Heart of Midlothian vs Celtic

[Sarkozabal]

With beni back and Haring in form, it's difficult for Devlin to get in imo. Refreshing that we have good options in there imo.

Aye, Beni and Haring starting the derby for me.

Any news on Halkett's injury btw? Who the fuck plays at the back if he's injured and we get a deal done for Souttar?

Hopefully Randy is firing up the English under-23 wikipedia pages as we speak.

[Del-icious]

Defensively I like him because regardless of the opponent he's going to be hounding you down and trying to force mistakes and he's good at it.

You can't single handedly press that Celtic team out the game though and they will happily just play around him.  I think devlin is class for us but certain players are going to find these games a lot harder and he's one of them.  Beni coming back in the team will do wonders for devlin as he will be able to do more of the work on the ball as think devlin falls short a bit there.

As yous say though hard to drop Haring.

[Del-icious]

Think this is probably quite accurate. He was terrible tonight and a partnership with Haring just isn't the one. The Japanese midfielder for Celtic had a ball in there with those two chasing shadows.

I like Devlin's attitude and character but he's an average player. Needs to cut out the daft tackles to please the fans when he's struggling.

Beni is several levels above him.

[Drederick Shanktum]

I honestly think folk are underestimating how well Celtic went round us. Devlin for the most part was covering for big Petes lack of mobility when playing in a two against a top side.

[Zizou]

I honestly think folk are underestimating how well Celtic went round us. Devlin for the most part was covering for big Petes lack of mobility when playing in a two against a top side.

When Beni came on there was a lot more composure to the point where Haring wasn't actually looking limited because we had control of the ball and that's where he does best. Hard to tell how much of that was Beni and how much of that was Celtic tiring though.

Just think with Devlin running about daft and flying in to tackles only gets you so far and is exposed against the good teams.

[Sarkozabal]

I honestly think folk are underestimating how well Celtic went round us. Devlin for the most part was covering for big Petes lack of mobility when playing in a two against a top side.

As AP says he's very good at keeping the thick cunts in the stands onside by diving in with a loose tackle or running about like a headless chicken when he's being outplayed. Amazing that they played around us more easily in the first half when one of our midfield two was charging about trying to close down Joe Hart than in the second half when we had two disciplined players in there.

Celtic played very well but the reality is they were missing a few key players and it was a real opportunity for us. Unfortunately we made it far too easy for them in the first half, and it was probably a mixture of tactical mistakes and poor decision making on the pitch.

[Shteve]

That boy Hatate had Devlin on toast like, he was running about like a maniac and that boy had his number at every turn. Beni was gravy when he came on.

[BoJack Horseman]

We're a good distance off seriously competing for anything higher than third as tonight showed. Better effort second half but we didn't create much with that improved performance. First half as everyone says we were miles off it.

Yet another game we stand off them early and give ourselves far too much to do. Have to hope the injuries to Smith and Halkett aren't too bad.

[pondlife]

Our midfield was simply outplayed in the first half. No point having three up front if we can't get them the ball.
An uncharacteristic gaol conceded from Gordon. I was right in line with it and lost sight of it for a brief second. Suspect Gordon did too as it went through his arms.

Hart was virtually on the floor as Boyce struck the pen; he just had to roll it in.

Ohh, and Beni is Boss!

[Del-icious]

As AP says he's very good at keeping the thick cunts in the stands onside by diving in with a loose tackle or running about like a headless chicken when he's being outplayed. Amazing that they played around us more easily in the first half when one of our midfield two was charging about trying to close down Joe Hart than in the second half when we had two disciplined players in there.

Celtic played very well but the reality is they were missing a few key players and it was a real opportunity for us. Unfortunately we made it far too easy for them in the first half, and it was probably a mixture of tactical mistakes and poor decision making on the pitch.

Think you're probably being quite hard on him but this is how I seen it too.

The rest of the team trying to be quite patient and he's flying ahead, although reckon they could've taken a bit of his lead and been a bit more urgent up their end when celtic were in possession but ultimately was just wasted effort and left a big gap for them to play in.

[Zizou]

Celtic looked very good for a half and the boy in the middle is a serious player but the go to shit after 60 minutes. Never seen a Hearts team look so much fitter than an old firm team before. Not a chance they'll win the league.

Fans are fucking rhats anaw.

[pondlife]

We're a good distance off seriously competing for anything higher than third as tonight showed. Better effort second half but we didn't create much with that improved performance. First half as everyone says we were miles off it.

Yet another game we stand off them early and give ourselves far too much to do. Have to hope the injuries to Smith and Halkett aren't too bad.

Halkett had his head in his hands so perhaps not good. Smith was holding his lower back, kidney area - who knows!

[Shteve]

First half it felt like we couldn't actually do a single thing, they were swarming us like fuck. Don't know how much of that first half is down to them being very good or us being shite. Mixture probably.

[Del-icious]

First half they had 11 men behind the ball, 2 men pressing every hearts player in possession and somehow still had the ability to have every man up within about 2 seconds of winning the ball

It's hard to say if Ange is any good or he's just used his budget to bring a level of player in that will roll over any team outside the OF.  I don't see how that type of football is going to work against these well drilled European teams with players who can match them technically, especially if that's them at 60 mins against a team like hearts.

[The Great Khali]

They are absolute shite when they're knocking it about at the back like. Hart and starfelt especially. I must admit I didn't mind Devlin charging about there. I understand they can't all charge about on the goalie and centre half but someone needed to imo.

[Shteve]

I felt if we went a back 4 to start and Halliday in the midfield we'd have had a better chance the night, feel against Celtic especially that 2 in the middle just doesn't work, Cockring was pish tonight too.

[Zizou]

That's the last 2 OF games we've stood back and admired them in the first half and lost the game. Does my fucking nut in like.

[The Great Khali]

Was about greetin at that applause by the way. Fucking horrible.

[Drederick Shanktum]

Think it's too easy to say we stood off and admired them, at some point you have to admit they have good footballers and penned us back.

The one player who didn't stand off and admire is getting pelters for being indisciplined

[Shteve]

Good thing is we are staying in these games. You can go 2-0 down against good teams and throw the towel in and it's 4-0 before they put the tools away. Just don't seem to be able to get it right from the start.