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?

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Here is mine for what its worth:


Main
Irvine McManus Anderson Stanic

Weatherson Quinn McInnes Sheerin
McDonald Milne

Straight 442 no messing about.

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!

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

i reckon we'll win this game. its the games v livi, clyde and stirling that we'll feck up.

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).

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!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Where will he fit into the picture then if he is a left sided midfield?. I don't think there is a huge pressure on DM to get faces in if he already has Lazarou and Samuel lined up.

It may of course lead to a permanent deal which may indicate a difference in opinion between us and septic over Quinns value.


Hmmm. Much to ponder. It reeks of the Stewart saga though.

I think that of all games this saturday, this will be the one to watch. I can see a draw here, and I reckon that Hamilton will try too hard.

But this will be the first division at its best.

Yeah, not too impressed by this signing but then I wasn't by Rocco or Deuchar either so still look forward to seeing him in action. I know he's right-sided but I was hoping Bobby Barr might not be far off a first team chance, that looks unlikely now though.

Genuinely no idea what our midfield will look like this weekend. Rocco will play and you'd think Sheerin will as well and then it's two from another half-dozen, now including Craig. Wouldn't think McInnes will want to pick himself.

[quote name='Owsley' date='Dec 13 2007, 22:03' post='2058250']
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!!!


Now that I think of it,it seems like that although the only game I remember being at is the Firhill one.When you are used to losing then the other games are a blur,Owsley.

Many cup defeats as well in that period.I can vaguely remember a Sunday cup-tie I think when Accies fans removed the snow from the pitch and also a horrible 3-0 Scottish Cup defeat when Brogan and Super Ally were playing I think.

Even then,I remember thinking that these buggers always beat us.

I also remember a cup-tie at McDiarmid in the 90's when Fat Fulston's lot nearly got a tanking off the Accies choir for spouting their disgusting Orange pish.

Funnily enough,I had an altercation with 2 of George Fulston's friends about 5 years ago due to this.His son also still flies his Loyalist Red Hand Union Jack from his flat in the Town Centre I believe,even although his windows have been panned in twice for this.

Thinking of how much money this chancer made from Accies and Falkirk still makes the blood boil.

Succinct analysis of the situation - couldn't have put it better myself!



But then you go and spoil it all by repeating this mantra. Doesn't the league table every week make you re-think this one?

How about this scenario?
1 Accies
2 St Johnstone
3 Dundee

Dundee have bided their time and slowly clawed themselves back to equal points. Was there not a healthy little gap opening between the two sides at one stage? It strikes me that Hamilton are stuttering a little bit, whilst Dundee are not. Continue that form over the rest of the season and it's not hard to understand why Fife Saint thinks Dundee are more likely to win the division than Hamilton.

And what about when we were playing in the SPL whilst you were in the second division?

We aren't a bogey team for Hamilton taken literally, but we do seem to have a decent record against them.

Fife Saint's been saying this all season - regardless of form!

Only a simpleton would believe that form carries on through a whole season. I suppose that's why bookies do so well. Form comes and goes. Hamilton are coming towards the end of their toughest run of fixtures they will probably have this season. After Saturday they have a rest to finish off their christmas shopping and then a pretty decent run of fixtures.

Dundee have relatively tougher fixtures than Hamilton coming up.

As stated previously, I would expect Hamilton to open up a gap over Dundee by the start of Feb but maybe St.Johnstone could close in on both Hamilton and Dundee if they can keep scoring the goals like they are.

This Liam Craig is left sided then? I cant see McInnes dropping Sheerin out of the squad if he is to come in, therefore i would suggest we are going to have him on the left, sheerin an Quinn in the centre and someone out right?

Or will it be McInnes in the centre and can Quinn play on the right? Strange how its only the Falkirk website who has any sort of information on this. Cant wait for this game, one of the shorter trips to make, for me anyway!

We also won three out of three in 1984/85. A John McGachie second half hat trick in a 3-2 win at DP plus two 2-1 wins at Muirton, one of which I mentioned above. In 1994/95 I think we won both games at Firhill.

I'm old enough to remember when Accies were in the Premier and Saints were in the Second, Saint Sam!

Those were the days!

By the way, sure you guys get asked every home game but is the Student gate still in operation and if so is it £10 or somethin? Cheers

Students are still concessions at NDP, and we ain't Partick, Concessions are £6

Ach pototo potato.

Cheers anyway, £6 is belter.

Good luck 2moz, hope u's get pumped!

How come there are quotes from Reid in the Evening Times saying Elebert will come straight back into the side but the Accies official site says he's still injured?

My guess would be the Evening Times has somehow got it wrong. Elebert wasn't fit enough for a run-out in the midweek reserve game, so I'll be amazed if he's playing tomorrow.

The whole story in the Evening Times is built around Reid saying what a difference Elebert will make...

Reid tips Elebert return to help Accies back on track

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid is hoping the return of David Elebert can help his side get their Irn-Bru title bid back on track.

Reid, whose side crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Livingston last week, has been without Elebert for the last month.

But the Irish defender has recovered from the knee injury that has kept him sidelined and will line up against St Johnstone at New Douglas Park tomorrow.

And Billy beamed: "It is a big boost. David has been one of our most consistent performers in the last couple of seasons and we have missed him.

"He is only 21, but he organises our defence really well and communicates well with his team- mates. He is an old head on young shoulders."

Check the Official site now...

I'm duly amazed.

I hope he's fully fit and is not being rushed back. And I hope he starts at centre-back.

My XI would be:

Halliwell
Mensing Elebert McLaughlin Easton
Wallner McCarthy Neil McArthur Gilhaney
Offiong

subs: Cerny, Swailes, Gibson, Winters, Graham

Good news. Elebert has been out for over a month. He came back against Dundee then seemd to get injured again, that must be at least five matches he's missed.

All together now, "We all dream of a team of Eleberts....."

We will finally beat St Johnstone at NDP tomorrow and lay the bogey team talk to rest once and for all. Last week will not be repeated and I can see us wining by a quite a convincing margin. St Johnstone are in turmoil and are not the team they were last season. Coyle knew this and this is one of the reasons (apart from hard cash) that he left for Burnley.

McInnes as manager was a poor appointment and if we return to the tactics and formation that served us so well earllier in the season then it will be an easy victory.

Hopefully this is the dip in form past now and normal service will resume tomorrow.

prove it

I think the opinion that the McInnes appointment was poor is based on the fact that he has no managerial experience and it does seem to be an unambitious move by St Johnstone, considering their near misses in recent seasons' attempts to gain SPL status.

It's up to Mr. McInnes to prove that his appointment was not a poor one.

I think Accies will get back on track tomorrow with a comfortable win... 3-1.

Our best managers in recent years have had no managerial experience and have come into the job with fresh ideas. Under those managers we've had that do tick the experience box, we've played some of the worst and most uninspiring football in living memory.

Geoff Brown has a number of criteria he looks for in a manager, he found that in Sturrock so went down the same route in the search to replace Connolly. He found that in Coyle and has done the same again.

What would have been an ambitious move? I'm far more excited by appointing a Coyle or a McInnes than a Duffy or a Malpas.

There is nothing to suggest McInnes will be a success but equally, there is absolutely nothing to suggest he is a poor appointment.

Whatever the result today, we've suffered a couple of one goal defeats over the whole season, yet the poster above reckons we are in turmoil. A slight exaggeration methinks. What I think it - and the draws - shows is that we are a few players away from being a really good side again. If McInnes is a decent tactican and motivator and gets the right players in come January, then I expect us to be much stronger in the second half of the season although no doubting we've very likely let Dundee and Accies get far too far ahead of us. I guess today is vital in that sense.

If McInnes doesn't turn out so well and the right players don't arrive then there is a real chance we'll drop down the league as I don't think there is much seperating us from a few sides below us, notably Thistle.