Kmcalpin

I'm not saying that our players are world beaters but a good start would be to pick a formation that utilises the strengths of our best starting eleven, whatever that may be. The current formation(s) only highlight our squad's limitations.

I doubt it, unless things change off the park. Two or three weeks ago I had this down as a potential draw and our best chance of a point before the split. I stick by that, although it'll be a real struggle to take something from the game.

Good post. I don't actually mind long ball football as long as its effective and you have players to execute it. But it isn't and we don't.

Many complain that we don't have a Plan B but do we even have a Plan A?

In an ideal world, I think GA should go, but we're not in ideal world. He's just been awarded a new 3 year deal (why?) and I doubt if the club will fire him. FWIW I agree with all the criticisms of him (team selections, tactics, communication etc) but to sack him at this point? If we were going to do it should have been done weeks ago. Ok, the international break is coming up but could we source a new man in time? Would it be a panic appointment? This season has been weird and clearly something has gone badly wrong but like most I haven't a clue what it is. I thought, a few weeks ago, given our disastrous run, that top 6 was probably beyond us and that 7th spot would be a decent finish but we weren't clear of relegation and thats still my view. Looking at our remaining 7 games they are all very difficult and, on current form, we'll do well to pick up more than about 4/5 points. At the end of the season big decisions need to be taken.

I think the reaction to today's defeat and GA's position is a bit OTT. I visited the normally rarified and exclusive P & B site this afternoon for the first time in a while and was shocked to see posters there in complete meltdown. Today's game was always going to be difficult and a loss was always the most likely outcome. Given that GA has just signed a new 3 year deal I can't see him going anywhere soon. Apart from that, changing managers with 7 games to go would be risky not to say very difficult. Any suggestion that Keith Lasley should take over is way off beam given his last game in charge of us. Keep the heid folks, I'm confident we can scrape together 2 or 3 points between now and the season's end to keep us at least 10th.

I've seen this trend term crop up a lot in the past few days. Where has it come from?

Pretty much my view. A start would be to avoid any red cards as we've picked up quite a few (some justifiable and some not) at Perth in recent years. I'd be delighted with a draw, but 3 points are up for grabs.

Might be chalked off for infringements/offside.

A sensible post. Historically, our average league placing is 8th, which is where we finished last season. GA took over mid season and saved us from relegation, so it was job done. He has now had 2 transfer windows to make his mark on the squad. We are currently sitting in 8th spot, in a very tight league, after the squad has been revamped. So, we could end up as high as 4th or as low as 12th; both extremes being very unlikely. As I've said before, 7th place would represent progress, albeit slight, for me. So, the next 8 games will define our season. In my view if we can't finish 7th then questions need to be asked of GA. For example have injuries affected our season significantly? Has the considerable revamp of the squad led to inconsistency and disruption? What has caused the slump since the start of the year? Even with out budget we should be capable of achieving some modest success - just look at boring St Johnstone. I agree about Covid disrupting our Youth programme.

With regard to this one comment.........when did you last sit behind him in the POD Stand? You obviously haven't heard him shouting during a game. Why has he been sent to the stand by the SFA?

Believe me some refs use foul language as well. It would surprise you.

You've just beaten me to it. "Reo Hatate is a lucky boy not to be sent off. He goes in with both feet off the ground on Kieran Freeman. Referee John Beaton, though, gives him just a yellow card." (BBC)

Apologies, my error. Maybe an Admin can correct it?

Time to put yesterday's debacle behind us and look forward to next Saturday. Still plenty to play for in the league. We can still make top 6 or be drawn into the relegation dogfight. St Johnstone will prove a very tough nut to crack and I'm not sure if its a must win game or a must not lose one. Either way we'll do well to take a point.

I've watched replays time and again and am still of the same opinion. We'll agree to disagree. I've seen similar tackles in games where no card was dished out.

That would be dependent on the reasons given for the red card, if those are divulged at all. Possible reasons would include no excessive force; Mugabi played the ball; minimal contact; feet not high off the ground; no intent.

Just because a player is injured in a challenge does not mean that his opponent should be red carded.

Totally unacceptable and I hope she's OK. If her only wound is a cut head then she's very lucky (but unlucky). It could have been much worse. I hope the decent Hibs fans shop the culprit and that they're given a jail sentence.

Was it not a 5-2-3?

100%. Watching the incident time and again Gordon, does Mugabi actually make any contact with the Hibs' player?

Success for me will be 7th spot. If we can achieve that I'll be happy, as it'll represent improvement on last year. However, given our current run that might be wildly optimistic. Looking at our next 3 games you wonder where our next win, maybe point, is coming from. When you're on a run like ours, decisions go against you, as they say.

Well, us older fans have seen us probably claim 2 Scottish Cup records (losing the quickest ever goal to Aberdeen and picking up the quickest ever cup red card). I don't know if we could call that a privelege. They say things come in 3s...whats next? Mugabi's red card was dubious and I would say it was a yellow, as it was identical to Roberts's. We've seen a tackle, just like that, escape any card recently at FP. That effectively killed the game as a contest, but I suspect Hibs won't be overly concerned about that. If it hadn't happened then I think we would still have lost out. We rarely, if ever, play well with 2 wingbacks and today was no exception. The line up was something else. One positive was the performance of young Dean Cornelius. He played very well in difficult circumstances. Long standing faults were once again evident today. Anyway next weeks game is looming and thats more important.

You obviously think we still have a chance here. I admire your optimism.

Our target now is to avoid any more red cards and bad injuries. Let's concentrate on next week's game.