Aberdeen v Dundee United

[OrlandoDon]

Just now, OneBrianIrvine. said:

It’s making me loathe karlsson - I’ve never really taken to him but sick of watching him cut in and in and in. I was internally screaming at him to go on the outside/down the fucking line so many times today.

I hear and understand folk saying send him home in January , I’ve said the same at times, but at the same time is he not still our main scorer and for assists? 

Urgh I just hate how we play. I actually got a bit excited briefly hoping it was a back four today but deep down I knew better. And it’s not just the set up, we’re so ponderous. Jensen used to get a lot of blame for that but it’s no different with him out the team. 

Topi and Nisbet will no doubt get stick tonight but they’re being hung out to dry. Poor starting line up today (again) but even more disappointed that they couldn’t raise themselves after getting the equaliser. As others have said we disappeared after that and were lucky to get a point in all honesty.

Urgh.

 

It hurts my heart when I’d rather watch Motherwell play, they are an enjoyable watch, we are not. I want their manager.

[OrlandoDon]

So two tough away games next, then two games v the Huns. Based on today, any points? We are powder puff up front, create little, and gift goals….. ugh.

[RicoS321]

Just back. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. Utd got what they came for, were really cynical and sucked all the joy out of fitba for an evening. When they actually tried to play football, they appeared capable. Complete domination, doing very little, until we make a rudimentary catalogue of errors. All our goals against come from the initial error causing a domino of further fuck ups. Today it was Aouchiche with a tragic attempt at a header when he should have controlled it, the defence gets caught out and Devlin loses a header he would normally go through first time and Milne doesn't read the game and cover, leaving Mitov rooted to his line for an easy finish. 

We then dominate up until our goal, with some fairly attacking subs. Those subs are then screwed for utd's fifteen minute spell of actual football until Thelin finally realises he needs to make a sub again. We finish the game on top but with little opportunity to score, save for one good run and cross from Milanovic. 

Shinnie ran his arse off the entire game, constantly making the space down the left and was my MOTM. Knoester decent too. Armstrong was terrible in the second half, as was Lazetic. Aouchiche worked really hard but his passing was woeful, and Polvara worked hard but once again gets caught in possession in the most schoolboy of fashion (think he might be a centre half). Karlsson did really well for the goal but just needs fired into the sea. McGinn was never the fastest player in the world, but he could drop a shoulder and send a player into a different timezone. Karlsson hasn't taken on a player since he arrived, and he's very easy to defend against. Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic. Kjartansson shored things up nicely and should have been on earlier. Bilalovic tracked back well but isn't the player you want in the wingback role. Keskinen was actually okay there, I think people forget he's the fullback with a player in front of him, but we missed Lobban. 

[Elgindon]

Also just back.Yes Utd were pretty stuffy but average, while we were both predictable and toothless again for too large a part of the game.Frustrating too,when youve got a bumper crowd and you hope to entice unregulars more often.

     As mentioned,we're clinging to the hope of a season changing Jan window.Ok lets see what happens then,nae huddin' my breath....  

   Thought Polvara did ok in midfield,nothing more,but as said,think he could be useful as a stand in defender since were light in that dept.Cool headed,seems intelligent enough to be able to read the game. Auxiliary defender/midfielder at most if he stays,but not bothered if he leaves

[BigAl]

29 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Just back. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. Utd got what they came for, were really cynical and sucked all the joy out of fitba for an evening. When they actually tried to play football, they appeared capable. Complete domination, doing very little, until we make a rudimentary catalogue of errors. All our goals against come from the initial error causing a domino of further fuck ups. Today it was Aouchiche with a tragic attempt at a header when he should have controlled it, the defence gets caught out and Devlin loses a header he would normally go through first time and Milne doesn't read the game and cover, leaving Mitov rooted to his line for an easy finish. 

We then dominate up until our goal, with some fairly attacking subs. Those subs are then screwed for utd's fifteen minute spell of actual football until Thelin finally realises he needs to make a sub again. We finish the game on top but with little opportunity to score, save for one good run and cross from Milanovic. 

Shinnie ran his arse off the entire game, constantly making the space down the left and was my MOTM. Knoester decent too. Armstrong was terrible in the second half, as was Lazetic. Aouchiche worked really hard but his passing was woeful, and Polvara worked hard but once again gets caught in possession in the most schoolboy of fashion (think he might be a centre half). Karlsson did really well for the goal but just needs fired into the sea. McGinn was never the fastest player in the world, but he could drop a shoulder and send a player into a different timezone. Karlsson hasn't taken on a player since he arrived, and he's very easy to defend against. Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic. Kjartansson shored things up nicely and should have been on earlier. Bilalovic tracked back well but isn't the player you want in the wingback role. Keskinen was actually okay there, I think people forget he's the fullback with a player in front of him, but we missed Lobban. 

Seems pretty fair IMHO 

[Jute]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

Just back. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. Utd got what they came for, were really cynical and sucked all the joy out of fitba for an evening. When they actually tried to play football, they appeared capable. Complete domination, doing very little, until we make a rudimentary catalogue of errors. All our goals against come from the initial error causing a domino of further fuck ups. Today it was Aouchiche with a tragic attempt at a header when he should have controlled it, the defence gets caught out and Devlin loses a header he would normally go through first time and Milne doesn't read the game and cover, leaving Mitov rooted to his line for an easy finish. 

We then dominate up until our goal, with some fairly attacking subs. Those subs are then screwed for utd's fifteen minute spell of actual football until Thelin finally realises he needs to make a sub again. We finish the game on top but with little opportunity to score, save for one good run and cross from Milanovic. 

Shinnie ran his arse off the entire game, constantly making the space down the left and was my MOTM. Knoester decent too. Armstrong was terrible in the second half, as was Lazetic. Aouchiche worked really hard but his passing was woeful, and Polvara worked hard but once again gets caught in possession in the most schoolboy of fashion (think he might be a centre half). Karlsson did really well for the goal but just needs fired into the sea. McGinn was never the fastest player in the world, but he could drop a shoulder and send a player into a different timezone. Karlsson hasn't taken on a player since he arrived, and he's very easy to defend against. Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic. Kjartansson shored things up nicely and should have been on earlier. Bilalovic tracked back well but isn't the player you want in the wingback role. Keskinen was actually okay there, I think people forget he's the fullback with a player in front of him, but we missed Lobban. 

Pretty much my view on it. Would not want to watch that United team more than a couple of times a season. Goodwin could get football stopped. We desperately need to a striker as we already knew Yengi was not good enough and on last few weeks evidence neither is Lazetic. Nisbet worked hard but is getting zero service from midfield. We need a striker in that can fit the system they are trying to implement. Karlsson is a really frustrating player. Despite scoring today I felt he was major reason our attack was so toothless. I would happily pay for Polvara’s flights back to the U.S. if it meant not having to watch him get out muscled or give the ball away again. 

[RicoS321]

11 minutes ago, OneBrianIrvine. said:

It’s just frustrating that camera operators are obviously instructed to zoom in, or do cutaways and crowd shots. I guess it’s to keep the casual watcher entertained but I’d much rather have a fixed camera angle of the pitch as a whole rather than it following the ball

It boils my pish. It's noticeably better on sky etc than the red TV coverage it has to be said, and foreign football is largely unwatchable. Every dead space filled with a close up of someone's face. Why on earth do we need to see close ups of a player's reaction? We want to see their actual reaction on the pitch, whether they chase down an opponent, get back into position or whatever. I want to see who's moving where when we get a throw-in or goal kick, not a replay of a nothing event, or a fucking close up of the fourth official holding up a stoppage time fucking board! Fuck the casual watcher, it's always somebody's team that's playing. 

[dons8321]

2 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Partly because we have no real attacking threat at 9, and neither wide player will attack the line. So we spend the day going sideways and backwards. Aouchiche and Armstrong will penetrate centrally as an attacking mid, but there’s zero quality attacking play for either wing or 9. It’s been a painful watch all season, we’re so predictable and honestly, the last 20, we may be the happier team to get a point. 

Neither wide player will attack the line because it'll put them on their wrong foot, so they nearly always check back and the oppo defence can reset.  As an old-fashioned winger, you want to burn past FB, and flash it into the penalty area where the defenders are chasing back facing the wrong way.  Instead we have inverted wingers who cut back inside all the time, giving defenders time to reset.  

[OrlandoDon]

I cannot accept the type of support fo nisbet. He’s a forward who is meant to create and score goals. He isn’t doing that. Week in and week out. Looks off the pace much of the time too. He doesn’t combine with our center mids or wide guys (if we even have those), that I don’t really know what he does. I don’t know where hibs played him, but if he’s more of a 10 who plays with another forward, then that’s on Thelin. 

Lazetic was poor today, but has been ok most of the season and is young, hasn’t been a main 9 for a team as far as I know. Nisbet is an experienced pro. Working hard isn’t enough for me. 

football is mainly about two things. Not giving away goals, especially cheap goals, and scoring goals. We should see 18 months of Thelin work in these two areas, but today is a perfect example of where we are. We’re not bad at the back, and have looked better this season since the back 3, but even now we’re back to where we were last season where we look shaky at the back, bit nervous, and are giving away goals. We’re almost going backwards and getting worse defensively. In attack it’s all about the final third. Combinations, crosses, getting to the line, different types of runs to attack crosses, a forward laying off to a shot from a midfielder etc. I have absolutely no clue what we are trying to do in attack. And today isn’t a one off, this is the norm for us.
Said it before, I’m an ‘A’ licensed coach with 30 years coaching experience. I have not clue what we are trying to do in attack. We don’t really see combos. Don’t see overlapping, don’t see width, don’t see getting to the line for crosses, don’t see early crosses or variations of crosses. What the fuck are we meant to be doing in attack??

I don’t believe nisbet, or karlsson, are bad players. But they are clearly not being utilized or playing to their ability level. That’s on Thelin too.

[OrlandoDon]

12 minutes ago, dons8321 said:

Neither wide player will attack the line because it'll put them on their wrong foot, so they nearly always check back and the oppo defence can reset.  As an old-fashioned winger, you want to burn past FB, and flash it into the penalty area where the defenders are chasing back facing the wrong way.  Instead we have inverted wingers who cut back inside all the time, giving defenders time to reset.  

Inverted wingers can work, seen it and coached it. But we’re doing it incredibly poorly. Inverted allows many things, including full back overlapping for width, cut inside for a switch of play/through ball to the opposite winger, penetrating ball to a diagonal run of a forward. We do little to none of that. We cut in and it’s crowded with very little movement. As a result we’re very limited in options so most often it’s sideways or backwards. Opponents get back, get set, and have time to be organized. Our inverted play is counter productive and quite often buys opponents time to get back.

shady mo was very limited, but after a season or so with us figured out he simply had to knock it past a defender an go. We are so badly missing that. That’s a lot of goals/assists we have lost. 

Edited December 27, 2025 by OrlandoDon

[TheDonbytheDee]

Every game you know what is coming.  We dick about so much, you know the opposition are going to punish us.

Lots of nice little passing movements, but always that extra touch that's not needed or a poor final pass into the danger areas, or more likely an opposition player.

Thought Shinnie was MOTM for us not got the legs for the 90 minutes at the LWB role, but the heart of the guy, never ever stops. A lot of players could learn from him.

Knoester was a close second. The guy is class.

Reading a few pops at Nisbet and Lazetic. Nobody we bring in as a striker is going to work with the shit they are given to work with. 

Thought Armstrong was shit all game, especially his final ball, just woeful. Some of his corners were embarrassing. He is far better than that.

Topi as well, just a waste of a shirt tonight.

United weren't great, but we have a knack of making average teams look like world beaters.

A draw was a fair result overall, but the sort of match we should be looking to take three points from, or at least make teams fight hard for anything, instead of just gifting them it.

 

Edited December 28, 2025 by TheDonbytheDee

[Goldie03]

It was a painful watch on tv, thought we might kick on when we got the equaliser but dear god it was torture, dreading ER on Tuesday evening now. 

The fannying about without getting a decent ball into the box is doing my head in!! 

[Radiored]

2 hours ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

Lots of nice little passing movements, but always that extra touch that's not needed or a poor final pass into the danger areas, or more likely an opposition player.

 

 

Yep ... that's what I see as well .. and what I was referring to n a post some time ago re. clever/creative/flair players being ineffective  ... whilst guys who quietly do the basics ... from the Jute game, Milne, Knoester, are actually the 'creators' in that they are effective in connecting the team and initiating forward moves. (Polvara and Armstrong would usually be in this category, but both were disappointing v Jute  ) 

Karlsson is obviously a very skilled footballer, but lately reminds me of Duk ... re, the insistence on keeping the ball, bamboozling a few defenders, then losing out when at any point during his possession, he could easily have found a pass to a teammate. ... such a waste.

Another thing which puzzled me was ... why don't we take a pop from range more often? 

Yeah, OK, I know, ex Abmadders will be aware I slated Lewis Ferguson many a time for his 20 yarders clearing the crossbar by about the same margin  ... but, fuck ... just hit it! .. any outcome is favourable compared to losing the ball to a team set up to hit on the break ... just hit it! ... anything can happen ... as evidenced by Aouchiche's shot which their keeper failed to hold ... rebound pounced on by Karlsson.

Also, on a couple of occasions we did 'just hit it', we won a corner .... which is preferable to an intercepted slack pass and having to race back and defend as their out-ball resulted in them racing toward our goal 2 on 2! 

Still, if we could transition forward faster, with fewer ACCURATE passes .... everything I've written above ( and much of what others have put time and effort into writing) would be unnecessary.

Anyway ... my pants remain dry, I still have faith three's the guts of a good team/squad there - happy days will be here again   ... but if nae ... dinna blame me  

 

[Kowalski]

If you want accurate passes then the best passer in the team (as well as being the best dead ball specialist) is warming the bench and seemingly being cut loose in January.

I’d rather Jimmy left.  

[Elgindon]

highlights 

 

 

JTs Utd reaction - 

 

[Don Julio]

I know it’s deeply ironic, but I did smile a little at the United fans’ rendition of “Aberdeen are shite olé olé”. Was the most entertaining thing happening for quite a while.

obviously I’m glad we equalised and shut them up.