BobbyBiscuit

While that's very true, it should never be forgotten that he was a very talented footballer, in the truest sense of the words. He could dribble out of trouble, loved a one-two as well and his long range passing was superb. This country now seems to have players who can only show one side of the two - either players who are silky but are pea hearted, or players who have all the desire but none of the skill to back it up - why not both? I would partly put it down to shite like the idea of having a "Defensive Centre Mid" and an "Attacking Centre Mid" and not just a "Centre Mid". Neil Simpson, Jim Bett, Brian Grant... played the full park; tackles, tracking your man, passing - knowing when to play it back, knowing when to play it forward, knowing when to hold on to it, forward runs, third man runs to support your strikers... we don't have one "centre mid" who can do all of that, but those three players I mentioned could do all of it. No one can mention Shinnie here... Shinnie is a cracking player for us, but he's still a left back playing in midfield and he has his limitations. He never knows when to go back - probably as a result of being a full back i.e. the play is almost always in front of you, so you go forward with the ball when you get it; as a centre mid, he has to learn when to hold it. Anyway, the Reynolds thing... I fell out with Reynolds at McDiarmid Park, January 2015 (?), Friday night game where Rooney scored a pearler of an equaliser from outside the box, on the volley, into the top corner. Reynolds had a fucking nightmare that night, allowing Steven McLean to bully him. He was horrendous and at the semi final against United the week after he was no better. He's barely shown any form since. I know it's easy to say that without Anderson there to hold his hand he struggled, but it certainly looks like that - Reynolds can't blame age for it, loss of pace? He was pacy, but hardly Usain Bolt, and it doesn't explain his record of winning no headers in the last 3 seasons, or indeed 50-50s, which are the basics for all defenders. It also doesn't explain his horrid habit of getting on the wrong side of his man. Apologies for the Rico-esque length of post (only kidding Rico ), but I'm just killing time waiting for Santa to arrive....

Happy Christmas to you Manc, and to all other DTers. Really hoping that Nicky Maynard finds that Santa has left him new shooting boots (jet heeled) and a map to goal under his tree, if only to stop N&T from finally losing it altogether, Michael Douglas/Falling Down style. Also hope that Greg Stewart (footballer) is given the gift of playing in behind the striker, rather than being stuck on the wing. Also hope for world peace, but mainly that we sign some decent players in January (Niall McGinn, please), Stewart is played centrally and that Rooney is given some decent service in 2018. Fuck the huns.

If it's only "a" goal you're looking for, he may come good for you - a tap in would be the most likely route to that. He'll do nothing beyond that. An exceptionally poor signing

Why do you think that though? What have you seen of him which suggests he has either pace or skill?

Great performance. Got in their faces and never let them settle. Exactly the sort of thing we need for next Saturday. Well done GMS, never knew he had it in him.

Thanks for all the replies folks, very much appreciated. According to McLeish and Bett, there was no change of tactics on the day as has been often claimed. While we played most of that run in with a 4-3-3, we had reverted to a 4-4-2 for the match against Celtic at Pittodrie with van de Ven coming into the midfield. Was the feeling that the players bottled it on the day or was the feeling definitely more about the management? What was your view of Smith throughout that season?

I'm looking at doing something in connection to the 1990/91 season and would love to hear people's stories, memories, opinions on it, if you don't mind sharing them? Obviously it ended up being a really painful ending for us, but the team played some wonderful football that season. Easily one of our greatest sides, most entertaining possibly. Packed with great players. the management came in for some criticism that season for keeping the team on a leash. Do you think we could have done more?

Lukaku going some way to proving he's a flat track bully with an abysmal display against City today. Absolute murder in front of goal for United, and absolute murder defending set pieces too - but I do wonder about managers putting strikers in that last line at set pieces, asking for trouble really. Big Sam grabs a point for the Toffees away at Anfield, how they survived for so long at 1-0 is incredible. Liverpool rinsed them. Hibs fighting back from 2 down v the tims to get a 2-2 draw... good on them. Would never envisage the Dons doing such a thing against that lot, unfortunately.

We need to see at least an experienced, strong centre midfielder come in, but how many of them are available at our level/budget? January's always a tough time for getting players in; would rather get one good solid player in than faff about with shite like Maynard, Ball, Tate, Collin, Parker, Driver etc.

That's a bit harsh - the boy was subbed for tactical reasons, not necessarily because he was crap.

Ironically, a very good tactical move; cut out the ball to Moussa who was dropping off from the front. Think O'Connor is fine/good in that role against the bottom 6/7 sides but he really struggles in there against the better sides. Looked good tonight when moved there. I think Greg Stewart could be a really good player for us but just not playing off the wing. He has the movement, vision and passing to be a centre mid but doesn't have the work rate. He's got to play centrally though, if he does play.

On for Frank Ross

Arnason coming on at HT supposedly. Didn't say who for, but would have to assume there's an injury rather than a tactical switch.

are you alright chief?

Absolutely. Why would there have to be a press release? It's quite simple; all DM had to do was tell his agent and Milne that was the case. They then inform the huns that on the back of the speculation (which had been dictated by the huns) McInnes would not like to be considered for the job. I won't be a fud if you stop the happy clapping.

You really believe that? Even if that is true, and I don't believe it is for a second, why didn't he say to Milne long before now "Even if they come for me, I'm not interested. I've spoken to my family and it wouldn't be the right move for me." ?

There's nothing to get over you zoomer. I thought it was a good time and opportunity for a change, he's not going - it's not put me up nor down. To pretend that everything is fantastic is the act of the happy clapper, FYI.

Yip maybe we did. We've been shite all season.

Does the fact he told them to do one mean that all the issues with the side disappear? Why don't you take a look at the results and performances and team selection over the last 6 weeks instead of happy clapping around here telling the rest of us what we must think of him because of this decision which he allowed to drag on to the detriment of the side?

4 out of the last 5 goals we've lost have been from Considine's side. Surely time he's given a rest. Give the boy Harvie a start - if it doesn't work...well, it wasn't working with the experienced defender there, no difference. It may also mean we have some form of attack from left back as well.

Yip. This is my take on it too. I'm fed up with him; fed up with the shite performances, bizarre line-ups, tactics and bottle jobs. Not that the list of potential successors were filling me with great hope, I think now would have been a good time for change. He/the club allowed this to rumble on so much that it clearly had adverse effects on our team and results, and we've gone from being in a position of strength to now chasing the huns. A massive bollock has been dropped here.

He did break his leg at Fir Park - bad tackle by Ged Brannan. Think it was 1-1 though, wouldn't have been Sheerin who scored as he wouldn't have played with Zerouali.

Invite applications, see who applies and take it from there. The names being mentioned are thoroughly uninspiring.

Read it again. I didn't say any of that.

Of course it is. No way he's staying now. This whole thing has been a total clusterfuck from start to finish - not of our doing necessarily but it is what it is and we have to deal with the fall out swiftly. Get him moved on. Let everyone connected with our club move on. Results and performances in the last 5 weeks or so have been utterly pitiful in the main. There is no way we would have lost both matches to the huns if McInnes's head hadn't been turned. He's not focussed. 4 out of the 5 goals v them came from the left side. The two goals on Sunday were near identical to the two lost at Pittodrie v Motherwell. Players pick up the blame for that too, but for that to happen to a manager at his level is scandalous and not what you'd expect of him at any other point of his time with us.