Dons vs county

[manc_don]

Setting this up before I forget due to hopefully being hungover. Absolutely a must win game this one, non negotiable. We’ve a couple of games coming up that may well define whether we’re top 6 or not. Currently we’re still in the battle for 2nd which is epic, but had we been offered the top6 prior to this season, we’d have taken it. We were just spoilt to start with. 
 

county won’t be push overs and have shown to have plenty of grit in amongst the team. I’m not sure how we line up due to so many underperforming. I guess the only certain is nilsen being out. 
 

just want 3 points please. Start the new year on a high please reds. 
 

out

bed

bed

extending a wardrobe most probably.

2-1 dons, sokler and Clarkson

[Jute]

Whilst we were better on Sunday than previous game (which is an extremely low bar) we still created very few clear cut chances again. Not sure how we change that but we need to as losing can become a habit just as much as winning. No idea who starts but just need to find a way to win then get new players in. County seem to be very up and down form wise and were probably unlucky to lose in Dingwall earlier in the season. Hopefully we catch them on a dip. 
 

Not sure if going yet and no idea of score. 

[JessianK]

I can not see us scoring against Ross county. Our strikers have... scored, 

 

Since Gueye got injured, NOT one striker has stepped up... Hope the whole lot of them are moved on, Sokler has had plenty of opportunity to score. 

Duk, is waiting for an offer, Ambrose, is well a McDonalds burger flipper... Nisbet? is our style is type of play.. 

[OrlandoDon]

Wasn’t nisbet a 6 month loan anyway? 

[RicoS321]

7 hours ago, Jute said:

Whilst we were better on Sunday than previous game (which is an extremely low bar) we still created very few clear cut chances again. Not sure how we change that but we need to as losing can become a habit just as much as winning. No idea who starts but just need to find a way to win then get new players in. County seem to be very up and down form wise and were probably unlucky to lose in Dingwall earlier in the season. Hopefully we catch them on a dip. 
 

Not sure if going yet and no idea of score. 

On our winning streak we created very few chances either in most games. It's kind of the theme of our play. We look for openings with intricate play, and our chances are usually well worked. We don't play percentage football, essentially. A good example is Clarkson twice trying, and nearly succeeding with, two very difficult flicks in the box against utd that would almost certainly have led to goals had they been played perfectly. Those don't go down as chances simply because they weren't shots on goal. Our form earlier this season shows how the definition of a chance is flawed in that regard, with our xG being low despite us winning all the time. Clarkson's attempted flick to put a player through is really no less of a chance than a speculative effort over the bar from 25 yards or a header from ten yards under pressure, or numerous other chances that other teams get where the keeper has an easy save to make. Basically our opportunities are breaking down one step short of the shot, whereas opponents are taking shots from which they have little chance of scoring, when perhaps if they had retained possession and re-worked they might have had a good chance (or failed at the final pass like us). We don't seem to suffer from the pundit/coaching of "got to work the keeper", which is such a lazy phrase and attitude. Very often you'll see a player just hit a ball straight at a goalkeeper in a safe manner, when "working the keeper" has really done nothing, as it does in most instances. I'd far rather see a player hit a ball inches past the post in an attempt to hit the corner than a safe shot that the keeper easily parries round the post for example. Our guys seem to be working the openings to the extreme and not just settling for a shots on goal stat, which is nice to see. However, I'm certain there's a happy medium to be struck when we're going through the present lean spell.

[Jute]

22 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Wasn’t nisbet a 6 month loan anyway? 

Season long loan. 

[OrlandoDon]

Wins for Dundee, Celtic, killie, hearts and us tomorrow would be a nice start to the year. We’d be back in second and the chasing pack would all lose ground. Please and thank you.
ugly 1-0 sokler the winner.

Edited yesterday at 01:44 by OrlandoDon

[Slim]

Can see the game being called off, it snowed quite a bit through the night, won’t be fun for the away fans and Dons fans living in the shire to get to the match.

[RicoS321]

6 minutes ago, Slim said:

Can see the game being called off, it snowed quite a bit through the night, won’t be fun for the away fans and Dons fans living in the shire to get to the match.

I believe the club has contingency plans in place for such conditions 

 

[RicoS321]

Are Rubi and Palaversa also suspended for this one? Or is that just internet speculation. I'd check the BBC, but there is no mention of anything on today's game yet, despite a full write up of one other game today (but they're not biased). If so, could be an interesting lineup. In sure Molloy coming off was just precautionary, so I'd expect him and MacDonald. That'd leave Polvara to slot in alongside Shinnie. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Polvara further forward and Clarkson in behind. If it's only Nilsen suspended then I'd expect it just to be Palaversa in for him.

[Jute]

Just left Stonehaven and it’s snowing. How’s it in town?

[Jute]

41 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Are Rubi and Palaversa also suspended for this one? Or is that just internet speculation. I'd check the BBC, but there is no mention of anything on today's game yet, despite a full write up of one other game today (but they're not biased). If so, could be an interesting lineup. In sure Molloy coming off was just precautionary, so I'd expect him and MacDonald. That'd leave Polvara to slot in alongside Shinnie. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Polvara further forward and Clarkson in behind. If it's only Nilsen suspended then I'd expect it just to be Palaversa in for him.

Rubi is showing has having 7 yellow cards so assume there is a suspension in bound. Palversa only showing as having 5 so think he is one away. 

[Elgindon]

 

14 minutes ago, Jute said:

Just left Stonehaven and it’s snowing. How’s it in town?

Intermittent showers and sun til kick off

In

Mainer - Managed to avoid the Y with a last minute Mainer ticket,straight to the soup shack

Prediction - We'll win again some sunny day,nae sure where,nae sure when....

Edited yesterday at 12:03 by Elgindon

[BigAl]

Mitov out injured again for four weeks.

Looks like he was rushed back for the Arabs game

When it rains, it fucking pours lads 

[Jute]

 

 

Mitov out is a shock.

[BigAl]

Three outfield youth players on the bench, including Boyd 

[tlg1903]

that snow is a bit mental 

[BigAl]

Fucking hell, this is really grim stuff and another injury to content with to boot 

[OrlandoDon]

Wishful thinking, is our luck changing??

brutal first half but all to play for!

[Slim]

That’s come directly from us pricking about at a goal kick, putting ourselves under pressure and giving the ball away 30 yards out. Every team in the league has figured this out.

Edited yesterday at 16:35 by Slim

[tom_widdows]

For all the suggestions about great team spirit/ atmosphere in the dressing room early in the season, this group of players really doesnt seem to cope when things start going wrong.

 

[BigAl]

4-1 against Dundee seems an eternity ago.

Really need some good news on the transfer front in the next few days.

Second place hopes disappearing over the horizon.

Expect to be down to fourth by 7.30 this evening.

Any hope I had of a dry January well and truly out the window.

[Slim]

I think our problems are a bit too deep rooted to be solved by making a couple of transfers unfortunately.

[BigAl]

1 minute ago, Slim said:

I think our problems are a bit too deep rooted to be solved by making a couple of transfers unfortunately.

I'm clutching at straws Slim.

Seriously depressing stuff mate.

[redordead]

All the optimism is gone. We seem to have a squad who only play under a new manager bounce then collapse.

Time our captain was replaced by someone with drive he's overseen multiple disasters now and is clearly unable to turn a team around. 

McGrath is quite comfortable playing at the bottom of the league ( he's used to it) and that's his level. Nice touches, little effect on a game. Flatters to deceive.

Those being two of our middle three, is it any surprise were seeing mediocrity and not dominating?

Keskinen is a headless chicken, I'd be gutted sitting on a bench watching him run into people.

All round disappointing again. Mentally fragile team and despite the miracle start, Jimmy will come under pressure soon if any January changes don't improve form.