A international break to come, but after that it's the test that Scottish football keeps saying we need.

I'm fascinated to see Jimmy Thelin's approach. In all 13 games we've been the favourites, but Thelin was the master of being the underdog in Sweden. His tactics there were very much on being comfortable giving up possession and hitting quickly on the counter.

With that, Celtic away shouldn't really faze him. In May, Elfsborg beat Malmo 3-1 with 20% possession in a 4-3-3 formation. Think fans are hopeful we'll go to Glasgow and "have a go". I don't think we will, but it's not a bad thing as long as it's not the hopeless tactics we usually deploy there.

I could see Thelin sacrificing a number 10 (Clarkson) in favour of a midfielder to form a deep three (Palaversa), but still ask him and Shinnie to break when they can. 

Duk, despite his impact v Hearts, probably starts on the bench. Sokler could have started ahead of Nisbet for his work rate and his ability to close down the Celtic defence, if only he could actually finish. Morris' speed actually lends him to a counter attacking game, but McGrath more of a goal threat.

That team will win the league.

Edited October 7, 20241 yr by Panda

30 minutes ago, Panda said:

Made a video jinxing Aberdeen. But any excuse to post the king Andrew Considine.

 

You forgot to add a bit about how Rubi has unfinished business with Kyogo's face.

Going to take a massive improvement from last couple of games to give them a run for their money tomorrow. 

Personally I'd drop shinnie for palaversa to give us the legs and power in the middle and play duk at 10 as the hold up and out ball to avoid being pegged in. 

They play so high that the break is our best shout. ( With us being unable to hold a high line as shown against hearts )

Shame we aren't getting them after a euro drubbing but if we can nick an early goal it's game on as I think we can score goals anywhere with this squad.

7 hours ago, redordead said:

Personally I'd drop shinnie for palaversa to give us the legs and power in the middle and play duk at 10

Shinnie is the power and legs in the middle, have you not watched any of our games this season? There's absolutely no chance we'll dropping our captain for the biggest game of the season thankfully. 

Duk at 10 is an interesting one. He's never played that say for us before (he's played in a front two, but never deliberately behind the striker), but I could imagine him just getting the ball and driving directly at them rather than any of that passing nonsense. It would be entertaining, as long as we didn't require any additional defending.

As most others have said, Shinnie forward in place of Clarkson would make most sense against the Tims. Shinnie to get right in the face of McGregor would be interesting, see if he can get him booked early doors (Duk to come on and get him sent off!). Closing off that link between defence and midfield will be vital. 

A toss up between keeping everything else the same and having Duk on from the start. Personally, I'd keep Duk on the bench, because of the discipline we'll need to have in shape. Duk was immense when he comes on, playing out wide, but there's no way we could have Duk out wide against the Tims for ninety minutes and not give up several chances. If he was starting, then, you'd probably put him at number nine, and then you're sacrificing the ability to take him on later to terrorise the fullback. I think I'd be inclined to leave him on the bench, and him and Clarkson can come on when we're one up and looking to stretch the lead. 

 

Time zone is currently horrendous for us kiwi based dons, so will have to hope that when I wake it’ll not be a horror show. Not sure why anyone would be thinking about dropping Shinnie, he’s like a man reborn after finally having someone alongside him again that knows what they’re doing. 
 

anyway, don’t think I’d say it’s a free hit, but probably have low expectations given our record. Would absolutely love us to nick something. Fuck it, I’m going to go with the heart

out

bed

bed

kids stuff

1-1, palaversa 

I had forgotten how much I hate coming to games away to either of these cunts. 

I really don’t know what to expect today and of all fucking days I have to take the kids to Disney so don’t get to watch! So many times we’ve gone to Celtic and have been shit scared, overly defensive, and taken a beating. But then I think of the cup semi last year and being very proud of our efforts. Really keen to see how JT has us play.

Saw the team bus earlier, applauded them proudly as you should.

Surprised at same team being named but Thelin obviously heard about our last title decider in May 1991 and decided against making the same mistake.

Aye, no changes is surprising. Although Clarkson is very useful when trying to score.

5 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Shinnie is the power and legs in the middle, have you not watched any of our games this season? There's absolutely no chance we'll dropping our captain for the biggest game of the season thankfully. 

Duk at 10 is an interesting one. He's never played that say for us before (he's played in a front two, but never deliberately behind the striker), but I could imagine him just getting the ball and driving directly at them rather than any of that passing nonsense. It would be entertaining, as long as we didn't require any additional defending.

As most others have said, Shinnie forward in place of Clarkson would make most sense against the Tims. Shinnie to get right in the face of McGregor would be interesting, see if he can get him booked early doors (Duk to come on and get him sent off!). Closing off that link between defence and midfield will be vital. 

A toss up between keeping everything else the same and having Duk on from the start. Personally, I'd keep Duk on the bench, because of the discipline we'll need to have in shape. Duk was immense when he comes on, playing out wide, but there's no way we could have Duk out wide against the Tims for ninety minutes and not give up several chances. If he was starting, then, you'd probably put him at number nine, and then you're sacrificing the ability to take him on later to terrorise the fullback. I think I'd be inclined to leave him on the bench, and him and Clarkson can come on when we're one up and looking to stretch the lead. 

 

I've watched them all. I've never bought into the one of our own stuff with shinnie. He's a poor passer, lacks physicality and his legs are past their best. 

He is/was a pest and that's his defining quality but as the legs go that is weaning.

He's a decent SPL midfielder but some people are obsessed with shoe horning him into the side 

Hearts totally dominated midfield against us last game. I'd have expected change.

Up side, Celtic are physically small in the middle

14 minutes ago, redordead said:

I've watched them all. I've never bought into the one of our own stuff with shinnie. He's a poor passer, lacks physicality and his legs are past their best. 

He is/was a pest and that's his defining quality but as the legs go that is weaning.

He's a decent SPL midfielder but some people are obsessed with shoe horning him into the side 

Hearts totally dominated midfield against us last game. I'd have expected change.

Are you the same fella that never rated Miovski?

Haha, yes I am.

In my defence I also said that we should've played Barron a lot more than the guys playing before him and it looks like I was spot on as he strolls into the Scotland squad.

34 minutes ago, redordead said:

Up side, Celtic are physically small in the middle

And much like duk can come on and make an impact, we’ve seen palaversa come on fresh in the middle and have an impact. We shall see soon enough!!

Stream down after zero minutes. I knew there was a reason I subscribed to RedTV international. Anyone got a reliable one?

25 minutes in, has Clarkson touched the ball yet?

Ah well. Got the stream working unfortunately. Chucked it. Poor from Nilsen and Molloy.

Don't know why Mitov never emptied that b for three first. His second wobble. 

No control in the middle. Nisbet anonymous 

Saw the first 20 mins and we were comfortable, wtf???

1 hour ago, redordead said:

In my defence I also said that we should've played Barron a lot more than the guys playing before him and it looks like I was spot on as he strolls into the Scotland squad.

"Strolled into the Scotland squad"

He was a late call up to the last one and only because of an extensive injury list 🤷‍♂️

14 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Saw the first 20 mins and we were comfortable, wtf???

Gavin Molloy and Sivert Nilsen.

Both been poor. 

BBC commentary have called the game after 45 minutes, we can all go home now.

Duktime.  On for Clarkson.

 

 

Oh, and Sokler for Nisbet, which is a little surprising.

GOOOOOAAAAL

Sokler

5 minutes ago, OxfordDon said:

, and Sokler for Nisbet, which is a little surprising.

Not really.....

What a pass and goal.