Shay Logan

[DelMonte]

The abuse Ball gets is embarrassing. He's a good player who had a terrible day in the semi final last year. Even then he started well that game but after his mistake he fell to pieces.

 

He was fucking brilliant today. Won the ball back for both goals.

[Shinniesta]

Aye but he wouldn't have helped the Logan situation.

I never specifically said he would. I was meaning that we've struggled all year with defensive numbers and when we get an experienced one back we immediately loan him out. Logan being injured only highlights our lack of defensive options even more which is what I was getting at. It was a strange decision and not one that I can see benefits us in the way we all hope Wright and Anderson's loans hopefully will.

[DelMonte]

Ball is like Considine as a full back.

Okay when we are playing 9 of the teams in the league.

But when we play the other two are likely to get targeted as the obvious weak link and an easy route to exploit.

That is really not that bad for our second choice in that position.

[Shinniesta]

As has been mentioned many times previously the way McInnes structures his squads is to have a specialist LB & RB and defensive utility players as back ups. In his opinion it's better use of his budget so he can use more of it on other areas of the team. So when guys like Lowe or Logan get injured it's normally someone who like a Ball or a Considine who fill in.

[CalgaryDon]

I'd give Ball a contract. Arguably our most underrated player. Don't understand the abuse he receives. Played very well today and does most times he plays.

[Shinniesta]

I'd give Ball a contract. Arguably our most underrated player. Don't understand the abuse he receives. Played very well today and does most times he plays.

Without a doubt I'd offer him a contract. Rarely lets us down and doesn't seem to complain when he is on the bench which he has been basically since we won at Ibrox over 2 months ago.

[V for Vendetta]

Anywhere apart from the left back position he was bought for.

Well we have a left back for now, so great sentiment but wrong timing.

[old sheep]

Would definitely offer Ball a contract. However, like Considine, when he is asked to play full back we only get away with it against teams below us. The ugly sisters will exploit their weaknesses though.

[Shinniesta]

Would definitely offer Ball a contract. However, like Considine, when he is asked to play full back we only get away with it against teams below us. The ugly sisters will exploit their weaknesses though.

True but even the ugly sisters often have to deploy players out of position at fullback. Halliday has played there often for the huns this season and Hayes has been playing LB for Celtic recently.

 

Even the richest club in the world only have two natural fullbacks in their first team squad. It just seems to be a position that managers all over the world are happy to deploy utility players in on a regular basis.

[V for Vendetta]

Huns seem to have quite a few mind you.

 

Wallace, Tavernier, Barisic, Flanigan and maybe a few more?

 

But I don't disagree with the point.

 

Would be nice to maybe find a full back who can cover both sides of the pitch as a utility player rather than a centre back or def mid who struggles there.

 

Or some young kids who can cover that position.

[Shinniesta]

Huns seem to have quite a few mind you.

 

Wallace, Tavernier, Barisic, Flanigan and maybe a few more?

 

But I don't disagree with the point.

 

Would be nice to maybe find a full back who can cover both sides of the pitch as a utility player rather than a centre back or def mid who struggles there.

 

Or some young kids who can cover that position.

A prime Denis Irwin would be nice. A right footed fullback who excelled at LB and could seamlessly cover at RB.

[NEM]

The abuse Ball gets is embarrassing. He's a good player who had a terrible day in the semi final last year. Even then he started well that game but after his mistake he fell to pieces.

 

He was fucking brilliant today. Won the ball back for both goals.

Think he’s decent in midfield but had the fear when I seen him lining up at right back today. To be fair though he was superb, just pipped by Shinnie for motm

[old sheep]

True but even the ugly sisters often have to deploy players out of position at fullback. Halliday has played there often for the huns this season and Hayes has been playing LB for Celtic recently.

Even the richest club in the world only have two natural fullbacks in their first team squad. It just seems to be a position that managers all over the world are happy to deploy utility players in on a regular basis.

Yes I agree. I think in this case, McInnes has been unlucky in having both Logan and Hoban out for the rest of the season. I doubt whether he will be able to get someone better than Ball who is out of contract just now.

[V for Vendetta]

A prime Denis Irwin would be nice. A right footed fullback who excelled at LB and could seamlessly cover at RB.

 

[Shinniesta]

[reekie_dock]

Huns seem to have quite a few mind you.

 

Wallace, Tavernier, Barisic, Flanigan and maybe a few more?

 

But I don't disagree with the point.

 

Would be nice to maybe find a full back who can cover both sides of the pitch as a utility player rather than a centre back or def mid who struggles there.

 

Or some young kids who can cover that position.

Settle, only thing Flanagan specialises in is batterin pregnant women

[The Boofon]

Ball is the modern day Bobby Connor.

 

Fans anger unjust for a good player (Connor much better than Ball for clarity)

[maryhilldon]

Ball is the modern day Bobby Connor.

 

Fans anger unjust for a good player (Connor much better than Ball for clarity)

Agreed.

[Redmist1903]

As has been mentioned many times previously the way McInnes structures his squads is to have a specialist LB & RB and defensive utility players as back ups.

 

Who's been his first choice specialist LB the last 4 seasons then?

[Sonoftherock]

Ball was an upgrade on Logan yesterday. Says everything about Logan’s form this season.

[Zander1903]

Never really had anyone pushing him for the RB slot since he's come to the Don's & that's been a while now

[strachanmcgheegoal]

Noticeably Derek referred to Logan yesterday as Mr dependable which in fairness up until September he has been.

[RUL]

Ball is the modern day Bobby Connor.

 

Fans anger unjust for a good player (Connor much better than Ball for clarity)

I wish ball was half the player Connor was.

[V for Vendetta]

Maybe just a tad. Phil Neville could play both sides at FB he was in the squad at the same time as Irwin.

 

That Fergie guy sure knew how to build a proper squad :-)

Well we had Shinnie but converted him into a midfielder.

 

So I think it's possible to find that sort of player if not quite at Denis Irwin level.

[Shinniesta]

Who's been his first choice specialist LB the last 4 seasons then?

I assume initially that's what he bought Shinnie for he just never played him at LB and decided to stick Considine there instead. And certainly this season McInnes finally realised that we needed a specialist LB.

 

It's a good point though and highlights the fact that we are just never going to carry more than a couple of fullbacks in the squad. So there's no point people complaining that we have no specialist RB to cover Logan now that he's out for the season.

[maryhilldon]

So what are you saying, you're not happy with our back up right back only being of the quality to nullify teams other than Celtic or "rangers"?

Aye, that's what he's saying.

[old sheep]

Just stating a fact that Ball and Considine are not good enough to handle the Tims or Huns wingers. As some have said, on our budget that has to be expected of our back ups.

[old sheep]

Our first choice right back can't cope with them either

Coming to think about it, not much of our defence can

Aye, fair point! Think we would need a back four of Logan, Devlin, McKenna and Lowe on the top of their game to have a decent chance. Off the top of my head, I only think we managed to put out that back four a couple of times all season.

[RUL]

Did I imagine Shay tweeted a photo of his ankle ? Cant' see it anymore.

[GDON21]

Did I imagine Shay tweeted a photo of his ankle ? Cant' see it anymore.

 

He was in Rosshall hospital in glasgow over friday and saturday. Operation on his ankle.