Match Thread (Europa League) Ventspils V Aberdeen (0 - 1) (Ag. 0 - 4)

[Tord31]

Doubtful: Morris

 

A couple of changes are called for but difficult to pick who the fall guys should be

 

Lewis

 

Logan Taylor Reynolds Considine

 

Jack Shinnie

 

Storey Hayes Rooney

 

Stockley

 

subs: Alexander, Morris, O'Connor, McGinn, McLean, Burns, Pawlett

prediction: 2-2

[BWG]

Think it'll be Storey leading the line, Shinnie at left back and O'Connor beside Jack.

[Tord31]

Good to have Storey on, maybe Burns, for pace as they'll have to hold a much higher line than 1st leg

[BWG]

Should McGinn be given another week off now that we have Storey and Burns to fill in? A risk, but one that could pay off towards the end of the season?

[Guest the shepherd]

Should McGinn be given another week off now that we have Storey and Burns to fill in? A risk, but one that could pay off towards the end of the season?

Nae a better time to gie Niall McGinn another week aff. Surely we hiv done enough to get through........

[Scotty_Toronto]

"Aberdeen would face either Maribor or Levski Sofia"

[Mr John]

"Aberdeen would face either Maribor or Levski Sofia"

 

So that's a packet of wine gum teddy bear sweets, or one of the Golden Girls (Russian edition) yeah?

[King Street Loon]

Doubtful: Morris

 

This will be a constant throughout the season.

[RAZOR]

Think it'll be Storey leading the line, Shinnie at left back and O'Connor beside Jack.

 

Surely he's due a chuncey.

[strachanmcgheegoal]

Do we have a friendly planned between the 2nd leg and (hopefully but taking nothing for granted) the 3rd round 1st leg?

 

Quite like to see an established first 11 albeit nice early subs to keep it fresh and mix it up like last night.

[Mr John]

Nerp. Straight into the away leg on Thursday.

[Ingolfsson]

Would drop Taylor and McLean who were rotten in first leg.

 

Don't really see where McLean fits in. Doesn't do enough for a number 10 and lacks energy and aggression to play deeper, while not enough pace to play wide.

 

Taylor is worryingly reminiscent of a latter day Zander Diamond. Rash tackling style and tendency to horribly miscue the ball under no pressure. He's the worst of our very dodgy central defenders.

 

Good range of options across the front four positions though. Want to see more of Burns and hopefully Storey gets an appearance.

 

Lewis

 

Logan Reynolds Considine Shinnie

 

O'Connor Jack

 

Burns Storey Hayes

 

Rooney

[rumpus]

I'd give Hayes the week off rather than McGinn. No need for him to get kicked all over the place in a pointless excercise.

[Panda]

I'd start the same team on Thursday that we plan to play the Maribor/Levski Sofia match. Get a bit of familiarity into the side. These will be two massive matches if we're to get to the play-offs and we really need to be at it from the word go.

 

I don't think we're at the stage yet where people need a rest. More that they need as many 90 minutes under their belts as they can get so they're up to full match sharpness, which I don't think is the case for a few of them yet.

 

So, looking ahead to next week, on Thursday I'd go with:-

 

Lewis

 

Logan O'Connor Considine Shinnie

 

Jack Storie (?)

 

McGinn McLean Hayes

 

Rooney

 

Question mark around Storie because haven't seen any word of him this season. Is he struggling for fitness/injured?

[Tord31]

The back four certainly will not be that for QR3L1

[Sheeptastic]

I'd start the same team on Thursday that we plan to play the Maribor/Levski Sofia match. Get a bit of familiarity into the side. These will be two massive matches if we're to get to the play-offs and we really need to be at it from the word go.

 

I don't think we're at the stage yet where people need a rest. More that they need as many 90 minutes under their belts as they can get so they're up to full match sharpness, which I don't think is the case for a few of them yet.

 

So, looking ahead to next week, on Thursday I'd go with:-

 

Lewis

 

Logan O'Connor Considine Shinnie

 

Jack Storie (?)

 

McGinn McLean Hayes

 

Rooney

 

Question mark around Storie because haven't seen any word of him this season. Is he struggling for fitness/injured?

Agree with the sentiments but not the 11. I imagine it's more likely to be the same but with one or two tweaks maximum. Perhaps one or two of O'Connor, Burns, Stockley or Storey in somewhere.

 

Lewis

 

Logan Taylor Reynolds Considine

 

Jack Shinnie

 

McGinn McLean Hayes

 

Rooney

[strachanmcgheegoal]

That's my thinking too. In the absence of other significant signings resign yourselves to Considine at Left Back and Shinnie in Floods hole .

 

I agree Mclean has been a disappointment at number 10 (especially now that we have several second striker options) but still think its worth persevering with him in the deeper creative role if for no other reason than to show Jack that Derek has options for his position. On the basis that I suspect Jack will be un-droppable and having yet to see O'Connor young Master Storie should probably be investing in some splinter cream.

[Andy_123]

IF we do progress through this round, and the next, I dread to think how our back line would cope should we draw a big team in the last qualifier. Horribly i'd imagine

[Wee Alickie]

Nerp. Straight into the away leg on Thursday.

In the 3rd round we were drawn out of the hat first so we play the home leg first next Thursday (all being well).

[ollie1903]

Would drop Taylor and McLean who were rotten in first leg.

 

Don't really see where McLean fits in. Doesn't do enough for a number 10 and lacks energy and aggression to play deeper, while not enough pace to play wide.

 

Taylor is worryingly reminiscent of a latter day Zander Diamond. Rash tackling style and tendency to horribly miscue the ball under no pressure. He's the worst of our very dodgy central defenders.

 

Good range of options across the front four positions though. Want to see more of Burns and hopefully Storey gets an appearance.

 

Lewis

 

Logan Reynolds Considine Shinnie

 

O'Connor Jack

 

Burns Storey Hayes

 

Rooney

That's a good balance to our back line..........

[V for Vendetta]

I know there have been some poor performances but I don't think huge number of changes will necessarily help, particularly where we need players to find form and establish partnerships.

 

Personally I'd keep the same CB and CM pairing for the start of this game, although I don't think either is really the long term partnership.

 

Considine at LB will be fine for an away game where he won't need to get forward to support so much.

 

Up front I think there's less risk in changing the mix, maybe even play storey up top with mcginn, hayes and burns behind... sounds tasty for counter attacking that.

 

- would quite like to see O'Connor come in again but maybe better to do that off the bench rather than disrupt things.

[the sheep]

I would start with Stockley and possibly drop Rooney for one of the fast guys to play upfront with Stockley. Stockley was the guy that did the damage in the first game and his strength would be good to defend set pieces. Storey or Burns to catch them on the break.

[thedandydon]

_{I reckon Burns will be held in reserve again to be an impact sub if needed but Stockley caused them problems and they seemed vunerable in the air so wouldn't be surprised to see him start. Storey will need to come in to the mix sometime and he'll want to get off the mark as soon as possible so maybe an opportunity to get him involved.}

_{Don't envisage too many changes otherwise. If we can get the away goal early doors it will virtually kill the tie and maybe allow us to give some of the younger players some experience.}

[Zeus]

We'll win 4-0

[Byrne Baby Byrne]

IF we do progress through this round, and the next, I dread to think how our back line would cope should we draw a big team in the last qualifier. Horribly i'd imagine

 

They should draw inspiration from Lee Mair's Pittodrie performance against Bayern Munich

[Zeus]

Zander Diamond marked Luca Toni out the game!

[Guest RosemountRed]

Zander Diamond marked Luca Toni out the game!

 

Not so well in the 2nd leg.

[Andy_123]

Langfield

 

Maybury Mair Diamond Considine

 

 

That was our back line v Bayern. Toni and Klose upfront for them. If that back line managed to get us to the knockouts of the uefa cup then there is hope for us yet

[Zeus]

Not so well in the 2nd leg.

If only had Mackie put that chance away

 

And langfield didn't shite it from Lucio's freekick

[Mr John]

That Bayern team was shite though. What year was it? 2007 or 8? It was the first time they never made the CL.