OrlandoDon

Interesting reading today that Harvey Barnes may consider switching nationality and be open to playing for Scotland. Scottish grandparents apparently. Was in The Sun online so not sure of accuracy or truth, but easy to want to play for us based on our recent success. The way the article is written makes me unsure of this, being snubbed by England so he’ll play for us. I know it’s idealistic but I’d rather players choose to play for us based on us, not based on being ignored by England.

So you are assuming we’ll lose and dent the confidence. What if we draw or win? We’re on an excellent run, why not approach these games with confidence, they are friendlies too so we have nothing to lose. I sense the chemistry in the squad is terrific, and they have the mentality to go at England at hampden, who knows what happens in Spain and France, it’s all part of our evolution. Good squad can still get better.

You make my point. Preseason quite often we look world beaters, beat up on some euro pish in early rounds, or win every game in the group stage in the league cup, then come back down to earth with a thud. If we want to succeed at a higher level you have to play at a higher level, win and lose. The unbeaten run means nothing if we cannot compete at a higher level at the main tournament. You have to plan in advance and improve along the way. These are necessary games in the journey. Getting confidence is one thing, but we’re ready for the next level. We don’t just go to make up numbers, we want to compete. And that takes learning from mistakes and losing a game or two as well. That’s how to get better.

Love the boys work rate, very technical player too. Wasted with the shackles on. He’s a forward converted to a midfielder and as an attacking mid for Scotland you see what he’s all about. Want him to do a john mcginn and be the man at villa, palace, brentford, even Brighton or the likes. Think he’s shown what he can do, just needs to get away from man utd.

Your think it’s purely money? I don’t at all!! Our form is the best (one of) in Europe, unbeaten in a qualifier in 2 years, plus a bunch of stats I’m too lazy to remember from hearing during the game. What’s the next step, beat the big boys. How do you do that? Play the big boys. Friendlies against Luxembourg or Austria even don’t benefit, meaningless, we have to play some big guns to improve. We’re playing the best local team at home so no real travel, then we’re in Spain so play their neighbor, guess it could have been Portugal but no real travel inconvenience going to France either. For us to be better we have to play better against better teams, it’s the only option and makes perfect sense. If we are to advance out of the group in a major tournament we need to be used to playing these teams, we’re beating the next tier and lower, it’s the most natural and smart thing to do.

Wasn’t one of the reasons we were so keen to get shinnie was because Barron and Rama didn’t work? I just don’t think Barron is mobile, athletics, and physical enough.

Pretty sure you know the answer to your own question, and given the window has just closed I don’t see us moving on from a 3-5-2 just yet. We went all in on the transfer market playing 3-5-2 and signed for that formation. I think over the next two weeks Robson will try to determine who our back 3 is - i’d say it’s Jensen-Macdonald and one other, but other than that, I think the team picks itself in robson’s eyes, and he’s got two weeks to work with the majority of the squad. roos x - Macdonald Jensen devlin clarkson shinnie mcgarry mcgrath miovski duk I don’t think we have the squad to play a 4 at the back, we don’t have a strong enough midfield, one of the reasons we’re the 3 at the back. We don’t have two strong central players, and have no right mid. id like us to see where the new boy fits in. If gartenmann can play right wing back move devlin to center mid, or vice versa if gartenmann can play mid (unlikely, never seen that said anywhere. ) with gartenmann or ruby on the right of the three I’d like to see devlin or or dadia at center mid and right wing back, don’t care which is where, but from what we’ve seen of late we’re a mess in midfield and something needs to change. The strength and athleticism of Rama and mccrorie helped us, I think we try to replicate that. Or dadia was said to be a right back/wing back/center mid, and given what we’ve witnessed the last few weeks doesn’t hurt to try him. Given how shit Morris is, surely we give dadia some minutes. it’s bad squad construction, I feel we can’t play more than one of Barron clarkson McGrath, and polvara. I also think we went 3-5-2 to accommodate duk, we’re a little fucked if he doesn't find form. I think sokler is miovski’s back up and needs to be played in that role when he plays. Given where gueye played yesterday, no clue what type of players he is…??

Ha, here we go. Square peg round hole. I also thought that yesterday too, move devlin into center mid alongside shinnie. Didn’t think Barron was bad yesterday, we just miss Rama’s drive, physicality, and effort, and devlin may be our best option. That’s not Barron, polvara, McGrath, or clarkson. It’s one of these four plus shinnie and a.n. Other. The downside to moving devlin is who do you play at right wing back. Means morris plays unfortunately. Highlights our bizarre summer window, we needed a Rama replacement and someone better than morris to back up devlin. I honestly prefer Richardson over morris.

So what’s the deal with Rhys Williams???

And not unfair to say we could/should have won the first leg.

Interesting comments. I actually think that Jensen is decent, small sample size but I’m ok there. Mcgarry too. Think devlin was poor today because of their left winger and his pace, I don’t think devlin wanted to bomb on knowing ruby would and did struggle behind him. Without the right wing back going forward we have nothing on the right, and it showed. Agree on the morris comments, he looked ok for 5 mins but I don’t think it’s unfair to say that you get 5 decent minutes per game from morris. Plus I’m sure he was given the freedom to go forward that devlin didn’t in the first half. we’ll get killed in midfield unless we sign an out of contract free agent. We have zero physical presence. Shinnie works, clarkson flair, but neither is a physical presence. Rama brought physicality and a presence. I just cannot believe for a Scottish league team we are going with this type of midfield. blew my mind that we play gueye , signed for a different look up top, wide left. Not what I expected at all. worrying day. I can accept struggling against a different look in Europe, but to see that against a bottom of the league hibs, not good.

And as mentioned the other night, we do look disorganized and are finishing with a front 3 but all are center forwards, two out of position trying to give us width. No right mid option other than Morris or Devlin....worrying.

Well, I defended us big time after Thursday, but bar the first few mins of each half we've been awful today. Problem I see is drive in center mid. Rama a big miss and we have few workhorses in there willing to drive us forward, and minimal quality center mid depth.

Nobody mentioning the ;passing on Macdonald, picked out the front row of multiple stands pretty well. Give him the benefit of being rusty. Agreed, it can only get better, need a different look up top. As long as its not Morris.

I can only assume the thinking is play duk back to march sharpness and hope he scores rather than bench him and dent the confidence? Barron for clarkson I understand, fair enough. Good to see Macdonald in there. Hopefully we’re three up after an hour and give sokler and gueye 30 mins!

I think he’s looked better than Taylor, plus is younger, way better upside. Ruby has joined an unsettled team, I think he’s got real potential. As I said before, and I think you agreed, way too much has been asked of him and he’s made mistakes. When he arrived he was meant to simply be a big loon who’d mark his man and wins the ball. He’s had more possession than he probably wants, plus as acknowledged, for the penalty it was late in the game, he was exposed, and he dove in on a very good player looking for his hat trick. He was highly regarded before his injury and I think he’s one we see selling on for a few quid in a few years. my question now is who is our preferred 3 at the back? I’m assuming Jensen on the left but the other two? I certainly want us to develop the two we own, plus I think Macdonald is the older head/leader and middle player, but I don’t see the loaners coming here to sit on the bench. Do any of the 5 play holding mid/Rama’s position?? I also mentioned before, I certainly hope there’s nothing more to macdonald’s injury and maybe we simply rushed him back a little early??

Problem we have is we also have to develop chemistry so need players playing together. We also have the international break so most of the players who have played every minute, clarkson shinnie devlin ruby will get a little break/rest. Robson also commented about duk re confidence and being careful with him so I suspect he won’t get dropped, but I think sokler deserves his chance. roos ruby Macdonald jensen devlin clarkson shinnie mcgarry mcgrath sokler miovski 3-1 us, miovski sokler McGrath

Yup. 23 yr old who had a serious knee injury that put him out for a year too. I think he’ll play the pollock role well, but currently asked to be the leader in the middle with an out of position right back next to him, plus no consistency on the other side, arguably it’s been mostly an out of position left back, and missing our main holding mid to protect him. Interested to see how our defense plays out once everyone is fit.

Honestly, had we signed Baccus I’d have been somewhat happy with the window. Very few loan players has to surely please many. It’s also one window, don’t expect all our problems solved at once. Willing to give the group a chance. we’re married to 3-5-2 hence the approach to the window, pretty much to cater to duk. Don’t like that but is what it is. Width comes from the wing backs, not a fan but again is what it is. pollock and scales weren’t ours, Stewart pish. Seen enough from ruby to suggest he’ll be a decent squad player and do ok alongside a solid Macdonald. Think a lot has been asked of him the last month. Jensen is an internationalist and a decent background, high hopes. devlin is a good replacement at rob/rwb for mccrorie. No clue of gartenmann. Not sure what Williams offers. We were weak on the left last year, aging Hayes, inconsistent loaner coulson, average McKenzie. Heard enough to suggest Mcgarry, another internationalist, is an upgrade. Happy with the signing of McGrath, gives us creativity and flair in there. However, I totally feel with three at the back it should be clarkson or McGrath with two workers in a central 3. If we’d kept Rama we’re good there. gueye and Sokler give us options up top, we’re not going to run miovski and duk to death like last year. Plus gueye give us a clear different approach. big concerns with a lightweight midfield. Rama not replaced and shinnie will get suspended. Gets worse if shinnie gets injured. Hoping that or Dadia is the plan and gives us the engine/bite we’re presently lacking.

Let’s be fair. Or dadia is supposedly a right back, wing back, or holding mid, Milne was/is a central midfielder first, and devlin a right back/wing back. For a back 3 it’s 3 from ruby, Williams, Macdonald, gartenmann, and Jensen. I guess with Stewart gone it’s not too much overkill. With this guy signed though it also makes me wonder if there is more to Macdonald’s health given he didn’t play last night. Lastly, Polvara Milne or dadia, even Barron, do not overly fill me with confidence replacing Rama.

Gartenmann, another central defender? A little strange. If that’s it we are certainly lightweight in center mid.

Any chatter here? Unexpected super signing imminent? Charlie on the beach in a black trench coat???

Comments about the trips and travel, any thoughts on opponents and games?? A finish team and we’ve seen PAOK vs hearts, plus Germans. Well?

I don’t know McGrath enough but I saw him as a 10 and potentially playing off one forward. A different look, be that with the big guy, miovski, or even with sokler. We’re also very reliant on clarkson, I also saw McGrath as the man when clarkson is injured/rested. The other player we are overly reliant on is shinnie, a midfield without Rama or shinnie is very lightweight unless it’s one coming in today. Hopefully. I get that it’s a quick assessment, I just think it’s timing. One month into the season and folks seem to have turned negative and critical. We’re still in Europe and it’s an exciting season ahead to me. I’ve seen enough positives in the team and new signings to be optimistic. Yes, ruby has made mistakes, but I still think he’s a good player and a step or two above ash Taylor. I didn’t want Robson as manager but I think he’s brought some intrigue and optimism, even seen in the 3-1 loss to Celtic. I’m not ready to be overly critical yet.

Rico, I just think people like you are way overreacting. Had we taken our chances last night, or even the first leg, we’d have won games, be through, and be having a very different conversation. It’s work in progress and their early goal killed us, we were chasing the game after that and they exposed us for sure. But it’s early season and we need to breathe and relax. Keep in mind we’re quite a young and inexperienced team too, and young manager, other relevant factors. said day 1 Rama needs replaced, he did a lot of the grunt work that helped our back 3. Whether it’s ruby and Jensen, or scales and pollock, we got stretched last night and our midfield contributed in the D getting exposed. Devlin played like a right back at times, I do agree he was played out of position. there’s criticism of Robson here in regards to formation and who plays where, we’re barely a month in and there’s questions of the manager. Come on, just cos hibs sacked there guy, let’s not eat ourselves just yet. to say we’d be better off not playing in Europe, go fuck yourself. What a stupid thing to say. Europe gets us exposure, money, and fun European nights. Some of our signings wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Europe, like clarkson. I’d also give my left nut to be at pittodrie for one of those nights. Yes, it will make it hard, but as we see pretty much every season, things are hard. Last year we were bottom 6 and going nowhere without Europe. I’d take this year, losing to hacken, maybe getting the odd spanking in the group stage, or maybe qualifying from the group. It’s exciting as compared to playing east fife away in July. Yes, we’ll lose at home to Dundee or hibs because we are exhausted, but I’d take this season and Europe over alternatives every time.