RicoS321

But they'll be a worse team. He's got them out of numerous holes against pish opposition with his goals.

Scales would be a great signing because he's a known quantity. I wouldn't want him on loan because there's a strong chance - based on his age and just his general development last season - that this will be the season where he establishes himself as a player, and I feel we'd just be benefitting Celtic by having him here. The point about not needing another left sided CB is simply one of priority. We've got our target in Scales, and I'd far rather we focused on the midfield first before concerning ourselves with the hunt for another centre back. In an ideal world, we can focus on both - and maybe that's the case - but if there's any sort of prioritisation then, in my opinion, we should focusing our efforts on three or four midfield choices from which to get two (one being a number ten). If that means we either don't get a LCB, or we grab a random EPL loanee, then that's probably okay. Panda insists that Williams is an amazing left sided defender, so that's good enough for me. The other point to consider is that we moved to a back four on Sunday, which would mean a defender less to concern ourselves with (although that's probably more reason to get Scales!). Basically, if we're choosing to commit to a midfielder, or a defender that isn't Scales, then go all out for the midfielder.

He didn't cost us two goals! He cost us a free kick, and missed a chance. Clarkson didn't cost us a goal by missing his opportunity, and nor Polvara for missing his header (arguably easier for a man of his height). Nor are we suggesting that Shinnie gave us a goal because of his good ball winning in the lead up to the goal. Shinnie covered every blade of grass yesterday and did everything that you'd expect from a player in that role. Nobody expects Shinnie to convert every chance he gets, that's not his role. Everybody expects Shinnie to give away fouls, because he plays on the edge, as that is his role. Devlin's fuck up was a freak one, and just a total brain fart. Like a keeper dropping one in, it happens now and again. There is nothing to suggest he'll be repeating it (indeed, he had an excellent block on the line in the second half), but we'll wait and see. It certainly wasn't anything to do with being "streetwise" for that goal, it was just bad luck for us and good luck for them, a header that he would deal with 999/1000 times - he was under zero pressure. I'd have expected nearly every striker in the league to have scored from there.

Why do you keep stating that Williams can play LCB? He's a right footed centre half, and so he'll likely be deficient on his wrong foot. The fact that you say Stewart could also play there shows that your opinion on this matter can't be trusted.

I was right next to Shinnie's challenge, the ball was there to be won and he won it. That Ralston collapsed in a heap (as he did all game), and the linesman bought it, was the issue. That, and the fact that we couldn't defend a freekick. His header was unlucky, the ball was above him and given that he's not known for headed goals, it was a difficult one to control. He was otherwise excellent, first to every ball, held onto the ball under pressure so many times and used the ball well too. He set the tone for any pressing that we did throughout the match. Devlin's challenge did get looked at by the VAR people, they look at everything, they deemed it wasn't worthy of overturning. I suspect that had the ref given a penalty they may not have overturned either. It wasn't clearcut either way. Devlin was excellent against Livi (probably motm) and did well against the Tims all whilst out of position. I'd say that his performance at right centre back was as good as any McRorie gave us in that position, and that's the type of utility we are replacing. Devlin will be a good signing. People don't want us to be streetwise at home to the Tims, they've had enough of it. I can understand that. We went toe to toe with them, lost, but not by any great degree and weren't embarrassed. Sitting in and risking a 0-1 loss would have only upset the fans. Most Dons fans are realistic about where we sit in the scheme of things, and most fans applauded the team despite their loss yesterday. The fact that Livi or St Mirren might be able to sit in against them and get a draw is neither here nor there. 99% of the time they will also lose. If, collectively, one team gets a result once, that's not evidence of success in any approach. The reality is that it's difficult, and so we went with the option of playing to our strengths, which is refreshing at least.

So now that we're a big European team we start disrespecting the league cup? The equivalent of putting out a second string team in my opinion.

There's no urgency for Scales, or any other defender, regardless. Against teams that attack us, McKenzie isn't a weak point, as he showed on Sunday. It's when he has to step out with the ball that there are issues. Scales does that far better and is just generally an upgrade. Getting MacDonald back fit is probably more of a priority for our defence in my opinion. I'd let Scales go to the wire and insist that we get him permanently. If there's not a deal to be done then leave the Tims with an extra squad player that they don't have a use for, or let some other club loan him (I don't think Hibs or hearts would be willing to spend the money on him if we aren't). Concentrate on the midfield options and let it simmer away in the background. If we have to go with the defensive options until January, that's probably okay.

I agree, he was lucky not to catch him, and could easily have got a yellow for the lunge. However, it would have been exceptionally harsh to give him a second yellow for it. I know we were playing one of the scum, but it is traditional to give a first booking initially.

Very harsh on Morris! He tracked back well, got his angles right defensively to prevent maeda from running directly at Devlin and still managed to take on players going forward. Getting crosses in is very difficult for a wing back as your starting position is almost always deep. If you take the cross from deep, there's a high percentage chance that a defender is getting to it first, and then if you skin your man usually the defence has had time to get into shape to cut it out. There were a couple of crosses that had to be cut out and at least one to the far post that needed dealt with, which is fine because there's always the chance of picking up the loose ball. Duncan had one brilliant ball across the face also, but our system generally aims for one of the front two in behind.

Interesting game, we played well and we're unlucky. Shinnie was probably motm today, and whilst I get the suggestion of moving him left, that'd mean some very good signings to replace that energy and ball winning. Polvara was good again today and is exactly the type of squad player we'll need. Morris did really well, so it'll give us lots of options when MacDonald is back and Rubezic is moved right one. McKenzie had another solid performance too. Devlin just had a brain fart, the type of mistake that you can't legislate for, nor read too much into. He wasn't under any notable pressure. The Tims were very divey today, with Ralston a joke. Not convinced it was remotely a foul for their first, with the ball there to be won, but would like to see it back. When Duk got going he was good, then faded quickly and should have been off sooner. Would probably have taken Morris off for the last ten too. I liked the change to a 4-4-2, it was a bit different. Thought Duncan handled the game well also.

Hayes out, Duncan in. Hayes must be injured. I saw him yesterday and he looked fine, maybe Robson feels he's compromised because of his prior allegiances, with Duncan being a trueblood.

Can you get them to put back the original?

It's not a new thing for Aberdeen fans, we were doing it in the nineties (and eighties to an extent). The point stands, and it's not particular to Aberdeen, money since the advent of the champions league has had a hugely deleterious effect on football, where before its effects were pronounced, but not saturating. Does the open top bus ride chance increase with more millions? I don't think the evidence backs that. I suspect you'll find that the greatest chance of success still comes with avoiding either two of the scum on the way to lifting a trophy. In other words, relying on the combined luck of all other teams in the tournament, where one team gets the chance event of beating one or other of them. We could be that fortuitous team, of course.

Aye, this is going to be pish. Really need to work out what we're doing in midfield. MacDonald being back would be good, but to come in against the tims without a preseason is a lot to ask. Need to get Devlin into wing back either way and Morris onto that virgin galactic flight. I'd have Shinnie and Polvara or Barron sitting in front of the defence with Clarkson in front of them. Be prepared to take Duk off if he's not pulling his weight.

Jambos disrespecting the coefficient already

I don't think you have to accept, but be aware of it. The first problem with the route that you describe is that it doesn't lead to the outcome you suggest - it's pie in the sky nonsense. The second problem is that once you've reached the pie in the sky goal, you inevitably realise that you had to become a Hun/Tim to get there. All the "Aberdeen has a spirit" becomes verifiable bullshit. Instead of having the other teams in Scotland backing you, they all (correctly) hope you fail because they don't want another airse cheek. The pathetic, happy clapping, hollow victory is recognised for what it is. The far more logical, and likely to be successful, route is to fight back as a group. First, get supporters and clubs to recognise that there is another way, and the way that you describe is shallow and repugnant. Get them to really understand the existing setup and that it's just a man made system that can be changed (this, of course, is a mirror of our wider economic system), and that existing setup is anti meritocratic. Really challenge the clubs and harass the media - especially public - to present that fact, and have it run through all discourse: "so Brendan, you were able to beat a team with one tenth of your budget today....". Once you've unveiled the sham and you openly discuss it as a sham, then you get to work solving it. In my opinion, that can only occur by promoting equality (thus sporting merit) as the number one goal in every design decision. That means equal split of all prize funds, perhaps salary caps, centralised (not geographically, but organisational) youth setups with drafting, split gates etc etc. Of course, there will have to be a cut-off at some point, via the divisional split, but I guess that'd have to be via some part time Vs full time delineation. Either way, all clubs bar two in the country would benefit, as would the game itself. The problem with the way you suggest as "the only way" is that it gives us this false hope. A perennial target that will never actually be met, but it gives people just enough glimpse of possible success that they don't change anything, or worse think that it would be unfair to change anything. It's been forty years of failure and anti-sport in Scottish fitba, that's more than enough evidence. Your "only way" is not actually a way at all.

Dead?

The purpose of plastic pitches should be to have as close to homogeneity as possible. They should be predictable, and training at Cormack park should be as near to the same as playing at Livingston. Instead, we're now at a point where grass pitches are becoming more and more predictable to a point where plastic is redundant other than for the fact that the local council can play their fives game on it on a Friday night.

Nice work. Would making the players get their own way and using Airbnb help maximise the profit? I think it's fairly obscene to be honest. We're basically getting more money than the first prize spfl. It's such a fucked up way to run fitba and totally destructive. We're now basically the scum, fighting to ensure nobody else can get the unearned riches. Imagine how much better it'd be if all that money was pooled and added to the prize fund? We'd have a proper league.

That's a brand new piece of plastic. One of the best bits of the whole pitch. Plastic pitches in general are absolutely fine. However, it's possible to make them absolutely shite by not adding moisture and doubling up the rubber pellets, which is clearly what happened. It was gamed to be extra shite. On numerous occasions the ball held up in the rubber pellets and you could see the pellets flying in the air when the ball bounced on them. Both teams played several passes that didn't run true and held up short (our best chance, that Polvara fucked up came from such a pass). Whilst we made little attempt to pass anyway, if we had we'd have seen just how poor the surface was. Quick passing football would have been extremely difficult. Obviously, this isn't particular to plastic pitches, the equivalent on grass is to let it grow long and narrow the pitch dimensions. I suppose it's no less unsporting than us having three times Livingston's budget.

I don't think fergie would have deemed Brighton a glamour tie either though. Ideally we get Europa League, with two ace teams and one shite one.

Shite, we'll tank all of those. We're Aberdeen.

We were honking that night, it was awful. Good result in the end though! Jess, Windass and Dodds started I think. To balance it out Jamie Buchan and Peter Hetherston were in the lineup from memory, could be wrong.

Whilst I don't think we'll get O'Hara for the reasons you state, with the draw for the playoff now made, Cormack must be looking at that and questioning whether or not to go all in. It's worth at least £1.5M as a single tie, against either of two teams we're very capable of beating. I'm thinking that two good signings, especially a midfielder, could give us a good chance. After the weekend's poor performance, I think a number ten might be of use. We're limited with our formations because of the insistence of sticking with Duk and Miovski, so I'd probably prioritise midfield over wide players. I'd be inclined to just meet the Tims' valuation for Scales if there's not much difference in our positions too, we need a centre half that can come forward with the ball, and overlap if we want to get anything out of our wide players. Devlin only got beyond Morris once on Saturday, and McKenzie didn't get beyond Hayes. If we're expecting our wide players to take folk on then this is vital when they're coming from deep as wing backs (think Tierney and Robertson for Scotland, but shitter).

That's not how you spell Rosenborg