Happy Dosser

Yep, English's attitude was very disappointing: thought he was a step up from your average churnalist but he has mentioned Bowman's tackle on Tierney last year as evidence of previous, disregarding his good disciplinary record, and his monstering remarks were unfair. The guy called The Kicker in The National wrote the worst character assassination of Ryan, in my opinion: quite disgracefully unbalanced and over the top. We'll never get a fair shake from the OT-obsessed press and they will harp on about our "physicality" all the way to the final, recycling Brendan's earlier comments on RB. Job done.

His comments have as much credibility as Rangers' laughable statement following the SF. Quite breath-taking hypocrisy from the wee plank but it's all building up nicely to portray us as the dirty team before we play St Brendan's XI, sorry XIV. His players certainly knew how to work Bobby "Laughing Gnome" Madden up the back, who responded by penalising us for some great tackles in the second half. We really have got a rotten press in this country but 'twas ever thus. All SR can do is ignore it and prepare the players for the biggest game of their lives.

Guys, dinna fash about presstitutes like Jackson. He typifies the Old Firm fans-with-typewriters who pass for sports journalists in Scotland. All this is even more motivation for us and I'm sure our astute manager will use it "creatively". I think Rodgers' intervention is particularly sneaky and OTT but he maybe thinks the first leg of their treble is a bit shoogly now. The Ugly Sisters need it all their own way, forever, don't they? Step forward Craig Thomson, whistler extraordinaire, for the CF.

I have to say I was disappointed he was so adamant about Ryan B's "flying elbow". I only saw the second incident on-line and am a long way from convinced it was deliberate. I'm sure the media will lap up Brendan's schtick from now until the cup final, of course. Think The Messiah is a little worried...

Marvellous responses to the hacks' loaded questions. Dances like a butterfly, stings like a bee. The players' "no suits" policy sounds like they mean business and won't just be there to "enjoy the occasion".

Sorry: thanks to ECOSSE1991. Alves is a whiny wee plank, no?

Thanks for those, Smiddy: more Hen hypocrisy, in other words. Didn't realise he was such a Corinthian. Set your irony filters, guys.....

My only twinge is that Mr R seems to be playing up the "we are limited and physical" idea today on radio tonight. I think we're much better than that and I'm sure he knows that too, so not sure what he's up to at the mo. The performance against AFC was electrifying. We don't want to be perceived as the Hearts of the 80s, do we? We need to avoid stoking up trouble for ourselves in the future as other teams play up to the refs and our squad is weakened by suspension. We are better than that.

"I also noted on BBC stats that we had 56% of possession so not like we just kicked them off the park." Yes, I heard that and thought the same. Nevertheless, the Celtic-supporting taxi driver who picked me up at the airport said the BBC radio coverage sounded as if The Hens were all over us and that we had scored against the run of play. Disappointed with Rodgers' unnecessary intervention but scarcely surprised. Every little helps and he will have a compliant media at his beck and call.

A rather transparent attempt by Rodgers to soften up the officials for the final, probably. Sheer hysteria in the tabloids today, complete with blood-spatters on one backpage and some hilarious comments in The Daily Ranger. I think we've upset a few people so it's not surprising the Ugly Sisters sticking together. Tonight's Radio Shortbread Sportsound will probably give us a good idea where it's all headed.

So many contenders but Louis' yesterday was very special given the context of the game. Luke The Jute's jaw-dropper against the Leithers looked physically impossible too but I knew from where I was sitting it was going in as soon as he hit it. And I'll never forget Willie P's 3-2 winner againt Ra Sellick in '76. We were down and out at half time but his finish was sublime (poetry).

Was waiting for my luggage after flying home from Dubrovnik (Mrs HD arranged the holiday in July) when I got the news from a friend's text. Still at 30000 feet..... Despite the Font of All Knowledge that is Willie Miller, I thought Bowman's elbowing was accidental, but it's all we'll hear about, instead of Moult getting a cut head from a flailing arm. His goal was sublime. Carson cool as a cucumber and Hartley is truly the Heart of Darkness at CH. Would I hate playing against him (and Moult, Bowman, Campbell)! Rangers were lucky we didn't play well in the first 45 or it would have been a lot worse for them. So much whining from the SoW you could make Scotland self sufficient in wind turbine energy. Diddums, diddums, diddums.

What all the other old codgers said about '76. Wasn't there a hail storm at full time, just to make it even worse? Greig's challenge on Pettigrew at the Ranger's End was a shocker, and their penalty outrageous. I was having a Lilian Gish in a pub in Larkhall about five years later and found myself standing beside Stewart MacLaren. As soon as I mentioned the SF he began muttering about dark deeds done at half time. Gordon was bent as hell, as was shown later. Unfortunately, I have little faith in the competence of current refs but I'm sure at least we will show the Sons of William no inferiority complex. COYW

"As long as Madden is not appointed referee. If he is we should call for an enquiry." Remember he refereed at Ibrox when we cuffed The Sons of William 3-1 in the play-offs and was pretty fair. I worry more about Spirtle-Legs Thomson or Gollum, my preciousssss, to be honest.

I thought Hammell had an excellent game against The Dons in the cup, both his linking play up the left and his whipped-in crosses. He also looked thinner and fitter than last season, so he still has qualities. Of course, Dunne may have been spooked by the worst surface in the Multiverse at NDP but I wouldn't mind Stevie playing at Hampden. Another game won today we would have lost year, so very happy. We have new players (and a manager) who won't give a flying fig for Sunday's opposition, a huge change from the "We are not worthy" attitude of Messrs McCall and McGhee, beaten before we even start. Can't see Hartley holding back for a minute (or Campbell, Kipre, Bowman, etc). Unfortunately, the Home Secretary has booked a holiday in Dubrovnik this week and I will only get back about half-time. COYW!

Whit happened tae ma emoji? Jeez! it was there in the preview1

that should have been. Moanly jokin'!

"By no means am I expecting a top six season and a cup win." Defeatist, BWF! :razz:

"Can't say im shocked at McCulloch's sacking, his signings have been dreadful and 0 wins in 8 is certainly relegation form." But I seem to remember a few on here lauding Killie's signing policy and the inclusion of our cast-offs, Del_Superwell. It was The Way Forward, as I recall. Sorry to see Lee lose his job, though. AA at Thistle probably at risk too now. Seems a decent guy with few resources but the directors seem to have their beady eye on him.

I gave up picking an MoM because there were so many good performances today. Thistle were nullified and looked very poor. Robinson was still not happy, screaming at a good few at various times but immediately moved Tait (what a trier: no wonder he takes painkiller before games for his Cruyff turns) after one of Archibald's substitutions. Thought Frear might have been brought on earlier to give us more width but result never in danger. The team seem to actually enjoy playing football for Robbo. Long may it continue.

Aye, Peggy was some tackler...

Re "Scouting for Moult": the Hibs scout was sitting just below me on Thursday and Billy "Whit you lookin' at?" Davies was in the padded seats on Sunday, sitting beside Gordon Dalziel (and another Mysterious Stranger). Anyone know who those two are working for at the mo? An old 'Well lag who travelled with me on the EK supporters' bus in the 70s used to tell me that players who "down tools a bit as they try to protect themselves from injury" often get a bad one doing that. I'm not sure Louis would do that either and I think SR would be having a word if he did in any case.

"When a winger is running at pace they often don't have time to look up and find the perfect pass. I think the fact we only had one in the box was as much of a problem as his cut-back." Very true CoF and Frear hardly got any service in any case. Logan's first tackle on him was a "takes ball and man" one that should have been penalised but of course wasn't. Every time Frear gets to the bye-line he's dangerous but I feel better coaching along with the strikers on angle of cross and their positioning would help. He gives us valuable width. I've tried to believe in Fisher but he seems to be one of these strange big guys who's pretty hopeless in the air, and he was completely outmuscled by the MMs "robust" defence. he probably needs a goal for his confidence but I can't see where that's going to come from.

"Never really had an opinion of Christie before, but the last 2 games have shown him to be an angry wee prick wi a chip on his shoulder,prob why Celtic signed him in the first place" Yes, Shaka. After his lunge on Tait on Thursday, there was a wee voice in my head which said he wasn't like that and that he had just lost the place. He has ability, but after his general dicking about today, including his fractured skull act, I'm subscribing to your AWP theory.