Tweed

Having not been at Parkhead today or seen any of the game my only analysis from that game is BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!

Shiels always comes across as an eccentric genius who will win games by doing brave things but likewise will lose some by doing things that are completely mental.

Very true. But he was never the best player on the pitch yesterday. Strange seeing Humphrey getting the nod as I felt his inclusion made us one-dimensional and kept Ojamaa and Murphy quieter and made us a weaker team than Wednesday but all that said he probably was our best player. So I'm going for him too.

To be honest I was so mesmerised by what was going on at his feet I never noticed what was going on round about him and if there were covering defenders or not. In a way I'm glad he didn't send him packing as it would have devalued our win a bit had we played 20 minutes against ten men. But in all seriousness we have had three penalties this season, only scored one and even that was dire. I'd like to think we are having some penalty practices at training this week because we won't always get away with shanners like yesterday's.

I think we got away with it for the reasons you mentioned and also because Reynolds got up and accepted his apology.

Super game of football from us today, and to be fair Aberdeen more than contributed to the game, espeically in the first half. I said to my dad we attacked like Brazil and defended like a Boys Brigade team and that was the theme throughout the first half. Every goal came down the left, was the result of some beautiful passing, running and crossing and we looked so multi dimensional today that Aberdeen didn't have a clue what to do. In my view we did get lucky today though as Higdon should have been off for that tackle on Reynolds. High and dangerous, it ticked every box of being a red card. Ojamaa, Angol, Murphy and Law were different class. Hope we play like that on Saturday and get one over that arsehole Shiels who is probably third on my SPL manager hatelist.

Maybe didn't win many tackles, but he never wasted a ball and his running was superb. But he was being flanked by Murphy and Ojamaa who were immense - I think we can judge him when they are having a quiet game and see how he does.

I fancied saying I'd voted Hateley just to wind Fraz up but to be honest Angol was outstanding - a real tidy player who never wasted a ball. But Ojamaa just had the nod in the creative spark so he is the one getting my vote. And did I mention, we are magnificent.

Did I see Ojamaa waving an imaginery card at McPake's first yellow? If he did, me not like. Not 100% sure though.

True but on the flip side we have only won two which is truly brutal. Would have been better winning four and losing five.

From what I've seen he is an incredibly dangerous weapon but can be very defensively naive.

Said on the match thread that I think Ojamaa's running created all the space we played in - he dragged defenders all over the place so I'm going for him.

What a performance that was. The first half was a game of absolute turgid shite. To be honest I didn't really think Hibs had done enough to merit their lead but their goal did come from the one bit of quality from Wotherspoon on the wing and a very clever header by Doyle. Even before they scored the second one I felt the game was turning our way but I was worried when they went 2-0 that the momentum would sink and it could go the same way as the game back in October. However to our credit we seemed to take it as a spark and we turned in 40 minutes of football from the highest order. Few star performers for me. Henrik Ojamaa was outstanding in the 2nd half. Not so much the stuff he did the ball which was all right but not special but his running off the ball was outstanding, he was dragging defenders all over the place and while he was doing it Murphy, Higdon and latterly McHugh were making the most of the space he created. Lasley had a super game breaking up the midfield from Hibs, moreso in the 2nd half but Hibs did knock the possession out of themselves by taking off Doyle and Griffiths which gave us the ball so often whereas in the 1st half we had to work to get it back. Hateley was miles better than Tuesday, some telling balls and some good interplays with Humphrey and Ojamaa - bounced back from criticism superbly. Finally I thought McCall had lost his marbles with the change he made of McHugh for Cummins but he was proved right because the threat from Hibs had tapered because of the changes Fenlon had made and that meant we could forfeit a man at the back. Law looked a yard off the pace today but his reputation caused Hibs problems as they couldn't leave them.

Its my Christmas night out on Friday and I need to work on Jan 2nd so I was having a wee look to see when my next away game after today would be. Kilmarnock on Feb 9th seems to be the answer! But I notice we still have a game at Hearts to rearrange because they are in League Cup Semis duty last weekend in January - any chance we could play it on next round of the cup day on Feb 2nd? Just a thought....

I think this sort of thing only works with corporate backing but they aren't going to back it unless they see the members are serious first. I'm not familiar with the St Mirren case but whilst I would love us to be a bit further forward at the present time I don't think we are in a disastorous place.

But as of right now Stuart McCall has achieved a cup final and third in the league over a season where Terry has done neither of those things in twice the time. Different managers, different strengths and different weaknesses and even a different philosophy in the boardroooms. Lets bookmark this one and compare again in May, Bet you we won't feel thaht shortchanged.

As gutted as I was by the result and performance last night, I don't for a second doubt their effort. They probed and tried to create the space to have a go - I personally don't think on this occasion we reacted to Aberdeen's tactics in the right way but I couldn't question their commitment. Even the ones that were brutal were giving their all.

If we're being completely honest most of MJC's criticisms are valid. But the only manager I can think of that we have had who probably didn't have these faults was Jim Gannon and we were fast turning into a disaster because he was a prick and the players didn't want to play for him. So to argue that we have done well in spite of McCall just doesn't wash with me. If he wasn't good enough he would not have ended last season where we did. People say we have an issue with bottle in big games and I put to you that this notion is bullshit. We maybe have an issue in games the fans would love us to win against teams that are better than us but just about every big game against a team at our level last season we won. v Dunfermline when we hadn't won for ages at home - won 3-1. The weekend after St Johnstone who had been on a great run came to Fir Park - beat them. Hearts were challenging, came to Fir Park - beat them. Hibs came to Fir Park for a game in hand and chance for us to open up a huge lead in 3rd - beat them, St Johnstone to give us a commanding lead on 3rd last game after 1 point from 12 - beat them. Hearts to secure our berth in the Champions League - beat them. Even the season before the cup quarters and semis were huge games - won 3-0. Our temprement was excellent. Ever since McGhee was here MOtherwell, from the outside, appear to have had a policy in getting as good a starting line up as we can and in turn forfeiting a bit of ability back up wise. By remaining pretty clear from suspension and injury we came third in 2008 and again in 2012. This season we have lost a couple of key players and have not been as lucky with injury and suspension. If this is a calculated risk I'm all for it if means we have a super season one in four or five and the others are all right. But you have to remember that limits the manager's ability to change a game and have a plan B. The signing record is decent as Melvin has outlined and our results satisfactory littered with annoying disappointments, especialy at home. McCall is still learning as a manager and I'm sure he would tell you that himself but I don't think with the club and spending ability we have we can expect to do much better,

Cummins is a raw talent still - he is the very person who needs an experienced pro beside him to help him in the reading of the game, instead he has got someone else who has just passed that level himself. As a pairing they are far too inexperienced.

I was saying to Frazzle on the way out the ground I've never seen a game change so much at half time where the scores are level and neither team have made any change to personnel or obvious one of tactics. Aberdeen have a commodity that most teams we play don't have and that is full backs with pace which means we struggled to get Humphrey and Murphy into the game. MacGennis did a much better job on Humprhey in the 2nd half than he did in the 1st which is why our chances just about dried up. The next tactical thing they did was everytime the ball came to Higdon someone appeared from all sides to close him down meaning he couldn't spray the ball wide the way he normally does. Given they nullified him and the wingers this meant the lack of an attacking option in the middle of midfield really hurt us. Whilst he was injured and not a thing we could have done about it Law was a huge miss. Aberdeen were so deep at time it mean we really struggled to get into a shooting position. I think we need to make a decision to take a bit of a risk in suituations like this. Aberdeen were not for coming out so passing the ball back to create space was not going to work and I felt the way to do it was to shoot on sight and hopefully a ricochet would drag them across. The second half was dire though, no creativity, no spark, no risks taken and there just seemed a resignation to defeat, Really disappointing,

After much consideration, I've decided that this is a shite idea and we shouldn't do it.

Forecast of freezing fog for Tuesday night so there must be a bit of doubt about the game, But should all go ahead as planned, a bit like the first game, I can see it going any which way. Interesting they have lost the league games bookending the first game whilst we have won both of ours. We're the team on the up so if we could score first I think we will win, if they do they will play for the 1-0 and we will find it difficult.

No, I don't want him dropped out either - but I think Ojamaa is the wrong man to drop. Law is one of, if not our best player but the shape of the team is leaving us to open to letting goals in so we need to do something to rectify it. I'm not saying it is the right decision but I don't think Ojamaa is either - of course we could drop Higdon and play with Murphy and Ojamaa up top but we lose something defending corners then as well and it maybe makes us a bit one dimensional.

Disagree with that change, I think we are a better shape when Ojamaa is with Higdon. Agree with the defensive aspect of it, I actually wonder if Law is the man to drop out as the luxury we just can't afford.

First two subs were like for like when we were winning, so no complaints there. The third one was bordering on bizarre but it forced us to play it a wee bit more crisper and on the deck, given their three defenders were mopping up anything with height that was, in hindsight, an inspired change. Of course the moment we went 3-2 up we wanted Higdon back for defending set plays. My only concern was the shiting it episode when we went 2-1 up as we clearly didn't know what to do from a position of ascendancy but from that setback we did bounce back well. Good three points, hopefully curse of home results broken and we move onto a huge game next week. Not lost in five or six weeks now, so confidence should be improving. Hollis isn't as commanding at cross balls and corners as Randolph but has shown himself an able deputy.