BobbyBiscuit

No insult at all meant. We all see different things in players, all like different things in players and teams, insulting you was absolutely not meant. Completely agree that Bett was superior by some way, just again that their styles agitate people (to differing degrees)

Unfortunately Rico, that's not something we should ever be saying about league contenders. On the keeper issue... DM has to make a very bold statement i think about the no.1 jersey. Whoever it's going to be, make an early call and give that player the confidence to go about his business. So he knows he's the main man, can work with his defence early on etc. I wouldn't be averse to seeing Jack leave, from what i can see I don't believe he's a positive influence on the squad. I'd like to see Storie promoted full time to the first team and at least one centre midfielder bought. Would like a keeper, two centre backs and a striker to replace Church as back up to Rooney. Time to state our intentions.

But I think that may be in the eye of the spectator, so to speak. Look at McGinn when he's ace, he still doesn't look as though he's busting a bollock to do so. The goal at Tynecastle which is in with a chance of winning goal of the season is a lovely example... it was his 'coolness' which allowed him to score that goal. the drop of the shoulder twice is so lazy but so devastating to Hearts. Same with Bett, often took a ball in and opened his body up, leaned back and pinged it on to Paul Mason's right foot. But he still looked as though he wasn't really trying which still upset a lot of people, bizarrely! When someone has the style of McGinn, it looks awful when his moves don't come off because he's so languid. When someone has the style of Hayes, the fans love him because of the frantic style of play. The reality is that we need them both and should be thankful of both. Different styles, different skills but often, the same result from a different road travelled.

I'm a fan of McGinn, his skill is undoubted, and for Aberdeen to have a player of his quality is an asset. As I, Jute, manc and others have said, if he produced every week, with his skill, he would not be at Aberdeen. That is not to say that any of us should not be frustrated with him. I would put a couple of things forward however... McGinn left Celtic because a) he struggled to get a game b) when he did get a game, he was stuck on the wing. He signed for Aberdeen because he was promised by Brown to play through the middle. When this happened, he effectively saved us from relegation. He has a languid style, Hayes has the opposite but in typical Scottish style, when both are having off days we always plump for Jonny because he's 'trying'. That's the thing that holds Scotland back. Ignoring skill (this is not a slight on Jonny who is a skilful winger in his own right of course). But, DM has always played NM wide; he is reliant on his team mates getting the ball to him and is therefore out of the game for large periods at a time, like any other winger. And therefore, like any other winger/wide midfielder flits in and out of games, like Strachan did. He frustrates fans, but so did Jim Bett. If Bett couldn't be arsed you fucking knew about it from minute one - inspiring the Northern Light to produce Bett's diaries.. 'Saturday 16th January - It's raining in Portlethen. I can't be fucked today'. As great a player as Bett was, those diary entries spoke a truth. And aye, it's probably the same with McGinn but he's a player we would miss so much if we didn't have him. McGinn, Hayes and Rooney are the players who really make the difference for us. The problem at AFC isn't the attackers, for once in a (semi) successful team, it's the keeper and defence that are the issue.

Heroes? Who is it? Jimmy Johnstone? Paul McStay? Henrik Larsson? John Greig? William of Orange? Heroes. Fuck off.

Rooney and McGinn v Hearts for me.

100% agree Jute. This has been a shite season, all things considered. We've blown our own chances.

Goodwillie - I don't know if we'd have fared better but similarly, not sure we'd have fared worse. Much of a muchness as they say. DG's link up play was so much better than Church's which is non-existent. But Church is a poacher and scores goals DG would never be in place to score. DM seems absolutely set on a big(ish) man up front and so far his signings for that position have been utterly chronic. Zola. Parker. Goodwillie (wide rather than tall). Church. Church has got goals which is ace, but then the team play falls down because he just does not contribute in terms of link up play or closing down.

Yeah, fine - as has already been said. But we have a striker who is offering nothing outwith the six yard box - when you're playing one up that isn't good enough. Rooney roughs defenders up, will contribute to link up play even though it's hardly his forte, is capable of making chances for himself and others more than a bawhair off the goal line. Church has hampered our play and even though his goals have been great we should be expecting more and if DM isn't expecting more I'd be saddened and disappointed. We need more from the focal point of our attack and we're not getting it.

but why does Church get a free ride?

So why does Church get a free ride then? Brilliant that he scored, but you don't think he could offer more or is it just 'let's hammer McGinn night because we don't like his face'?

So what about the chance that McGinn missed at the front post? I'm not sticking up for McGinn's performance tonight, please don't get me wrong, but other than the 3rd minute did our centre forward actually touch the ball?

Why don't you - for once - attempt a meaningful, intelligent offering to the debate?

Yip, but the emphasis is on the plural. What other chance did Church have? Where's the movement? Why is a wide player the one making the movements of a centre forward? Genuine questions, we're slating McGinn for missing chances and rightly because he should be scoring them, but why is Church not getting himself on the end of more than one chance in a match?

Well here's one for you then... why are the chances falling to McGinn and not Church?

In fairness, Shay is probably a better keeper than Brown. The whole McGinn thing is a fucking nonsense. He's not been at his best but that's what happens with guys of his style at our level. Look at the goal he scored at Tynie earlier this season - that's the talent the guy has. We don't always see it because if he performed like that he wouldn't be at Aberdeen. I can understand people being frustrated with him - I am, and I'm a big fan of his - but come on, this Celtic garbage is exactly that.

A lot of teams are, and is the exact reason why Robson should have been used to better effect this season.

He must be some fucking player if he's meaning to miss every one of them. Ask yourself - why would he get himself into the position of scoring if he doesn't want to score? He should have done better tonight, much like some other matches this season, but to suggest he's deliberately missing as you did earlier is fucking bonkers. Celtic level paranoia bonkers, too.

I can't see it, there are no leaders in our team - no-one to take the game by the scruff of the neck and sort things out for us.

Taylor fannying about in the left back area. How long is it going to take for McInnes to see what even the blind can now see?

Ash Taylor is just shite. Nothing to do with heart, comes down to ability/decision making.

He's not the only one. But why pick on anyone else when you've got an agenda, eh? Performed last Sunday, didn't he?

Oh do fuck off.

Another shite goal to concede after such a bright start is a huge kick in the stones. Our jitters seemed to start with that ridiculously lazy volleyed pass from MacLean towards our goal/left back area, we never settled after that. The centre halves not following in on that shot is amateurish but the parry from Brown is atrocious and another shining example of exactly why he should not be playing for us. That boy Collin must be rank rotten if he can't get in ahead of Brown. Thought Reynolds looked a tad brighter at the start of the game. Need to see more of Hayes.

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