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vs Aberdeen; 10/8, 3pm
Topic Started: Aug 4 2014, 12:23 PM (2,049 Views)
Setenza
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Knitting with only one needle
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First game of the season, and will be a tough one.

Especially as we're a bit unsettled in defence. Dillon and Wilson are out, Watson not had much of a pre-season due to injury. Townsend only played one game. Add in Morris and Fojut just joined, and it could be a rough game at the back.

Think we might need to just keep it tight and hope to sneak something, but feeling it could be a 2-0 defeat.

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Naebody
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Twat
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I reckon McNamara will pull at least one of his trademark brave calls with the team selection. Possibly Spittal at right back, given he had a few pre-season games there; possibly dropping GMS to the bench, as he did at the start of last season; and possibly going with pre-season form rather than end-of-last-season form, which hints at Erskine and/or Graham ahead of Dow and/or Ciftci.

So:

.................. Cz
Spittal Watson Fojut Townsend
........... Paton Rankin
... Erskine Armstrong Ciftci
.............. Graham

1-1. Rooney, Graham.

Eastfudball goes into meltdown.

ETA: sorry, Morris not Watson at CB.
Edited by Naebody, Aug 4 2014, 05:14 PM.
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Setenza
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Knitting with only one needle
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Think it'll be more conventional. I can see Graham starting, but think GMS will start rather than Erskine. Morris rather than Watson also in the centre, with Watson right side.

Hopefully Aberdeen will be tired after their midweek game.

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Naebody
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Twat
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Well, normally I'd agree on starting GMS. But it seems he played against Qatar's U23 side yesterday.

Really? Really.



He's been out of sorts for most of 2014, and fact that he played in that game suggests to me something's still up. I'd very much like to be wrong about that though.
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reekie
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P'raps jackie's just getting him up to speed.

I'd agree with Spittal at rb. Aberdeen have pace down both flanks, so might be good to counter that.
Be surprised if Dow gets dropped though.
I'm not a Graham hater but I do prefer Çiftçi up top.

1-1. Rooney, Graham.
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TheDean
ALLEGEDLY CALICO
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Can't see us winning -3-0 sheep. Too much new in the back 4 to have it sorted by start time
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Setenza
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reekie
Aug 4 2014, 08:26 PM
P'raps jackie's just getting him up to speed.
Would think so, bit of confidence always good for him.
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vvhatsthatonyourback
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wild eyed
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Aberdeen already playing competitive matches and no great changes from last season, whilst our defence will be well dodge, makes me suspect a rather comfortable win for our Aberdonian pals.

3-1 to thon sheepies.
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Morvant's Finest
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Tommy McLean
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Yep, it's not a great time to be playing the Sheep, though perhaps Thursday's 2nd leg tie will take a bit out of them physically and mentally. Let's hope so.

There should be reasons to be optimistic around the team, but it feels like the ko of the season's come a couple of weeks too soon for new signings to gel and injuries to heal etc.

Let's hope GMS plays, as with Robertson and Gauld's attacking spark missing from the team I think we're going to be reminded about how important a player he is for us in the coming weeks.

1-1 hopefully...
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Naebody
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Twat
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Ah fuck, I've just remembered Goodwillie's playing for them now.

Change my prediction to 2-1. Rooney, Graham, Goodwillie (90m). And I'd expect one of the debutant back-four to get a red card caused by a combination of first-game enthusiasm, lack of pace and a heinous Robson dive.
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Setenza
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Knitting with only one needle
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Sensible comments from McNamara about options up front.

Quote:
 
“There are certain teams that sit in against us and we want to encourage their full-backs to come out to see if we can get into the space in behind.

“We had a few opportunities to do that but I thought in the first half we were too safe with our passing, playing sideways rather than going for the killer pass at times.

“Having the option is the important thing for me.

“We have a good-sized squad and have different options up front and at the back.


Having a few rehearsed options to mix things up is always good.
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reekie
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Not really getting the Aberdeen love-in.
Most would agree that they were stuffy and functional last season, grinding out a lot of 1-0 wins. They haven't really changed much, other than bringing in Goodie.
We needed to shore up our central defence and we have.
We've swapped one inexperienced, youthful left-back for another and have Keef still at right-back.
He, Paton, Armstrong and Çiftici are all a bit more experienced and wiser.
Plus, we have exciting new options in midfield and up front.

In short, less of the doom-and-gloom, ladies!
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Naebody
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Twat
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reekie
Aug 5 2014, 04:39 PM
Not really getting the Aberdeen love-in.
Ditto. Barry Robson will be 63 36 in November, Clangers remains first choice keeper and they have frees from Brentford and Tranmere shoring up the defence. Rooney still looks a player but we've no evidence Goodwillie will ever remember he's one. I'd expect Aberdeen to be around the top-six cutoff point this year.

However, it seems improbable that our new back four could already have figured out how to set an offside trap. In those circumstances, having McGinn run at two nervy, heavy-set fullbacks making their competitive debuts doesn't fill me with confidence.

Is it on telly, by the way? Alba, perhaps?
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reekie
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lum raker
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Not on the telly, just moved due to Aberdeen's dalliance with European football.
Not sure about the heavy-set full-backs....
Townsend is young enough to keep up with McGinn and Keef's quicker than either Wilson or Dillon.
No idea of Telfer's pace but, again, he's young so at least will have a bit of pace about him.
I'd worry more about them getting bounced off the ball (not Keef: he's built like a bloody brick outhouse!).

Looking forward to it, myself.
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Clarkie
Mac an t-stronaich
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Think Aberdeen will win this one purely because it will be their 6th competitive game of the season whereas our defence will still be trying to remember what their new team-mates names are.

It's Motherwell v St Mirren on alba saturday and Hamilton v Inverness on sunday
Edited by Clarkie, Aug 5 2014, 09:43 PM.
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