OrlandoDon

I travelled much of today and watched this delayed, just finished. Beyond awful. We were terribly flat, not much better second half. Expected a bit of a bounce in our step after a decent euro result, what the fuck was that. Good god gyamfi. With three central defenders we need attacking play from the wing backs and in midfield. Lobban was ok, but gyamfi had lead boots and I think wanted sent off ffs. I thought he had a reputation for pace, but he looks slow. i like polvara but as many of us have said, he doesn’t have the graft, battling qualities, or physicality for Scottish football. He’s better in Europe but another game today he’s a wasted jersey. Armstrong’s worst game. Has been a good signing but wasn’t his day. Shinnie is 34 yr old shinnie, doesn’t offer a lot. I haven’t written him off like some but he wasn’t very good today. Problem is, I dont think Clarkson is that great, nor is palaversa, or aouchiche. We are a squad full of very mediocre midfielders. I don’t see what we have to lose giving Kjarten minutes. I think with 3 center backs we have one holding and two more attack minded center mids, or vice versa, none looked attack minded today, hence the lumps up the park to lose the ball, no attacking play through center mid. Three center backs and three deep mids makes for a tough game, especially with one inexperienced wing back and gyamfi/molloy. Despite the goal, this was the game to rest karlsson, he was gash too. Thought topi and milanovic should have started for speed and attacking play, even though both have been pretty piss season to date. Like center mid with kjarten, I dont see why we don’t give bilalovic a run. felt for lazetic, very little support or combo play. Plus when topi or karlsson get the ball they usually are not looking to pass. We have high expectations and we’ve got a bunch of players who came in with good reputations, backgrounds etc. Problem is, we just don’t have many good players.

5 Scottish players start, the most all season. COYR! 3-1 us, lazetic 2 and karlsson

Always liked jock brown as a commentator although I sometimes felt he tried a little too hard to be cultured/educated. I preferred Archie and his sound effects. Arthur Montford was a little odd, did/do like Derek Rae who I have heard quite a lot over here. I was also fortunate to catch the tail end of David Francey’s career. Can’t remember, was he a dons fan or did he just cover quite a few of our games??

Up to 8th, second week in a row we jump a spot without playing. Early season but a win tomorrow keeps us up with the ‘middle pack.’

Who is the next Watson Cameron mccowan or mulligan? Would really like, and I know it’s hard, to get the best of the rest of Scottish talent.

Downloaded about $30 worth of 90s dance/trance recently to help me with house work and garden chores. Tiesto, Chicane, Paul Oakenfold, Felix, The Prodigy, Chemical Bros, ATB, Utah Saints and a bunch more. Def reminds me of nights out in Edinburgh in college. Fair few memories of playing in the morning, watching us beat hibs or hearts in the afternoon, then out in the grass market etc in the evening. Old man misses that stuff!

Agree, pretty sure many of us questioned a three year deal at that age, now seeing his lack of mobility, he won’t see much playing time. I speculated there was a coaching role in his future when I heard the contract offered, but I’d punt him at any opportunity to get him off the books.

It’s definitely the yank in me, but what’s the chance of offering cash and a player as an incentive? We have a pretty large squad that the likes of yengi, Ambrose, Ryan Duncan, possibly Findlay Marshall is he’s not got a future with us, polvara, even sokler? I know some of these guys are also out of contract next summer, that a January move may be an option??

So is Findlay Marshall any good? Six goals and an assist season to date for arbroath. Player of the month for the championship. What type of midfielder, #10??

Wouldn’t mind seeing Nilsen move on, think he is quite limited now, especially for Scottish football, he’s just not quick or athletic enough, but we are very young. Adding Armstrong has been better than expected, but I do think we need experience in there, not to extent of shinnie and Armstrong but 25-30 yr old who has been around a bit would help.

Really curious to see what we do in the January window. I think it’s fair to say mitov devlin Milne knoester Armstrong and karlsson are starting 11. Probably lazetic too, and I’d love to add lobban in there. That’s 8, although perhaps JT puts Jensen in instead of lobban. based on personnel we’ve seemed to find the 3-4-2-1/3-4-3 works for us. coming in, like many, would love to see us add a proper Rama midfielder, maybe a box to box physical type. I also don’t dislike aouchiche but I don’t think he’s one we build around, especially with the price tag, that can we find one or two center mids? Is Watson at killie out of our price range now? Would anyone take Phillips back? I don’t think we’d be able to get him without over paying, but he adds something we currently lack. Would not be surprised to see polvara head back to the US in time for the MLS season starting in spring. I like him, no surprise he started/plays in Europe, but I just don’t think he suits Scottish football. up top would love us to add. Don’t think yengi or Ambrose offers much but we’re a little stuck with contracts there. I’d say sokler offers more. Nisbet has been very disappointing season to date. Throwing it out there, is sidibeh at st Johnstone worth considering? I suppose he’s not in our player trading model, but he’s looked good before this season, and offers something different. Any Scottish players worth a look there? never thought I’d say this but I do feel we miss the Morris type winger. Would love some wide pace or the right who can hit the line. Hoping Belalovic is that guy on the left. Topi and milanovic are not doing it for me. Lastly, is frame good enough at left back? If gyamfi is injury prone would like to see another legit left back.

Also really glad devlin is back in the team, and captain (not a negative on shinnie). He deserves that, thought he was gassed giving his all for us, then unfairly benched last season, good to see him out there. Lobban Devlin Milne and Armstrong are sure starting 11 if you ask me, Scottish core!

Didn’t see the game but good result. Interesting how the subs were done, give lazetic and Armstrong an hour then switch, I assume with the weekend in mind. I also think gyamfi got enough time to assess fitness and expect him to start v Motherwell. lobban is a really interesting one. With gyamfi fit and lobban playing well, does Jensen go to the bench??

That’s exactly my point. It’s a flawed system. It’s all about league position, Europe, glamor, and money. Then when you get there it makes things much more challenging on the league schedule. jimmy is trying the squad thing, where Robson failed. But we have so many new players and don’t have a set and established team, playing style etc., not even a spine of a team that stays consistent. plus as has been said, you find out not all signings are good enough.

Exactly how I feel. Squad players could get playing time while we get to rest some for key league games. Almost like a transitional year to get us into Europe next year. However, players were also sold on joining Aberdeen, karlsson Armstrong lazetic probably as an example, because they get to play big European games. It’s a tightrope, spud..