eljaggo

That'll be the hangover from the OF cup tie celebrations.

The damage was done in the last Kilmarnock game. It was always a big ask to beat RC at Dingwall given the importance of the game for both teams. The season has been more successful than most dared hope for at its start, and the management team and players are to be congratulated. But the frustrating thing is that it could have been much better with the players available. I can understand Archie's caution in selection and tactics for the first 3/4 of the season, but lately, points have been dropped when a more agressive approach would have yielded benefits, and not playing Doolan from the start more often must be the biggest factor in the low number of goals scored and our failure to make the top six. Maybe this season will have given Archie more confidence, and next season we will see a more attacking approach - hopefully not all down the flanks with ineffectual crosses - especially with the speed and directness of Erskine, Dumbaya and Edwards.

"Does anybody want to pen an eloquent response that can lead the campaign?" Dear Mr Doncaster Your welcome to "Rangers" on thier return to the Scottish Premiership was crass, stupid and therefore wholly in line with your performance to date. Please resign immediately. Sincerely

I was a bit surprised by the gate last night. DU brought substantially more fans than Kilmarnock did last Saturday, so I suspect the home supprt was down from the Kilmarnock game. It's hard to judge the crowd in the JH stand when you're sitting there, but there seemed to be fewer in the North Stand than on Saturday.

The thought has suddenly occurred to me after watching Pogba repeatedly not jumping on Saturday, that maybe he was trying to send a message to the rest of the players that he wanted the ball played to his feet. Maybe we should applaud his non-jumping and hope that the message has got through. My previous comments, Firhillista, were a bit tongue in cheek. I agree that few goals beat a header from a good cross after the winger beats the full back for pace.

...score goals, win every competition they enter, attract huge numbers of fans to sell out giant stadiums. But you're right, better punt the ball repeatedly to Pogba who cannot/won't jump and who is much better with the ball at his feet.

Have to go all out for a win, and if we lose we still have the option to batten down the hatches for the rest of the season (at which we've proved adept) We should play Doolan and Edwards from the start, with Nesbit and Dumbaya also starting. That would create some movement in the midfield and up front both on the wings and through the centre. We don't want a repeat of the cup tie at Tannadice (or yesterday) with no threat or real presence up front.

Yesterday gave us a better opportunity for a win than a trip to Dingwall, and a better opportunity for three "safety" points. Yesterday was an important chance squandered for both safety and a top 6 place. That is why there is such disappointment on this thread.

We can argue about players' performances yesterday and never agree. However what was evident to me at least and those around me was that Archibald showed once again his very cautious approach. This has served us well, but yetserday's game needed more positive tactics to be employed given its importance w.r.t. a top six finish and the financial implications of that. Bringing Doolan on so late (again), subbing Edwards very early (was he knackered or injured?) and letting Dumbaya and Nesbitt warm the bench for the whole game seemed perverse. Archie had plenty of (other) attacking options yesteday and ignored them. A safety first strategy which we saw again yesterday may secure our Premiership status for a while, but will drive fans away in the long term. The game yesterday was a dreadful spectacle.

Better still BJ, an EBTS contract (Extra Bit on The Side). With Lennon re-hired at Celtic, it would be a tabloid journos dream.

Assuming I exist (see above), the biscuit tin theory has its attractions. If the tin is a round one, that would explain both the flat and the round earthers' theories. The flat earthers inhabit the flat top and bottom of the tin, while the round earthers inhabit the round side of the tin. Simple when you think about it.

All this is pure conjecture - flat, round, biscuit tin shaped, whatever. How do you know we exist?

Reading the Evening Times article, there seems to be a possiblity that recovery may be swifter than we fear. A further examination in a few weeks may make the position clearer, so maybe we are jumping the gun - particularly w.r.t. his long term career.

First half dire with the ball in the air far too much. Transformation in second with subs and positional changes. However, we've played a lot better against equally poor teams and lost, so lets be thankful for this result. I thought Pogba played well yesterday,took his goal well and gave Hamilton a lot to think about - if the link with Edwards can be developed and Doolan is brought on earlier - the team would be a lot more threatening. The throw ins were diabolocal as someone else has said, and have been diabolical for the last 30 years. A new low was reached yesterday however - we threw one straight back into touch.

I'll chip in with £2 per point

Or crapping on your napper.

No one here is suggesting we "be routinely winning away fixtures such as yesterday" LIB.

I agree, Vinnyjag, that some perspective is needed, and that a cautious approach for the starting line up might be justified, but to leave it so late after going one down so early in the game seems perverse.

Why was Doolan - our top goalscorer and biggest threat - not brought on before the last 7 mins? Is he not fit or is he carrying an injury? The team is better than to play 80 mins with the prime objective of not losing goals and containing the opposition - especially when you go a goal down after 25 mins. I agree wholeheartedly with Weebaw1.

That game was so crap that the guys around me were betting on which pile of coal the crane would pick up from next. Throughout the game, AA had to tell Branigan what to do and where to stand. I worked beside a great guy called George Anderson who played for East Fife when they won the Scottish Cup back in the 1930's.

County and test cricket grounds in England and elsewhere have a large machine called a CMS Blotter. It's a machine that is driven around the outfield after rain to soak up excess water. The company advertises them for football pitches - and mention reducing the risk of cancelled games. It is 3m wide and removes up to 4000 gallons per hour. Worth looking at don't you think?

Unless Archie takes a punt on a more attacking line up very soon, there will be a strong temptation for him to adopt an even more negative approach as the relegation battle tightens. It's time for some courage to be shown. If we go down by failing to score enough goals it will haunt the Club for some time, and given the attacking options now available after signing Nesbitt and German, it would be criminal.

Wasn't at the game and didn't learn much from the TV "highlights". Last year, Archie made the same mistake against Inverness at Firhill in the Cup. He started with no strikers, lost the game and later apologised for his tem selection. He does seem prone to odd selections, and I agree with other posters that we should have been setting the agenda for this game, not allowing DU to do it.

Seems a great guy. Watched him play right back for Falkirk when we were in the tent at the new ground. He was beaten for pace every time, and every time he knew it and had a big grin on his face. At the same game, the guy next to me complained to the polis walking round the pitch that the previous week he had paid 15 euros to watch a game in the San Ciro, and had just paid £20 to sit in a tent in Falkirk.

Cerny has signed a contract extension to 2018. Great news.