LA-Don

Well, controversial but I'd go with Lewis Logan O'Connor considine shinnie Jack McLean McGinn Maddison Hayes Stockley Rooney is definitely a goal scorer but he's not on form and doesn't cause defenses a lot of problems. Stockley definitely provides more of a challenge. Maddison has to start and if we're going to try and win the game this front 4 does mean Celtic have to defend/respect us.

I find this stuff quite interesting. As a 43 yr old I grew up with the dons being the best team in Scotland, winning trophies yearly, and it wasn't until my late teens/20s that we entered the shit years. Now we're credible again but I still yearn for the team we were in my childhood so will no doubt always be bitter and depressed. Curious as to the expectations of those in their late 20s/early 30s who grew up watching a shit Aberdeen who listed players from that era as favorites and for whom the last 3 years is the best they've ever witnessed live. I've also seen a weak and broke Celtic narrowly escape bankruptcy to become powerful and wealthy and seen the demise and rebirth of Rangers. Can't help but feel we're being led by an uninspiring Milne and what I wouldn't give for a Fergus McCann type. Money talks and if Celtic can go from broke to where they are now, can we with a more limited fan base? Off topic I know, apologies...

1. Gordon Strachan - was my childhood hero which makes the Scotland thing and his actions all the more painful. 2. Lee Richardson - skilled and powerful, what our midfield sadly lacks today. We didn't have him for long but the type of player a midfield really needs. 3. Peter Weir - always thought he was better than Davie Cooper and felt it was Rangers bias that meant Cooper played for Scotland and not Weir. 3. Doug Bell - an 80s Frank Lampard. 3. Frank McDougall I know it's cheating with 5 but I could add at least 5 more!!

I'd say no for central mid but at left mid why not, who is his competition, Anya and Ritchie?? Anya isn't playing at Derby I believe and Ritchie isn't consistent for club/country - was gash last time out. Could Shinnie be worse than them?

I do disagree. But I agree Strachan is a cunt of a manager. If Tierney and Robertson are fit I understand but they're not and he's going to the Swansea boy who doesn't play that often. I'd rather we pick players who are on form and match fit by playing weekly. He knows Shinnie is fit, is a solid left back, and is a leader/strong personality. He's a personality that the squad benefits from. DM certainly hasn't helped Shinnie by playing him in midfield but, as I said before, can't help but think Shinnie has done something, perhaps when he was last in the squad, that pissed Strachan off.

In a normal squad I agree. However, Tierney and Robertson are injured. Shinnie provides a quality back up and should be in the England squad - play Wallace (although Shinnie is better) but the swansea boy doesn't play much as far as I know. Shinnie is fit, playing every week, and a leader. He deserves a squad place at least.

On this logic he shouldn't have picked Mulgrew all those times. Regularly played a diff position for Scotland and Celtic. Don't agree.

Not even in the squad again. What happened with Strachan? It's pretty obvious something must have occurred given the injuries and he's still not even in the squad.

Agree with most of what Dolly is saying but I have to disagree with the last part - I just cannot associate shrewd and spectacular with DM. He's done a very good job of retaining good players like Hayes, Rooney, Logan, and McGinn, but on the field we see too many poor performances - I believe we have the 3rd highest budget behind the old firm but I don't think we get a fair return. As someone else mentioned and I agreed, we peaked about 2 years ago and I question whether he can keep the same players/squad motivated. I think last year DM showed he's limited then he screwed up the winter transfer window. He then had a baffling summer window and left us with an imbalanced squad. The league started poorly and Maddison bailed him out - JM has masked our limited progress or, dare I say, even decline. The January window will be massive for us, especially if/when we lose Maddison. A bad window like last year and I see us struggling to finish above Rangers, Hearts, and maybe even St J. I dread every window too in that we could easily lose Rooney, Logan, Hayes, or McGinn, and I now add O'Connor and Lewis to that list. All will be tough to replace. DM definitely gave us credibility and stability again and we're all happier fighting at this end of the table. However, I do feel we lost the swagger we had, plus you make a huge point - we're not seeing youth coming through and that is a massive concern.

I'd give us a C, a pass, but not a lot more. We should be better than last year with the additions of Lewis, O'Connor, Maddison, and Stockley, but we're not. After 11 games we're 5-3-3 (18 pts), last year we were 8-3 (24 pts.) Some signings have been questionable (why Morris and Storey??) Maddison has somewhat saved our arse, we were really poor in league up until his arrival. Will be really interesting to see how we do after he leaves in January. We should be the second best team and I expect us to be - however, I still think it will be a struggle for second against Hearts and Rangers. As for the cup, it's great being in a final but I'll judge that based on the performance in the final. To win 3 games to get to a final is a bit farcical, but if we go with the defensive tactics of this past weekend we'll get beat and it will be a real negative experience.

I don't think we are overreacting. We consider ourselves the 2nd best team in the league and we beat them twice last year. Why not have a go? While they are better than last year, with Maddison, OConnor and Lewis I'd say we're better too. We were defensive minded at parkhead and lost 4-1, I don't give a shit if we get beat 4-1 again As long as we tried to be attack minded and win he game. The second best team in the league should not have 31% possession at home and not play without a recognized out and out striker. I think most would prefer we took it to them. I think in all games against bothnold form DM has got his tactics wrong, and I certain hope this is not the cup final tactics. Just my Humble opinion. As I said yesterday, DM is way overthinking things and overestimating Celtic, giving them way to much credit and respect. He's applying modern defensive tactics when they're totally unnecessary. Celtic are not Barcelona, they're very beatable if we play our best team and go at them. Didn't see these tactics against Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in 83 and we were meant to be minnows against them!

DM treats some of our games, like today, as if we're playing Barcelona. We try to hold on to 1-0 leads when we should be looking to win by 3 or 4, and today at home we should be playing to attack and win, not to avoid to lose or lose narrowly. No loss in the SPL is an acceptable loss, it's not like we're in the EPL playing Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal etc. most weeks, we should be aggressively trying to win every game.

I didn't see the game so could be way off here but WTF with the tactics. DM drives me nuts sometimes - you're at home against a good team but play to your strengths. Play your top scorer and your most creative player and have a go - not asking for all out attack but do what has worked well in the past. Celtic are good but not that good and I feel yet again DM shows them way too much respect. Why stick Burns up top when we've never done that before - sounds like we played better with Maddison and Rooney on, why not play the best opponent with your best team?? Poor tactics today IMHO.

Honestly, if he's playing well and fit I'll take him in the current situation. Given the shit Strachan picks - players who are off form or not playing weekly - Brown is not the worst player we could pick. Saying that, wait until you see him sent off in the first half of the England game!

Didn't see the game today, just saw highlights, but Shinnie creates the first goal, quality cross as he did in the previous round. While I certainly rate him as a left back I've never pushed him to be a midfielder for Scotland. Why not left or central mid? As much as we tend to write him off for being a left back out of position he's doing well for in central mid for the second top team who just reached a final. He plays every week, is fit, and plays with the passion, drive, and confidence our national team so sadly lacks. Plus he's a natural leader. Why not play him in central or left mid if wee gordy insists in Robertson, Tierney, or Wallace at left back. Best signing we've had in years (permanent signing), doesn't get the credit he deserves from those out side of dons fans.

Ha! I started watching from the 7th minute, was going to give the usual 'why not give Storie the last 20mins' bitch as I didn't realize we'd made all 3 subs. What happened to Taylor?

Well, cruised through the game, the first goal and sending off ultimately killed the game. Happy to score 4 but should have been double that or more. Love the play of Maddison, always wants the ball and a huge threat in the middle of the park. Today (and I'm being super picky) showed the limitations of Adam Rooney - we'd win the ball then play the ball sideways an awful lot which allowed county to get back. A stronger and better forward makes himself available and gets the ball a lot earlier and we'd really stretch an opponent. I thought we looked better with Stockley on the field, he seems much more of a handful and threat. Doesn't mean we go long ball or high ball, Stockley just seemed to create more problems. Rooney also missed his chances, Stockley took one of the few (2 maybe?) he got.

Can't really tell about the penalty on the highlights but it looks like the keeper spills the ball and probably grabs Maddison as he tries to get the rebound. Dumb play by the keeper.

Good performance by the sound of things. How did McLean play, gain some confidence? Didn't see the game, haven't heard anyone complain about Taylor yet!

Celtic score 6, will we try and hang on now for the 1-0 win?

Article in the express linking us to this guy and says he's been training with us, winger who also can play attacking mid apparently. Makes sense to an extent although I still don't see it as first priority. Hayes needs to get fit and McGinn is knackered so a good move if he's decent. Although again makes me ask why we signed Storey, thought he was a wide guy too, plus why didn't we send Scott Wright on loan then??

Signing both him and Wes Burns was pointless. One or the other and use the money for a desperately needed holding mid, and then our left back can play at left back.

Great result to finish off a very good week. However, I only saw the last 40 mins and we were shite! Does my head in watching us try to hold a lead against anyone in Scotland. These tactics can GTF! Thanks to Maddison for bailing us out big time! We have good attacking players and are weak at the back so doesn't it make sense to attack and score more?

Joking....Funny stuff!!!! JOEY BARTON’S Rangers career could be in doubt after the veteran was banished from Rangers training after going head-to-head in the changing rooms with manager Mark Warburton. Record Sport understands Barton was ordered off the premises by Warburton after the two clashed at the end of a blazing row between the notorious bad boy and a number of his team mates, following Saturday’s Old Firm thrashing at Celtic Park. Barton has not been back at the club’s training complex since Tuesday and is not expected to return until next week - after Warburton’s side have taken on Ross County without him at Ibrox on Saturday. Sammy Turner/SNS GroupJoey Barton and Scott Brown battle it out in midfield during Celtic's 5-1 win over RangersJoey Barton and Scott Brown battle it out in midfield during Celtic's 5-1 win over Rangers It’s understood Barton was at the centre of a furious argument with a number of his team-mates inside the first-team changing room on Tuesday morning. And that, as tempers frayed, Warburton attempted to intervene - and ended up arguing furiously with the Scouser as stunned team-mates looked on. One source told us last night: “Barton has never been the type of guy who holds back when he has something to say. Rangers manager Mark Warburton at training on Thursday “He told some home truths inside that dressing room and not all of the boys reacted well to what was being said. One of them pointed out to Joey that they hardly lost a game last season and had been doing fine without him. Rangers boss Mark Warburton staggered by negativity after 5-1 Celtic thrashing as he blasts: 'Nobody died' “Barton responded by saying they were playing against s*** teams in a s*** league. But he lost the plot when one of the boys said they managed to beat Celtic last season without him too - and that he hardly got a kick against them at the weekend. Rangers manager Mark Warburton with Joey Barton “It was all getting very heated but when Warburton tried to calm it down Barton went head-to-head with him too. He left the manager with very little choice and it’s difficult to see how he can come back from this now. “Barton has not been seen at the training ground since and has been told to stay well clear until Monday morning when he’ll discover his fate.”

Taylor was definitely isolated and had to pass long/square/back as no central midfielder helped him to begin with. Jack does this and Maddison did it when he came on. You could see Taylor lacks in confidence and really didn't want to be put into the situation of trying to pick out a pass. While I hate the long ball game I'm fine with it if we play Stockley and Rooney up top with McGinn and Hayes (or Burns and Storey) and an attacking mid supporting for the second ball. Don't see the point in long balls to Rooney at all.