Tractor saints vs Dons 15/03/25

[manc_don]

Saints have been putting some good results together over the last month or so so I don’t think we’ll have it easy, especially since we usually struggle to play much football there at the best of times. They’ve got an outside chance of being able to step out of the relegation zone over the next few weeks, only 3 points behind Dundee so will be gunning for them. Not usually many games in this one, goalless draws have featured a lot.

Any news if we’re likely to retain the same starting XI? I know it was queen’s but after the first 15, it seemed like a relatively settled performance. Like to see Dabbagh and nisbet build their understanding together, feels like we’re finally starting to see a genuine pairing rather than two individuals struggling. Do need Mitov to be a bit calmer and alert I think, hasn’t quite been the same in the games he’s played since he’s come back.

out

bed

bed

2-1 Dons, nisbet and Dabbagh 

[RicoS321]

Hopefully saints continue to play out from the back and make ridiculous errors.

[Jute]

Valakari has got St Johnstone more easy on the eye to watch if as Rico has said a little more open at the back. I am not convinced we should be sticking with same team as St Johnstone are better team than Queens Park but injuries might mean we do have to. Agree we should stick with Nisbet and Dabbagh to see if the can continue to build a partnership. Because of shoulder going to be in the Main Stand for this one. 
 

In 

lift up

Main Stand

lift back to Capital

2-0 Nisbet and Dabbagh

 

[RicoS321]

13 minutes ago, Jute said:

Because of shoulder going to be in the Main Stand for this one.

I'm familiar with the phrase "listen to your body", but I never knew it could go as far as recommending seating arrangements. 

[OxfordDon]

10 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

I'm familiar with the phrase "listen to your body", but I never knew it could go as far as recommending seating arrangements. 

His clavicle's banned from the dick donald stand

[OrlandoDon]

Really want nisbet up top with dabbagh. Nisbet drops and has been very good of late. No need of a 10, will just get in the way, so leaves me curious who we play as the two center mids. Hoping shinnie plays left back leaving it a choice of two from sivert Clarkson and palaversa. Less convinced by sivert of late, Clarkson has played well recently, and palaversa is much more mobile, and a goal threat too. Thinking we may see gueye out right or left, topi on the other. Although, as much as I’ve been openly against starting Morris, he was pretty good last week, although against a level below. 
leading with the heart as usual, 2-1 us, nisbet and dabbagh.

Edited March 12 by OrlandoDon

[Jute]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

I'm familiar with the phrase "listen to your body", but I never knew it could go as far as recommending seating arrangements. 

Just hoping the main stand will be bit quieter and less chance of some pished cunt falling on to me celebrating our 5th. 
 

ETA yes I am aware I am usually the pished cunt. 

[Jute]

1 hour ago, OxfordDon said:

His clavicle's banned from the dick donald stand

Proximal Humerus I have managed to break. Apparently clavicle would have been worse. 

[tlg1903]

I would absolutely stick with the same 11 unless Tobers is fit.  No harm to Dorrington who's been solid but I would rather have the player that is ours playing. As has been mentioned Valakari has St J playing a more open game and I think Morris and Keskinen will have more space to work with than they did against Queens.  

 

Dare I say it but you could make the argument Shinnie should be considered primarily a LB now?  He's doing well there and it gets the captain on the park whilst allowing better passers of the ball to in the centre. 

 

It's so easy just to assume that a fixture against St J will be a turgid affair but I think this one might be a decent game.  They will defo try and attack us and we will be too so here's hoping we get plenty goals for a change. 

 

3-1 dons.  Dabbagh, Nisbet and Morris 

[OrlandoDon]

4 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

I would absolutely stick with the same 11 unless Tobers is fit.  No harm to Dorrington who's been solid but I would rather have the player that is ours playing. As has been mentioned Valakari has St J playing a more open game and I think Morris and Keskinen will have more space to work with than they did against Queens.  

 

Dare I say it but you could make the argument Shinnie should be considered primarily a LB now?  He's doing well there and it gets the captain on the park whilst allowing better passers of the ball to in the centre. 

 

It's so easy just to assume that a fixture against St J will be a turgid affair but I think this one might be a decent game.  They will defo try and attack us and we will be too so here's hoping we get plenty goals for a change. 

 

3-1 dons.  Dabbagh, Nisbet and Morris 

100% agree regarding shinnie!

[Panda]

3 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Hoping shinnie plays left back 

 

2 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

Dare I say it but you could make the argument Shinnie should be considered primarily a LB now? 

 

2 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

100% agree regarding shinnie!

Bookmarked for when the first comment is posted on here that Shinnie doesn't have the legs or the engine to get up and down the wing and he's slowing down our attack.

That said... I think a home game when we dominate possession, then left back probably suits him as we'll play a high line anyway and pass it about and be patient, so Shinnie would sit high anyway and doesn't have to cover as much ground.

However, in an away game where often you're looking for pace to break quickly, I think Mackenzie and even Jensen would cause their full-back more issues.

It's nice though that we have good options in midfield so can argue over who starts there.

[OrlandoDon]

14 minutes ago, Panda said:

 

 

Bookmarked for when the first comment is posted on here that Shinnie doesn't have the legs or the engine to get up and down the wing and he's slowing down our attack.

That said... I think a home game when we dominate possession, then left back probably suits him as we'll play a high line anyway and pass it about and be patient, so Shinnie would sit high anyway and doesn't have to cover as much ground.

However, in an away game where often you're looking for pace to break quickly, I think Mackenzie and even Jensen would cause their full-back more issues.

It's nice though that we have good options in midfield so can argue over who starts there.

I’m not one that has commented on shinnie having the legs or not. However, keep in mind that as a midfielder, shinnie has to get up and down the park. Demanding. At left back he can pick and chose to an extent, sit if he needs recovery. And based on what we’ve seen, small sample size I know, he appears to have the legs for left back, plus we have options that it doesn’t need to be a full game every game.

RE our attacking Mackenzie, he’s been rarely seen in recent months, no clue where he’s gone. Shinnie has offered more of late at left back.

Edited March 13 by OrlandoDon

[Panda]

18 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

RE our attacking Mackenzie, he’s been rarely seen in recent months, no clue where he’s gone. Shinnie has offered more of late at left back.

Well Mackenzie was injured for most of January, but since then...

On 26/02/2025 at 00:07, Panda said:

Mackenzie & Keskinen played well I thought. 

 

On 15/02/2025 at 23:44, dons8321 said:

MacKenzie did OK today 

 

On 15/02/2025 at 23:04, RicoS321 said:

I thought MacKenzie did well today, and has been fairly solid since coming on against Hibs. 

 

On 09/02/2025 at 15:26, RicoS321 said:

MacKenzie was good

He's been fine, and he's our only natural left back.

[tlg1903]

1 hour ago, Panda said:

 

 

Bookmarked for when the first comment is posted on here that Shinnie doesn't have the legs or the engine to get up and down the wing and he's slowing down our attack.

That said... I think a home game when we dominate possession, then left back probably suits him as we'll play a high line anyway and pass it about and be patient, so Shinnie would sit high anyway and doesn't have to cover as much ground.

However, in an away game where often you're looking for pace to break quickly, I think Mackenzie and even Jensen would cause their full-back more issues.

It's nice though that we have good options in midfield so can argue over who starts there.

I've not been that impressed with Mackenzie his last few appearances, he has the air of a player that doesn't want to get injured when he's about to go OOC.  He's not been awful or anything but he's defo down the pecking order for me.  I agree Shinnie may not be the best option at LB for some games though. 

What's going on with Devlin does anyone know?  He's not been in a squad since Killie at home. There was chat he was carrying a knock but I've not heard anything further. 

[OrlandoDon]

9 hours ago, Panda said:

Well Mackenzie was injured for most of January, but since then...

 

 

 

He's been fine, and he's our only natural left back.

You are correct, he’s been fine. Which is average, and compared to early season Mackenzie, is not as good. Shinnie will give his all and has done well last couple of games, will bust a gut to get up and down. Mackenzie will just be fine, his mind appears to be elsewhere, which is why I’d go with shinnie.

[DantheDon]

I was hoping that with Mackenzies performances dropping off any interest in him may have cooled and there is a chance he will stay. That said if he’s looking for a decent payday there’s no doubt a championship club will be able to offer him a deal with an order of magnitude higher wages. 

[OrlandoDon]

20 hours ago, DantheDon said:

I was hoping that with Mackenzies performances dropping off any interest in him may have cooled and there is a chance he will stay. That said if he’s looking for a decent payday there’s no doubt a championship club will be able to offer him a deal with an order of magnitude higher wages. 

Maybe, but if a player wants to leave they need to go. Hard for him to turn around and say he’s now 100% committed to us. He’s gone from being one of the leagues weekly standouts to not being talked about at all, except places like here. He’ll end up at somewhere like a mid to lower championship, league 1, even salford, and rarely heard of. He’ll be at hibs or united within 3 years. Sadly.

[RicoS321]

17 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Maybe, but if a player wants to leave they need to go. Hard for him to turn around and say he’s now 100% committed to us. He’s gone from being one of the leagues weekly standouts to not being talked about at all, except places like here. He’ll end up at somewhere like a mid to lower championship, league 1, even salford, and rarely heard of. He’ll be at hibs or united within 3 years. Sadly.

He's had an injury that's set him back, after running out of steam in the early part of the season like the rest of our squad. His form hasn't been significantly different to Devlin's, who is only now getting the rest he could have done with three months ago. In the few games he has had since injury, he's struggled to build the partnership with Okkels that he had with McGrath, which was key to his best performances. I think people are seeing what they want to see with regard to him leaving. I've not seen a drop off in attitude or effort, simply form, confidence and match sharpness/fitness. When he came on against Hibs, he was regularly getting to the byline and trying to motivate those around him, generally showing a good attitude. The games I've seen him struggle in are those where he's had an argument with Nilsen, which seems to be a recurring thing (it almost looks like bullying! I'm sure(ish!) it isn't). His head goes down and he plays within himself and appears bothered by it. McGrath was excellent at bringing MacKenzie into the game, constantly talking to him, either pointing to where he should be, or just making huge space for him to run into. Playing him in with well weighted passes that he could just run onto, whilst also covering for him when he went beyond. It was constructive play that Okkels hasn't got up to speed with yet. Whether it's here or somewhere else, MacKenzie is playing for his future in the next few months. He hasn't earned himself a move, as nobody has offered him a pre-contract. I think he'll know that fully, and I don't think we'll see a drop off in attitude either. 

[OrlandoDon]

3 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

He's had an injury that's set him back, after running out of steam in the early part of the season like the rest of our squad. His form hasn't been significantly different to Devlin's, who is only now getting the rest he could have done with three months ago. In the few games he has had since injury, he's struggled to build the partnership with Okkels that he had with McGrath, which was key to his best performances. I think people are seeing what they want to see with regard to him leaving. I've not seen a drop off in attitude or effort, simply form, confidence and match sharpness/fitness. When he came on against Hibs, he was regularly getting to the byline and trying to motivate those around him, generally showing a good attitude. The games I've seen him struggle in are those where he's had an argument with Nilsen, which seems to be a recurring thing (it almost looks like bullying! I'm sure(ish!) it isn't). His head goes down and he plays within himself and appears bothered by it. McGrath was excellent at bringing MacKenzie into the game, constantly talking to him, either pointing to where he should be, or just making huge space for him to run into. Playing him in with well weighted passes that he could just run onto, whilst also covering for him when he went beyond. It was constructive play that Okkels hasn't got up to speed with yet. Whether it's here or somewhere else, MacKenzie is playing for his future in the next few months. He hasn't earned himself a move, as nobody has offered him a pre-contract. I think he'll know that fully, and I don't think we'll see a drop off in attitude either. 

Which means start shinnie. A more stable and effective player at present.

[RicoS321]

3 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Which means start shinnie. A more stable and effective player at present.

Yes, absolutely, I wasn't arguing for MacKenzie to start, just that the stuff about MacKenzie having already checked out (I'm paraphrasing) can be better explained by other factors in my opinion. For me, the idea that players stop giving their best in the last six months is not really backed up by anything, and is just the equivalent of: "old player = legs have gone". It wasn't an argument against anything you've said in particular, yours was just the easiest to quote.

[Elgindon]

Must be one of the first seasons where the fixtures Ive normally dreaded,havent been as bad as previous seasons,ie St J werent a bad watch at home,Killie less predictable recently,and(hallelujah) Livi out of the picture altogether.

Oot

2 - 3 Dons. Nisbet,Keskinen,Clarkson worldie

[RicoS321]

Couldn't make the game today. Fine though, because I'll be able to tune in for live commentary on the impartial BBC. What's that? There's no commentary game on today? 

Fucking hell, they don't even try to hide it. I wish Cormack could get Thelin to boycott the interviews. Refuse to participate in this biased shite. 

[BigAl]

2 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Couldn't make the game today. Fine though, because I'll be able to tune in for live commentary on the impartial BBC. What's that? There's no commentary game on today? 

Fucking hell, they don't even try to hide it. I wish Cormack could get Thelin to boycott the interviews. Refuse to participate in this biased shite. 

What the actual fuck.

Are you on the wind up Rico 

A countrywide broadcaster paid for via a licence fee behaving like this, surely not 

Fucking disgusting 

[Elgindon]

Aberdeen -  Mitov, Jensen, Dorrington, Knoester, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Palaversa, Morris, Keskinen, Nisbet, Dabbagh.

Substitutes: Doohan, Devlin, Polvara, Clarkson, Gueye, Okkels, Sokler, Milne, Boyd.

 

Tobers not in squad,McKenzie back in,Morris starts again

[Panda]

53 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Couldn't make the game today. Fine though, because I'll be able to tune in for live commentary on the impartial BBC. What's that? There's no commentary game on today? 

Fucking hell, they don't even try to hide it. I wish Cormack could get Thelin to boycott the interviews. Refuse to participate in this biased shite. 

Live Championship football on the TV on Friday night.

Live radio commentary from the Six Nations on Saturday.

Two live radio commentaries on Sunday.

Saturday Sportscene highlights

Sunday Sportscene highlights

Open all Mics programme across the country on Saturday.

Both home and away Scotland games live on TV.

 

And to think people don't pay their licence fee because they don't think they get their money's worth..