Kmcalpin

I expect at least two and possibly three signed players to move on permanently. However, we do need to retain striking cover. I would imagine the likes of Dylan Mackin, Dom Thomas and other young lads will go out on loan deals. If all that goes through then there may be leeway to trim the budget and/or bring in one or two new faces.

I suspect that he'll put some out on loan again. There's also another option ie a player(s) moving out permanently. I think he mentioned that Dom Thomas might benefit from a loan spell elsewhere.

On balance I agree, but what I don't get is why this "Accies mentality" has gone on for decades. Numerous managers and players have come and gone for them but they still seemed fired up i games against us - in many cases involving personnel with no knowledge of the history of the fixture.

Agreed. He seems to have come from nowhere although I had heard his name in terms of the Under 20s. Never mentioned previously as being one of our brightest prospects. He's done really well and scoring that goal will do his confidence a lot of good. A big lad he isn't being pushed around by older more streetwise strikers.

A bit biased Colin. Not much between the 2 sides but we had more of a cutting edge. By no stretch of the imagination a smash and grab. We had quite a few dangerous efforts just off target.

I'm being greedy and want to see us give them a bit of a hammering as payback. Is that being unreasonable? Bottom line though is that a single goal victory would do us just fine. It won't be easy though.

What exactly happened? We were at the opposite side of the pitch and heard the East Stand react angrily at a throw in. Overall a good though not great performance against a robust and streetwise Saints side. Ripley, Hall, Pearson and MacDonald were the pick of the bunch and it was good to see the youngster score his first senior goal. Certainly the withdrawal of Davidson and O'Halloran was clearly influential. I was a bit surprised to see Johnson play on the right - seemed a bit uncomfortable there although he had a decent game. Not the best of second halves but Saints, although powerful, were pretty toothless up front. A surprisingly ill tempered and niggly match. Referee had a poor match generally although fortunately made no major blunders. Pitch was in excellent condition.

Not sure we had much luck. Yes Saints lost 2 influential players but the ref gave them more than than their fair share of 50/50 decisions and they got the break of the ball more often than not. They could easily have finished the game with 9 players.

Great result for us tonight with Killie getting beaten. It gives us a better cushion and may ease the pressure slightly.

The critical period will be between 0200 and 1000 tomorrow morning, as that is the expected period of heaviest rainfall.

It will be windy but not gale force. Forecast seems to be improving. Seems like the worst of the storm will be earlier and elsewhere. Fingers crossed.

Latest forecast is heavy rain until lunchtime and then lighter showers till about 5.00 and dry afterwards. You might well be right but would it not be a first if a game was called off because of heavy rain affecting travelling. Who knows what Police Scotland will decide.

That will be Tommy Wright's advice to all his players - wind up all of ours. Thats part of their game. You'd also imagine that Ben Hall, if he is selected, will also be a particular target given his age and inexperience.

Anderson is a bit of a smoking timebomb - always liable to blow up or lash out. If Tommy Wright was managing a team playing against Anderson his advice to strikers would be to wind him up, provoke him, and niggle him.

Saints have quite a few players in that category. They're a decent, well organsied and hard working side. Maybe not overendowed with talent, but Tommy Wright gets the best out of them. They can bite, kick and scratch their way to a result and remind me very much of the Partick Thistle side under John Lambie. One or two talented individuals but very streetwise and experienced. Spoony is not available if the game goes ahead.

I don't doubt you're right. Why though is there no call from the media or the SPFL for an investigation or witch hunt? When we were in the same boat (sorry) there were all manner of complaints and investigations threatened.

Watering the pitch? Thats one or two games that have been postponed at Tannadice in recent times is it not? The state of their pitch in the last season or two has been pretty poor and yet they have escaped criticism. Quite a contrast to when Fir Park was poor - every man and his dog had a go at us. No doubt United fans will be blasting their club or will they?

If there is a problem it will be in the south eastern corner of the pitch which is the lowest point. The pitch has one of the biggest slopes in Scots football.

I always expect the worse and hope for the best Colin. Fight for every ball and give 100% - that'll do me. However, if we play to recent form we should do well on Saturday. Be good if you're up to making it - hope you're getting on ok.

Many United fans and indeed folk associated with that club are living in a time warp. They are a very big club (in their eyes) and think its their right to win. On Boxing Day you'll find that their fans will moan and whinge from start to finish and I just hope it doesn't influence the referee. For our part we have a reasonable chance of taking something from this game as long we as we have an assured, but not overconfident, attitude and fight for every ball.

It'll be a very tough game and United are expecting to win it. A draw will do us just fine, although a win would be better of course.

An interesting article. Several reasons behind last season's low average. Apart from our form we only played Celtic once at home (this season we'll have had 2 home games) and that will have made a significant difference. Rangers absence from the top flight has made more of a difference to our figures than to most clubs, apart perhaps from Kilmarnock (a point raised by several pundits).

Some good points being made but its not just football that has seen prices increase dramatically. I've never smoked but it seems that a packet of 20 fags is now costing a whopping £8 or so. 2 packets will cost more than a full priced adult entry to the Cove Rangers game. Beer? 2 pints will cost more than a concession for the same game. Cost of concerts - far from cheap. Cost of food? Cost of a plumber - you need a second mortgage if you can get someone? Need I go on. In terms of money, yes some folk genuinely cannot afford to go to the football but for many its a case that expectations are far higher than they were 20 or 30 years ago. There are many alternatives, but not all are cheap.

How did Ben Hall play yesterday? Good to see Mark McGhee give young lads like Hall, Watt and Mackin some exposure to the first team. Some will make it and some won't but its looking positive. You have to wonder where the likes of Craig Moore, David Ferguson and Jack Leitch are in the pecking order though.

Didn't see this one coming at all but what a great result. Credit to the management and players and fans who ventured to Parkhead.