Jute

Poor game important 3 points. Agree with Feb 1971 thought Logan was our best player with GMS and McGinn not far behind. I simply don’t get Cosgrove. Not a footballer in any shape or form. Wilson took his goal well but did little else of note. Hopefully more he comes more into things with more game time. We really do create very little though. Defence on the other hand looks rock solid.

I think biggest problem with May is we do not play a system that suits his style of play. His best stuff at Saints came when he played as part of a front 2 with Steven MacLean. We have rarely played him up front with anyone beside him and definitely not long enough for a partnership to develop. He has never looked good in the lone striker role. He was never a back to the goal type of striker and that you could knock the ball upto but that is what we have asked him to do. That said I do think the injury at Preston has caused him to lose some of his pace which was also part of his game and thought at the time a 4 year deal was a major gamble to take on a player with his type of injury.

Would like us to go 2 up top tomorrow as I don’t think any of our strikers look like they are capable of playing the lone striker role. Would go with May and Anderson as think they have looked most likely to score and work as a partnership. If Wilson is fit however I suspect we will go with him as the lone striker. Devlin being back should mean we are even tighter at back. Cannot see this being anything other than a tight physical battle like last few Motherwell games. In Stupidly early train then beers Y Beer then train back to capital. 1-1 GMS

Don’t see how it’s out of date and article is written from biased point of view. Cannot see how taking it away will change much. At best all the will happen is the reverse of what the article claims happens now and teams will sit away from home and be happy with 0-0 there instead of home. Why do authorities feel the constant need to tinker with the game.

Played and 139 times over 7 years with Feyenoord according to soccerbase plus 10 times on loan for Sparta Rotterdam. Suggests he is not that injury prone but no idea if it means he is any good.

Another game where we rarely looked like scoring. Little creation and strikers who look like they have no idea where the goal is. Very disappointed with Forrester. Looks totally out of his depth. As others have said Gleeson seems to fade badly after 60 minutes. Shinnie was very poor today with possibly worst performance in a Dons shirt. Any news on what’s up with Ferguson.

Limited cash gate for South Stand for Dons fans plus cash gate on West Stand also for Dons fans.

Wilson initially had an ankle knock that made him miss the St Mirren game then a hamstring issue for last game which I am assuming is still reason he is out tomorrow. Could be excused if he had not has similar issues on his last loan spell at Sheffield United.

Hoping we do not rush McKenna back and he only plays if he is fully fit. Last thing we need is him getting injured further as he is rushed back to soon. Need to find goals from somewhere and would be tempted to give Anderson a start alongside May. St Johnstone look a better team than the one we played in preseason so can see this being a difficult game. In Train then straight to ground as taking Bairn Away End Train back to capital 1-1 McGinn

Decent performance tonight but still to many misplaced passes that a better team would have punished (see Friday night). In first half we seemed to always want one touch to many and passed when maybe should have shot. Better in second half and seemed more direct and got the goals. In the end unlucky not to win by more. They and Israel will be different propositions away from home but do think we are more than capable of winning the group.

Team for tonight. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dmv9WWnWwAAWTWM?format=jpg Looks like 5-4-1 again.

I thought Fraser was one of our better players along side Robertson and Tierney. Wrong game last night as Belgium were always likely to beat us even before we decided to gift them goals. Madness to play a team of their quality when we are trying out to play new players in an unfamiliar system. Think McLeish needs to accept he cannot shoe horn both Tierney and Robertson into a back 5 and we need to back to 4-5-1 even if that means dropping one of them.

Team for tonight. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DmgkyktX0AEAsr2?format=jpg 5-4-1 I think.

Kearney was allegedly the runner up to Stubbs in the original interview process.

Ferguson made his debut for Scotland U21s coming on as sub against Andorra last night. Almost got a debut goal as well.

Killie on a fucking Sunday at 12:15 is impossible to reach from Aberdeen on public transport normally but there are engineering works on the rail line from Glasgow that day with a replacement bus so almost impossible from rest of country as well.

With Devlin suspended and Reynolds and Hoban out with long term injuries it will mean we will be down to Ball and Considine as centre halfs against St if McKenna is not ready to return.

Good news. As you say hopefully he will get some starts.

Ciarney has withdrawn as injured but apart from that I don't think you are going to be far wrong with that team. Snodgrass in for Cairney maybe.

McAurthur asked not to be selected as he is dealing with back injury and wants to concentrate on his club football just now.

St Mirren fans have been saying they wanted him gone since league cup group games as they could see the shambles that was developing even then. Sacking him now however means new manager has to work with dross that Stubbs signed until January so far chance their fucked anyway.

Revised squad after all the call offs; Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Craig Gordon (Celtic), Allan McGregor (Rangers). Defenders: Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian), Kieran Tierney (Celtic). Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Kevin McDonald (Fulham), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Callum Paterson (Cardiff City), Robert Snodgrass (West Ham United). Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City), Steven Naismith (Hearts)

1st round draw is as follows; Brora Rangers v Turriff United Burntisland Shipyard v Cumbernauld Colts Dalbeattie Star v Kelty Hearts Deveronvale v Bonnyrigg Rose Edusport Academy v Buckie Thistle Forres Mechanics v Civil Service Strollers Gala Fairydean Rovers v Lossiemouth Gretna 2008 v Vale of Leithen Huntly v East Stirlingshire Inverurie Loco Works v Fraserburgh Linlithgow Rose v Fort William Nairn County v Beith Rothes v Clachnacuddin Strathspey Thistle v Coldstream University of Stirling v Keith Whitehill Welfare v Edinburgh University Wick Academy v Auchinleck Talbot *BSC Glasgow were drawn to receive a bye to the Second Round following Selkirk’s withdrawal Ties to be played 22nd September.

2nd Preliminary Round Results Auchinleck Talbot 10 v 0 Wigtown & Bladnock Girvan 0 v 1 Burntisland Shipyard Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 3 v 0 Shortlees AFC Newton Stewart 0 v 3 Coldstream Preston Athletic 0 v 2 Linlithgow Rose Beith Juniors 3 v 2 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

McGregor was the trialist for the reserves last few weeks. Was with Airdrie last season.