lady-isobel-barnett

Howzabout a midfield of Shaggy playing behind Rowson & Charnley with Harkins at the top of the diamond?

Well, you could at least give us a hint. Did at any time SEPA, the NFU or the RSPCA get involved?

I fully expect Aberdeen to sack Craig Brown and go for a younger manager. I see Jocky Scott is now available.

Alex Keddie appears to be in fine scoring form these days.

Anytime anyone suggests moving the singing section up to the north end of the JHS there appears to be convincing enough arguments against such a move. Are those same arguments not then equally valid against putting an away support in the same place? I wouldn't be surprised to hear that there's a threshold figure where anything above warrants use of the North Stand as cost of additional stewarding in the JHS would exceed the cost of opening the North Stand. I'd also be unsurprised knowing what a health & safety society we now live in to hear that the threshold figure is ridiculously low.

thanks for that . Excellent coverage and representative of the game.

Perhaps Lindsay will be able to step in for Archie sooner than later but I'm not sure of the wisdom of having Willie K, Robertson and Balatoni all right sided players and supported by O'Donnell & Paton who can also play at right centre back. If Sinclair keeps playing the way he does then we've got to expect he'll be caught up field regularly. Not having a centre back who is naturally comfortable on his left side might prove a problem.

Most shocking own goal I've ever seen was Tommy Gemmell's pass back ( )to Simpson from what I'm sure was near the half way line when we played USSR in 1967. Anyone else ancient enough to confirm that og was as bad as I mind?

Perhaps but they could share with ICT. I wonder with the very real possibility Aberdeen or Hibs could be involved what the current SPL thinking is with regard to reintroducing the play offs. I had heard that as a concession to league reconstruction that was more than a remote possibility. I'd imagine while there's the a strong chance one of the "big" clubs could be involved the idea is now very much on the back burner.

I think out of all our forward players Elliot is the likeliest to score a goal and the nearest we have to an out and out striker. Doolan is by far the player with the best first touch. In fact I'd say he's got about the best first touch I've seen at our level for many a year. Because of this I feel Doolan is drawn out of a striking position too often, which would be fine if Stewart or Elliot were doing the bulk of the scoring and Doolan's lay off balls were more effective. I've seen just about every game this season and I still don't know what is our worse failing. Is it our so called strikers missing chance after chance or is it the lack of quality in the final balls from midfield? Yesterday, regardless of how well we controlled midfield, suggests the latter whereas at Almondvale as I recall it was more a case of the former. I wouldn't anticipate Dargo scoring that many goals but I think we might sign him as a sort of catalyst, someone who'll make space for Doolan or Elliot to score. Dargo is good at that.

The Motherwell Rule applies. Aberdeen can't get relegated.

My thinking as well. Would like it better if he could play in more than one position but he's young, especially for a centre back, and can improve. Not an easy decision to make as I still reckon Conrad, when everyone is fit, is third in line for his particular position. A bit more versatility and I can see some justification in signing him.

Excellent photos as always, Tommy. Got a feeling the last three games haven't exactly been kind to you weatherwise.

much appreciated as always, Jim

That's not too uncommon at lower level football when conditions are poor. no excuse tho' for him not anticipating getting in the road. Think a neutral today would have said that was a most comfortable one goal win. I don't believe we were in much danger of losing a second goal but then again we played very well at Almondvale and lost. Thought the midfield diamond was excellent (four guys who knew what they were doing). I guess Cairney was kinda playing the role Jackie had designated for Erskine in his 4-3-3 plans months ago. Perhaps when called on again Cairney can drop into Hutton's position and Erskine (or someone else) play behind the strikers? I realise this'll go down as yet another game when a striker didn't score but I thought both Elliot & Dargo (especially the latter) played in the midfield very well. I don't tho' remember any occasion when Elliot or Dargo wasted goal scoring chances. All in a good performance especially in the first half with only really the continual question about lacking a sufficient cutting edge still not resolved.

I actually assumed the minutes silence was some sort of standard procedure due to Gary Speed being a current British international manager. Personally I've absolutely no objection to a Jags team manager asking for respects to be made for a football person's passing. That takes the difficult decisions of just who we do and who we don't mark similarly further away from the Club. I remember a fairly polarised debate on a previous Jags fans website on whether Dom McVicar's passing should be marked by a moment's respect. Tho' I disagreed with the Club's decision on that instance I fully understood their dilemma. I'm glad therefore to hear that today's decision was at the request of the manager as opposed to some sort of boardroom edict.

Know very little about premiership football but Sunderland are one of those clubs that have usually under performed in relation to the size of their support base. If football wasn't so utterly dependent on TV & sponsorships deals Sunderland would be the epitome of a club that no league would want to lose.

and if we don't start bringing in extra revenue we'll end up going part time, love.

You're right. Think it was about three year ago as I had to get a bottle of Cardhu for a Xmas present and it was difficult to get hold of a bottle. *Getting Bunnahabhain 12yo (46.3 alc vol) for £20 at the moment. Not too peaty for Islay. *football related as having driven 150 miles last night to see that pish the thought of a few drams of Bunna was about the only thing keeping me almost sane. Oh, and it's certainly got a better finish than a 25yo Stewart.

No Aunt Grace, I eager

Certainly finished the stronger side. Too often when a Jags player got sight of goal he took another touch or passed the buck. Not singling Paton out but I thought he of all players would have shot when running in late on. Shouldn't be too despondent with a point away from home but by sheer percentages alone we really should have managed a goal. As Mr Cheesecloth says our away form isn't nosediving. Was causing more concern a month or so ago. Lost count of good balls that Hutton laid off being squandered, Erskine being by far the major culprit. As for the manager motivating the players I'd guess that'll be the hardest part of McNamra's job. I've been in the poacher turned gamekeeper situation myself and know a good few others like me who found it difficult at first. Football tho' doesn't allow you much time to develop that part of management. It also explains how some make great coaches but lousy managers and vice versa.

Pics very much appreciated as always, Tommy

I know there's been quality control issues with the 24yo Erskine (too inconsistent) and they sampled the Fraser but it evidently needed a tad more maturing. Tasting notes on the 24yo Paton appear slightly ambiguous... " A right good kick of it but left a lot to be desired".

Is that another cryptic clue?

Robertson would have been my choice to play alongside Archie. Presuming a heavy pitch the bigger fellas usually are preferred. McNamara's more or less said that he won't risk Robertson if conditions are poor so we can assume he won't play. No idea who'll start up front. I suppose it's just try any two from four tho' again conditions might favour Stewart. Rowson is hard to replace and McNamara might not want to move Cairney as he's playing well a bit wider. I mention him frequently, tho' still no sighting, but Jamie Campbell could fill in for Rowson. He's played centre mid often enough and his tackling is usually not bad. He'd also give plenty options if we wanted to change system of play.