Panda

Hayden Coulson has signed a new contract with Middlesbrough, so we can rule out a permanent deal for him. Edit: Beaten to it by Jute.

Inter winning a good result for Roma & Lazio as keeps Milan behind them. The two Rome clubs in the Champions League together, and Napoli as champions, would really be something after the traditional Northern domination.

I actually explained why in an earlier post on this thread. Clearly, having a link to either of the Old Firm doesn't hinder their ability to be a football manager. My point was that the new man has to be someone who - if not universally, then at least a very large majority - are excited about and right behind from day one. You bring in Neil Lennon, Paul Lambert, David Martindale or - considering they've both thrown their hats into the ring - John Hughes or Charlie Adam, then you're going to have the support split again like they were with Glass & Goodwin, and a huge section just waiting for the manager to fail so they can say "I told you so". As an aside, McInnes took plenty of stick for his Rangers leanings, as did Calderwood. Robson it's a bit different as he's an Aberdeen boy, one of our own really like Shinnie. But I don't want anyone from within Scotland, whether they're linked to the Old Firm or not. I want a fresh face in from elsewhere with a good track record, with Robson and Agnew as part of his management team.

Robson saying post-match he doesn't know if he'll be in charge for the Celtic game, will need to speak to the board. I would like Robson to be assistant manager with Agnew also staying on the coaching staff. But fear it's still too big a job just yet for him full-time, would be another Stephen Glass situation where you can see some good things but maybe that lack of experience at times just comes to the fore. In hindsight Glass maybe should have been assistant to someone else & been groomed for the role - he could have been getting it at the end of this season if he had that sort of plan in place. An experienced and exciting foreign* coach coming in to work with Robson/Agnew would be my preferred choice. *foreign as in not currently related to Scottish football. Let's get someone in with no links to the old firm, no baggage from previous times in Scotland, and someone with a good track record we can all be excited about.

I was annoyed as soon as I got to the word "Clancy".

Don't think it'll be going anywhere unfortunately. They are trialling at the club World Cup having fans at home & in the stadium hear the referee explain why he's changed his mind if VAR intervenes. It's only happened once so far and the ref, who had originally given a penalty, just said "changed to a free-kick and red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity". So not the most detailed explanation, but will be interesting to see how it goes. Dunno if it'll do much to change terrible decisions mind you. Likewise, rugby referees have been given a directive to speed up play in the Six Nations. Basically been told they should only be using VAR if it's a clear and obvious mistake. For me, the main gripes are the handball rule, and the offside rule. That's not really on VAR, it's just spotting it more. Surely we can tell the difference between a deliberate handball that has given the offender an advantage, and it brushing someone's elbow. Likewise, if someone's knee is offside I really don't care. If it's not an obvious offside, play on.

No idea how we're playing as relying on red Tv commentary today which has consisted of long spells of silence then the co-comms saying "go on, that's it, well done" which isn't the most descriptive commentary I've ever heard. I had Duk first goal and 3-0 at 50/1 so devastated at the penalty award.

I work with a few Motherwell fans, one of which has travelled up for the game. They're convinced we'll win and I agree with them, I think we'll slap them around today. 3-0, Duk, Miovski and Watkins.

So McCrorie out but Mackenzie back. I'd stick with this team here but Mackenzie in for Scales. See we're wearing a one-off strip tomorrow as well.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/mark-bosnich-claims-dwight-yorke-29119859 This whole interview is really something..

If McCrorie is able to play (I expect he'll lose the appeal to be honest) then I would play him at RWB ahead of Kennedy.

Michniewicz's son reckons he's already in talks with Aberdeen and it's "been going on for a few weeks". I'd suggest that's shite and more likely they have their eye on another job and are making it look like he's in demand. But hey, I've never met his son, maybe he never lies and Cormack is a fan. I did like how on a story about Aberdeen the Sun decided to add on this Jason Cummings titbit for no obvious reason.

Would imagine Robson will stick with three at the back, on account McCrorie can't play RB, Kennedy struggled there v St Mirren, and Richardson wasn't even on the bench last night. Would play Duk through the middle as opposed to wide where he was last night, bring Watkins in (if we were turning down advances for him on transfer deadline day then surely he'll be used more in the second half of the season), Coulson ahead of Hayes to freshen it up, and Barron ahead of Ramadani. And Scales is back from suspension - Mackenzie wasn't in squad last night either so presume he has a knock. Gorter in if his work permit sorted by the weekend. All things considered, on paper that's not a bad line-up.

Obviously the red card was a major factor, but we didn't help ourselves tonight. Duk's passing was atrocious. He should have been off a lot earlier. Do we keep Miovski on just in case we get a penalty kick? Hayes & Kennedy poor, but they were playing full back which isn't their position so can't be too harsh. Ramadani can never be accused of not trying but I'm beginning to believe he's not good enough. Barron should replace him on Saturday. Hugely frustrating since with Hearts & Livi losing, and Hibs drawing on Tuesday, it was a chance to move up and still keep third alive. But there really is a chance we could be bottom six again at this rate.

Grant Irvine. Had never heard of him before tonight

Duk's passing tonight has been awful. Has broken down so many attacking moves, and just put Pollock in trouble there which led to a booking.

Shinnie being a better captain than Stewart will surprise no-one, but was a moment there after he got fouled and a few players lost their head (Ramadani booked in amongst it), and he got 7 or 8 players in a huddle and roared instructions at them. He's also in the referee's face screaming for every decision. I fucking love that man. St Mirren should be winning though, have missed three sitters. Ramadani having a poor game and with the yellow card I'd replace him at half-time.

It was harsh, it looked like Dunne has put his arm up to block him and McCrorie was putting his up to shove it out of the way and caught Dunne with his elbow. But, bit of naivety from McCrorie. A more experienced player would have ran into the arm and won a foul outside the box. McCrorie gets himself sent off. It never rains but it pours eh?

3-4-2-1 according to the team-sheet. Not delighted at that considering it means McCrorie in a back three, although once Scales is back it could mean McCrorie at RWB.

Shinnie back as captain No Mackenzie in squad, Coulson on bench. So could be Hayes (or Shinnie) at LB, or a three at the back with Kennedy & Hayes as wing backs. Edit: Just noticed no place for the new Ajax goalkeeper. Perhaps still an immigration registration issue there.

Apology accepted.

You agreed with dropping Clarkson a few days ago min. Just think we may as well see what the new boy has to offer, plus Clarkson been off it past few games.

I did forget someone. Poor Dante Polvara.

Robson's last match as manager, the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone following Glass's sacking, was a 4-2-3-1. Mackenzie at left back, Barron sat deep alongside Brown, Kennedy played wide right with Hayes wide left. Though in the second half it formed into more of a 4-4-2. So, trying to guess how he'll line up tonight, will he go 4-2-3-1 again? He has to start both central defenders I think as Stewart gone and Scales suspended. Gorter McCrorie MacDonald Pollock Mackenzie Barron Shinnie Roberts Myslovic Hayes Duk I'd be happy with that. Markanday doesn't appear to have played a lot of football. Neither has Roberts mind you, but I maybe wouldn't start too many new signings at once.

So squad is GK: Gorter, Lewis, Ritchie, Roos RB: Richardson, McCrorie CB: MacDonald, Pollock, Scales LB: Coulson, Mackenzie, Scales (potentially) CM: Shinnie, Ramadani, Barron, McCrorie (potentially) AM: Clarkson, Myslovic Wingers/wide players: Roberts, Duncan, Hayes, Watkins, Morris, Markanday, Kennedy Forwards: Duk, Miovski, Bavidge Dunno if I'm missing anyone. Issue with that is the abundance of right sided players (although should maybe discount Morris as he's unlikely to feature much). Roberts/Markanday both right sided. Both centre halves signed appear to be able to play both LCB and RCB.