Kmcalpin

Gordon, if fit.

A touchy subject for some but its the right decision. It brings us into line with other clubs and organisations not to mention state pension age rises. For those aged 60 or over and already receiving an age concession its a fair approach. The transition period will work its way out.

Season tickets now on sale. Not surprisingly involving price increases, especially for some concessions. Quite a few alterations to age categories. Glad to see the Under 13 regulation has now been changed to Under 12. Age 60 concession threshold now upped to 65 - seems reasonable. New pricing category 18-21. New Under 5 free category.

Kofi Balmer is listed as injured for Saturday. No word yet on Liam Gordon. Steve Seddon back in full training (but not fit). St Johnstone might be short at the back but we're little better.

He's hoping to find a club in the Premiership. If he's done that well at Tannadice why are they letting him go?

Its encouraging to see our club has been awarded just over £303,000 for the period 2020-24. Its the 4th highest payout in the Premiership and relates to compensation for the release of players for international competitions. Full details here. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-united/5227364/dundee-united-st-johnstone-dunfermline-uefa-payout/

They'll likely line up with 2 banks of 4 to prevent us from getting anywhere near their defence and hope that we resort to firing up high balls to Watt/Armstrong and Maswhanise.

Its exactly the same in England and in Europe. Just look at the physical change in Faddy when he joined Everton.

No. Striker. Your chance to get battered by 2, maybe 3 leviathans a week today.

The SPFL's the 18/20 split reasoning is a black box and seemingly justified subjectively and randomly. Reasons given in the past include: Finishing in the wrong half of the table; least impact on the relegation fight; and now to rectify a previous imbalance. We were disadvantaged in 2009/10, but benefitted in 2017/18 and so in overall balance. The reason given this time was to rectify our "advantage" in 2017/18. It seems we were chosen this time because we would have least impact on the relegation fight (what about Hearts?), but also because it would result in the least number of fixture reversals. No guarantee then that we won't be fingered again. What a load of codswallop from the SPFL.

I'd have Seddon in my team but just how match fit will he be, given the length of his absence?

They have already complained to the SPFL regarding the use of artificial pitches. They don't want to have to rip theirs up and lay a grass one. Deja vu!

Not hopeful on this occasion. It'll be a real battle and we're not suited to that kind of game. I have it down as an away win. 3 points would certainly steady our ship though.

Not quite sure why we're suggesting playing Slattery in an advanced role. It didn't work on Saturday although he put in a huge effort. He's a box to box player.

I can envisage us picking up a draw or maybe two at home but nothing from the away games, going on recent form. St Johnstone will be really fired up while they still have a fighting chance in the first game. Killie have our number although their away form is not great Tynecastle is a hard ground to pick up points. We have taken a mere point from Ross County in 3 games and Dundee have beaten us twice. Obviously a win against St Johnstone or Kilmarnock will settle our nerves but it won't be easy.

That might be true, but it only evened out an earlier 18/20 split. A very subjective and controversial approach.

I reckon it'll be between ourselves and Ross County for the play off place. It'll be tight. I'm confident that we'll finish 2 or 3 points above St Johnstone though. Its hard to see where a win is going to come from.

100%. When we were awarded only 18 home games in the past, we were told that it was because we finished in the wrong half of the table. In the interests of consistency that should also have applied to Hearts. Shafted! Also typical that we get St Johnstone first. Thats the one game we didn't want.

St Johnstone seem to be suffering from a number of defensive injuries (not as bad as us though) and Dundee fans moaning about their chances after today's crushing defeat in Leith. The exact post split fixture list will be influential in results.

I'd add Robinson to that list, once he's fully recovered.

Seeing it is you, we'll let you off!🤣

Agreed but that's largely down to our catastrophic injury list this season. The worst I've come across in over 60 years. Quality is another matter entirely.

Not St Johnstone just after the break please.

A disappointing performance today, but a very good result. We also achieved a rare clean sheet, although we couldn’t manage a single shot on target. I thought Casey, Koutroumbis, and Slattery were the pick of the bunch, despite the latter two being played out of position. I had an inkling that one of our central defenders would get injured today and so it proved. Neil Critchley said that our set up caught him by surprise. Not sure what he meant by that but assume that he expected a high press game. At no time did I expect our approach to live up to the pre match hype. it certainly wasn't a high press as we sat off Hearts and played quite narrowly. They looked fitter and better organised than us and their off the ball work rate, when not in possession, was far higher than ours. I felt a bit sorry for TJ and Watt as they were starved of decent service. TJ proved a bit lightweight and isolated and aerial balls aren’t his forte. For long spells I completely forgot that Watt was playing, he was so anonymous. Again, Lennon Miller was very subdued apart from from the odd flash of skill. Hearts had done their homework and learned from St Mirren and Kilmarnock that "industrial" tactics do pay dividends against us. They knew beforehand that we don't like it up us. I still don't get Balcombe being preferred to Oxborough but there will be a reason for that. Injuries continue to crucify us and I just hope that the likes of Gordon, Kaleta and Seddon are available after the break.

I think that if a team finishes in the predicted half of the table (based on the previous season's final league placing) then they are guaranteed an equal split of home and away games. That being the case, both Hearts and Kilmarnock might well be the ones to lose out.