RicoS321

As opposed to just the first 11 every other day? I don't think we froze in any of those games! Hacken we were set up pathetically, and it failed for obvious reasons, PAOK we were just unlucky, and yesterday we just weren't good enough. Other than Hacken, we were playing teams who were better than us, and the majority of the time you lose those games. Just like when we beat teams who are worse than us - it's never a case of them freezing, just a matter of odds. In reality, we need a bit of luck to go for us, or for the opponent to switch off or have a bad day in order to get a result most of the time. I'd also say that the game against the Hun at Ibrox counted earlier this season, and also the game that they cheated to get a draw at Pittodrie a few weeks back. Probably the biggest game I've seen us freeze in was the cup final against ICT, which we won anyway! We were up against a decent side yesterday (despite what many people suggest) and gave them a reasonable game at times, with a lot of effort on our part. Hayes was probably most culpable in terms of being panicky on the ball, but the rest seemed not overly affected by the occasion, they just weren't good enough.

I couldn't be arsed commenting after yesterday's disaster, but this point still stands out for me. The folk round about me were screaming at the ref for not giving a freekick for one effort, but Duk was bearing down on the box and chose to throw himself to ground in an attempt to win a meaningless freekick. We were at the point in the game that we needed him charging into the box and taking shots, and it was a pathetic, lazy decision to go down on each occasion - completely lacking in responsibility. I'd be having a right go at him this week in training if I were Robson. He didn't lose us the final of course, the result was on the cards before the subs as they had significantly upped their game and we struggled. It was a fairly awful game to be honest, one that we didn't deserve anything from. That is the difficulty with Robson's approach I guess. He mentioned that we had a few opportunities in the first half, and I totally understand what he means. The way he has set us up in these matches, we need that pass (like the Polvara vs Frankfurt one, and countless Clarkson efforts) to be made perfectly and at the right time for the run of the striker. There were probably 2, maybe 3, occasions in the first half where we either delayed or chose the wrong pass (Hayes' fucking dummy!). Shots on target is, therefore, a largely meaningless stat for us, because it's actually the pass to create that chance that is key for us, and the one that gets us the goals. They knew what was coming though, and had clearly done their work in training to keep the centre backs close together and ready to turn when our strikers made their move. They were significantly more switched on than the recent Pittodrie game. It was all a bit disappointing, and boring really. Thankfully we'll beat them at Hampden in May.

It's okay, you're correct. @Panda is batshit mental.

I can't make my mind up on MacDonald over Rubezic. MacDonald is a better footballer, obviously, but I think we sit deeper when he's in the team (on the little evidence we've had). I think the three with Rubezic works better, and I think it'll take us further up the pitch and make us more likely to score, but it's such a gamble because you're then only a Rubezic away from catastrophe. I think I'd toss a coin if I was Robson.

He's still not there yet for me. A good squad player though, and glad we have players like him to call upon. He's a good passer of the ball, he's just a level below Clarkson there, not as good in behind the front two as McGrath and not aggressive enough, and athletic enough to cover Shinnie's role. If we don't start Sokler and Miovski tomorrow then I'd have him in from the start playing high up with McGrath in a 3-4-2-1. He's certainly got a role to play in many of our games and he'll almost certainly feature at some point tomorrow. If he doesn't start, then Robson should definitely give him the last few minutes when we're 3-0 up as a reward for his big improvement this season.

Ahh, that explains why their stories never leave Glasgow.

Yep, that confused me the last time they rolled the article out too. Think it was the Hun semi it was last used for.

The BBC have certainly got value for money from the 2014 league cup article. It's tradition to regurgitate it seems. Robson's booze war chest

Aberdeen are on the attack for the first time in the half and Shayden Morris crosses to....... Kenny McIntyre in Seville, with team news ahead of tonight's only game.

Does anyone want my ticket for the Frankfurt game? Unused.

Wow, people arrive fifteen minutes before kick off?

Strong team out..... Stayed at home.

Hopefully we'll keep him wrapped in cotton wool ahead of Wednesday's crucial relegation battle against Livingston.

You do realise it's at pittodrie?

I think we should look to bring Duff and Young out of retirement for this one. Duff was an underrated centre half.

Fair play to the club for getting idiots like me to buy tickets for this pish way in advance.

Thon Kennedy lad at Killie looks decent.

Yes, I was agreeing with you, I'm not sure if he meant to pass it. The consensus on sportscene just now was that he was trying to lift it over the keeper, and I think they're probably right. I'm not sure he could even see Clarkson to be honest. Still great play and deserved his luck.

That was a fun one. Other than the weird setup with Milne and Devlin (I'm assuming Devlin was there to mark Lowry?), the lineup was good. McGrath ahead of Shinnie and Clarkson as things should be. Sokler and Miovski trying to form a partnership. But we were absolutely honking in that first half. Second to everything, McGrath nowhere near the front two, who were chasing shadows and Hayes having a nightmare, with nobody tackling at the back. The second was hugely better, and the only thing that changed was application. Jensen started attacking the ball, Hayes and Shinnie chased down everything and turned the ball over constantly and McGrath was excellent behind the front two. Everyone just worked harder, basically, and that's all that it takes to win these types of games. I'd stick with Duk on the bench for the final, he's a great option to bring on. Once he gets his arse in front of a defender, he's virtually unstoppable. Interesting that @Panda thought he didn't mean the pass to Clarkson. I said to my mate that he didn't once glance in that direction and I was shocked when he squared it, it was very well disguised. I think it was deliberate though, it's just that everything he does looks accidental.

There are minutes and there are minutes though. Duk has been given starts, and in his preferred position every time. Sokler has been played out wide, behind the front one or two, part of a front three (with Gueye) and so on. Often after we'd taken off all our best players too. His first start in what I'd call his proper role would have been the Huns game. Duk has had starts and played 60+ minutes several times and had multiple chances. Sokler's chances are coming once or twice at most in 15-20 minute spells on the park. Like Duk (less so) and Miovski, Sokler strikes me as the type who might need a couple of chances before he converts one. But positionally he's very good and makes intelligent runs.

We could offer him a job for Christmas, if that helps.

The hype isn't really about Sokler. It's about having a striker who makes intelligent runs, watches what the other guy is doing and adjusts his game accordingly. Duk is a far better individual player and more likely to score, you're right. The issue is that he often doesn't score, and when he doesn't he's effectively a drag on the side. I have no doubt he'll come tanking back 80 yards to make a tackle on the edge of his own box, to shouts of DUKKK!!, then two minutes later he'll let an opponent wander away from him as he stares at the ball. He's unreliable as a team player. Barron and Clarkson could start together if Robson is willing to go with the 4-2-3-1 again. Clarkson in front of Barron and Shinnie. I'd be very skeptical of McGrath maintaining his position on the left of a three, I think he'd get drawn towards Clarkson, but it would be interesting at least. The only other option to start them both is to drop McGrath, which would be harsh. Either way, it wouldn't fucking matter, as Robson would insist on playing one of them as a number six with Shinnie in front. I think he'll simply switch Barron in for Clarkson and play the same shite as Wednesday and be surprised it doesn't work. Probably take Rubezic back in too, for reasons.

I think it's been absolutely gash, and has ruined our season. We were nowhere near ready for it, it's taught us nothing and it's unlikely we'll ever have the money to build a squad good enough to compete in league and European competition. It's a farce of a setup, that takes away from football, rather than enhancing. Knockout football is what Europe should be about, leagues are for dicks.

That was Goodwin levels of honking again. Persisting with the same shite formation again. We had it completely sussed in that first half against the Hun. Play Clarkson or Barron sitting with Shinnie and McGrath high up the park supporting Sokler and Miovski. What was fucking wrong with that? Why does Shinnie have to do the work of two players every fucking game? What is Robson watching that he thinks it's a success? Does he just sit in his room watching reruns of last season? Kudos for the eventual change to a 4-2-3-1, but do it at half time and give us time to hook Hayes. Obviously we don't have the personnel to play two wide, as Morris has proven admirably with his continued gashness. Duk offers nothing as a partner for anyone up front, we shouldn't be dicking about trying to play him until he hits form, he's a reactive mess of a player, that makes no runs and doesn't bring others into it. We really should have taken the Miovski and Sokler partnership and given it ten games to work. With McGrath or Clarkson in behind. Anyway, they deserved their win, and a lovely goal. The traffic was great on the way home.

Rubi oot. Right call. Hayes in, probably right call. Duk for Sokler also.