RedStarTorphins

9 hours ago, RedKev said:

Bates is left side CB, so he'll be ok and can pick a pass unlike Gallagher

He is right footed. Definitely 

16 hours ago, Panda said:

No sure what's worse. That you picked 12 players, or that even when picking too many you still missed out Mackenzie.

Oh FFS.

oops

if we play 3 at the back then Hayes is better suited to wing back.

MacKenzie a good left back but not so good going forward. 

And take out Ferguson (assuming he’s being sold) 

4 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Just back. Dire performance. Honking defensively and if Lewis wasn't so good at one in ones we'd have been down earlier. Ramsay was great, but we completely lacked shape and any sort of recognisable tactics. Samuels looked like a head down and charge fast player who'll hopefully get better, longstaff looked decent but similar to what we have. Watkins was fine when he came on but I really don't see how he fits into our side. He's clearly not a winger. Jet was the only player who created anything good, with a lovely pass to Hayes (Hayes actually did the correct thing with his shot and the keeper was really well positioned before making a cunt of it). Otherwise we were gash and completely one dimensional. 

I don't know where we go from here. No idea what our best eleven is. Our squad is as lopsided as it was under McInnes. Hopefully the new signings just need a few weeks to gel and Glass adopts a system they can work in (I'm thinking 3-5-2 would maybe get the best out of our squad, but not sure).

                             Lewis           
           McCrorie Gallagher Bates

Ramsay Ferguson Brown Longstaff Hayes

                           Hedges

                   Ramirez Watkins 

That back 3 is all right sided though.

1 hour ago, tom_widdows said:

Interesting definition of 'highlights' but you get to see the goals
 

 

Fuck me, the editor should be shot. 
 

Gallagher on for Ojo & push McCrorie up.

Hedges on for JET. 

1 hour ago, Jute said:

Also being linked with Blackburn managed by our new head of recruitment’s brother. 
 

Also being reported that Virtanen is being allowed to leave.

He’s gone - Hamilton, permanent deal. 

0-2 Hacken.

We’re simply not ready and are massively under prepared having had two low-key training matches. 

33 minutes ago, manc_don said:

Definitely, he was a terrible on field captain.  I'm really hoping that it helps regain his focus and performance levels.

What worries me about big Joe is if Glass insists on him playing out from the back, clipping 40 yard diagonals to the pushed up full backs.

He’s not capable. 

10 minutes ago, manc_don said:

Noticed they said he was team captain and Lewis is club captain?  Is this just a PR thing?

Lewis will carry on representing the club at community events etc.

He’ll be better at that.

1 hour ago, Jute said:

I would say they are favourites to win the tie from what I have seen of their games. 1-0 win over Norrkoping today. They look a decent side and will be match sharp compared to us.  

Aye.

Dons 0-1 Hacken 

Hacken 2-1 Dons 

And slightly off topic, what’s the plan if McCrorie or Considine get injured? 

12 hours ago, SeeBass said:

Anybody unhappy about away goals rule being scrapped this season??

All I think it’ll do is make home teams more attacking as there’s not the threat of the away goal.

But away teams will be more defensive-minded with no “extra” benefit of scoring away from home. 

17 hours ago, tom_widdows said:

Getting this one started while so we can tap into the optimism and excitment that is running rampant across this forum.

Rules:

 

1. One name per points tally for the season, first come first served!

2. Only allowed to change prediction until closure of January transfer window as along as it is to an empty tally.

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58 RedStarTorphins

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53 - Tom_Widdows

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-------

Previous Champions:

2009-10: Dave_min (41 points)

2010-11: BigAl (38 points)

2011-12: Snapper (41 points)

2012-13: Tyrant (48 points)

2013-14: 

2014-15: Dandy (75 points)

2015-16: Dandy (retained due to no correct scorer)

2016-17: Rico (76 points - Flawless Victory. Nothing questionable about it at all)

2017-18: Tom (73 points)

2018-19: DantheDon (67points)

2019-20: No winner - DantheDon retains title following an independent inquiry

2020-21: No winner  (56 points) - Danthe Don contuues to let the dust and cobwebs form on the trophy

27 minutes ago, Panda said:

Yeh I really don't know what to expect from us.

I would like to think Aberdeen are far better prepared than we think, I imagine there's been a few inter-squad games being played, and our coaching team have surely had it all meticulously planned out. Especially with a player being on the coaching staff, he'd surely be able to say if the players weren't anywhere near where they needed to be.

But the schedule and lack of games has me bloody nervous. 

Is it still five subs this season? Has that rule been extended? 

 

I don’t think inter-squad games are played at anything like the intensity required.

We really did end up with a shitty draw compared to Hibs who have an ideal draw, a virtual bye & match practice. 

I appreciate the clubs caution, but 2 kickabouts won’t be enough 

1 hour ago, Jute said:

Hacken won again yesterday beating Kalmar 3-2 away from home. Up to 10th in the league now. 

The tie gets smellier & more precarious by the week.

40/60 against I’d say, given our complete lack of preparation 

26 minutes ago, Panda said:

I don't understand how Ramirez has to quarantine for 10 days, yet is allowed to train and played the second half today.

I know he got an elite sport exception, I just don't get the logic behind it.

I agree.

Almost as baffling as offering Mikey Devlin a contract . 

49 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

I'd actually be happy enough with that pairing, but I'm guessing Gallagher will be in for the next friendlies. I'm guessing Devlin spontaneously combusted pre-match too

Broke his wrist signing that ridiculous contract we are offering him.

Bin it, release him, replace him 

Inauspicious start today.

1-1 @ Cormack Park v Inverness

JET scored our goal  

41 minutes ago, RedStarTorphins said:

Yeh I can understand it.

Damned if you do (play more games & increase risk), & damned if you don’t (go in very unprepared & a decent chance of defeat with the inevitable barrage of criticism that’ll go with it).

Even the 3rd game would’ve made a difference, & they wasn’t the clubs fault.

in an ideal “normal” world, 4 games would’ve been about right, working up through levels of opposition. 

As I said, a new team, underprepared, against an improving Swedish team in mid-season… wouldn’t be surprised if we’re out. 

The more I think about it, the more I understand the caution.

When you look around the sporting world, you see various teams being affected.

Ross County are shut down.

Lions rugby game postponed

Engkand cricket team naming an entirely new squad for an ODI v Sri Lanka. 

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

One look at county shows why though. It's a nightmare of a time to be playing a game. We're just at the point where the general public - possibly even including the players - are beginning to say fuck it, to the distancing measures as we move into "normal" times. The number of infections is increasing very quickly and we'll be extremely lucky not to have a player pick it up (my money's on Gallagher, for no real reason). The risk is fairly big, and I think the club are reluctantly doing the right thing. I'm wondering if the testing will actually go out the window early next season with an agreement that if players have been vaccinated they're fine.

 

 

Yeh I can understand it.

Damned if you do (play more games & increase risk), & damned if you don’t (go in very unprepared & a decent chance of defeat with the inevitable barrage of criticism that’ll go with it).

Even the 3rd game would’ve made a difference, & they wasn’t the clubs fault.

in an ideal “normal” world, 4 games would’ve been about right, working up through levels of opposition. 

As I said, a new team, underprepared, against an improving Swedish team in mid-season… wouldn’t be surprised if we’re out. 

1 hour ago, Panda said:

Schedule announced here. Playing Inverness, St Johnstone and Reading.

https://www.afc.co.uk/2021/07/06/dons-confirm-closed-door-pre-season-schedule/

 

On another note, every time I post here I get a notification telling me I've gone up a rank. Any chance of getting rid of those - I know my posts are great but i don't need an award each time.

Better than your BBC pieces 

Back on point, 2 games is nowhere near enough preparation for a 50/50 tie against a fully fit, mid-season, Swedish team.

Wouldn’t surprise me if we got knocked out. 

15 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

Pressure would be on glass big time if we went out 1st qualifier

I’d say it’s a 50/50 tie in the circumstances.

Our lack of football, with half a new team, makes it really tricky.

So much for this new tournament being a bit “easier” for opposition, it looks the same as the Europa League. 

1 hour ago, Jute said:

Watched about 20 minutes of second half.  They looked decent and think this will be a tough tie to get through.

Particularly as we’ll have played two pre season friendlies only. Not near enough 

12 hours ago, Chris Frae Killie said:

Some of the players will be asked to play in both of these matches according to Glass. Risk of injury surely higher playing more than one match in a day. I also question the benefit of playing a second match in a day? Surely the players that play in both will be physically and mentally tired?

I imagine it’ll be 45 in one game & 45 in the other. 

1 hour ago, Jute said:

Usually is but given our lack of friendlies wonder if they might play some of first team players to give them game time.

Is it not within the rules of the Aberdeenshire Cup it has to be the youths? 

8 hours ago, Jute said:

 

That’ll be a young Dons team, not first team