Lobey_Dosser

As I suspected, Jules nowhere near ready. Mcamanus nowhere near as bad as some eejits make out.

Decent result for Inverness adds a wee bit of pressure ahead of tomorrow.

3 wins in 3 games against Sevco for Laing.

1 win in 7 league games for Rangers. Good week for Inverness, 4 points against 2 of the big teams.

McManus has been managing niggling injuries for a long time and it was seemingly inevitable that he would need a spell out at some point. I think this would have been at the forefront of McGhee's mind in the transfer window hence the arrival of Zac Jules. However I doubt Zac was near the top of our wanted list and iirc we were linked with a couple of experienced centre halves. With Hammell also injured, Jules is almost guaranteed to get a run of games. Whether that's centre half or left back remains to be seen. Personally, I'd drop McHugh in beside him so we have some experience at the back to guide Heneghan and Jules through a game. Yes McHugh has been seen as our saviour in midfield but with Pearson arriving, Clay putting in a good performance at Parkhead and Campbell reportedly getting closer to the team, we have sufficient options in midfield to allow McHugh to suppport the young ones in defence.

Dele Alli looks like he would fit in at Fir Park... https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/834868653241856004

Haven't seen the press conference but the loss of McManus is bad news. While he might not meet the expectations his cv would suggest, he has been pretty solid over the last 2 years and a positive influence on Heneghan. It might not happen on Saturday but given McHugh has played most of his career at centre half I think he'll be drafted in. Heneghan doesn't have the necessary experience to lead the backline while Jules looks very raw.

Nah in no way was it deliberate. Given the profile and potential of Tierney at club and international level an injury to him would have generated a lot of attention, and rightly so imo.

Not a regular reader of the Scotsman but I can't see much wrong with a relatively well balanced article following up a poor refereeing decision. Bowman and Motherwell should be relieved that such a talented young Scottish player has walked away from a reckless challenge. Imagine the grief we would be getting in Tierney was out for a long period of time.

That St Johnstone QF was grim. Can't recall the chain of events at the time but was Willie McLean not heavily involved in Coyle's departure?

I've been keen on him since his 1st Div St Johnstone team knocked us out the cup at FP. IIRC, St Johnstone got to 2 cup semis that season and would have got promoted if it wasn't for cheating Gretna. He then went on to do a very good job, getting Burnley to the Premiership and notching up cup wins against the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal. Granted he's had a few tough years but the times I've seen Blackburn this season (Newcastle x 2 & Man Utd) his team have impressed. All round good guy with a track record in the cups and far greater success in England than the likes of McInnes, surely a former fans favourite with his pedigree would be warmly welcomed.

Coyle can't have many opportunities left before he ends up back in Scotland. IIRC, we did sound him out pre Baraclough, would love him at FP.

Hartley said the Rangers game was one of the few times Dundee went 442 this season. Would expect both teams to go 442 this weekend. With Clay exceeding expectations at Parkhead, I'd be inclined to play McHugh at the back if Hammell and/or McManus are struggling.

We definitely got away with one regarding Bowmans' reckless (albeit accidental) challenge. Credit to Rodgers and Tierney for not making a fuss about it.

Here's hoping Dundee approach this in complacent mood after the high of beating the invincible big spending Rangers today. Expect us to go with the same front 6 as Parkhead with Bowman and Frear hopefully offering a decent threat from the bench.

Good to see Moore scoring a crucial goal. Dom live on Alba tonight.

Embarrassment avoided. Job done. We have 2 massive games coming up.

Hammell injured in warm-up. Joe starting.

Robinson back Monday according to Sun.

Putting the Aberdeen performance to one side, the prospect of Tierney and Sinclair running at young McMillan is a daunting one. We are unlikely to fare much better on the left either, with an inform Forrest or Roberts going at a half fit Hammell (and/or Jules/Chalmers). Think we'd all be content with a relatively spirited performance here and hopefully we can come away with a respectable result against a very good Celtic team.

McGhee not attending the press conference tomorrow. Wise decision.

I think the questioning of commitment may refer to the hours he puts in, the return trips to Brighton and/or Scotland role.

Something that hasn't been mentioned is Faddy. I get the impression that Robinson was a significant support to McGhee in delivering training and refining tactics. Has McGhee possibly paid the price for going with an inexperienced assistant?

Just now is not a good time to change manager. There are no obvious candidates and we aren't sitting comfortably enough to alllow a new man a settling in period. If the Board are confident hr hasn't lost the dressing room, we are probably best to allow McGhee to limp on until the end of the season. Meanwhile, the Board should be working away in the background to find a suitable replacement in the summer that possesses greater ambition that reaching 1000 games. Under no circumstances would I support a new contract for McGhee. Credit to him, he came in and provided the safe pair of hands we needed post Baraclough. He's also developed a few assets. However, this season has been a case of going through the motions. Watching a team with 3 of the best attacking talents in the league should be much more enjoyable than it has been. The negative tactics, the inferiority complex against the big teams and the failure to establish a settled formation by February has taken its toll on our dwindling support and the players. At present, he is the laughing stock of Scottish football, which is quite an achievement in the current climate.

Just watched the highlights, Hammell and Lasley at the 3rd goal, we can't have conceded many worse goals than that. Samson flapped at a few but that's par for the course. Fair play to Christie for the 4th, sublime finish.