RicoS321

I'd put Ferguson senior in the MacGregor tim mould. He had about 25 caps where he was anonymous, like he was playing within himself, but at times he was excellent. Almost always better when you see him in person rather than on the telly too, as his reading of the game and positioning was really top class. Very different types of player (Lewis and Barry the Hun) though. Lewis is more akin to McGinn, Barry more like Jack if we're comparing with current Scotland players.

I don't think it's fair to compare anyone to that Hun prick.

You'll get round to it I'm sure. Another goal for captain Ferguson today. All time greatest goalscoring Scottish player in Italy. Got a ring to it.

FTFY

Scumdee website Dundee going in two footed on the ref. Whilst they'll be trying to deflect a little, it is clear that he didn't do everything to get the game on. We should be awarded the three points.

Why did Dundee not release the team at 13:45 as normal then? They obviously knew at that point, or had suspicions that the pitch would fail an inspection. The ref could have probably handled it better, but he was probably severely pissed off at turning up to an unplayable surface. It should just never get to that point. The ref's final inspection should be a fail safe, rather than something that is ever utilised.

Fuck sake, just turned on red tv and wondered where the live feed was. Dundee dicks. Play it tomorrow.

Exactly. £6M plus Gueye.

Was much better back in the day when everything was a little less professional. They pioneered the 9 minutes of stoppage time that is now a fixture of the VAR game.

Poor man's Jamie McGrath in my opinion.

I'm not sure if away to Dundee is a good game for the four at the back. We were very exposed when we tried it against Livingston, and they're gash. Unless we're willing to try 4-2-3-1, which I don't think Robson will. It's definitely something to switch to in game though at least, and it was good to see us coping reasonably well with the in-game switching (twice) on Wednesday without having to change personnel (we did, but didn't have to). I'd probably stick with the same back three as Livingston with the option to shunt everyone over a position when necessary. Keep Duk away from any defensive duties for as long as possible. I don't think it matters what you or I think though, or what is obvious to every human on earth. Robson will continue to play a sitting Clarkson with Shinnie and another ahead of him, further running our captain into the ground.

Exactly. Only four more sleeps.

Gartenmann was poor tonight, but has generally been solid. He's suited to the right of the three, but MacDonald sits deeper than Rubezic and forces Gartenmann (and Jensen) to play hard up against the attackers. Gartenmann seems to struggle against big units too. The subs made sense, yes. I'm not saying I'd have done the same, but from the perspective of a manager who wants to minimise risk, they were definitely the right call. We were very open with the 4-3-3, and I think after the Anderson chance (which he deliberately missed because he's a top red) he probably thought it wasn't worth riding his luck. I completely understand the changes, and with Sokler and Miovski over the top, we still created a few good opportunities, so I don't think we were particularly blunted by that. Personally, I don't think the 4-3-3 will work against many teams, and I don't think he'll use it from the start of any game, but it's good to know it's an option. A 4-2-3-1 is what I'd go with, with a sitting two and McGrath in front. It's frustrating, as Duk is arguably better out wide running at defenders, but he's also a complete liability going back the way, and also regularly loses the ball in dangerous areas when playing there. Definitely worth the risk at pittodrie though, although I see no harm in just introducing slowly in parts of games first. The biggest problem with the back threw, is insisting on the shitey number six role and not having a left wing back.

Probably just Clyde and St Johnstone. Unless Cape Verde get through. Should be back for the hearts game. Knowing Duk, he'll be three stones heavier.

He wasn't terrible. He hides a lot and isn't nearly good enough, but he was also unlucky with a couple of things he did, and there were a few moans at him from folk who have already decided he's going to make an arse of things before he even gets the ball. I'd like to see him moved on in the summer.

Just back. Good result in the end. As predicted, Clarkson sitting behind Shinnie and Polvara. Polvara is not, and never will be, Ramadani. A decent team would have torn that to shreds. Robson completely unable to learn a lesson. Anyway, the change to a 4-3-3 worked well in an attacking sense, but not defensively. McGurry was absolutely honking, he needs binned, he's nowhere near good enough. Hopefully Mackenzie returns soon. Polvara neat and tidy on the ball, just not particularly dynamic, doesn't drive forward and doesn't get back quick enough, but a good squad player and if he can become more aggressive then he can add something. McGrath coming on showed what a good midfielder looks like, so that's what Polvara needs to aim for. Duk played well tonight, especially out wide in the 4-3-3 (where he wasn't required to track back), great assist for Miovski's second. I understood why he was taken off, they were starting to throw players forward and shifting back to a back three and getting Sokler in behind made sense. Miovski just absolutely class. His movement is just brilliant. Two steps and he's free of his man. Hope he stays until summer.

Yep, I'm similar, although possibly the type of game we should be starting these guys. It'll be interesting to see if Clarkson is playing further forward tonight. I hope so, although I have a suspicion it might be Polvara ahead of the two or - even worse - Polvara expected to play the Ramadani role in a two with Shinnie, ahead of Clarkson. Just sitting in the car working up the courage to go in without prior alcohol.

That's a ridiculous setup. I'd switch MacDonald and Milne as MacDonald prefers the central role.

Yep, although if you viewed those images against similar ones from the recent game at pittodrie, you'd have been highlighting a goal and one or two excellent chances playing exactly the same way. Robson eluded (in his after match interview) to the 3-4 great opportunities in the first half to create chances, and these were those. It was clear what the tactic was, but the Huns were very alert to it and we were poor at implementing those tactics. To add, Robson's comments about the Huns after the game have zero influence on his thoughts prior to the game, and it's very unfair to read that into them (and not indicative of how Robson has approached the big games so far as manager). Those comments were purely after-the-fact arse covering, which he took way beyond acceptable limits.

I disagree. It was pathetic to listen to our chief executive give in to VAR, and even more so to hear that same preachy bullshit be repeated on off the ball too at the weekend (they asked listeners to phone in with suggestions to improve VAR, after Burrows stated that despite an unbelievably massive majority of fans saying that they wanted rid of it, it was already here and nothing we can do about it). It's pandering bollocks. Why can't the third biggest team in Scotland begin a campaign to have VAR removed? Why can't the third biggest team in Scotland make a big issue about inconsistency and bias in a non partisan way (calling out our own players when they dive, for example)? Why can't we do anything about the state of our game? There's no reason, basically, just an unwillingness to stand up against authority. An unwillingness to think about and challenge the status quo. Weakness, alongside self interest. The same the world over I guess.

Then fair isn't fair though. It wasn't fair that they got a penalty and it wouldn't have been if we got one. VAR is ruining the game, but so is the number of bullshit penalties and fouls that we see given on a weekly basis (for and against us). We don't need more of the anti-sport pish, we need less of it. I'd like to have seen the club be a bit more vociferous in their complaints about the Hun penalty and the bias rather than some sort of weird evening up exercise.

The criticism is because he could have caused even more problems by driving into the box instead of diving at the first point of (minimal) contact. Miovski put in a shift, but couldn't get in the game, he didn't shirk his responsibility - his game relies on the vision and accuracy of others. Duk decided to go down when he could have gambled on something better. I'd put him in the same category as Hayes yesterday, who just didn't take any responsibility on the ball. Playing within himself is not what we needed in a final, and that's what he did. He's capable of so much better.

I think the PAOK one was actually probably a penalty though. We're really arguing here for Gartenmann to engineer us a penalty to give us parity with the Hun, which I don't think any of us actually want.

The reaction of the player is what's key though, isn't it? I don't remember Gartenmann going down like he'd been speared in the back (although he does like a dive with minimal contact), whereas the Hun did, causing the check. Shirt holding is not a foul, impeding a player is, so Gartenmann should have thrown himself in the air (headbutting a Hun in the process) and then claimed.