Ajja

Even better than that, it was 35 years

Looks like they have a fair few injury doubts. Hopefully all the big dirty bastards.

Honestly can’t see Watson moving within Scotland. Would be good to see what Marshall can do though. He might be more of a prodigy for Armstrong but we should be building him into a central character in there.

The square pegs is a big problem. His system is dependant on WBs but we don’t actually have any. We have a collection of converted left and right sided midfielders or CBs into FBs. Lobban has done well but I’m not sure he is a WB. Our wide attacking players are easily defended as they always cut into traffic. We were arguably better when we had next to useless haddies like Morris as at least he would take the ball to the goal line and cut it back into areas of danger where Nisbet could do what he does. All our attacking play is into congested channels or on the edge of the box. We are toothless as a result. Very little bite or dig in midfield means we struggle to win ball, maintain any posession or build from a platform. Teams overrun us easily in that area. If we get the gaps right between middle and back we are hard to beat but utterly inept up front, if we get the gaps further up right we start to look dangerous but wide open at the back. We seem to fluctuate between these two set ups in game.

I’m still firmly in the ‘desperately want it to work but increasingly unconvinced it will’ camp. Im trying to find excuses in my head every time we come out like a drunk boxer for first half after European games, why we don’t seem to have a set 11 and endlessly tinker, don’t give players a look in then bring them on at Parkhead, can’t defend balls into our box, can’t play out from back, play Jensen in every position on the pitch and he still runs forward, stops and runs back, Karlsson cuts in and smashes a shot of the first defender, Lazetic can’t play anywhere except in the pocket of the biggest centre back……the frustrations go on. Massive 5 games coming. Will determine whether we are battling to be the best of the bottom 6 or genuinely competing for 3rd. I’m not convinced it’ll be the latter at this stage.

One thing to cling onto is that our home form has been a little more shaky than our away form recently. We’ve looked much more stable in away games.

I’m absolutely ragin’ that I can’t inject this into my eyeballs because the likely beneficiaries are the two shades of hunnery. It’s devastating that we aren’t sitting in that top 3 waiting to capitalise on this implosion.

Did Clarkson partner have a baby recently? Could be unsettling him, looking to get closer to family etc etc. I know he was claiming to be knackered at some stage recently.

Def soft but he lifts his arm up towards the ball, a movement akin to someone doing the birdie song dance circa 1981 on TOTP. Think that’s the crucial decision making criteria.

I saw that message on screen and wasn’t at game. I think it was in that wee guy Aaron Jones Vlog I saw it. RTG Pod guys said it as well

Currently enjoying a guilty pleasure in The Holiday. Without Jack Black it’s not much shakes but alright for a bit of lightweight winter caper.

Or on Topic . They were brilliant. I’m all in on anything with a peanut slant. Used to love a Nutty. Star Bars are the absolute bollox. But you should try The Holdovers too. Phew, back on films.

I’ll be having my routine Sunday gripe at the two baldies on Sunday Brunch tomorrow while my wife watches. I would never tire of punching those two inept excuses for TV presenters.

Watched The Holdovers again tonight, saw it in cinema when it came out. Beautiful piece of film making. Definitely well assisted with a good Malbec, Frazzles and a cheeky Star Bar.

Hoping for a routine win with eyes on Celtic Park. We need to be able to rotate the squad tomorrow without slip ups, do same on Thursday and be fully fit and balls out for Celtic. Would love to see the big Icelander get a run out, maybe if we are 3 goals to the good by HT. Ed Munster won’t be in the dugout tomorrow either after his red against them. Not sure if that’s a disadvanatage or an advantage.

Tony Doc had a terrible defensive record at Dundee despite playing decent stuff. Suspect that’s why he got the boot. No surprise he’s got same issue at County. They’ll have to act soon to give new manager Jan window and chance to pull up the plane.

Again, I’ll be over simplifying this and don’t pretend to know a lot about it. I’d say that the biggest risk for council is optics. The ‘funding’ of what appears to be in support of a private business when the council is strapped and not investing in public services is never going to be a good look. Even if the truth of it is that there is little risk in leveraging borrowing power to then have the club do the heavy lifting on repaying and the council get the upside of a community asset that drives wealth back into the city in some form. For this reason (optics) I’d be surprised if they pulled it off. I agree that there must be a handful of wealthy folks who can chuck in £10m each to build legacy. Cormack should really be writing the first cheque.

Correct me if I’m wrong but is the broad plan to have the LA access borrowing at lower rates to build and then the club repay that via rental income? Appreciate I’m probably over simplifying it but makes the ‘investing public funds’ a little more palatable (for the record, I’m not in favour of using public funds for private benefit) as it’s almost a convenient transactional relationship with an upside to the LA over longer term.

Resenior has been blowing smoke up our ass a fair bit in the lead up. Did wonder if it was a tactic but I doubt they’ll come here fired up in any way. Could end up like Frankfurt but the top 8 thing and avoiding a round is an incentive to keep pressing on. Looks like they’ll make a few changes but seeing as they are basically French Chelsea that might be more potential for a beating if we aren’t on it. Like others, just get through it without damage. Strong showing against Killie on Sunday and further league climbing is much more important.

Interesting read in the latest post from Gavin MacPhee for those who follow his stuff. Particularly if you love to unpack the Relationalism and Positionalism aspects of the Dons set up https://open.substack.com/pub/afc1903/p/changes?r=4fdh0v&utm_medium=ios

Love the Old Fruitmarket as a venue.

Haha. I passed that point as I stepped onto the train to Dundee with a bag of cans. First was a battle, second a chore third was a pleasure

Excellent post and so much to unpack. To paraphrase one of the greatest comedians ever, you know the best albums cos they’re the ones on drugs. Mr Bill Hicks, RIP

Having listened to the guy on the ABZ podcast about Strasbourg I’m now going up on Thursday expecting a good win for the Dons

I go to a lot of gigs with my daughters and we seek out new bands in small venues, usually in Glasgow. They always joke that they are often the only ones aged under 50. It’s the 6music dad effect. Guys like me hearing new music that’s based on old music and in small venues that remind me of the gigs I used to go to. Young team seem to prefer festivals and big venues. Must be soul destroying being 18, in a band and starting out your gig circuit and when you look out over the audience it’s full of bald guys in their 50s nodding their heads knowingly.