buster.

How many thought about compensatory control at some point during this 90 minutes ? ? That's 3 games and no clean sheets against provincial clubs that have all gone down to the wire. We won the 2 most important of them and lost the other. In relative terms, it's a blip of sorts but importantly, it hasn't had a negative impact on pursut of the main title. However, with a tough fixture list on the horizon, if we can't get back into the habit of regular clean sheets, we will start dropping points. Yesterday, we didn't get our now customary first half goal(s) and given the loss in midweek, I wondered if the crowd sound effects would include a few boos at HT ? With a crowd, you wonder if the players would have been allowed to stick to the patient version of wearing an opponent down. Yesterday saw our 10th consectutive League victory. By my reckoning, that is the first time we've done that since 2007/08, when Walter Smith's UEFA Cup Final team went 13 League victories IAR and it started on Boxing day with a 3-1 win at Ibrox against Motherwell. Like Roofe yesterday, Kris Boyd scored an injury-time third goal. This was less than a year since PLG sat in the dugout. Motherwell were involved then as well, with Boyd scoring a penalty accompanied by a 6 finger salute. The warning being that after those 13 wins, came a nightmare fixture pile-up, 4 league games without a win and we got pipped at the post for the title. On the other hand, we also reached a European Final, but it came at a cost. With that in mind and an eye on the big prize, not having further League Cup games into 2021 might not be the worst thing. But for now, as 26th's thread says....one game at a time.

Aribo was so far off it the other night that I don't think he will suddenly turn it around. I'd like to see Hagi play because regardless of general play, he tends to do things that lead to goals. Today shouldn't be anything other than 3 points, anything else and the other side of the city will celebrate so much that they'll probably forget to watch their Cup Final on Sunday. It's St.Johnstone (A) next midweek, where given the St.Mirren performance/result, the opposition will fancy their chances and we'll have to be well up for the game or suffer. SG again said Ryan Jack "...is close...". We could do with him back on Wednesday.

WBA encapsulate the life of a yoyo club. It must be better fun for their fans when they are winning games and challenging at the top of the Championship, than watching every EPL game from behind the couch with scant hope of return. The Blades fans must be engaging in Gallows humour by now. With McBurnie and Blake playing, they´ll need it.

IMO, the retro top could do with losing the white collar

It's good to see a league in which the teams at the top regularly drop points and affords others a chance.

Given the heart condition you have told us about,....is this you looking for a way out

I don't know if Arfield was afllcted with anything on Wednesday but it did look as though Joe Aribo was going through a bout of dissociative identity disorder. It looked like he thought he was Kyle Hutton. Not good that we still see no sign of Ryan Jack. Thanks for the entertaining preview, John ?

The memories start coming back..... !! - BDO are still on the case of D&P (C+W) regarding their time as administrators - How Grier got away with a (perceived) conflict of interest just doesn't sit right with me and was for me, at least in part, a precursor as to what would follow. The wide-ranging complexity, the long list of of chancers characters involved, the sometimes crazy moments alongside intricate legal interpretations, the very public PR battle, so many different intersected angles, ....all with at least tens of thousands online trying to keep up as it happened..... God, it would need about 25 'War & Peace' like volumes to cover it....I don't think, at least Scotland, has seen anything like it We can have our thoughts, theories...........But still, I don't think we know the half of it. Anyone know who bought the film rights from Craig Wyhte ?

On a narrow pitch and seeing that Barisic wasn't starting, St.Mirren wisely decided to stay on top of Tav and asked Connelly to keep Bassey occupied. It helped them that Aribo was so far off the pace and Zungu is understandably, still finding his feet. The result was far less creation for us and more a congested middle of pitch, where first touch and good movement weren't at the standard needed to create many chances. It was asking a lot of Itten, given his lack of gametime thus far. Regards Morelos, given his play/first touch over recent weeks, I doubt the congested centre and lack of wide attacking threat would have suited him either. Also, I would be slightly more concerned at how far off it Aribo was. However, they didn't budget for a maurading centre-half solo run and shot but when we got ahead, it felt like we didn't know whether to stick or twist. That allowed St.Mirren back in, they had hunger, belief and it went their way. After the prolonged and intense start to the season we have had, that type of game was almost due. Looking at the team line-up, the League Cup isn't as high up SG&Co's priorities as Europe and I agree with them.

How quickly some attitudes change........It's all either fantastic or sh!te, with nothing in between. I'm almost glad no fans will be at Ibrox on Saturday, just in case we aren't ahead come HT.

Poor collective peformance but not as surprising as some think. The mileage on the clock, the constant starting XI changes, etc., a slip-up was due and even likely at some point this month. As SG says, it's how we react to it that is important. You can see the narrative that is being prepared on the other side of Glasgow. In the space of 4 days we go out of a Cup and they win one, serial losers/winners. They know how to win and expect us to slip up again soon, bla bla....... We have a difficult run of fixtures coming up either side of New Year. The norm once a long run of wins come to an end is a blip over several games. We can't afford that and are fortunate to have an out of sorts Motherwell coming to Ibrox this weekend. Therafter things get more difficult and it would be good to get Ryan Jack back playing asap. Huge period coming up where the players will have to prove they have the various qualities needed to win a League title.

My guess for the starting XI McLaughlin Tav Goldson Helander Barisic Zungu Aribo Kamara Roofe Itten Kent

We'll bring back the specialist on a loan deal, Kyle Lafferty. Title decider and need an early goal.........Call Kyle ! 2009: 6th minute 2010: 17th min 2011: 1st min

I already have done.

No, he is a significant risk to the fantastic work SG&Co have done this season.

OP is asking the wrong people. Ask Celtic fans what they'll think of 8.75 IAR if they lose the title this year......... #Worthless

We are only at Base Camp. The next 9 months are crucial and will determine if the notable progress made up until this point, continues and takes root.

Agreed. So many things have changed for the better, Alfredo is beginning to remind us of the past and we know only too well where it tends to go from here. --------- I wrote a post on Morelos yesterday prior to the latest ban, that fits better in this thread.... If SG&Co think he is the best footballer in the squad for whatever role, then fair enough and aslong as results continue the way they are going, no problems. The most important thing for SG&Co is to continue the positive results, continue the momentum and not let enter doubts or negative history repeat itself. Where are the risks ? On Sunday, we saw something that we'd hoped had been sorted. Very early in the game, the Morelos challenge that we were very lucky didn't produce a red card. Was it a huge surprise, no, not really. Exactly a year ago this morning, the same general narrative as this season, was that Morelos had screwed the nut and improved his discipline (only 2 league bookings to that point in the season). However by late afternoon he had doubled the bookings and been shown a red. The second booking being a gesture during a goal celebration, stupidity, that we had seen before. The week before, he had played very well but didn't score in the League Cup Final against Celtic. The media went to town on him #frustrated At the end of the same month, we would see another stupid red card against Celtic, that cut our options for the post winter break games. A year previous to that he was the talk of Scottish fitbaw during the whole winter break as the compliance officer cited him for the same fixture. The first European campaign towards the groups stages under SG&Co came under threat when Morelos had a first half brain fart in Ufa and stupidly got sent off. We got away with it. Same season: Petulant League Cup booking versus Ayr Utd = No decent strikers for semi-final and elimination The conclusion is - His temperament and stupidity has cost us many times - He does and will not learn. Frustrations will get the better of him - He isn't and hasn't been sharp/on-form for about 11 months - He is looking frustrated - We got away with it on Sunday but it could have cost and led to a change in momentum - We can't trust him Would you play him in what will be the most important OF match for SG&Co to date ? Previous is no goals and two red cards Celtic will be targetting this game for a momentum shift. The media reaction after Tannadice will remind officialdom to remark Alfredos card. Risk (re.AM) is high IMO I'd play Itten through the middle against St.Mirren tomorrow and see how he does against a fairly organised side. I'd be asking Ross Wison what options may be available in January to sell and replace Morelos. Further decisions would be dependent on Itten showing up well for several games and what options were available in the transfer window. --------------------- Looks like Itten may well get more minutes. It's now up to him to prove himself.

After reading your post and seeing 26th's use of the word gangsters, I thought back to a 2013 BBC Scotland drama called The Field of Blood, written and directed by David Kane (source/wiki). The line that stood out was describing how much of a nasty bastard, Lafferty the hardman/gangster was. I'm paraphrasing but Lafferty was said to have thrown his dug out of the highrise windae because,...wait for it....the dug had been chewing on Lafferty's Rangers scarf. Now for many folk, a dug killer is as bad as it gets and to get a reference to Rangers in alongside it, was as blatant as it gets.

I know that, you know that, we all know that ! It was just a passing observation with no specific motive. My particular issue with the risks that Alfredo brings having been made clear.

Can't find the price but I doubt anyone will offer 7/2 on us getting past Antwerp other than some kind of very limited stake offer.

Tav's new role of getting more in and around the 6 yard box is paying off big style but we still need a central forward ? However, did you note Morelos having a go at him for getting in the way of a pass. It was the first half , the ball came in from the right and Tav scooped the ball past the post in what was a decent effort........Then in the second half Morelos gets the ball but it ends up trundling through to the keeper as Tav and Morelos almost collide.

Well reasoned point regards the football side of it but I don't think that is the real issue here. If SG&Co think he is the best footballer in the squad for whatever role, then fair enough and aslong as results continue the way they are going, no problems. The most important thing for SG&Co is to continue the positive results, continue the momentum and not let enter doubts or negative history repeat itself. Where are the risks ? On Sunday, we saw something that we'd hoped had been sorted. Very early in the game, the Morelos challenge that we were very lucky didn't produce a red card. Was it a huge surprise, no, not really. Exactly a year ago this morning, the same general narrative as this season, was that Morelos had screwed the nut and improved his discipline (only 2 league bookings to that point in the season). However by late afternoon he had doubled the bookings and been shown a red. The second booking being a gesture during a goal celebration, stupidity, that we had seen before. The week before, he had played very well but didn't score in the League Cup Final against Celtic. The media went to town on him #frustrated At the end of the same month, we would see another stupid red card against Celtic, that cut our options for the post winter break games. A year previous to that he was the talk of Scottish fitbaw during the whole winter break as the compliance officer cited him for the same fixture. The first European campaign towards the groups stages under SG&Co came under threat when Morelos had a first half brain fart in Ufa and stupidly got sent off. We got away with it. Same season: Petulant League Cup booking versus Ayr Utd = No decent strikers for semi-final and elimination The conclusion is - His temperament and stupidity has cost us many times - He does and will not learn. Frustrations will get the better of him - He isn't and hasn't been sharp/on-form for about 11 months - He is looking frustrated - We got away with it on Sunday but it could have cost and led to a change in momentum - We can't trust him Would you play him in what will be the most important OF match for SG&Co to date ? Previous is no goals and two red cards Celtic will be targetting this game for a momentum shift. The media reaction after Tannadice will remind officialdom to remark Alfredos card. Risk (re.AM) is high IMO I'd play Itten through the middle against St.Mirren tomorrow and see how he does against a fairly organised side. I'd be asking Ross Wison what options may be available in January to sell and replace Morelos. Further decisions would be dependent on Itten showing up well for several games and what options were available in the transfer window.

Who is offering that ? Don't usually get such generous bookies !

Agree or not, DMAA always puts forward a reasoned argument. Some others just snipe.