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Please don’t call it soccer.

His role is to distract defenders via inter-zonal running so that Lammers can receive the ball before mis-controlling it.

I thought it looked good. The delay, assisted by the fire alarms at Dens Park, was unfortunate. Comparing standard Ultra imagery with what the GBs are up to is strange. All Ultras love a flare up, a tifo and a few flags. Not all Ultras celebrate acts of terrorism, display hanging effigies of certain religious groups, pretend to be foreign and wave religious symbols. Not unsurprising that the Scottish press would choose to focus on one as much as the other though, is it.

Maybe not political but the UB's actions last night were moronic,hopefully some are caught and punished.

Ultras, a culture that has spread right across the game. Chant and response, constant drumming and, a multitude of flags combine with a choreography of Tifo, flares and, coloured smoke discharge. The sum of the parts results in a presentation of fanaticism. In Scotland the culture has been growing these last twenty years and in this last month has culminated in ra Sellik's Green Brigade grabbing headlines for political posturing whilst our own Union Bears have exhibited pyromania. The chant is, 'No Pyro, no party'. Last night's events at Dens Park saw the Union Bears exacerbate a situation of delayed kick off. The start was already forty-five minutes late when after two minutes of play the Referee ordered both sets of players from the field for a further eighteen minutes. The halt to play was caused by the Rangers away support in the Bob Shankly stand igniting dozens of flares. White light quickly led to obscuration on a near windless evening. The game and the party fizzled out at nearly eleven O'Clock. The flames surrounding the Green Brigade these last few weeks proved too hot for many. The silence was deafening from numerous politicians, the national broadcaster, Police Scotland despite the Pig Watch banners and, the Scottish Government. One must admire the patient discipline on display as the wait for the approved line/narrative continued. Playing with Peter's fire leads to collective fingers being burnt. Illumination on the silvery Tay sparks a pile on. Last night and today we have had statements from the Dundee CEO, the Dundee manager, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Government and, a multitude of commentary from the national broadcaster at PQ. Moths are attracted to the Rangers inspired flame knowing there is no threat to a single wing being cinched. We await the Rangers statement. I suspect last night's flare up has united those that relish kicking our club and support?

Positions are — let’s be honest here — a terrible way to think and talk about football. They’re supposed to suggest players’ job descriptions, even whole skill sets, but all they really tell you is approximately what patch of grass they run around on. It’s like sending employers a CV that says your desk was over by the potted plant in the north east corner of the office, a few rows behind the accountants and across from marketing. You might get a few weird looks at that interview. What if, instead of positions, we had a more detailed way to describe footballers’ tactical roles? Better yet, what if these roles are based not on subjective labels for starting formations but on the type and location of a player’s actual touches? “Players can be called one position and then do a totally different thing than another player who plays the same position. Sometimes, people don’t agree on what position a player is,” says Mike Imburgio, [...] “So I got really fascinated by the idea of, ‘What kind of player is this? What does this player like to do, and what are they tasked with doing?’.” [Breakdown:] Central attackers Finisher: Focused on getting in the box and finding shots. May be good on the ball but isn’t very involved in possession. Examples from the 2021-22 season: Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martinez, Romelu Lukaku Target: Involved in his team’s build-up play, especially in the air or by dropping towards the ball. Typically more of a goal threat than a creative passer or dribbler. Patrik Schick, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Gianluca Scamacca Roamer: Likes to drop deep or wide to create for team-mates when he’s not attacking the goal. Includes mobile strikers, false nines, and hybrid wingers. Harry Kane, Kai Havertz, Richarlison. Wide attackers Wide threat: Stretches the back line and gets into the penalty area. Does some crossing but likes receiving the final ball as much as playing it. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Mohamed Salah Unlocker: Likes to play field marshal in the opponent’s half. Big on crosses, switches, and forward passes. More of a provider than an off-the-ball runner. Mason Mount, Neymar, Lorenzo Pellegrini Outlet: Gets on the end of dangerous passes but usually plays it safe on the ball. Takes a lot of touches in midfield or close to goal, not much in between. Draws fouls. Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, Joao Felix. Advanced midfielders Box crasher: Doesn’t touch the ball much except when close to goal. More of an off-ball runner than a passer, but will play passes into the box. Likes to dribble. Phil Foden, Florian Wirtz, Serge Gnabry Creator: Looks to break lines with aggressive passes. Frequently central to his team’s play in the attacking half. Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Orchestrator: Prefers midfield circulation to finding the final ball. Likes shorter, higher-percentage passes. Not afraid to do some defending. Bernardo Silva, Jude Bellingham, Nicolo Barella. Deep midfielders Box to box: Defends low but also gets upfield to receive progressive passes. Not very heavily involved in possession, usually cautious on the ball. Fabinho, Wilfred Ndidi, Eduardo Camavinga Distributor: Favours longer, more direct passes and switches. Active in the opponent’s half more than the defensive third. Joshua Kimmich, Fabian Ruiz, Youri Tielemans Builder: Serves as the main circulation hub in the build-up and as a stopper at the base of midfield. Declan Rice, Rodri, Aurelien Tchouameni. Wide defenders Overlapper: Gets into the final third, dribbles, and hits crosses. Would rather receive long passes and recycle them than play long himself. Includes a lot of wing-backs. Alphonso Davies, Achraf Hakimi, Reece James Progressor: Attempts long balls and progressive passes as well as crosses. Active in possession at both ends. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Joao Cancelo Safety: Stays home, getting involved in the defensive third while not taking many risks on or off the ball. Includes hybrid centre-backs or elbow backs. Benjamin Pavard, Timothy Castagne, Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Central defenders Aggressor: Likes to tackle and dribble. Not big on long passes or clearances. Includes a lot of outside centre-backs. Alessandro Bastoni, Lucas Hernandez, Ronald Araujo Spreader: Plays longer, more direct passes. Will sometimes step out in possession or to close down in defence. Marquinhos, Eder Militao, Jules Kounde Anchor: Plays safe passes and does his defending close to goal, especially with clearances and blocks. Ruben Dias, Matthijs de Ligt, Milan Skriniar. [Full article can be found here: https://theathletic.com/3473297/2022/08/10/player-roles-the-athletic/ ]

Boooo @Rousseau 😀😀

Before smartarses invaded the sport, football used to be a simple tribal tradition of passion and enjoyment..

All I can say is spare a thought for those with breathing difficulties from the toxic smoke,it can never be safe.

Much could be tolerated if only they’d put their feet through those fucking drums.

Butland

I get my bag searched every week going in to New Edmiston house and routinely going in to Ibrox. It kind of annoys me because I seldom see males being searched and only if they have a large bag and plenty take in Buckie etc. hidden on their person. The last place you would sneak something in is in your bag. I get it but I do resent it nonetheless.

And it would take even longer than the game at Dens park did.

some storage area down the front of your trousers to accommodate a bottle a buckie. 😁

Thierry Henry did a segment on formations in defense v attack. The media always use the defensive shape when usually teams will have 2 defenders in defence, 3 max if they're a dominant side.

I sit in BF4 and routinely searched. One steward let me in a few weeks back with a bottle of water, that was around 1 hrs before kick off. I'm at less away games now than previously, but again routinely searched especially at Easter Road, Tynecastle etc. Last time I was at Dens Park was 2 seasons ago and can't remember if I was searched. I was last season (as was my son) at Tannidice going into main stand. I don't look like a UB either 😀

Dessers?

That diagram still has player positions. Yes, players can have different roles within their positions depending on their skillset, to put it in most basic terms, but there are still positions. That's always been the case. It's not necessarily tactical either. Looking at our full backs, Tav, Sterling, Borna and Ridvan are all different and would do different roles based on their skillset, but they aren't able to switch to a different role particularly well. Hateley and McCoist were always target and finisher and were always referred to in that way, so it's hardly a new concept either. Souness always wanted Hateley as a target man and when he couldn't get Hateley he went out and got Drinkell

Sure its done this way in other countries. Whilst living in Toronto we used to go and watch Toronto FC and they installed smoke machines in the ultras area - red and white. The issue being masked here is how these flares were gotten into the ground. Said on the match thread the average fan can't get in with a bottle of water but Ultras some how manage to get flares in. Dundee might better served asking Police Scotland and their stewards how this was allowed to happen.

Aye, Lessers and Dammers are both roamers, right enough.

No, its a league not a cup.

Is there any way we can bring this in safely and legally. It is a fantastic spectacle, but it has to be done safely.

He's on 108 senior goals (115 assists). So that means half of all his goals have come from the spot, in roughly 390 senior games. Borna's on 15 (72 assists) in 316 games.

I think McKenna will peddle whatever the hierarchy down London Road way tell him. I've never seen much capacity for original thought.