SPL - 29th September Team News & Thoughts‏

Aberdeen v Hibs


Aberdeen


Injuries - Fallon, Naysmith
Doubts - Hayes, Fraser
Available Squad - Langfield, Foster, Considine, Anderson, Robertson, Jack, Hughes, Rae, Vernon, Hayes, Osbourne, Megginson, Magennis, Fraser, Smith, Low, McGinn, Reynolds, Milsom, Brown

Probable XI - Langfield, Magennis, Considine, Anderson, Reynolds, Jack, Rae, Hughes, Hayes, Vernon, Fraser (4-3-3)




Hibs


Injuries -

Available squad - Williams, Clancy, Hanlon, McPake, Maybury, Claros, Deegan, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Stevenson, Griffiths, Doyle, Caldwell, Stanton, Caldwell, Kuqi, Sproule, McGivern, Taiwo, Antell

Probable XI - Williams, Clancy, Hanlon, McPake, Maybury, Cairney, Deegan, Wotherspoon, Taiwo, Griffiths, Doyle (4-4-2)


Prediction : Aberdeen 1-1 Hibs



It wasn't the fact that Aberdeen got a predictable draw last time out in the league (albiet with a last second goal) that surprised me but the fact that they actually managed to find 3 goals from nowhere. This doubled their tally for the year but I reckon it was more to do with Motherwell's sudden terrible defence that was also evident against Rangers midweek in the cup. So I'm thinking normal service will be resumed this weekend and we will see a drought of goals and probably that Aberdeen predictable draw! Hibs should welcome back Griffiths and whenever he plays I believe he can score so I'm going to have a tiny pop at Correct Score 1-1 @ 7.0 (William Hill). I believe this game will stay under 2.5 goals.



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Dundee v St Johnstone


Dundee


Injuries - McBride, McCluskey, O'Donnell, Grassi, Finnigan, Stewart

Available Squad - Douglas, McGregor, Lockwood, Toshney, Easton, Gallagher, Irvine, Webster, Conroy, McAlister, Baird, McIntosh, Kerr, Davidson, Reid, Cavanagh, Milne, Boyle, Nish

Probable XI - Douglas, Irvine, Benedictus, Davidson, Lockwood, Milne, McAllister, Kerr, Conroy, Baird, Nish (4-4-2)




St Johnstone


Injuries -
Suspended - Vine, C. Davidson, Adams
Available squad - Mannus, Mackay, Cregg, Wright, Anderson, Millar, M Davidson, Tade, Craig, Hasselbaink, Robertson, Tuffey, MacLean, McCracken, Miller, Pawlett, Caddis, Scobbie, Tobin, Kane

Probable XI - Mannus, Miller, Wright, Anderson, MacKay, Craig, Cregg, Millar, M. Davidson, Hasselbaink, Tade (4-4-2)



Prediction : Dundee 0- 2 St Johnstone

Football is a funny old game......St Johnstone were 3 weeks ago on a disgracefully bad run without a win in ages and now they have won their last 3 games. This includes beating Celtic and then bursting Ross County's unbeaten run! Simply not predictable! One thing I know for sure though is that Dundee are really struggling in the top flight and with just 4pts to their name old Paddy Power will soon be paying out on them getting relegated. Talking about Paddy... I'll be having a large slice of an AWAY WIN @2.3 (Paddy Power) I can also see Tade causing havoc in this game so again I will hit Paddy with TADE ANYTIME SCORER @ 3.25 (Paddy Power)



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Hearts v Kilmarnock


Hearts


Injuries - Prychynenko

Available Squad - MacDonald, R McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Paterson, Barr, Taouil, Novikovas, Carrick, Sutton, Driver, Robinson, Holt, D McGowan, McHattie, Stevenson, Enckelman

Probable XI - McDonald, McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Robinson, Taouil, Stevenson, Driver, Novikovas, Paterson (4-4-1-1)




Kilmarnock


Injuries - Perez, Heffernan, Tesselaar, Bell, Hay

Available squad - Letheren, Nelson, O'Leary, Fowler, Pascali, McKeown, Racchi, Dayton, Johnston, Kelly, Harkins, McKenzie, Sheridan, Winchester, Johnson, Jaakkola, Gros, Purshehouse

Probable XI - Letheren, Nelson, O'Leary, Fowler, Pascali, McKeown, Kelly, Dayton, Racchi, Sheridan, Harkins (4-4-2)


Prediction : Hearts 2-1 Kilmarnock


I was away golfing last weekend and most of the lads are jambos, as we arrived at the 19th the barman informed us we had beaten Dundee Utd 3-0 at Tannadice. Not one of us believed him until the tele had to be turned on! Truely a surprise win, or at least the scoreline. Anyway Kilmarnock are becoming a bit of a bogie team for Hearts (much to my cousins delight....) they have beaten Hearts 1, 2 and 3 nil in their last 3 visits. For that reason and the fact that I think the odds are a little skinny on Hearts I'm just going to leave this match, although if Hearts carry their form on I think we can sneak it by a goal. NO BET



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Inverness v Dundee Utd


Inverness


Injuries - King, Hogg, Ross, Sutherland
Suspended - Tudur-Jones
Available Squad - Esson, Meekings, Raven, Warren, Blackman, G Shinnie, Morrison, A Shinnie, Pepper, Draper, Foran, Doran, McKay, King, Laing, Polworth, Oswell, Brislen-Hall, Roberts, Reguero

Probable XI - Esson, Raven, Warren, Meekings, G. Shinnie, Draper, A. Shinnie, Pepper, McKay, Foran, Doran (4-4-2)




Dundee Utd


Injuries - Mackay-Steven

Available squad - Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, Gunning, McLean, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Ryan, Russell, Daly, Dow, Armstrong, Millar, Gardyne, Robertson, Vignal, Gauld, Banks

Probable XI - Cierzniak, Watson, McLean, Gunning, Dillon, Vignal, Flood, Ryan, Rankin, Russell, Daly (4-4-2)


Prediction : Inverness 0-2 Dundee Utd


I expect the Dundee Utd manager has kicked some butt after their home 3-0 defeat to Hearts and right enough they did win midweek in the cup. I expect to see them getting back to winning ways up in Inverness, I know a tricky place to go but Utd have a great record against Caly beating them in the last 5 fixtures. Inverness for me are still a bit of a mismatch of players cobbled together by Butcher. If I was offered odds on Terry Butcher moaning after this game I'd be all over it...... AWAY WIN @ 2.4 (William Hill) really appeals!



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Motherwell v Celtic


Motherwell


Injuries - Saunders

Available Squad - Randolph, Hateley, Hammell, Hutchinson, Cummins, Law, Lasley, Murphy, Humphrey, Daley, Higdon, Ojamaa, Carswell, McHugh, Ramsden, Francis-Angol, Hetherington, Hollis

Probable XI - Randolph, Hateley, Hutchinson, Ramsden, Hammell, Law , Lasley, Humphrey, Murphy, Higdon, Ojamaa (4-4-2)




Celtic


Injuries - Lassad

Available squad - Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Lustig, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Rogne, Brown, Forrest, Ledley, Kayal, McGeouch, Commons, Wanyama, Ambrose, Hooper, Samaras, Zaluska, Miku, Watt, McCourt

Probable XI - Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Forrest, Wanyama, Browm, Commons, Hooper, Miku (4-4-2)


Prediction : Motherwell 1-3 Celtic

Motherwell come into this match on the back of 2 very dissapointing games, 3-1 up on Aberdeen and ending up with a 3-3 draw with the last kick of the ball, then taken apart by 3rd Div Rangers in the 2nd half of the cup midweek. Alarming was how slack they were in defence and again it seems "bottling it" against the old firm which is a big problem for them. In their last 12 games against Celtic they have lost 11 and won 1.  I've been surprised in the last couple of matches that McCall has not started with Murphy but surely after their results he will include the player this week. Only worry in this game is that Celtic will have one eye on their away trip to Moscow in the Champoins League on Tuesday. However I'm confident that whatever team Celtic put out will be good enough to win so I will pound the AWAY WIN @ 1.67 (Coral)


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St Mirren v Ross County


St Mirren


Injuries - McGregor, Adam

Available Squad - Samson, Mair, van Zanten, Barron, McAusland, Teale, Imrie, Goodwin, McGowan, Carey, McLean, Guy, Robertson, Thompson, Reilly, Dummett, Parkin, Smith

Probable XI - Samson, Van Zanten, Mair, McAusland, Barron, Goodwin, McGowan, Carey, McLean, Thompson, Parkin (4-4-2)




Ross County


Injuries - Corcoran, Cooper

Available squad - Fraser, Boyd, Munro, Tokely, Fitzpatrick, Brittain, Kettlewell, Vigurs, Quinn, Duncan, Cooper, Glen, Morrow, McMenamin, Lawson, Scott, Brown, Kovacevic, Dingwall, Ross, Macphee, Fotheringham

Probable XI - Fraser, Fitzpatrick, Boyd, Munro, Tokely, Kettlewell, Vigurs, Brittain, Quinn, McMenamin, Marrow (4-4-2)


Prediction : St Mirren 1-1 Ross County


St Mirren for me are riding in a bit of a false postion in the league as I see them certainly as bottom 6 material if not bottom 3. People are interested to see whether County's first defeat in donkeys years will see their bubble burst but I think they will get back to, well at least, their unbeaten ways so a LAY of St Mirren @ 2.25 (Betfair) really appeals to me here. Remember Ross County were unbeaten in their previous 40 matches before last weeks loss to St Johnstone



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SPL - Saturday 15th Sept - Team News & Thoughts

St Johnstone v Celtic


St Johnstone

Injuries -
Doutful - C. Davidson, there are a number of unnamed players with a virus also.

Available Squad - Mannus, C Davidson, Wright, MacKay, Anderson, Cregg, Pawlett, Craig, M Davidson, Vine, Tade, Hasselbaink, Higgins, Adams, Miller, Caddis, Tuffey, Rodger


Probable XI - Mannus, C. Davidson, Wright, MacKay, Anderson, Cregg, Craig, M.Davidson, Hasselbaink, Vine, Tade (4-4-2)


Celtic

Injuries - Samaras,

Available Squad - Forster, Matthews, Lustig, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Rogne, Forrest, Commons, Brown, Wanyama, Twardzik, McCourt, Hooper, Keatings, Lassad, Miku, Kamenar, Zaluska, Chalmers, Watt, George


Probable XI - Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Brown, Wanyama, Commons, Forrest, Hooper, Miku (4-4-2)



Prediction : St Johnstone 1-3 Celtic


Just think that now Celtic coming back to full strength will have far too much for St Johnstone who are in shocking form and also with the uncertainty over a number of players with some sort of virus going round the club. I've got this down as an easy Celtic win and possible pan out as an embarrassing one for the home side. In the last 19 times these teams have meet Celtic have won 18 times. For me that says all you need to know. I'll be having a large bet on an AWAY WIN @1.44 (Stan James) some might say that price is short, but I think it's an absolute gift! (Santa Clause stuff.....lol)




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Dundee v Motherwell


Dundee

Injuries - Grassi, O'Donnell, Riley, McBride, Finnigan, Stewart, McCluskey

Available Squad - Douglas, McGregor, Lockwood, Toshney, Easton, Gallagher, Irvine, Webster, Conroy, McAlister, Baird, McIntosh, Kerr, Davidson, Reid, Cavanagh, Milne, Boyle, Nish


Probable XI - Douglas, Easton, Irvine, McGregor, Lockwood, Toshney, Davidson, McAllister, Conroy, Baird, Nish (4-4-2)


Motherwell

Injuries - Saunders

Available Squad - Randolph, Kerr, Cummins, Hutchinson, Page, Hammell, Francis-Angol, Hateley, Ramsden, Law, Lasley, Hetherington, Carswell, Humphrey, Daley, Murphy, Ojamaa, Higdon, McHugh, Hollis


Probable XI - Randolph, Hateley, Hutchinson, Ramsden, Hammell, Law, Lasley, Murphy, Daley, Ojamaa, Higdon (4-4-2)



Prediction :  Dundee 0-2 Motherwell


Motherwell will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record and with a win will keep them top of the league. Now that they don't have Europe to distract them I can see them kicking on well in the league as long as injuries dont creep in. They have basically a full team to pick from and goal scorers Higdon and Murphy really are on fire at the moment. Dundee have played 2 at home so far and lost them both and I see this season being a real struggle for them. Really cant see them keeping Higdon off the score sheet in this match and thing AWAY WIN @2.1 (William Hill) is certainly worth a go.




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Hibs v Kilmarnock


Hibs

Injuries -

Available Squad - Williams, Antell, Grant, Clancy, Booth, Hanlon, McPake, McGivern, Stephens, Kujabi, Smith, Claros, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Sproule, Stanton, Griffiths, Doyle, Caldwell, Maybury, Deegan, Kuqi, Stevenson


Probable XI - Williams, Hanlon, McPake, Clancy, Booth, Cairney, Wotherspoon, Deegan, Stevenson, Doyle, Griffiths (4-4-2)


Kilmarnock

Injuries - Tesselaar, Bell, Hay, Heffernan

Available Squad - Letheren, Fowler, O'Leary, Nelson, Kelly, Johnson, Pascali, Racchi, Borja, Winchester, McKenzie, Jaakkola, Gros, Dayton, Boulding, Sheridan, Harkins, O'Hara


Probable XI - Letheren, Fowler, O'Leary, Nelson, Pascali, Johnson, Racchi, Winchester, Dayton, Harkins, Sheridan (4-4-1-1)



Prediction : Hibs 1-0 Kilmarnock

Again going to give Hibs the benefit of the doubt here, actually think they are getting a bit of a better team together (nearly said decent...) Deegan has or will be a key signing for them, as they were desperately needing someone with a bit of bite and dig in the midfield. He strikes me as a leader and that is what they have been lacking in the last few years - heads go down too easily. Kilmarnock should give Sheridan his debut to lead their attack but their team just looks makeshift every week this season. It's a NO BET for me but I would expect a HOME WIN.




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Inverness v Aberdeen


Inverness

Injuries - Ross, Hogg

Available Squad - Esson, Meekings, Raven, Warren, G Shinnie, Tudur Jones, Morrison, A Shinnie, Pepper, Draper, Foran, Doran, Sutherland, McKay, King, Laing, Polworth, Reguero


Probable XI - Esson, Meekings, Raven, Warren, G.Shinnie, Tudur-Jones, A.Shinnie, Foran, Doran, Sutherland, McKay (4-4-2)


Aberdeen

Injuries - Naysmith, Milsom

Available Squad - Langfield, Brown, Foster, Considine, Anderson, Robertson, Jack, Hughes, Rae, Vernon, Fallon, Hayes, Osbourne, Megginson, Magennis, Fraser, Smith, Low, McGinn, Reynolds


Probable XI - Langfield, Foster, Considine, Anderson, Reynolds, Jack, Rae, Hughes, Hayes, Fallon, McGinn (4-4-2)



Prediction : Inverness 0-1 Aberdeen


Yes, folks it time for Aberdeen to actually get a win instead of their normal draws. On paper they have a decent starting XI with heaps of experience, they just need to simply start finding the back of the net. Inverness took a pumping last time out and I think confidence will still be low. Aberdeen should be able to control this match from midfield with the creative players like Hayes and Hughes. AWAY WIN @ 2.6 (William Hill) appeals to me.




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St Mirren v Hearts


St Mirren

Injuries - McGregor,Adam
Doubts - McLean, Dummett
Available Squad - Samson, Mair, van Zanten, Barron, McAusland, Teale, Imrie, Goodwin, McGowan, Carey, McLean, Guy, Robertson, Thompson, Reilly, Dummett, Parkin, Smith


Probable XI - Samson, Van Zanten, Mair, McAusland, Barron, Carey, Goodwin, McLean, Imrie, Thompson, Parkin (4-4-2)


Hearts

Injuries -

Available Squad - MacDonald, R McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Paterson, Barr, Taouil, Novikovas, Carrick, Sutton, Driver, Hamilton, Robinson, Holt, D McGowan, McHattie, Stevenson, Enckelman


Probable XI - MacDonald, Paterson, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Barr, McGowan, Robinson, Driver, Stevenson, Sutton (4-1-3-1-1)



Prediction :  St Mirren 0-1 Hearts

Both teams teams have identical records here, played 5 won 1 drawn 3 and lost 1. I think Hearts can take a rare away win here tomorrow though and they really need it even at this early stage to keep in touch with the top of the league.
It's sure to be a very tight match and I think under 2.5 goals is almost a certainty but I will stick my neck out and take HEARTS TO BE WINNING AT HALF TIME @ 3.4 (Bet 365)



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SPL - Friday 14th Sept Dundee Utd v Ross County

Currently just back in my hotel in Newcastle with shite internet access! (I think these Premier Inns actually block your internet unless you sign up to their bollocks...)


Anyway from what I gather,


Dundee Utd still have Gary Mackay-Steven out and their new signing Gregory Vignal is not ready to start yet. This French boy has more stamps on his passport than Judith Chalmers!!!!!

Ross County's new boy Mark Fotheringham is looking unlikely to start also.



Dundee Utd apart from Mackay-Stevens have a full team and I expect Gardyne will simply come into cover him in a team that is basically picking itself every week, which is sometime I like and shows a belief and successful team!

Ross County will in my opinion deploy a tight 4-5-1 system so for that reason I am a little bit weary about the over 2.5 happening. I hate Friday night football in SPL and think it simply shouldn't happen and silly again to see the clever boys in the SFA picking the northern teams to highlight their Friday game. Its a fair drive from Dingwall to make it to Dundee in time for KO from their work, absotute muppets in the SFA.


I will not rant anymore but my prefered bet would be Dundee Utd to score 2 or more @ 2.0 (Ladbrokes)

SPL - Sunday 2nd Sept Team News & Thoughts

*****My post and selections today go out in the memory of the great and legendary Bob Aitken (who was my "Uncle" and my old boys best friend) Bob was a loyal old school Rangers fan, and sadly passed away on Friday night, he will be fondly remembered *****




Hearts v Dundee


Hearts


Injuries - Enckelman

Available Squad - MacDonald, R McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Paterson, Barr, Taouil, Novikovas, Carr, Sutton, Driver, Hamilton, Robinson, Holt, D McGowan, McHattie, Stevenson.


Probable XI - Maconald, Patterson, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, R. McGowan, Barr, Robinson, Stevenson,  Driver, Novikovas, Sutton. (4-3-3)



Dundee


Injuries - McGregor, Riley, Bendictus, Stewart , Toshney, McBride, Finnigan

Available Squad - Douglas, McGregor, Lockwood, Gallagher, Irvine, Webster, Conroy, McAlister, Baird, McIntosh, Davidson, Grassi, Reid, Cavanagh, Milne, Boyle, McCluskey, O'Donnell, Nish

Probable XI : Douglas, Irvine, McGregor, Lockwood, Grassi, McAlister, Conroy, Webster,  Baird, Davidson, Milne, (4-4-2)



Prediction : Hearts 2-0 Dundee

Jeez oh, I thought I would see Hearts at about 1.70 to win this match but the bookies have priced it at 1.5, there's no value there! I have no doubt Jambos will win but that is not a backable price. Dundee team is muck and I would advise getting involved in a home win "inplay" at anything over 1.8 (will have to be betfair....)



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Motherwell v Inverness

Motherwell


Injuries - Hammell, Higdon, Saunders
Suspended - Hutchinson

Available Squad - Randolph, Kerr, Cummins, Page, Hammell, Francis-Angol, Hateley, Ramsden, Law, Lasley, Hetherington, Carswell, Humphrey, Daley, Murphy, Ojamaa, Higdon, McHugh, Murray, Erwin, Hollis.

Probable XI - Randolph, Hateley, Ramsden, Cummins, Hammell, Law, Lasley, Daley, Murphy, Ojamma, Higdon (4-4-2)


Inverness


Injuries - Ross, Hogg

Available Squad -  Esson, Meekings, King, Raven, Warren, G Shinnie, Tudur Jones, A Shinnie, Morrison, Draper, Doran, Sutherland, McKay, Pepper, Polworth, Reguero, Foran, Philips

Probable XI - Esson, Meekings, Warren, King, G. Shinnie, King, Sutherland, Draper, Foran, McKay, A. Sinnie (4-4-2)


Prediction - Motherwell 1-0 Inverness

I reckon this game is going to be another close encounter! I look at the results today in the SPL and can't believe I didn't have DRAW for everything! (I had one though) But I'm confident that Motherwell will take a hard fought win here.

They have the palyers to win and Terry Butchers mob are just without any decent ball players! Happy to take HOME WIN @ 2.15 (Bet Victor)