quizzer

Thanks Scotty, I had replied to calendar that I was going but missed anything beyond that and I've emailed a few companies in meantime for minibus quotes to try to help out but looks like folk are in there already! All good stuff.

Two of us booked our own way there (via London) and would definitely be interested in meeting up to head to game, both for beers and transport! Get there late on the Wednesday and leave 1210 Friday.

Really sad news, the family are very much in my thoughts at the moment.

Spoke to them last weekend, very likely to be members only.

Is it a family event tho and does it actually say that? Today was no better no worse than normal Caley away days tbh.

I don't think you can say what is described by op as banter. Obviously some people weren't offended but unfortunately some found it completely unacceptable. On every ticket I've received, and every game I've been to, there's a warning that foul and abusive language won't be tolerated and that it's a family event. It shouldn't have happened, end of. On a far far smaller scale there was some swearing from back of section F at St Johnstone game which was challenged by others. I've no doubt that this was fuelled by passion and wasn't particularly aggressive or offensive, but it certainly caused some temporary discomfort due to the volume and how it stood out. just not what we are used to hearing I guess! I know some people are of the belief that you shouldn't take children to a game if you aren't willing to expose them to swearing etc, but the guidance is that foul and abusive language should not occur within the confines of a stadium. very disappointing that this wasn't addressed today and ruined the day for some.

"Weakened Celtic side" according to the BBC news moments ago - get away, give us the credit that we are due.

Don't really know how to sum it up - we weren't bad as such, but we were never really looking likely to score. Got to say, a few decisions near the end in/around the box went in our favour and Dundee wasted a few late opportunities (several of which were gifted to them by us!). It looked as though Vincent went off due to injury, but Marley Watkins without doubt earned a starting place regardless. Nothing worked for Vincent, I genuinely felt sympathy for him as we've seen such an entirely different - superior - player in the past. Can't say Doran offered anything which merited a starting slot, he's going to have a fight on his hands to displace Williams who showed fantastic close control under pressure, even if he faded out of the game as it went on. Shinnie and Raven were the only players who went anywhere near the touchlines. Not conceded and unbeaten, can't complain!

It wasn't a back three. It was Meekings-Draper-Tremarco-Shinnie in the second half. Ooops, I hadn't realised that Shinnie had dropped back, although I did think that one fantastic saving tackle by Tremarco was wildly out of position for a left back, brilliant as it was! As for "new" players, I would have like to have seen a bit more blooding of some of the guys who have made the step up to the first team squad. Hitting the ground running with a settled team - like we did last season - is undoubtedly a good thing, but early games like this is surely an opportunity to give players a chance to challenge for more frequent starting places by seeing how they fit in alongside experienced players.

Played with 8 recognised midfielders in the second half, with Esson, Tremarco and Meekings the only exceptions. Draper excellently made up a 3 man defence and Meekings was excellent going forward from the right back position. Sadly, nothing else really to say about game at all. Shinnie played in midfield throughout and did well, Billy scored a tap in and Watkins a header. More passing around at the edge of the box than I'd like to see and shooting was poor. Oh, and Michael Fraser was their keeper! Would have been nice to see more "new" players get a but of time of the pitch but Hughes appears to be sticking to his word about not making any changes, with the only guys on the pitch who I've never seen playing for us before being Ferguson and Rennie, neither of whom got any significant time although Ferguson certainly looked hungry for it and we were desperately needing a striker by that time. Given that we started the game with basically our first team, and all those who came on at ht were recognised and regular first team players too, it was somewhat uninspiring overall. But hey ho, let's get the rustiness out of the way before the season starts!

Concur with pretty much all above posts. defensively Warren and Raven covered everything. Barely saw Meekings touch the ball but will give him benefit of doubt and say it was cos everything was down Aberdeen's left. I was initially a big fan of Tremarco but not at the moment, agree that he's weakest link. Pains me to say it and I think he's more capable than the player we're currently seeing. Draper was great in first half, broke up everything. Wish Tansey had been more influential as we've seen glimmers of a tremendous player. I actually didn't think Vincent was that bad at all, but when Christie came on the difference was stark. What talent and what vision that lad has got. Seriously, the club should gamble on a very generous long term contract for him, with clauses if necessary. I for one have never seen such talent break through our ranks and its a joy to see. overall a pleasant no score draw, no complaints and looking forward to next season!

Am I the only one who thought the Meekings red card was an easy call for the ref?? Yes, shinnie was doing his best to cover but he was still behind play at the time and not guaranteed to get there in time. Josh had a really bad day all round, as did most of our defence. Definitely time for Devine to get more match time. Vincent out wide didnt work at all, feel sorry for him in many ways as he's a great player but it seems that there is onky one role that he can play in our current set up, and Christie has first shout at that at present. Draper was easy call for mom (not that anyone really impressed in second half) as he bossed the midfield. Lots of weaknesses elsewhere and kind of disappointed that at least one out of Williams and Watkins didnt start out wide. Time for a radical rethink. Tremarco and devine should get a start with meekings and raven having a break at the back. Its hard to call beyond that but I'd base it round Christie, Draper, Watkins and Mckay.

Same hymn sheet all round today then. Brill, Williams and Shinnie were only ones to get pass marks from me for first half, but different story in the second. Thought Tansey did really well, Vincent out wide did not work at all and I was desperate for nick or marley to come on. Bad day at the office fo Foran. Surprised how late the subs were made but ultimately the right 3 came off and right 3 came on. Nick, williams and Christie deserve more match time while a few others could maybe do with a break, psychologically if nothing else. Maybe play more of devine and tremarco too. Looks like Greenhalgh has given up on playing for us again, unless he is just messing on twitter.

If they are re-scheduled then that's good enough for me. Quite a few angry parents on fb complaining about how their school visit had been cancelled which didn't sound good at face value! For me I think the most important thing is for the team to get their confidence up again and get focussed. The last thing we want is a nervous team going into the final, full of players not wanting the ball in case they make mistakes. Hopefully all the shouting/negative stuff was out of the way yesterday and today was for re-grouping and looking ahead.

I've heard suggestions that the players pulled out of appearances at schools today, apparently because of the defeat. Not the best PR the week before the final, if of course it is true.

What a performance. Struggle to think of a derby in recent years when we've been so comfortable, but we were in total control throughout. For me, the fight of shinnie and foran was immense and it was the best game draper has had in ages. Doran never wrote anything off as a lost cause and was fantastic. But ultimately all credit goes to hughes for tactics (and fire up team talk??). Swapped Vincent out wide to allow foran to play just off Billy and offer so much aerial support with draper mopping up everything and tansey doing a very quietly effective blocking/tidy up role. For me, Butcher would never have shown that flexibility but foran was immense. I dont want to leave out our defence, brill had an incredible save and warren/meekings always looked in full control. Delighted for raven and shinnie just shone yet again, no more to say. choice and performance of subs was infallible.

There was no way out over the grass due to the large boulders placed round the perimeter. After about 10 mins the gates somehow got opened, all I heard was that"someone opened them", not sure if it was security or a fan forced it or what. It was just badness locking the gates at that time, people using it were obviously going to be gone in a couple of hours and were certainly not depriving staff of their space or causing any harm whatsoever.

Gary Warren said in the Caley Club last night that he is the only player banned for final, if that helps!

Slightly pacified thanks to us winning...

Anyone else just wasted several hours thanks to these gits?

After the second half against Aberdeen, and Christie's performance against Celtic, I was certain that we would make changes given that Foran is out indefinitely. As has been said before, the rot started against Morton but we'd been riding our luck with results for a while. I never thought the slump would get this bad though... Tremarco looked like he was covering the entire left side against Celtic, with no support from the midfielders. We without a doubt need Raven and Doran back together on the right, and I'm undecided about whether to play Shinnie at left back or midfield - either would be an improvement from rb! Doran and Ross were playing far too close time after time, and Draper was a timebomb waiting to happen. Haven't seen replay, but ref certainly suggested elbow - silly silly lad if that's the case and let the team down badly if the decision was correct. I wasn't expecting Toby to come on, thought it would have been Greenhalgh, Raven or Polworth but thought fair enough, we're going for it. He tried, and showed a few decent touches but overall he didn't really look SPL standard (but then again, did any of our team today??). I'm not going to criticise Williams if those who have seen him play more than I have are saying that was certainly not his best position, would be like saying Billy is a sh!t left back... Talking of Billy, I truly fear that he will now jump ship if this is how we are playing. I said very early in the season that it was just as well we got our points on board, as we've never had a plan B and once other teams settle and gel and also realise that we are still playing the same system then we're stuffed. Time for an overhaul by Hughes - no square pegs/round holes please, change formation and style to suit those who we have available rather than other way about. We're not making use of the wide midfielders as it is, I'd be tempted to go for Shinnie, Doran and Watkins (if fit) as certain starters in midfield with the other 2 places being up for grabs by whoever has best week in training/fits system best taking the last place across a four man midfield and then Christie playing close to Billy. Finally, what really got to us today was Hughes' behaviour on sidelines. Stood whispering to Shearer throughout the second half but offered no advice or direction to the guys on the pitch when they were crying out for it. I'm not a fan of bawling and shouting at them and instilling fear, but there was no encouragement either. Time for Hughes to show us why he got the job...

Some incredibly distasteful "songs", one in particular managed to offend pretty much every single person in the bar regardless of their allegiance. Put it this way, I'd love them to go to Glasgow and see how well it would go down there!

Ultimately a great game, and fantastic management by Hughes for the second half! Sadly the most memorable part of the day is the behaviour of a very small - I have to emphasise small - minority of the Aberdeen "fans" in caley club before the game. You are scumbags, utter w**nkers. However, karma is a bitch boys, enjoy :-)

I said in the beginning (offline to friends) that I would put my faith in the board to make the right choice on behalf of the (long term) future of the club and I'm sticking by it. Did we maybe get carried away with the pro-Hartley bandwagon, maybe? I was totally behind him for the job, but ultimately he has no experience at this level (though I was 100% up for giving him the opportunity here, seemed like a good match) and have to trust that the board made the best call given what they saw at interview. I always said that we needed someone who wanted the job, rather than needed it, and it's important that the role goes to someone who sees it as a passion and commitment rather than a job or a stepping stone. If it's true that Hartley was hesitant in commiting for family reasons then kudos to either him and/or the board for recognising it and stepping back. For me, one of the top priorities in appointing a manager was someone who is in it for the long term, and I can see Hughes being up for that. I don't see him as a gloryhunter or looking for a stepping stone, I think he is a genuine football man, with a passion level which is almost unbeatable. With the right team behind him and backing from the board, it could be a beautiful combination. Let's just hope that we are prepared to invest in a top support team, that element is a mystery at present. Obviously Yogi convinced the board that he was the man for the job, and having spoken to one of the senior players, he certainly convinced them too. I hope he doesn't read this board, whilst nothing bears any malice towards him it shows disappointment and that's not how I'd want any new member of staff to our club to feel. Two cup finals (and subsequent wins) and a minimum of second place in the league will certainly justify his appointment!

A pretty appalling first half, never seen so many misplaced passes by this current squad. We were obviously the team in the higher league but struggled to get any shots on target in first half. Ultimately we had 2 well taken penalties and then Billy took his goals well. Incidentally, we had a minutes silence before the game too, for the Glasgow helicopter disaster. We can certainly play better but we did the job. I thought Draper had a very poor first half in particular, one thing that he really needs to add to his game is knowing what to do with the ball before it reaches him. Much in second half, as was most notably Watkins. Lots of tidy work from Nick, and Doran was a constant threat. Polworth filled on comfortably for Foran for this game but needs more games lke this to be able to settle intp playing with team. Next round please!