Relegation Countdown: Part I - Livi v Hearts

Let's get this over and done with. Just a formality we'll turn up and put in a better performance on Saturday than we did last night. Neilson looks like the sort of manager who won't get complacent for playing the bottom team as much as he likes to create the perfect parting in his hair.

3-0 to the Gorgie Gimps. FG 18 mins.

Liv 0 Hearts 2

FG 26 mins

Cunts, this lot. They'll probably win 2-0.

They're still cunts though.

3-1 Hearts, FG: 18 mins

Hopefully we can keep it tight at the back and frustrate them, then counter with a goal. Would love to take something from one of the double header games. Just clear the lines and take no chances please, really can't afford to gift them a goal.

4-1 Hearts FG 7 mins.

Our defence has looked shaky against poor teams and DJ was lucky with a spillage against Alloa.

I get the feeling that Hearts will be well up for this and could pummel us.

I think they'll come at us from the whistle, if we manage to hold out for 20 minutes then we'll have a chance to get a shock result against them. They'll have got the Falkirk defeat out of their system against Alloa but they're still a very good team so we'll be up against it, but they aren't infallible, Alloa had chances against them and so will we. Just need to get they finger out and stick them away.

I'd love to see Ibra on from the start and use Mullen as an impact sub this time, wee Mullen has had good games and scored some great goals but sometimes he just looks lost in games and has been found wanting against the big teams. Just a bit inexperienced at this level and would be bursting when he came on for the last 20 mins and prob cause them problems then.

Realistically speaking there's little chance that we'll get anything out of either of these games, I'd be in favour of Burchill shaking things up a bit. Someone mentioned it on LL but it's something I've thought for a while, get O'Brien further up a bit. His ball control is immaculate and his passing is superb; he's totally wasted tracking back all the time. Seeing as Kyle Jacobs is undroppable at the moment, just have him sitting back rather than rampaging forward and undoing our own attacks, which seemed to be his only input on Tuesday night. Get Hippo and Ibra up top and have a fucking go Livi, we never, ever seem to pull off results against bigger teams.

1-0 Livi, FG 54 mins.

0-3 Hearts, fgs 12 mins.

Have no hope for tomorrow at all.

Afro wrote:Realistically speaking there's little chance that we'll get anything out of either of these games, I'd be in favour of Burchill shaking things up a bit. Someone mentioned it on LL but it's something I've thought for a while, get O'Brien further up a bit. His ball control is immaculate and his passing is superb; he's totally wasted tracking back all the time. Seeing as Kyle Jacobs is undroppable at the moment, just have him sitting back rather than rampaging forward and undoing our own attacks, which seemed to be his only input on Tuesday night. Get Hippo and Ibra up top and have a fucking go Livi, we never, ever seem to pull off results against bigger teams.

1-0 Livi, FG 54 mins.

We used to...we owned Hearts the first SPL season & gave Hibs a few pastings as well as beating Oldgers & getting a draw against the only Big Team we have never beaten. It is only since we began to spiral downwards that we have failed to beat the bigger sides....& nowadays we struggle against the wee teams as well!

Well...the first half was spoiled by the inept refereeing but on the whole was a good game. IMO we should have had a pen when Alexander dropped the ball & White ended up on his back. Great finish by Zeefuik to take the lead.

Second half I thought was a much better game as the ref actually started to let things flow; we matched them for most of the half & for a short spell looked more likely to get a second than they did. The two goals late on killed the game but credit to our lads for continuing to push & to close it to another 1 goal defeat.

We said it last time but if we could just show the same level of performance against the weaker sides we wouldn't be in this hole.

One final gripe about the officials...when DJ volleyed a clearance from the deadball line Hearts were given a corner, it was never out of play & I seriously doubt that a goal would have been given had it been between the posts & it looked to me like a cross went out of play & curled back in & we were awarded a throw in instead of a goal kick...which we didn't do well with & they got the ball to score their 2nd. We should have cleared the throw in but should never have been in that position as it should have been a goal kick.

We played far too deep in the hope of grinding out a draw and we got exposed because of it. A lack of concentration (possibly due to tiredness) cost us at least a valuable point. Other than that it was a good performance and much better than the pish I witnessed on Tuesday. Seriously can't understand how this team pick and choose when they want to turn up otherwise we'd have made up from the 5 point deduction.

Thought Ibra was a breadth of fresh air. Bags of pace, always willing to shut down and isn't afraid to go in for a tackle. Don't want to get my hopes after Hippo's impact at the start of the season but he could definitely be the difference between survival and relegation. Everyone else put in a good shift and there has to be an expectancy that they can grind out every week.

Ref had no control of the game in the first half and I couldn't stand how the Jamtwats appealed for every decision. Clear signs of a team top of the table who think they can influence the ref as was shown in the first half.

Same again next week. Keep pressing, stop Gomis/Bauben dictating play and don't be as wasteful in the final third.

Ref had a brain storm 1st half booking Livi players and allowing the same kind of fouls to go uncarded for Hearts. Must've had a look at his book during HT and thought it looked hell of a one sided for the same amount of fouls.

Thought we looked the better team first half but were too slow getting shots away around the box. Keaghan got caught on the ball and it cost us but the big heffalump still had a lot to do before he scored so credit to him for his goal. Don't think they threatened our goal apart from when Gallagher lifted his foot to allow the ball to run under it and give them a corner.

2nd half was end to end after we got a deserved equalizer, and I actually thought we looked more likely to score than them. Dycey *backed off too much and let their player get in our box and pick out Anderson for their 2nd goal and Keaghan again was at fault for their 3rd. Basically all their goals were helped by our players either giving the ball away or giving too much space to a player, hopefully Burchill will get that sorted for the next game against them or they'll murder us at home.

I like Keaghan but that's 3 goals in 3 games he's cost us, really needs to buck up his ideas.

I'm more annoyed because we played pretty well and deserved a draw, getting sick of nearly getting points or deserving them but getting nothing because of slack play.

Positives were Ibra looking a live wire chasing down every ball knocked up the pitch, don't even have to be that accurate (which is just as well) he'll either get to the ball first or chase it down and hassle the player until he gets it, must start for our next game.

Would start both Hippo and Ibra up front, drop Mullen and White, along with Kyle, and get Praprotnik on too. We need pace against Hearts and would get at them with quick breaks up the pitch as they push their attacks, Hippo and Ibra would be ideal for that.

*Apologies it was O'Brien backing off their player for their 2nd goal not Dycey, just watched the goals highlights.



I like the goal cam for Livi goals, nice.

Don't think you can blame Keaghan for the 3rd as he didn't see the lad behind him who knicked the ball then ran on to score, once he got away from Keaghan someone else should have tackled him.
Also...as you say he did lose the ball for the possession change for the 1st but there was a lot to do before Zeefuik scored, he took it well & probably surprised our defence with the shot. He can certainly hit a ball. So a bit harsh to blame Keaghan for the loss of the goal; he can be blamed for losing the ball though.

Ref was an utter disgrace, probably down the masonic lodge the now getting sucked off by that old Anne Budge tart.

Scumbo hun bastards.

Bertie Bassett wrote:Don't think you can blame Keaghan for the 3rd as he didn't see the lad behind him who knicked the ball then ran on to score, once he got away from Keaghan someone else should have tackled him.
Also...as you say he did lose the ball for the possession change for the 1st but there was a lot to do before Zeefuik scored, he took it well & probably surprised our defence with the shot. He can certainly hit a ball. So a bit harsh to blame Keaghan for the loss of the goal; he can be blamed for losing the ball though.

We were all up the pitch bar Sives when he lost possession, that gave Hearts the chance to hit us on the break when we were all over the place in defence, really shouldn't have lost the ball to put us in that position. Could argue we shouldn't have all pushed up and left ourselves without cover right enough but still blame Keaghan for a sloppy pass under no pressure for their first. It totally changed how the game played out as we had a great start to the game and were all over Hearts. It really was a kick in the nuts losing that goal and lifted the Hearts team and their fans.

Was actually surprised how well we started the game and didn't give Hearts any clear chances from their own play, only time in the first half they threatened us was from our own doing.
Would say the worse two players for losing possession were Mullen and Kyle though, hope Burchill drops them for the 2nd game and sticks Praprotnik and Hippo on. Would even go as far as having Beaumont on too and dropping O'Brien. Doubt he's got the courage to make those kind of changes though, keeps sticking with the same players that have looked out of sorts.

Would've given odds on Livi going down to 10 men in the 2nd half, can't believe it was Hearts that got the red card. Talbot got off with a boot to their players face too, Ref had an absolute shocker, must be the worst ref we've had in years.

We aren't getting relegated!

We just need to perform like that against lesser opposition and we will survive, a very harsh result today but we battled hard and bullied Hearts up front for spells today but just never created enough especially from midfield for clear cut chances, as per far too hesitant!!

A draw was a fair result but football is a cruel game!

However the referee is the big talking point, without a shadow one of the worst first half performances I've ever witnessed - 6 bookings, 1 justified, 1 a red card (Talbot should of walked) and one stonewall penalty waved away - Alexander nowhere near the ball!

It was embarrassing refereeing! I echo the points previously made from Liviforever regarding the sloppiness of their goals - need to learn!

All in all - far improved performance.

Hearts are jammy f***s!

What a game, we nearly got a draw at least.

White and ibra were immense it was so the wrong decision to take our Gladiator off as he was a massive threat to the Hearts defence who must have thought brilliant when White was substituted.

Two strange substititutions in two games from Burchy ....Keaghan on Tuesday and then White yesterday.

Great performance from the team all over the pitch though.

As much as I agree with you about White being subbed as Mullen was having a mare of a game, I'd drop him this Sat and start with Hippo and Ibra up front, think we need pace hitting Hearts on the break and those two would have a field day against them with the space they leave in midfield when they push forward. Running at their defenders would cause them problems and create chances for us, we don't need the sort of White player getting the ball knocked to him, we need the ball hit past him and both Hippo and Ibra are more suited to that tactic. They can both run with the ball and take players on too which I think would have Hearts all over the shop in defence.

I admire your optimism about players who have constantly let us down. You thought Ogleby would become good,now you are thinking that the Hippo would be a good starting player when he has proved time and again that when he starts the team are a man down.Hippo is an excellent impact player, nothing more. White and Ibra were showing a good understanding together. Also White helps out in defence at every corner or set piece and as Burchy was saying in the media last week his work ethic and attitude will take him far in the game. His substitution yesterday when we were well in the game was baffling when as you say  Mullen was having a torrid time on the left.

Have to start with Ibra and White next Saturday as this could well be a great partnership going into end of season

No, I thought Ogleby was useless but was hoping he'd come good and looked like he'd score soon. He came close with getting a 1 on 1, then scored but it got chopped off (think he scored 2 in a training league game too), just had a feeling he was actually going to score. Had no illusions he was a  useless lump all season though.

I'm not slagging White off, though he's too fecking slow getting a shot off against Hearts and wants to set it up perfectly before he hits it, it's more his style of play just isn't going to be the best way to get at them, we need to knock the ball past their player to run onto, like Ibra was doing, and Hippo can do that too, so we'd have two players to target for breaks up the pitch. Also both can run with the ball and get past players, White can't and needs a player to pass to.

Thought Ibra and White did a lot better than Mullen and White, or Hippo and White did in games this season, but think Ibra and Hippo would do even better.

Are you relegated to White by any chance, you've got an unwavering loyalty towards him even when he isn't having a good game, or misses lots of chances, you can't see past him.

It is purely a tactical opinion, imo White isn't suited to the game plan I think would best get a result against Hearts.

Liviforever I see your reasoning but you need to look at the facts here mate, I have to agree with Smithy, hard to start two strikers that haven't scored a league goal between them, just for pace alone, the stats don't lie.

I would start White & Ibra, Keaghan needs to start passing to them both as our best player he did all the hard work yesterday and is always tidy on the ball but was horrible at through balls yesterday, hesitant, very wasteful and got caught on the ball for the 3rd goal!

When you watch the highlights you'll see that White was denied a stonewall penalty and very unlucky yesterday, needs better players around him and Ibra defo is one.

Liviforever I just call it as I see it mate just like yourself.I just appreciate the work White does and obviously the manager sees that too. We are all entitled to our opinions and was having a bit of a laugh with you about your Ogleby Ogleby comments. However I cannot agree with you regarding Hippo starting with Ibra as he has started a few games and always had to be taken off even at half time. He certainly has pace and can be a nuisance but I am of the opinion that he can only be used as an impact player.

Would agree with you for the most part Smithy but that was pre Ibra and imo Hippo would link up well with him. The way I saw Hearts play Ibra and Hippo would be affective against them.

In another game White and Ibra would be my first choice but not this game.

It's all over the media now, reckless tackle that would have no complaints if it had got a red but ffs, talk about overkill. The way the media are weighing in you'd think we kicked them all over the pitch and scraped 2 goals against them, after being pummelled all game with their silky skills.

Mentioning our card count after saying how Talbot launched his studs fully into their players face when he was standing fully upright and showing a pic as the studs make contact. For a start the card count was fecking ridiculous with the ref going ott handing yellows for every challenge we made, then letting Hearts off with the same tackles only giving us fouls. Talbot is known for his full bloodied tackles that get him into trouble, but even this one is being shown out of context, he took a swipe at the ball, got a bit of contact on it then followed through as he was off balance falling down and caught the guy full on the face. Not as they're making out launching straight at his face and was in fashion with how Livi played all game.

Shame this happened because it is taking away from our good performance and that we were extremely unlucky to lose the game after playing so well.

Might be a good idea to drop Talbot for the 2nd game and play Rutherford to defuse any potential retribution and flare up.

Spot on here lad! The media are classic at doing such things! I would probably drop Talbot as well so it doesn't flare up but that's if he doesn't already get a suspension retrospectively now!