Super_Ally

If we qualify: Tims A 27th April Hibs A 4th May Well H 7th May Dundee Utd H 10th May Well A 17th May St Mirren A 20th May Aberdeen A 22nd May If we don't: Tims A 27th April Hibs A 4th May Well H 7th May Dundee Utd H 10th May St Mirren A 13th May Well A 15th May Aberdeen A 18th May

http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/staticFiles/37/ea/0,,10002~125495,00.pdf Two fixture sets depending on our Euro adventure. Still would be 3 games in 6 days at end of season!!!!

If we make UEFA final. On Sky Sports News breaking news bar. Don't know what the full ramifications are. Maybe someone can help?

Don't get me wrong, if we had anything approaching a full squad then he wouldn't be anywhere near my thoughts. But the other option is playing several players out of position, many of whom will not be the standard solid midfielders Walter likes to pack his midfield with. Instead we'll have wide/winger types and strikers playing out of position. With a squad decimated due to injury and suspension, the central midfield and left midfield positions particularly of concern, then whatever we do it will be a gamble and the gamble I would make is to play Buffel as the advanced central midfielder supporting the lone striker. Back in Eck's last season it was mainly due to Buffel's intelligent play that Lovenkrands looked so good in Europe. Maybe this sort of game would suit him. As I stated from the beginning though, best he can hope for is the bench.

Dunno what you're on about?

I doubt Tam Buff will play as he's no left winger. If he was to play it would have to be in behind the lone striker, but he is far more attack minded than any other midfielder we have and whilst he may cause the opposition greater problems he would not provide the solidity in the midfield that Walter is after. With Tam Buff playing it would be more 4-2-2-1-1, like a variation on 4-4-1-1 e.g Alexander Whits Weir CC Papac Hemdani Dailly Davis_________Novo Buffel Cousin Rather than our traditional 4-5-1 of Alexander Whits Weir CC Papac Hemdani Dailly Davis Buffel Novo Cousin A slight difference but a difference none the less. We would have less players right in the engine room and even if Buffel played a more disciplined, deeper role he is not the same player as a Davis, a Thomson or a Fergie and would not help us to dominate this area (I know, we don't do this anyway). From a tactics and formation point of view and for what he brings to the game with his individual attributes I just cannot see Walter starting him. Personally I would in the "4-2-2-1-1" type formation I suggest above. :box:

Don't wanna high-jack Gisa's thread, (nice on on the tickets btw ) but I agree with the winning-ugly sentiment.

Could those who cannot or will not heed this advice please not turn up on Thursday (mainly the big game in Europe fairweather neds) and to any other key fixture. I understand that the fnas sometimes feed off the team, but with the opportunity this team has to make history and become our most succesful squad ever, can some fans please just cheer the team on at games. You can mump and moan in the close season when we're in possession of 4 trophies.

He joins his fellow Tim and mediocre player Maloney in being only the second player to win both awards. That to me suggest the oldies are right and our game really is going down the shitter compared to the old days! Funny how neither of them were first picks til midway through the season and even then only had fleeting good appearances. It's a sham and we should pay no heed to these awards.

True, but Cousin pissed me off big time yesterday. No appetite for the game at all. Far, far, far worse than Boyd in terms of effort. On a couple of occassions he refused to make runs to help team mates or collect a ball he'd mishit. Just no attempt to break forward and offer a passing opportunity to a team mate effectively ending attacks. He did win the penalty to keep us in it, then scored the winning penalty tho. And the "celebration" when he rolled the winning kick in! Compare and contrast to Boyd in the cup final. Now i'm not saying the celebrations at winning a cup should be the same as for making the final, but some emotion please.

Will do.

I did not outrightly state that he was the best of the bad bunch. At least that's not how I meant it to come across. I was trying to put forth the idea that whilst his performance was not exceptional and we should not be crowing about it, it was still better than at least 7-8 others. Novo probably had a better game based on effort and endeavour if not composure. Alexander would also be challenging as our best performer as he was solid under the cross balls, distribution was godo looking to move the play forward quickly and obviously two penalty saves. Perhaps ironically though his biggest error was at the cross for the goal although I would want to see it again to decide. Whilst I agree Buffel flitted in and out of the game at times, I think most forward players fo this as there are obviously periods were the opposition dominate possession and territory. However I agree it is a fair point. I have to disagree about the lack of heart/fight from him yesterday though. I though there was a definite and significant improvement. Whether that is in attempt to put himself in the shop window I don't care as it was still evident.

Whilst I agree with queationing the performances I found this statement frankly astonishing. Broadfoot was picked as a defensive substitute. You cannot really make the comparison. Would Gow have come on at LB, with the ability to also cover RB and both CB's?

Just thought I'd point that out before we all succumb(sp) to the negativity of such a poor performance today. Ps. I know not too much despair has crept in here yet but still felt it needed saying.

Murder today. Don't wanna say too much immediately in the aftermath incase I have to take back some ott comments. Whisper it incase Gribz notices, but when considering the mounting injury and suspension problems, Buffel may be able to offer something on that showing. It was more "best of a bad bunch" than an "excellent" performance, but when you bear in mind that a good 6-7 players were first choice or regular starters today then it shows he can maybe contribute.

Anyone down for the Fiorentina one?

Ac Milan v Reggina on channel 5. Commentator discussing how Ac Milan need to win their remaining games to have any chance of catching Fiorentina in 4th. Went on to point out that Fiorentina might be distracted by their UEFA cup semi final against Rangers. Good to hear stuff like that on the tv. No doubt getting increased exposure in Italy and around Europe's top leagues.

Incase anyone missed it, informed in another thread Boyd was due to start but is out with a virus.

Alexander Whittaker Cuellar Dailly Smith Burke Hemdani Thomson Naismith Cousin Novo

Oh well, hopefully Novo starting up top in a 4-4-2 with Cousin than.

15 minutes of build up for a cup semi. How come the terrestrial channels never seem to do a decent build up for games involving Scottish clubs?

2-0 Boyd and a.n.other

I asked as I had initially assumed, because he comes on here, he was a bear. However all his comments since Weds seemed pro-Celtic so had to check. No problems with what you've said though. He is full of it though!

Scot who do you support?

I picked the right thing, a penalty is not a certain goal. However in light of his and Weir's suspensions I realise he did the wrong thing. Not in handling the ball, but because of he didn't immediately go and "punch a pape" after stopping the goal. Then he'd have been red carded for violent conduct instead and would miss the next game, St Johnstone, like Weir instead of the next league game, v them. :devil: