The Scottish Cup winners v The Ukrainian Cup winners

[tlg1903]

37 minutes ago, Slim said:

I think Keskinen did really well with the ugly stuff and didn’t really look out of place at LWB, other than the 2nd goal but Mitov should be coming for that anyway. Can’t question his work-rate.

Yeah I would agree with that and go further and say he's contributing far more and more effectively from this position.  

[OrlandoDon]

Not knocking topi but would like to see frame sooner rather than later.

[RicoS321]

Aye, that was a good performance tonight. They were a very good team, they'd wipe the floor with the Tims. Some of the stuff they played was top class, and their pressing and movement was exceptional, we barely got a second on the ball. Bit harsh to blame anyone for second and third goals, the cross for the second was sublime, and the entire move for the third was top class. I didn't get a great view of the first, but looked a decent finish too.

Milne, Devlin and Lazetic absolute stand outs as everyone has mentioned. Milne looks as good as McKenna was, but probably better on the ball, and just as quick. Devlin is just ace, and there's no chance on earth that Jensen would have been there to score that header, and if he had, he'd have been second to the ball too. The shoulder barge to win the one-on-one was just class too, although I suspect some of you think that shoulder barges should be a foul.....

Clarkson wasn't great, in a very unfamiliar role, Palaversa was average too, and Armstrong didn't get himself involved enough. The three replacements far outperformed them. The booing was pathetic, I'm not quite sure what Nilsen has done to deserve it, and he played well tonight. Keskinen worked hard, but his decision making was poor, but a few more weeks with Karlsson and against poorer opposition and we could have something. Mitov was okay, the conditions were difficult for a keeper, especially down the RDS end, where the wind was blowing the ball about a lot, even on the ground when kicking. 

Will be interesting to see how we use the squad for Sunday. There were a lot of tired legs out there at the end. I could see justification for Jensen ahead of Devlin in that regard.

[tlg1903]

50 minutes ago, manc_don said:

Agreed, the booing of Nilsen was very hunesque and reminded me of the dark days of JC's tenure. Recall Foster and Byrne maybe getting that treatment? I mind it definitely happening at a Falkirk game and a mate of mine up from London couldn't believe we booed our own onto the pitch 

The thing I don't get is why some fans passionately hate him so much.  He did fine when he came on tonight I thought, I know his form has dipped a bit from the player we had this time last season but he's certainly not been booed onto the pitch bad.  

[manc_don]

14 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

The thing I don't get is why some fans passionately hate him so much.  He did fine when he came on tonight I thought, I know his form has dipped a bit from the player we had this time last season but he's certainly not been booed onto the pitch bad.  

Think it's symptomatic of where society is these days. It's one of extremes...Regardless it was pathetic and embarrassing. Don't want it to tarnish what was a vastly improved performance level. This gives me the glimmer of hope that he can turn things around (please make it so).

[tlg1903]

10 minutes ago, manc_don said:

Think it's symptomatic of where society is these days. It's one of extremes...Regardless it was pathetic and embarrassing. Don't want it to tarnish what was a vastly improved performance level. This gives me the glimmer of hope that he can turn things around (please make it so).

I think it was a very important night for JT (despite the loss) in terms of restoring a little faith that he knows what he's doing amongst the more sceptical.  At times tonight not only did we look like a football team (and wasn't that nice to see) but one that was actually quite decent.  As long as we follow this up with a win against the fun (please let them be fun) then, fingers crossed, we will hopefully see the start of a second season renaissance for Jimmy Thelin after the international break.  

[Reekie_Red]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

The shoulder barge to win the one-on-one was just class too, although I suspect some of you think that shoulder barges should be a foul.....

My school PE teacher taught us that football was a contact sport, and there was never anything wrong with a good, firm, assertive shoulder barge 

[BigAl]

Just in the door @2.27am

Will post my thoughts on the game later today, but just now it is a large dram and off to bed.

Shite night driving down the road.

Fecking knackered.

[Panda]

4 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

It was good to hear the fans singing and not booing at full time though shame on anyone who booed Nilsen on the park as far as I'm concerned.  

 

4 hours ago, manc_don said:

Agreed, the booing of Nilsen was very hunesque and reminded me of the dark days of JC's tenure.

Aye, was sad to hear, and it wasn't like it was just coming from one section either.

Lets be honest we have some gypes in our support.

3 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

The shoulder barge to win the one-on-one was just class too, although I suspect some of you think that shoulder barges should be a foul.....

 

1 hour ago, Reekie_Red said:

My school PE teacher taught us that football was a contact sport, and there was never anything wrong with a good, firm, assertive shoulder barge 

That's because tonight it was a 50/50 challenge; two players challenging fairly for a ball that was there to be won.

That's different than someone being on the ball, in full control of it, and someone racing across and simply barging them over.

[Panda]

Was at the game, with a horrendous view of the RDS side goal.

Turned to look at the big tv screen and it was restricted view as well

Anyway, from what I did see we played alright. The 3-4-3 / 5-2-3 has improved us. It allows Milne to play a sweeper role and leaves us less exposed, Knoester and Dorrington both take it in turns to dribble up the pitch which seems to spook players, and we're seeing more link-up between our two wide players and the wing backs. I thought a run of games might help us, and I'm looking forward to the Dundee game now.

I was in the press conference afterwards. The Shakhtar manager came in, and without any questions just opened into a big long passionate rant about the war in Ukraine and about the flotilla going to Gaza. Was quite something. 

Jimmy Thelin is a throughly beautiful man though. 

[RicoS321]

4 hours ago, Panda said:

The Shakhtar manager came in, and without any questions just opened into a big long passionate rant about the war in Ukraine and about the flotilla going to Gaza

Did you ask him what the fuck all that had to do with his number 6 throwing himself to the ground in the box in an attempt to win a penalty? I'm not saying it was worse than those wars, but it's certainly close.

4 hours ago, Panda said:

That's because tonight it was a 50/50 challenge; two players challenging fairly for a ball that was there to be won.

That's different than someone being on the ball, in full control of it, and someone racing across and simply barging them over

Sounds like two tier refereeing to me. 

[BigAl]

Still fecking knackered and not much to add to what's been said already

Thought the atmosphere pre kick off was eerily quiet, as if everyone feared what was coming. No crowd interaction or reaction as our team was read out.

I suspect that I can say this without fear of contradiction, that will be the most technically gifted team we will face this season.

Top men in no particular order Milne, Devlin & Lazetic

Mitov for the second game in a row didn't look too clever at a couple of the goals. The third he is blameless and if you watched the third as a neutral you could only describe the move and finish as a thing of beauty by a player finishing with his weaker foot 

Keskinen, again looking better doing the tracking back than going forward

My real bug bear of the evening was the booing on of Nilsen, subsequently replicated when Yengi came on. I felt so strongly about this that I posted from the ground and almost missed our second goal as a result. This has no place in my football club.

Listened to Jimmy's post match interview and BBC Scotland picked up on this as well. J.T sounded positively upbeat aboput matters. Does he genuinely believe this game might represent the turning point for our season.

The key now is to carry this level of performance into Sunday's game and get our first league win of the season going into the international break. Thins will feel an awful lot brighter if we can 

Awful night travelling back south with wind and rain, but not as bad as PAOK two years ago. Bizarrely there was a van on fire at Haggs on the M80 on the way up the road and then a car on fire passing Forfar on the way back down the road. Strange times.

[tlg1903]

2 hours ago, BigAl said:

Still fecking knackered and not much to add to what's been said already

Thought the atmosphere pre kick off was eerily quiet, as if everyone feared what was coming. No crowd interaction or reaction as our team was read out.

I suspect that I can say this without fear of contradiction, that will be the most technically gifted team we will face this season.

Top men in no particular order Milne, Devlin & Lazetic

Mitov for the second game in a row didn't look too clever at a couple of the goals. The third he is blameless and if you watched the third as a neutral you could only describe the move and finish as a thing of beauty by a player finishing with his weaker foot 

Keskinen, again looking better doing the tracking back than going forward

My real bug bear of the evening was the booing on of Nilsen, subsequently replicated when Yengi came on. I felt so strongly about this that I posted from the ground and almost missed our second goal as a result. This has no place in my football club.

Listened to Jimmy's post match interview and BBC Scotland picked up on this as well. J.T sounded positively upbeat aboput matters. Does he genuinely believe this game might represent the turning point for our season.

The key now is to carry this level of performance into Sunday's game and get our first league win of the season going into the international break. Thins will feel an awful lot brighter if we can 

Awful night travelling back south with wind and rain, but not as bad as PAOK two years ago. Bizarrely there was a van on fire at Haggs on the M80 on the way up the road and then a car on fire passing Forfar on the way back down the road. Strange times.

Gondor and Rohans new beacon system sounds a bit shit I have to say.......


It is starting to develop into a "the curios case of Topi Keskinen" scenario, I think he looks far more effective playing a bit deeper, he seems to get a bit more space to run into which suits him.  

Mitov has a mistake in him, mostly he's a solid goalie but he does give me a the fear a bit at times.  So much so if he doesn't have a nice long spell of consistent solid displays it may be we should give Suman a run out and see what he's got about him. 

 

[RicoS321]

18 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

Mitov has a mistake in him, mostly he's a solid goalie but he does give me a the fear a bit at times.  So much so if he doesn't have a nice long spell of consistent solid displays it may be we should give Suman a run out and see what he's got about him

I couldn't see anything at the game, and I've watched the highlights back, but I'm struggling to find the mistake Mitov made for any of the goals? 

He had a bit of dicking about at one interchange with Milne where he fucked up a clearance, but it was a position Milne shouldn't have put him in, and the ball was blowing about as he kicked it. 

I'm not seeing it to be honest, Mitov has pulled off some brilliant saves this season and generally been one of our better (if not our best) performers. The Utd error was a bad one, but it was a shite shot that wrong footed him. Most of the stuff with the ball at his feet are when he's trying to be too elaborate - he's generally very good with the ball.

[Reekie_Red]

3 hours ago, BigAl said:

My real bug bear of the evening was the booing on of Nilsen, subsequently replicated when Yengi came on. 

Yes this. I have no qualms about a player being booed off when they have earned it. But booing on? Utter shithousery! As with all teams, we have our own share of absolute guttural cretins in the stands - and moreso online 

[RicoS321]

Just now, Reekie_Red said:

Yes this. I have no qualms about a player being booed off when they have earned it. But booing on? Utter shithousery! As with all teams, we have our own share of absolute guttural cretins in the stands - and moreso online 

Aye. I couldn't tell, but it sounded like more than the red shed. The same happened with Rubi too. It's Hunnish as fuck.

[Reekie_Red]

Hate it. I don't remember this being a thing 10 or 20 years ago. My theory here is that "peepill" are happy to boo, but they boo because social media tells them to, rather than a legitimate reason for it. If true, this is not unique to Aberdeen Football Club 

[BigAl]

2 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

I couldn't see anything at the game, and I've watched the highlights back, but I'm struggling to find the mistake Mitov made for any of the goals? 

Just watched the five minutes of highlights online.

Might be a bit harsh suggesting he should have done better at the first goal as it is a very sweet finish into the far corner, although perhaps he could have done better with the first cross into the box, albeit he was stretching to get anything on it.

The second goal, I would apportion a degree of blame. I was brought up on the thinking the your keeper commanded his six yard area and if coming for a ball, he was to take anything in his way, even his own player. He does start to come for the cross ball, stops and then star jumps to make himself big. Personally a shout to Keskinen that he is coming for that ball and there's a decent chance he gets it ahead of their player.

The third goal absolutely no blame attached to him as it is a superb strike and gave him no chance. 

[RicoS321]

13 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Just watched the five minutes of highlights online.

Might be a bit harsh suggesting he should have done better at the first goal as it is a very sweet finish into the far corner, although perhaps he could have done better with the first cross into the box, albeit he was stretching to get anything on it.

The second goal, I would apportion a degree of blame. I was brought up on the thinking the your keeper commanded his six yard area and if coming for a ball, he was to take anything in his way, even his own player. He does start to come for the cross ball, stops and then star jumps to make himself big. Personally a shout to Keskinen that he is coming for that ball and there's a decent chance he gets it ahead of their player.

The third goal absolutely no blame attached to him as it is a superb strike and gave him no chance. 

Seems fair. From my view in the lower deck, I'd say that the cross for their second was an absolute peach, and he fairly whipped it in. It's not specific to Mitov, but it does seem like goalies aren't told to go directly at a player when making a challenge, they always seem to stop short and make themselves big, instead of doing almost like a volleyball block right in front of the players coupon. 

[Panda]

6 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Aye. I couldn't tell, but it sounded like more than the red shed. The same happened with Rubi too. It's Hunnish as fuck.

Was definitely some coming from the main stand too.

In fact, there was grumbles when Nilsen and Shinnie both appeared on the big screen waiting to come on.

[tlg1903]

1 hour ago, Panda said:

Was definitely some coming from the main stand too.

In fact, there was grumbles when Nilsen and Shinnie both appeared on the big screen waiting to come on.

And both went on to do a lot of good, fans like that remind me of my significantly better half when she's just about to hit full moon.  Unless you are saying or doing exactly what they want to hear/see,  there is simply no pleasing them.  

[BigAl]

8 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

And both went on to do a lot of good, fans like that remind me of my significantly better half when she's just about to hit full moon.  Unless you are saying or doing exactly what they want to hear/see,  there is simply no pleasing them.  

Posting stuff like that, you better hope they don't have access to this site 

[manc_don]

40 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Posting stuff like that, you better hope they don't have access to this site 

Was thinking the same when I read that. Maybe we’ll check in on tlg after the weekend

[tlg1903]

5 hours ago, BigAl said:

Posting stuff like that, you better hope they don't have access to this site 

believe it or not she completely agrees with my assessment