RicoS321

Think you could be close with this. I think Christie will not feature, and Taylor will, with O'Connor in midfield again. No point in playing Christie as this will be our last big test before the final so it needs to be O'Connor getting as many minutes as possible in the position he's most likely to feature (if Jack doesn't make it). Christie might get a run out against Partick in order to rest players like, but I wouldn't think he would tonight (he could come in just as a straight swap for Hayes of course). In terms of 4-4-2, I reckon Deek will still continue with the 4-2-3-1 with Rooney playing on the left but with a view to him getting close to Stockley. It's rare he ever sacrifices that cover both in midfield and out wide, which a 4-4-2 would if they play 3 in midfield. As for Wright, I just don't see it happening in a game like this. Not only is Deek too cautious, but I also dinna think Wright is good enough. Having seen him a few times, he looks pretty decent on the ball, however he doesn't seem to have the coverage required for a McInnes team. He seems a little light on the back-tracking effort. I'm going to stick my neck out and say he won't ever make it at the dons because of that. I think Ross will turn out to be a better version of Jack. I'm basing both assertions on very little game time!

Bottom two confirmed then. Hopefully ICT win tomorrow to put the pressure on Accies going into the final game. Would be good to see it go to the wire, with a good bit of tears and so on as one team - nae really fussed who - loses to a last minute goal sending them down.

They're not fucking obvious though are they? You've clearly stated below (edit: below in your original point, I didn't quote the full thing) that you don't have a fucking clue if their right or wrong. I'm specifically asking you, because you've written some stuff that is new information with absolute certainty, where nobody else on this forum has. You've stated that our captain is definitely missing for the final. That's a pretty big story I'd say, yet it's pish - you don't have a fucking clue. You then state that the club have definitely refused the allocation (previously only a Daily Express rumour) on security grounds. Again, I'd say, a pretty reasonable scoop from yersel - except that's absolute pish too. Finally you state that there are "a good few of them who are dons fans too" in regard to refs. I don't believe for a second that refs are biased one way or another based on what team they support, but I know there's a shite load of folk who do. I'd be genuinely interested if it turned to be true, but again you just made some shite up to back up whatever fucking point you were making. I don't dislike your answers, I just think they're fucking weird.

So it's not infinitely scaleable then...

Of the three things you've stated today with absolute certainty, which is true and who is your source (nae a name if you don't feel like sharing)? 1. Jack and Pawlett will not play in the final 2. Security reasons meant that Aberdeen are not going to take up an allocation of tickets for the final 3. A good few Scottish professional league (you imply professional league with your statement) referees are massive Dons fans Could you provide any back up for any of the above? Thanks.

I think I'd struggle to enter the ground if he was announced in the starting line up under those circumstances. I'd seriously consider not renewing my season ticket also. But at the same time, I wouldn't want my hypothetical scenario to foster (excuse the pun) any ill will toward our captain and faithful servant based on innuendo from the weegie press.

Aye, would have held more sway if the last Jack rumours hadn't appeared just before our previous game against them. They might have picked a player who wisnae injured mind you if they were attempting to put us off. Hypothetically though, if it were to be announced before the cup final that Jack was joining der Hun next season, would anyone still want to see him on the pitch in the final?

You think it's anything to do with public pressure? The only reason the dons would turn down the tickets is if they think that existing sales were very slow and they were unlikely to shift the additional amount at a cost to themselves. Disappointing if true like, it is just in the BBC gossip section however.

That's not really how google works.

Shite manager for the tims ina.

After a poor start to the game he was decent like, if not a little immobile at times. Certainly should be in there for the next couple of games with a view to Jack not making the final. I'd have Jack ahead of him every time though just for his ability to get back quicker and being quicker on the turn. I'd also like to thank you for your fantastic resurrection of the O'Connor thread from the start of the campaign. Excellent work.

Think they do in the first round sort of, don't they? Haugesund for me.

Ach, it's a documentary to celebrate 30 years since finishing second in a competition. Let them have their moment. Before Falkirk horse them in the playoffs for their subordination.

I'm surprised none of you donsmadders recognise Euromeister. Clear as day.

I suspect if I were to look back through this thread, I'd find John Hughes' name at least shree times.

The problem with that tactic though is that Storey is pish. If he'd been better at football then I agree it would have been the best option. We don't have that faster option to bring on unfortunately, hopefully we address in the summer. Agree about McLean, I thought he covered a hell of a lot of ground. So much so he was fucked by around 70 minutes and we'd have been better without him from that point on if we'd had a decent sub. Stockley wasn't bad, but was also a little bit fucked and it was the right decision to take him off. Strength in depth was an issue for us last night. We've suffered from being 3-4 years without bringing through capable youngsters, which leaves us with little option on the bench. Regarding our youth, does anyone believe that the 4 on the bench will be good enough to fill our squad by the start of next season? I'm not convinced. We need these guys to be at least as good Storey by now, as we need to get at least a dozen games out of them.

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.