tlg1903

1 hour ago, wee toon red said:

Already relegated and a midweek trip up to Aberdeen? Well done to them for taking any fans whatsoever.

This.  The only team I have seen in the top flight that I didn't feel belonged was the farce that was Gretna. I have respect for Livingston, sure they don't have the most fans but fair play to the ones that show.  Their pitch can get in the bin though, hopefully we can now ban them from the top flight. 

1 hour ago, manc_don said:

You’d like to hope that he’s seen what fergie for example has done and found a pathway. I’d like to see how he develops over time, but an exciting prospect that’s actually delivered. I remember folk screaming about lanky shankland saying how good he was, but he never ever took his chances. Kudos to fletcher, already done it.

 

enjoyed the highlights, the team really seem to be playing with some freedom (I know it’s livi and it took conceding to do it). Nice pre season anyway, hopefully they carry it on into the next. Was a bit cut up seeing Hayes sat on the ball after the game. What a guy.  

Right?  First time I saw him play was away to inverness and he was tearing Considine a new one.  I wanted to sign him within about 2 minutes of kick off.  Defo one of my favourite dons players of all time. 

Just noticed we wore the new kit last night.  Never seen a team wear next seasons before the current season is complete before 

And now the board is flat out trolling rhe hibs fanbase by appointing malky mackay as sporting director

2 minutes ago, Jute said:

New strip launch?

 

Thelin coming early? 

From Portsoy as well I believe.  There's precedent for him to do well from that POV...... 

14 hours ago, manc_don said:

Seems odd. We're not fucking lodge members or something.

Also it's just common courtesy to explain yourself a bit when making such a request 

On 11/05/2024 at 11:25, Nick said:

Hello everybody. Can anyone tell me which supporters clubs have their own meeting places - halls or venues - rather than operating out of a private residence?

Many thanks 

Why do you want to know this? 

2 hours ago, OxfordDon said:

On that basis feels like we need a bit of idle Elfsborg speculation.  Who's worth a look?

Not sure 2bh, the 60 minutes I watched I was too busy trying to figure out the system to be noticing players. 

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

He's contracted until 2026, there's no chance we're paying the money required to sign him. We could sign three players for the seven figures required. 

It seems silly to speculate on players coming in at the moment 2bh.  We have absolutely no idea what Thelin is going to make of the squad and what he feels it needs.  I would not be at all surprised if he raids his old club for a couple though. 

On 06/05/2024 at 16:25, RicoS321 said:

But it is, definitely, what Robson was attempting (and largely failing) to do. Your description of the game could be used to describe our performance against the Huns at Ibrox earlier in the season for example. We had 29% possession, but 14 shots on goal with 6 on target, dominated them and nobody could deny we deserved our win. Shinnie was immense in that game, and the chasing down of the ball was generally centred around him firing in, but with the rest actually backing him up (as opposed to the Flood-esque chasing shadows that we've often seen as the rest remain in shape). Of course, that game was largely against the norm for a couple of reasons. The first is that we didn't have the personnel to do that - as soon as you add an unpredictable Duk to the mix, you're screwed for example. The second is that for 70% of our games, we'll be up against a team that sits deep and allows us possession, and we'll need a separate strategy for those games (where Duk of two seasons ago would be immense). 

Either way, we're maybe four or five players short for the Thelin approach. I imagine guys like Sokler might be useful, Shinnie definitely, but we'll need far more intensity from McGrath for example and at least another midfielder that's willing to cover a lot of ground. Our biggest problem will be when we get injuries or suspension and have to delve deeper into our squad. There's basically nothing there that will fulfil the energy gap. Polvara would need to really buckle down in preseason to improve his yardage, for example, and then he would be feeling aggrieved if not in the first eleven. That said, the different approaches and intensity required will work to our advantage in maintaining squad harmony. I can imagine a few players needing a rest, and that option will be available as we change tactics depending on opponent. 

I suppose he was to an extent, yes, in the games where he thought we would be under the cosh anyway.   Robson was very big on transitions as well but you got me curious so i had a look at some of stats from the first half of the season and we only ever had low possession stats like that against the sides much bigger than us.  If Robson was really going for that strategy there's games he would have had great opportunity to use it in and he didn't.  Eg the semi against hibs we had 52%, hearts at tynecastle in september 47%.  Obviously I've only seen Elfsborg for 60 minutes at home against the top team in the league but my feeling is that he doesn't change it around much.  Looking at Elfsborgs fixtures so far they haven't had one match where they have had more possession than their opponent.  The closest they came was 48% and their average for all the games they have played so far this season is 38%.

In other words I don't think you are wrong to draw the comparison with Robson but it was more of a part time strategy when up against it for him imo.   I don't think this is the case with Thelin, I think he's fully committed to it.  How he makes that work with teams that want to sit in I don't know as I've not seen enough of them but given Elfsborg are one of the bigger clubs in Sweden you would think this is a problem he has encountered before.  He has five more games in charge and if I can find streams I'm defo watching them but they are all against teams in the current top 6 so we are not likely to gain much insight into the sitting in issue sadly.  

3 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

"Previous winners of the award include Daniele De Rossi, Nicolo Barella and Sandro Tonali." 

Nothing like playing down the award. Surely "previous winners: Xavi, Pirlo, Touré, Pogba, Iniesta" would sound a little better.

Dunno like, all three were/are amazing players 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cd13p97znw4o

On yourself Fergie .  I've watched loads of serie a this season and this is a hell of an achievement given the midfielders in the league.  There's a lot of chat that Motta is going to Juve in the summer to replace allegri, i can see him taking ferguson with him and winning this just added a few mill to the price. 

10 hours ago, Panda said:

Two thoughts.

One, after a poor run, Jimmy Thelin has just handed the Swedish league leaders their arse.

Two, how the hell did he manage to hand them their arse with just 19% possession? What is this sorcery?

This was the most interesting thing, I watched all of the second half and Elfsborg were well worth their win.  I would go as far as to say that despite their low possession there wasn't many points that they didn't look completely in control of the game.  Malmo are clearly used to having lots of the ball and Elfsborg would let them have it in their own half (unless trying to regain just lost possession) but once into Elfsborgs half they kinda herd them into specific areas then pounce on them and invariably take the ball.  Then they break.  And every time they break with purpose, players flood forward and within a few seconds a lot of the time the defenders are facing their goal and panicking. 

One of the most notable things was there was a couple of passages of play where they had just taken the ball and they had be very tidy with it not to lose it again straight away.  In other words don't let the low possession stat make you think Elfsborg can't pass the ball and keep it, they absolutely can and I'm sure could play a possession strategy if they so wished.  The fact they don't wish to is what makes this such a very interesting setup and I genuinely can't recall seeing anything quite like it before.   After watching that game I am now quite glad Thelin isn't coming till June, you could not come into a team midseason and try and implement this way of playing.  It could also be argued the league cup group stage could provide a useful testing ground to what is going to be a drastic change in strategy for the first team.  

 

Forgot they were playing Malmo today but managed to find a stream.  Currently 1 up at  home at HT.   My very early impressions after watching the ten minutes before half time are as follows.  Elfsborg are a very direct side, not in a long ball merchant way, just when they get possession they don't fanny about.  I Initially thought they were playing a 433 but it was just because the camera was cutting out the right winger.  They actually look to be playing a 442 that turns into a 424 the moment they get possession.   Couldn't tell you what the goal was like as h/t analysis is about 2 minutes long (they like their ads in Sweden) and i missed the one replay they showed. Edit, just saw it there.  Decent turn and ping from the edge of the box 

Stats are interesting as well and similar to the above post by panda.  Safe to say Jimmy T ain't a fan of Tika Taka.  As for how well such an approach will be appreciated by the pittodrie faithful?  If he wins enough I'm sure it will be fine but i would add high possession stats and entertaining football are not mutually exclusive.  

I would be surprised to see Hoilett stay given Thelin's reported playing style.  33 yo's are not known for their pressing abilities after all.  

It does feel like we are in a wee bit of a limbo until Thelin comes in with the distractions of the cup semi and fear of relegation going away.  Hopefully we aren't though and Thelin will come in with a good knowledge of the squad and who he wants to bring in.  He does sound the type that will be putting in the prep work 2bf so I have some optimism the transfer window will be more focused and less scattergun than the previous summers. The only thing I think we can say for certain is we will see a few players come in from the Swedish league and the rest of Scandinavia as well perhaps. 

2 hours ago, BigAl said:

Funny you should say that Rico, as I've been thinking for a few weeks that he could be a possible replacement for Roos.

Another possible could be the young Icelandic keeper that Elfsborg sold to Brentford for a couple of million last year. Not suggesting we sign him as  won't get him on a permanent but maybe a season long loan to give us some breathing space to secure long term replacement 

A new keeper is a must imo, Roos is ooc at the end of the season anyway 

5 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Agreed. It's the usual pish, people get it in their heads that "his legs have gone" or some other shite, and then apply conformation bias to their view, ignoring all other evidence to the contrary. Polvara did okay in the first half against the Tims, but his overall coverage isn't great, neither his stamina. That second half passed him by, and it was then that we needed Shinnie's presence to do the hard work. He's easily got another season in him before any chat about legs going and the tired, clichéd pish needs to get rolled out. Also, we've seen plenty of instances where Shinnie and Barron have played well together, so there's no issue with the balance of the midfield. It really just does depend on those two turning up and playing well. More importantly, not throwing away ridiculous goals at the back.

If polvara could just inject a wee bit more aggression into his game I think he could be some player.  

As for Shinnie?  I think there's a fair chance he will adapt reasonably well to losing pace.  You could see him playing a holding midfielder role where he doesn't have to move much quite successfully.  Win the ball, move it on, jobs a good un. I'm not saying that will defo be for us as I'm far from convinced Thelin is going to be too interested in holding midfielders but he could play top flight football in Scotland for a few seasons yet. 

 I think we will get a really good performance at the weekend, the weekends performance gave the team it's mojo back and they are clearly enjoying playing for Leven.  

4-0 dons Miovski, sokler, Duk and Gartenmann

I couldn't find a stream of this one in the end on Kodi, hopefully can find one Tom eve

I'm probably going to watch a fair few of these (well, have on my second screen whilst I play football manager anyway) and given some of you might be interested I thought I would post my thoughts on them here.  

home to Kalmar this eve, 6pm KO.

I wonder what sort of markets we will be looking at this summer. It seems very likely to me at least a couple of the new bodies coming in will be from scandanavia.   I wonder Thelin will raid his old club

All I will to what has been posted before is how proud I am of my team and pleased I am that leven is going to be involved going forward.  We have taken so many proverbial kickings this season I honestly didn't think so much fight was still in us. 

Anyone else think Morris did alright in the brief time he was on? 

2 hours ago, wee toon red said:

What are we going to say to CAS? "Please sir, this is unfair. We want 50% of the tickets even though we can't sell them all"? We'd rightly be laughed out of the place.

A fairer mechanism for selling, ie section by section up to a deadline and if not sold out the other team get them, is the ideal but to suggest we go greetin to CAS about it is fanciful. If "we" as a club want to make a point then it should start with being able to show demand is there in the first place, which it demonstably isn't. The SFA aren't going to have seats that could've been sold lying empty if they can possibly help it and it's very difficult to blame them for that.

Oh dear lord .   We say "there is a consistently shown inherent bias towards the two biggest clubs in the country and the governing bodies refuse to give us the same opportunities as they do to them".  All of this is clearly, and easily, provable and quite frankly previous ticket sales are utterly irrelevant.  It's about fair opportunity not how briefs you have sold in the past (but not hard for us to show plenty occasions when we have sold huge numbers of tickets, parkred for example).  If you think the CAS would "laugh us out of the place" for putting that case to them i honestly don't know what to say to you.  Cases like this are literally what it exists to mitigate. 

22 hours ago, BigAl said:

It'll never change until they fuck off and leave the rest of us to get on with it.

The league would be more competitive, more entertaining and fairer.

Yes, we might all have to pull our reins in financially but over time it will sort itself out.

I fear it won't be in my lifetime, if indeed ever.

Actually, I don't agree with that.  I think it just needs taken to the court of arbitration for sport by hearts, hibs and Aberdeen.  It would get sorted out very quickly and the precedent would then be set. 

8 hours ago, Panda said:

If the man on the right can be as big a legend at Pittodrie as the man on the left we'll be alright.

Mal Panton gets nowhere near the credit he deserves for the work he does there.

But anyway, I can't fucking wait for the Jimmy Thelin era. Just got a feeling this guy is gonna do the business.

Mal Panton? 

Found the interview a wee bit cringe 2bh but it was always likely to be given the circumstances  and it had to be done for appearances sake.  At least they kept it fairly short.  

Welcome to Aberdeen Football Club Jimmy, here's hoping you can put the fun into the dysfunctional.