The African

Shame how this has worked out, but that is the way with players on loan. Good luck to the lad at Preston. He undoubtedly did us a turn and I reckon we have been good for him as well, once we got our management problems sorted. No need for panic signings. Might be a little bit makeshift against Hearts but there is more to be gained in recruiting the "right" player rather than the "right now" player. Did you see what I did there?

I know it is temping the mocker Gods, but McGhee is not McCall so we should be alright. Treat the opposition with all due respect and put out a strong team to do the job and we will be in the next round. I think three nil sounds about right.

With regard to our players moving to the old firm, it has never been good business. It hacks off our fans to see them go to a rival and then play against us and the f*ckers always seem to want our players on the cheap. Their fault for being the ****s that they are? Or our fault for accepting the scraps offered? Not really hypocritical of us with regard to us picking up players from them as they are generally deemed sur plus to requirement and we are helping the player to resurrect a career ruined by the ugly sisters.

If Ainsworth goes, I hope itsn't for sweeties. Okay, we are all selling clubs in the SPFL, but when you look at what is paid for players down south, some of the fees we attract are bordering on the insulting. He has to be worth at least £300k. Always been inconsistent but a genuine game changer when in the mood. I will be sorry to see him go.

Yeah, I get that point about the difference between being bullied and being kicked off the park, but it does seem that when we go into contact we get called up for it more than the opposition. Poor technique in the tackle? Do we lack physicality because of poor conditioning or is it down to the type of players we have on our books? I would rather have a side of footballers than shot putters but if it is costing us points then we need to look at the problem.

What seems strange, viewed from the other side of the world, is how we complain that we get bullied by other sides, yet the stats on fouls etc seem to suggest it is us that is dishing out the dirty stuff. What gives? Shite referees?

Really feels like points dropped when you lose such a late equaliser. Bugger!

Any kind of win will do. We are on a decent run and need to keep it going. Given how close we are in the league, this takes on the"six pointer" tag.

Much appreciated. You do some great stuff on this thread and site UBH. I , for one, really enjoy your efforts so thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills.

The couple of postponed fixtures seem to add a bit of pressure. Although we have improved, and had some better results, we have not moved away from the danger zone. As such, we could really do with taking something from this match, and keeping the momentum going. Saints are a decent side so I would not be too unhappy with a point.

How would that look with the claret above the amber in the band? The collar looks okay, though maybe a little fancy for my tastes, but otherwise that is excellent.

Very nice idea. May you both enjoy them in good health.

The way McGhee handled this terrible situation for the club was, unfortunately, very quickly forgotten when he left for Aberdeen. It was also a factor in why I was happy enough to have him back. As long as Phil O'Donnell's family are happy with it, I would be happy for those fans who wish to, to celebrate his involvement with our club at the nearest home game to the anniversary of his tragic passing. It was undoubtedly a defining moment in the history of our club and worthy of being respected.

Any kind of win would be excellent news, and there is no real reason why we cannot hope for one. Unfortunately, United need a result like never before and you can always count on the fact that, in such circumstances, we are the team you want to play. As such, right now I would take a point.

Too many teams discount laying Celtic at he mo ent. They are certainly not world beaters at the moment. Just look at how they did in Europe. Okay, we haven't been great but we have nothing to lose so let's go and give them a run for their money. The correct attitude and a decent performance and we can take something from this game.

2:1 to us. We are due a result and performance against this mob.

£2million a year, or on average around £50k per club. Not really ground breaking money, but if it is an increase then always welcome. The group stage is a reasonable idea, though the concept of the the second place in only half of the groups qualifying could be a little unfair as it favours those with a weaker draw. They use this system with European rugby and, in the past, it has always favoured sides who have drawn an Italian side in their group. The bonus point for a penalty shoot out win after a draw is interesting. At least they are trying something a little different. I can vaguely remember them trying playing without offside in a competition, perhaps the League Cup, or maybe the Drybourgh Cup, in the early seventies. For me, the last League Cup that really worked was the Skol Cup format of ties played midweek with a guaranteed finish on the night, with an Autumn final and a European place for the winner. May have been of its time though, and not likely to happen again soon. A winter break is not a bad idea though you never know when the bad weather is going to hit in Scotland.

Still more about performance for me at the moment. Hopefully we get more like the Hearts performance than the Ross County one. They seem to have hit some form and are scoring a few goals so, combined with our suspect defence, we may do well to get anything from this game. Having said that, we can definately get something so I will predict another draw, maybe even another 2-2.

Pretty cool efforts, both of them. I particularly like the away shirt, both stylish and retro, though maybe it brings back unhappy memories of a Scottish Cup semi final in 1976. One day I will get over it, though moving to New Zealand hasn't helped.

A draw, one all. Ever hopeful that the return of a couple of our more experienced players will see an improved performance. If we play like we did against Inverness, and avoid daft penalties and deflected goals, we can take something from this game.

Sorry, Samson has not played so, you are correct, cannot doors. I included him in this group because of my perception of his abilities, rather than any comment on performances I have imagined. If Ripley does goin January, we probably do not need an immediate replacement because weave anSPL standard goalie on our books already.

Whatever he does, January is the time to do it. The current squad aren't cutting the mustard so some change is required and that should involve new personnel within the squad. Taylor Grimshaw and Ripley, being on loan, are easy to get shot of. Are any of them worth keeping? If McGhee can get more out of McManus, Lasley, Hammell, Pearson and McDonald then we well on the way, but it would be optimistic in the extreme that he will be able to rejuvenate all five of them. Whether it be age or attitude, there is currently something lacking in all of them. I also think that in the likes of Ainsworth, Johnson, Moult, Kennedy, Laing and even Samson, there are players of SPL quality who should be doing more, so there is material to work with. Unfortunately, the chances of them all coming good at this stage seem remote, so changes in terms of bringing in better quality and freshening up the squad are a necessity.

McGhee has had very little time so needs to be cut some slack. He has also proved to be a decent manager in the past so no reason to think that, given some resources, he won't be able to improve matters. We are in a bit of a mess at present, because of the failings of our two previous managers. No point blaming McGhee over that. If he can't fix it, then the mess will be even worse than it is now, and harder to address, whoever inherits it, so probably best to give the guy some time and support rather than turning on him after less than half a dozen games. He is stuck with what he has until January at least, so I have no problems with him experimenting with what he has in the squad before then. He has to find out for himself what they can and cannot do. Blooding youngsters now, given the state of the team, could do more harm than good, so no point in throwing them in, to sink or swim, at this stage. I have a damn sight more confidence that McGhee will be able to turn things around than Baraclough who has turned out to be a woeful appointment, so we are not in as bad a position as we might have been. Les will have to invest in the squad in January, so let's just hope that the three or four players we need are available and willing to join us. We could also do with getting rid of some of the dead wood.

Would probably take a point right now. Too early to be a must win so a decent performance will be of greater importance. Having said that, not getting something from a decent ninety minutes may begin to affect confidence, so hoping we do get a result. County are a decent side, but it should not be beyond us.

Glad I don't have to put up with it anymore. Sounds like it has gotten even worse in the year or so since I left Scotland. It was better when we had both BBC and STV covering football and each with just highlights of one game. Montford and Crampsey were giants compared to the nobodies they have covering the game today. Live games midweek were few and far between. European finals and big internationals only. The current situation where you can watch a game every evening is true lily a case of more being less.