Panda

Just a reminder we won 4-1 and are into the Scottish Cup semi-final. You wouldn't know it by reading this thread

Come on min, he earned his start and he's earned his start in the next league game. He did everything but score (which I won't forget about in a hurry). We were 4-0 up and have some massive games coming up. Of course you take them off, avoid injuries or silly bookings, and let the fringe players have a dance. I don't think not winning 6-0 will have affected the confidence too much. Thought he did okay too. Yeah he's no-where near starting a game for us, but like I said above, 4-0 up against a lower league team is when you throw him on, and rest the guys you're relying on next week.

Really, really poor from Thelin subbing off Morris.

Good call.

We really should have made our offer to Millwall for Nisbet when he was gash. Millwall paid Hibs £2m for him, but with only a year left on his contract I think a deal can certainly be done. His best work isn't actually his goal scoring; he actually links that front line so well. Thelin has found his best position playing him almost as a 10. Keskinen looking so much better on the left. Morris doing okay but as ever he struggles with a final ball. Clarkson looking very good. Shinnie as ever is a wonderful footballer and human being.

Picked up a knock in training

Shinnie at left back, Clarkson and Palaversa the midfield pairing, Morris gets his deserved start, and by the looks of it no Nilsen or Devlin in the squad.

All the quarter finals are on TV, so you should be thankful it's the OGs covering it and not Premier Sports. And you get to watch Andrew Considine as a pundit. They all wish for cup upsets until they realise they're essentially hoping for Queen's Park v Livingston at Hampden, a game no-one wants to watch.

Tobers is out to be fair, Thelin confirming today he won't make it, so Dorrington will probably play. Sokler, Milne and Polvara all fit enough to be in the squad though, but the way he spoke suggested none of them will start.

Thumbs up for the graphics. Thumbs down for the line-up and tactics. Keskinen deep? Nisbet out wide? Shinnie presumably a sitting midfielder? Explain yourself.

There is no bigger critic of Morris on this forum than me, but you can't just decide he can't be trusted to start games anymore - not now, not ever - when he's clearly working his socks off and there is obvious improvement in him, and he's made an impact in recent games. Okkels isn't offering anything, I don't think you start Gueye on the left as likely him and Dabbagh replace each other at one stage as not sure they can go 90 minutes yet, and after that we're running out of options. If you do that you've lost energy from the midfield. I'd say Nilsen and Clarkson probably swap about, and Palaversa and Shinnie do the same. If you play Nilsen and Clarkson together, the pace would be quite pedestrian. Plus, would be odd if we have Mackenzie fit, Jensen who we appear to have signed to play as a left back, and then ignored both to play Shinnie who hasn't regularly played that position since he was at Caley Thistle.

Get that apostrophe to fu... never mind. Shinnie has to play. The "Morris can't start games", well this would be the one to give him his chance.

This is probably the most apt thread to put this in - the battle for third. Only four games until the split. Hibs (43) Kilmarnock (a), St Johnstone (h), Rangers (a), Dundee (h) Aberdeen (42) St Johnstone (a), Motherwell (h), Ross County (a), Rangers (h) Dundee Utd (41) Dundee (h), Ross County (a), Hearts (a), St Johnstone (h) Motherwell (37) St Mirren (h), Aberdeen (a), Kilmarnock (a), Hearts (h) -- Hearts (36) Ross County (h), Celtic (a), Dundee United (h), Motherwell (a) Ross County (35) Hearts (a), Dundee United (h), Aberdeen (h), St Mirren (a) St Mirren (34) Motherwell (a), Kilmarnock (h), Dundee (a), Ross County (h)

I don't think it did wreck our season, I think we just had a manager out of his depth who has admitted he didn't freshen up the team enough. European games might lose you a few points, but not enough to ruin your chances of third on account that no-one else outwith the Old Firm has the consistency to march into an unassailable lead. Hearts might be a bad example to use considering they're in the bottom six, but they were struggling before Europe started so don't think that affected them. However, since then, they've actually kicked on and it's worth noting that even after today's defeat they're still only six points behind us, and if they beat Dundee they're in a Scottish Cup semi-final. That's not a ruined season. I know you're joking, but I'll reply with a serious answer anyway. The new league format would actually do two things. 1. Potentially make it more interesting as it'll be six different opponents rather than three. 2. Gives us a very realistic chance (presuming it's the Conference League which would suit us far more than the Europa) of reaching the knockout stages and earning even more money. Hearts, even being as poor as they were, really should have made the knockouts. Here's some possible opponents (obviously, when this is updated Hibs will take Aberdeen's place, and that likely is the same with the many others too):- I didn't actually have a reply to this, just glad to see someone else appreciates Clarkson's recent improvement. I can see him and Nilsen switching places, and Palaversa and Shinnie doing the same. Where that leaves Polvara I don't know.

Or, take the £5m windfall, and if that affects some league performances then so be it, considering that guaranteed group stage football might not be back for a few years after next season. The ONLY team that worries me are Hibs, and even then they are average and their run will come to a halt soon (much like it did for us). Think after this we generally only have one game a week until the split, which will make a big difference. Plenty of time on the training ground for Thelin.

The emphatic answer to this is "No". We're a better team with Graeme Shinnie in it, and that's two good games at left back he's played now. Kevin Nisbet, four goals in five games. He's beginning to look like someone we should be trying to sign permanently in summer. Morris should have started over Okkels. Even though he was so close to winning the game, I'm glad Jim Goodwin is no longer our manager. Sat back and invited Aberdeen pressure for 45 minutes. And that's the real positive I take from today.

Declan Gallagher, asked if he enjoys going back to Pittodrie, said: “Absolutely not, but it is one that I'm looking forward to. Listen, there's some great people at Aberdeen, even though when I was in the club that wasn't the best of times. I did love the club, it was great, but obviously the fans have got a dislike for me and obviously, I’m not too fond of them either, so that will make for a good atmosphere for me.” That's cute. Personally, I think like most Aberdeen fans, I don't have any feelings for him. If anything I wish him well as I'd rather see Dundee United finish fourth than Hibs or Hearts because I see those clubs as a bigger threat in the long term. He just wasn't good enough for us then and isn't good enough for us now.

This is a first for me, something I never thought I'd ever say. But... I'd start Morris. Think his performances off the bench in the last few games merit a start. Keskinen on the left, Morris on the right, if Dabbagh is fit then him and Nesbit. Who starts in midfield will be interesting. Think there's an expectation Palaversa plays because he didn't in midweek, but I think Nilsen and Shinnie did okay on Tuesday. Yes, Shinnie was wasteful at times defensively, but he drives forward and brings energy in the midfield in a way no-one else in our midfield does. Plus, do you bench the captain for the fourth time in five games?

What’s the next excuse, the dog ate my ticket?

I've seen us play much worse than that at Celtic Park, but we froze in both boxes. Celtic looked average tonight, criminal that we conceded five. Positives to take are Dabbagh getting more minutes, while Mackenzie & Keskinen played well I thought. Hopefully Tobers, Mitov and Dabbagh (who asked to come off after a knock) all fine for Sunday.

The point is McGrath and Hoilett are good enough to be in our first team. It's not like they're signing our bench warmers (granted, Hoilett not so much as McGrath, but he's made 17 appearances for Hibs this season and likely would have made similar for us). Be interesting to see if boyhood Hibs fan Jack Mackenzie is next to make the move to Easter Road...

He's a very good player, and he'll be a very good player for Hibs, but he struggled in Thelin's system. Thelin wanted him playing off the left and he never really shined in that role. Hopefully Okkels becomes the player we all hope he will. The big take away from this is Hibs taking a player from a direct rival and offering him a four-year deal, months after being able to offer Hoilett what we couldn't. Whether it proves to be financially prudent or not remains to be seen, but they're spending the Black Knights money. It's always been Hearts we've been worried about for third place, but Hibs have been quietly sneaking up on us.

I'd go 4-3-3 for this one. Slightly more defensive than usual but then it is Parkhead. Could do with an extra man in midfield to track Celtic's movement; they could have Engels, McGregor, Hatate, Jota, Kuhn and Maeda all to keep an eye on. It does mean Nisbet playing up top by himself and he's been at his best linking up with Gueye or Dabbagh, but likewise wouldn't drop him after his recent performances, Dabbagh still an unknown, and Gueye doesn't do the running you'd need. If we do go 4-2-3-1 though then would start Dabbagh with Nisbet.

I'll keep you all updated. Sure everyone on the forum will chip in to buy a replacement and get it down to Glasgow for me.

Mackenzie fit but Devlin out, according to Thelin. I am one of the daft ones who has paid £35 for a restricted view ticket. Kinda feel obliged to go when it's a midweek game in Glasgow to boost the away nunbers. The ticket hasn't arrived yet mind you