looking forward to this one - although I have a bad feeling about it.

 

In/oot: In

prematcher: Not decided yet

match: Row 27

Postmatcher: AFC Roadshow

Prediction: 2-1 hearts

Craig spoke to the media at lunchtime to preview the Hearts game. To watch the media conference in full please click here.

"I fancy going to Tynecastle because invariably the better the opposition, the better we play. I am optimistic about our trip to Tynecastle, no doubt about that and I think you will find an Aberdeen team which will make an impact at Tynecastle.

 

"The injury situation has improved slightly. We hope that just on the fringe of things will be Isaac Osbourne. Slightly better is Stephen Hughes who may be fit. Russell Anderson had a full game in mid-week so it gives him an opportunity to be available for selection. I do not think the position he plays is a priority position at the minute but it is good to have him fit and ready. So Isaac is still a doubt. Fraser Fyvie will not be available.

 

"I think I will look at the resources and decide whether to use Russell or not. He has proved in the couple of games that he is ready to be considered. I think you would agree that he is maybe not as match sharp as he would like to be but, because of the experience he has got and his influence, we could use him.

 

"We always had good results at Tynecastle previous to coming here. It is not that it is an intimidating place for a game, it has a very good atmosphere and a great a stadium and the players should be motivated to play at Tynecastle.

"Three points would be great. We want to finish as high up this league as possible; the semi-final is not coming into our minds at the moment. The main objective for us at the moment is to get three points and to be, not in a totally proud position, but as proud as we can in the lower-half. That means being the best of the rest and that means catching Kilmarnock which I think is possible.

 

"I get on very well with the Hearts manager, it is a great club and it is a terrific environment in which to play and as i say it shouldn't be intimidating, it should be motivating.

 

"Generally in football the leopard doesn't change its spots; that's a theory I have anyway. Therefore, a player who will try and save themselves in a league game in the hope they will be ready for the cup, we are not interested in that.

 

Craig also gave an update on the contract news.

 

"I have a meeting this afternoon and that's just to try and get our act together in terms of a retain list and release list. It won't be definitive today; I would imagine it will be the first of several meetings. The players will have no indication even before the semi-final. We may have our minds made up but it is totally inappropriate, for example, if we were not renewing a player's contract to tell them before they may be used in the semi-final, that's crazy. There will be one or two players that may well be in that situation but it won't be announced, I can assure you that. I am very sensitive on how players should be advised about their future and it shouldn't be through the media I think you will agree.

 

"We have made up our minds on most players. There are one two that when I meet tomorrow with the group I will ask can we reserve judgement on a couple of players. I think it is only fair to the guys concerned and there is a good reason for that. This afternoons meeting will not be totally conclusive."

In/oot: Out

prematcher: Resting

match: Out

Postmatcher: Out

Prediction: 2-1 Aberdeen!!

In/oot: In

prematcher: Roseburn

match: Upper Roseburn Stand somewhere

Postmatcher: AFC Roadshow

Prediction: 3-1

Brown, McArdle, Reynolds, Considine, Robertson, Arnason, Clark, Pawlett, Vernon, Mackie, Rae.

Finally pawlett starting, hopefully he takes hid chance. Suppose Mackie was due one last chance before he goes.

are we getting worse week by week?

Truly awful. Spanked by a shite Hearts side. Not a single shot on target and now 16 games without scoring.

  :hammer:

 

enough said.

Games on Alba right now...

Skacel scored 2 goals? hm... I have never liked him, he has never been loyal player hes looking for money only...

At least with big Russell back we didn't slump to another insipid 0-1 defeat.....................

So are we missing Fyvie then? Im sure we've lost every game since he's been out injured, or is it more the fact the players / staffs eye is not on the ball anymore. Seems like we're making up for lost time during the unbeaten run