LM_0803

2025 I believe

Interesting to see if Doc sticks to the back 4 and plays Boateng out on the right, Cameron on the left and Mccowan and Sylla in a midfield two like the rangers game. Cameron wasted out wide for me though, even if it's closing down defenders. Hasn't got the pace for that imo. Best position is in behind the opposition midfield and in front of the defence (I.e. mccowans position for the majority of this season). I'd keep the back 4 instead of the 5212 we've stuck with for the majority. Lamie wasn't great against Rangers I thought, and even though I'm not a fan of him I can see Donnelly coming back in if Doc wants more pace in defence. Portales should keep his place regardless imo.

Mulligan should've been on instead of costelloe imo, whether he was coming back from injury or not. Don't think Costelloe offered much going forward and Mulligan wouldn't have done much worse considering it would've been his first game back. Disappointed tiffoney is again the first to be subbed but he does put a good shift in, similar to Luke. Thought Cameron was wasteful with some passes last night as well as Costelloe but we didn't lack physicality when they were on, given that Sylla, Boateng and McCowan were there to get stuck in. Pleasantly surprised at Doc ditching the back 4 and opting for a more positive starting line up. Don't think we should have much fear against celtic even if the last match against them ended the way it did. Main to start in place of Bakayoko? Mulligan for Cameron? Those are the two changes I'd look to make, but no way will Doc drop either of them imo.

Tiffoney has tended to be one of the first ones subbed during most games this season but there's definitely a good player there. Felt we should've kept him on and subbed bakayoko off instead as he didn't do much for me but I could see why at 1-0 hibs TD threw 2 strikers on. Even though he had some poor kicking again today I'd definitely look to sign McCracken, and Boateng, considering he'd not been given a proper chance in a while after an impressive start. Would be nice to see more of Robertson and Mellon in the next few weeks though, and mulligan being fit again soon is a bonus. Would be nice to see us give it a good go on Wednesday too, hopefully with a point to prove.

We'll get nothing from rangers and if hibs win then we need to aswell. For that reason, I don't believe we'll get top 6. We've not lost against them this season so far but I don't back us to go there and get the win we need. Defence far too open and exposed, and we're too lightweight in midfield.

Agree, a solid enough season but in the context of dropping points and being so close to the top 6, to not get it at this stage, i can't help but feel disappointed. Listen in 14/15 we got it unexpectedly and slowly declined until relegation. Would rather that isn't the case again so would be happy with some mid table stability but football is about winning and we've thrown it away far too many times - whether we're newly promoted or not.

Gonna be one nervous game at Pittodrie next Saturday. Never get a better chance to break our hoodoo up there. Should've had it done with today, look forward to hearing and more importantly seeing how Doc is going to change things. Cameron, mccowan and bakayoko did nothing after our 2nd, and he waited until we were losing to make another change. If I was a reporter I'd be asking Doc about his lack of subs. Especially when tiffoney was undeservedly hooked with bakayoko staying on. Absolute joke of a second half.

Don't think there's any point in mentioning united here mate, they won today and will no doubt be up again next season...we shit the bed big time today and no doubt Doc will be saying we'll learn from the mistakes. Time and time again either his subs or lack of them, (today it was both) have killed us. Lack of pace at the back also killed us as Shaughnessy and Donnelly were bullied by Bair. Should hold their heads in shame. Get Donnelly out of the team for rangers and get Lamie back in, not that I'm his biggest fan either. Bakayoko, Mccowan and Cameron were wastes of jerseys in the second half imo.

Said the same thing at the time. They could've arranged the dundee rangers game for 2nd or 3rd, but they imagine the uproar if they did that and rangers went on to lose the OF on Sunday with celtic having a free midweek.

McCracken. No brainer for me. He's had his moments (don't think he great against the sheep and with some aspects today) but he's not had a bad performance yet. Carson has pulled off some worldies for us, and is a good shot stopper generally but I'd be pushing out the boat for McCracken in the summer.

Also, I take back my comments regarding young Lyall, best player on the pitch for us today. Took his goal brilliantly

Donnelly and Dodgeson were a bit of a shambles second half i thought, and fck knows what Doc was thinking bringing Howley on. But even with a poor performance as it was today we'll take the result, massive. A big performance needed against the well who we've yet to beat.

My team for tomorrow... McCracken Portales, Shaughnessy, Donnelly; McGhee, Sylla, Mulligan (if fit), Dodgeson; McCowan; Mellon, Tiffoney. Can see doc starting bakayoko instead of Tiffoney but in the last few weeks Tiffoney hasn't done much wrong imo, and bakayoko hasn't done enough when given the chance. Main still injured I'm assuming, and Robinson just back fit now makes it a straightforward decision up top for me. Same with Carson just coming back and McCracken generally playing well. Assuming Mulligan is also fit I'd have him in midfield along side Sylla ahead of Cameron every day of the week.

Way too early to leave his first job as manager. He's done okay with us so far but nothing of note has been achieved yet. If he was two or three years into the job then I'd understand the outside interest, but not when he's been here 10 months. Don't think it would suit us, aberdeen or the man himself (judging by every dons manager since Del). Not sure where he lives but it is in the local area yeah.

Cheers mate just seen as much there. Surely there's a reserve right back that we can call on instead of two or three goalies on the bench tomorrow? Just a thought

Don't know about everyone else but I'd be keeping McCracken in the team tomorrow night. We could do with both McCowan and Mulligan in central midfield, but I'd be putting Mulligan RWB and Fin back in the team with Sylla. This is where Doc farming Cammy out has came back to bite him. McCracken; Portales, Shaughnessy, Donnelly; Mulligan, Robertson, Sylla, Beck; McCowan; Main, Mellon. Wouldn't be starting bakayoko after his minimal involvement against Killie, especially from the 85th minute onwards.

Think that's a fair assessment of things so far. Think some fans are over hyping the team and manager but the reality is we're having an OK season. If it wasn't for the three livingston wins we'd be alot worse off, and I think anything 8th and above would be fair, with top 6 a bonus. As for today, I actually thought we were better than Killie for alot of it, and losing the two points the way we did, against 10 men is unacceptable. They had big physical brutes all around their team, yet bakayoko (who had just come on) was anonymous. As for their second, yet another crossed ball that we fail to stop and then deal with. However, mulligan should've closed their LB down, instead, he doesn't and left him run the length of the park. Like him but that was poor. Terrible decision making from beck at the end too. I'd drop Cameron next game for Fin/Boateng and start McCracken. Looking back I don't think either goal was his fault and his general kicking (bar some late ones) and passing out from the back was great to see. LC will get a game every week as one of Docs favourites but if he has to play, then only play him in McCowans position if he's injured/suspended. He's a liability that far back. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the boys coming out of the coxy at FT, saying it's okay because killie are 4th in the league. WTAF, when has that ever mattered in a game of football?

Very reminiscent of us last season, the banter would be fun if you failed to go up but I'm starting to miss the derby

If raith don't win the league they've only got themselves to blame...united are handing it to them On another note, if and probably when they go up we need to win there next season. The wait needs to end pronto

Cappielow, QP (ochilview) and gayfield too, all last season. QOTS 4-3 defeat in 2013 and Cove 3-1 defeat last season as well. Think I should just stay away

Oh, new Douglas Park and starks Park spring to mind

Dundee fan here... Tynecastle (3 visits) Easter Road (3 visits) Tannadice (must be near 10 by now) Ibrox (3) Parkhead (1) Pittodrie (3) Falkirk (1) Bayview (1) Airdrie (1) Could go on for a while yet

Big fan of Robertson back in. Been too long since he was given a chance. He's been wasted this season IMO. Sick of poor corners and set pieces. Robertson is one of the only players that can pass and pass well

I get that people will say survival is the main aim, and they would be correct. However, we shouldn't be content with the performance of today just because we aren't stinking the league out at the bottom...Doc needs to switch up the team a bit more. No idea what Carson was playing at with their first, the half ends 0-0 if he doesn't make a mess of it. Give McCracken a run in the team, otherwise what's the point in signing him? Given that 2 of our remaining games are against the OF, the 2 point gap to Hibs and 5 point gap to Aberdeen (who we play twice) I'm not so optimistic that we get top 6.