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This could have been written after any one of our final twenty games of last season. That's where the worry is. Equally, you could have written that we were easy to play against, predictable and playing a style that leads to too many errors, whilst exposed in numbers. It was a bottom six performance by a bottom six team. Unless we see quality signings, or a change of approach, then that's where we'll end up. I think you're right about the friendlies, that isn't the issue (although Nielsen, especially, looked like he could have done with a few).

Re-the lack of friendlies, I do see the other side of it. A couple more friendlies may or may not have made the difference v Hearts. But we still would be saying we need a striker, an energetic midfielder, and that we missed a left back. And Yengi might still miss those chances and Knoester & Shinnie still make those mistakes for the goals. We're not going to be a full strength (we hope) until the end of the transfer window anyway. I think a lot of the complaints from Barry Robson used to be he had no time to work on things with the players once the European group games hit, because it was game, recover, travel, game, travel, recover. So, if you play a lot of pre-season friendlies, you have fewer valuable time on the training pitch. So Thelin has obviously prioritised that. And like I said, I don't think we looked unfit, and at times we knocked it about well, and while over the 90 minutes Hearts were better - there's every chance we could have taken something tonight but mistakes did us in. I'm disappointed we lost but I didn't see enough tonight to make me worry too much about the season.

I didn't really have the stomach to talk about this post match, god I hate Hearts. I can see where Panda is coming from, there were spells in the game we actually looked quite handy going forward. Equally I can understand where Rico is coming from in saying we have seen this film before though I do think Milanovic and Aouchiche add something new. The biggest concern I had coming into this was how the defence was going to perform but for the most part I felt we actually held the hearts front line at arms length from that POV. Shankland did fuck all really (lovely finish for his chalked off goal 2bf) and Braga didn't cause too many problems either despite jambo wankfests over him in the build up. The first goal was a real kick in the teeth that at the time was completely undeserved and I do suspect this game would have gone a bit differently if Knoester doesn't slip. That's not to say that we wouldn't have still lost but 1st goal was always going to be really important last night I'm sure you all agree. To concede it in the manner was just grim. 27 days left of the window which will probably drag like fuck and then a flurry of late business. There is a lot to be said for keeping your powder dry until late in the window as bargains can crop up at bigger clubs as players get pushed down the pecking with late business. Equally though there's no point in having powder if it's not going to go boom at all and if you leave it too late you can end up scambling. I also do wonder if the club are expecting a bid for ferguson sometime soon which potentially couild affect the transfer budget.

Noticed Liverpool and Crystal Palace both played double header friendlies in pre-season. Liverpool played two games back-to-back v Atletico Bilbao, Palace did the same v Augsburg. Fans only had to pay the price of one ticket. Would love to see us do something like that. Think we had a day when we essentially played two games v Cove and Turriff (?) on the same day, but it'd be nice to give everyone a taste of Pittodrie. The only issue would be if St Johnstone have enough players to field two separate teams.

I think odd is being kind Slim It is beyond bizarre and who the fuck thought that was a good idea I'd love to hear the thinking behind it.

Was a struggle following it on the Beeb website text updates. But chuckle of the day went to Craig Levein "Yengi getting subbed off - thats the fastest we've seen him move all day". Willie Miller gave Yengi absolute dogs abuse for doing fuckall all game.

Hearts had a few very good individual performances (thought McIntee looked very good for them, the type of midfielder we need) but they were just aggressive, forced mistakes, and we handed them their two goals. I don't think we walked off thinking they were miles better than us. At times when we actually got playing, individually we had a bit more about us, but look like a team that needs games. If that was a pre-season friendly I'd be thinking we showed signs of promise but need a finisher and need to be more aggressive when chasing those second balls. My worry was last week we'd be a little undercooked - fitness wise we're fine but no real rhythm to us. Easy to blame lack of friendlies, but was very little cohesion in that front three. Yengi - what I will say for him is he gets into the right positions, that's about all I can say for him. Milanovic and Aouchiche showed flashes, but neither of them hurt Hearts. Clarkson for me our best player. Great deliveries that deserved better finishes. Meh, annoying to lose to Hearts, but I don't think we're far away from still having a good season.