Waltersgotstyle

2 minutes ago, buster. said:

(Part of) The money we spent on Grezda might have been better invested in Jordan Jones (back available tonight after 2 game ban).

 

You have to question the wisdom of signing a player who obviously wasn't going to be fully up to speed for months (difficult to give him gametime in so many important games).

 

I say that whilst recognising the general improvement in recruitment in the summer.

Grezda was a gamble, a player who if fit and ready may have been out of our price range. It’s been claimed Grezda was the best player for a decent Osijek side.

I’m not sure Jones will ever be at the level needed. 

9 minutes ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

I agree about Morelos but we have been equally toothless when he has played. 

Agreed mate but without Morelos’ hold up play and Arfield supporting runs we look a far poorer team going forward.

We are still 2 or 3 players short of being a really good team. Hopefully we can sort that out in January.

We missed Morelos today, however I think the man we really missed today and Thursday was Arfield.

Arfield is the experienced man who drives our team forward. 

I hope the pain of seeing celtic lift another trophy spurs the team on.

50 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

We're below Hearts, Celtc, Livi and Killie and on equal points with Hibs, in the league.  We couldn't beat a poor Aberdeen side and our recent record against Hibs isn't much to shout about.

 

Until these things change, there's no point appearing boastful.

 

 

You are right - there is nothing to boast about (yet) but there is plenty to be optimistic about.

It just shows how far we have come that I left the ground disappointed that we didnt beat Spartak Moscow.

On another note I know another one of our players is also texting young females whilst playing happy families at home.

These lads need to be a little wiser IMO. Be happy with what you have.

1 hour ago, pete said:

Lets face it Brian Laudrup was a failure at most other clubs across Europe and he did all right for us. If Kent gets near his level then he would certainly be worth spending some money on him.

Brian Laudrup was instrumental in winning the Euro Championships...

"Right lads if anyone thinks that Graeme Shinnie and Gary Mackay Steven deserve to be in the Scotland squad in front of you... Tell them to sling their hook!"

"LETS GO!"

24 minutes ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

All I can say is lol

There is no debating with you though, you think you are right on everything.

Simple fact is Devlin, Shinnie and GMS are not good enough to improve Scotland - so why not give players who's form is on the ascendancy a chance?

LOL indeed...

47 minutes ago, buster. said:

With all due respect, it was bullshit then and it still is.

 

 

Middleton is an excellent young footballer but isn't at this point in time ready for the full International squad.

 

In his career to date, he's played 79 minutes in League football, spread over 4 sub appearences.

 

He's had one full 90 minutes in his first team career, a League Cup game............and a total of 70 minutes in a handful of sub appearences in the Europa League.

No mate these are facts.

Middleton - has scored 3 goals this season with 1 assist and has only played 284 minutes.

GMS - has scored 4 goals this season and also has 1 assist whilst playing 1054 minutes.

Statistically Middleton has had a better start to the season than Gary Mackay Steven - who IMO is extremely average.

Now you are correct in saying Middleton is not even ready for our first team - however if McLeish is going to give out caps to poor players such as GMS,  then we may as well have the debate as to whether he should have included one of the most promising wingers in Scotland at this moment in time.

2 hours ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

The last time they beat us was when they beat us to 2nd place last season and the year before that too. Currently we are only 2 points ahead of them in the league, and they have had a woeful start. 

 

When we are back winning titles and cups we can afford to look down our noses at the rest. Then and only then.

 

P.S. The argument shouldn’t really even be about the team. It’s the player that’s relevant and I don’t see any of ours being unfairly missed out.

I started with that point previously - by stating that Middleton has statistically had a better start to the season the Gary Mackay Steven.

David Bates has also made a solid start to his career at Hamburg and deserved a chance before Devlin.

As for Halliday/McCrorie - well they have come out on top against Shinnie in every game I have seen.

4 hours ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

When is the last time we finished above Aberdeen in the league? They might be a poor team but we're in no position to think our players automatically have a God given right to feature ahead of them. 

 

Regarding our players you mention there, it's not long ago Halliday was being chased off to Azerbaijan and everyone on here thought he was pish. He's had an upturn in form recently and I'm sure if he keeps it up he'll get his chance. Middleton is not a first team starter, Jack has been selected recently and McCrorie has hardly featured at all this season! McCrorie is also the U21 captain...is the U21 manager not told he can't pick Rangers players? lol

That is ludicrous and I have never suggested this.

However my points above still stands - we have players on the ascendancy who are operating at a higher level than the Aberdeen players who were selected.

When was the last time Aberdeen beat us?

2 hours ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

So do you believe the SFA are telling McLeish not to pick all these wonderful Scottish players we have? Your argument has no logical basis. 

 

Players are being mentioned in this topic who have barely kicked a ball this season ?.

Instead we have Aberdeen regulars who have failed every year to qualify for the Europa league.

Whereas Andy Halliday, Glen Middleton, Ryan Jack and Ross McCrorie have all featured in a very impressive run so far in Europe.

Yet we are stuck with McKenna, Devlin, Shinnie and Gary Mackay Steven....

Go figure.

15 minutes ago, buster. said:

Albania didn't score a goal in 180 minutes.

 

Middleton is raw talent, didn't get a start for the under 21s and isn't yet ready for the full International squad (although that could change quickly if he begins to start games for us and does well). This whilst GMS is actually in good form, has been showing an end product and his set-up for the Naismith consolation goal on Sunday was eye-catchingly good.

 

McCrorie is pretty much in the same boat as Middleton and Shinnie is rightly ahead of him in the pecking order, although I'd expect that to change during the next 18 months.

 

Bates plays for Hamburg.

 

 

Middleton - has scored 3 goals this season with 1 assist and has only played 284 minutes.

GMS - has scored 4 goals this season and also has 1 assist whilst playing 1054 minutes.

Glen Middleton is very raw but undoubtedly has more potential.

As for Bates playing for Hamburg - Charlie Mulgrew was playing 3rd tier football last season.

In short McLeish should be looking to the future not turning to middle of the road Aberdeen players who have not qualified for the group stages of a European tournament in 11 years.

Glad to see we have a little debate going.

I am fully aware that Dorrans and Jack are not 100% fit however that did not stop Albania calling up Grezda.

My main bone of contention is that IMO Middleton, McCrorie and Bates would have been better than GMS, Shinnie and Devlin.

Recent head to heads and European performances would support this line of thinking.

Two words that just don’t seem to go together anymore. Gone are the days where the heart of the team are Rangers players.

After a raft of call offs I looked on with interest as McLeish and his back room staff turned to likes of:

Michael Devlin

Graeme Shinnie

Gary Mackay Stevens

Three players from an Aberdeen side who are struggling to find form.

Surely players such as:

Glen Middleton

Andy Halliday

Ryan Jack (I believe his back fit)

Graeme Dorrans

Ross McCrorie

Who are all playing European football this season would have been a better bet than the aforementioned three?

In fact even Hamburg’s David Bates would have been a better choice than Devlin.

He apparently looked very short of match practice though.

Parma was the best game I have ever been to.

Really enjoyed this weeks discussion, it really helps when we have a positive week.

It was good to hear @JohnMc and he sounds much happier in "pod-land" than he is on here 

For me it’s a tough one as Katic is our player. There is not much between the two at the moment and I would like to see us develop our own.

Haha - tuned in to our game in the hope we got beat.

13 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

We'd probably let him go for £4-5m.

Absolutely no chance of that mate.

On a personal note last night was ever so sweet as I realised when Tavernier stepped up to take the penalty that I was sitting in the same part of the stadium 8 years ago when Rooney scored a late penalty winner for Man United.

The Rangers we know and love - finally seem to have woken from their slumber.