It's that time of year when we're all so optimistic about doing well in the new season, which usually stops at the final whistle of the first game.

The Dons take on last season's champions runners-up Heart of Midlothian at 5:30 pm on Saturday 3rd August. Hearts have given away their manager, top scorer and best player to their big brothers in Glasgow. Nevertheless, it will be a tough game, and I fancy a 1-1 draw, with Nisbet on the scoresheet for Aberdeen.

6 hours ago, Panda said:

I think a few players didn't quite grasp the speed of the Scottish game, which turned into a nervy performance and a fair few were trying to hide out there and didn't want the ball. I'm guessing Robinson's quotes about being impressed with the desire was him being diplomatic, and behind closed doors it'll be a different conversation.

Happe and Guinness-Walker both looked particularly nervous at times, and watching them knock the ball to each other rather than one of them trying to get the ball forward summed that up. Yogane went missing. Lyons poor and it was noticeable that Armstrong was slating him when he came on.

Armstrong and Smith changed the game because they were the only two that wanted the ball and were willing to drive with it, which upped the atmosphere. Before that, today was a day where you miss Graeme Shinnie, who would have been driving forward from deep rather than just trying to get rid of it like many were doing.

Olusanya, for someone whose strength is his...well, his strength - he falls over constantly. If he can't even bring that to the game then he's no use.

Hopefully the new signings just haven't quite settled in to Premiership football at a big club yet, and we'll see more from them the more they play.

Most of the team has played in Scotland so pace and physicality shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Perhaps the occasion got to some of them. First game of the season, one of the more anticipated fixtures, live on TV, 10 year unbeaten home record to maintain.

There is certainly more pressure and expectation at Aberdeen than the likes of Killie and Dundee. Hopefully the new signings can adjust to that.

Agree we missed Shinnie in the middle to take hold of the game and drive us forward. Not sure who can do that in this squad ( if anyone?).

how many times have we done what we did yesterday in the dying minutes of a game in the last few seasons??
Not very many at all..........................

We wirna great but we got the job done, a wins a wan and all that and three points on the board. Winning ugly has the makings of a decent outfit.
Yesterday was a step up in class in the most recent opponents and we got it over the line.

Robinson is building a decent squad here lads, OK Yogane is shite but we do have what is starting to look like a decent fighting squad.

COYR
SF

3 minutes ago, Blow.Up.Sheep said:

how many times have we done what we did yesterday in the dying minutes of a game in the last few seasons??
Not very many at all..........................

It usually happens against us. So yesterday made a fine change.

Yogane did get past his man a few times 2bf, his big issue was final ball I felt.

2 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

Yogane did get past his man a few times 2bf, his big issue was final ball I felt.

Yep, and that was exactly what Dundee fans said about him. He’s got to improve on that side of his game.

That said, he was defo hiding on occasion too. Robinson better be having a word.

Smith was far more effective when he came on. Positive, direct, happy to run at them. He definitely unsettled the diets at the back.

Armstrong added some composure and technical ability too. Used the ball well and his delivery into the box (like the free kick for the first) is usually very good. We need to work out how best to use him at this stage of his career as he’ll contribute well this year if we do.

We’re very much a work in progress but there’s certainly room for optimism…

2 hours ago, The.Moog said:

Yep, and that was exactly what Dundee fans said about him. He’s got to improve on that side of his game.

That said, he was defo hiding on occasion too. Robinson better be having a word.

Smith was far more effective when he came on. Positive, direct, happy to run at them. He definitely unsettled the diets at the back.

Armstrong added some composure and technical ability too. Used the ball well and his delivery into the box (like the free kick for the first) is usually very good. We need to work out how best to use him at this stage of his career as he’ll contribute well this year if we do.

We’re very much a work in progress but there’s certainly room for optimism…

Said it yesterday, that is the use for Armstrong. Back up to Ronan, or a wide player. Play up to 45 mins in the second half and have the energy to impact the game when others are tiring. Showed yesterday he’s clearly an impact sub that can contribute.

Findlay appeal rejected. No extension for brazen cheek.

21 hours ago, Ajja said:

Findlay appeal rejected. No extension for brazen cheek.

That’s what grips my shit. That was the dictionary definition of frivolous - yet no extended ban this time.

Just yet more complete inconsistency.

Week one and here we go already. Fuckin SFA…

1 hour ago, The.Moog said:

That’s what grips my shit. That was the dictionary definition of frivolous - yet no extended ban this time.

Just yet more complete inconsistency.

Week one and here we go already. Fuckin SFA…

I don't think the appeal itself was frivolous, the statement was completely unacceptable and unnecessary though. Also, I think they stopped the frivolous nonsense after the Shinnie incident because of the backlash.

I mean as kicks to the bollocks go, the Jambos sack must look like a piñata on Las Posadas. SFA probably felt one more boot was gonna finish them off.

Edited August 5Aug 5 by Ajja

20 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

I don't think the appeal itself was frivolous, the statement was completely unacceptable and unnecessary though. Also, I think they stopped the frivolous nonsense after the Shinnie incident because of the backlash.

Fair enough if they stopped the “frivolous” stuff as I wasn’t aware of that - cause that Shinnie call was a complete disgrace - but that appeal by the diets was entirely frivolous.

It was solely based on “a genuine attempt to play the ball”. Ridiculous claim, and there is no universe in which that could ever been seen as anything other than frivolous nonsense.

Still its done now and justice remains served.

Dusting off Joy Division for the Benfica goal fest tonight. Should be as equally hilarious as the last 5 minutes on Saturday…

1 hour ago, The.Moog said:

Fair enough if they stopped the “frivolous” stuff as I wasn’t aware of that - cause that Shinnie call was a complete disgrace - but that appeal by the diets was entirely frivolous.

It was solely based on “a genuine attempt to play the ball”. Ridiculous claim, and there is no universe in which that could ever been seen as anything other than frivolous nonsense.

Still its done now and justice remains served.

Dusting off Joy Division for the Benfica goal fest tonight. Should be as equally hilarious as the last 5 minutes on Saturday…

My Jambo neighbour said yesterday he was dreading the rest of the month fixture wise. I don't blame him. Horsed tonight in portugal, tricky home time to utd who looked more than little handy against der hun, another battering from Benfica then a banana skin fixture at home to an on the rise again ICT. Can see that ICT game having a lot of pressure on it cos I think the best they are doing in the 3 before is a draw against utd.