roly

Didn't think we were all that bad first 45. It took a great strike to separate us and I can't think of many heart in mouth moments other than that. Hibs sat deeper and deeper as the game wore on. Maybe that made us look more threatening but we still created a similar amount of chances in each half.

IMO Hatley is a weak link in our team. But he rarely let's us down in his defensive duties. He trys to over play sometimes and links poorly with whoever is in front of him. His delivery can be quality at times though. Most will tell you he's 10x the RB than a CM. I wonder how he'd do as a RM. We'll probably never know as we're well stocked in that position.

Second match in a row that there's not been much to call between our team. Honourable mention go to; Hutch (voted for him last week so won't this), Clancy done well out of position, Page despite his red card didn't look out of place and Humph who despite being marshalled well caused some problems. I went for Law. Many on here have said he should be getting dropped. I don't see that. His goals and assist record should really speak for itself. Despite his goal today he still looked one of our most comfortable players on the ball and rarely gave it away cheaply. All in an unnatural position for him. Got the important goal too.

I thought Law had a good game even despite his goal. Assured in possession and rarely gave the ball away cheaply. Biggest problem for him recently is he's being played wide left and it doesn't suit him. He's rarely available in that position too as he gravitates to a more central area. That said, I wouldn't have him in the middle of the park if Jenno and Las are available.

You only need to score once to win a game and draws against our nearest rivals may well be enough. I've already pointed out before that winning Vs the OF is irrelevant if you're not consistant against diddys. Take Aberdeen out the league and there's a 9 point swing between us and Dundee Utd.

Thought that. If today was anything to go by I'd start with Jenno and Law in the middle of the park. Any of Humph, Daley and Murph right/left. That's if we're going 442 The other option is play Carswell, Jenno and Law as a central midfield three in a 451 with Higgy upfront alone. Ojamaa has looked decent wide left at times. I'd stick with 442 though.

Today might not have went how we wanted but Yesterdays results means we're still in a strong enough position. Next SPL card sees us take on Celtic at home on the Sunday. Best we can hope for is a draw I think. Meanwhile Dundee Utd travel to Perth (draw please) so something has to give there. This is the early kick off on the Saturday on ESPN so gives us something to pass Saturday afternoon. Suppose we can't quite rule out the Jambos too yet (1 point behind Utd.). Rangers visit them. A win for Rangers makes 3rd a big uphill battle for them.

Shouldn't really grumble with a point at Easter Road. We've struggled to break teams down at home and away this season and Hibs made it very difficult for us in the final third. Can't fault any of our team for effort. Carswell was largely annonomous and we definetly missed Jenno in there. I expected the Carswell/Daley switch to come earlier as we have nothing on the left and Law always seems to be in possesion in the middle of the park, as well as lacking the cofidence to put an early ball in from the left. Page done well despite the red card which he was unfortunate to pick up and Clancey looked resonably assured out left. Do we have a full compliment for the next match? Got a feeling Las is still due to miss a game?

A very good point.... And who was it that was banging them in non-stop 2 years ago?

So with our lead having been whittled down a bit I'm sure we're all checking how our nearest rivals are getting along in the buisiness end of the season. Very few of our games are going to be played at the same times as St. Johnstone and Dundee Utd. and no doubt we'll get the chance to see them on the telly during the run in. So far thing aren't going too bad for us today but plenty time left. 'Mon the sheep and the Caley.

Probably this one...

St Johnstone have a considerably better record away from home (30 of their 49 points). So away to them may be a blessing in disguise.

Hibs have only won once at home all season... We've got to be able to take something from them there. That said, I'm not overly confident

By the same token every team bar the old firm are also open to benefit from the split fixtures. Look at it another way (hypothetical with fixed post split fixtures)... At the time of the split the bottom two teams have identical record with the exception of the team in 11th who played an extra home game pre-split vs the bottom team which they (bottom team) lost (team in 11th have played 17/16, team in 12 have played 16/17). As a result they are 3 points behind. Pre organised post split fixtures will force the team in 12th to travel to the 11th club for a 3rd time and give them 18/20 overall for the season. Not very fair. I think it's better to try and make the fixtures as equitable as possible at this stage. Often there will be some meaningless fixtures toward the end of the season and fixture can be balanced using these games where possible Pretty much was I was saying before. I'm almost certain thats the way it's going to go. Real possiblilty of some big crowds at home depending on where the Dundee Utd game will get scheduled.

That would shift attention to pre-split fixutres. It would never be work as it means Rangers or Celtic may have to visit the othe 3 times. Imagine Rangers visit Celtic twice pre split and miss out on first post split because of defeat in the extra game at Celtic... They would then be forced to play at Celtic again.

Think the only way for this to happen is to make Dundee Utd go to St Johnstone again. All other fixtures remain the same. We would have 18/20 and Rangers would have 20/18. I think this is unlikely. The SPL will try to balance Old Firm fixtures first. It's also generally the club that don't belong in that half of the table that suffer (St. Johnstone in this case). Celtic (H) Dundee Utd (H) Rangers (A) Hearts (A) St Johnstone (A)

April fool?

Don't think thats a guarantee either and it certainly won't happen this season. It would potentially mean an Old Firm title decider.

Never heard of any such guarantees.

St. J are due 3 home games There will be a uneven split after all. I think it will still work out the same way. (Rangers come back to Fir Park and Dundee Utd go to Celtic park.) This leaves St. Johnstone -1 home game. It really should be Celtic that miss out on the home game as they'll have nothing to play for but the SPL won't have the baws for that. Either way it shouldn't change our fixtures from: Celtic (H) Dundee Utd (H) Rangers (H) Hearts (A) St Johnstone (A) Dundee Utd go to either Celic or St. Johnstone

Ideally I would have wanted them away so we could just write them off and concentrate on beating our peers at home. We've learned in the past that it's never easy in the top six. You're obviously playing the the form teams. We should fancy taking somthing from the away ties though. Perth's been reasonable happy hunting grounds and the Jambos are hit or miss at the moment. Besides we have an identical home and away record this season anyway.

Mistake here... Should be St. Johnstone due 2 home ties. So the obvious fix is: Rangers come back to Fir Park and Dundee Utd go to Celtic park. Everyone has 19/19 fixtures. Giving us. Celtic (H) Dundee Utd (H) Rangers (H) Hearts (A) St Johnstone (A)

I think this is reasonable given past precidence and given they've benefited in the past. I don't see how this senario can be balanced.

Haud the bus... That disnae work Utd are only due two home games. It much more complicated now.

Trying to work this through... Celtic - due 3 home ties - only due Rangers and Hearts at home. Rangers - due 2 home ties - due us, Dundee U and St. J at home Us - due 3 home ties - only due Celtic and Dundee U at home D Utd - due 2 home tie - due Celtic, St. J and Hearts at home St. J - due 3 home ties - only due Us and Celtic at home Hearts - due 3 home ties - due Rangers, Us and St. J at home I would assume they'll give Hearts and Utd the perfect fixtures. I think then St. Johnstone will go to Celtic park again and they'll balance that with Rangers visiting McDiarmid for a third time. That means Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Dundee Utd have 19/19 fixtures. I would hope then given we've had an 18/20 before and St Johnstone have had a 20/18 that they'll then make St. Johnstone visit us again. That means they'll have an 18/20 and we'll have 20/18. Would give us: Celtic (H) Rangers (A) Dundee Utd (H) St. Johnstone (H) Hearts (A)