weeyin

Cheating us because the other team is Celtic, definitely been said.

It was Tait shirking a tackle in the first half that surprised me. He's usually not shy in imposing himself on any opponent, but that moment seemed to sum up the whole team's display; everybody from Gillespie forward was off their game. The thing that annoyed me about Seedorf was the fact we kept passing to his feet (or just behind him) when he was standing still, instead of into space for him to attack.

I hope they never listen to the MFC TV commentaries - especially when Hartley or, to a lesser extent Tanner, have been working it.

The big issue with last Friday is everybody from front to back was awful. You could fill the team with Campbells, but if they don't run, don't cover, stay out of tackles and can't execute a simple pass, the result would be the same. When a guy like Tait is shirking tackles like he did in the first half, the game is over. The question now is how will the players respond.

Some guys need an arm round the shoulder, others a swift kick. As he works with them every day I hope he knows which is which. (Although I may be biased, as I always fell into the "responds better to yelling" camp when I played at my very mediocre level).

Not only that, but he had the flu all week, apparently, and it wasn't expected he'd even be fit to play.

So when Robinson backs his players in the media the posters on here get upset that he's too stupid to see the poor perfromances, too loyal and needs to start holding players accountable. And when he points out poor performers, he's not taking responsibility and will lose the dressing room. We can agree or disagree with his approach, but I'm pretty sure Robinson knows that every performance and every shortcoming ultimately falls on him. I wouldn't expect him to point fingers after every game, but a rocket now and then does no harm. Crags was the same when he was coaching the U20s - never afraid to point out the shortcomings of players, or what they'd need to improve to get their chance in the first team.

This - plus, as I keep saying, when we bring in new players from lower leagues the Betfred Cup is terrible pre-season preparation. It might help with fitness to some degree, but knocking in a few goals against lower league opposition is nothing like adequate preparation for the high tempo, high pressing game we need to play against teams that have internationalists in them. The only way to get used to that is by playing those teams. Some of the new guys will be able to make that transition, some will not. That is just as true for the youngsters we try to develop as it is for the guys we sign from elsewhere. It's no coincidence that a number of our new guys don't hit form until November or December. Arsene Wenger used to say it took 6 months for a player to adapt to a new league, even if he was playing at a similar level in a different country. I doubt we are singing players better than Wenger signed.

Hearts are closing us down and making chances in the final third. They are also handling the conditions better, running at our defence and making them turn in the treacherous conditions. That's not atrocious.

Gillespie looking for a red card so he can stay inside second half. Woeful goalkeeping from someone that should know better.

Oh, and "summer fitba' eh?"

As I said earlier, I don't buy into this "Hearts are atrocious, we'll beat them easily" chat. We never beat them easily.

If they want to use Seedorf, they need to pass it into space ahead of him instead of passing to his feet when he's standing still.

Dodgy handball decision against Dunne. Hearts hit the post. (Even Michael Jambo McHeartsface said it was a terrible decision)

Actually, I can see the stream now, and it looks OK.

Nope - it's saying I need to pay for it, despite the fact my subscription runs until August 23rd (and it supposed to auto renew). I emailed support to complain, but don't expect they will fix it any time today,

https://cricfree.live/update/bt1.php (Ad/Script blockers required)

As I've mentioned in a different thread, he's not been prolific in recent years. He's had 3 seasons in his entire career where he hit double figures (and "double figures" here is 11, 11 and 12). His last 5 seasons have seen a return of 3, 1, 1, 12 and 4 league goals. I'd imagine the fact he is a self confessed shirker at training might count against him in Robinson's view (although the fact that he's Irish might balance that out for him).

They'll be looking for an emergency loan, no doubt, rather than spending any cash on a transfer fee.

I agree with that, and think could edge it by a goal. I'm just not buying into the "they're atrocious, it will be easy" chat.

Back strain from picking the ball out the net?

They have been pretty awful, but that doesn't matter in a cup game. Can you remember any cup ties with Hearts, regardless of their form, that were easy? Or any easy league games against them in recent times?

If we were playing two leagues lower, yes.

Of course it's a risk. If you tie up a 15 year old on a 6 year (Dundee Utd special) contract you end up with a squad of Dom Thomas, Craig Moore and Bob McHugh etc.. We have streamlined our acadmey this year and are focusing on developing a smaller group of better players with targeted positions. It's all very well saying sign up half a dozen youngsters on 6 year contracts, but that is assuming all 6 will be good enough to be around for the entire 6 years. More likely half of them (or more) will be punted each year - which is the norm at most clubs - and you need to bring in another 3 or 4 on the same 6 year contracts. So over those years, you will have, conservatively, invested in over 20 players on those 6 year contracts. Suddenly not so cheap. And that's assuming youngsters would sign up for that length of time which, given the number of agents sniffing around with their advice, is extremely unlikely.

Rondon shouldn't have made it past the first half. (Not that I'm complaining - but the ref was pretty weak on yellow cards).