LA-Don

Swiss is -1. Lost 3-0, drew 1-1, won 3-1.

We’ll not a great day. Swiss are third but the tiebreakers are as follows……from what I understand. If we win by a goal we have 4 points and the same GD as the Swiss. Win by 2 and we have a better goal difference. If we were to finish on a goal difference of -1 then the next tiebreaker is goals scored. We haven’t scored any yet, Swiss have scored 4. still, win by 2 and England lose by 2 and we finish 2nd in the group!

Thought Gilmour looked good, tidy on the ball and definitely looks to go forward. Keen to see him play more, plus McTom is a powerful boy in the middle to balance out gilmour’s lack of size. Also thought Patterson did quite well, would be nice to have quality on the right since our left is certainly good enough. At the same time, we’ll face tougher opponents so putting it into perspective. Dykes scores a hat trick on his day but at least we created. Adams is a plus. Much like the dons, thought we missed a #10 today and lacked a creative attacking central midfielder. Didn’t think mcginn or Mcgregor did much today but both can play better. What’s the deal with Christie, not in the squad today??

I know I’m late, but I have an ESPN plus subscription, $50 per year if I recall. Watch all the Scotland games there, worth it I think.

Have you watched him play since he left us or are you just guessing? Guessing is fine, although harsh, I just know so little about him and am keen to know more.

Can you explain your assessment of Robertson? What’s his strength/weaknesses? Is he fast? Smart? Many are quick to judge, have you watched him much since he left us?

Yes you did! I though McRorie was excellent pre Covid and would like to see him kept and in center mid. Wouldn’t mind him alongside Brown with a proper #10 (which we haven’t had since Christie) ahead of them. I think Ferguson is at the same point McKenna was at when we knocked back big money for him. New team and new manager, who knows how this plays out for Ferguson so if we’re offered good money we should take it. A lot of negativity around Glass and now the new signings. I’m willing to be optimistic. Jet, Brown, and Gallagher are a good start, think all 3 are solid additions. Irvine would be a good add too, and willing to embrace Robertson if he’s coming too. Saying this, it is the flair players that matter to me most and we honestly need at least one winger and a #10. McLennan and Kennedy aren’t good enough and Hayes is on the decline. Mcginn is done. Hedges thrived alongside wright and needs creative players to play off. We do need these type of players for Jet to be effective too in my mind. Boyle would be a good addition but to me it’s these players that need to be signed that will have the biggest impact.

Was a fan of Irvine and wanted us to go for him before he went south. Not sure where he fits in if we keep McRorie and Ferguson, but I think there's a good chance we sell Ferguson this summer. Also njot sure where we see McRorie playing, defense, midfield.......

Find the criticism of Robertson interesting and unfair. Can anyone honestly say they've seen him play enough since he left us to give him a fair assessment/judgement?

I hear you, and I think mcinnes liked to play long to a target man. Don’t see Glass as that type though, seems determined to play shorter and on the deck more. Plus, having seen Livi, the big lad is solid on the ground. Anderson is a tough one. A Rooney type poacher is the way I see him, but would we have the skill and creativity around him? Time will tell.

Saw very little of the game today but I’d take the livi forward in a heartbeat. Speed skill strength, and a nice goal. Any info on him? Going back south? Also, another goal from Hendry. By no means a star but a young boy who works hard. Worth a look??

Positives.....but.........I always felt a Celtic goal was coming, we were hanging on. We got deeper and deeper and deeper. Had McInnes been manager we'd be slating him for game management mode and sitting back when they were there to be beaten. Anyway, I don't really care that much. The last few games give Glass an idea of what he has and then summer shopping. I will add, a Hayes of a few years ago doesn't get caught and scores. Old man legs!

How the fuck was that a livi penalty? Just watched the highlights, he controls the ball and stumbles, zero contact. Am I missing something??

Thought dean Campbell had a solid game. Nothing spectacular but as others tired he was strong. Plus a quality penalty.

Yes he did. Lewis up top as a target man, Hayes in goal?

I’ve always hated brown, mainly his arrogance and always beating us, not a bad trait to have. I know he’s old but quite a statement signing if you ask me.

I’ll add to the above since there are so many levels, academy programs to factor in too. I quit coaching a team last year as my club had my team traveling to Nevada and Arizona regularly for games. That’s the equivalent to Aberdeen boys playing in Norway, England, Holland etc every other weekend. Imagine being a parent financing that.... again, fucked up system but there is a ton of talent here. facilities - when I lived in Florida I coached in amazing facilities, probably better than pro teams in Scotland prior to having their modern training facilities. LA facilities are shite funnily enough, although many are turning to turf over grass since climate makes turf cheaper and more maintainable. Sounds like you experienced the latter but there’s some stunning youth facilities too.

You are missing my point. Miller already had respect from players without doing a thing. He was a legend. Aitken did not overshadow him in any way. Most of our players have no clue who glass is. They know Scott brown. Of course I am questioning his leadership, we know little or nothing of his coaching or managing and we’re a top job if you ask me. Again, some players, maybe many, may never even have heard of Stephen glass so questions will be asked. He has to earn respect, like any manager ultimately, but he doesn’t have the background that Miller had to lean on, whereas Scott brown ultimately already has respect (i’m making an assumption there.) your argument regarding Alex smith is a totally different situation and a poor comparison. He was a known. And had recently won the Scottish cup. Glass is unknown and has won nothing, never even been a head coach/manager of a pro 1st team. Don’t get me wrong, I want glass to success without a doubt. Not my first choice but it’s a done deal and I’m 100% behind him.

The point made is 100% true. I’ve lived and coached in the states for over 25 years and been heavily involved in youth coaching, done all the licenses here too. There is a ton of quality coaches, quality players, and some excellent youth programs. It’s the system that is fucked up. Claudia Reyna wrote about it maybe within the last year, I’ll send a link if I have time. To reach the highest level here you have to either turn pro or go to college. To turn pro or play in college you have to been found/scouted most likely at showcase tournaments. To get to these elite level tournaments you have to play on a high level club team that qualify for these tournaments. That’s really hard. Plus that is extremely selective and costs thousands per family unless you are one of the very few who get financial help or the team is paid for. That’s rare. Plus, for college, the player has to ultimate recruit a coach to come and scout them. There’s a pre established relationship to where the coach knows you, and you go to tournaments they’ll be at. It’s complicated. Ultimately the best players don’t move up, that’s fact. Fucked system. Flip side, Holland missed out on a recent World Cup. Does that make their programs shit? Up until the last World Cup the us had done well in world cups. They missed one and will be back. There’s a lot of young talent at the national level right now, hope they kick on. lastly, US soccer, USSF are a bunch of twats from my experience. Top coaches don’t progress. It’s jobs for the boys. Sound familiar? For those who know us soccer, would love to have seen Eric wynalda take over when he applied for the top job but he is too honest and up front. The bosses didn’t like that.

You are missing my point entirely. The comment posted was that brown and his personality/presence/reputation or whatever would possibly overshadow/undermine Glass. What does Glass bring to the table was the question. A reference and comparison was made to Roy Aitken and I was pointing out that while aitken was a strong leader/personality/presence, there was no way he overshadowed willie Miller. That’s all.

Are brown and Russell announced? And who is Russell???? Plus the comments of two internationalists, what’s that? Based on Glass’ red tv interview sounds like some of the coaching staff are staying?

And you know he’s employing his mate how? And you almost guarantee he was lined up. Really? And you know there was no process? Can you tell me how many people we interviewed? You have an opinion that I just don’t agree with. had mcinnes had a great season he’d still be here. He didn’t. Life is all about who you know. I’ve hired people I’ve known well and been friends with, not because they are friends, but because they do a great job. We assume, some know, that cormack knows glass but to say he’s our manager because of friendship is wrong. He wouldn’t have been hired if cormack didn’t think he’d do a great job, the fact that they may have had a previous relationship helps us with the manager/chairman relationship in my opinion. You see all of this negatively, is there any way a cormack/glass relationship could actually help us?

I’m not even touching on the racist part. Plenty, including myself, hate brown the player. An entitled cheating prick who plays like an arrogant cunt. For that reason alone people don’t want him here. That would be my reason. But if he becomes our player/coach I’m willing to give him a chance. Others won’t.

My point is that so many fans think they know better. Myself included who was critical. But cormack is where he is today because of success, why would we know better? He clearly knows glass more than any of us, has been involved in the hiring process, so he’s made a more educated decision than any of us could do. It doesn’t mean he’ll be a great chairman appointing a great manager because he is a good businessman, but he’s in a better position than any of us to make an educated appointment. I’m willing to give cormack a chance and already some turn on him.

Some interesting posts here. I cannot believe some peoples narrow mindedness towards cormack. He’s a very successful businessman, why would his attitude towards Aberdeen be any different? He’s hired the guy who he thinks is best at taking us forward. Why would he be wrong? A ton of armchair fans, including myself, may question him, but what do we know? Have we interviewed Glass? Scott Brown? I wanted Alex Neil. Was he even an option? Who knows. But I credit Glass for being a go getter and getting out of Scotland to develop both his playing and coaching career. He has a more worldly view of football and I think that’s a positive. I didn’t want Goodwin who may just be a one season wonder, the ex Motherwell guy, or tommy Wright for example. We’ve gone bigger in my opinion. And as someone has already posted, the standard of MLS is better than the Scottish premiership, the quality of play is better. I expect glass to play football. Fuck, I even question how some of the kids I coach here play more attractive football than Aberdeen sometimes. I know he was the reserve coach but this could be a great hire, we just don’t know, time will tell. As for Brown. Hate him as a player but if he makes us better welcome aboard. I don’t have the narrow mindedness about signing him, Huns and the likes, even Declan Gallagher with his past. football is a business focused on winning and we’re not doing that presently. 4th in the league isn’t a success. Not winning cups isn’t success. Failing to make progress in Europe isn’t success. Cannot deny Brown brings a winning mentality and a ton of experience that can only benefit us. Wonder if Robson has a relationship there and will be kept on? Anyway, not the direction I hoped for but good luck to the new management team. Mcinnes turned us back into a top 4 team and got us respectability again, hopefully it’s on to the next level now.