Another to look at from lower leagues is Max Barrie at Peterhead. Saw him yesterday and looked well above league 2 level. Was with us as a youth player but got released. Not sure if he is our level yet but the sort of player you could take a punt on if we still had reserve team football to develop players over 18.
To counter that perspective the team we were playing today are 1 point off relegation play off place to league 1 and have won a grand total of 6 league games all season. It was not a good performance today. It was much like the Elgin game a few weeks back. We did enough to get through but not much else.
Going to against grain and say although happy to be through that was not a good performance especially in first half. We did not move ball well at all at times. Jensen runs about a lot but beginning to see why he has played a lot of games in various positions. Looks every inch a utility player rather than someone you start every week. I would start MacKenzie and Devlin ahead of him. Knoester looked decent if a little rusty and as someone said above we got noticeably worse when Dorrington came on. Special mention to Okkels who managed to hide so effectively that I only noticed he was on when he was being subbed off. Still early but on evidence so far there is no way we should be taking up our option to buy him.
Worst part of the day was predicting 3-0 and not putting it on at bookies.
Guessing Jensen at right back and MacKenzie at left back. Not been impressed with Jensen so far but maybe better on his correct side. Could be a 2 up front but guessing it will be Gueye in 10 role with Nisbet as lone striker.
See sitting waiting for your child to do dancing on a Friday night is a bad thing because you sit bored browsing your phone and you suddenly find yourself booking a train to Aberdeen on Sunday.
So
In
Train then dash to ground
Y
pub then then train at some point back to Capital.
3-0 Nisbet, Morris and Keskinen.
I am weak what can I say however on this occasion getting the only train up for kick off is a pain in the arse and I hate buses so might actually stick to it on this occasion.
Still to decide if I am going to bother with this one. Last Saturday’s meek surrender has me wondering if I might just make it season ticket games only until end of season.
As for team I have to agree with Rico on MacKenzie. Has to start as he is our best option there. I thought Jensen looked weak in tackle and uncomfortable at left back. Not sure I would even play him at right back after last weeks showing.
If this was a league game I would not be starting Knoester as he has hardly played since last season so will be well short of match sharpness but as its cup against lower league opposition it is probably an ideal game to get some minutes in his legs.
Again as it is lower league opposition I would start Morris on the right and Keskinen on the left.
Upfront I would to go with Nisbet. Gueye has not looked like a number 9 when I have seen him. Ambrose hasn’t looked like a professional footballer.
Pars have improved slightly under new manager but still look shite. We should be winning this comfortably even in the form we are in.
3-0 Nisbet, Morris and Keskinen.
Cannot find the article I was reading earlier but it was saying 9 academy players from St Johnstone, Dundee, Celtic Hibs, Dundee United and Dons all went this window.
Reading club statement I think it reads like he is here to go into first team squad.
Hartley said a couple of weeks back that losing Emsile and Marshall back to Aberdeen was his biggest concern for the window so assuming he was doing well. Had considered heading to Livingston v Cove cup game on Saturday to see how they were getting on.
Actually that’s a point he played for Cove in pervious rounds so is cup tied for Sunday.