Panda

Wish I was going to this, but have to pick and choose the games I get to and I'm going to the following two after it. Going to be another sell out. Dundee United also sold all their tickets in two hours apparently. Evening kick-off under the lights, a wee derby feel to it, two in-form teams, Goodwin's return to Pittodrie to add some extra spice. To be fair to Goodwin he's doing well. I think he's learned his lesson from what he tried to do at Aberdeen and is managing United the way he managed St Mirren, but now with a bit more experience. Only Rangers have beaten them in the league. We're now at the point where we likely need to rotate the squad, would be a big ask to play the same starting XI for three games in a week, especially with two against Rangers and Celtic. I was suggesting even before Celtic that MacDonald should replace Molloy, who has had three poor games now. Have Duk and Sokler played their way in after Celtic Park - Nisbet just been off it a little in the past two games. Palaversa likely starts one of the upcoming games. Don't think Thelin will go wild though, probably two changes at most, so I'll guess Palaversa for Shinnie or Nilsen, and Duk for Keskinen.

First time since March 2013 I think since Celtic have let a two-goal lead slip. And it's all down to our manager. First half: We made so many errors and were fortunate Celtic didn't punish us more. Rubezic dragged out of position, Molloy poor again (third game in a row), Nilsen looked a little overwhelmed and was careless both in and out of possession - giving the ball away and coughing up cheap free-kicks. Everyone on Sportsound were saying "Clarkson off for Palaversa, shore up the midfield and make Aberdeen more defensively solid." But instead Thelin was only thinking about how Celtic's high line was there to be exploited. The subs worked. Second half, as the graphic I posted showed, we actually had less possession, but we were more dangerous. We had a manager brave enough to give up the ball in return for having three to four players able to race forward when Celtic lost it. We had Celtic spooked, and really they only regained their composure for the last 20 minutes. Very few teams outside the sides they face in the Champions League will do that to them.

It's handball but it isn't. As in, it's been headed onto his arm, but honestly who gives a fuck? The handball rule was invented in the 1800s to stop those who were not very good at it from picking the ball up or punching it into the net. The guys who invented the game would have been watching that today from up above sickened at that goal being ruled out and what our game has become.

Thelin ball Effective.

Noted

Gavin Molloy and Sivert Nilsen. Both been poor.

"Strolled into the Scotland squad" He was a late call up to the last one and only because of an extensive injury list

Are you the same fella that never rated Miovski?

Saw the team bus earlier, applauded them proudly as you should. Surprised at same team being named but Thelin obviously heard about our last title decider in May 1991 and decided against making the same mistake.

Made a video jinxing Aberdeen. But any excuse to post the king Andrew Considine.

Forgot about McGinn. Him over Christie in my team.

Well it's @Reekie_Red thread so he can make the final decision, but if Pawlett is kicked out so some jobber from Norwich can get in, I'll judge you all silently from afar.

Are we not talking about their performances here? I've already acknowledged Pawlett fell off, but at the beginning on his day he was a terrific player. Never felt the same with McLean or Ramadani.

Yes. Every day of the week. Ramadani was effective but generally an average player, although fair play to him he's done well at Lecce. Pawlett on his day was terrific, a player that lifted the place when he got on the ball, although sadly (injuries probably) never reached his full potential. Yes. The McLean last night v Portugal wasn't the McLean at Aberdeen. Hector/Pollock, both similar levels. Hector's howitzer v Partick Thistles gets him the shirt.

Watched the Northern Ireland goals (I'm half Northern Irish) and Mitov had little chance with any of them. The "own goal" was the ball hitting the post then hitting off his legs which he knew nothing about as he was mid air diving for the initial shot at the time. Devlin: Glad he got a cap, made a nice goal saving challenge, and got to touch Ronaldo as he ran past him. And he'll still be fresh for Saturday.

Dodgy tactics and formation but this is the correct answer.

Calvin Ramsay and Christian Ramirez worth a shout too.

Cifuentes, as you may recall, was interviewed for the Hearts job before Naismith got it. I remember thinking what a big coup it would be if they got him. They went for Naismith, sliding doors moment. Now, if this is true, then wow. Again, another coup for Hearts if they could have got him, and if (as is to be believed) they've gone for Neil Critchley instead, then I'd be livid if I was a Hearts fan.

Looks like Hearts have got themselves a belter of a manager if Neil Critchley is on his way...

As per the tweet, Celtic are selling sections B7 and B8. If we have sold 12,000 then that's a big increase on the 7,187* sold for the Scottish Cup semi, and around the 12,800* that went to the Hibs semi. *Source: AFC heritage

To be fair, the story originated in the English media, and has just been picked up by the Scottish press.

Ah, good spot. I didn't realise Shinnie was in that squad (unused sub).

I don't agree, I don't think we've been lucky. We've not been getting any decisions going our way any more than we've had ones go against us. We've been outplayed in spells against Dundee and Hearts, but you could argue we've defended better than they've attacked and still deservedly won the games.

I'm not sure Shinnie & McLean were in the squad when both Aberdeen players. They were both in the squad for the Peru/Mexico trip (as was Christie) but technically it was the end of the season and both Christie (Celtic) & McLean (Norwich) had only been on loan at Aberdeen. You could count them as Dons players though.

Good pub quiz question that. I think maybe Russell Anderson, Scott Severin and Lee Miller in 2006? All three played in a game v Japan that year. Dunno if there was a squad after that where all three got called up, or even a later game all three featured.