January 2026 Transfer Window

[Radiored]

Personally, I feel more comfy with the ol' McInnes 4-1-3-2 ... 

To get it out of the way, I thought Polvara had a shit game v Jute ... but, otherwise,  I think the guy is class in doing the basics ... linking play etc .. much though I would relish seeing him further forward ... like as a No.10 ... I would be OK with him as a central defensive midfielder. Yeah, I hear ye .... a single def mid needs tae be built like a brick shithoose .... but, err, Ryhun Jack did good, aye? 

A 4-1 rear guard easily transforms to a back 3/5. A No.10 can easily drop back into mid when under pressure, leavin' 2 of three forward mids to backtrack in support ... but when in possession? ... we go 2-1-3-4! .... super dooper (til we fuck up a simple pass and revert to 7-2-1  )  ..... 

We've lost embarrassingly silly goals as a back 3, back 4 ... whatever .... clean sheets don't win prizes ... goals do! For sure, better coach our defenders ... but ... get some fkn balls in the net! A 4-1-3-2, with quick transition, will produce goals most games .. maybe even enough!  

[TheDonbytheDee]

2 hours ago, Radiored said:

Personally, I feel more comfy with the ol' McInnes 4-1-3-2 ... 

To get it out of the way, I thought Polvara had a shit game v Jute ... but, otherwise,  I think the guy is class in doing the basics ... linking play etc .. much though I would relish seeing him further forward ... like as a No.10 ... I would be OK with him as a central defensive midfielder. Yeah, I hear ye .... a single def mid needs tae be built like a brick shithoose .... but, err, Ryhun Jack did good, aye? 

 

I don't think you need to be built like a brick shithoose for the role, you just have to be good at it.

In my opinion, Dante seems to struggle with the pace of the game in that role.

I like the loon a lot, but I don't think he is suited to the fast pace of the Scottish game.

[Jute]

14 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

I don't think you need to be built like a brick shithoose for the role, you just have to be good at it.

In my opinion, Dante seems to struggle with the pace of the game in that role.

I like the loon a lot, but I don't think he is suited to the fast pace of the Scottish game.

I think he also struggles with physical side of game. Constantly out muscled in challenges on Saturday and not for first time. Don’t think he is suited to game here and would be better off back in MLS. 

[RicoS321]

45 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

I don't think you need to be built like a brick shithoose for the role, you just have to be good at it.

In my opinion, Dante seems to struggle with the pace of the game in that role.

I like the loon a lot, but I don't think he is suited to the fast pace of the Scottish game.

This. Kjartansson immediately looks like he'll read the game better than Dante. He is already in position, covering fullbacks, sitting in or pushing up as required. He doesn't need to have a lot of strength, he can just slow the game down until we're back in position. Polvara generally has to put in a challenge because he's a yard or two behind where he needs to be, and puts himself in the position to be out-muscled, which he's going to be 50% of the time. 

I think Polvara is better with the long raking pass, and is very good with both feet. In a "better the devil you know" sense, I hope he stays. He's a fantastic utility player (Dom Ball, but much better). He'll play 20 games at least for us every season. If he can be taught to be more aggressive he'd be very good. 

Also, as an argument against my own suggestion of moving to a back three, it is important to factor in that most teams in the league are playing a back three at the moment, and it's often pragmatic to match up. It just seems that we're asking a defender (either Devlin or Knoester) to be an auxiliary midfielder for a lot of the games at Pittodrie, and it might be better having a midfielder being an auxiliary defender. I think Kjartansson might be the only one capable though (Nilsen five years ago). 

[Jute]

Said on Saturday that I was wondering how much of out possession sits with Knooster and Milne. Both seem to have  responsibility for moving into midfield with the ball to start us moving forward. 

[RicoS321]

26 minutes ago, Jute said:

Said on Saturday that I was wondering how much of out possession sits with Knooster and Milne. Both seem to have  responsibility for moving into midfield with the ball to start us moving forward. 

It has been Devlin a lot too, but he didn't seem to do that against Utd, with Milne taking over. It didn't work. A lot of our goals (or opportunities given away) are caused by us giving simple ball away in midfield (see Aouchiche against Utd) when one of our back three is advanced. They get caught on the turn and make an arse of a simple clearance they would normally deal with, and the other two lose their bearings and fail to cover. It seems to happen most weeks, punished or unpunished. It should be easy to coach the cover though. When one steps up, the other two form a central two, and only return when the player is back in position. That would be at the cost of giving space wide left or right, but you'd fancy our chances against a winger running from deep rather than a one on one with a striker in behind. Maybe the option of the midfielder dropping in is better though, if they have the discipline.