Kmcalpin

Good post. I've been saying the same thing for years mate and been castigated for it. At our level we can afford talented players OR big strong "athletes" but not both. Big fast players don't equate to hammer throwers or cloggers, as many think. If Whittaker challenged Steve Hammell for a 50/50 ball there would only be one winner and it wouldn't be Stevie. A physically strong player in my book is someone who is going to win more than his fair share of balls in the air, win more than his fair share of 50/50 balls and can hold the ball when battered by hulking defenders or strikers. The Juke was what I would call a physical player - he could look after himself but was never dirty or a hatchetman.

Yes, but Steve Jennings, Tim Clancy, Shaun Hutchinson, Michael Higdon and co aren't.

So how do this weekend's semi final results affect the Euro slots?

That for me is the major issue. If such a protest ever takes place be sure about one thing - it'll hurt and seriously damage clubs like us, Aberdeen and St Mirren. It'll feed and support Rangers and indeed Celtic who will grow ever stronger as a result. SFL clubs too might benefit if non OF SPL clubs wither. Cancelling Society membership will damage our (the fans) influence on MFC. Is that what we want? Talk about cutting our nose off to spite our face. I'm dead set against allowing a Rangers Newco to waltz straight back into the SPL, as are most of us, but I'm not about to damage my own club to prove an academic point. I think some kind of horse trading is inevitable and I hope that the 10 non OF clubs will use Rangers current weakness to renegotiate voting rights and distribution of cash - that is the sensible and pragmatic way forward. Picture this scenario if you will - an even stronger Rangers and Celtic winning virtually every game 4/5/6 - 0. Non OF clubs playing in front of attendances say 25/30% down on what they are at the moment. Poorer squads. Clubs like Falkirk, QOS, Hamilton gaining slightly in strength. Little or no say in the running of MFC. The only good thing about it would be that we could say "Its nought to do with me Guv" / "I don't support the corrupt SPL etc etc. Is that what we want?

I don't think they do Jay. I agree its quite likely/possible that attendances would drop, but these surveys are not scientific. We don't know if there's been duplicate voting for example. Is membership of this forum or Pie and Bovril representative of all SPL fans? Are those with strong views in favour of a boycott more likely to post? What would happen if our club voted against a newco being given automatic entry but lost the vote and Rangers 2012 were readmitted - would you boycott all our games in protest, but at whom?

Sky and their media bedfellows plough a bit of cash into the SPL, but demand more than their pound of flesh in return. Most arguments against punishing Rangers put forward by the SPL centre on the TV cash that would be lost to clubs if Rangers were turfed out of the SPL. It would be great if the fans were to tell the likes of Sky and the SPL that if Rangers weren't punished and were allowed back into the SPL they could expect a fair drop in income - hit them where it hurts in their pockets. Up until now the media companies rightly believe that they can bleed OF fans dry, treat them like s**t and get away with it. Time to put that right. On a related subject many of us moan and groan about ridiculous KO times dictated by the TV companies but many of us still subscribe to Sky or ESPN.

As I've said before its time the fans put pressure on the SPL and the TV companies and not their own clubs. The only parties to be hit by a boycott of non OF clubs would be the non OF clubs themselves. Make no mistake its the TV companies who are at the root of the problem. If we cancelled subscriptions en masse, stopped patronising pubs screening live TV and stopped listening to sports programmes, the SPL would sit up and take notice. Boycotting our own clubs is tantamount to protesting against the OF by staying away from home games. There's little to be gained by forcing our clubs to take action alone when we won't take action ourselves. By all means pressurise our own clubs but we must be prepared to take action ourselves.

John Yorkston?

I think we'll pick up 3/4 points after the split, beating either United or St Johnstone but not both. Either United or Hearts will take something from Rangers. Saints will pick up 3/4, United will pick up 6/7, as will Hearts. What will be critical is the games in which teams pick up points. A loss at Tynecastle won't overly worry me but I wouldn't want to lose against Saints or United.

From the same source: John Daly 30 fouls / 2 yellow cards and wait for it........... Gary Kenneth 15 fouls / 2 yellow cards. Now I know that Kenneth has missed a few games this season but in our last encounter at Tannadice he must have committed 15 fouls in that game alone.

What do you mean when you say he's committed 85 fouls? Is it A) he's committed 85 fouls whether or not a foul has actually been given or is it B) Referees have awarded 85 fouls against him The two are entirely different. For example Jamie Murphy was hauled back yesterday after beating a defender but yet a foul was awarded against him. In your book did he commit a foul or not?

I thought Hutchy had an outstanding match against a diificult referee and opponents. He was my MOTM. Tim Clancy was also in the running and may have sneaked it had we used him better in an attacking sense in the second half. For long spells Chris Humphrey was our only attacking threat and did well.

Very happy with a point and I think that was all we were ever going to get today given our suspensions. We missed Steve Jennings' drive and aggression and his absence affected our midfield big time. We had a bit of early pressure but always wanted to take that touch too many. At times too Higdon & Ojamaa were left a bit isolated. Darren Randolph was much the busier keeper having about 6 shots to deal with and he was none too pleased with his defence and midfield for leaving him very exposed. The Hibs goal when it came was a disaster. Keith Lasley gave away a needless foul and our line up at the free kick was very poor to say the least. We trooped off 1-0 down at half time lucky to be losing by a solitary goal. Hibs it has to be said were very lucky to see half time with 11 players on the park after Steve O'Reilly bottled the decision to red card Gary O'Connor who lashed out at Shaun Hutchinson off the ball. Credit to Hibs though they played 100mph stuff which they were never going to maintain in the second half. The second half was very different and we put Hibs under much more pressure although again our final ball was poor and we wanted to take one touch too many. Our build up was painfully slow and predictable and Hibs were grateful for that. However Nicky Law scored a cracking and deserved equaliser and just like O'Connor's first half strike everyone knew where it was heading as soon as he hit it. Over the piece, I thought Hutch was our MOTM followed by Tim Clancy and Chris Humphrey. Jon page was rightly red carded but is entitled to ask question of the ref's inconsistency. Steve O'Reilly had a poor game riddled with wrong calls. He plainly doesn't like Micahel Higdon. Great to see Steven Saunders make an appearance and that'll give the squad a lift seeing a seriously wounded comrade return to the front line. What about the cost of food and drink at Easter Road? £4.40 for a coffee and steak pie. Don't recall FP being that expensive.

I'll certainly be going to Dingwall next season if the opportunity presents itself. Its one of the few Scottish grounds I've yet to visit on Well duty.

Aye parking is a nightmare in Edinburgh. Some of us going by bus and some possibly by train. I haven't been to Easter Road for 6 years but the team will need all the support we can muster tomorrow. Right now I'd bite your hand off for a draw - that would be a tremendous result. I'd hate to think the team didn't get a point because I didn't turn up - can't take that risk.

A good set of results for us today. Dundee United's excellent run wasn't going to last forever and hopefully the defeat will have dented their confidence.

How did Steven Saunders fare?

Ask him to explain himself. When someone suggests that to me I always ask them to explain their reasoning and when put on the spot they rarely do.

Nothing wrong with one or more of their consituents approaching them and asking. Local elections looming next month.

That is correct. What this means, in effect, is that there is a right of appeal on a yellow card but only in favour of the authorities. Another example of an inconsistent and flawed disciplinary system. On the subject of yellow cards, soft "bookings" are costing us dearly.

Normally I'm a pessimist but hey if we don't believe we can do it who will believe? Why should the players be motivated if we the fans aren't? What the hell - yes we can and will do it.

Spot on Iain. Of course, you're right. An extra point of a cushion then!

Good news indeed. The fans have backed the club when it counted, but its only the first stage. So far so good. Didn't expect quite as much as £335k - excellent!

I still think we'll go into the split with a single point lead over St Johnstone and a 4 point lead over Dundee United. The omens for next Sunday aren't fantastic with 2 key players suspended, facing a team battling relegation and who have also given us a great deal of trouble this season. It really is stand up and be counted time for the team. No more failing to turn up, conceding cheap goals, failing to get a shot on target etc etc. On league position alone it should be our easiest remaining game but given the above its a banana skin. If we do pick up 3 points then I'll happily say "Well done" to the players.

The previous season 2008-09 we finished in the botton half and so were not expected to finish in the top half 2 years ago. Therefore there were no "guarantees".