Jute

Ssshhh the Spoonburners still think it’s raining every home game.

No that’s not me. I live even closer than him. This is how close I am.

Said on Saturday that I was wondering how much of out possession sits with Knooster and Milne. Both seem to have responsibility for moving into midfield with the ball to start us moving forward.

I think he also struggles with physical side of game. Constantly out muscled in challenges on Saturday and not for first time. Don’t think he is suited to game here and would be better off back in MLS.

Thought Hibs looked pretty shakey at the back on Saturday and they will give up chances. Trick will be getting our strikers to take them. Would be tempted to go to back 4 to try and rest Devlin and also maybe allow us to get another striker on the field. If we are sticking with one striker I would stick with Nisbet as don’t think the constant chopping and changing of starting striker is helping either find any form. In Flat then 60 second walk to ground. Away end 60 second walk back to flat 2-2 Nisbet and Aouchiche

Today’s 4pm games are final games in Group C Tanzania v Tunisia Uganda v Nigeria Nigeria have already won the group as they have head to head on Tunisia. Tunisia need at least a point to guarantee qualification. Tanzania and Uganda need to win to go through. 7pm games are final games in Group D Benin v Senegal Botswana v DR Congo Senegal, DR Congo and Botswana are already through it is just a question of final table positions.

Morocco looking a lot better tonight as the brushed aside Zambia 3-0 to win the group. Mali drew 0-0 with Comoros to finish second in the group without winning a game. Comoros and Zambia are out.

Missed first group of games today. Egypt v Angola finished 0-0 and South Africa beat Mozambique 3-2. Egypt and South Africa through but with 2 points Angola not looking likely to get one of best 3rd places. Mozambique are out. In second games it’s just half time and Morocco well on the way to winning group as currently 2-0 up on Zambia. Mali and Comoros currently 0-0.

Last season in the league (according to transfermarket site) Morris had 1 goal and 5 assists and 1 goal and 3 assists in league cup group stages. Karlsson has 5 goals in league and 1 in Conference league but no credited assists.

4 games today. At 4pm the final games in group B. Egypt v Angola Zimbabwe v South Africa. Egypt have won the group South Africa just need to avoid defeat to secure progression to next phase as they have head to head on Angola. Zimbabwe and Angola need a win to be one of best 3rd place teams. Second group of games at 7pm sees the final games in group A Comoros v Mali Morocco v Zambia All to play for in this group with every team still having a chance to qualify. Morocco are through but will want to win the group. Wins for any of the others should see them progress.

It’s a hard life but I battle through it. My daughter genuinely thought TV only showed football for a long time. Joking aside AFCON has worked for me as been travelling over Christmas and had a bit of time sitting about on trains and in hotels so managed to see number of games.

Finished 1-1. Really good game.

Lead only lasted 4 minutes as Cameroon equalise with aid of massive deflection.

Ivory Coast 1-0 up on Cameroon following great goal from Diallo.

Algeria beat Burkina Faso 1-0 in third game. Missed most of this as well as watching Palace v Spurs 6 points enough to see Algeria through.

Mainly been a sub for them and scored in their 4-0 win at Wycombe on Boxing Day. Not sure we should be looking at a guy who cannot get a start in English third tier. Surely can find better than that.

Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan. Only saw first 20 minutes of this and looked pretty even then. Loss means Equatorial Guinea are only team in the group not to have won game.

Pretty sure it was just a one game ban as not violent conduct.

Gabon 2-3 Mozambique. Really entertaining end to end game with Mozambique getting their first ever AFCON win. Passed a couple of hours on train this afternoon. Gabon looking like they are probably going home after losing first two matches.

Thelin mentioned he was working hard in training the other day and he will come into contention for squad place once transfer window opens.

Thanks for posting that just before I posted a very similar one. Failure of the recruitment team to bring in players that suit the system the coach is implementing is baffling. Maybe the recruitment team got too focused on player trading model rather than bringing in players who actually who fit system coach is trying to implement.

4 games again today Gabon v Mozambique 12:30 Equatorial Guinea v Sudan 15:00 Algeria v Burkina Faso 17:30 Ivory Coast v Cameroon 20:00

Missed Benin 1-0 Botswana and Uganda 1-1 Tanzania so no idea how they went. Saw Senegal 1-1 DR Congo in pub before Dons game and Senegal were maybe a bit lucky to get draw. Last game between Nigeria and Tunisia finished 3-2 and was a cracking game and restored my faith in football after 90 minutes of Goodwin ball.

Pretty much my view on it. Would not want to watch that United team more than a couple of times a season. Goodwin could get football stopped. We desperately need to a striker as we already knew Yengi was not good enough and on last few weeks evidence neither is Lazetic. Nisbet worked hard but is getting zero service from midfield. We need a striker in that can fit the system they are trying to implement. Karlsson is a really frustrating player. Despite scoring today I felt he was major reason our attack was so toothless. I would happily pay for Polvara’s flights back to the U.S. if it meant not having to watch him get out muscled or give the ball away again.

Might be weight of expectation on the host nation but from the games I have seen so far Morocco have not looked as good as their world rankings have suggested. Good technically on the ball but nobody upfront that is going to trouble Grant Hanley. 4 more games today. Benin v Botswana 12:30 Senegal v DR Congo 15:00 Uganda v Tanzania 17:30 Nigeria v Tunisia 20:00