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Oh, there is a lot I'd love to say about these Neil Doncaster interviews. Let's put it this way, Tom English and Michael Stewart - no matter your views on them - are not scared to question anyone on the radio. But when Doncaster is on, [redacted]. You could write something. We're always asking for fan views. We have fan columns. If I said "Rico wants to write 400 words this week on why Doncaster should fuck off" they'll probably say to send it in. You could likely still call yourself Rico (because we had the absurd situation a few weeks ago of Kenny McIntyre talking to "Goggsy" on Sportsound.) You could come on Sportsound too. If I said to McIntyre you fancy phoning in on Saturday night, he would say yes.

Well some would have one game as opposed to four for a start, and there's TV and some sizeable gate receipt money to be had if they land a group with one of the 'big guns' - more often than not at least one of hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen are in it.

Hey, I'm just the messenger, you're not going to blame are you? Oh, you are. DM me your questions and I'll put them to Neil Doncaster in our weekly catch up. You started off saying "the rest of us", then went on to forget about the 30 or so clubs who rely on the income from the League Cup group stages.

The story landing on April Fool's day may have you questioning it, but league reconstruction is on the cards. The Herald are reporting the plan is a 10-team league, but it's only one option being discussed. A 14-team league or even a 16-team league are also on the table. Main driver is to reduce the number of league games due to the increase in European matches (translated: The Old Firm have more European games so want fewer league games). A 10-team league seems pretty backwards. I don't see any realistic way a 16-team league works without there being a big cut in TV revenue (and it would be too big a drop from 38 games to 30 for many as well). An 18-team league playing each other twice isn't being considered AFAIA. Greece have a 14-team league, splits after two rounds of fixtures into a top 6 and bottom 8, then has play-offs. Potentially you could have the team that finishes seventh (to keep the bottom 8 interesting for those not fighting relegation) enter a play-off style system along the lines of the current Scottish Championship one (seventh v fifth, winners of that play fourth for the final European spot). That would reduce the fixtures from 38 to 36 for those that want it, give the bottom eight clubs an extra home game to make up for losing some revenue by not play Aberdeen, add some 'new' teams to the fixture list, and the tv companies get to keep their coveted four Old Firm games.

Like I say, I wouldn't criticise anyone for not going, and the Dons twitter accounts losing the plot over fellow fans choosing not to go are pathetic. Any other country would think 11,000 tickets sold three weeks before the game was an effort worth praising. Hearts have sold out, great. But as someone else put it, if the national stadium was in Peterhead, the Edinburgh and Glasgow clubs wouldn't be so keen to use semi-final ticket sales as some sort of barometer. I was actually at Hampden for both Hearts' semi-final and final in 2012. They had 12,000 for the Scottish Cup semi with Celtic (Aberdeen actually outsold them the day before) and the Celtic end was also far from sold out. Attendance was 36,000, a good 16,000 short of capacity. But I would have argued as loud as anyone else for them to get a 50/50 split for the final no matter who they were playing, so it's sad to see fans (and it's not just Hearts, Hibs seem to be piping up too) about Aberdeen being given a reduced allocation if they reach the final. Some folk are too ignorant to see if the old firm & SFA are allowed - with the support of others - to fuck Aberdeen over, they will do the same to the rest.

That's fine if VAR says he's faking it. Otherwise, Lawrence Shankland takes out Mats Knoester. Ref orders Knoester off the pitch. While Aberdeen are down to 10 men, Elton Kabangu scores, and your rule just lost us the semi-final.

There's a thing creeping into the game now where a player will now go down holding his head, because if it is a potential head injury the referee has to stop the game. Helps time waste and stop another team's attack.

£1.5m would be a lot to ask for a guy who, over the past two seasons, has had just a handful of good games (and while he's on form now, his season overall is still below average). He hasn't proved himself in the English Championship so few clubs there with big cheque books would be in for him. Okkels is reportedly £1m but he still has two years on his deal. Even then, Preston might have to take a hit on him. If we offered £500k and add ons if Nisbet becomes a regular in the Scotland squad, I say that's very fair.

He has a year left on his contract, so don't think Millwall can demand the reported £2m they paid for him, but they'll expect something significant for him. I think we'll be looking at somewhere between £500k-£800k. This is why it's important we get the European spot because the money allows us to make those transfers.

Yep, Palaversa and Clarkson very good. Two players who can drop deep but pick a pass ahead of them. Shinnie at left back needs work though, few times he didn't have the legs to get back quick enough and Motherwell targeted us there. Doesn't mean he doesn't necessarily work there as going forward he's good, we just need to adjust our shape defensively to cover, Palaversa maybe needs to drop into a three when we're attacking. Looked like Dorrington was holding his hamstring as he went off.

Was thinking the same, there's definitely a message today to get wired into them. Gueye taking it a bit far (mainly because he's clumsy). Very good attacking performance, not defensively though so a third goal is vital. Dabbagh or Sokler for Gueye seems obvious.

I wasn't saying Jensen particularly deserved to be dropped today, I'm saying he clearly is the first choice RB ahead of Devlin now as he's starting every game ahead of Devlin, and I don't think Jensen has produced the level of performance to push ahead of someone who has generally always been consistent until being overplayed. I disagree Jensen has been consistent. I think he shows flashes of good things.

Looks like Shinnie at left back. I do think Clarkson and Palaversa is an interesting partnership in midfield though. Jensen clearly the first choice right back now which is a shame for Devlin as Jensen's performances have been erratic.

Mitov injury not as bad as first feared, but not available tomorrow and still a doubt for semi. Nilsen definitely out. Tobers not far away but out tomorrow. I'd drop Gueye. Morris too. Devlin if fit should start. Let's do this Aberdeen.

To be fair, Hearts are doing their best to promote it and galvanise their support. Aberdeen in comparison are doing very little to push semi-final sales. Hearts have posted as much about their semi sales this morning as Aberdeen have in a week. They're now up to 19,000 and have asked for more. Meanwhile no-one really knows what Aberdeen have sold and it's been up to fans to try and work it out themselves. It's almost like Aberdeen are in a huff over the venue and kick-off time. I get it, I wouldn't be trying to shame anyway into going, but at least try and generate some interest from your support.

Huge game really. You'd expect Hibs to beat St Johnstone. You don't want to fall further behind when your last seven games would be an away game, Rangers at home, then five top six games where no-one really goes on a consistent run. With Nilsen out, this is Clarkson's big chance. He's played okay recently but needs to now get a consistent run of form and hold down that position. Palaversa too needs to step up as Shinnie needs managed so he's not running himself into the ground when we need him for some big games coming up.

Looks like we're at about 9,000, but we're now in that awkward phase where the tickets on sale are either at the front or the furthest away from the pitch as you can get, so this is generally when people hold off to see if more sections open, which of course they won't because we have this weird thing where the SFA are more interested in how it looks on the TV than the supporter experience. Just open all the sections ffs. Let people go pick the best seats when they're making the effort to get down there.

Oday Dabbagh played 82 minutes of Palestine's win over Iraq which keeps their hopes alive of qualifying for the World Cup.

Hearts' tickets went on sale at 10am and they've already announced they've sold 10,000 tickets. Had a wee spy at our sales and we're not actually doing too bad, probably around what I'd expect at this stage. Taking into account the areas not on sale yet, I think we've sold around 6,500. We'll likely sell the same again before the 19th which is our usual semi-final crowd.

Our region would also need to take our turn hosting the World Cup. Might get that new stadium after all.

The Masters will return to Aberdeen this autumn, same teams again - the reigning champions Aberdeen, Dundee United, Celtic, Rangers. Captains and teams to be announced at a later date. Also live on the BBC.

Did things go to shit again on my night off? Until they clone me, things like this will happen. As for the game: Gilmour the best player, bizarre to sub him off (unless injured). I thought we should have gone back to five at the back because Greece had so many crosses into the box on Thursday. Could have started Tierney and pushed the wing backs up a bit. Was such a big gap between Adams and the midfield, we rarely offered a threat after 10 minutes against a side who looked suspect defensively. All I can hope is my next trip to Hampden is better than that, but that Craig Gordon's is just as bad.

Tickets on sale Monday. Hearts are, bizarrely, charging £48 for their official buses to the semi-final (£78 in total for the ticket as well). Hearts fans rightly asking how they've come up with that price for a short trip from Edinburgh, while Aberdeen are charging £25. Hearts fans are considerably more fortunate for travel options elsewhere though. £16.80 for a return train from Waverley on semi-final day, £66.40 from Aberdeen. Also only five trains from Aberdeen make it in time compared to 19 from Edinburgh. On Sale Process Phase 1: On sale to those with 250+ points (Online only) from 5pm on Monday 24th March. Phase 2: On sale to those with 100+ points (Online only) from 11am on Tuesday 25th March. Phase 3: On sale to those with 40+ points (Online only) from 2pm on Tuesday 25th March. Phase 4: General Sale from 5pm on Tuesday 25th March. General Sale – Ticket sales will then be available over phone & in person at the Pittodrie Ticket Office from 9:30am on Wednesday 26th March.

Aye it was, but had to can it when news came through Tierney wasn't starting