St Mirren v Aberdeen

[dons8321]

52 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

No it doesn't. All teams will have two players back anyway (one on halfway, one in-between). They don't bring another two back for one player. As I said, you'd need at least two forward to make a real difference. 

I think the reason that most teams put everyone back is because the "out-ball" is, in reality, rarely useful. It suggests that you have control of the ball, which is rarely the case. A corner is usually headed away front post, or booted away aimlessly if there's a stramash. If you've got time to take a touch and look for a pass, then the out ball will have had time to run thirty yards. If you've not got time, then the last thing we need is a player trying to play the perfect fifty yard pass, rather than just booting it. 

The Tims used to always have two forward under Rogers against us, and that made a difference to the way we setup. I think you either do that, or accept that there is minimal benefit between one up or none up. 

If we leave a player up front he'll (hopefully) be able to close down the opposition if he can't get onto the ball.  At the moment we clear, they regain possession, have time to control it and hoist it back into our box.  Obviously it does't work the other way round - they clear, we pick up the loose ball and put it back to our keeper.

[DonUnder]

Unfortunately, our best set piece defensive header of a ball is Kevin Nesbitt.

[Shetland Don]

I have followed the Dons for many decades, taking in games at Pittodrie when I can and watching on TV at other times. This is the most pathetic and lazy bunch of players I have ever seen and the football is boring beyond belief to watch. Saw the Falkirk game at Pittodrie a couple of weeks ago and we almost left before the half-time pie. Scheduled to be in Aberdeen next weekend but I really don’t think I can be arsed to waste another afternoon and £100 for us to go to Pittodrie again. Might change my mind on the day but regrettably I can’t imagine that we will win or even put in a decent performance. Disillusioned and frustrated - I wish the players cared as much! 

[Mason89]

You’re absolutely right. Even if it worked, the football we’re trying to play is mind numbingly dull. 
Saw the two defenders on the 6 yard line while the keeper had the ball and I just couldn’t give a fuck anymore. If Robinson thinks he can play our way out of trouble like that then we’re absolutely fucked 

[Ajja]

Brutal watch. It’s all been said but my god, when you know you are going to be in a ferocious battle in poor weather against hammer throwers you don’t go to battle with an old mad and a guy who has no fitness. 2 in midfield was an absolute disaster of a selection. 
 

I heard Robinson banging on about seeing something different in training. Assume all those ‘technically gifted’ players we’ve assembled are running about like Brazilians in training and then when it starts raining horizontally and that giraffe Philips is kicking you in the air the whole thing goes to shit. 
 

I’m clinging onto our 4 home games in last 6 as we looked a little more composed and able against Falkirk. Away from home we are a write off. Also Partick form is sliding. It’s all I’ve got left in the positivity bank. 

[RicoS321]

3 hours ago, dons8321 said:

If we leave a player up front he'll (hopefully) be able to close down the opposition if he can't get onto the ball.  At the moment we clear, they regain possession, have time to control it and hoist it back into our box.  Obviously it does't work the other way round - they clear, we pick up the loose ball and put it back to our keeper.

Again, I'm fairly certain that clubs have thought about this and weighed up the pros and cons. When we clear, it's heading thirty yards from goal. If we're doing our job well, it's heading wide. Someone standing on the halfway line isn't in prime position to collect, or press from there, and the ball is coming back in. Far better to be pushing out towards the ball as a team than a guy chasing back the way with an eye on attacking. If you're simply bringing back the guy you have up front for your quick break, then you're ending up with eleven back anyway. The idea would be that one charges after our clearance, whilst Nisbet or whoever resumes his position up front, to get us to a more recognisable shape. The fact that we are fucking atrocious at defending set pieces is the issue, not the ability to break or not.

[dons8321]

1 hour ago, Shetland Don said:

I have followed the Dons for many decades, taking in games at Pittodrie when I can and watching on TV at other times. This is the most pathetic and lazy bunch of players I have ever seen and the football is boring beyond belief to watch. Saw the Falkirk game at Pittodrie a couple of weeks ago and we almost left before the half-time pie. Scheduled to be in Aberdeen next weekend but I really don’t think I can be arsed to waste another afternoon and £100 for us to go to Pittodrie again. Might change my mind on the day but regrettably I can’t imagine that we will win or even put in a decent performance. Disillusioned and frustrated - I wish the players cared as much! 

Less than 1k tickets left so hang on and the decision might be made for you.  

It's Joe Harper Legends Day - hope he brings his boots.

 

[Shetland Don]

2 hours ago, dons8321 said:

Less than 1k tickets left so hang on and the decision might be made for you.  

It's Joe Harper Legends Day - hope he brings his boots.

 

Thanks, aware of tickets situation and Harper’s day which might sway me in favour of going.

[Mason89]

2 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Again, I'm fairly certain that clubs have thought about this and weighed up the pros and cons. When we clear, it's heading thirty yards from goal. If we're doing our job well, it's heading wide. Someone standing on the halfway line isn't in prime position to collect, or press from there, and the ball is coming back in. Far better to be pushing out towards the ball as a team than a guy chasing back the way with an eye on attacking. If you're simply bringing back the guy you have up front for your quick break, then you're ending up with eleven back anyway. The idea would be that one charges after our clearance, whilst Nisbet or whoever resumes his position up front, to get us to a more recognisable shape. The fact that we are fucking atrocious at defending set pieces is the issue, not the ability to break or not.

I’ll bet theres a logical footballing reason for not having a man on the back post but it’s total bollocks as well 

I was good friends with a guy who did his coaching badge with Martin Buchan many years ago. When Craig Brown was telling him that marking wasn’t as important as having ‘numerical superiority in the box’, Buchan walked out 

Even if we were brilliant at defending, lining up for a corner like that is inviting trouble. You need an out ball. 

[Kowalski]

1 hour ago, Mason89 said:

I’ll bet theres a logical footballing reason for not having a man on the back post but it’s total bollocks as well 

I was good friends with a guy who did his coaching badge with Martin Buchan many years ago. When Craig Brown was telling him that marking wasn’t as important as having ‘numerical superiority in the box’, Buchan walked out 

Even if we were brilliant at defending, lining up for a corner like that is inviting trouble. You need an out ball. 

And yet only one of them managed Scotland. 

[Mason89]

5 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

And yet only one of them managed Scotland. 

True. Must’ve been class having your best mates uncle running the SFA 

[Ajja]

Assume Robinson hasn’t binned the zonal approach at set pieces?

[blinlemon]

5 hours ago, Mason89 said:

I’ll bet theres a logical footballing reason for not having a man on the back post but it’s total bollocks as well 

I was good friends with a guy who did his coaching badge with Martin Buchan many years ago. When Craig Brown was telling him that marking wasn’t as important as having ‘numerical superiority in the box’, Buchan walked out 

Even if we were brilliant at defending, lining up for a corner like that is inviting trouble. You need an out ball. 

You’d have been impressed with Keith when Allan Hale was the gaffer. At opposition corners, he’d put our main striker Mikey Ewen in the centre circle, and two wide players on the halfway line the width of the pitch apart. It spooked opposition managers and players and it was quite successful in both leaving the defending to defenders, and keeping hairy-arsed ex-convict delinquent defenders out of our box. 

 

[dons8321]

5 hours ago, Mason89 said:

I’ll bet theres a logical footballing reason for not having a man on the back post but it’s total bollocks as well 

I was good friends with a guy who did his coaching badge with Martin Buchan many years ago. When Craig Brown was telling him that marking wasn’t as important as having ‘numerical superiority in the box’, Buchan walked out 

Even if we were brilliant at defending, lining up for a corner like that is inviting trouble. You need an out ball. 

Craig Brown, the guy who after Rory Fallon scored a wonder goal and we were all over Hibs, decided to bring on Mackie to get us a winner., that guy?.

I was at school with both Martin and George (a year behind Martin (light years in fitba terms). Not at all surprised he walked out on CBs tutorial as he didn't suffer fools gladly (as can be confirmed when he slapped Gordon Hill during a game for not following his instructions)... he'd probably have been given a red card nowadays.

[TheDonbytheDee]

Just watched the 'highlights'. Their first goal, we made the scorer look like prime Messi.

Was a good goal to be fair. The least said about their second the better. Story of our season. 

[CurlsLikeTattie]

On 04/04/2026 at 12:45, DonUnder said:

Wasn't at ABB was it?

Nah couldn't be too long ago.

There was a lady there (in IT I suspect) that complained about an inappropriate email (it was childish at the worst) - Press & Neeps got a hold of the complaint info and all the people cc'd were given a written warning.

It was redacted but ....

Nah, not ABB. Our main UK office is Manchester, but we didn't make the Manchester Evening News  

[DonUnder]

19 minutes ago, CurlsLikeTattie said:

Nah, not ABB. Our main UK office is Manchester, but we didn't make the Manchester Evening News  

Making light of it but it was harrowing at the time. I was in the latter stages of emigrating and didn't need that on my employment record. Company was cowardly they should have told the contract company to pull their head in - intimidated by the P&J FFS.

[wokinginashearerwonderland]

On 06/04/2026 at 07:14, TheDonbytheDee said:

Just watched the 'highlights'. Their first goal, we made the scorer look like prime Messi.

Was a good goal to be fair. The least said about their second the better. Story of our season. 

If you watch the extended highlights and analysis that were on Sportscene the other night it also blows the whole theory about Robinson's supposedly horrendous style of play out of the water.  St Mirren actually played some terrific fitba so unless their new gaffer has turned them from Cowdenbeath into Brazil in the space of a fortnight then Robinson must have done something right there. 

[Jute]

8 hours ago, wokinginashearerwonderland said:

If you watch the extended highlights and analysis that were on Sportscene the other night it also blows the whole theory about Robinson's supposedly horrendous style of play out of the water.  St Mirren actually played some terrific fitba so unless their new gaffer has turned them from Cowdenbeath into Brazil in the space of a fortnight then Robinson must have done something right there. 

That’s exactly what St Mirren fans are saying McLeish has done. They are saying it’s a complete change of style from under Robinson.