The Midlothian Question

[Barry Izbak]

I am working away in January and will have to miss the Albion at Oldham.

I'm staying over in Edinburgh that weekend and will obviously want to take in a game. Its the Jocko FA Cup that weekend and last year I was at Airdrie Motherwell while everyone else was at West Ham. It was an excellent all action, local derby.

So I'm looking for a game to go to. I want proper football, easy to get tickets (walk up turnstiles if possible), atmosphere and to cross off a ground I haven't been to.

So, which of these games shall I go to?

Perhaps BHALBA can provide a welcome bit of local knowledge

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Wear your Brighton colours at Hearts.

 

[El Presidente]

Surely the Jam Tarts vs The Lardy Jocko Clown Luckyboys would be a good call.

 

[Gully]

Easy question for me to answer, despite the fact that Hearts are going through a sticky patch (lost at home today) I would chose the game against high flying Motherwell. The ground should be pretty packed and you are assured a decent atmosphere, Hearts will need to play well to win this one.

 

[Trigger]

Up The Falkirk!!!

 

[BensGrandad]

Up The Falkirk!!!

Complete with Graham Barrett, who actually scores for them occassionally.

 

[fatbadger]

If those are your four options (most of the our lot are planning to be in the away end at Ibrox on the Sunday, should you care to join us), then here are my comments:

1. Livy's ground is awful, the atmosphere terrible, and they are the MK Dons / Franchise Scum of the Scottish leagues. Avoid - although it's the only one of these four you will definitely get tickets on the day. Oh, and I saw Beath a couple of weeks ago, and they are terrible at the moment - and Livy are always terrible.

2. Falkirk / Aberdeen should be a corker, but the modern ground is a lot less atmospheric than the classic Brockville. Both teams can play some good football, and both teams will be looking to do well in the cup. No chance of 'on the day' tickets, though - this will be a sell-out in advance.

3. Tynecastle is by some distance the best large ground in Scotland - it always has a good atmosphere. And, with Motherwell's recent performances (leaving aside today's!), this could easily be the tie of the round. A fair chance of selling out in advance, although a phone call in the morning to check the situation might be worth it.

4. Easter Road isn't too bad, either - and they can play some lovely football. Caley are also starting to come good under Craig Brewster, so again it could be a good game. More likely than the Hearts game to have tickets on the day or in the day or two before the game (because Caley may have problems selling their allocation)

Hope that helps.

 

[Gully]

A word of advice, if you do go to the Hibs game try not to get tickets for the top of the away end, particularly if it is a cold and windy day...I sat up there once and thought that my knees would crack when I stood up to go home at the end of the game.

 

[withdeanwombat]

Whichever game you go to,don't leave anything unattended in your pockets.10/10 for the historical reference,btw.

 

[SeagullTim]

Complete with Graham Barrett, who actually scores for them occassionally.

Lol my mate at schools uncle

 

[Barry Izbak]

If those are your four options (most of the our lot are planning to be in the away end at Ibrox on the Sunday, should you care to join us), then here are my comments:

1. Livy's ground is awful, the atmosphere terrible, and they are the MK Dons / Franchise Scum of the Scottish leagues. Avoid - although it's the only one of these four you will definitely get tickets on the day. Oh, and I saw Beath a couple of weeks ago, and they are terrible at the moment - and Livy are always terrible.

2. Falkirk / Aberdeen should be a corker, but the modern ground is a lot less atmospheric than the classic Brockville. Both teams can play some good football, and both teams will be looking to do well in the cup. No chance of 'on the day' tickets, though - this will be a sell-out in advance.

3. Tynecastle is by some distance the best large ground in Scotland - it always has a good atmosphere. And, with Motherwell's recent performances (leaving aside today's!), this could easily be the tie of the round. A fair chance of selling out in advance, although a phone call in the morning to check the situation might be worth it.

4. Easter Road isn't too bad, either - and they can play some lovely football. Caley are also starting to come good under Craig Brewster, so again it could be a good game. More likely than the Hearts game to have tickets on the day or in the day or two before the game (because Caley may have problems selling their allocation)

Hope that helps.

Thanks. This is just the sort of detail I was after.
These were my only options, because I don't really want to drive far from Edinburgh.
Livy Franchise is obviously out of the question now.
I can't be arsed with tickets in advance, so its looking like Hibs, although I have been to Easter Road years ago and I believe its been tarted up since then.
Ibrox sounds good, but I'm heading south by then and planning to be at Sunderland in my McShane shirt to see them embarrass Pompey.

Cheers

 

[Il Duce]

Tynecastle is a good wee ground with plenty of pubs around it and then it's easy to head back in to Edinburgh for the lash. If you want real old school character sit in the Main Stand. Hibs may be playing ok but Easter Road is in a bit of a shit area. Probably more chance of a ticket than Tynecastle, but I would recommend the latter.

 

[fatbadger]

Easter Road is in a bit of a shit area

Although I agree with you about Tynecastle being a superior ground, I can't quite see the point of this comment. I mean, Tynecastle is in Gorgie!

 

[Barry Izbak]

Just in case anyone (at BHALBA) is interested, I ended up at Easter Road.

£21 for a seat in a proper stand with a roof. Good atmosphere. Only about 200 away fans, nice drop of beer in the pub outside.

Had a punt on Dean Shields 1st scorer and Dean Shields 2nd scorer.
He gets a hattrick and Hibs win 3-0.

Bloody good day out.

Back to the real world of Withdean next week.

 

[Marc]

I *WILL* go for a weekend in Edinburgh and watch the Mighty Blue Brazil one day (before they move grounds), new shirt should come this week too......GO ON THE COO!

 

[fatbadger]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How many times have you said that? I'll believe it when I see it.

I had the pleasure of seeing your sorry lot spanked at home by the mighty Wasps last month.