Kmcalpin

I agree with your overall point but you're wrong about this. Journalists most certainly do influence "news". For a start they decide, and therefore censor, what articles are reported and how they are reported. There are several reasons for that, including commercial ones. Anything that doesn't suit their agenda is ignored at worst or pushed down the agenda at best. The English premier League is a classic case in point. Despite the BBC claiming to be strong on diversity and fairness, that certainly doesn't extend to Scottish football. The newspapers and TV can and do influence viewers' and readers' knowledge and preception of games by cutting out incidents they don't want shown or by highlighting those that they do. That influence also extends to general football coverage. Deep down, I don't have any objection to most of it especially by private organisations, as I don't have to pay for it if I don't want to do so; don't have to read or view it; and as long as they don't say its unbiased and factual. I do however have issue with the BBC as its funded by taxpayers' money and I have no choice but to pay for it. Apologies for the rant.

I know nothing about Tommy Robinson and the EDL and it may be a very minor factor I have no idea whatosever, but a section of the Hearts support have always had this reputation for threatening behaviour for oh maybe 40 years - nothing at all to do with politics. That said, I know plenty of very reasonable Hearts fans. A section of the Hibs support also have a very bad reputation as mentioned above. All clubs have their nasty element but being bigger clubs, albeit in a Scots context, they have more than their fair share of troublemakers.

Agreed, but a lot might depend on the extent of Blaney's injury, which we know nothing about. Just to add to the mix, can Gent play in central defence?

I think there was about 27,000 at the game. Maybe the Hearts Texaco Cup clash just shaded it though with about 28,000. Very uncomfortable.

For our younger members I was being a bit facetious. It's a harp back to that cup game many years ago when they claimed to have brought about 17,000 fans as Smiddy says.

St Mirren fans will fill the South Stand and might be given part of the POD Stand. They'll also buy up tickets for the East and Cooper Stands. A massive away support.

Having lived and worked in Edinburgh you're right Allan. Bigotry, although not on the same scale as in the west of Scotland, is alive and well in Edinburgh and always has been.

Must admit Tynecastle is one of my least favourite grounds. Prices are steep as is the gradient of the stands. A death trap in wet weather. Add to that, parking is an absolute nightmare.

Ditto Grizzly. I thought McGinn's 2nd yellow was very harsh. To me, both players were fouling and a yellow card was not justiifed. It was hard to separate both players even after replays, so how the referee could come to a split second decision I don't know. Pity we can't appeal yellows.

Great result today in what was the first in a tough run of fixtures. Done without the help of the officials as well. Well done!

No. STV news reported that we're on the same points as league leaders Celtic, who struck the first blow of the title race today by beating Rangers (Sevco).

Did we advertise this game?

He's simply trying to get the best financial deal for himself. Nought wrong with that. If he wants to maximise his earnings that's quite understandable. However, we must look out for ourselves. Again, nothing wrong that. No doubt another club will fork out cash for him. Good luck to them.

I would have thought that a 6 month loan was more appropriate but maybe that wasn't acceptable to Barnsley or the player himself. That would allow our 3 injured strikers to return. Things may be tight but I think we're still a LWB and midfielder short. Hopefully 1 or 2 players to move out? Would Mark Ferrie would benefit from a loan?

A bit of needle there as there was between quite a few players.

I'm hoping for a bit of business before the window closes. It would benefit both parties if McGinley and Efford were to move on. On top of that we need at least one striker, probably two, if only on 6 month deals to tide us over until injured parties return. A left wing back and maybe another midfielder. A long wish list I know and probably totally unrealistic.

The proverbial game of 2 halves. In the first 45 we were awful. We showed Killie far too much respect, sat far too deep and couldn't compete. The midfield was anonymous, with the exception of Slattery. For whatever reason, they simply bulldozed us in the middle of the park. Their goal ,when it came, was no surprise. They'd whipped in 2 or 3, pretty much uncontested, crosses from the right and caught us on the back post. Efford was like a fish out of water. The tactic of shelling long aerial balls to him simply didn't work. To be fair to him he's not an out and out striker, more of a winger. Irrespective of how well or badly he plays, he doesn't fit our system. Killie looked to be a class above us. The withdrawl of Efford and introduction of Paton at half time was a masterstroke, to which McInnes had no answer. We were a different team in the second period and stood up to Killie and looked far more aggressive and competitive. Much of that was down to Paton who got wired in and buzzed about here there and everywhere. He brought us much need energy in the middle. Great to see him score a late winner - you can't beat it. Credit to Casey - he played well and took his goal immaculately. Bair? I just don't see it. Although he's 6-3 he's no target man. SK did say though that he's a long term project or words to that effect. I suspect that he never intended to use Bair as much as being forced to do. Final word about Killie and the ref. I would not describe Killie as agricultural. Physical, play acting and cynical yes. To be fair to them they spotted a weak ref early on after a scare and took advanatage of that. We were surprised that we finished with 11 men. The ref was never really in control of the game and you always felt it could boil over. No doubt these unresolved niggles will carry over into the next game between us. Credit to Derek McInnes. At 52, he's no spring chicken, but he has excellent eyesight. He was able to spot incidents accurately 60 yards away at pitch level. Impressive. The Kettle is still boiling!

I thought he was somewhere in between. Great on the ball not so good off it. His first game of course, but in the first half he was caught out a good few times when defending. Surprised to see him on the left side, as I thought he was right sided. Give him time to settle in. Unless we sign another LWB, I'd switch him and SOD. Again, for different reasons, not an endorsement of McGinley or Wilson.

Ricky Lamie season long loan to Dundee on the cards?

Thats it for me. A great guy; a fantastic work ethic, but he had his ups and some downs with us. He's made the most of his talent but probably mid table English Championship is his level. Thats not meant to be a slight and in my book thats a very, very high level indeed, although my standards are modest compared to most.

100%. There's a real danger here of throwing the baby out with the bathwater with regard to some posters. To sign one player with a questionable injury record is a fair enough risk but to do it with 2 or perhaps 3 is questionable. Obika should have been a known injury risk with his past hamstring problems but to give him a 2 year contract and then he's sidelined until December with .........his hamstring. Well. Pape Souare, a player with another worrying injury record is also out for a few weeks (we've heard nothing about his injury). It happens once you're unlucky, but twice? If you have a huge squad thats less of a problem, but if your reducing squad size then its much more of a risk. The next few days will be huge for us and may well define our season. Alarm bells aren't ringing for me but they are tinkling.

Extremely poor show from our club. Total lack of communication. I know the Comms team hasn't been replaced but its still poor for a number of reasons. Firstly, it denies our young lads a modicum of support and therefore affects their development; secondly it denies the club an admittedly very modest income; and finally it denies our whole support information on our youth team. Not good enough. .

Yes it's Barry Maguire.

A very hard game in prospect and we can't afford to field the same personnel or play the tactics as we did last weekend, if we want to take anything from the game. As it is, our striking options give me the fear. However, its not all gloom and doom. Killie may have an off day / we may strike it lucky etc etc. Its all to play for.

Hopefully this news isn't true but if it is, you're right. In this very tight league every little advantage helps.