Everyone is obviously scared to talk about this one!

Hard to guess how we'll set up as Barry Robson - in his two spells as caretaker boss - is yet to manage a game away from home. With him very much under the microscope from the Football Monitoring Board (🙄), does he just play it safe and try and avoid a hiding, or does he take a risk and try be adventurous knowing that a positive attacking performance would boost his case enormously. 

It'll actually be really intriguing to see and I'm looking forward to this one despite the horrible record v Celtic. Was hoping to go, but having to work now as the boss is off to Spain and we're short staffed.

I suspect we'll stick closely to the formation that started v St Mirren and Motherwell. That would mean McCrorie into a back three. Personally I'd prefer him at RWB with Mackenzie in. Can't see any other changes - Coulson a good attacking option off the bench with Hayes likely to start for experience. 
 

28 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Switched off after fifteen minutes

Can we just not bother with the second half in the interests of damage limitation

So you missed Coulson's shot...it went out for a shy according to the wifie on open mics!

4-0. Bastards couldn’t even just lose 3-0 so I won money. 

Didn’t see the game so can’t comment. My knee jerk reaction is to punt Robson too and just start afresh with a whole new coaching staff. Get some guy in (not strachan) who is experienced but not SPL tarnished. Someone like an Ange for example. Not easy to find but a fresh new face may be a good thing.

51 goals conceded from 26 games, can’t ever remember us having such a bad defensive record. Worst in the league too ffs. At this rate we’ll be over 70 by the seasons end. How did Macdonald and pollock look today??
 

We looked a really poor team today. Alarmingly poor.

The way we constantly coughed up possession either from poor passes or being brushed off the ball was unforgivable. Rarely, if ever, did we actually put together a good passage of play, I'm struggling to think of one. The goals were soft, and we offered nothing at the other end except the two times Joe Hart nae two errors. We cannot cross the ball, no-one can beat their man. It's all so basic and shows just how badly they've been coached all season.

Tactically the three at the back gave Celtic too much space in the first half although we did at least change the shape, even if by the time we did the horse had bolted, spent the day at the pub, and strolled back with a couple of fillies and stuck a do not disturb sign on the stable door.

But I don't think there's a huge amount of criticism you can really give Robson for the 90 minutes. The mistakes from individuals weren't on him, and he had named pretty much the line-up you expected him to. But we didn't look fit (that's not on him), we looked slow (not on him). He picked Hayes because he thought he would offer more defensively and was rewarded by a really poor performance in return. 

Ramadani, lots of enthusiasm, but he's not Aberdeen standard I don't think. Shinnie was trying to run that midfield himself. Duk far too slow and ponderous. Clarkson really poor although at least he was always looking for the ball.

To be fair to Robson, he corrected most of these mistakes as the game went on although he took too long to do them. At least he got there eventually, which is more than could be said for Goodwin.

I don't see a new manager coming in before Livingston so it's a huge seven days for Robson. He has to identify the weaknesses, he has to make changes for Livingston, and by fuck do we need to win that.

Tim mate, who was at the game and a very level headed kinda guy, said that was one of our worst performances there in some time. Offered nothing and if we don’t get our manager right, we should be worried. Which we all know. But I found it quite disturbing that other fans know this too. 
 

wont be watching the lowlights, onwards to a much more important game against livi. Hope we have our shit together by then.

The most annoying thing about this is not the result (I expected worse tbh), not the performance (our squad confidence is as fragile as Paul Bernard's leg)

its the amount of huns plaguing the official AFC social media posts with this new "4 games a season club" shite. I swear this has suddenly appeared just recently but I've spotted so many different huns saying this. I don't know if it annoys me, or if it gives me a wee bit of pleasure knowing that their own paranoia and Dons-obsession is getting under their own skin. 

On 19/02/2023 at 03:03, manc_don said:

 wont be watching the lowlights, onwards to a much more important game against livi. Hope we have our shit together by then.

^^^^

This

I have Sportscene on series link to record. Deleted this weekend's without watching any of it

This might be the best Celtic team I've seen. The speed, consistency and intensity of their press is frightening. So I don't like the negative hyperbole I've seen on social media regarding our performance. Confidence is shot and I can kind of understand why. 

First half from us was awful, genuinely thought we might have beaten McGhee's record after 13 minutes. Every dons player panicked when the ball came near them, the decision making was horrendous and not one player was willing to take charge, all looking at one another. Gorter, almost single handedly kept it at 2-0 till half-time. Robson and Agnew got things more organised in the second half and we actually looked like we might be growing into the game. But the total lack of confidence still evident in things like Clarkson's "shot" from the rhs that went out for a throw on the lhs. Hayes not just lobbing Hart, instead laying it off to Ramadani only for Hart to make a save with his hands outside the box right in front of the ref.  One of your better players missing so horrendously and then being denied a freekick and a sending off.

That said nothing excuses the weak defending and numerous basic errors.

2 hours ago, baggy89 said:

One of your better players missing so horrendously and then being denied a freekick and a sending off.

I didn't watch the game, but just looked back at the highlights, and I don't think it was a handball (as per the rules). It definitely wasn't a red card either way, as the ball hits off his body and then onto his hand, so if it hadn't hit his hand it would have dropped fairly harmlessly to one of their covering players as the sting had already been taken out of the (exceptionally pish) shot. For me, it would have been a clear and obvious error if a red had been given, but not the other way around. I could understand a ref giving a foul in real time, and possibly even a red depending on how he'd interpreted it in real time. But the fact it hits his body first, for me, looks the right call.

41 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

I didn't watch the game, but just looked back at the highlights, and I don't think it was a handball (as per the rules). It definitely wasn't a red card either way, as the ball hits off his body and then onto his hand, so if it hadn't hit his hand it would have dropped fairly harmlessly to one of their covering players as the sting had already been taken out of the (exceptionally pish) shot. For me, it would have been a clear and obvious error if a red had been given, but not the other way around. I could understand a ref giving a foul in real time, and possibly even a red depending on how he'd interpreted it in real time. But the fact it hits his body first, for me, looks the right call.

Fair enough. There was no replay on RedTV. Looked like Ramadani hit it, Hart's arm came out and the ball changed direction. 

Apparently we have a game tomorrow. Not sure what’s worse, no thread on the go or me too lazy to start a new one.

anyway, no pressure game for us. Hope to see an attacking game like hibs and st mirren have done this last week with the tic. I’d love to see us start bavidge for the experience, why not? 
2-2, duk and bavidge.

Don't think the following will play

Miovski (obviously), Duk, McCrorie, Hayes.

Expect Watkins and Bavidge up front.

Interest factor pretty low to be honest

Will probably watch the play off for fourth place instead.

Let the season end and this summer's rebuild swing into action

P.S Manc is sacked for being too lazy to start a match thread 😉 

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Don't think the following will play

Miovski (obviously), Duk, McCrorie, Hayes.

Expect Watkins and Bavidge up front.

Interest factor pretty low to be honest

Will probably watch the play off for fourth place instead.

Let the season end and this summer's rebuild swing into action

P.S Manc is sacked for being too lazy to start a match thread 😉 

Yeah I don't give a flying fuck how we get on at the San giro 2bh.  Absolutely agree with giving bavidge a start, let's see how kid handles it. The interesting game of the weekend for me is the Killie county game on Sunday as I would much prefer Killie to be put into the playoffs than RC. 2 reasons, fuck the plastic pitch and having top flight football in the highlands is so good for the region (I live in Inverness for those that don't know). 

I will be keeping an eye on the Edinburgh Derby though and massively rooting for the spoon burners. It would be so funny if hibs pipped them to 4th, my neighbour is a jambo and I would have a fucking field day with him. 

 

I suspect we will probably lose tomorrow, celtic will likely be back to full strength with the cup final approaching and I suspect our squad will be somewhat jaded after midweek celebrations.  

 

 

1 hour ago, tlg1903 said:

Yeah I don't give a flying fuck how we get on at the San giro 2bh.  Absolutely agree with giving bavidge a start, let's see how kid handles it. The interesting game of the weekend for me is the Killie county game on Sunday as I would much prefer Killie to be put into the playoffs than RC. 2 reasons, fuck the plastic pitch and having top flight football in the highlands is so good for the region (I live in Inverness for those that don't know). 

I will be keeping an eye on the Edinburgh Derby though and massively rooting for the spoon burners. It would be so funny if hibs pipped them to 4th, my neighbour is a jambo and I would have a fucking field day with him. 

 

I suspect we will probably lose tomorrow, celtic will likely be back to full strength with the cup final approaching and I suspect our squad will be somewhat jaded after midweek celebrations.  

 

 

I am contemplating going to the Killie game on Sunday as just fifteen minutes door to door

Unlike you cunts I will be there supporting the team because I a real fan and not because I am a pessimistic cunt who thought it would go to last game so bought a ticket. 
 

Would assume Robson will give run outs to fringe players and those that are leaving. This could end up any score as  Victims could easily rest a few players with cup final in mind. 
 

In

train then pub in town before last minute dash to ground

away end

pub then train back to capital. 
 

2-2 Bavidge and Clarkson

5 minutes ago, Jute said:

Unlike you cunts I will be there supporting the team because I a real fan and not because I am a pessimistic cunt who thought it would go to last game so bought a ticket. 
 

Would assume Robson will give run outs to fringe players and those that are leaving. This could end up any score as  Victims could easily rest a few players with cup final in mind. 
 

In

train then pub in town before last minute dash to ground

away end

pub then train back to capital. 
 

2-2 Bavidge and Clarkson

You're only predicting two each because it will win you the 2023-23 predictor league 😂

11 minutes ago, BigAl said:

You're only predicting two each because it will win you the 2023-23 predictor league 😂

Maybe

2 minutes ago, Jute said:

Maybe

I'll go for 2-3

Scott Bain 96th minute O G

You know what they say

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once A Don, Always A Don

 

Why are people thinking we’ll field a weakened side???? Pretty sure Robson will want to beat Celtic, and the chance is there. Other than bavidge in for miovski, no reason to change. Don’t buy or support play kennedy for example cos he’s leaving…

7 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Why are people thinking we’ll field a weakened side???? Pretty sure Robson will want to beat Celtic, and the chance is there. Other than bavidge in for miovski, no reason to change. Don’t buy or support play kennedy for example cos he’s leaving…

Only because it’s usually what happens in meaningless end of season games.

8 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Don’t buy or support play kennedy for example cos he’s leaving…

What about: "play Kennedy because the other guy is about to net us £2M"?

Or: "play Kennedy because the other guy is about to net us £2M and, he isn't Jayden Richardson"?

Orlando calls it right and we field pretty strong team.

Disappointed bavidge didn’t get the start, would love to see him get a good 25-30 mins or so today. No clue what to expect, Celtic conceded 4 this week, 1 point from 6, hope we have a go.

This will be our 17th loss in league right?  To lose 44% of your league games and still finish third sure shows how awful the Scottish football brand is.  Best of a bad bunch really eh?