fat_tony

Disappointed to lose that, we certainly didn't deserve to. Night and day compared to Wednesday. McDonald was involved in everything, Moult is starting to look like a player, and Thomas did well when he came on. First goal was a freak cross/shot that deceived everyone and trundled in. Second I couldn't see but there were lots of shouts for a foul on the keeper, especially since it was 2 minutes after McManus was penalised for jumping into an Aberdeen player in their box. Aberdeen didn't look like the world beaters they've been made out to be. Definitely a case of being unlucky rather than soundly beaten. Johnson had a poor second half. Moult looks like he could turn out to be a quality signing, shades of Chris Porter about him, hopefully he gets a goal to his name soon.

Defensively, I didn't think he did much wrong. He gave the ball away several times trying (perhaps a little too hard) to get something going, but was usually left with no alternative. Very few players looked interested in showing for the ball on Wednesday, and it usually ended up back with McManus/Laing to try and make something happen.

Absolutely no complaints with the penalty. The hearts player burst past McDonald and he simply threw himself into the back of him. Had me thinking back to his red card against Dunfermline all those years ago in terms of sheer stupidity. Ref, as poor as he was, got that one spot on.

I'm fucking raging at that performance still, but this is a new season and a clean slate in my book. Bad performances happen under the best managers in the world. It's how he and the squad react over the next few that will be important, not an isolated result (ignoring United as I thought we played well).

To be fair, it was working fine until McDonald had a moment of madness and gave away the penalty. After that, instead of pushing the issue we kept playing the same way but Hearts didn't bite. They stayed composed, controlled the game, and attacked when prudent. We had no plan B.

It's the manner of the defeat that rankles. We saw it all too often last season. I can accept what happened on Saturday. We created chances, didn't take them, and suffered the consequences. Fair enough. Tonight we looked one dimensional, disinterested, and didn't create. It may have been an off night, but I won't find that sort of performance acceptable. I'm not pushing the panic button, and if we put in one bad show in three, we'll probably be okay, but we're better than that, and that's what I'm pissed off about.

Horrendous performance. McDonald and Johnson particularly poor. And persisting with long balls against a tall back four utter madness. There was no need for McDonald to concede the penalty, absolute rush of blood to the head due to his own poor performance. An absolute shadow of the team that were unlucky to lose on Saturday, and the worst part is that Hearts didn't even need to break a sweat. Poor all round.

Official site says there are only 275 tickets left, and any remaining will be transferred to Tynecastle at 3pm tomorrow. I can't get through from Edinburgh to collect, anyone know if the club let you pay for tickets over the phone and collect them somewhere at Tynecastle on the night? A long shot, I know...

Gary Kenneth is an International Class Player.

I'm going to be slightly more conservative and say 3-1 'Well. Not sure what it is, but I have a good feeling about this one. Hearts are absolutely full of it after a good start to the season, while we've turned in two decent but not eye catching performances. I think our boys will be right up for this given the way things went on Saturday.

Can't have it both ways unfortunately. Everyone's demanding we sign a midfielder (or two), so you either sign them and don't play them, or play them and hope they can get round the "fitting in" thing. I actually thought Leitch had a decent game on Saturday (once you stop comparing him to what Pearson offers), but the competition for places and extra option can't be a bad thing.

I absolutely refuse to condemn anyone for not getting back to cover their second goal. It was our last chance to level the game so we were absolutely correct to throw the kitchen sink at it. I was actually surprised the ref didn't just end the game as soon as they cleared it. I'd much rather we lose 2-0 due to throwing everything we have at it in the dying seconds, than 1-0 due to holding back trying to defend the loss. Given the saves Ripley made earlier, the one on the half hour especially, there's no way I'd be identifying him as being responsible for the result. That first save was world class.

I often thought Jeffers looked like he was several steps ahead of most of his team mates, and would actually use the ball extremely well, it was just that nobody around him was quite on the same level. I remember several occasions where he would play a very intelligent ball only for it to run out of play because Murphy et al hadn't anticipated what he was going to do. Of course one could argue that Jeffers should have anticipated his team-mates lack of anticipation...but I still reckon he was actually much better than how he is usually remembered.

I think that made the whole thing even better, the fact that it was a complete and utter fuck up. We would have hammered them anyway, but it's even better that they assisted in their own downfall.

I'm really pleased with both actually. I've been waiting for a claret away kit for years as I wasn't totally keen on the Canterbury one.

With both Laing and Moult on board, surely the song for next year has to be The Kingsmen "Louie Louie"? This is shaping up to be an extremely exciting close season!

I posted this in the Shoutbox earlier, from the Beeb gossip page: Good on you Lionel! I can't help feeling that the Clarkson signing has been a bit of a victim of timing. If we'd already signed some unknowns and had a team almost ready for the season, and then added Clarkson at the end, I reckon a lot of people would be saying that it was good to add a bit of experience as an option, and good to have something different. But because he's one of our first signings, it's seen as a sign of things to come, and a lack of ambition and planning. We need different options and competition for places. Clarkson should provide both of these. Let's not write either Clarky, or the management off yet, there's still a long way to go in the silly season.

Absolutely no problem with this. Baraclough has spoken about wanting to ensure that we have some experienced pros to support and guide our younger players through. Clarky is hard working, has a Scotland goal to his name, and can be a good example to the younger lads. He'll also provide another option up front, since we currently have a strike force of Craig Moore on his tod. I don't for a second think the manager is saying that Clarky will be our main striker, nor is he done with signing forwards. Clarkson can do a job, makes sense to me.

Anyone ever seen MJC, steelboy and Dewell in the same room at the same time? Regarding Johnson, much as I'd like him to stay and see what he can do with a full, proper pre-season under his belt, any offer of £500k or so has to be considered. It'll be interesting to see the club's response should an offer be forthcoming. Previously the club would have jumped at it, but the new regime seems a little more savvy and we seem to be on a more solid footing. It may be they'd decline with a view to a bigger offer coming in down the line.

That was my favourite thing about last season's Puma kit. Absolutely loved those hooped socks!

I said pretty much the same thing at the game on Sunday. If he develops the way Hutchy did I'll be more than happy.

I can only assume you must be f**king ugly for them to mistake you as one of them The meltdown happening on social media is absolutely tremendous to watch. There's a brilliant 60-odd page thread on P&B covering the match, too.

The last I'd heard was that his career may be over due to his back issues. That's just "football stand talk" though, so take it how you will. If we get £500k for Erwin, much as I'd like to see him develop further as a player here, I think we have to be happy with that. It will give us a bit of money to look for a replacement and possibly give the likes of Moore a chance to step up and show if he'll make the grade. I'd be quite happy with Laing staying. He's a bit rash at times and makes some mistakes, but with the right guidance and a settled defence, could develop into a decent player. Baraclough also seems to be getting somewhere with Ainsworth, so I'd be happy for him to stay as well - not something I was saying round about January.

Rangers are fucked now. Here comes Straker!

Lets wait until the final whistle before starting the gloating! I've seen far too many late collapses to be comfortable yet!