RicoS321

It was actually quite an enjoyable game in the end I thought. Agree with most of what was said, just a shambles from the start. Most of the team then settled down and stopped dicking about. However, Reynolds and Taylor just didn't settle at all. Considine had a poor start, but quickly got back on it and had an alright game. The nutmeg on Reynolds was just embarrassing, and that seemed to rattle him a little. He can normally be relied on positionally, but he was all over the place last night. Taylor was just his usual. Was pretty close to the Shinnie penalty call, and I think the ref got it right. Football's a contact sport and just because you get touched doesn't make it a foul. I think we need to go with that back four for the next couple of games, get them working together with a view to the final - no fucking about with the shape. I think we did enough in the game last night to give the players confidence ahead of the final. We were good for large spells of that game and showed that when we press them high up they panic. We'll have to wing it a little in defence as they're very good on the break. Good to hear McInnes bemoaning the penalty decision though, we need every bit of positive anger we can get. Shay will have done wonders in that regard to, loved his reaction. What was really interesting was their second half tactics. They sensed they were on the ropes a little and slowed the game down at every opportunity (Gordon especially). They were really negative for a team winning the league at a canter. That should give us a lot of confidence. Overall we showed the fight and battle that gives us a little hope for the final. A good win against the huns will give us a bit of confidence too.

Hopefully he'll get the last 5 minutes when we're 3 up. Obviously he's just there to make up the numbers, but it's still great for the loon. I'm not sure it says much about Deek's faith in youth, more through necessity. Anyway, it'll be an interesting one tonight in terms of the line-up. I suspect we'll go 3 at the back. Shinnie in midfield alongside McLean, in a sort of fucked up 3-4-3, merging into a 3-6-1 for most of the game. Although injuries will probably mean we have to go with 4 at the back, and he might consider O'Connor in midfield again. As an aside, with their season finished, why can't we have Smith back from St Mirren?

But surely this is where the loan system comes into play? We seem to be utilising it quite well in terms of number of players going out. Or does the problem arise when a player can't be on the fringes of the first team and developing at the same time (because they can't be loaned and be on the bench)? That's also where B teams don't help in my opinion. We'd be far better loaning players to championship and league one than having a B team. Reserves is obviously the best because likes of Wright and Ross could be getting a more competitive game whilst waiting on appearances for the firsts. But is that the only point at which we're missing part of a player's development? Surely that can only be a small part, and there must be a bigger underlying issue?

No worries. I was always very polite to everyone on donsmad. A perfect gentleman they used to say. Or cunt. I can't remember which.

I would have thought that, upon reaching the final, the club would have immediately approached the organisers of the LC final's display and asked what they could do to facilitate similar or any other suggestions that they might have.

Have you a problem sir? I am consistent with my approach to thread etiquette, complaining about both this one and yours. With good reason too. Oxford Don spent a good deal of effort putting up a rake of info on our loanees on the "Loan Watch" thread, which is now all wasted because - rather than do a quick search when deciding to start a new thread - this thread has now superceded it despite being the exact same subject. It takes two seconds to search for "loan" on the site and add a comment to the end of it to bring the topic, and history, right back to the top. It's just a nice thing to do, good etiquette as I mentioned. As for your Maloney thread (now properly amalgamated into the transfers thread), donsmad became nearly unreadable because everytime we were "linked" with another player a new thread was started (Ed did delete quite a few to be fair). It's a long summer and we'll undoubtedly be linked with hunners of players before it's out, do you suggest we start a new thread each time? Maloney will/should get his own thread if/when he signs for us. Otherwise he's just some Tim cunt fae toon who is as relevant to us as Reda Johnson. It's not a slight on you or whoever started this thread, just an observation and in my opinion all part of a healthy, well-balanced, uncluttered forum. I bet you're the type who has the audacity to not unfurl their socks afore putting them in the wash basket? You make me sick. All in jest of course, just don't do it again or I'll make my feelings clear in writing. For the avoidance of doubt, I went by the name RicoS321 on donsmad.

We played Burns up front against the Tims at Parkhead and it didn't really work that well. We also played Hayes up front for large spells against the Tims in the last cup final with Rooney out wide. Didn't work either as the key issue - regardless of who plays furthest forward - is first getting the ball and second support of the highest player on the park once they get on it. That said, McGinn has played very high up the pitch in a lot of games this season (especially since the turn of the year) and very narrow giving us almost two up front for a lot of game time. This seemed to result in the most goals and the most chances. I just don't see how McInnes does that with then Tierney and Sinclair up against Logan on his own. I'm starting to think that we just don't have the available resources to combat the Tims. Best option for me is to play McLean (or Pawlett if Jack isn't fit) really high up alongside Rooney and put real pressure right on their back line. There are mistakes in there definitely, they just need to be forced.

That's his level. He's nae good enough, nivver has been. How he got so many Scotland caps is beyond me.

What really annoys me about this is that there is a perfectly good thread for transfers already.

I'm just disappointed that this couldn't have been tagged on to the loan watch thread.

I thought Le Pen was tidier than Macron.... Anyway, I'm pretty quick to criticise McInnes for his caution but we've won something like 22 out of 23 times this season after taking the lead. That's impressive. The tactic of managing the game does actually work, despite our frustration. We're a good team like, but perhaps a shiter coach would drop a lot of points by going too gung-ho at times. We play well as a team and have a fantastic work ethic. We struggle on poor pitches and when teams sit in, but I think we've vastly improved in terms of creating chances (14 shots today with 5 on target - Hertz had 8 with 1 on target). We very much deserve 2nd place and McInnes has to take a lot of the credit for it. Well done to him. Hopefully we'll fuck the Tims on Friday. Edit: Just read BBC report, and it is 22 in 23 games we've gone ahead and won with the other a draw. Also, Pawlett was injured which is why he was subbed. So well done all round McInnes.

Still a shite sub. Well done O'Connor though. Get Taylor off and put O'Connor into defence.

Just move neither, it's a big city. Anyway, McInnes reverting to type and taking O'Connor on for Pawlett and going to a back 3. Sounded like Pawlett was playing quite well, but that's been the story of his dons career under McInnes. Hopefully we see it out.

Rooooooooooooney

Anywhere at all to watch it? Nae on red tv like. It's like being in 1999 with the lack of coverage. Why are we playing on a Sunday anyway?

Tickets announced... http://www.afc.co.uk/news/9558.php#.WQx4pnwkumw

Aye, sorry, I didnae mean the fans. I meant just weird that he got it. It doesn't sit right. I'd rather have had Maddison if we were choosing one non-dons player. Anyway, it was a bit like the year Low got it despite being older than Jack. The winners in Deek's time here, and the appearance minutes, are a huge indictment of our youth system and his approach.

Aye, had to be Considine like. Been fantastic. Agreed about our youths like. Can't believe we voted a Tim. Just weird.

Gads, can't believe I opened that. Read the last line. Is that what makes it into the papers these days? Fucking hell.

Aye, I think we need a new striker, and was disappointed we didn't pick one up in January. I just don't think Stockley is very good.

Ye widnae ken like. Just works.

At no point did I say any of that. I'll gie ye the benefit of the doubt though, perhaps your read Nips' post and not mine.

Think it is like. Very fatty. Bung it in some milk and spices overnight/24 hrs then onto a BBQ following day.

But I have a friend who's a Hamilton Accie, so I can't be racist.

Aye, you could be right. I suppose clubs in this country get fined if one idiot lets off a flare or invades a pitch, so it's maybe fair enough.