dons8321

26 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

What I make of that is that people doing the stadium tour might use those shirts during visits to the bathroom and so the staff have removed them in advance. 

Out of interest, what was the tour like? If I'm struggling for things to do in the summer holidays, I might go wild. I've also got relatives up from England, and they would jump at the chance at seeing a stadium like Pittodrie given the poor offerings they have down there.

It wasn't shirts, they've all got nameplates above their own section.  The tour was enjoyable, the guide was very engaging and knowledgeable and getting up close to the Cup was great.

9 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

We got a left back didn't we? 

We definitely need a box to box midfielder. The games where Shinnie did the most work were the games we were most successful in I'd say. Clarkson looks to be more and more likely to put in a shift and cover some serious yards, but we need the legs of Shinnie two years ago, or Ramadani, to give us that extra lift in the middle of the park. A striker is imperative. Once again, though, we need to see some faces out the door too. Vinnie, Ambrose, Rubi, Jensen R, maybe even Duncan. Make space for some of the new duds that come from a summer of signings!

I did the stadium tour yesterday and in the home dressing room each player had his own named place but there wasn't any mention of Ambrose, Rubi, Jensen R. but  Vinnie's was still there.  Make of that what you will.

On 28/06/2025 at 11:19, Jute said:

Some decent games on tv tonight with Palmeiras v Botafogo at 5pm, Cunts v Germany U21 on at 8pm and Benfica v Chelsea on at 9pm

Did you watch that last game...read this morning that it lasted 4 hours 'cos of a wee bitty rain.

8 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Turn coat 

Isn't  "turn coat" a reversible jacket?

42 minutes ago, Panda said:

That's because despite Celtic's riches, we have something money can't buy: a soul, a team spirit built in a family tradition.

Just came up with that myself..

That's brilliant...you should market it on, say, a scarf or a mug or even write it on a wall somewhere.

4 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

I even wore an old red strip (saltire energy one) I found that I didn't realise I had, I don't normally wear strips unless playing. Still fit perfectly, such is my athletic figure.

Didn't know you were still playing...not bad for a octogenerian.

57 minutes ago, redordead said:

Need a bigger balcony for next time. Not sure how I got so close as started at top of union Street then went the long way round to beat the bus.

Brilliant turn out from the city, every corner I turned there were more bodies!

www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=24470949049160355&set=gm.10029606640438541&idorvanity=214417741957529

My daughter texted me overnight (she's currently in Melbourne) asking if I was feeling confident, I replied that I have Samaritans on speed dial.

3 hours ago, Panda said:

The game

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say I didn't think we played that bad. I just don't think this team is capable of much better away from home.

We can't kill teams off. Hibs would have got a second before half-time today, and that's why they're deservedly in third.

We don't have a single player in our team able to win headers, either defensively or offensively. The goals, as they normally are, were soft.

But we did create good chances. Thelin's subs questionable, but the changes he made to a three after going behind allowed Clarkson to always be in space, we doubled up on their full backs, had bodies in the box. It "worked" to an extent. But we just don't have enough goal scorers in the team. Nisbet has 11 league goals, which is as many as the next two (Gueye & Keskinen) combined. And the three of them combined have scored just four fewer than the rest of the team put together.

Hibs 'success' this season is they have an athletic team. Not particularly physical, just athletic. Pacey, can beat opponents down the wing, can get from box to box quickly, win headers, and they've not all ran their race by 70 mins.

Gueye started okay, was good at putting himself about and was winning challenges in their half. But he went on a run with the ball, lost it, we nearly conceded, and afterwards Shinnie in particular (but also Mitov) unloaded a volley of abuse his way. His head dropped and after that he was a man down. 

Ambrose offered nothing in his place. But who else does Thelin throw on? 

A pish finish to the league season, but it's coming at a good time for us. Get the cup final done and then bring on the summer overhaul.

I'd agree we played well for the first 35 mins.  And even at the beginning of the 2nd half looked like we were going to continue the same pattern...then Nisbet misses a simple chance - he could easily have taken another touch and lashed it into either side of the keeper - and suddenly instead of being 2 up within 10 mins we were 1 down. Why are we so poor in the 2nd half - not just today but for many games this season (last 3 games conceded 9 goals in the 2nd half, that's 9 goals in a game and a half) why do we seem to run out of puff after h-t? 

Also, why take off Nisbet?  Even if he's running of gas, has had one leg amputated and is in a self induced coma he's still more likely to get a goal than Ambrose.

11 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

So united pitch invasion invites this reaction , or did a section of our fans just go nuts?? From what I am reading jack’s hit by an object/chair thrown by one of us, but who is on the pitch?

DU fans being on the pitch doesn't excuse our fans from ripping out a seat and throwing it onto the pitch.  Had it hit a DU fan it would have been just as reprehensible and utterly stupid.

48 minutes ago, redordead said:

No, if you read the next sentence . He starts next season under real scrutiny. How many managers are given a decent run at a new season if the start poorly following a poor end to a season?

Usually they get a few weeks then the trigger is pulled if they have a slow start. In our case that start may include a rebuild .

Since our miraculous run we haven't been anywhere near decent. You could see the empty seats tonight very few believed we had a chance.

I'm not saying he has to win the cup but he needs a decent last game and not another 5 or 6 in the final to give himself a fighting chance of seeing this project through.

I did read your next sentence..you said he had a week to save his job, so if we lose on Saturday and get humped on 24th he's out (that's how I interpretated your wording phrase "he's got a week to save his job"). Apologies if that's the wrong interpretation but I've had a couple of consolation beers and then another couple and then 1 for the road.

35 minutes ago, redordead said:

Positives: Milne done well in his cameo, shady mo looked in Celtics class. Can't blame mitov for any goals really.

All in all is not a pretty picture and I'm really not sure Jimmy can fix it. He's basically got this week to save his job. If it ends in a loss then a spanking in the final he starts next season under serious, serious pressure.

Don't understand that - a week to save his job : so if we lose at DU and get spanked the following week he gets sacked he won't be here next season.

4 hours ago, Panda said:

This was 35 years ago today. In fact, with extra-time played, the penalties would have been starting just around now 35 years ago.

 

How weird was the refs positioning?

19 hours ago, Jute said:

There is no way we are winning the cup sadly. 
 

 

Because we'll win the cup happily.

4 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Great result, and a dominant performance against a Hibs team that came to sit in and keep it tight. To the extent that they were slowing everything down from early on. We were solid at the back throughout, especially Knoester (MOTM), who is a fantastic signing. Dorrington and Shinnie also solid and Jensen was fine. Nisbet really good and Keskinen worked hard, with Okkels doing well when he came on. Morris worked hard but didn't do much, whereas Gueye didn't do much and also didn't work hard. That position is a real issue, and I think he might be tempted to go with McGrath there, which is a shame as the idea behind Gueye being there is solid. Clarkson very good in midfield again, and once again Palaversa didn't come out in the second half and didn't really do much in the first either. That leaves Polvara, who was miles better than Palaversa when he came on, and has to start the next match. He was strong and direct and used the ball really well. Maybe we're easing him in for him to explode onto the scene at the final. 

Well done the Dons though, and well done Thelin. We were patient and that sets us up nicely for the remaining four games. Utd will struggle to make up the points I'd think. 

Don't think Morris ever really works hard...from the beginning today he didn't look on it, can't recall he took his FB on with any real conviction and he never (despite saying in the match day programme against sevco he's working on his defending duties) actually tracks back as though he can actually be bothered - against hearts last week and today he let his full back have too much room, all he has to do is get goal side of him because he's quicker and let him play the ball back, but instead he trots back as if to say I'm doing my defensive duties.  Really strange how Palaversa looked very good in the first half (apart from his crosses into the box) and was virtually anonymous in the 2nd.   The ref. warned their keeper about slowing the game down two or three times and then the first time we did it when we had a corner after taking the lead, he booked either McGrath or Polvara. Oh, and how well did we manage those last 5 minutes!

39 minutes ago, Panda said:

Gong by the away crowds on AFC heritage website when it's sold out, the full allocation appears to be just under 1,700, and Hibs are saying they have been given just 792 tickets, so that's a significant drop.

Don't think it's a good road to be going down when Aberdeen usually travel well and therefore any tit-for-tat would affect our away support. Hearts away - usually one of the better away days - is now basically a closed shop unless you're on 400+ loyalty points (and there are always plenty of empty seats in the home end). Be a shame if Easter Road became the same.

We appear to be inspired by Hearts with a few things we do, namely Dave Cormack wanting a smaller stadium because it drives up season ticket sales and increases demand, like what happened with Hearts pre-the new main stand. I don't think any club should ever, in any circumstance or any lifetime, aspire to be like Hearts.

Exactly.  After all, why would you  aspire to being a club that regularly gets relegated.

4 minutes ago, Jute said:

That was a real game of two halves. First half we were excellent playing some great stuff with only our finishing letting us down. Should have been further ahead. Second half was a complete clusterfuck from beginning to end. No idea what Thelin said to them at half time but for some reason we sat off off them and slowed play right down. Then came the subs. No idea what Thelin was trying to do with them. Massive opportunity to put pressure on Hibs and go into semi final on a high lost. 

Similar to the earlier game at home...should have had the game wrapped by half time as we were totally dominant and we let them back into the game by being too passive. Great free-kick from Clarkson (similar to Maddison's) and terrific play by Morris to set up Gueye. But like most posters can't understand Thelin's substitutions - we were playing 4-2-4 by the end!  Also why are the majority of our corners completely crap...Palaversa overhitting in the first half and Clarkson chipping it into the 6-yard area in the 2nd?

16 hours ago, Panda said:

 

That's fine if VAR says he's faking it.

Otherwise, Lawrence Shankland takes out Mats Knoester. Ref orders Knoester off the pitch. While Aberdeen are down to 10 men, Elton Kabangu scores, and your rule just lost us the semi-final.

Wouldn't happen as we'd be 3 up by the time the sniper's wet dream got anywhere near enough to take out Knoester.  And also we'd had been given the free kick so could launch it straight into touch to allow Mats back on.

Dear Alex,

   I've visited your country twice with my weans (young children) in recent times and thoroughly enjoyed being in such a lovely country.  Anyway, enough flattery as I'm sure being an administrator you are immune to such obvious underhand subterfuse, so I'll get right to the point...some players in the modern game are pretending to be hurt and trying to stop the flow of the match.  I know, it beggars belief, but there you go.  So, here's a suggestion, make any player who has been shot by a sniper in the stands/just falls down for no reason, go off the field until the next a stoppage in play...if your team had to play for 3/4 minutes (10 or 12 if Spain were involved!) with 10 men don't you think that players would think twice about faking injuries?  

6 minutes ago, Panda said:

There's a thing creeping into the game now where a player will now go down holding his head, because if it is a potential head injury the referee has to stop the game. Helps time waste and stop another team's attack.

Yes I agree but, if say their CB goes down holding his head and the ref. stops the game, physio comes on, gives him a bit of TLC and confirms that he's good to go on but the ref. says he has to go off until the next time the ball is out of play.  Bet many CBs wouldn't be quite so "sensitive" to challenges in the air.

26 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Aye, that sounds right. They did have a guy go off for about half a second. He was waved straight on as the ref was dropping it. Palaversa I think went to the dugout briefly when he was off, as we weren't sure if he was coming back on. I didn't pay attention to the other ones they had, as there was clearly fuck all wrong with any of their players.

It would be good if any player went down for any reason and the ref. stops the game, 'cos it might be serious (game against Hearts away when their player went for the ball and pulled up immediately and  the ref. blew for a stoppage because it was obvious he'd torn his hamstring...think the ref was  Clancy!) ...the player has to go off to the sideline and can't return until the ball has next gone out of play

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

I think I missed whether the player went off or not, such was the seethe at some of the shite he was giving. Although, do players have to go off when the ref stops play? I don't think there's any written rule. I know that they can't insist that they go off if there was a booking, not sure about the other way round. One of his worst today was when their centre half made his second attempt to get Gueye sent off. Threw himself to the ground holding his face, and the ref stopped play for a head knock. It's a nonsense, that rule should be for concussion, but the guy was clearly writhing around and had nothing serious wrong with him. There should be leeway to apply common sense for those ones. 

Thought the rule was that if the player had to be treated onfield by the physio then he had to go off to the sidelines.   When Palaversa and the Motherwell player collided he had to go off the field (maybe a head knock has different connotations) and wasn't ushered back onto the field by the ref. for a least a minute.

41 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Just back, great performance, probably the best of the season. Completely dominated them, despite an horrendous refereeing performance. Clarkson just immense again, and the player we signed. I'd be offering him an extended deal tonight. Nisbet also brilliant, leading the line superbly and organising the front four like a captain - I'd sign him tomorrow if possible. Shinnie really good on the left and Palaversa did well in the middle. Knoester is a class act, and Dorrington is a comfortable right sided defender. Jensen was okay and Okkels too. Gueye was really poor in the number ten role where he started, but Thelin seemed to switch them at a point and Gueye improved the more he was kept out of the way, winning some good headers and creating space for others. Doohan did well in goals, dealing with some difficult crosses. 

They were pish, as was the ref. That decision to not play on when Morris was away should see him reffing league one for the next five seasons.

What have you got against league one?  He also allowed their physio on twice to treat "injured" players and, on neither occasion,  made the Well player go off. 

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

P S would love to hear from anyone that can highlight a single Scottish success this evening.

Absolutely fucking woeful 

 

Flower of Scotland when the pipes were silenced and the stadium sang as one... obviously clutching at straws!  We should have won it on the first half on Thursday as we had 3/4 chances to put the game to bed before their coach realised they were actually in a game and reacted accordingly. Hopefully Clarke has taken on board the way they dominated us for 3/4 of the 2 games and can come up with a plan to neutralise them.

13 minutes ago, dons8321 said:

3 down...at least Christie is anonymous any more.

isn't