Sir C the 3rd

The semi-finals every year are at Hampden except for last season where the stadium was being developed. I'm not sure why everyone is whinging about this. The only thing worth moaning about is the kick off time. Any kick off time across the whole weekend would have been fine except before 1330 on a Sunday. Can't understand why it kicks off then, we'll be arriving from Musselburgh on the day and It seems a hassle to get to hampden from their! But then again who understands anything the SFA does at the moment.

At least they narrowed it down to the right area of the country.

Both games will be live, one on BBC and one on Sky. Doesn't matter what other games sky have on that day one semi final will still be live on Sky. It would make sense for ours to be 1245 on the Saturday for our fans getting their, more trains etc. But Scottish football doesn't normally do sense so expect something like 6pm on the Sunday!

I'm pretty sure the venue was decided already. Hampden here we come

Annoying as it is for us I'm sure it can't be helped. A shame for the raith fans en-route. I was in the same position myself for the united game so it's more annoying for them, especially when you think a lot of them won't make it up on Tuesday. They'll just have to have a few beers in town today.

I have a feeling we'll see Ferguson up front today

Plenty of chances in first half as usual, no one can take them and we get punished. Familiar script now..... get a striker

United v Celtic. What a chance to go all the way.

I did notice on the Sportscene sunday night programme they showed highlights of Saturdays game and then proceeded to talk about what a difference Lyle Taylor will make to Partick Thistle. Because as Saturday shows Partick are frustratingly inconsistent. I'm not saying they should go overboard about us, but to be fair we are only 3 points behind Aberdeen and level with Dundee United who are both regarded as having amazing seasons playing great football. Just being acknowledged that we've been as good as both those sides this season would be nice. Its not like its just been a phase, theres only 3 months to go.

Don't get me wrong we are a very well run club. But we do make a mistake now and again (like everyone and everything). It seems to some people on here cannot accept that no-one is capable of making any error at all inside TCS. Regardless if they're nice people and all doing they're best (which I;m sure they are). There is a large group of people frustrated by lack of communication regarding Mckay leaving, not bringing anyone in and the ongoing contract situations. All they want is an official statement from the club. Defend the club on everything at all costs.

I'm sure Aberdeen fans would be delighted to hear if they lost Rooney that they'd be doing extra training to compensate. Also the chairman is brilliant, new deal for Tansey, getting the game on last Saturday, pay what you think.... In fact all the ticket deals this season. But in my opinion they've made a mistake on this occasion. If we're going to be writing to him direct now because we dare to disagree with the club then just close this website down. It's a place for discussion, praise and and critsism.

Well let's hope Richie gets fit because we certainly need him now.

You seem to be taking it so personally. I haven't seen anyone casting slurs. Contingency or no contingency we do not have a recognised senior striker at the club at the moment. How can that be a good thing.

How do you know they didn't? The Mckay transfer did not complete until Friday PM, which doesn't leave much room for getting someone...even a pre-determined target...signed and ready to go for the Saturday. Physically getting them here would be a major undertaking in itself. Having been denied that opportunity, then it makes sense to take a bit of time to re-evaluate the situation...and also get a look at any players who became free agents following the closure of the transfer window. Having Watkins replace Mckay on Saturday didn't exactly prove to be the disaster some folk predicted, so that too has to be factored into the decision making. We seem to be going from the ridiculous "Sign someone...doesn't matter who, just anyone" to the absolute ludicrous, with allegations that the club are deliberately self harming by not signing someone (yet). It's pure hysteria and even normally sensible thinking people seem to be getting caught up in it. I personally find it bizarre (and somewhat worrying) that an event such as Transfer Deadline Day can have that effect on a community. The fact is after Ibra leaving a lot of people were still suggesting we need a backup striker. Now its not just 'deadline day hysteria' We needed to get a striker in a lot of peoples eyes before Mckay left never mind after. if we didn't why did we bid for Barnard. I also didn't suggest getting someone in on Saturday. But by midnight Monday, I don't see any reason at all why not. Personally I think if we did that we would struggle to attract players up here. An unhappy and bitter player is not needed either (Mckay if we had denied him his move). I can't imagine he'd be that bitter and unhappy waiting 4 months.I defend the club in most things but if we don't get someone in on a free at least we've made a mess of this. I think people at the club will feel the same. No chance of them doing it on purpose to sabotage Europe, now that's a ludicrous suggestion, but I do feel they've made a mistake here. You don't know that tho and neither do I tbh. Mckay appears to be delighted with his move and as he's served us well I don't think we have the right to deny him that. The club also appear happy with the fee although granted I think we as fans would have liked more. Much as I'd rather he hadn't gone he has and we need to move on, What the club should or shouldn't have done re a replacement is a different story. I'm happy to agree to disagree on this. I certainly do wish McKay well and no doubt deserves his move. But my point above still stands. He did sign a contract after all. But like I say we'll agree to disagree :)

Last time I checked our captain was foran albeit he hasn't played for over a year. oh well done hercule poirot, what a buffoon I must be

How do you know they didn't? The Mckay transfer did not complete until Friday PM, which doesn't leave much room for getting someone...even a pre-determined target...signed and ready to go for the Saturday. Physically getting them here would be a major undertaking in itself. Having been denied that opportunity, then it makes sense to take a bit of time to re-evaluate the situation...and also get a look at any players who became free agents following the closure of the transfer window. Having Watkins replace Mckay on Saturday didn't exactly prove to be the disaster some folk predicted, so that too has to be factored into the decision making. We seem to be going from the ridiculous "Sign someone...doesn't matter who, just anyone" to the absolute ludicrous, with allegations that the club are deliberately self harming by not signing someone (yet). It's pure hysteria and even normally sensible thinking people seem to be getting caught up in it. I personally find it bizarre (and somewhat worrying) that an event such as Transfer Deadline Day can have that effect on a community. The fact is after Ibra leaving a lot of people were still suggesting we need a backup striker. Now its not just 'deadline day hysteria' We needed to get a striker in a lot of peoples eyes before Mckay left never mind after. if we didn't why did we bid for Barnard. I also didn't suggest getting someone in on Saturday. But by midnight Monday, I don't see any reason at all why not. Personally I think if we did that we would struggle to attract players up here. An unhappy and bitter player is not needed either (Mckay if we had denied him his move). I can't imagine he'd be that bitter and unhappy waiting 4 months. I defend the club in most things but if we don't get someone in on a free at least we've made a mess of this. I think people at the club will feel the same. No chance of them doing it on purpose to sabotage Europe, now that's a ludicrous suggestion, but I do feel they've made a mistake here.

Yes even if McKay wanted to go. If we have no-one ready to bring in then why would you sell him. I would feel sorry for him as he deserves a good move. But if we're going to be left short in a position where we're already crying out for a back up then no you don't let him go.

Defend the club at all costs. If they weren't going to get a striker in then don't sell McKay.

All I'm saying is that both players were with is at some point and both left for nothing. It's frustrating to see united take in 2 million for them when potentially they could have been ours regardless of situation. Getting 150k is reasonable for the amount left on his contact and I understand that's all he's valued at now. But that's where we go wrong, Hamilton and united etc sell when players value is high and take in replacements. We tend to let contracts run down and let players leave for nothing or for nowhere near their true value due to the duration left on their contract. Again frustrating.

Hideous transfer window for us. Our captain is leaving on a PC to our main rivals who have also strengthened their team with a real good prospect. Our top scorer leaves for a very small fee when you look at all the other fees getting spent around Scotland. Dundee utd bring in a few although they have lost 2 good players. 2 million quid will soften that blow. 2 players we incidentally had a the club at one point and left for nothing. Hamilton who also let a player or 2 go but brought in a good few quid themselves. We have totally ballsed up this window and we still don't have players signed up who want to stay!!

I would imagine if we're signing anyone unless they're from county will be in the stadium now. McKay left Thursday last week, I'd imagine the contingency plan would have been implemented more than 3 hours before the deadline. I still think someone may sign but it's going to be a panic signing at best

He gets loads of praise Yogi and rightly so but.... what on earth was the thinking of playing Greg Tansey on the right of midfield. He looked completely lost and totally ineffectual. Tansey himself looked annoyed when he came off as well, I think he knew he shouldn't have been playing their. On reflection it would have been better to drop Tremarco have Shinnie in their, play Greg where he normally does and have Doran on from the start.

Not sure that is necessarily true. Billy has been excellent over the last few years, but this season, we have proved that we have goals all through the team, even when he was having a lean spell. Granted, some of that was on account of his movement and ability to keep defenders occupied, but providing we can get a similar style of player in that role, I think we'll still score goals. Let's see what the "contingency" is - Watkins? Ferguson? New player in? I did say could be and that I hope not. To be honest its a legitimate concern as he is our top scorer regardless of other goal scorers in the team. Any team would miss their top scorer. Did yogi not say a wee while back that Nick Ross will be playing a more forward role? Nick Ross up front? For me he isn't a striker and he is far to inconsistent in the position he's meant to be played in. For the last month i'd say he's been in the form of his life but he needs to keep up this level on a more regualar basis.

Oh dear, unless we have a replacement ready to come in, this could be the end of the euro push, I really hope not though While I don't think he's amazing he is a good player and it's good to see him go and test himself in a good league if he does leave. He's got ambition for himself which is why I am so disappointed with shinnies choice of Aberdeen.

What a surprise. Such a waste of potential talent to go to Aberdeen. Absolutely zero ambition for himself and hope he enjoys the small wage rise he'll get for wasting his career. Well done Graeme. Pathetic