RicoS321

Frankfurt easy to get to though. Helsinki would be amazing.

That bit in bold is only really applicable if you're not on a fitba forum discussing fitba. I didn't think I needed to explicitly say "but these guys are just in the door", because it's fairly obvious. The whole point in first impressions, or predictions, are that they'll be proved wrong. It's a way to look back and say "Jesus, I got that one wrong". If you look back to last season I did similar, and got a few wrong (most notably Duk and I think I also complained about us giving a Liverpool loanee time ahead of Barron!). There's very little point in me writing it once we can all see how good or shite the team is, it kind of defeats the purpose. You're obviously reading my post(s) as if they're some sort of criticism of individuals, rather than just a quick assessment Other than Dadia - where I was being flippant - most of the criticism surrounds the type of player they are and the role that they're being asked to play. It should be fairly obvious to everyone that Rubezic is a beast that's going to fly into challenges for example. I don't think I'm at risk of him turning into Eoin Jess overnight. How does McGrath fit in our team, where is Jensen going to play, what the fuck is a Shayden Morris anyway? That sort of thing.

That was Goodwin last night, that's why there was concern. He left us completely exposed and had no clue how to change it, or any suggestion he realised anything was wrong. He might dress it up as attacking football, but that's not at all what last night was, it was just disorganised (with plenty of mitigating factors as you stress). Playing a system with at least four players playing in roles not suited to them was classic Goodwin. Robson immediately recognised that Ramadani couldn't screen the defence and quickly recognised Duk couldn't play on the wing, yet he can't see that Morris isn't a wing back, McGrath isn't a number eight, Rubezic can't play centre of a three and McGarry didn't yet have the fitness to play the wing back in front of a guy in his first start. These are management criticisms of course, not players. Nobody is "not giving people time", they're just passing judgement on what they've seen so far and the state of the squad if no more additions happen today. Everyone criticising is doing so well aware of the fact that players have just come in the door, and others are struggling for fitness, but that doesn't stop us from being able to see the type of player we've got (or not got) and how they fit in. It's not a direct criticism of the players, simply a current state of play for healthy debate. By saying "come on, give them a chance" or whatever, it doesn't really add to that debate, because nobody on here is heading down to pittodrie to scream abuse at them, or sending them hate mail or train tickets to England. Yep, MacDonald missing was a big loss, that's why putting Rubezic in there was inexplicable. Play Rubezic in the role he'll take when MacDonald returns, because he clearly doesn't have the ability to play in the centre. Jensen looked like he might manage the central role, and take McKenzie in. As soon as you see how badly we were defending, at least make the change (McKenzie for Morris). If you're concerned Jensen is only just in, then play Devlin centre, and Rubezic right. Devlin has the awareness and ability to actually come across and cover when the fast guy skins Rubezic, where Rubezic just stood in a position. Personally, this season, I think we'd be better off being out of Europe after last night. I think we need the time to build a squad that can play twice a week and I think that being in the conference will significantly hinder our league and likely even cost the manager his job. Like last season, I expect our first eleven will be good, but this season we've got a huge volume of fixtures that will be too much for them. I'm a pragmatic person who's sat through the McGhee and Paterson years, and I know that the expectations that come with that conference league qualification will be high among those that didn't sit through those and are now attending pittodrie. The impatience will grow and it'll affect the team and there'll be zero understanding shown (see Robbie neilson for hearts) - we're just not ready for the extra games. Hacken were an average side, typical of the weaker sides in the conference. Even with the new guys getting up to fitness, our squad is weak and our manager is inflexible. If we got Baccus - who would fit perfectly into the Ramadani role - I'd be much happier because he'd allow Shinnie some breath, and give Clarkson the space to do what he does, with McGrath filling in on Sundays. I don't see that happening today to be honest and we may end up with some unknown quantity instead, which isn't really good enough - we need as close to certainty as possible (see Devlin). In short, I'm very happy to give Robson time and space, but I know everyone around me at pittodrie won't. I think it's best to give honest critique now to set expectations!

I think he looked poorer than McKenzie. Of course, he's just in the door, so it's not a fair assessment, just an initial one. The one thing that struck me though, was that he doesn't seem to have any stand out attributes. He's not particularly strong, not particularly fast, decent on the ball but not great, not particularly strong in the air and I wasn't totally convinced about his positioning and reading of the game (this is one area that it's extremely unfair to judge after one game of course). With Pollock last season and Rubezic this, it's fairly clear where they excel and anything else is a bonus, Macdonald's game intelligence stood out immediately, like Hoban and Anderson before him. In a back three, Scales was beginning to get the perfect blend of aggression and ability to bring the ball out, which really suited that setup. To me, Jensen appears to be more alike with MacDonald, which is probably not something we need if MacDonald is fit (it's good to have options, of course, but it would leave us one cog short). At the moment, he looks a little bit like McKenzie, just not really fitting into our setup by being a Jack (McKenzie) of all trades and not particularly strong in any one area. Which would be fine if either of them were 6ft4.

Speaking of our squad, we should really be looking at loaning our third keeper out. He seems to have been around the place for years.

We're not better off, other than financially (temporarily). I don't really see group stage European football as a good thing for Scottish football at all to be honest. You've got chairman with trigger fingers, teams trying to build large squads in single windows, and unearned money going to one or two teams in an attempt to create another financial gap to make our league even less competitive. It's just a really shit way of creating tournaments (league cup aside I suppose, whose purpose isn't money). Despite the good atmosphere, I didn't really enjoy last night, and it's a really shite feeling to be that team that wins the ridiculously lucrative runner up prize. I'm used to it being the scum getting knocked out of Europe 18 times a season, it's just weird when it's us. It's like those shitey "plate" rounds you used to get at tournaments as kids, where all the losers from the first round created a mirror tournament to the real thing. It's desperate stuff.

He has done that when chasing games this season, with Duncan shifting awkwardly into left back. The main reason we don't do that is because you need two very fit guys in midfield to pull it off, and we don't have that. A 4-2-3-1 would be the best setup in my opinion, but Duk proved an absolute liability out wide in a similar setup last season, and it's undoubted that Robson would try to shoehorn him in there. I think he'll persist with the 3-5-2 (or variation), and everything about the new big lad signing backs that up. If we got Baccus in, that would make me feel a bit better. As is stands, we're way too light in midfield to play 3-5-2.

Always good to put together first impressions for the new signings early doors. I'm assuming there'll be no further business, maybe one in (hopefully). Overall, we look weaker than last season and the best signings have been re-signings, so I'll not include them in this list. Doohan - amazing. Everything we need in a backup goalie McGarry - jury's out. Looked positionally and defensively poor last night and had to be taken off due to lack of fitness. Ran into trouble a couple of times with poor decision making. I'm going to say that he'll be okay but nothing great. Jensen - jury's out. Looked weak in the air, generally timid, good on the ball but prone to putting us in danger because of that. Looks like the centre of a three rather than left of a three. I don't think he'll make it in the SPFL unless we change the setup (either to a four, or play him in the centre of a three), he doesn't have the physical presence required. Rubezic - jury's out. Looked great against Livingston despite some dubious passing. He's clearly not a guy that can play in the centre of a three and needs the man in behind him to organise him. He's positionally suspect and is terrible with the ball but solid. I think he'll be fine in the SPFL if Robson plays him correctly, he's basically Ash Taylor, which we can work with. He'll struggle in Europe. Devlin - success. Obviously. A leader, an organiser and will throw himself into everything. He needs to be playing wingback or right back in a four. So far, the best of our signings. Dadia - fail. This season's "why has he never been given a chance?". Because he's pish. That's why. Williams - fail. If he's not good enough to get into that back line then he's not likely to be good enough. Plenty of rumours around his attitude, but we'll assume that's just him being a young lad, and Robson will sort him out. Probably one of the many wasted EPL loans. Although we may need him if Rubezic doesn't get his shite together soon. McGrath - jury's out. Technically good player with some nice touches and good use of the ball. Doesn't fit into our midfield at all, and doesn't appear to be any better than Barron in that he has less work rate. We'll get regularly overrun in midfield with him and Clarkson in there, especially in Europe, and Shinnie can't be doing forty games at full tilt to make up for them. I think he'll be fine if used correctly. I originally thought he might be able to do the number 8 thing like Ramadani, but last night dispelled that hope. I don't trust Robson not to persist with him out of position and he ends up being a scapegoat. Sokler - jury's out. Looks exactly like Miovski in every single way. But slightly shitter. Not getting enough minutes to get the required striker's sharpness. Plays on the shoulder and makes intelligent runs. I think he'll be okay and will score goals. Gueye - success. He's big, and we kick the ball high. He'll be amazing. Probably our best signing. Think that's everyone. This summer was always going to be difficult with such a massive turnover and with European football. As a squad, we're miles away from one that can finish third whilst playing every Thursday. Our fringe players aren't good enough to win against likes of St Mirren, Motherwell, Livi and Killie away. Without a change to the system (or another signing), we're going to struggle with the players we've got. Robson has to decide whether playing Duk into form is worthwhile, especially at the expense of the entire formation (it's why we play three at the back). I think Robson needs some assistance with tactics in the background, he's clearly fairly clueless about how to change things if he doesn't settle on a good strategy from the outset. Think it could be a long season, with top six being a difficult target. I expect we'll have signings ready to go in January that could be the difference like they were last season, so it'll be a season of two halves again.

Absolutely, but that doesn't excuse basic organisational errors and a complete inability to change them. Unless we get Baccus (or similar) in too, we simply don't have a midfield that fits the system that Robson wants to play, which he seems not to have noticed.

Stonewaller in the modern game, yes. He's not in control of the football, he just kicks it and throws himself over the leg of the guy. It's as bullshit as the handballs that are given every week. There was very clearly contact, but football is a contact sport. Duk isn't impeded, because to be impeded you have to actually be going somewhere, with the intent to play football. Duk went solely into that situation to try and win a penalty. The ref was right there and saw what happened and chose not to give it. He saw the contact, hence why he didn't book the player, he just deemed it not worthy of a penalty. In my opinion he was completely correct. You take that incident out of context with VAR and television replays and you end up with a penalty. That's how he game works now. It's pathetic, and it's a shite and cowardly way to win a penalty, which was typical of Duk's overall performance tonight.

Wouldn't mind a trip to Luhansk. Better than pittodrie tonight.

That was a fucking disaster from start to finish. Rijeka was the last time I remember such a disorganised mess at pittodrie, and that was against a much better side and down to ten men. Gaping holes all over the pitch tonight and a manager incapable of changing it. Rubezic cannot play centre of a three, he's a garbage footballer, the Serbian Ash Taylor. That should be obvious to anyone, and if he hadn't got it into his head before tonight, after five minutes it was lasered into everyone's retinas (apart from Robson it seems). Jensen was a downgrade on McKenzie. If MacDonald wasn't fit, then move Jensen infield and have McKenzie on the left, get Devlin where he belongs and fire Morris into Jupiter. Those basic organisational changes just might have made a difference, however the midfield was way off it. You can't play Clarkson deep with McGrath in the team, and it's likely you can't play both of them at the same time at all, unless chasing the game or up against poor opposition. Shinnie was playing the part of three men in there at times. We're wedded to the 3-5-2, or variation of it, because we need to play Duk and Miovski. But Duk has been absolutely gash all season and is constantly losing the ball in our half. Just drop him and then you've got the option of multiple new setups. The guy was honking tonight and didn't put in the work at all (Miovski gets pass marks for his huge effort, despite his miss). His penalty dive was just typical of the anti football shite that plagues the modern game. Makes no attempt to take control of the ball, just simply touch it before the defender and throw yourself at him, safe in the knowledge that slow motion var will pick up "contact". The ref saw exactly what happened in real time in the context of the incident (as I did from very close up) and made the right call. Tell the guy to get up and play on. The problem is that folk will say that it justifies his inclusion, but he was an absolute liability who happened to get a lucky pen tonight. If that had been Hibs or someone tonight, we'd have lost. They were half decent, but we made them look far better. Robson is nowhere near getting his best eleven, and some of the new signings appear dubious at best (to be expected). He's decided on a system but has signed players that don't really fit it.

This time last season I'd have happily see him moved on. Hopefully it's his thing to start seasons slow!

Just saw the hacken lads hanging around the Union terrace gardens. Looked like they were ready for the conference in my opinion.

Unfortunately you can't play a team from your own country. I don't really care who we get. Money is such a distortion in the game these days, I don't really see the glamour in facing your English, Italian and the like sides. Burnley was good a few years back because they never really seemed a manufactured product of premiershipism. I'm far from convinced that Roma could hack it on a cold Thursday night in the north east, so I'd reluctantly take them, although I'd probably prefer Atalanta. We went toe to toe with Villarreal in the Darren Mackie testimonial, so I expect we'd beat them too, maybe by three or four. I've been to Rennes I think, so we should beat them too. In short, anything less than sixteen points from the six games should see Robson removed from his role.

The prize funds in all competitions essentially go to the nation's FA* to be split between the teams in those tournaments. If the Huns had made the champions league they'd have got half (or maybe less than half for not being the automatic qualifier - I assume there must be some form of inherent bias added in for the biggest teams as always) of that tournament's pot. Now that the Huns are in Europa, it's probably more lucrative for us to be in the conference despite its lesser pot (assuming hearts don't turn their game around, and villa don't die prior to their game). I expect Dave has picked himself in the lineup tonight just to be sure. *I have always assumed that it goes to the FA, which would make sense given the split. The goal should be for that unearned money to be intercepted at that point and be evenly distributed amongst the clubs.

That Hun own goal is a work of art. Does this mean that they steal 50% of our well deserved Euro cash if we win tomorrow?

He did apologise, but it wasn't the end of it. I think the initial reaction was probably justified, the apology good enough. What's happened since is now the thing, it's beyond my fathoming. I guess that making these stories bigger than they actually are is now a financial decision. There is a minority of people who actually care about this individual incident to the extreme level to which it's now being covered, but I expect most don't really care. Then again, there was a story on the BBC yesterday about Elton John being absolutely fine, so fuck knows what makes headlines these days.

Just watched the highlights from yesterday. A lot of stoppages there. Overall, the game didn't benefit from VAR. The linesman flagged for their disallowed first, correctly, so VAR adds nothing. The linesman - I think - doesn't flag for their second offside goal which VAR disallowed, but given that it was about a minute between that and the ball going in, I don't think the game benefits from VAR intervening - we should have just defended better. Neither pen was worth the hassle, neither being deliberate. Arguably, Gogic's was "worse" in that his forearm was further from his body, but it's being used as momentum for the block and his hand isn't raised way in the air. The on-field decisions to play on would have been fine a few years ago, and would still be to this day for me. Finally, the double touch decision perfectly highlights why VAR doesn't work. You'd need a lot of physics and maths to get a definitive answer on whether the ball touches his standing foot. In my opinion, there is not a single replay or still that can definitively show the ball hitting the standing foot (I haven't seen all shots). It appears that the spin of the ball is the defining factor for some. I can see the justification for that, but the question is: is it possible for that spin to have been generated by the player? Given that he slips and contacts the ball in a strange way, I think it probably is possible to catch the ball with a rising foot and generate a weird top-spin. The bottom line is that it's impossible for VAR to intervene there, despite the suggestion on Sportsound and Sportscene that it should have. I think the guys in the VAR room probably made the right call in saying that there was no clear and obvious error, or simply that they had nae fuckin idea. I think VAR is generally fairly speculative the majority of the time too. I think that yesterday's game is very eloquent proof of its shiteness, and that is that it hasn't improved the game. Incidentally, we'll now get 20 seconds of a two minute's highlight package showing a referee waiting for a VAR call, as if it's some sort of exciting spectacle that has greatly enhanced the viewing experience.

With Lee greeting in the background? You're right, that would make for great viewing. To be honest, that is likely to be us now. I'm not convinced Robson will get much time if we continue to struggle. Hibs will be expected to challenge for third place and the money that comes with it. As will Aberdeen and Hearts. Failure to finish in third will have consequences. That's what they've all bought in to. Wouldn't be surprised if Hibs promote from within like us and Hearts have.

I wasn't being serious. However, he's got a job for the foreseeable with Killie, and I don't think he'll feel that Hibs is worth the hassle. Johnson must be nearly their longest serving manager this century. Edit: he's not even close, but there's only a few that have reached a hundred games (and those that do have usually had a helping hand with being in the championship when they got the job). They've had 16 managers this century.

McInnes is too big for a job like Hibs.

Because our squad lacks any real depth currently, so the guys that played a large part on Thursday would probably be the guys we'd normally take in for the Sunday game. We've also still to find out if guys like mcgarry, Sokler and McGrath are any good, whilst they still need to get up to fitness. It's always the same at this time of the season, but especially the last few years when we've had such a massive turnover of players. We should be expecting at least three of the new signings to be poor, but it'll take a while to get that knowledge. Today's result is fine in the scheme of things. Need a home game to get us going. Preferably not against a team that's just lost a dud manager.

I'm guessing fitness levels are still being worked on with the new lads, which is to be expected. Great to see MacDonald, potentially, getting the ninety though. Makes a huge difference in the middle.

Miovski was past him and could have got a shot in. It was a deliberate pull back and would be a yellow most weeks. I agree that the player makes a meal of it. There were a couple of times prior when Rubezic was in a similar position and he let the player go, which is what their defender should have done here. Great to see Miovski taking them on though, he should do more of that.