RicoS321

Aye, it was more from the point of view of having someone who can win the ball higher up. He played at 10 and out left. I had a glimmer of hope that he might be able to bring something out in Nisbet. I have a feeling that because the other strikers have been shite, that he might just try and shoehorn him into number 9, like has been done with Duk (with some justification).

We don't want to bring him down to our level, we could still make money off the lad if he resurrects his career! To be honest, if we're looking at a right back, I think it needs to be one that we might get permanently rather than a loanee. I'd hate to think we were giving Ramsay game time ahead of Devlin for him to fuck off back down South at the end of the season. That wouldn't sit right for me given Devlin's form and effort this season. I don't think it's a priority area that we need to rock the boat in during this window. I wonder if Tobers will be seen as cover for right back if Devlin needs rested until Milne returns (with Polvara going into centre back)? I'd like to see a couple more: a striker and a left centre back. Nilsen was okay yesterday, but he was surprisingly uncomfortable with playing the ball out on his left foot. He hesitated so many times, and missed one or two easy opportunities to give it to Okkels, as if he didn't have the confidence to make the slide ball between two players on his wrong side. Polvara looked far more comfortable on his left side against Motherwell. I'd certainly be looking for a permanent left centre half. I have a feeling that Nilsen will get absolutely rinsed by the Hun if he plays there in that fixture. Whilst Okkels was poor, he did help out defensively, and his overall positioning was good. It would have been really nice to have had Gueye back a couple of weeks ago so we could assess in this window before bulking the squad up with another striker.

Aye, Hegarty had a shite record, but I remember thinking some of the fitba we played under him was okay and I was surprised that he didn't do much in management beyond that. McInnes talked about Ramsay on a few occasions as Dons manager, he was clearly very aware of him but had [justified] loyalty to Logan. I think he would have featured in the Dumbarton game at least if McInnes had stayed on, but he was fairly conservative with the young lads for the Dons more generally, which was frustrating at times. Did we only have two young players (Wright and McKenna) come through under McInnes (obviously Ferguson was young, but was bought in)? I'm struggling to think of another. I guess Campbell got plenty of minutes, but I always felt that we clogged our squad with average journeymen that required placating before the youngsters. I'd say that even Wright was given a fairly raw deal under McInnes.

Aye, only around quarter of a century out with the caretaker manager. Not too bad.

I think that might have been a different black player.

That's the wrong type of fitba. Non-yank studies show opposite results: Proper fitba Although I think there's no significant differences either way. Badly maintained AG pitches are likely worse, but then a heavy grass pitch would likely be terrible on the hamstrings too.

That's certainly an area of his game that could improve with a bit of coaching. You're right, he definitely got forward more, but it was almost always after a little stutter of uncertainty, that both allowed the marker to get back, and confused our own players as to whether he was coming or going. A little injection of confidence from the manager and more game time would likely solve this. We'll just have to cope with the switching off until we get a replacement for MacKenzie.

There's no evidence that plastic pitches are worse for injury than grass. Would be fitting if McInnes resurrected his career and bagged us a few million sell on.

Bit harsh on McGarry. He played okay for a guy who hasn't had a lot of minutes. MacKenzie has been poor of late, he'll occasionally let folk in behind him and is poor in the air, however he doesn't switch off the way McGarry did a couple of times today. There was one in the first half where he forgot to track his man completely, and then once in the second where their fullback had the ball and the winger was in behind McGarry. It wasn't his fault that he was out of position as the move had broken down, but instead of going full belt into the winger to take man and ball, he just froze and they played the simple triangle round him and set up a very good chance. He was miles from being the worst player today, but it's those things that make it fairly clear he doesn't have what it takes. We were the better team today and earlier in the season we'd have scored either the one from the corner (which looked like a phenomenal save from Gordon) or one of Keskinen's. Fantastic save from Doohan, preventing what would have been an undeserved loss (they didn't do anything of note in the game). I'm still not convinced by Morris, despite his purple patch, but we do need to be giving him more time if he's expected to impact the game. How on earth Okkels got as long as he did, I've no idea. He basically waited for him to collapse. I don't think I've seen a guy have so little impact on a game and remain on the pitch. I'm sure he'll improve, but we don't need to be giving him anymore than a half to work on his fitness and sharpness. I liked the look of Tobers, think he'll be good for us. I really hope someone signs Duk this window, I hate that I've still got a flicker of expectation every time he comes on, and I still get completely frustrated when he puts in another shite performance. That bollocks towards the end where he was given an easy pass to collect, and he let the defender come and get it and threw himself to the ground to try and get a freekick nearly made my head explode. He's gone from hero to useless diving cunt. Nisbet made a few nice passes in the first half, especially that beautiful through ball for Keskinen, but just seems to lack any energy. It's like he doesn't want to be there. We need a number nine ASAP.

Fuck sake, we've just got rid of two Alfies.

I was at that game. It was McAllister at left back. I think you're right though, that Solberg did play the last few minutes at left back when Anderson came on for McAllister. I don't think it continued into future fixtures.

Welcome aboard Sandy. If we keep trying Jensens, we're bound to get a good one soon.

I'll put you down for a Vujadinovic McArdle

I think he's worth persevering with. He's got talent, just not there with the application. Don't think he suits playing with Nilsen, but after the red card the other night I thought he generally progressed the ball well with pace.

Yep, exactly this.

Even Kristers sounds like a wacky nickname - made up by cunts - for someone called Christian or Christopher.

It's not possible for them to have operated on the same pitch, without football as we know it ending.

Could probably change the title of this one, but couldn't find another Deano thread. Been diagnosed with dementia. Nae good like. Still a legend, despite the actions of his offspring.

I don't think Solberg was in our worst 20 defenders. Guys like Ifil were worse. Solberg was slow and got caught out a lot, but he could actually trap a fitba. Bus only started three times for the Dons. He started alongside Diamond once, and I think Considine twice, but it might have been Severin for one. None of those would fit in a worst ever partnership, despite Bus dragging them down. Jimmy C gracefully gave everyone a shot with him too, so partnership couldn't be accused. I'm starting to think Gallagher and Bates are in with a shout, even though I think they were unfairly played in the wrong side continuously, like some sick joke. Edit: speaking of sick jokes, when Bus played for the Dons, the fullbacks were McNamara and Maybury.

I don't at all know what your point was, as it's now changed again. Back to something like I thought it was in the first place (that we should have a team of majority Scottish players). Something which I agree with as I've said.

Probably. We've had some fairly honking defenders over the years. That said, there's nearly always been one of the two that would have some redeeming features. It's an interesting one, I wonder what the worst partnership we've had over the years was? Obviously we had Brown and Campbell, Duff and Young (think one of them might have played right back), but I mean a partnership that lasted a few games at least.

I don't actually know what point you're making, that's the issue here. Originally you said that you'd like to see us sign more Scottish players as they tended to stay longer, and you mentioned the national team. I assumed that you meant actual Scottish players and I suggested that there was no evidence that players signed that were Scottish stayed longer than those that weren't. You then moved to include British or English speaking foreign players, and I suggested that there still probably wasn't any evidence of them staying longer, given we've had a million English players who've come and gone this century. You're now talking about "true" foreign players, and I've no idea what that means. If it helps, I'll clarify what I'm saying. I would like us to sign more Scottish players as we are a Scottish team playing in Scotland and I believe that should carry some identity (for no real reason if I was being honest with myself). I believe that a portion of our signings should come from teams in the SPFL (Premier), whether Scottish or otherwise, as I believe that they have the best chance of success as they are the lowest risk of signing (we know they can perform in our league). I think that the manager should be able to identify those particular targets. I also believe that you are significantly more likely to make a mark up on a player out with the SPFL, but the risk that they cannot perform in this league, is greater. A proportion of our signings should go down this route with a view to it being the quickest way to increase player budget via player trading. The proportion of the above should vary from season to season depending on availability of good players in our league, but I'd like to see us picking up at least 2 low risk signings from other teams each season. I'm not concerned by Thelin not having that knowledge for a season, and would count guys like Nilsen as equivalent to Devlin, but with slightly more risk attached. In response to your last three years point, foreign players were in the minority until Robson really. You mentioned Glass, which is why I brought up Gallagher etc. Goodwin was majority British (Stewart, Richardson, Morris, Clarkson etc), Robson signed Pollock, MacDonald, McGrath etc, before the move to foreign based the following window. We didn't sign anyone in the January (Hoillet) and this summer we've gone foreign again. Basically two windows of majority foreign imports, with a similar success rate to previous. I don't think any of what I've said has any bearing on length of time a player stays at the club. As I said previously, I think that has everything to do with family arrangements and if they've found a level that suits both us and the player.

Welcome Kristers. This is Peter, he's our best available striker.

Gallagher and Bates, and thon other lad, Brown or something? If we're expanding to British, then McGrath, Stewart, Jet, Gurr and many others. I don't think there's any evidence of not coping with humour because of nationality in football or any other line of work. Most players we've signed, probably in our history, have had a good grasp of English. Apart from Johnny Hayes, who still requires an interpreter after over a decade in this country. Guys like Ramadani, Miovski, Sokler, Rubi all appear to enjoy playing here too. To be honest though, your initial suggestion was that you wanted to see more Scottish players playing, which I'd agree with because I think Scottish teams should provide a route to the national side, and if international football is to have any meaning, it should retain and promote that Scottish football connection. I also think that signing players like Hayes and McGrath is beneficial because they have proven SPFL record, but that would also be applicable if we signed a foreign player from another club. Mitov for example. Beyond that, I don't think there's any evidence from our signings that foreign players stay less time than British players or can integrate more successfully. Proportionally, we've signed as many dogshite players from down south as we gave foreigners from foreign land I expect.