RicoS321

Aye, there was really only one defensive arse up for the goals last night, and that was down to switching off at the last. You could tell Shinnie was annoyed with himself for giving away the freekick, but 99 times out of 100 he'd get away with that. There was one corner when Bushiri got a free header, but we otherwise defended them quite well. I have an intuitive dislike of zonal marking too, but I'm sure that they've run the numbers on it and found some benefit. I'm wondering if it's changed since VAR? Were teams concerned about giving away penalties through grappling and shirt pulling in the box? Is it because teams spend way more time organising corner routines with players blocking and hiding behind one another making it difficult to pick up men? Either way, there's nothing difficult about zonal marking. All areas should be covered, and if there's a big hole it's because someone somewhere in the chain has left their zone. I guess it's just as likely that someone will leave their zone empty in zonal, as it is that someone loses their man when marking. It could be argued that the instructions never change in zonal, and so there shouldn't be the confusion of picking up the wrong player. I'd be interested to see if we give away a lot more corners than others? We seem happy to let a lot of balls come in from wide rather than go to the man, so perhaps we give away more corners and inevitably lose more goals from them. Perhaps someone from the BBC can provide an analysis?

What a goal from Sokler though. A draw a fair result.

Devlin. Legend. Some finish.

Great goal. Morris again with the run. Easy stuff.

That's been coming. We've not been great again.

Getting his team lines from here it seems.

Good. Pittodrie is fucking ace.

He was maybe behind Shankland?

McKenna wasn't a stand out for Ayr. A lot depends on confidence and physical attributes, and I think Duncan struggles with the former. He was very good at Peterhead, but he seems to have had the strong running beaten out of him during the last few managers. As @BigAl says, it'd be good to see what Thelin could do with him.

Hopefully smash these cunts. St Mirren, Hibs and Hearts away are traditionally games that we pick up zero points in. Despite Hibs' form, they've looked okay in a few of their games before spontaneously combusting,so it won't be an easy one. If they can go relatively error-free then we could be in for a surprise. Obviously, I think if they make a mistake - and that goalie of there's certainly has a plethora of them up his gloves - that results in a goal, then I could see us tanking them. Will be interesting to see how we line up. I think Clarkson will drop out (which is a shame, as I actually thought he was the better of the two between him and McGrath) and probably Morris too. I think we'll start Nisbet and Topi, with McGrath and Duk, leaving Morris to score four when he comes on. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the midfield two drop out too, although Palaversa has been poor in the last couple of games. Would like to see Polvara get some minutes.

I thought he had too, but watched it on the highlights and he flags for the throw. Obviously we don't know what they're saying to one another on the mics, but Beaton was across so quick, I doubt they'd have had time to converse.

I think he only gets a yellow to placate beaton's ego. The linesman is right there and gives the throw. Why does Beaton believe he has a better view? There were no Dons players charging at Gogic and trying to start a fight, why couldn't he take three seconds to ask the linesman if he'd taken the ball cleanly? I'd be raging with a yellow for that, he was completely in control and a good bit ahead of the Dons player. They'd be as well banning sliding tackles.

Good lad. I like Djokovic. I reckon Murray will get him winning some titles again.

Yes and no. Nisbet will go where he's most likely to get it played to him. If they're sitting deep, then he'll hang back. Like he did for the goal. But aye, they were fairly pointless.

You mean the thing that has resulted in several goals this season? We probably overuse it, but we often play against teams with deep lying centre backs, which makes the square ball easy to cut out. The stats guys will have looked at it and decided that's where we'll get the most goals (including today). It's fairly normal to see balls fired across either blocked for a corner or straight through, the percentage ball is likely the cutback. I don't remember any today where we were beyond the fullback and their centre backs weren't already in place, we were quite slow to get up the pitch when Morris broke.

Ah well, it was bound to happen. We weren't great today at all. Lots of effort, but not very much zip about the play, save for the first part of the second. Very comfortable for them in the end. We looked a little bit tired, weirdly. Even likes of Palaversa who only came on as a sub didn't really provide much. Duk had a five minute spell, and a back heel (was it him, I couldn't see properly on the stream and it didn't replay). Anyway, we'll bounce back against the Hibs hopefully. We still have the "prize" of a full round of fixtures undefeated if we beat them.

Yep, it's been coming. Easy stuff. Great jump by their lad like.

They've been the better team. Don't see us winning this one.

Palaversa and Keskinen on for Nilsen and Morris. Good stuff.

A sitter for them. We're looking ropey. Think I'd take Morris off, he's fading a little. Topi on for something different.

Yassss. What a lay off.

Aye, probably been our best player this half. McGrath usually not afraid to get stuck in, but barely been involved. Think I'd take Duk and Nisbet on for him and Sokler. Although I expect Thelin to give them a mild chat at halftime, and they instantly then turn to world beaters. We've been okay, but not great. The goal was a hoof from them, but they've contained us fairly easily too and deserve their lead.

I take it nobody else it watching on a stream, and has a better one? I believe they've just had a ridiculously soft red, but the camera isn't following the ref, so I can't tell what he showed in the first place and whether he overturned it or not! Would be unusual for there to be a card in this fixture. Edit: ref went to VAR to look at yellow he'd given but didn't upgrade. Looked a yellow.

Wow. That's some slow defence. Edit: my stream doesn't even do replays.

Interesting start. We're trying to draw them out, but failing to get it to anyone in their half. A real gap between Shinnie and Neilsen, and Clarkson and McGrath. Stream on fawa is awful. Not sure which channel it's piggybacking. Zero commentary is quite nice though!