RicoS321

1. Maintain status quo 2. Maintain....

My mistake. I misread that. Is it unusual to have commentary online? Is Livingston v St Johnstone online? I thought they'd canned that.

Not according to their schedule this morning. I stand corrected though if so. Reprisals from the Hun of course. You can call it the old firm and still believe the Huns are a new club, but that's not the same as the BBC, whose remit is accuracy and impartiality. I don't believe you don't know the difference, hence why this is definitely not personal against you, whose position is that of every self respecting dandy.

Anyway, it's Christmas, we should all be getting together and having a go at the weegies and teuchters that got our game cancelled in perfect conditions in the city tonight.

No, it means being accurate regardless of partisan beliefs. For the betterment of, and justice within, the game.

Yep, they had live commentary of the Hun game tonight alongside the obvious game of the day being the Edinburgh derby. If anyone else's game had been on tonight, they'd have just - correctly - have done commentary for one game. I doubt the commentary slot will be deployed elsewhere and the main radio Scotland channel will be returned to a best of Brian Burnett or some shite. It's a massive, destructive, bias. It occurs because they view impartiality through the lens of two teams rather than the entire league (thus, you have to broadcast a Hun game because you broadcast a Tim game yesterday). I don't believe Panda would be terrified of the reprisals of not calling them the old firm, but the BBC most certainly are. At no point would the BBC air (and stand by) the factually correct and impartial view that the Huns are not the same team as prior to 2012 and so they would no longer be referring to them as the old firm for the sake of both accuracy and to ensure that another liquidation left off can be encouraged in future.

Because of @Panda's team suggestion? Probably justified.

There's a part of me hopes Barron leaves in January in order to prevent you from continually suggesting playing him alongside Clarkson. In fact, I think you're lineup ideas should be subject to a restraining order. You could quite easily have thrown those 11 players into a 4-2-3-1 too, albeit with McGrath in an unfamiliar position, but you have to take it too far.

Think it's supposed to be fine by mid afternoon, but just took a drive to stonehaven and the roads are wild due to the wind. Don't know what it's like further south, but it'll certainly be a rocky trip up from weegieland.

I'd put Ferguson senior in the MacGregor tim mould. He had about 25 caps where he was anonymous, like he was playing within himself, but at times he was excellent. Almost always better when you see him in person rather than on the telly too, as his reading of the game and positioning was really top class. Very different types of player (Lewis and Barry the Hun) though. Lewis is more akin to McGinn, Barry more like Jack if we're comparing with current Scotland players.

I don't think it's fair to compare anyone to that Hun prick.

You'll get round to it I'm sure. Another goal for captain Ferguson today. All time greatest goalscoring Scottish player in Italy. Got a ring to it.

FTFY

Scumdee website Dundee going in two footed on the ref. Whilst they'll be trying to deflect a little, it is clear that he didn't do everything to get the game on. We should be awarded the three points.

Why did Dundee not release the team at 13:45 as normal then? They obviously knew at that point, or had suspicions that the pitch would fail an inspection. The ref could have probably handled it better, but he was probably severely pissed off at turning up to an unplayable surface. It should just never get to that point. The ref's final inspection should be a fail safe, rather than something that is ever utilised.

Fuck sake, just turned on red tv and wondered where the live feed was. Dundee dicks. Play it tomorrow.

Exactly. £6M plus Gueye.

Was much better back in the day when everything was a little less professional. They pioneered the 9 minutes of stoppage time that is now a fixture of the VAR game.

Poor man's Jamie McGrath in my opinion.

I'm not sure if away to Dundee is a good game for the four at the back. We were very exposed when we tried it against Livingston, and they're gash. Unless we're willing to try 4-2-3-1, which I don't think Robson will. It's definitely something to switch to in game though at least, and it was good to see us coping reasonably well with the in-game switching (twice) on Wednesday without having to change personnel (we did, but didn't have to). I'd probably stick with the same back three as Livingston with the option to shunt everyone over a position when necessary. Keep Duk away from any defensive duties for as long as possible. I don't think it matters what you or I think though, or what is obvious to every human on earth. Robson will continue to play a sitting Clarkson with Shinnie and another ahead of him, further running our captain into the ground.

Exactly. Only four more sleeps.

Gartenmann was poor tonight, but has generally been solid. He's suited to the right of the three, but MacDonald sits deeper than Rubezic and forces Gartenmann (and Jensen) to play hard up against the attackers. Gartenmann seems to struggle against big units too. The subs made sense, yes. I'm not saying I'd have done the same, but from the perspective of a manager who wants to minimise risk, they were definitely the right call. We were very open with the 4-3-3, and I think after the Anderson chance (which he deliberately missed because he's a top red) he probably thought it wasn't worth riding his luck. I completely understand the changes, and with Sokler and Miovski over the top, we still created a few good opportunities, so I don't think we were particularly blunted by that. Personally, I don't think the 4-3-3 will work against many teams, and I don't think he'll use it from the start of any game, but it's good to know it's an option. A 4-2-3-1 is what I'd go with, with a sitting two and McGrath in front. It's frustrating, as Duk is arguably better out wide running at defenders, but he's also a complete liability going back the way, and also regularly loses the ball in dangerous areas when playing there. Definitely worth the risk at pittodrie though, although I see no harm in just introducing slowly in parts of games first. The biggest problem with the back threw, is insisting on the shitey number six role and not having a left wing back.

Probably just Clyde and St Johnstone. Unless Cape Verde get through. Should be back for the hearts game. Knowing Duk, he'll be three stones heavier.

He wasn't terrible. He hides a lot and isn't nearly good enough, but he was also unlucky with a couple of things he did, and there were a few moans at him from folk who have already decided he's going to make an arse of things before he even gets the ball. I'd like to see him moved on in the summer.

Just back. Good result in the end. As predicted, Clarkson sitting behind Shinnie and Polvara. Polvara is not, and never will be, Ramadani. A decent team would have torn that to shreds. Robson completely unable to learn a lesson. Anyway, the change to a 4-3-3 worked well in an attacking sense, but not defensively. McGurry was absolutely honking, he needs binned, he's nowhere near good enough. Hopefully Mackenzie returns soon. Polvara neat and tidy on the ball, just not particularly dynamic, doesn't drive forward and doesn't get back quick enough, but a good squad player and if he can become more aggressive then he can add something. McGrath coming on showed what a good midfielder looks like, so that's what Polvara needs to aim for. Duk played well tonight, especially out wide in the 4-3-3 (where he wasn't required to track back), great assist for Miovski's second. I understood why he was taken off, they were starting to throw players forward and shifting back to a back three and getting Sokler in behind made sense. Miovski just absolutely class. His movement is just brilliant. Two steps and he's free of his man. Hope he stays until summer.