SENTINELCELTS

I’m disappointed with the Don’s. They were the largest team I’ve witnessed in quite a while, big strong lads was clearly the call.
While Martin liked a physical specimen, he demanded they could play a bit and didn’t pack the entire team with them.
It’s sad what could be the nations third biggest footballing force has descended to such basic levels given their history, and I must wonder are their fans happy with that approach, turning up every week to see a battle?
 
I’ll add Glass to the list of names currently employed but doing the game a diservice with their approach. I recall one shot from distance, the penalty (more on that later), and a corner which they were always going to threaten from. It’s their primary weapon, how sad is that.
 
As for Scott Brown, how he can attach his name (via coaching) to that is beyond me?
We saw first hand why he is no longer in the Hoops,,much too deep so as to be ineffectual bar one good pass, and the body just can’t handle a full high tempo game anymore.
 
It’s hard to see how their American owners can be happy with their lowly right position, which is a clear reflection on those dinosaur tactics which would be at home in the second division. Surely their manager won’t last long, which might mean Scott given the nod. I think he should stop playing and focus more on that side of things. Unfortunately I don’t believe he’s a deep thinker, usually all action instinctive players don’t make great managers.
On the park thinkers can often make the transition.
 
Onto the Hoops,,
We were below average, maybe 7 outta 10 on the day. A team on a bad run would have tied that game, a decent team keep working and trying safe in the knowledge it can pay off. Once again it did.
We didn’t stop, didn’t panic, and didn’t settle for the draw. And once again it paid dividends.
 
That’s several different types of tests we’ve passed recently by hook or by crook. We weren’t getting bullied, or drawn into a battle to suit our opponent. As usual their penalty box was flooded with players when the chance arose, Ange’s tactic which usually pays off, and did again via Calmacs rump and Jota’s weaker peg.
 
Why weren’t we at our best?
To these eyes their centre backs had the smarts to nullify Kyogo, and their midfield was tasked with doubling Jota.
It was a game that would have suited G-Mac more I think, although Furuhashi worked his socks off.
Boy Wonder is good enough to evade being doubled up on occasion, and is developing a real taste for goals.
He’s a difference maker.
Better teams than Aberdeen have tried and failed to nullify our attacking threat for an entire game, it was always asking a lot of them on Bertie’s final home game.
 
However our tactics didn’t help.
The full backs only started to come forward when the game was tied. JJ’s first real foray ended up with two corners.
On the other side Tony doesnt beat a man or hit the byline then cross, although he has a beautiful cross field pass.
It’s clear they are instructed to stay back, having Abada and Jota ahead who aren’t workhorses it helps solidify up the back by not leaving us exposed down the flanks.
But we love attacking fullbacks, it’s in our DNA. Jura is said to be much better in his natural right back berth with license to attack, and we are heavily linked with a left back. I think it’s fair to say he will play left back, pushing JJ across the field.
That opens up the overlap to deliver with the most accurate foot.
We miss overlapping play and the extra options attacking fullbacks offer.
That can be fixed, and I hope the new left back is the start of the process.
 
Abada is off the boil, that berth should be given to James now. The other James can be content with his contribution and another game under the belt, didn’t look out of place and isn’t a talking point, just quietly skipped in and did his job, pat on the back.
 
The biggest pat on the back should go to whoever gave Boy Wonder the nod to join.
I wanted an Alan Thompson clone out left after Mo, who was a talent but inconsistent. Someone in their prime and solid so we could forget about that area for a few years,,a Pole or something.
When I first seen Jota I flinched.
He’s young, too young I thought for a position that needs stability and must help out the left back.
He’s a boy, a thin whip of a lad, which in my eyes wasn’t a good start. The local cloggers have a special plan for scrawny lads like him, boot him.
Then there’s the tan. He won’t be topping that up in his new home.
The diet and lifestyle aren’t as important as they used to be, but if long afternoons at the beach in the heat are how he relaxes it was going to be an unhappy stay.
There’s also family to consider, a young man would probably bring someone along and their happiness becomes shared, recall El Hamed had to depart due to an unhappy family.
I gave him 50/50 to simply settle, less to enjoy his footballing education in Scotland.
A berth was all we could offer him, the adulation of the support must be earned.
Earned it he has.
Our Japanese bhoy is a find, Jota has the potential to be a find and a goldmine one day.
 
Ref-watch,,,
When I saw it was Clancy I rolled my eyes, a poor referee if ever I saw one.
I counted five occasions he could have or should have produced the yellow card against the team in red, but decided not to.
The two poor tackles within the first eight minutes, two poor tackles by their sub Samuels, and the simulation for win the penalty.
 
My first impression was penalty but upon viewing the replay Liel pulls out of the tackle and plants a leg in the attackers way. The attacker runs into the leg then throws himself in the air.
His dive should have been a bookable offense. That’s how I see it.
However when you give these refs the option they will point to the spot, all I can say is at least Abada was backtracking attempting to help out but he could do with some sideline time to refund his mojo.
 
Having ignored five yellows by them, Clancy was more than happy to book Mikey for his first offense, a silly throwing the ball ten yards back.
As far as whistlers go, it doesn’t really matter the name, they are all substandard.
 
That’s two months undefeated now domestically, another first for Ange and you must admit a sign things are on the up. Next up is under the floodlights, a cold December night time match which brings out the best from the home crowd.
For a collection that thrives off fan energy, and with it being the dastardly Jambo’s thus raising the temperature a degree, I get the feeling the bhoys will enjoy the occasion.
It would be a great scalp to take, and a great start to Christmas.
Roll on Thursday.

By Mahe