RicoS321

It wasn't really his speech at the WC - although the bit about it being better without fans was interesting - just the fact that he no longer lets snooker be the number one priority in his life and that he approaches it on his own terms. He can afford to be in that position of course. His points about the youngsters was fantastic simply because he didn't tow the line. What was more interesting was the interviewer's response. There was virtually no follow up because they were so shocked at not hearing the same bland comentary that follows distinct lines. He raised a really interesting point that deserved a lot more digging and a lot more discussion. Instead we got the "black" of Ronnie's view versus the "white" of Ken and the guys in the studio who disagreed. No attempt to understand what he was saying, look at the point in detail and come to a supported point of view. He said that he'd have to lose an arm or a leg to lose against players outside the top 50, but there was no discussion on whether players should get better over time in a sport like snooker (or golf), or whether there are too many professionals in the game, or whether, even, the pursuit of perfection in the game added anything to the spectacle anyway. I expect the questions are the same for golf?

What would the conspiracy be like? I thought that Scotland had just run out of tests. I know of several people (some of my family members) fa's kids have caught the cold on the first week back at school and have had to get tested for the aids (and, thus, the rest of the family too - all negative). I'm guessing that this has happened nationwide and the government have been caught short. In a non-political world, this would be excellent co-operation between two health services and governments. It won't be seen as that though. I suggested a while back to the wife that they should stagger the schools going back by region(s) so that they got an idea of the problems that would arise. My neice's school didn't know what the protocol was for her returning to school after a negative test. I suspect many others will be in the same boat and there'll be a bit of confusion, delay and backlog for the next few weeks until the problems iron themselves out.

Exactly. There's no way that Devlin could last until the 68th minute of a fitba game.

Yes, it's strange. Footballers were classed as "priviliged" by the first minister. These people are being paid to perform for us. We don't own them, but act as if we do. Ronnie's attitude in the snooker was refreshing - he clearly gets it. I think it's great that players can look beyond the sport they play and see what's best for them and their families. It'll be interesting to see how they are treated because of that decision. It's just a shame that shop workers and delivery drivers aren't usually in a financial position to make a similar choice. You can imagine the level of outrage if one of those priviliged golfers breaks a lockdown rule whilst on tour.

Cheating cunts too. They should have that result overturned: https://spfl.co.uk/news/scottish-premiership-clubs-approve-five-substitu

Been the case for a few weeks now hasn't it? Two weeks in a holiday camp, sounds fun. We keep asylum seekers in far worse conditions for significantly longer in this country. As I see it, you either do what New Zealand is doing or you let it spread and take the consequences. The UK middle road will look likely eventually lead to one or the other.

Never heard of it! I've never been across the bridge to be fair. I went to Kyle of lochalsh 30 years ago, that's the only experience I have of that area. Will have to go again sometime. Nice part of the world.

9 is the max I think in the league. But your initial point stands. Whatever it was. I can't remember.

Kintail? You at Kyle of lochalsh or somewhere? Plockton maybe?

Aye, it's like playing inverurie locos. We should be tanking them. I expect daugava Riga were worse, but that would be assisted by the fact they bet against themselves to win the game.

Weird that they're all showing 8 subs, but we're allowed 9. Was Campbell the mystery ninth? Main wasn't included in the dons pre-match announcement either. Just please themselves these cunts.

On the Campbell thing, was he not on the bench after Bryson pulled out? Therefore everyone is right.

I think it is also important to note that he's much better at football than Curtis Main. One thing Stevie May was decent at, was running into the channels (actually, so was Darren Mackie, he just couldn't control the ball once he got there), and hopefully Watkins will do that more often. There is a place for the ball from defence into the channel for the forward to hold up and lay off. With the pace in our team, it would be a very useful outball. We seem to be a little bit static in the forward position at times, remaining central (or central to the line of play) and coming deep, where moving wide would be preferred. Perhaps it's a result of other teams playing a back 3 against us - or even a very flat back 4 - more often these days, or just a product of us being too slow to get it out from the back (but this could be because of the lack of movement). I find it very difficult to tell on the telly.

The city centre was dying on its airse well before any lockdown. Online shopping has seen to most of it, alongside the large shopping centres. Maybe we need to look for something different from a "high street", rather than just a shrine to shopping (or betting!). Hopefully it'll see reduced rates and some changes in ownership and use. I doubt it though, there's probably a few more charity shops that can be milked for the rent. But, aye, it's going to look a lot worse in this temporary lockdown period. The excess death rate was significantly worse than every other year up until lockdown reduced the rate of infection. If you continued without lockdown, we'd have seen a significantly higher death rate continued, instead we've seen a lower death rate. If a short lockdown period in Aberdeen can reduce the rate of infection to below that which would see an exponential rise, that would seem to make sense. Again, the purpose is to keep the spread under control. Whether it is an act of national self-sabotage is entirely down to the government. They can choose where to direct the effects of the pandemic, and so far they have chosen to award their mates hefty contracts without experience. There is nothing New Zealand or Germany have done that were not available options to the UK.

They've got a stadium on the outskirts of town that's half empty. Big ground like, a total white elephant. Like moving to westhill. Good club though, they went through a financial scandal a few seasons back and were way down the leagues. They seem to have good relationship with their fans and their prices are about half that of the dons. Good on them.

He just reacted to the sub being made. Said we should be trying to make it 3 or 4. Just sounded really frustrated. Basically reacted in the way most fans would have. Interesting to see that the players feel it too.

Yep, he wasn't impressed. He's a dandy, and he'll be very aware of what the fans think too. Wright the new pawlett. Got some fantastic attributes, and as soon as he gets into the game, his confidence is given a dent by taking him off. Meanwhile Kennedy trips over the ball, runs to nowhere and gives the ball away on numerous occasions but lasts beyond the 80th minute. The give and go with hedges was just top quality. That needed to be built on. He should have hauled Wright across and screamed some encouragement right in his coupon, got him properly determined. I think it'll be a failure of AFC - not just McInnes - not to get a player out of Wright. Anyway, good result, and some real positives. Logan's challenge in the first half was top drawer, he had a good game. Hayes, McRorie and Ferguson quality too.

McKenna didn't start the second half due to illness. Covid after effects?

We could have done that with existing personnel. Watkins is basically the player Scott Wright should/could be, with Wright having more pace. Exciting player that can drop the shoulder and leave folk for dead and a decent finisher too (nae in a predatory/Rooney type way). Watkins is probably a little more physical in his directness. It's not that Watkins isn't a good player, I just think we're doing our own players a disservice.

I think McKenna is a better defender than Hoban. More aggressive. I also think McRorie had a better game the other day. He's good though, and I think he'll improve. I'm going to say it's a lack of trust with Hernandez. Not because he's a commie Venezuelan, but just the absolute panic and basic lack of fitba knowledge he showed when he first arrived. At present, I wouldn't say he's an improvement on Logan. That said, I really struggle to get a good idea of his abilities on TV. Really difficult to see if we're not passing him, or if he's not showing, or standing too close to an opponent. There was a couple of times I thought he was in space, only for the camera to pan to an opposition player a few metres away. I've yet to see him provide an overlap. Early showings suggest a player no better than we could produce from our youth setup.

Watkins is another in the mould of hedges, McLennan, Wright, mcginn, Kennedy etc etc. We just don't need him. He's fairly average, wouldn't add much to the squad. Just start getting the best out of the players we've got rather than looking for minor improvements elsewhere. He's nae a striker, that's for sure. I'd like to see us forgetting about a new striker and playing a front three, with focus on pace and pressuring defences. At least until Cosgrove or (shudder) Main return. Try it for a few games and see how it goes. 3-4-3 will do.

I've only played it a few times. One of my mates got a membership recently. Aye there once, wasn't bad, wasn't great. It's like a middle class hazelhead, but pleasant scenery and the like and forgiving enough for people like me. I haven't really mingled there as such, but I found it a lot more welcoming than portlethen. I can well imagine that for proper golfers, it is a little bit lacking.

I might be playing at deeside tonight. Protected from the wind, but will likely be too soggy for my abilities (shite). I've got a new (second hand) 3 iron to try out. I bet I'll be shit at it. I'll never play enough golf to be good, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Balnagask is about the level of my links abilities. Played murcar once in difficult conditions, it didn't appreciate the nuances of my game.

Good win in classic McInnes style. It'll do though, we looked way off the pace. Not much to write home about. Hedges probably unlucky not to start given he looked okay against the hun, but did well when he came on. Thought Bryson was an improvement on Ojo and Campbell, at times trying too hard, but showing much needed urgency. Much better in that central role alongside Ferguson rather than pricking about up front. Same as last few seasons, so might as well say it again. We need to give players far more minutes in the same position with the same players around them. Stop dicking about moving them left to right to middle and back again. Guys like Wright, Kennedy, hedges, McLennan need confidence building and a sustained run in a single position. Then gradually do the dicking about. For three seasons McInnes has been playing like we're the finished article and these guys and those before haven't improved. GMS was the last winger to get the majority of his minutes on one wing, and he was good.

Agreed. Hernandez been okay too. A definite improvement the last 15, where even Ojo appeared to take his finger oot his airse. They just look really off the pace.