Dons vs Hibs

[manc_don]

We seem to have sparked a wee revival in Hibs’ form after our game at Easter road, whereas we’ve continued to struggle. Injuries certainly aren’t helping and are we now seeing a squad struggling to cope with the demands of the system? Would be nice to end the year at home with a good victory to get us out of our apparent slump. Club are certainly trying to push the fans for another sell out, but not sure how sales are going? 
 

How do we see us setting up? Hopefully the week off has freshened ideas up and given the likes of Shinnie and Nilsen a much needed rest. Likewise McGrath, who just hasn’t been at it despite scoring. Thought Nisbet was rotten against them in Edinburgh, and I’ve been far from convinced by him. Like the team, his form seems to have dropped off a cliff, but if a game against his former side can’t do it, then very little will. 

out

bed

bed

hoping for no rain

2-2, McGrath and duk

[tlg1903]

Feeling confident for this one 2bh despite Hibs recent improvement.  I have a feeling the club will have given the players some time off to get home to see families etc and hopefully they will have an extra spring in their step the steps on Sat as a result.  I certainly fully expect them to be right on it from the whistle and we should have enough to take the points. 

3-0 dons, Keskinen, Sokler and the Scottish Cafu. 

[RicoS321]

1 hour ago, tlg1903 said:

I have a feeling the club will have given the players some time off to get home to see families etc

That'll be the last we see of Duk then.

[Jute]

13 hours ago, manc_don said:

We seem to have sparked a wee revival in Hibs’ form after our game at Easter road, whereas we’ve continued to struggle. Injuries certainly aren’t helping and are we now seeing a squad struggling to cope with the demands of the system? Would be nice to end the year at home with a good victory to get us out of our apparent slump. Club are certainly trying to push the fans for another sell out, but not sure how sales are going? 
 

How do we see us setting up? Hopefully the week off has freshened ideas up and given the likes of Shinnie and Nilsen a much needed rest. Likewise McGrath, who just hasn’t been at it despite scoring. Thought Nisbet was rotten against them in Edinburgh, and I’ve been far from convinced by him. Like the team, his form seems to have dropped off a cliff, but if a game against his former side can’t do it, then very little will. 

out

bed

bed

hoping for no rain

2-2, McGrath and duk

Only tickets left in section Y in the South and RDS upper which is decent effort.

Think Nilsen is suspended for this one so would expect Palaversa to come in for  him. Hopefully McKenzie is fit as McGarry hasn’t been anywhere near as effective at left back. Think Keskinen and McGrath should start as wide either side of Clarkson. No idea who starts up front as don’t think any of them have done enough to make the position their own.

As you say Hibs seem to have picked up a bit of late so can see this being a difficult game. That said their keeper is shite so if we can get pressure on him we will get opportunities. 
 

In

Lift up the road then pub

Y

Christmas present deliveries and night out in Aberdeen

2-0 McGrath and Clarkson

[Jute]

Thought Nilsen had 6 yellows and was suspended but obviously not. Glad to see MacKenzie back.

[OrlandoDon]

Nice to see us back to ‘normal,’ our strongest 11 with the exception of mitov. Duk and morris impact subs. Said before that I don’t think clarkson and McGrath like this is great but it’s the best we have until we sign a legit left winger.

3-1 us, clarkson sokler duk

Edited Saturday at 14:41 by OrlandoDon

[OrlandoDon]

All too familiar central defensive blunder ffs.

[OrlandoDon]

Morris for McGrath at ht, don’t think Jamie has touched the ball.

[OxfordDon]

Keskinen and Clarkson our standout players, but Ruby is having an absolute howler. 

[BigAl]

Ruby off and Angus on please.

[OrlandoDon]

All season it’s been central defense. Agree angus for ruby. Earlier in the season our mistakes weren’t being punished, now they are.

[OrlandoDon]

Ffs

[OrlandoDon]

Peter Ambrose. Game is ours now…

[OxfordDon]

Just now, OrlandoDon said:

Peter Ambrose. Game is ours now…

Smart move, game is gone so get Ambrose on to absorb the fans' wrath   #ragesponge

[BigAl]

How many times has the Hibs trainer been on the pitch for supposed injuries.

Should be some amount of time added on here 

[OxfordDon]

Ambrose showing the Hibs defence how to do it, three outstanding clearances in the Hibs box to deny Aberdeen a goal

[BigAl]

Keskinen playing as right back now 

[OrlandoDon]

Absolute garbage today. All good until the first goal fuck up then total shit.

[BigAl]

Anyone want a ticket for Rugby Park on Boxing Day 

[RicoS321]

Well that was fucking cold and shite. Went a bit calderwood with the subs at the end. Ambrose was better than Sokler, and I assume we won't see Nisbet at Pittodrie again. Hibs took their chances well. Rubi pish for the first, their second was a good bit of play and then another fuck up for the third (was it Clarkson that gave it away?). Keskinen probably best player for us. Need Mitov back asap.

[Jute]

35 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Anyone want a ticket for Rugby Park on Boxing Day 

Was just about to offer you mine. That was as bad anything produced under Robson and Warnock. Doohan is shite. Molloy and Rubi were having a competition to see who could be the most shite only for Ambrose to come on and steal their crown. Gifted Hibs first and 3rd goals and decent keeper cuts out cross for 2nd. Think it was Clarkson who gave away ball for third. Probably first time I have questioned managers tactics and subs today. 

[OrlandoDon]

42 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Well that was fucking cold and shite. Went a bit calderwood with the subs at the end. Ambrose was better than Sokler, and I assume we won't see Nisbet at Pittodrie again. Hibs took their chances well. Rubi pish for the first, their second was a good bit of play and then another fuck up for the third (was it Clarkson that gave it away?). Keskinen probably best player for us. Need Mitov back asap.

Don’t think mitov would have made any difference today. When your defense is poor it’s tough for a team to be attack minded when you fear errors. Our central defensive pair are clearly our weak link and most goals conceded involves them. While I don’t think we were scared to attack, I do feel errors and mistakes at the back is in our head now. You’ve even seen mitov nervy pre injury.

Ruby is accident prone and struggles as we saw today, mistake and he lost focus. As I’ve said before, Molloy is error prone too but he’s poor in the air and that’s something a central defender in our league needs to be strong at. Both are back ups and we’re starting to see consistent mistakes, something that position really cannot afford.

First game I’d question our subbing. Morris is our super sub, why not include him at half time and McGrath was awful first half. We then hook clarkson who was much better than McGrath. We then play Ambrose which is like playing with 10.

[Jute]

2 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Don’t think mitov would have made any difference today. When your defense is poor it’s tough for a team to be attack minded when you fear errors. Our central defensive pair are clearly our weak link and most goals conceded involves them. While I don’t think we were scared to attack, I do feel errors and mistakes at the back is in our head now. You’ve even seen mitov nervy pre injury.

Ruby is accident prone and struggles as we saw today, mistake and he lost focus. As I’ve said before, Molloy is error prone too but he’s poor in the air and that’s something a central defender in our league needs to be strong at. Both are back ups and we’re starting to see consistent mistakes, something that position really cannot afford.

First game I’d question our subbing. Morris is our super sub, why not include him at half time and McGrath was awful first half. We then hook clarkson who was much better than McGrath. We then play Ambrose which is like playing with 10.

I thought Hibs dealt with Morris easily when he came on. He and Duk offered little today. Just a real bad day at the office. 

[OrlandoDon]

19 minutes ago, Jute said:

I thought Hibs dealt with Morris easily when he came on. He and Duk offered little today. Just a real bad day at the office. 

Agree, Morris did virtually nothing but had little time to do much and by that time it was total shit anyway. Expected to see Morris and Macdonald at half time.

[Slim]

This was one of the games where we would have been better going more direct. Our defensive confidence was shot, our goalkeeper a bit jittery and Rocky Bushiri at the back for them was just putting everything straight out for a throw in, a good target to try and win the 2nd ball against. 
 

Certainly better than having defenders pass goal kicks to Doohan who then gives possession immediately back to Hibs in injury time. 
 

When we’re not on it like today, we end up with both Nilsen and Shinnie dropping back to help out, meaning we can’t really get the ball forward with pace as Clarkson is isolated and well-covered. As soon as Rubezic fucked up, that’s exactly what happened.