Cet Homme Charmant

If you watch the video of the 2-2 draw at home to plucky wee Partick, he could have done better with both goals (maybe I'm being a bit harsh on the 1st one as the defence in front of him was certainly far more at fault than he was). In mitigation, the pitch was frozen solid and it was like playing on concrete. As a side note, this game was shown nationwide in the UK on ITV's Big Match as well as Scotsport, as this game and Leicester City's were the only two that survived the big freeze that weekend. Like I said, he was a decent shot stopper (IIRC he saved a penalty at Pittodrie), but in other aspects of the game he was weak, IMO. But he was for sure entertaining and he certainly brought a bit of good ol' American razzmatazz.

Anyone have an idea why the goal was disallowed?

Not sure why Ron Atanasio didn't get a game with the first team, he also came from the NY Cosmos at the same time as Dave. I saw him in a reserve game and I thought he looked decent. He played that game on the wing, IIRC. Can only assume Benny didn't rate him or he picked up an injury

Mibbe started by the same guy who put out the rumour that we're struggling to pay the wages this month

The only Americans I can recall are Dave Brcic, who only actually played 6 first-team games, and Ron Atanasio who played precisely 0 first-team games. Despite only playing a hand-full of games, Brcic was a bit of a cult hero at the time. I think that was more due to the fact he came from the NY Cosmos and was a bit glamorous, rather than anything to do with actual ability. My recollection of him is he was a decent enough shot-stopper, but was a bomb-scare with cross balls and had terrible positional sense. The fact that his subsequent career was exclusively in indoor football would tend to support that assessment.

I know it´s not always reflected in our results, which is of course most important, but watching the team since Murray took over has been far more enjoyable and entertaining

Reminded me of the 1st half against Dunfermline, where we were also played some excellent football and created loads of chances, but went in with just a fragile 1 goal lead when it should have been more.

For those who can´t make the game, you can get it for a tenner on TonTV

Who would you rather wins tonight, plucky wee Partick or Dougie Imrie's big-spending Raith? Given our respective league positions, my head says plucky wee Partick, but I'm having difficulty reconciling that with my deep dislike of them. Tough one.

As it stands, we leapfrog Dougie Imrie's big-spending Raith into the coveted 7th position

Wouldn't quite put this in the 'must win' category, but a defeat would have us looking over our shoulder again. Difficult one to call, so I'll bottle it and go for 1-1.

Notwithstanding our profligacy, the 1st half was the best I've seen us play in a looooong time

I think the tackle falls into the 'seen them given' category, but IMO definitely not a stonewaller as some believe. I think if a penalty was given against us for a similar tackle, most of us including me would be raging (perhaps including those in the 'stonewaller' group)