LA-Don

Here’s my take. Watched the game then went to work (coaching of all things) but still thought all day about the shite game I witnessed.. Wilson - fucking joke getting sent on when he did. Should have started, worst case on at half time for McLennan or Wright. Kick in the teeth that a teen recovering from injury plays ahead of him. Given we signed Wilson permanently I’m assuming there are no training or attitude issues, wtf happened here? Main - never have rated him and can’t stand the style of battering ram football he tends to play. Didn’t want him signed. Can’t blame him about today though, that’s unfair. Zero service. Wright and McLennan - yes young but so inconsistent. And that’s a compliment. The clock is ticking on Wright and not a McLennan fan. Dribble til you lose it and far too often miscontrols the ball. Painfully predictable too. These two can’t be in the same team as there’s a good chance they’ll be non existent and we’re playing with 9. Ferguson - needs rotated/rested. Thought he was shit today and complained too much, a bit like a spoiled child. Needs to be rotated, fight for playing time, and be fresh enough to work his balls off whenever he plays. We’re not a strong defensive team, we have 1 clean sheet in 7 games so far. Our strength is not to play defensively like we did in Europe the last two away games. Typical poor over thinking DM tactics. Much like our old firm games we sit in deep and defend until we lose a goal which happens most games. Rarely works. We have pace and skill as a front four if we are encouraged to attack and should defend in the opponents half much more often. I just don’t think we play any teams that are that good we have to park the bus. DM killed our momentum with the shambolic Croatian tactics and today we should have been so hyped and fired up to play it’s a game we win in the tunnel. Yet we are slow and boring, uninterested, and got what we deserved. Manager fucked up the last two games now in my opinion. He prepared us for today and we were garbage. Today we should have pasted the relegation favorites. Don’t get how DM can get what he got out the players today. Totally unacceptable. Credit to the management for the summer recruiting but the same shit tactics reappear and cost us. No knee jerk reaction, same shit different day/week. In my opinion, this Thursday you psyche them out in the tunnel and blow them away from kick off. But DM will shit it I suspect, sitting in not to lose an early goal. Season is far from over but it’s the same old tactics and the same complaints. Not sure why we’d think things would be different.

No blame on Main. Same type of game Cosgrove would have had. Terrible in midfield and little/no service. We seriously lack an attacking central midfielder with skill and control. Hedges brings some but he’s a wide player. Certainly hope Bryson is that guy but totally lacking in central leadership and creativity. I know they are young but Wright and McLennan gave nothing.

God awful. And how is that handball not a penalty?

Ojo and Ferguson are too deep (although in the last few mins Ferguson has pushed on) but we are relying on Wright Hedges McLennan and main as our attacking threat, all 4 have barely touched the ball.

Can’t blame Main, we have zero midfield. Are wright and McLennan even on the field?

We look absolutely uninterested. 15 mins in and I don’t think Ojo has touched the ball and he himself said he makes us tick. A brutal watch so far with no commentary. Definitely look like a team with no leadership out there, interesting to see how this develops.

Interesting line up. Never known DM to drop anyone, but yes, I hope a kick up the arse for Logan. Don’t get the Wilson thing, why sign him if there’s training issues? Would rather see him in there before wright or McLennan to see what he can do. Would also like to have seen Ferguson given a breather and Campbell the start.

Vyner signed Thursday afternoon and hasn’t trained yet, you think he’s due a start??

Time to freshen things up a fair bit. The European tie is huge, time to use the squad. Assuming devlin and Bryson are fit - Lewis Logan-Devlin-Considine-Leigh Campbell-Ojo Wright-Bryson-Hedges Main 2-1 us, Considine and Main

Unnecessarily cautious is an under statement. Most cautious I’ve ever seen us play, we didn’t wants to attack. Rijeka were decent but just like the last round we over estimate our opponent and try to hold out when it’s not necessary. Last round we struggle for a 1-1 draw then blast them at home, I suspect our overly cautious approach costs us our place in Europe. I believe if we’d defended higher up the field and encouraged Hedges mcginn and Gallagher to support Cosgrove we’d have got an away goal and possibly even a draw, or win! We will win at Pittodrie but not by enough. Very disappointed.

Very poor, got what we deserved. Shit tactics from the past come back to haunt us. Didn’t expect a balls out attacking performance but when, from what we have seen so far this year, our strength is in attack, why not attack more. As mentioned, Rejika are a step up from what we’ve seen but they weren’t that good. Don’t really remember any decent shot in goal. Can see us winning the second leg though, but 2-1, 3-2 or the likes.

Don’t see McKenna going anywhere right now as I don’t see anyone giving us the money we want. 6-12 months ago perhaps but not currently, he’s just not stood out.

Don’t see this as linked to McKenna, DM said last week he’d look to add if we progressed. More to do with the health of devlin and Taylor I believe.

From what I see Ojo is a legit central midfielder. Shinnie was our left back who initially filled in when we were short of bodies in midfield if I recall. He ended up staying there, mainly due to poor signings and a lack of alternatives. He, from what I understand, enjoyed the initial spell in midfield and decided he was a midfielder at that point. Wonder if he'd be a top notch left back at present had DM/the club done their job(s) and signed proper midfielders. I still valued Shinnie in the team though, think some of you are being a little harsh. However, our style of play has been shit the last two years and much more direct, and you could argue we went more route one because of our weaknesses in our Shinnie led midfield. So far this season it's much more enjoyable to watch and coincides with the arrival of Ojo and Hedges, even Gallagher in midfield.

Shinnie and Lowe both unused subs in Derby’s first league game. Wonder if Shinnie will have peaked with us and while make some money disappear like his brother??

I’m certainly not fussed if McKenna leaves, just want to make sure we get a solid replacement. I don’t think McKenna has been great in recent months and dare I even say he’s over rated? Still good but 10 million good? I was excited for the Devlin-McKenna partnership but neither has been great the last year for different reasons, don’t think McKenna has kicked on the last twelve months. Hector on loan until we get the right guy would work, but I’d assume appropriate funds would be made available plus we knew this was coming so I’d like to think DM is well up to speed on what replacement he wants. Ojo and Hedges are quality, maybe we find another gem.

Given how DM has said more than once that McKenna may not be with us much longer, I wonder than plan. He’s also said a squad should have 7 defenders and we have 6, who he’s targeting as the replacement?

With 2 more goals today wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of interest in Sam this week before the English window closes. That's 8 already in 5 games, 30 goal season ahead? I'll also add, and I haven't been a huge fan of Sam, penalties are not a guaranteed goal. We lucked out with Rooney being excellent from the spot, so far big Sam has done the business there too. Credit due.

Good win, good character builder! Thought at 2-1 down we lacked a central attacking midfield sub but what do I know. We looked tired at that point but play along with the crowd really picked up. Credit to Greg Leigh for the run and cross on the game winner, much like Max Lowe there. Thought Leigh looked good and suits Scottish football, good pick up and would like us to sign him and Gallagher permanently. Seen enough to think they are both worth it. Lesson for Ojo that Scottish football has a lot of hammer throwers, he likes touches on the ball and got caught a few times today. Still played well though and also adds toughness. Typical Scott Wright performance, had a chance to standout today and did little. The clock is ticking on him and I think he drops down the pecking order when McLennan is fit. As mentioned earlier, at 0-0 Wilson should have scored, he needs goals and confidence but still an upgrade on May who is a waste on the bench. Think Hearts will be one of the better teams as much as I despise their play. Finishing with 10 was generous. Again, good win considering it's in the middle of a European run.

Confidence is a wonderful thing, Wilson should have scored the easier chance but lovely finish from Sam!

Wright and Wilson have to be highly motivated to perform, ok with that change. Little concerned about Bryson though??

Rijeka won 3-1 today, 3rd league in out of 3 but although early doors they’ve played the bottom 3 who have yet to gain a point. I think tomorrow will give us a real opinion on whether we are a legit team.

I’d love us to play as we did Thursday but I just don’t see it. I fear a physical and ugly slugfest, mainly thanks to Hearts, and either 1-1 or 2-1 us. Will DM over think this and coach to the weaker opposition level or allow us to play to our strength which so far this season appears to be pacy attacking football? Go at them from the start I hope but doubt.

So what do we know about Rijeka? Played two league games so far, winning both. Looked up their squad and I haven’t heard of anyone but that says as much about me as anything. I think they underestimated us last time and the shock 3-0 killed the tie, don’t expect that this time around.

Good performances all around, did big Sam miss a chance? All well taken goals, super ball from Ferguson. Ojo and Hedges are very good signings, hope Bryson comes good too. 5 goals and a shut out, haven’t done that in a while, and credit to them, they didn’t give up. Given DM said he’d possibly look to add another defender if we got through, anyone got any info here?? Also noticed Joe Shug signed for Southend.