With DM stating that the squad are playing for the right to start in the cup final, who do you think deserve the right to be in the starting 11?  One more game up in Inverness before the big day but on last nights performance, who do you think should get the nod?

 

Did the formation against Partick work well enough to justify using it against Timmy?  Did McGinn do enough to back up his stake in the starting team?

 

Now, personally,  I don't have a scooby when it comes to formations etc but I'd like to see Stockley start if it's a choice of him or Rooney. 

 

For the back 4 I reckon:

Logan O'connor Considine Shinnie should be starting....

 

.... and I'll leave the rest up to you fine folk.

I thought he was very poor in the last two games against them but he's always been a very hot and cold player. As you say, we probably focus on it more because it is against them. Form wise I don't think he should be playing right now and was pleased dm seemed to think that on Friday too. Hopefully the kick up the arse he needs.

 

He's not looked great in the two games this season, but he looked very good against them last season, so like you say he's hot and cold.

 

He's not in great form but I'd have him starting in front of burns who's not really produced much or storey who's not been seen since signing every day of the week.

 

I do think the Celtic connection gets far too much focus, he's still a professional so to assume he wouldn't try against Celtic is probably unfair.

GK. Lewis

 

RB. Logan

CB. O'Connor

CB. Considine

LB. Shinnie

 

CDM. Jack ©

CDM. McLean

 

RM. Burns

CAM. Maddison

LM. Hayes

 

ST. Stockley

 

 

 

Rooney, as much of a goal threat as he is, just isn't doing anything else so far this season, his hold up and link up play is atrocious and he's honking aerially, Stockley more of a nuisance for me, it's not a bad sub to use if it's not working.

 

Kenny

That is exactly the right team to put on the pitch.

Burns for McGinn definitely.

I said months ago I'd have Stockley over Rooney

Jack is playin well and McLean actually played well v Patrick.

That defence is our best.

I also said about 2 years ago that I didn't rate Reynolds as others did.

 

Wise words..haha

Regarding Reynolds, Nips & Tatties, I don't think he's a poor defender, I think he's a good squad player to have and worth keeping him around, he just seems to have taken the mantle from Considine in terms of being a penalty & red card liability.

 

As for Rooney, it's perplexing for me reading back what I wrote, but the bottom line is, it's true. His goal threat is something we've heavily relied on, but games like this, when you know Celtic will dominate possession ( Because we will let them ) then you need someone up front who can actually hold the ball up there and let Hayes etc... up the park to cause them some problems of our own. Plus he's scored 4 goals now and for me, looks a goal threat too.

This subject makes my heart heavy.

 

We all saw for ourselves that the back 4 against Partick was the most natural it's looked all season BUT... i just get that feeling DM will revert to type and have Considong at LB with Shinzaa in midfield. I really hope i'm wrong.

 

The line up against ICT will be interesting because surely that line up will be repeated next week. You do your experimenting in the games prior to the cup final not during it.

 

It's a real worry actually playing those hammer throwing highland huns as it should be a preview of our cup final team but you run the risk of injury with those hoors! I widna like to be DM just now.

 

I'd line up with these guys too but i see the argument for Rooney starting as he's got a habit of grabbing a goal against the mankies, albiet often a consolation goal. I'd also leave McGinn in the mankies social club as that'll be where he's headed after the game.

 

Lewis

 

Logan

O'Connor

Considong

Shinzaa

 

Jack

McLean

 

Burns

Maddison

Hayes

 

Stockley

 

 

I just can't see McInnes not starting Rooney and McGinn for such a big game.

 

Like has been said, the back 4 is sorted, can't argue with that and I quite like the idea of:

 

RM. Burns

CAM. Maddison

LM. Hayes

 

ST. Stockley

 

But I just can't see McGinn and Rooney on the bench for a final.  If they are though, two great subs to come one should we need them

I don't subscribe to the whole Mcginn didn't show up against Celtic nonsense and I would absolutely start him. I would also go 4-4-2 as really their only weakness is at the back. Intae them, heed first etc.

Lewis

 

Logan

AOC

Considine

Shinnie

 

Mcginn

Jack

Maclean

Hayes

 

Rooney

Stockley

I don't subscribe to the whole Mcginn didn't show up against Celtic nonsense

 

Wrong thread min.

Doesn't matter what the team is I had a dream the other night about the game.

 

We'll go 1-0 down before a Rooney pelanty and a last minute winner from Ryan Jack.

Doesn't matter what the team is I had a dream the other night about the game.

 

We'll go 1-0 down before a Rooney pelanty and a last minute winner from Ryan Jack.

 

 

I'm going to stick £100 on this, a fucking hope your dream wasn't a wet one min!

Wrong thread min.

 

Tell that to the previous posters who think he doesn't try against Celtic then.

 

Tell that to the previous posters who think he doesn't try against Celtic then.

 

I don't think he tries against celtic!

 

I don't come to that conclusion without reason. He doesn't try against celtic and more people agree with that assessment than not and i can only assume that is because they don't think he tries against celtic.

 

I don't know why you think he does try cos he doesn't!

I don't think he tries against celtic!

 

I don't come to that conclusion without reason. He doesn't try against celtic and more people agree with that assessment than not and i can only assume that is because they don't think he tries against celtic.

 

I don't know why you think he does try cos he doesn't!

 

Except he does though... this seems to be one of those points that's repeated over and over until it's just accepted as fact, when really it's not at all.

 

He's not always played well against Celtic admittedly but I reckon folk need to stop coming to a lazy conclusion just because he used to play for them.

It's a moot point and off topic so we might as well forget it, it can't be proved one way or the other but we are all entitled to our opinions.

 

But i'd just like to reply to your point about 'lazy conclusions'... not a lazy conclusion at all, it's an opinion based on what i've seen for myself both at Pittodrie and Porkheid.

It's a moot point and off topic so we might as well forget it, it can't be proved one way or the other but we are all entitled to our opinions.

 

But i'd just like to reply to your point about 'lazy conclusions'... not a lazy conclusion at all, it's an opinion based on what i've seen for myself both at Pittodrie and Porkheid.

 

It's not really off topic given the context but totally agree everyone's entitled to their opinion, nor am I saying everyone's jumping to lazy conclusions... but there's definitely a section of the fan base that see him having a poor game against Celtic and jump to conclusions that he's not trying due to a love of Celtic, that's all I meant. I wasn't directing that at anyone in particular, just a general observation. Although you've got to admit your post does put it across as fact rather than your opinion.

 

I've seen him play at parkhead and pittodrie myself too and seen him have good games and bad games, more than enough to convince me there's no lack of effort, but if others think differently fair enough they're totally entitled to that.

 

Regardless, I still don't think we should be dropping one of our most talented players for a crucial game though.

 

 

40 years ago Bobby Clark had a cup final dream, maybe someone should get in touch with him?

Although you've got to admit your post does put it across as fact rather than your opinion.

 

 

 

Regardless, I still don't think we should be dropping one of our most talented players for a crucial game though.

 

You're right E.D. i did put it across as if it were fact (so did you when you said "except he does though"  ) but i'm so convinced in my opinion i feel it more or less is a fact. I just don't trust him any more. That doesn't just apply to celtic games these days... he's far too choosy about when he's going to turn it on for my liking. I'm not a big fan of passengers.

You're right E.D. i did put it across as if it were fact (so did you when you said "except he does though"  ) but i'm so convinced in my opinion i feel it more or less is a fact. I just don't trust him any more. That doesn't just apply to celtic games these days... he's far too choosy about when he's going to turn it on for my liking. I'm not a big fan of passengers.

 

Aye I guess you're right, I did... only because I'm right though  (kidding, for the benefit of the angrier members of the forum  )

 

Here's hoping he plays a blinder in the final and starts to change folks opinions going forward! 

If it was more or less a fact that he doesn't try he never would have scored against Celtic or put the cross in for quinn to score the winner last season for that matter. He might not always play well against them but I have yet to see any evidence whatsoever to suggest he's not giving his all.

If it was more or less a fact that he doesn't try he never would have scored against Celtic or put the cross in for quinn to score the winner last season for that matter. He might not always play well against them but I have yet to see any evidence whatsoever to suggest he's not giving his all.

 

I agree.  Don't think its ever a case of not trying with Nial, just when it isn't going for him it really doesn't.  IMO if things aren't going his way he shys out of games.

 

Think the fact he has a sulky face doesn't help either

I agree.  Don't think its ever a case of not trying with Nial, just when it isn't going for him it really doesn't.  IMO if things aren't going his way he shys out of games.

 

Think the fact he has a sulky face doesn't help either

 

This. What I don't understand is that when it's not going his way (which is generally more likely to happen against better teams with better defenders) why McInnes always gives him at least 75 minutes to prove that he's not going to turn it on.

 

To be fair to McGinn, he does track back also, which he rarely gets credited with.

 

Some folk just can't get over the fact he grew up a Celtic fan. Bobby Biscuit posted a while back he heard 'fans' calling him a taig at a match. I know every support has their knuckle draggers but some of the treatment NM  really angers me. He's one of the best signings the club has made in recent and not so recent memory.

Well here's hoping he has an unusually good game against the dhims.

 

It's been suggested that he drops out of games when things aren't going our way.... Well that would suggest that A/ he's more likely to be a passenger in the big games and B/ that he's not as good as some think and it shows up when he's up against better players.

Are we seriously suggesting that McGinn, with a chance to win a cup, and with all the guys he works with every day in the same situation, will not try because he would rather the team he supported as a boy won it? 

 

Tosh.

Personally I don't believe any of this nonsense that he doesn't turn up against timmy but I do think he's the biggest question mark for starting on cup final day.

 

After yesterday,why change a winning formula.Confidence building at a good time,think this more attacking line up suits a lot of the players more

  Bit more optimistic about the final now,...but realistic