BobbyBiscuit

Deutschland '83 on Channel 4, only second episode but good so far. Drama series set around the Cold War and the potential of WWIII.

Article from the Falkirk Herald from 30 Dec when McInnes agreed Rogers could stay until the end of the season: Surely, with Liverpool going back on their part of the deal, we're able to recall Rogers now as well? Can't imagine us not being able to recall a player who belongs to us. Either that or stick a bid in for Bain or unearth the next Theo Snelders through our extensive scouting network....

Same subs every time. Smith and Robson are as well not travelling with the squad.

That's the most concerning, long term issue from today. Another big match and once again we fail to turn up.

It's not though, is it? Miller was a hard bastard, Reynolds is soft as shite.

Miller was smaller but never got bullied the way Reynolds does. It's not about size, it's about strength and technique, knowing how to use your body and read the game.

Reynolds once again being bullied, he really has to be stronger and is probably the reason he won't ever become an international (or a regular one at least). There aren't enough options coming from midfield, that is true, but fuck me.... Taylor with the ball at his feet is an utter disaster area. Why does he persist with this shitey wee chip down the right wing? It's not just today, he does it every fucking week. It never works. Just fucking stop it. If it's not that it's the hoof up the park to no-one. Why is Robson on the bench if he isn't trusted to come on today for an hour? If he can't last an hour or if the manager doesn't trust him, he shouldn't be picking up a wage from us. We now have McLean out of position and no real steel in the middle of the pitch which is the thing that is hurting us all over the pitch. 45 minutes now to save this. Time for DM to step up and get a performance - and a result - out of this.

Ward Logan Taylor Reynolds Considine Shine Flood Hayes MacLean McGinn Rooney Bench: Brown, Robson, Pawlett, Goodwillie, Storrie, Smith, Quinn. Strong team. Lets blow these hammer throwers out the water. COYR!!!!

You're right Tom, Gunn was a very good keeper, unfortunate for him that he had Leighton to compete with. On the strikers, there wasn't a huge amount coming through before Jess & Booth. Paul Wright would have been the last one before them until he was effectively sacked for being fat, Hewitt and Black before him. Not bad I suppose over a ten year period, maybe points to strikers having 'it' rather than 'it' being coached but would still say that the return we've had in the intervening years is worrying.

Strikers and keepers. Watt and Stillie dropped off a cliff after promising starts, last one of note is surely Leighton, the best part of 40 years ago. Ridiculous.

You could also speculate that they're really not sure about him and that's why they need to see him in competitive action at a senior level. Who/When was the last striker worthy of the name to come through our youth system? Jess & Booth?

That's pretty much the same record as Goodwillie. Do we really need two non-goalscoring forwards...?

Falkirk fans were fairly unimpressed with Rogers in the first couple of months of the season. It really isn't the case that he's been performing to the level we saw against the huns, all season. I haven't seen enough of the guy, but I'd still like us to go for Bain from Dundee. Takes control of his box AND is a good shotstopper (a pre-requisite for a keeper at this level).

No worries, but if you are up that end of town, Hanoi Bike Shop is very good for Vietnamese and Masala Twist for Indian. The Bothy for Scottish food is excellent.

Fair enough, maybe that is unfair, but it is only an impression i have because of what you post on here and the JC thing certainly seems to be a recurring theme more than others. Why should anyone have expected us to finish second under Calderwood when Celtic were in their O'Neil/Strachan days and the huns were cheating beyond everyone's ken? As much as I wished the Dons to aim for the sky, to expect us to finish in the top two would have been a stretch of all our faiths.

It is far out and a lot of hun shops down that stretch too, but Chow on Byres Rd is equally as good and obviously not quite so far out.

As I said, I'm no fan and was no fan of JC, certainly in his latter days, but Calderwood, for all his faults, never had us in the bottom six. He may well have been leading us nowhere, but he wasn't leading us nowhere from the bottom half of the league. And while I'm sure you know that, I think it would be only fair of you to acknowledge that JC did a hell of a lot better than others who you choose not to chastise on such a regular basis. I am no fan of Milne either. But why is it that the JC decision irks you so much and not the others, even though most of the others were poorer appointments? And what does my mate not remembering their "role as a JC apologist" have to do with anything? As I also said, most people have moved on. Maybe you should too.

The Manchurian on Dumbarton Road, The Weege is also very good. Just in case any arseholes in the North East ever join civilisation and need a Chinese in Glasgow's West End....

Isn't it the case that these new players are signed on six month deals? Like a lot of their other signings in the summer, they're only paying them until the summer. They are working on getting cash to see them through to the summer - hence the £6.5m loan to pay off the £5m loan. There's not much of a future in what they're doing but I don't think there's anything "wrong" with it, per se.

At what point did Calderwood have the second biggest budget in the league? He didn't, ever. These circumstances are in no way comparable and I don't understand why you choose to bring him up at all, let alone in a thread about our hopes for 2016. Your stance that this website was altogether behind JC is also a nonsense. I, for one, wanted him gone and so did a few others. I can't remember who did and who didn't because it frankly doesn't matter - the club, and the vast majority of the support have moved on. There are other managers of AFC who I believe are far worthy of the scorn you reserve for JC - his successor, for one. Alex Miller and Steve Paterson are others. There would be a huge case for Ian Porterfield too and Roy Aitken. But they too, like JC, are not relevant here.

What would you like to see or what do you think is needed in 2016 for The Dons? I would like to see a dominant, physical presence signed for the centre of midfield. I would like to see DM at least entertain the thought of playing Considine and Reynolds as a CH pairing - Taylor and Quinn have had good moments but both have had disastrous moments too and I do not feel comfortable with either. I'm also concerned that opposition teams - and not very good ones at that - target Quinn and Taylor as our weak links. Make a move for a new goalkeeper as we have to assume Ward will be back to Liverpool after this season. I'd like to see Bain back at the club. We need another striker in, someone capable of scoring goals so that it isn't purely left to Rooney to do the business for us. Goodwillie is never going to be that guy. The big one for me though in the short term... beating Hearts next weekend is an absolute must. If we lose that, it could have a really damaging effect on the rest of the season, not to mention that it's another year without the Scottish Cup - it's been far too long and we have to get that back.

Anyone for anymore..?

"...the disgustingness of Man U" kind of suggests the club, chief. LvG has made a right James Hunt of it, you can't be surprised people want him out, Christ we had a similar discussion re McInnes for sins far less than the Dutchman's.

Adam has been named by UEFA as the 22nd best striker in Europe for 2015. They have collated the records from the 12 top European leagues and have named the 30 top strikers. Needless to say Ronaldo and Messi lead the way, but our man Rooney is level 22nd with Chicharito of Leverkusen, Benzema of Real Madrid, Fernandao of Fenerbahce and De Bruyne of Man City. Superb effort from Adam, keep it going!!

The above is a film about Nottingham Forest's rise from the old Division Two to be champions of Division One and then European Champions. Even as someone who has no allegiance or fondness for NFFC I have to say it is the best football documentary I've ever seen. Most of the players involved are interviewed, there is great footage of Clough and Taylor and great match footage too. The squad of players seem to have a real affection for the club and Clough & Taylor and their story is told in great humour - John McGovern, Kenny Burns and Larry Lloyd in particular are a laugh. Like so many other successful English clubs from that time, they had a big Scottish contingent within the squad. You can pick it up for an Ayrton in HMV/Fopp... very enjoyable 90 mins or so, if you're a football fan (rather than just an AFC fan) you will enjoy this. I wish someone would give our '83 lads the same treatment.