Ya Bezzer!

One man's 4-5-1 is anothers 4-4-1-1 is anothers 4-4-2. The differences are neglible. Essentially it was the same set up with different players.

Who would you play a weakened team against? Kuban, away from home in an elite level knock out competition or Aberdeen, at home in a 38 round domestic competition? I'd suggest it would be a better bet to play the weaker side against Aberdeen. Also, what happens if we basically throw in the towel against Kuban, take a heavy defeat and then Aberdeen beat us at the weekend? Does he really think three rested players will make the difference at the weekend? Sometimes I do not understand Stuart McCall's mentality.

By all accounts they put in a good performance and I like the way McInnes comes across. I think he will turn them around. Some people might be getting a bit carried away tipping them as run away favourites for 2nd but I think they are stick ons for the Top Six. It would have been a tough match for us anyway what with the European situation. I'd probably take a draw from this one before hand.

Think Sutton is getting a lot of unfair criticism. Middle to front we've been poor in all the matches and any lone striker is going to struggle. He's had two chances and hit the post against Kuban and only a good save by Williams stopped him today but we have to support him and create chances. McFadden is probably the player we are looking at to unlock defenses and so far he's looked miles off the pace and isn't even carrying himself well - he looks agitated and angry.

I thought his distribution was quite good, probably the one red cross you'd put against Randolph. Seems much more comfortable throwing the ball out to a player rather than just lumping it down the park.

Anier and ZFA changed the game and gave us that bit more pace up front. By the looks of it we might be this seasons Ross County, tight defensively, not much goal threat, sneak 1-0 wins.

Realise they have just signed the boy Collins but the highest scorer in the Hibs squad is Paul Hanlon with 6 goals. They leak goals and are missing a bunch of first team players. Would be disappointed if we didn't win today.

I'll make a rare away day appearance since it's the first game of the season. Hibs are missing most of their defence although given there defence recently that might be a good thing...

It's actually Eric Idle! It's from a Monty Python sketch. Noticed he was wearing a Motherwell scarf (maybe Bradford!) and thought I'm having that.

Didn't make any different last season over four matches. 5 on target/ 6 off target v Panathinaikos (11 in total) 0 on target/ 3 off target v Levante (3 in total) 7 on target/ 5 off target v Kuban (12 in total)

He wasn't the only one. McManus had a shocking pass out of defence that nearly cost us and Hutchinson had a very slack back pass in the 2nd half. Overall I thought we defended quite well except for a little spell after they scored the first goal but these sort of mistakes cost you against better quality sides.

Thought Hutchinson and Lawson were the stand outs. If pushed I'd give it to Hutchinson.

I wouldn't say he had a good game but you couldn't blame him for any of the goals. Made a couple of decent saves, missed a couple of crosses. Kinda evens itself out I guess.

Don't agree with this at all. They were better than us and in a different universe from Hibs. The front three (Kabore, Popov, Balde) were all quality players that were a different level from our domestic league. They were also, like Newcastle Utd, extremely tactically disciplined when we had the ball. We just don't come up against teams that defend that well off the ball and all over the park in our league. They make it so hard for players to find space and that is the key to creating chances. Hence our lack of goals. I don't think you can fault anyone that played tonight for effort, some even played pretty well (I'd highlight Hutchinson and Lawson) but at the end of the day we just lack that little bit of quality across the team that these mid level European sides have with 30, 40 million to spend have. Money talks, sadly.

Procession just went past the house. Polis look a bit nervous!

Agree with this. The Hibs fans basically want Fenlon out now and probably would be happier to lose than to win! They will be going along to vent their frustrations and show their disapproval, not support the team. We need to take advantage of that.

Remember last season when Celtic opened the scoring yet we ended up beating them 3-1? Even if Kuban score, I think we will have a chance of at least going into the second league with something to play for. What we have to do is make sure we don't concede more than one.

Isn't it a legal requirement for them to provide a ticket on admission now? They do it at Fir Park as well except they give you the ticket when you pay at the turnstile. It might be some kind of consumer legislation. Can you think of any other item or service where you pay and get no proof of purchase?

Saw on Skybet we are 4.75 to Kuban's 1.73 Although I also saw on one of the tipster sites they were tipping a draw tomorrow.

You'd imagine Kuban will be too strong for us over the two legs but I think that we should be capable of getting a result against anyone at home if everyone performs to their potential and we get a wee bit of luck. Hopefully that's what happens. I thought Hollis did reasonably well against Forest but I'd start Nielsen as he has more experience at this level although I think McCall will give Hollis the nod. I also can see us playing three in the middle which probably means Carswell will come in beside Lasley and Lawson with McFadden and Vigurs in wide midfield positions drifting inside when we attack. That seems the most obvious way to clog up the middle of the field while retaining some offensive threat. Pressing this team and keeping the tempo high will be the key, if we allow them time and space to use their superior technique then we won't be successful. If we can harass them they certainly look vulnerable enough at the back that we can cause them a few scares.

Last season we were putting out back fours with three U21's at the beginning of the season when there was a few injuries and selection problems. The hike in experience at the back should be seen as a good thing and probably needed more than ever now that Randolph is no longer between the sticks.

It's already happened this season. CSKA Sofia withdrew from European competition because they said they could not afford to travel.

Getting the first goal will be all important. If we can get an early goal you'll be sure to see the crowd lose the plot and a huge amount of pressure on the home team.

I was in the club shop last night and looked at the new strips up close and I thought the quality of the shirts was absolutely shocking. Poor quality material, bad stitching, cheap looking badge, etc, etc. Would have expected a lot better from Puma. If I'd saw them up the Barras I would have assumed they were counterfeit shirts.

We need to establish a pronounciation though. Vy-Gurs or Vig-Urs.