thruthenight

Yeah, every game I’ve seen this season (admittedly only 4) then that’s been the theme. We’re pretty good in the air, I think we could get some big benefits from improvements here

Fair point. Turns out Aberdeen haven’t been 3rd in a while! The point I was trying to make is that Aberdeen are comfortably one of the top 3 teams in Scotland, so our performance today is one to be proud of, even if it was incredibly frustrating.

I have no idea how to feel after that. Complete domination from us, yet we lost 2-0. Still not sure how. I'm happier than I've been after a loss for a long time though. Aberdeen have been 3rd/4th for the last 5 seasons and probably will again this year. If that game had finished 4-0 livi then it would have been deserved. Before I go mega amber tinted specs then Aberdeen have to get credit for getting the job done when they're having an off day. They've made their success over the last few seasons over consistently taking out the wee teams, and they did that again today. McGinn was utterly useless. Ferguson's protestations after his 5th foul were embarrassing. Also, Cosgrove is 10x the player Main is and he didn't exactly set the heather alight. Onto the many Livi positives, McMillan was excellent, as was Guthrie. Bartley was an absolute colossus, and the wheels started to slightly come off our domination when he was forced off, hopefully he's back on Wednesday. Also Super Stevie Lawson is back But yeah, as everyone's pointed out, we missed Dykes massively. This is what we get for having no centre forward. I'm surprised Souda didn't get a game when we were dominating them that much. Ah well, onto the next 2 games.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gary-holt-opens-up-health-19392940 Sounds like rhabdomyolysis - if it is, poor b*****d, that one hurts.

The f**k is going on here?

Wha? Who?

Is it not six titles? Three on the first climb to the SPL, then relegation all the way to the bottom and we've won the 3rd, 2nd division titles and then League 1 again? 25% chance of winning the title is pretty good odds. Can get 2500/1 on skybet...

I'm confident that we still have easily the smallest budget in the division. The management team are clearly doing something right. They can't all be winners, the occasional Wylde is inevitable, but we've made some cracking signings for cheap in the past few years. This year, early signs suggest that Devlin, Souda and Bartley are top 3. Dykes is solid. Crawford looked decent in the Betfred. Savane could be anything, and Pepe will learn. I'm happy with the summers business. Another striker would be lovely though.

Surprised there's any controversy about the pitch tbh. If anyone saw funny bounces or slow movement yesterday, then they've got better eyes than me. There were pellets again, but none of this other imaginary shite that people are coming up with as an excuse for why Livi games are always difficult. The quick hug between Gallagher and Lithgow during the handshakes made me well up The back 4 looked significantly better than I expected. Lamie had a great game. Devlin did a power of work. McMillan has solved the 'should we start him on the left, or Pepe in the middle' dilemma. Souda didn't look like he was doing very much in the beginning, and then he sprang to life. Was fouled countless times. I enjoyed his piss-boiling on the far side with Gallagher. He'll fit in well. Dykes had a tough job, and he did it relatively well. Pittman did a power of work. And I was told that Bartley didn't have pace, watching him sprint past defenders to the byline to whip a ball in was surprising. In short, if we play like that all season we wont be going down. Motherwell will do alright for themselves, should make the top 6. Martindale instantly running to Pepe after the match to tell him off wasn't the best sign. Pepe didn't look best pleased and went straight down the tunnel. Wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see much more of him and we signed another CB. Onto the Saints.

Week 1 - Hibs

That’s awful. I hate that.

Henk and Cammy Blues have gone to Morton. Blues on loan for a year, Henk for a nominal fee and a sell on. That’s outstanding business getting anything for Henk.

Yeah, excellent player and his injury was a nasty one. Didn't get much of a look-in last year, but that's because of the injury I expect. One of our top performers in the promotion season, if he can get back to full fitness it'll be a great signing for you.

Any ideas why Lawson and Sibbald haven't seen any game time this preseason?

Wha? In what context? I can’t imagine any context where this is even slightly acceptable

Hahaha, now it's official.

So the programme for tonight has Ibra Savane in the squad, looks like we've signed him but he's not been officially announced yet. How did he look as a trialist?

Still feel like we need another CB, as well as an LB. How did Pepe look last night?

Are we though? Would we be more likely to play a 2 this year? I’d love him to come back, mainly because he’ll help us keep the strong team bond going and we know he can be an asset, but after January he was so out of it that something would have to change. I’m not convinced that it would.

Ambrose I could almost kinda see. With Bartley around, short term deal to get himself back in the window. I’d be surprised, but I’ve heard crazier rumours.

Any reason why Halkett didn’t play yesterday?

I’ve never seen a player leave Livi with as much resentment as Matthew Knox. With the team spirit we’ve had for the last couple of seasons then a bad apple stands out.

Official now. Can't say he looks too great on paper, but we'll see what happens. Might well end up just being a backup.

Henk and Odoffin aren't at the level required. Odoffin is a reasonable RB, but Henk wasn't a standout at League 1, so I don't see him getting a place here. McMillian is someone I hadn't considered as an option however. I'd be up for giving him a shot, always looked good at RB.

Hastie would be a coup. Don't see it happening though. Do we need a striker with Menga, Dykes and Robbo? Ideally yes, but I wouldn't be surprised if no-one came in, I don't expect us to play 2 up top. Still need a LB and a CB as well?