The Scottish Cup holders begin their defence of the world's oldest professional football trophy on Sunday 18th January at the Cathedral of Football, kicking off at 2:30 pm and being beamed all around an expectant world in full colour on BBC Television as they take on Championship side Raith Rovers.

Raith have been in patchy form recently, losing at the weekend at home to Arbroath. Aberdeen have been worse than shite recently, losing to everyone. Nevertheless, I fancy a 2-1 win for the Dons after extra time as we bid for a ninth Scottish Cup and a first defence of OUR cup since 1984.

Which was the last time we successfully defended the Scottish Cup that we had won the previous season. Because we won it in 1983. And 1982.

I would take a scrappy 1-0 any day, as long as we're in the hat for the next round.

Second half wasn’t too bad and at no point did I feel concerned that Raith would score. Onwards and upwards 😅

A win. Next round. Hopefully we get a manager that can work with the abortion we are at the moment.

Just now, OrlandoDon said:

Cameron MOTM?

Yeah I'd agree with that. Wasn't a vintage display but was positive, drove forward, got shots off, and his set-piece delivery was really good.

And this is a guy that has barely played for months.

Keskinen was everywhere but makes too many mistakes. Thought Nisbet played well - interesting that he stayed on for the 90 because you could usually set your watch for the Lazetic-Nisbet swap.

Potential banana skin averted.  Only plus point. 

Throwing different players at the same tactics isn't going to solve anything. 

Need to deliver the fucking ball. Not many pass marks TBH. Thought nisbet worked hard despite getting nothing to attack and nilsen broke up things really well in that last ten minutes. Topi had a many decent moments as frustrations today and that's positive for him.  Other than that,  nobody really grasped the nettle today. 

Cameron decent but I'd be just as happy seeing Clarkson at 10. What happened to the wee guy that came in from Liverpool ?

That was terrible. Is wouldn't trust Leven to take us forward on that showing. Some very average players on show, and we lined up badly. There is no room for Cameron and Armstrong in that side, it has to be one of the other. We've brought in a six month loanee to take the place of a guy with 2.5 years remaining. The onus should be on playing Armstrong in the correct position in my opinion, with Cameron as backup, or just get rid of Armstrong altogether. He's not here to be a sub at his age. Karlsson dogshite when he came on and needs to go back ASAP. Cameron did well, but he'll struggle in that role against better opposition I think. He didn't look totally fit. His corners were good, but as others have said are no better than Clarkson's, who's only had two games and put in some decent balls. That goal today doesn't get scored against a premier team, so I don't think it's a good barometer. 

Good to get through, and hopefully we have a manager and some players in shortly 

10 minutes ago, redordead said:

Cameron decent but I'd be just as happy seeing Clarkson at 10. What happened to the wee guy that came in from Liverpool ?

Clarkson began to struggle in the number 10 role as teams put a man on him and he didn't have the physical attributes to cope in a difficult role. I think we'll see exactly the same in Cameron in the coming weeks, where teams will press him and turn it over. That happened on numerous occasions today, but Doc in commentary clearly was a little biased and didn't pick it up. Your point stands though, there's absolutely nothing Cameron did today that Clarkson couldn't in that role. Similarly Armstrong. We've essentially brought a guy in and are giving him an opportunity that we're not affording our own. It's frustrating. 

Yeah, when the new guy comes in I’d punt leven too. Complete change.

The inverted needs to go asap. Doesn’t help us at all. 
Clarkson is not a 10, Cameron isn’t taking his minutes. Cameron takes minutes from aouchiche and Armstrong in my opinion. Sign a legit holding mid and I think he compliments Clarkson and Cameron. Cameron reminded me a bit of Niall mcginn today, especially his first season when he was central. Cameron is legit 10, don’t think anyone else at the club is. No clue where Marshall plays but I dont think Cameron is holding anyone else back.

bigger picture, Cameron makes us better for 6 months and the only player I think he hurts is Marshall. But is Marshall good enough for first team minutes? Is Cameron an option, maybe. If we were willing to lay 1.5 for Aouchiche, maybe we’ll pay for Cameron.

thought topi and nisbet did well today.

Edited January 18Jan 18 by OrlandoDon

Coulda been worse,thought there was a chance it could have got ugly if Rovers had been more threatening,but we fought well enough,and there was some decent passages of play at times.

    Cameron did pretty well,Topi good at times,but he's a messy player.Youre rarely convinced he's going to get properly past his man.Mitov did all that was asked.

   Not much to add,just avoid the big guns Tims/Huns/Elgin. COYR 🏆

Edited January 18Jan 18 by Elgindon

24 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Clarkson began to struggle in the number 10 role as teams put a man on him and he didn't have the physical attributes to cope in a difficult role. I think we'll see exactly the same in Cameron in the coming weeks, where teams will press him and turn it over. That happened on numerous occasions today, but Doc in commentary clearly was a little biased and didn't pick it up. Your point stands though, there's absolutely nothing Cameron did today that Clarkson couldn't in that role. Similarly Armstrong. We've essentially brought a guy in and are giving him an opportunity that we're not affording our own. It's frustrating. 

Yep. 
 

Clarkson is better in the Pirlo role anyway…but needs a Shinnie-type in there with him. 

1 hour ago, Panda said:

MITCHELL FRAME!!

The season has officially started.

Thought he did okay. Looked more athletic than gyamfi. Didn’t do anything on the attacking side, plus defensively don’t recall any 1v1. Def positive, worth more time.

1 minute ago, Kowalski said:

Yep. 
 

Clarkson is better in the Pirlo role anyway…but needs a Shinnie-type in there with him. 

A 6 ft 4 shinnie who wins every tackle and header. Preferably Scottish. 

47 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

That was terrible. Is wouldn't trust Leven to take us forward on that showing. Some very average players on show, and we lined up badly. There is no room for Cameron and Armstrong in that side, it has to be one of the other. We've brought in a six month loanee to take the place of a guy with 2.5 years remaining. The onus should be on playing Armstrong in the correct position in my opinion, with Cameron as backup, or just get rid of Armstrong altogether. He's not here to be a sub at his age. Karlsson dogshite when he came on and needs to go back ASAP. Cameron did well, but he'll struggle in that role against better opposition I think. He didn't look totally fit. His corners were good, but as others have said are no better than Clarkson's, who's only had two games and put in some decent balls. That goal today doesn't get scored against a premier team, so I don't think it's a good barometer. 

Good to get through, and hopefully we have a manager and some players in shortly 

In the unlikely event that we ever get a fan's representative on the board the club, you Sir, can count on my vote 👍

Think belalovic frame and Kjarten have all shown that they deserve minutes the rest of the season. Hopefully the new guy can develop them into legit first team players.

Edited January 18Jan 18 by OrlandoDon

38 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

Yep. 
 

Clarkson is better in the Pirlo role anyway…but needs a Shinnie-type in there with him. 

Yes, but with a worse barnet.

Not long back.

Job done, but it was eye bleeding pish.

Such a flat atmosphere and it shouldn't have been, considering it's our trophy to defend.

Even the joy of scoring our goal, was taken from us through VAR.

We played a very poor championship side today. A more competent team would have hurt us more today.

The hun did alright, I heard a couple of isolated boos when his name was read out, but I sure as fuck didn't stand to applaud the little hun when he left the field. He is tiny though and looks so young. I reckon he'd be happy to be paid in Hotwheels cars.

As for next manager, Leven ain't picking the team or tactics.

In my opinion, Lutz is very much in charge of this shitshow.

 

 

42 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Thought he did okay. Looked more athletic than gyamfi. Didn’t do anything on the attacking side, plus defensively don’t recall any 1v1. Def positive, worth more time.

You could clearly see why he isn't near the first team.

Needs loaned out to give him gametime.

Has attributes, but very, very raw.

Thought Dante played well today, much better in the air than Milne who needs to get into the gym and put some physique on, he's a wee feartie.  Someone posted earlier that we continue to let the ball bounce rather that attack it and Jack is a prime example of that.  Frame looked OK when he came on.  Topi and Nilsen did fine too but they both looked really good last season in the LC qualifiers...maybe that is the level of opposition they are suited to. Karlsson should be returned to Milan.  Cameron was fine, covered a lot of ground and looked comfortable on the ball...a few boos in the SS when his name was announced but whatever you think of the "deal" once he's pulled on the AFC top then he's our player.  Why did Nisbet pass to Karlsson late on...he was just outside the box with a clear sight of goal, you're a striker fucking hit it (apparently he did the same last week at ipox).

2 hours ago, Goldie03 said:

I am not enjoying this watch 

 

49 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

Yep. 
 

Clarkson is better in the Pirlo role anyway…but needs a Shinnie-type in there with him. 

Thing is though that pirlo could do the ugly stuff too and Clarkson can't.  Meaning he's great on the ball but an empty jersey when we don't have it. 

 That's why I think he'd be better as a ten where his vision is useful and he also used to score goals. Although I also thought that Armstrong would play there. 

Aochice,  shinnie, Clarkson, Cameron and Armstrong all lack physicality ( granted a couple are due to age ) but you need ball winners in a team to let others play and that's where we are struggling.  Polvara isn't the answer,  I hope kjarten is long term but for this season. We need a Ramadan / Ferguson type.

Much as I hate devlin at hearts, that's exactly what we need even pirlo had a gattusso beside him. 

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

there's absolutely nothing Cameron did today that Clarkson couldn't in that role

Theoretically true, but Clarkson hasn't really actually done it since he signed permanently (2 and a half years ago).  And he has had many opportunities in that time to do so (both as a 10 and in a deeper role), certainly as many chances as others that are (probably correctly) being dismissed as nowhere near the level we need.  I'm not saying bringing Cameron in is a good move, but the evidence is that Clarkson isn't the answer, either.

48 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

You could clearly see why he isn't near the first team.

Needs loaned out to give him gametime.

Has attributes, but very, very raw.

100% this

Saw nothing on his time in the park that suggested he is anywhere ready to play in the top league for us 

A spell out on loan in the championship against the level he faced today would give us a better idea of whether he has got it or if Jimmy was right and he is not les away from being a first team player for us 

24 minutes ago, KWT15 said:

Theoretically true, but Clarkson hasn't really actually done it since he signed permanently (2 and a half years ago).  And he has had many opportunities in that time to do so (both as a 10 and in a deeper role), certainly as many chances as others that are (probably correctly) being dismissed as nowhere near the level we need.  I'm not saying bringing Cameron in is a good move, but the evidence is that Clarkson isn't the answer, either.

Can't disagree with that

18 minutes ago, redordead said:

Can't disagree with that

I think your point backs up what many have said, there isn’t a squad player we’d bend over backwards to keep, nobody stands out, and that includes Clarkson. Some have made it out that Clarkson is a good player who has been hard done by, but he hasn’t stood out. Has he been wrongly played, perhaps. At the same time, poor players around you affects how you play, I thought he looked decent with Cameron, just need that third complimentary piece.

im In the minority but I like what I saw from Cameron and don’t give two shits whether he’s a rangers loaner or not. I don’t quite understand the loan but so be it. We don’t have talent that he is blocking from developing. We could still sign Cameron, and taking time from aouchiche Armstrong sivert polvara or shinnie makes no difference, none of them are the future. Marshall is out of contract soon and may leave anyway, and may not be good enough. I’d like to see Kjarten more but don’t see Cameron taking his minutes. 
we more than desperately need three players (obviously more) but a dominating central defender, Rama replacement in DM, and a right mid, are essential. Can we get any of that in this window???

There is probably more chance of Cameron being an Aberdeen player next season than there is Clarkson.

He isn't going to sign a new deal and he'll have one year left on his current one in summer - every chance he moves on (be surprised if he didn't).

Cameron is a loan at the moment. We got close to making the Scales & Christie deals permanent. We'll try with Cameron too.

But it's not a competition between the two anyway. That they both started today suggests they may well be starting together in future too. The mistake was Armstrong being paired with them - was better when Shinnie came on.