, he'd conceded two free kicks after his booking and was pretty late and high with the second challenge - my mate & I were worried he might get a second yellow for that. Suspect Charlie was thinking the same, although he did leave him on for a wee while after the aforementioned tackle. Incidentally - same team for next week please, CC.

Not sure if Black would have added anything on Saturday - in fact the way Kingston created space for himself might well have tempted Black into one of his late challenges. I thought all of the midfield did OK, in particular Duncan, who would be the obvious choice to make way for Black. HOWEVER, given that Rory didn't seem to have much strength or imagination up front and McSwegan's probably not got 90 minutes in him, does anyone else see any wisdom in giving Wilson a run up front against Motherwell, pushing Rankin out wide right and restoring Black to the middle? Wilson did OK for a few games up front in our first season in the SPL, and under Pele a few seasons before that.

What's the source for this? Can't see why we'd spend money on wages for another midfielder when our priorities are so clearly a central defender and a striker - unless CC is sure Blackie's away in the summer.

We could gripe about this for time immemorial and it won't make any difference. HOWEVER... How, given our goal difference compared to the Midden's, can Kirk Broadfoot make the B squad when Grant Munro has never been mentioned? And why is Ian Murray in the main squad having done feck all all season, and Barry Robson's name isn't anywhere? Depressingly for an ex-Aberdeen player, McLeish seems to have developed central belt myopia very quickly.

Train, bus, foot, pogo stick... just make sure you get there! Bring this one on. Hearts in disarray, none of the players know each other, ICT on the up... I foesee another bit of Roscoe juggling on the edge of the penalty area before he launches one into the top left corner. Where are the Inverness fans gathering?

Of those I've seen play, Willie Miller.

Guess this answers my post on the 'forwards, or lack of them' thread...

Chris, if you're on foot it's a bit of a hike, although the scenery's better than most urban walks (apart from the Kaunas scarves flooding towards the stadium). Assuming you can find your way to Princes St from St Andrews Sq, just walk right up the length of it and continue on down Shandwick Place & West Maitland St until you get to Haymarket Station. At Haymarket take the left hand fork, which is Dalry Road and which eventually becomes Gorgie Road. Tynecastle sits just off Gorgie Road. It's a good couple of miles at least, but there are a few decent pubs on the way. Alternatively, a 3, 3A, 25 or 33 bus from Princes St will take you right up Gorgie Road. Or, most simple still, take the train instead, get off at Haymarket and walk the last mile (Dalry Road, Gorgie Road etc). One of the better grounds to visit, and the walk back's well worth it if you've just pumped them...

If the situation proves desperate, I heard on Sportsound last night that Tam McManus has been released by Falkirk and is therefore available outwith the transfer window. His name's been mentioned on this board before but has generally been dismissed because of his off-the-field discipline and failure to fulfil his potential on it. However, would there be a case for offering him a short-term contract (assuming he doesn't still think he's worth more than we can offer)? We are, after all, the "second chance club" [© M. Brown.].

ICT superstar turned delivery man? Can only be Marco de Barrowboy... I can't be bitter towards Broonie - he's been part of too many heroics to begrudge him his chance. Football is unforgiving and all that, and he's been at the top of his game for a couple of seasons now. We'd be quick enough to bin him if his form dipped. Much as I'd like to be proved wrong, though, I don't see him making the Celtic jersey his own even if he does get a crack at being no 1 - can't see him commanding his area against Champions League forwards. Then again, maybe the facilities and fulltime goalkeeping coach at Parkhead will add that to his game, and he did say in his interview that he'd become a better keeper at Celtic. Obviously money's got to be a huge factor - Richard Gordon suggested tonight he could be getting "5,6,7 times his current salary" at Celtic. Also, even if he doesn't make it, merely being associated with Celtic means he's more likely to get a chance at a more monied (if not necessarily "higher") level - English Championship clubs are more likely to take a punt on an old firm reserve than a first-teamer from any other Scottish club. No doubt his agent's made that clear to him. As we can't match those wages, what we need to do is concentrate on bringing through our own and cherrypicking the best from the lower leagues: so come on Mikey Fraser.

58 minutes gone, 4-1, the sheepies have rolled over and are getting thoroughly pumped. Looks like the Hibs players wil be fresh and on a high for Sunday. Only possible bright spot - 2 Hibs subs at half-time (Stewart & Beuzelin I think). Maybe a couple of injuries? As for Aberdeen - when will Tangoman learn that you can't play Lovell from the start?...

Jesus, don't start threads like this when I'm alone with a wine box and a record collection... Billie Hollandaise Aerosmith Bread Zeppelin The Grateful Bread De La Sole Sole II Sole Brendan Branston The Cocktail Twins Husker Stew The Jimi Horlicks Experience Nick Steak Gram Parsnips I'm going onto another thread before this becomes an obsession...

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I think the Masters tournament has kind of superseded it, although obviously that's for ex-players rather than current ones. The wife & I went to see it a couple of years ago at Braehead as her team (Motherwell) were appearing. Most entertaining thing was seeing Stevie Cowan turning out for Aberdeen looking about the same size as Mr Creosote from Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. Shocking considering he occasionally turns a buck nowadays on Sportsound criticising the stamina of current players. Would be great to see ICT enter a team tho' - Jimmy C, Teasdale, Ian McArthur, Wilson Roberston, Stewarty and of course Charlie would be my starting VI. Incidentally, Celtic won the final against 'Well with a dodgy penalty. Plus ca change...

Apologies if this link is old news or has already been posted somewhere else on this board. Was visiting a Dons site to get the other side's reaction to the game and came across it. The stuff about Dods is irrelevant now that the pre-contract's been confirmed, but I found the rest interesting (if nothing else you can have fun trying to decipher the asterisks). I assume *** ***** is Blackie? If so, sounds like the Arabs are still tracking him. This dens1983 sounds like an Inverness-based Arab - any idea, Arab4Ever? scandalmonger

Having seen Brewster's influence on an otherwise pretty uninspired team tonight, I've a horrible feeling we'll still be waiting for our first win against them come 5 pm Saturday.

Hope the SFA get all the compensation they are looking for. I notice that Smith had the experience to describe it as a "very difficult decision" - McCoist has lost every Scot's respect by describing it as a "no-brainer". With commitment like that we're probably better off well shot of him.