BobbyBiscuit

Be interesting to see St Mirren's line up, seeing as they've added another name from the past in Adam Hammill, to add to Simeon Jackson & Anton Ferdinand.

 

Hammill was linked with us years ago if I remember correctly, he's much travelled down in the English Championship & league 1, but he did look quite a player at some point, and Jackson & Ferdinand both have EPL experience.

 

I don't think it'll have any affect on the outcome, just never thought I'd see these types of players at St Mirren ( And I mean that with the greatest respect ) it's actually quite refreshing, albeit they have all probably peaked, hence why they're at St Mirren now, still refreshing.

They had Victor and Stevie Archibald playing for them in the 80s, two ex Barca players... so I won't be impressed with their signings until Rakitic and Suarez are playing for them... 

Greg Stewart is a cracking player, and one I was desperate for AFC to use correctly.

But we never. And we can say he was unfit (he was), and we can say he was underwhelming at times (he was), but the manager never played him in his proper position. What that could have done for Stevie May or Adam Rooney... but the boss didn't want to compromise his system.

So why sign him?

We'll surely be in Glasgow. Can't imagine the police would want Aberdeen and Huns converging on Edinburgh (likely through Haymarket mostly).  Would be easier to have the Edinburgh team playing in Edinburgh, I would have thought.

Who knows, perhaps it's as simple as the youths we've got being better? Campbell looks a very decent prospect (better than Fyvie - pre-injury - did when he first emerged)

Not seen nearly enough of Campbell to say that in my opinion. Fyvie controlled the midfield at Ibrox in one of his early games (a 0-0, I think), Campbell hasn't had nearly enough game time to be compared to when Fyvie came through.

Great to get the win, much needed.

I thought Logan did very well against Sammon; they clearly targeted Logan as the smallest defender and hit that diagonal ball throughout the game towards Sammon, and apart from the first tussle i think Logan won them all.  Good on him, because we've been bullied by them in the past with tactics like that and he stood strong.

Great finish by Wilson, but that was a superb pass from McGinn. There aren't many players in our team who would have executed that properly, or even seen it. The last two goals we've scored have been down to his talent and vision, it would be lovely if fans could stop screaming abuse at him.  Considering how precious some are about the criticisms the manager gets, it's incredible that McGinn doesn't get more support.  The guy has won us a ridiculous number of points over the last five years.

And, fair play to McInnes today - would have been easy for him to play certain players today, but he put on young Dean Campbell when he could have put on Gleeson or Forrester. And he could have put on May but he put on Anderson.  I think the boss was making a couple of statements today, even if it's just to waken those guys up, but that's what's needed. it's timely too, this is a massive week for us, and I think we can go into Tuesday in a bit more confidence.

Long way to go but today was needed, hope we kick on from here.

Dons are 23/25 for the home win tomorrow.  Not bad actually.

 

I reckon our form is about to improve.

Motherwell have bullied us too often too recently for me to touch the Dons at that price but let's hope you're right 

 

Aye, heaps of them. You could probably call me injury prone! When I first broke my ankle (or maybe it was the second time) and ruptured a ligament the doctor said I probably shouldn't be playing fitba. Unless his reasoning was based on my footballing ability then he was talking utter shite (I played badly for 20 years after before another leg break). These days, there's no way a good physio will let a player put strain on their other joints in compensation for an injury (within reason). They properly build back up the affected bone or joint to the point where the player feels comfortable. There is obviously a short-term physcological issue, but that fades reasonably quickly in most players as confidence builds.

In some cases, that's true, in the case of Stevie May, I think it's still a factor. I had friends at the Q&A with Michael Stewart and Willie Miller before the Hibs game.  They were asked about May; Stewart said he thinks May now plays in areas where he's not going to get hurt. And to all intents and purposes, is finished at this level. Stewart had also based this on speaking to James McFadden who had a similar injury and length of time out and McFadden said that although he continued to play, he knew he was no longer capable, effectively.

Not that Stewart's opinion should be taken as gospel of course, but it was an interesting take on it.

Are there career threatening injuries these days?

Yes.

May's injury didn't hold him back, it was the fact that he'd reached the peak of his abilities when playing for St Johnstone and couldn't cope with the step up. It was obvious that he had no further avenues for progress, even his manager at the time said that he'd put in a phenomenal amount of work to get to the point he had. Look at his game. He lacks the pace required to make him a top class attacker, so you're either going to get an off-form May or an on-form May. We've currently got an off-form one and we don't have the time or ability to make him into that on-form one again, which would require him to be at his absolute peak.

So the manager who was trying to sell him said he was doing really well?

There are as many examples of players that return from serious injury that haven't returned. Considine had a serious leg break and returned, Devlin doesn't look troubled by his, Anderson previously had similar. Hoban's injury is different to the one he had before and seemed to come as a result of a collision or stretch or something. Being "injury-prone" isn't really a thing, you either get injured or you don't. You may have a particular injury that is re-occurring, but having once had a broken leg or knee injury doesn't make you more susceptible to a dislocated shoulder. Very few players make it through their careers without at least one bad injury, that's just the way it goes. It would be a strange signing policy that avoided players who'd once had an injury of some sort. None of Gleeson, Forrester, Hoban, Lowe, Ferguson, Ball have had careers riddled with injury of the same sort so really we're just looking at Wilson. If he was signed with an injury then that seems a little short-sighted, but given all our alternative striking options were being snapped up I can see the reasoning. Our alternative would have been to go into this season with no striking option other than May for the whole campaign and we can see from the beginning how bad an idea that would have been. I more concerned about the quality of our signings rather than the injury status.

Not being funny, but have you ever had a serious/bad injury?  It can change the way your body works and puts strain on other parts of your body and you begin to pick up more injuries, certainly injuries you never used to get. So injury prone probably isn't the best term, but there is something in it.

I didn't think either were penalties and thought Considine's was definitely a foul because he punched the ball clearly and obviously and in front of the ref. Even the ultra-partisan Red TV guys agreed with Collum there.

Never suggested Considine wasn't a foul (the foul was given for his arm across the Saints player's back initially), it certainly was, but McKenna was being held by two players on both occasions.  In fairness I haven't seen them on TV, but they happened right in front of us and it was clear as day.

I actually thought Collum had a decent match at the weekend. I also thought is view of the pen - and it was definitely a pen - was obscured by one of their players moving in front of him when the incident occurred. In the end I think he had to guess, and the ref should always go with the defender in that instance (i.e. you have to actually see the pen to give it). I think Collum has vastly improved over the last couple of seasons if I'm honest. Seems to keep up with the play a lot more and takes his time over decisions where previously he would tank in flashing cairds.

 

The penalty incidents with McKenna in the first half - where Collum had a clear view of each of them - were terrible pieces of officiating. Particularly when Considine then took McKenna's place, as soon as he put his arm on the defender Collum blew for a foul, but it wasn't a foul the other way?  Weak refereeing and sums him up.

It was a hard watch for a lot of yesterday.

Thought McGinn looked a lot brighter, scored a great goal, looked to come in centrally and tried to create. Unfortunately there just wasn't a lot of movement ahead of him. He also made a great run in behind the defence when Ball played him in - we need our strikers doing that but it's just not happening.

GMS was also very direct and at times took the responsibility of taking the game to Saints. Think he's looking a lot better for us this season, bit more consistency and maturity in his performances.

Downside - centre mid and up front. Ferguson obviously a miss in there, Forrester looked a bit lost still. Gleeson not doing much of note other than a cracking ball out wide in the first half - would like to see him do more of that but he's got his head down too much. Shinnie wasn't really at it either.

Stevie May was murder, offering us nothing at the moment, if he's picked next week i will be amazed. McInnes has to bite the bullet on this one, it's not happening for him and it doesn't look it's going to change anytime soon.

I never felt St Johnstone would get a second and on the whole we defended well enough, just going forward we don't have much about us at the moment.

Special mention to Willie Collum... a consistently terrible referee.

Force Wright to play through whatever injury he has.

Why? Sorry if I'm not getting this but is this based purely on his game v St Mirren?

Was he injured when he signed like? For such a key position where we're severely lacking, it's ridiculous. If it was unforseen circumstance then I suppose that could happen to anyone, but it's whooring frustrating.

 

Interesting one tomorrow then. Will be the final, final chance for May I'd think. I reckon McInnes will go:

 

------------Lewis-----------

Logan---Ball---Consi--Lowe

-------Gleeson--Shinnie----

McGinn-----Wright-----GMS

------------May--------------

 

I'd have Anderson in for May, but happy for him to be a 60th minute fast-paced impact sub if he's nae ready to start yet (fitness in lasting 90 mins I mean).

No Ferguson? 

 

Will be the final, final chance for May I'd think.

It won't be.

Wright plays well in training but sees more senior players coming in from elsewhere and getting a game ahead of him (see Maynard, Tansey, Forrester etc) by default.

But that's the point. According to the manager he wasn't.  He got into the team, got a couple of starts, got on in the cup final. Started matches the next season, was mostly hoop and then he dropped out of it and not seen again because of his attitude.

I think your point is a fair one if we're talking about other youngsters (Anderson this season must be wondering why he's sitting out for Cosgrove/May), but not Wright. He's had a crack at it and by the sounds of it spat the dummy.  It is therefore down to him to prove it in training.  That's the way it works whether it's pro, junior or amateur.

Actually, they don't. Not statistically anyway. It was/is very, very rare for either McGinn or Christie to be having a poor game and then suddenly produce a moment of magic.

Surely that isn't in any way statistical and purely based on opinion?

Regarding the player attitude thing, it's probably only fair to assume that Wright's attitude in training hadn't improved - that being the case, why would you then play him to see if that attitude had changed in a game situation? You wouldn't. You have to prove you are worthy of picking, be it in terms of attitude or form.

The use of youth - or lack of it - has been frustrating over McInnes's time, but it's a hard thing for supporters to gauge.  We're not seeing how these guys are faring in training against experienced first team players, maybe this is something the reserve league will help with rather than the u20s nonsense.

Motherwell pumped us at Pittodrie around the same time. That was a shambolic performance too, Baltic day as well. Moult scored a cracker.

I think it’s possible, don’t you? There’s a lot worse teams than ours who’ve won the Scottish cup and league cup over the years - that’s the beauty of knock out competition rather than a league campaign.

 

Listen I know we’ve not exactly set the heather on fire yet this season, and I can see the glaring question marks over some of the latest recruits - I can also appreciate we’ve been unlucky with injuries and a questionable red card decision yesterday....it’s too early for knee-jerk reactions in my opinion. I believe McInnes deserves our patience, that’s all.

Of course it's possible, unfortunately I also feel we're getting further away from it being likely.

But I also agree with your post, we've got new players, injuries to key personnel, it will take time for us to get into our stride, so our best is definitely to come. Hopefully its good enough to take us where we want to be.

Eand hopefully lead us to silverwear even if it is only in cup competitions.

Not trying to trip you up or anything but do you feel that we're going to win a cup this season?

And if so, why?

And if not, why not?

Derby lad Lowe looks a touch of class, only positive from today.

Thought he played well, a few dodgy moments defensively but very aggressive going forward which was good to see.

It  was never a red card.  So far from goal, defenders covering, but Killie playgers got round the ref and put the idea in his head, something our captain and players never did today, for some reason.

McInnes probably panicked a bit at the red and made the change straight away. I think he'd maybe have been better just waiting a moment and taking it from there, but I can see why he wanted to make the early decision.

After that we were never really cohesive, never really getting on top of them and there was a lot of huff and puff but we were just shit really. 

Down to ten and we really needed to stretch the game and he decides Cosgrove should come on... that worked as well as it sounds.

Well beaten. Greg Stewart scored a great goal for them. He is a good, good player, if played in his correct position.

Shame we never tried it.

What about writing from the viewpoint of Aberdeen having helped you out of a particularly anxious or depressing period?  Or maybe about how they've contributed to you feeling that way in the first place?

Obviously you have to travel a fair distance to get to Pittodrie, so once you've arranged your transport to Aberdeen, the thought of getting to the game has been the thing which has kept you going - kept you positive and upbeat?

What you greeting about now Blobby?

 

The bit you chose to chop backed up why I thought it - I've seen Ross in youth games and while he looked good he was quite harum scarum at times (as is common with an enthusiastic youngster), yet he looked far more composed today than I've ever seen him, and Wright's decision making was better than I've seen it before, as opposed to times at the start last season. Perhaps they're now both ready and it's the right time is all I'm saying.

 

Or maybe that's off the mark? The players don't like the manager and laugh about him behind his back? 

 

 

Rather than Ross and Wright playing well being a slight on McInnes and his management of them, perhaps it could be that now was the right time for them, albeit Ross got his chance through a slice of misfortune.

Magical.

Bond is absolute gash, in my opinion.  Elba is a good actor so he'd be doing it a favour.

Not sure why anyone gives a fuck if a fictional character is black or white or male or female (see Doctor Who).  If you enjoy the programme/film etc, it surely doesn't matter unless you're an arsehole who's a rampant racist, sexist or bigot (otherwise known as a "Hun")

I think you are wrong with both. I think it’s the form and play of Ferguson. Forrester was injured and Ferguson has performed to where he shouldn’t be dropped.

I'm a wee bit surprised that so many thought Ferguson wouldn't be in our XI most weeks.  I've always thought Ferguson was signed to go straight into the team.

Great that May scored today. That has been needed, hopefully gives him a bit of a lift.

I'm not trying to be a dick by arguing with you on this, it's just I get a bit fed up of being told to "get behind the team" (I've had a season ticket for over 20 years and I don't remember ever booing) or other such nonsense on a forum. This is the place for discussion and disagreement, that's its purpose. I'll be very much behind Gleeson at the weekend.

Completely agree. Too many people now just don't want anything bordering on the negative said about the manager, team or club as a whole on an internet forum.  I've not been overly impressed with Gleeson, to continue this example, I thought he looked like a poor Ryan Jack; he has to be braver in possession at times because due to the position he plays he will see a lot of the ball and we need him to be able to do more with it. 

I'm only saying that here, I'm not going to the matches and booing the guy. Will support him all the way.  This continual jumping on people for having an opinion - particularly one which can be articulated, and clearly isn't "just because I want to moan about the club" is grim.  Almost as grim as the "Twitter wars" after the weekend, which is along exactly the same lines, but worse.