manc_don

Not that it changes things really, but huns win so Tims will want to keep tack. 

Hard to be positive for this one. Only thing we have is it’s at home. I assume it’s safe to say besuijen is done at the club? Had hoped Robson coming back would be a good sign and opportunity for him to find some form. We need something creative and losing both Ramadani and McCrorie in the same window has been a massive blow to the spine of the team. Hopefully the management don’t persist on the hoof ball tactic, Celtic will just sweep it up. 
 

had hoped we’d see a signing or two before this game but I guess it’s going to happen at the end of the month. May get scales post Celtic game but we need someone to work as a foil for shinnie to enable Clarkson to play.

is McDonald back for this one? Will be too soon for McGarry if he has arrived but assume they’re still over in Oz.

out

bed

work

work

4-0, no dons scorer.

2 hours ago, Panda said:

Thing is, what's easier in order to make the knockout stage? Finish third in the Europa group or finish top two in the Conference?

Pot 3 in the Europa groups looks no more imposing than Pots 1 and 2 in the Conference.

 

you're right, they probably aren't far off, but I feel like the conference may have some more winnable games rather than just getting pumped 6 times or however many it is.

24 minutes ago, Panda said:

Rosenborg are absolutely gash at the minute, are 8th in the league (summer league innit) and out of both cups, one of which was a defeat to a lower league team.

I know all this because was out drinking with a Hearts fan tonight who is flying out to Norway tomorrow and has convinced me Hearts will prevail, and I have no reason to doubt him.

Aye it's Europa for the money and glamour, but Conference could be some cracking battles with teams on our level.

Either way it's a no-lose place to be in. I'm more stressed about Stirling away than I am about the play-off.

Here's the projected groups, take your pick (they've projected Vilnius making the EL based on their coefficient)

 

Definitely feels like the conference league is the way to go. Not that there aren't some potentially hellish trips there, there are many more better ones though.

11 hours ago, DantheDon said:

Sounds like a rumor in the same vein as the one that Kieren Tierney would be going back to them. Scott Mckenna starts every week for a pl team when fit. Generally that means his value is £20 million+ at his age and there is no way Celtic will pay that for him. 

Tim mate thinks it's bollocks as they've a bid in for a swedish defender. So I'd say it's very much that.

Wouldn't mind O'Hara or Baccus. Though he is a dirty Siddneeeeeyy bastard 

Couldn’t make it up, thank you hibs

1 hour ago, OrlandoDon said:

Not quite sure I understand you regarding ‘the defense,’ in terms of relationship he’d have the same keeper and be next to Macdonald again, the two closest to him. Williams or slob replacing pollock. You’ll train that 4 to work together, assuming it’s a back 3, full faith it would work. The big unit today didn’t look much different to pollock and I have to believe Williams has to be decent. Actually intrigued to see Mcgarry as an attacker based on your comments, thought Hayes looked average at best today, showed his age.

Suppose I more meant the level of competence we saw from him with McDonald and pollock rather than Stewart et al. 

Went to the Japan Norway round of 16 game last night. Was superb. Excellent atmosphere, pretty much a Japan home match it seemed with the amount of backing they had. Japan are so confident playing out the back when you’d think they’d lose it, rarely did. Shame wellingtons last game is at a stupid time of day. Presumably for the yanks to not watch their team since they failed to top their group the quality was very good last night. Japan thoroughly deserved it, but Norway still looked dangerous when they got close to goal.

3 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Interesting to note Celtic have a ‘defensive crisis’ and scales doesn’t even make the match squad today. Scales on the left of a 3 while the NZ boy at left wing back please.

Feels like this would make sense, although I feel that is heavily reliant on scales forming the same type of relationship he had with the defence as he did last season. McGarry is fine going forward, but defending wasn’t his forte. When he goes bombing up, that person needs to be able to handle the pressure.

On 03/08/2023 at 09:36, Goldie03 said:

I loved Barbie  

Probably regret saying this, but work has organised $10 tickets which include the film, cocktail and snacks. Seemed too good to pass so will be watching in a week or so’s time.

Good player, had struggled with injury earlier in his career but I was disappointed when he left the nix. He wasn’t first choice, but there wasn’t much between him and the then Lb. Wasn’t as good as Cacace who I wanted us to sign, but improved big time at CCM. Was always a frustration when he played for the nix that he didn’t shoot and get forward enough. Then he did with them and scored some screamers last season. Believe he started his career further up field and moved to the back line.

I’m trying to remember if I saw him play as part of a back 3, uffie played a 4-2-2-2 but not sure what Montgomery utilised.

Don’t know if I’m ready for the season to start yet, I don’t feel like we’re there as a squad yet but the date is the date! 
 

haven’t really paid much attention to what most of the rest of the league have done over summer and with their pitch, would we want to start Rubezic?  Be very interested to see if we still have Ramadani, I’d imagine we won’t see him in red again as they’ll want to keep him wrapped in cotton wool? 
 

Should be a good crowd from the Dons! Certainly sounds like plenty of folk are heading for it.

Good ideas Panda, certainly could help increasing traffic. I “run” the Twitter, but it’s very much a side show.  Hard when I’m on the other side of the world trying to hit those peak viewing times.
 

Have access to Facebook too, but given some of the Facebook comments you see, and my very infrequent use of it, it doesn’t get much attention. 
 

merging and then advertising it more absolutely make sense. Will see what we can do.

Looking forward to seeing what this guy can do. His stats compared to scales are generally favourable. Welcome aboard Slobodan! 

Yikes, Charlton aren’t a good side and looked like we gave them far too much space. Fully expect dadia to take a bit of time if I’m honest. Not sure why but I’d imagine it’s a fair culture shock, whether he realises it yet or not. 
 

there’s been a lot of positivity about polvara since he’s come back (and even before he did), hopefully he and the club have managed to turn his fortunes around. 

Rumour I heard yesterday and has now been noted on the RTG pod is Rocco Vata (Celtic on loan). Striker but played wing a lot recently. Very highly thought of apparently.

also apparently chris Harvey was on the news yesterday saying Rubezic is just being held up by red tape. Anyone else see it?

 

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Has to be up there with Lincoln imps as the worst euro result in Scottish club history?

1 hour ago, Kowalski said:

https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/26/sinead-oconnor-dead-irish-music-legend-dies-aged-56-19198092/
 

Am I imagining it or did she not have cancer over the last few years? Gutted , amazing artist.

4 hours ago, Jute said:

Have to say Manc what I have watched has been pretty poor standard. Some pretty awful football in the main and definitely would not be be paying to watch games. 

Fair enough, the games I've seen have been better than I anticipated  Enjoyed Kiwi-Norway, Japan-Zambia and Sweden-SA (despite the conditions) games. Seen bits and pieces of others. Heading to the big one for the kiwis tomorrow against the Philippines. Unusual watching live football in winter here.

13 hours ago, wokinginashearerwonderland said:

I’ll be honest. Women’s fitba is shite. I’m watching none of it 

You’d be wrong. I’ve seen far greater skill levels thus far than I’ve seen from some spfl premiership teams. Ours included at various points over the last few years. But you are of course entitled to your own opinion.

Great start for the host nations, sounded like it took the Auckland crowd a bit to get into it (anthem was quiet as hell on tv), but grew into the game. Must have been some noise in the ground at full time. Was a decent watch too, much better than expected given the ferns’ form. Japanese referee was excellent too. Got all the big decisions right. Looking forward to the Philippines game now.

I was amused by how afc Twitter managed to get their pants wet by him following the club on instagram this week. It was never happening after last week. Shame, and exactly the caliber of player we should be looking to sign. Big wad of cash for a player with 11 months to go, but they’ve got the cash so it’ll be pocket change for them. Onwards and upwards, but I’d like to see someone confirmed soon.

Is Neymar in his prime now? But still, I could absolutely see him going. I mean he’s on holiday in France anyway so what only difference would be loss of champs league.

Seems like FIFA have fucked up the marketing for this event over here, not sure what it’s like in oz? But anyway, games involving NZ should be close to sell outs, along with the USA games. I’m heading to NZ - Philippines and Japan - Spain. Looking forward to it, there weren’t many tickets left for the latter game, even having to sit in the alcohol free zone presumably we’ll still be able to drink on the concourse. Typically, or atypically, we’ve had next to no wind for months in wellington, this event comes up and here we are winter football eh! Looking forward to it!