Gaffer

I'm certain we will stick with 4-2-3-1 as long as Murphy is fit. There's no reason to change it otherwise. As for the left back position, Murty did say he needed to get game time for some so he was arranging a closed door game. I'm expecting the purpose of this is to get Wallace or DJ fit. Halliday has done well but our system requires a quick threat down that side and that's not his game. I expect Cummings will be on the bench and itching to be involved. We will be two up at that stage and he will come on and score the third.

I wonder why so few others have signed up. I can't imagine it's the cost because it can be for as little or as much as you want. I don't believe any bear doesn't want it to happen. The only conclusion I have then is that it's too much hassle to set it up. Maybe Club 1872 needs to make that part of the campaign .... I.e. How easy it is to make payment. Anyone else have any thoughts on why it's not working as well as I think should be?

That's what I meant about very little consequence. Refs don't mind giving us a foul or our opponents a yellow card, but it's no real hardship for them. I just hope that whatever the result, we are talking about the players and managers rather than a ref.

I noticed in the prediction league that bill has gone for 2-1 and Tavernier as the FGS. I'm assuming he thinks Tav is a good bet because he's our penalty taker, but there's no chance we'd get a Penalty against them. Given the assaults on our players (with very little consequence), I just wonder what would need to happen for us to get a penalty.

I also get frustrated about the chances he misses, but he is easily our most dangerous player and has to start. He terrorises defences all game and creates the space for others. As for his valuation, if he scored more of his chances he'd be worth at least double what is being quoted. I like Cummings, but Morelos is our top threat and I can't wait to see his celebration next weekend when he scores.

I was just checking through a few simple stats. Under MW, our so-called possession game manager, we had on average 56% possession, an average of 7 shots per game and an average of 1.4 goals. Under PC our possession was on average 53% with an average of 9 shots per game and an average of 1.6 goals. Today was a very typical game for us (since the turn of 2018) where we had 62% possession, 20 shots at goal, and 10 on target. We are now hitting the target with more shots than we had in total in our games previously. We are dominating teams with our possession. What will now be interesting is if we can turn dominance (as we had in the last old firm game) into a win. If we create even half the chances against them, we have a great chance.

Murty has such a smug grin at the end of that interview. The players were cheering in the dressing room when the draw was made and Murty knows why. Its because everyone around our club now knows we can beat them if we play well. This is going to feel like such a long week. I wish the game was tomorrow.

Almost every week the ref is too conspicuous for all the wrong reasons and I'm quite frankly sick of it. It should be about 11 v 11 but time and time again they are making a complete hash of it, or worse (in the case of Beaton). There was always a common 'fact' that decisions would even themselves out over the course of a season. That's been proven wrong.

I don't think we will change from our two preferred setups, 4-4-2 diamond and 4-2-3-1. We are flying just now so we don't need to fear them and especially at home. There's no need for us to change much, if anything, but they will no doubt think long and hard about what they do to stop us. For the first time in a while, they'll have more to worry about than we do.

Job done. Well played and now we can look forward and prepare for next week. It's going to be one important game after another until the end of the season.

I think it's odd that you want to give them a small section for an old firm game, when it adds to the atmosphere. But we all have our own opinions, and as I said, I'd be very unhappy at having to give up my seat if I sat in the Broomloan. I've also admitted that it's a selfish opinion but it's still how I feel.

Yasss .. he was always going to get a hat trick today

Having different opinions isn't odd, it's just football.

At the very least we need the refs to explain this. The game is being brought into disrepute if they don't explain it because without it I am thinking we have a massive problem with refs in this country. If he had a reasonable explanation for making a mistake I'd be inclined to accept it, but in the absence of that it just looks incredibly suspicious to me. Thankfully this game won't be decided by a ref but I worry we will get an injury because he doesn't control the game well enough. We will score a few more here though.

I meant we would have empty seats if it was Aberdeen. I'm not prioritising them over us. I'm just saying I prefer it when there's a stand full of them because it makes for a better atmosphere in my opinion. I realise that's maybe just my own preference but I do enjoy it when both sets of fans are belting it out against each other. It's selfish because I'm not in the Broomloan though and I accept that.

I really hope that was Cummings. But it might be an own goal

How is it irrelevant? Why would we have a stadium with empty seats? Celtic get the allocation because they can fill it. Aberdeen struggle to even fill one of their stands at home.

That's because they couldn't fill it.

I just love the old firm games and one of the reasons is the atmosphere. Other than 1 or 2 European nights, the best games for atmosphere are when we play them. I know I'm in a minority here but I don't care what they sing really. I'd rather not listen to some of their bile, but our fans sing stuff I'd rather not listen to either. All things considered I'd rather they were there. They do contribute to the atmosphere and for me it wouldn't be anywhere near as atmospheric if they weren't.

This is a great attacking lineup. Falkirk are a good attacking team also. I wonder if I should change my prediction now to 11-8. I hope I've not jinxed it now and we end up with a 1-0.

I think we could all do without any of those songs. Agreed!

I appreciate the reasons for this survey but I think it's reasonable to give them the allocation they get. Furthermore, I actually want many of them to be there when we beat them. The atmosphere is always better when there's plenty of them at the stadium too.

The difference now dB is that we have at least 8 or 9 players giving it similar effort each week. Morelos, Candeias, Tav, Bates, Halliday will give it their all too. That's one of the key differences for me these days. We have players that now realise the level of effort required to win games and they now do it consistently. They all have the quality too so it's a winning combination.

I take my hat off to you. You are of course correct that we all deserve a service. I find it utterly incredible that this situation has been allowed to continue. Why has this not been addressed by the senior execs at the BBC? It seems to me like neglect or apathy. Either way it's unacceptable.

That's so true. There is so much pressure on them for that game. Murty and the players will still regard this season as a success if we finish second. If we finish within 6 points of them, their fans will demand changes. I'm sure they already are. If we win that game I think we will see their fans, the media and even the BBC turn against them. They know it and I hope that prospect haunts them. However, that's next week. We have a brilliant opportunity to get to a final so today is the biggest game for me and one I'm looking forward to. Our games seem to take too long to come around these days.