***Official Livingston v Heart of Midlothian Match Thread***

[tartofmidlothian]

Just play our strongest XI every chance we get. Braga and Kyziridis must start.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

Poor tart's thread sitting ignored!

 

Anyway, team for next week: -

 

Clark (don't believe a new GK will be in place until Ibronx) - Steinwender (see GK re a new RB), Kent (would not play Halkett on an artificial surface), Findlay, Milne - Baningime, McEntee - Kabore, Braga, Kyziridis - Shankland (only because McInnes will play him anyway)

 

1-0

 

Braga

[Captain Sausage]

Clark

Steinwender Halkett Findlay Milne

Beni McEntee

Kerjota Kabore Braga Kyziridis

 

If I see Forrest, Wilson or Shankland in that starting 11, I’m going to have an aneurysm. 

[PapaShango]

Why folk chucking Kabore in? Boy looks honking from what I’ve seen. Even if he is better suited in the middle his touch and control was dreadful yesterday and yet again looked way out his depth. He needs integrated from the bench we can’t play him from the start again until he finds his feet.

[Pingu]

Assuming no new signings, and nobody back from injury...

 

4-3-3

 

Clark

 

Steinwender 

Halkett

Findlay 

Milne 

 

Devlin 

Beni 

Spittal (or for a wildcard pick, Kartum, but he looks to be on his way out.)

 

Braga

Shankland 

Kyziridis 

 

Case could be made for McEntee instead of Devlin.

 

Clark, Spittal and Steinwender only playing due to lack of viable alternatives.

 

0-2 Braga and Shankland 

 

 

[Valois No1]

No Kabore for me. He honestly looks awful. Honking first touch and passing. I’ll give him another game or two to get the feel for the place but so far not so good. 
 

A win is a must. 

[PapaShango]

15 minutes ago, Valois No1 said:

No Kabore for me. He honestly looks awful. Honking first touch and passing. I’ll give him another game or two to get the feel for the place but so far not so good. 
 

A win is a must. 

100%. Boy looks like he’s won a competition to be playing for us. Genuinely can’t remember seeing 2 worse performances from a new player, looks to have zero decent attributes.

Edited August 24, 2025 by PapaShango

[Gulf Jambo]

1 hour ago, Geoff Kilpatrick said:

Poor tart's thread sitting ignored!

 

Anyway, team for next week: -

 

Clark (don't believe a new GK will be in place until Ibronx) - Steinwender (see GK re a new RB), Kent (would not play Halkett on an artificial surface), Findlay, Milne - Baningime, McEntee - Kabore, Braga, Kyziridis - Shankland (only because McInnes will play him anyway)

 

1-0

 

Braga

 

Curious if we will see a 4231 at some point.

Believe he used it at Aberdeen quite a bit.

 

Would suit our forwards for sure.

May force Shankland to not drop as deep. Or start Kabangu up top if against someone not parking the bus and he can use his pace

[19/05/2012]

New GK

New RB Halkett Findlay Milne 

Beni Magnusson

Kerjota Kyziridis

Braga Kabangu

[OTT]

Clark*

Steinwender Halkett Findlay Milne

Beni

Devlin McEntee

Kyzi Shankland Braga

 

I think having a 3 in midfield will give us a really good grip of the game.

 

*If McFarlane is training better, play him. Alternatively, sign a new keeper. CBF watching Clark at the moment. 

 

Make sure Elton is on the bench too. Drop Wilson if needed. Kerjota over Forrest on the bench too. 

 

[PapaShango]

12 minutes ago, 19/05/2012 said:

New GK

New RB Halkett Findlay Milne 

Beni Magnusson

Kerjota Kyziridis

Braga Kabangu

Kerjota and Kabangu aren’t improving us from yesterday. Our squad is pretty messy at the moment got to ship a few out. Not convinced with the quality of some of the new guys. Kerjota and Kabore both look very poor.

[PapaShango]

Just now, OTT said:

Clark*

Steinwender Halkett Findlay Milne

Beni

Devlin McEntee

Kyzi Shankland Braga

 

I think having a 3 in midfield will give us a really good grip of the game.

 

*If McFarlane is training better, play him. Alternatively, sign a new keeper. CBF watching Clark at the moment. 

 

Make sure Elton is on the bench too. Drop Wilson if needed. Kerjota over Forrest on the bench too. 

 

Clark is a liability and we desperately need a new keeper and right back.

[Gulf Jambo]

27 minutes ago, PapaShango said:

Kerjota and Kabangu aren’t improving us from yesterday. Our squad is pretty messy at the moment got to ship a few out. Not convinced with the quality of some of the new guys. Kerjota and Kabore both look very poor.

 

Impossible to judge them when they've barely played

[PapaShango]

Just now, Gulf Jambo said:

 

Impossible to judge them when they've barely played

Kabore hasn’t shown any basic football ability in 90 minutes. I’ve seen amateurs down the park control a ball better than him. I really hope he turns it around and is a worldie but I’ve a feeling he’s going to be an utter diddy. 

[DC_92]

18 minutes ago, PapaShango said:

Kerjota and Kabangu aren’t improving us from yesterday. Our squad is pretty messy at the moment got to ship a few out. Not convinced with the quality of some of the new guys. Kerjota and Kabore both look very poor.

 

Kerjota has played a grand total of 44 minutes and put in some dangerous crosses and had an effort well saved. I expect he'll take a bit of time to adjust, but not sure how he looks "very poor".

 

Likewise Kabore has played 90 minutes out of position. I'm not seeing the supposed terrible control that you apparently have.

[hmfc_liam06]

Wouldn’t mind seeing a 4-3-3 (could also become a 4-4-2).
 

McFarlane 

 

Steinwender

Halkett

Findlay

Milne

 

Beni

Magnusson

Spittal

 

Kabore

Braga

Kyzi

[PapaShango]

57 minutes ago, DC_92 said:

 

Kerjota has played a grand total of 44 minutes and put in some dangerous crosses and had an effort well saved. I expect he'll take a bit of time to adjust, but not sure how he looks "very poor".

 

Likewise Kabore has played 90 minutes out of position. I'm not seeing the supposed terrible control that you apparently have.

His first touch yesterday on about 3 or 4 occasions was dreadful. Kerjota not even on the bench the last 2 weeks, is he injured or has DM not seen enough from him? I would love to be proven wrong with both and hope they both come good but I have major doubts either are any good for our level. 

[Valois No1]

1 hour ago, DC_92 said:

 

Kerjota has played a grand total of 44 minutes and put in some dangerous crosses and had an effort well saved. I expect he'll take a bit of time to adjust, but not sure how he looks "very poor".

 

Likewise Kabore has played 90 minutes out of position. I'm not seeing the supposed terrible control that you apparently have.

Whilst I see your point in giving guys a little more time, Kabore has been atrocious. His touch is woeful and passing the same. Granted he is out of position and new and I’ll give him another couple of games. I would say on what I have witnessed it’s been very poor. Kerjota I’ve not seen so I’ll reserve judgement. 
 

I would love nothing more than both to become legends. 

[chester copperpot]

Just purchased 2 for this.

 

Won't be leaving early if we concede 3 next week

[Uncle Buck]

                        McFarlane

   Steinwender Halkett Findlay Milne

         Kyziridis Beni Devlin Spittal

                   Braga Shankland

 

Fully expect us to bounce back.

[Chuck Berry]

Clark

Forrester Halkett Findlay Milne

Beni  Hof

Kerjota Shanks Braga Kyziridis

[GinRummy]

Heading through to this one. Hopefully a starting 11 that can get the job done. 

[Mirror]

28 minutes ago, Chuck Berry said:

Clark

Forrester Halkett Findlay Milne

Beni  Hof

Kerjota Shanks Braga Kyziridis

Kent for Halkett due to surface and Elton for Shankland.

 

I think Hoff is injured so Mcentee instead 😵‍💫

[Chuck Berry]

3 minutes ago, Mirror said:

Kent for Halkett due to surface and Elton for Shankland.

 

I think Hoff is injured so Mcentee instead 😵‍💫

 

Not sure he'll drop Halkett due to surface, it's a brand new 3g.  He won't drop Shankland either.

 

If Hof is still struggling then Devlin instead.

Edited August 24, 2025 by Chuck Berry

[Mirror]

2 minutes ago, Chuck Berry said:

 

Not sure he'll drop Halkett due to surface, it's a brand new 3g.  He won't drop Shankland either.

 

If Hof is still struggling then Devlin instead.

I don't think he'll drop Shankland but after his display yesterday he needs to contribute more. Braga has to start and I don't think Kabore or Wilson are ready to start. And Elton needs a chance to show what he can do. 

 

And Devlin was poor yesterday as was a lot of the team but I'd prefer we didn't have a MF 2 of Devlin and Beni

[Chuck Berry]

3 minutes ago, Mirror said:

I don't think he'll drop Shankland but after his display yesterday he needs to contribute more. Braga has to start and I don't think Kabore or Wilson are ready to start. And Elton needs a chance to show what he can do. 

 

And Devlin was poor yesterday as was a lot of the team but I'd prefer we didn't have a MF 2 of Devlin and Beni

 

To be honest, I hope he goes back to basics and that means less tinkering and Shanks starting (whether he deserves to or not). Play our only RB ie Forrester in a back four, Beni and Devlin in middle, decent width (not Forrest or Kabore), and Braga.

 

Kabangu to maybe replace Braga off the bench as and when required, McEntee to come on for either of the midfield two if they tire.

 

We have more than enough to tuck Livi away.

[DC_92]

3 hours ago, PapaShango said:

His first touch yesterday on about 3 or 4 occasions was dreadful. Kerjota not even on the bench the last 2 weeks, is he injured or has DM not seen enough from him? I would love to be proven wrong with both and hope they both come good but I have major doubts either are any good for our level. 

 

2 hours ago, Valois No1 said:

Whilst I see your point in giving guys a little more time, Kabore has been atrocious. His touch is woeful and passing the same. Granted he is out of position and new and I’ll give him another couple of games. I would say on what I have witnessed it’s been very poor. Kerjota I’ve not seen so I’ll reserve judgement. 
 

I would love nothing more than both to become legends. 

 

I'd have to see the games back to confirm either way (I'd rather not), but I honestly don't remember lots of lost possession. I can recall one yesterday where his second touch was literally a tackle, but nothing sticks out beyond that. Not to say you're wrong, but it wasn't the impression I formed.

 

If I think back to better examples of big strikers we've had over the years, I remember thinking Ellis Simms' first touch and link-up play was pretty scruffy, but it wasn't a big deal because he was a handful with a bit of pace and a good strike on him. It also took him a good few weeks to really show how good his striking ability actually was. I can't imagine he'd have any good playing out on the touchline and coming back into midfield to collect the ball while we were getting overrun.

 

Then you've got Braga who looked off the pace on his debut (also out on the wing) and was regularly dispossessed by Dunfermline players but now looks like he's coming into a game.

[Valois No1]

Just now, DC_92 said:

 

 

I'd have to see the games back to confirm either way (I'd rather not), but I honestly don't remember lots of lost possession. I can recall one yesterday where his second touch was literally a tackle, but nothing sticks out beyond that. Not to say you're wrong, but it wasn't the impression I formed.

 

If I think back to better examples of big strikers we've had over the years, I remember thinking Ellis Simms' first touch and link-up play was pretty scruffy, but it wasn't a big deal because he was a handful with a bit of pace and a good strike on him. It also took him a good few weeks to really show how good his striking ability actually was. I can't imagine he'd have any good playing out on the touchline and coming back into midfield to collect the ball while we were getting overrun.

 

Then you've got Braga who looked off the pace on his debut (also out on the wing) and was regularly dispossessed by Dunfermline players but now looks like he's coming into a game.

Aye I think that’s all fair and balanced fella. The fact DM is starting Kabore tells me he sees something in there. I really hope he comes good man. 

[Luckies1874]

New keeper

 

Steinwender  Halkett  Findlay  Kingsley

 

Kyzridis  Beningame  Magnusson  Milne 

 

Braga  Shankland 

[GBJambo]

Writing off players that have only played a few minutes. Ffs this place is a joke 

[BigStein]

It’s always a pretty terrible game when we go to Livi, more of a brawl than a football match. 

 

_____________Clark

 

Stein__Halkett__Findlay__Milne

 

__McEntee__Beni__Devlin

 

___Braga__Shanks__Kyzi
 

I’d expect a new right back and keeper to be put in after the international break 

[AndrewB]

8 hours ago, Geoff Kilpatrick said:

Poor tart's thread sitting ignored!

 

Anyway, team for next week: -

 

Clark (don't believe a new GK will be in place until Ibronx) - Steinwender (see GK re a new RB), Kent (would not play Halkett on an artificial surface), Findlay, Milne - Baningime, McEntee - Kabore, Braga, Kyziridis - Shankland (only because McInnes will play him anyway)

 

1-0

 

Braga

Thoughtful post.

 

I wondered who we might be wary of playing due to the pitch.  Seems to be a concern for several of our players every season, whether Killie or Livi.

 

I think you are probably right re Shankland.  I would like to see the three behind him together.

[jamdunc]

Huge game on Saturday. Only 2 league games that day. A win puts us back to the top and 7 ahead of Rangers. 

[Takeshi kovac]

7 hours ago, PapaShango said:

Why folk chucking Kabore in? Boy looks honking from what I’ve seen. Even if he is better suited in the middle his touch and control was dreadful yesterday and yet again looked way out his depth. He needs integrated from the bench we can’t play him from the start again until he finds his feet.

The guys a CF, how would Shankland fair at RW?

[Bridge of Djoum]

1-11... Best player for that position/role.

 

No Forrest or Clark.

 

3-0 Hearts.

[AndrewB]

The problem with dropping Zander is that we then play a kid.  That would be a gamble but he did play at Ibrox a week ago and did well, I hear.

 

Do we want to gamble with the goalkeeping position?  God knows, but Zander needs to get his finger out.  Should be spending literally hours practising his kicking.

[chrissyHMFC]

For me id be going 

McFarlane

Forester Halkett Findlay Milne

Kabore McEntee Beni Kyzi 

Braga Shankland

Beni Kyzi and Braga must start next weekend, no debate. 2 games in a row ehere they've came off the bench and we've looked such a better team 

[Pasquale]

Hate to say it but Forrest usually has a good game on an artificial surface.

 

Tempted to punt Clark if the young boy is in good form. Nervousness begins at the back and Zander is a liability.

 

Devlin has to start with Beni.

 

Shankland also needs to be stripped of the captaincy and placed on the bench.

 

[Luckies1874]

17 minutes ago, chrissyHMFC said:

For me id be going 

McFarlane

Forester Halkett Findlay Milne

Kabore McEntee Beni Kyzi 

Braga Shankland

Beni Kyzi and Braga must start next weekend, no debate. 2 games in a row ehere they've came off the bench and we've looked such a better team 

 

Forrester and Kabore on the right. Sorry but no.

[chrissyHMFC]

2 hours ago, Luckies1874 said:

 

Forrester and Kabore on the right. Sorry but no.

Who else would you put there? Genuine question our right side is poor no matter who we put there 

[Morgan]

0-2

 

This is of course dependent on whether we start with enough foreign lads, or not.

[Luckies1874]

3 minutes ago, chrissyHMFC said:

Who else would you put there? Genuine question our right side is poor no matter who we put there 

 

Forrester is not god enough and is why he's set to play Championship football all season. Kabore has started the last 2 games there and it has totally failed.  Not his fault by the way but will be astonished if he starts there again. We either need a new right back / wing back or we need to stick with Steinwender till Borch is back. Kyzrisis should get a run at right mid.

[Morgan]

3 hours ago, Pasquale said:

Hate to say it but Forrest usually has a good game on an artificial surface.

 

Tempted to punt Clark if the young boy is in good form. Nervousness begins at the back and Zander is a liability.

 

Devlin has to start with Beni.

 

Shankland also needs to be stripped of the captaincy and placed on the bench.

 

I suppose he has to have a good game on some surface.

[hearts00]

13 hours ago, Captain Sausage said:

Clark

Steinwender Halkett Findlay Milne

Beni McEntee

Kerjota Kabore Braga Kyziridis

 

If I see Forrest, Wilson or Shankland in that starting 11, I’m going to have an aneurysm. 

You better have the emergency services ready then. 

[hearts00]

My expectations are pretty low now so prepared for literally anything on Saturday. 

[Morgan]

Just now, hearts00 said:

My expectations are pretty low now so prepared for literally anything on Saturday. 

They always are when you are commenting on Hearts.

[Radio-Braga]

Folk writing Kabore off already 😂 

 

 

[Morgan]

1 minute ago, Mac80 said:

Folk writing Kabore off already 😂 

 

 

Pesky foreigner.

 

[Radio-Braga]

Just now, Morgan said:

Pesky foreigner.

 

🤣🤣🤣

[chrissyHMFC]

14 minutes ago, Luckies1874 said:

 

Forrester is not god enough and is why he's set to play Championship football all season. Kabore has started the last 2 games there and it has totally failed.  Not his fault by the way but will be astonished if he starts there again. We either need a new right back / wing back or we need to stick with Steinwender till Borch is back. Kyzrisis should get a run at right mid.

If you put Kyzi right who goes left?