Oleg_Mcnoleg

Just looked at Vogt's first team from that pumping against France (who had a fucking awesome side, to be fair). Better than the current one? Scotland (4-3-3): Sullivan (Tottenham); Weir (Everton), G Caldwell (Newcastle), Dailly (West Ham), Crainey (Celtic); Cameron (Wolves; Gemmill , Everton, h-t), Lambert (Celtic), Matteo (Leeds); McCann (Rangers), Freedman (Crystal Palace; Holt , Norwich, h-t; McCnamara , Celtic, 74), Crawford (Dunfermline; Thompson , Dundee Utd, 65)

There was a funny time in European football when some of the smaller teams were doing well at the expense of the traditional powerhouses. It wasn't just Aberdeen and the Dundee sides in Scotland. Ipswich, Villa and Forest had good spells in England; Malmo and St Etienne got to European finals; Barca only pipped Fortuna Dusseldorf to the cup winner's cup, etc.

Getting us there was the least McLeod should have been expected to do with the squad he had. But you're right that Stein and Ferguson might have delivered more given their managerial pedigree (or, in Stein's case, made less heavy weather of getting there). But, if we've had proven managers and, for a while at least, great players and still been no better than average, it does suggest more deep-rooted problems. I might be in a minority but I don't think Strachan's been too bad and we wouldn't get anyone better to replace him if he went. I was furious after the Georgia game (along with Germany's ridiculous result against the RoI) that cost us a Euro place but it was a tricky group and I'm sure he'd have got us out of many of the others. Unfortunately, the world cup group's a shit too.

I care less than I used to but that's less to do with the SFA (who've always been dicks) and far more because supporting Scotland is so fucking depressing. I can remember nearly being in tears as France pummeled us in Vogts' first game in charge but these days us getting thumped is more likely to elicit a shrug of the shoulders. Just get worn out. Nice to see a couple of Rangers in the squad though and would be even nicer if they gave us all something to cheer about. There were some promising signs in the Euro qualifiers so hopefully regain a bit of momentum.

That might be the tin lid on it.

The methodology--a tiny UK-wide survey--is balls. If you asked 250 odd folk in Scotland if the term is offensive, 220 would say it was. Moreover, they could try asking those who use it if it's intended to be insulting and they'd say that was the point.

I'd assumed the three weeks was to allow an exit to be negotiated but there's no sign he's going anywhere. We've certainly looked better without him and Halliday's arguably been our best player over the period Barton's been suspended. There's also the issue of whether he's upsetting the dressing room. But that notwithstanding, I'd have thought a player of his quality and experience would still have something to offer. If the relationships haven't broken down completely, it's just a question of how to use him.

Mouldy old dough?

Miller's recent shifts would probably look similar which suggests it's a plan. But if it's meant to pull defences out of shape (I'm assuming that's why it's being done), then it's not really working. The midfielders and wide players don't appear to be moving into the space the striker would normally occupy so I guess there's not much space to move into. Of course,that's all assumption on my part; maybe it's not a plan at all

Bizare that he thinks the press favour Rangers. I suppose there's an element of the Scottish fitba press who just enjoy beaten folk when they're down. He got it, Delia got it, John Barnes got it, Cascarino speaks 'fondly' of his treatment too, etc. Currently our turn.

Not the game I watched. Aberdeen defended well, to be fair. But they had too.

To be honest, I'd have taken the away point and no serious injuries if offered. It's the minimum we should have come away with on the balance of play.

If the player gets it up and over the wall there's a limited amount the keeper can do. The kid stuck it in pretty much the only place that Wes couldn't get to.

We had people back and in position. Tav just stood and watched as he ran past him so I don't agree with you that it's a formation issue. If players balls up like that there's nothing that chanign the formation will do about it. Considine got some joy down the flanks early but didn't think we were particularly vulnerable there yesterday. Again,the free kick wasn't a formation issue but a moronic refereeing decision. They had the ball, we had cover and it would have worked if the ref hadn't imagined something that didn't happen. For the most part, the defence was ok. It was the attack that was the issue: simply not clinical enough.

Can't be too harsh on Wes. There was barely any gap for him to aim for; another centimetre to the right and it's a save. Give the wee bastard credit for an inch-perfect free kick. Other than that, yes, Shinnie could have booked more of theirs but the decisive free kick award wasn't one of those instances.

That happened last season. I don't particularly agree it's such a problem now. The first goal yesterday saw everyone in position but just not tracking. The second was a phenomenal free that should never have been awarded. Neither saw the CBs pulled out of position and didn't think Aberdeen caused them that many defensive problems. I don't particularly think the formation is an issue, especially without Barton and Krancjar starting, but we too casual in attack.

Not appropriate remark.

Quite. Felt we'd been mugged today (and it was a scandalous decision to give a free kick). But we're still doing what we did last season: dominate without making it count and giving absolutely ridiculous goals away. It's early days but the summer recruitment has, for the most part, done nothing to address it. We've added loads of players but our strongest eleven has barely changed: Hill or Senderos for Kiernan and maybe Windass or Rossiter, depending on the game or squad rotation.

The only people who've ever talked about Barton's religion (or his family's religious background as I think he's said he's atheist) are Celtic fans hassling him on social media and the Herald and yet it's us who're supposed to have the problem? Fuq 'em

Especially if, to keep up the analogy, you're no oil painting yourself

I think he said 'would-be pundits' but I like whoopee pundits better,

be amazed if he comes back from this. It'd be one thing if he'd been sent to train with the kids but told to stay away completely sounds like the end. Assumed he'd be back at work today but three weeks is surely gardening leave while the terms of Bexit (or Jexit?) are negotiated.

Jeebus. Rangers-related social media has gone fully mental.

Barton's not set the heather ablaze but he was left very exposed on Saturday.

MW has seemingly changed that to shore up our defence. But we're still leaking f**king stupid goals in spite of it but without the attacking 'zip' that we had last season.