[Ye Olde Hamiltonian]

Surprised no one has started this yet as there are plenty threads on the other games.

With Accies currently on a downturn,many-including Accies fans-perceive this as another chance for Dundee and others to plug the gap.In the case of Dundee,they will be expecting to go top this weekend which would be a huge pyschological blow for Dundee and against Accies.

St.Johnstone fans will see this as a chance to get closer to Accies and potentially Dundee who have a tough game in Greenock.Livvy will also see this as a chance for another Accies slip up.

There are two ways of looking at this from an Accies perspective.One is that this is the worst team to face when on a bad run.Two wins in 32 years I think is our record against the Perthshire Massive.

In fact in 31 years of watching Accies,I have only witnessed ONE victory and that was the Challenge Cup Semi-Final victory at McDiarmid a few seasons ago.

However,Accies are a better team than last season while arguably Saints are worse,although to be fair they have had their key players injured most of this season.

Optimistically speaking,this hoodoo has to end sometime and it will probably end when least expected.That is why I believe we will win on Saturday due to the old law of averages scenario.In addition,Reid will have kicked arses after last week's disaster.

[sconesjfc]

Ye Olde Hamiltonian, on Dec 12 2007, 22:11, said:

Surprised no one has started this yet as there are plenty threads on the other games.

With Accies currently on a downturn,many-including Accies fans-perceive this as another chance for Dundee and others to plug the gap.In the case of Dundee,they will be expecting to go top this weekend which would be a huge pyschological blow for Dundee and against Accies.

St.Johnstone fans will see this as a chance to get closer to Accies and potentially Dundee who have a tough game in Greenock.Livvy will also see this as a chance for another Accies slip up.

There are two ways of looking at this from an Accies perspective.One is that this is the worst team to face when on a bad run.Two wins in 32 years I think is our record against the Perthshire Massive.

In fact in 31 years of watching Accies,I have only witnessed ONE victory and that was the Challenge Cup Semi-Final victory at McDiarmid a few seasons ago.

However,Accies are a better team than last season while arguably Saints are worse,although to be fair they have had their key players injured most of this season.

Optimistically speaking,this hoodoo has to end sometime and it will probably end when least expected.That is why I believe we will win on Saturday due to the old law of averages scenario.In addition,Reid will have kicked arses after last week's disaster.

Ahhh yes should be a good game, remind me, what was the score when we played you in perth a couple of months ago?

[academical]

St Johnstone usually give us a tough game, but they really aren't a "bogey team" for us at NDP.

I think we'll win this one - mainly because we have to - and I'm hopeful Dundee will spill points the same day.

[Fife Saint]

I have a feeling the Dee will be top come 5pm. We will obviously draw because that is what we do and they will scrape it at Cappielow although i don't think they will have it easy.

I'm not going to make it unfortunately. I'm getting dragged xmas shopping by the missus who was less than impressed that i haven't started it yet.

[hazel1884]

Fife Saint, on Dec 12 2007, 22:57, said:

I have a feeling the Dee will be top come 5pm. We will obviously draw because that is what we do and they will scrape it at Cappielow although i don't think they will have it easy.

I'm not going to make it unfortunately. I'm getting dragged xmas shopping by the missus who was less than impressed that i haven't started it yet.

You poof!!

I will be heading through, although still not got the enthusiasm back from the last time we were through here...hopefully we can give use some sort of game though.

McInnes isn't afraid to play around with the formation (probably a little too much!) but can't see much of the personnel changing from last Saturday.

Think McInnes will need to play himself if Moon is still out, and can't comment how any players in the reserves are looking for pushing a first team place..

We usually play well down at NDP though so i travel in hope of 3 points!

[Fife Saint]

As long as he abandons this notion of playing complex formations. Just play a 442 with 2 wingers and 2 strikers please Derek.

I want Weatherson out on the right. Its ALL i ask. Oh and an Xbox360.

[EKACCIES]

In the last 32 years we have between St Johnstone 16 times, we have only won twice at McDiarmid.

Admittedly we haven't beaten them at home in 10 years , but then again we have only been in the same division for the past 3 years of the last 10.

No so much a bogey team as time to settle a score.

[Fife Saint]

EKACCIES, on Dec 12 2007, 23:26, said:

In the last 32 years we have between St Johnstone 16 times, we have only won twice at McDiarmid.

Admittedly we haven't beaten them at home in 10 years , but then again we have only been in the same division for the past 3 years of the last 10.

No so much a bogey team as time to settle a score.

Less of a bogey team and more of an annoying snotter that you can't get at even if you use your pinky.

[Steve McQueen]

academical, on Dec 12 2007, 22:18, said:

St Johnstone usually give us a tough game, but they really aren't a "bogey team" for us at NDP.

5 Wins, 2 Draws, 0 Defeats is a good record but not a bogey team as we've mainly been above you in the league.

[badgers apprentice]

st johnstone had a fluke when they pumped us rotten in the second half earlier of this season and i think our impressive home form is going to continue, unlike our away form which is becoming a fecking joke! 2-0 accies with dundee losing and putting us where we belong

[Radford]

hazel1884, on Dec 12 2007, 23:06, said:

Think McInnes will need to play himself if Moon is still out, and can't comment how any players in the reserves are looking for pushing a first team place..

Oh Papa! Maybe if Moon isn't fit Mr Niang will have impressed during the week. Agreed though that the manager needs to have either himself, Mooner or Niang in the holding role. Rezzas were ok during the week, best player was Bobby Barr who can't be far off pushing himself into the first team reckoning IMO. Of the others, Stewart should still be ahead of Daal - where is he? - in the pecking order.

David Weatherston scored one and created two and I'm a big fan but he needs to add more aggression to his game. I know that's easier said that done but he doesn't win enough 50:50 challenges.

Hard to pick a side as quite a few of the players are deserving a shot. Can't seperate the three strikers - four if we sign Samuel - and there's options in midfield, even if they aren't as good as we'd maybe like. Back four picks itself and I'm genuinely not sure what 'keeper I'd go with, which is a worry.

[Fife Saint]

Here is mine for what its worth:


Main
Irvine McManus Anderson Stanic

Weatherson Quinn McInnes Sheerin
McDonald Milne

Straight 442 no messing about.

[hazel1884]

Radford, on Dec 13 2007, 09:00, said:

best player was Bobby Barr who can't be far off pushing himself into the first team reckoning IMO. Of the others, Stewart should still be ahead of Daal - where is he? - in the pecking order.

Bobby Barr was the only youth in a suit when they were going round the pitch on Sat which would suggest to me he was in the squad - as that's the only time Mr Moon and Mr Dyer would wear their suits on matchdays!

The only time i have seen Daal is in a pub. Hopefully John Stewart could get a cheeky wee start before he goes so the fans can show their appreciation for him!

On the goalkeeping front - i just don't know...Main's clangers are so bad you instantly remember them, and to be honest i'm not paying to watch games of "Alan's Antics" either. BUT everyone seems to be forgetting how easy Cuthbert was getting lobbed and how there was little communication when Cat was in goals. At least Alan Main talks to them. If i was a defender i wouldn't be comfortable playing in front of either of them!

[Super_J]

Savo has signed a contract extension and will celebrate by scoring twice on Saturday as NDP.

A ground I don't think i've even seen us draw on nevermind lose so hopeful for this one but with one away win in the league all season i dont see why we should go into this with too much confidence. Hopefully Del has a beeter idea of his tactics and line-up and every1 knows what is expected of them.

Lookin forward to this none the less, i'm not workin my usual 6-11.30am shift prematch so should be right up for it!

Mon the Saintees

[SaintSam]

We will definitely be boosted by the return of Steven Milne, who has also revived the season of Peter MacDonald. If McInnes chooses to ditch his weird formations and go simple 4-4-2 with a settled backline and himself back in the middle with a pacey winger out right to compensate for the lack of pace down the left, I think we could be in with a chance.

Gary Irvine had Accies in his back pocket at McDiarmid Park earlier in the season so he'll be right up for this one I'd imagine. He seems to play better against better teams (a bit like Saints in general, really).

[Owsley]

Our record against Saints isn't nearly as bad as Ye Olde states. On my one and only visit to Muirton Park in 1984 I saw Accies win 2-1. We also beat them 3-1 at Firhill in 94/95, even John McQuade scored! We beat them 2-0 a couple of years ago at McDiarmid, Colin Cramb scoring plus that Challenge Cup semi. That's off the top of my head.

Just dug out a few programmes from the late 70's, early 80's. Quite a few wins from that period, within the 32 years stated.

76/77- 3 wins out of 3, including a 6-0 humping at DP
78/79- 2 wins at home and a draw away
79/80- 1 win at Muirton
81/82- 1 win and two draws

Owsley aka Mythbuster!!!

[josecomehome]

St. johnstone have stuck 4 past us in there last 3 games against us.
Accies have never beaten them at NDP.

I predict a 2nil Accies victory

[josecomehome]

Steve McQueen, on Dec 12 2007, 23:39, said:

5 Wins, 2 Draws, 0 Defeats is a good record but not a bogey team as we've mainly been above you in the league.

Last year- effectively one place
year before- one place
2 years ago- accies finished one above St. J.

Id say you are a legitimate bogey team.

[Fife Saint]

The more i think about it the more i think this weekend could be a defining moment in the league.

Hamilton win and bury any notion of us challenging. We win and Hamilton suddenly find themselves in a bad run all of a sudden.

I still maintain that if we finish above Dundee we will be champs. Saturday may go a long way to proving that.

[josecomehome]

If we beat St. Johnstone we enter a very winable run of fixtures until we meet St. Johnston again in February. We could build up a cushion of points over Dundee.

If St. Johnstone win- I still believe we are likely to go on a run of wins but I believe that St.Johnstone could as well and peg back Dundee in the process. Dundee are due a dodgy run and have a tough run of fixtures until the start of Feb.

Livingston could also go on a run.

I can't see any other teams having the consistency to achieve 3 or 4 wins in a row.

[Fife Saint]

I genuinely believe we have the players coming back now who can take us on a run of results and there are 2 new faces for Saturday apparently.

Savo on a 2 year deal is a huge boost providing we can keep him fit and playing. Top quality striker. He can give us 10 in the second half of the season IF he plays.

This post has been edited by Fife Saint: 13 December 2007 - 22:47

[Radford]

Fife Saint, on Dec 13 2007, 22:46, said:

I genuinely believe we have the players coming back now who can take us on a run of results and there are 2 new faces for Saturday apparently.

One of them is Liam Craig, signed for a month on loan from Falkirk.

[Fife Saint]

Another loan. Does that indicate that DM is not sure of Papa Lazarou? Or is he just keeping his options open.


Who is the other?

[Radford]

Fife Saint, on Dec 13 2007, 23:10, said:

Another loan. Does that indicate that DM is not sure of Papa Lazarou? Or is he just keeping his options open.


Who is the other?

To be fair to him, he's limited to loans at the moment, bar the odd free going around like Papa. I'm not sure if clearance is proving a problem with him.

No idea on the other, only found out about Craig on the SPL Forum, it's on the Falkirk website.