MrCaleyjag

BOOM BOOM BOOM we're all goin to Hampden!!!!!

Ayr @ 2.25 please

HT: 1v1 FT: 2v1 1st ICT: A Shinnie 1st Opp: Hasselbaink Crowd: 3527

As with any game I go to I don't read the thread before posting about it and last night's game is no different, only just getting chance to post now so if I am repeating anything that has been spoken about I apologise. Cracking result at a ground where we may have otherwise dropped points in the past although travelling to the game and on the way up to the ground I never had a thought that we wouldn't get anything other than a win especially going by our form and I hoped that the international break didn't have a negative effect and I was proved right. It was a game that beforehand most would have said that we should have taken something from if not all saying a win. Really enjoyed the game on the whole especially the first and last fifteen minutes, we hit the ground running and looked composed, confident and weren't afraid to pop the ball about and pass our way through Dundee. You can see what TB and MM are setting out to do and our play at times defintely showed this with the players looking confident in playing a passing game. Ok Dundee started to come more into the game but to be fair, especially in the first half, they only had one out ball and that was up to Colin Nish who we struggled to cope with in the first half but was very quiet in the second. For all Dundee came into the game and made it less comfortable for us they didn't greatly threaten our goal and when they did Reguero stood up to the task with one particularly good save sticking in my mind spreading himself down to his right at point blank range - I forget who from. It's weird how being at a game your thoughts are different from that of watching the game on tv and being actually being there and when we got back and watched it on Alba on the re-run it didn't seem like Dundee posed us as many problems as I thought they did. Overall it was a good performance and a great away win and you can't ask for anymore from these types of games and I am thoroughly delighted and was also good to get to a game as well and a great start to the weekend. We do have areas where we need to improve quite quickly, RB being one as we were hopelessly caught out too often with Raven hugging in too close to the CBs and leaving masses of space for their runners to get into. I also think we lack someone on the left wing and where I thought Roberts played well he looked a bit isolated at times and uncomfortable but he did make one excellent run where he bent his shot just passed the far side post. Bringing Sutherland on definately changed the balance back in our favour again and good to see TB making a change earlier than he normally does. All in all one very happy Jaggie today

Alloa @ 2.40 please

HT: 0v1 FT: 0v3 1st ICT: A Shinnie 1st Opp: Conroy Crowd: 5364

trip

To answer your question unfortunately I don't think so, not at the moment anyway but time will tell. I wouldn't agree that all games without Celtic are entertaining nor are the games with them covered, make no bones about it the quality of Scottish Football is poor and will take a long time to get better, I for one do not jump to watch an SPL game. Yes we will be biased on here and say that the last few games have saw us significantly improve and show good signs of playing decent football but lets not hide behind the fact that ESPN and Sky show certain games for a reason and not because they just want to - Firstly Rangers are no longer in the package so they have more games free to show other teams as they cannot monopolise the screen with Celtic Secondly they have chosen the Hearts games because they are struggling and there is a chance that we may upset them again and push them closer to trouble, that coupled with our impressive come back in the last game with them adds to potential excitement Thirdly Motherwell are riding high and they will probably see this as a possible 'giant killer' (for lack of a better phrase) game where we topple a team near the top. Lastly ESPN have to do something to promote their station and football package for next season as they have lost theie rights to the EPL as it has gone to BT so they need to keep the viewers. Yes it is good that we are getting the coverage on tv however it takes fans away from the gate, I am not in the best position to talk about not going to games for personal reasons as stated before, but the main aim must be getting fans through the turnstile. Just because we are shown in extra games in the league doesn't mean we get extra money as it is all included in the package. If we are going to be shown on tv I would rather that it was cup games where they have to pay for them on an individual basis.

Erecting seating on existing terracing does not class as a rebuild as you put it Only the main stand was rebuilt, a great opportunity was lost by the SFA and shame on them, we have a national stadium that is a complete eyesore when you compare it to Wembley, The Millenium Stadium in Cardiff and the Aviva Stadium in Dublin Parkhead, Ibrox and Murrayfield are all far superior stadiums with higher capacities to Hampden and that's where showpiece finals and internationals should take place I'd personally leave Hampden as an athletics arena after the Commonwealth Games Dougal There was a little bit more put into it than you make out Dougal however I for once have to agree with you that the SFA really did miss a trick, I hate Hampden as a National Stadium and the days of an oval stadium even when Hampden was re-done was well and truly over. All the great stadiums in the world are now colse to the pitch all the way round and we took a big backward step with ours. There is no atmosphere at all and even if there is it is lost upwards. The facilities may be up there with the best however as a spectactor arena it is not

Looking forward to it, first away game in a while for Caleyjag and I. Hopefully we can carry our good form into the game after the International break

Well rid of IMO, we don't need anyone who is disruptive and causes problems, we have a small enough squad as it is with lots of youngsters so this puts down the marker to them as to what will happen when you don't tow the line or act the big man regardless of the promise you show or have.

Am I the only laughing at the top I'm wearing, oh wait was I supposed to be playing for them last night?

My feelings on the game the day after can be summed up with the very four words I used after Doran scored the 3rd 'BOOOMMM!!! Get in there'

He's always been a bad referee it's just that now he's worse than that, on another night those stupid picky decisions could easily have gone against us and it would have been all so different. Yes they have a difficult job but it's not made easier by decisions like the yellow card on Doran was woeful. My brother is an up-and-coming referee and hasn't got a good word to say about his performances. I can understand why TB gets frustrated and has thoughts but we all know the SFA rules and unfortunately nothing can be said directly. The best referees are those that are not seen or talked about as they always have full control of the game and players, when a referee decides he's going to make his mark on a game or stamp is authority, which usually happens in bigger games/derby games, then you know it's going to be one of those nights.

Falkirk v Dunfermline - Draw @ 3.50 please

HT: 1v0 FT: 2v1 1st ICT: A Shinnie 1st Opp: Brittain Crowd: 7248 1st Yellow Card: Foran **JOKER**

That is exactly what I would be advocating from a psychological perspective. Sarcasm is an art form and it allows you to have a "pop" whilst using praiseworthy words whils adopting appropriately contradictive tone and body language. Terry certainly has the ability to carry this out but unfortunately his aim with these outbursts - towards officials, players, fans, injuries, suspensions conditions etc, - is part and parcel of his self defence mechanism of always projecting the blame on to any other subject than his own failings. Then to follow on from that it shows shades of a manager that is feeling the pressure and is synonomous to the position we find ourselves in without a win this season in the league. It is a self defence mechanism that every manager unfortunately finds themselves slip into when in his position but when faced with adversity he needs to come out and be positive and resist the urge to critisise. It's very bad press and should he get the ban the talk won't be all about the first Highland derby in the SPL but more about TBs ban and how he misses out being on the touchline. I know what I would rather talk about. Lets hope this slippery slope doesn't continue because when you start and keep critising tohers historically any manager that has cannot turn it around, he has to change his approach and I for one genuinly hope that he does because I and I'm sure a lot of others don't want to hear it all the time and I want to see a TB led team that is successful and is making progress.

Many people on here won't agree with me but this is long overdue and is maybe what is needed to reign Butcher in a little bit and make him concentrate more on the important stuff that he can influence rather than referees and their decisions which ultimately he cannot. IMO he is losing focus of the problems that we face and also the good parts about our team and rather than spend his time discussing this in interviews he berates and blasts referees all the time. For months now and including the end of last season the most consistent part of his post match interviews are his rants and raves about the referees and their performances and it's all a little embarressing now, yes it may be good entertainment and gives people and the press something to talk about but it's all negative and it's about time it was nipped in the bud as it is totally deconstructive. When has anyone other than Rangers, Celtic or Alex Ferguson been able to influence a referee?

HT:1v1 FT: 2v1 1st ICT: Foran 1st Opp: Daly Crowd: 4256

Stenhousemuir @ 2.50 please

HT: 0v1 FT: 0v3 1st ICT: A Shinnie 1st Opp: Iain Thompson Crowd: 673

HT: 1v0 FT: 2v1 1st ICT: Shinnie 1st Opp: Griffiths Crowd: 7385

Berwick @ 2.25 please

HT: 0v0 FT: 2v1 1st ICT: A Shinnie 1st Opp: Hayes Crowd: 3264

Montrose @ 2.37 please