Match Thread Hearts 1 - 1 Aberdeen

[Russell]

3 hours ago, northernlights said:

Say we start with Duk up to for this, then Mcgrath-Clarkson-Morris in behind, we could then take that front four into the Celtic game?

We looked really dangerous for a spell against Hibs with that line up.  Duk is the one centre forward that offers an outlet in the build up, and knows how to play back-to-goal.

The Mcgrath-Clarkson combo, gives us a further option to play through the middle.  With Mackenzie pushing up left, and Morris running the right, we take on a different dynamic, varied and less predictable.

Go with that on Sunday and if they perform well again we might just have found the formula to break Celtic down.

Would go with that but would like to see Vinny given a chance ahead of Clarkson

[northernlights]

2 hours ago, Russell said:

Would go with that but would like to see Vinny given a chance ahead of Clarkson

Would certainly have him involved at some stage.  He seems to do a lot right, though I haven't seen him play in number 10 role, I believe he had good games under Glass in that position? 

He's not a wide player in the way that Keskinen and Morris work the line, but he's good holding off defenders and bringing others into play.  

One who deserves a chance in his preferred position.

[Helmet]

Lots of debate about changing the starting players around but haven’t seen anyone suggest he changes the shape which is probably unlikely but might give our opponents something different to think about.

Maybe a 433?

 

[Tord31]

9 hours ago, Schapenneuker said:

As weird as it sounds given what we've done this season, I feel that this would be our best chance of a good result. 

Hearts are under a fair bit of pressure, and if we open the game up as we tend to do, I fear that we'll leave ourselves open to a bit of a reaming. 

Against the grain of all the attcking play we've seen this season, I honestly believe we'd be better off dropping Duk or Keskinen, and sticking Palaversa or Polvara in midfield to tighten things up. 

Frustrate them, then hit them. That's the way I think we should be doing things. 

I doubt if JT will agree though.

Being a bit defensive would make sense. It felt like a lot of the first half on Tuesday we were sitting in

[DandyWarhol]

15 hours ago, aberdeen1970 said:

It blows my mind that there are still folk that want McGrath dropped. 

It's like his goals, assists and work rate are invisible. 

I was more thinking with him being the only attacker having played practically the full matches this week v St Mirren & Hibs (85 mins then 90 + stoppage time) that it might be worth freshening things up for our third tough away match of the week.

Given how important substitutes are to how we play it's not like he wouldn't have a prominent role to play even if it was off the bench.  I'm very much aware of how important McGrath has been for us and he is clearly one of our top players.  You could argue Morris has been our best attacking player of late and he barely starts any matches.

Also given how poorly we started the last 2 matches it might be worth shuffling the pack a bit and trying something different for this one.

 

[aberdeen1970]

22 minutes ago, DandyWarhol said:

I was more thinking with him being the only attacker having played practically the full matches this week v St Mirren & Hibs (85 mins then 90 + stoppage time) that it might be worth freshening things up for our third tough away match of the week.

Given how important substitutes are to how we play it's not like he wouldn't have a prominent role to play even if it was off the bench.  I'm very much aware of how important McGrath has been for us and he is clearly one of our top players.  You could argue Morris has been our best attacking player of late and he barely starts any matches.

Also given how poorly we started the last 2 matches it might be worth shuffling the pack a bit and trying something different for this one.

 

Jamie is too important to drop. 

He's had plenty rest lately with his head injury.  I think he needs games to get into his groove. 

Jamie and Topi are important to help us get control of games, happy for them to come off later for the other guys. 

[Arthur FN Shelby]

Wonder if replacing Molloy with Nilsen would steady the defence. Bit more experience. 
 

Mitov

Devlin Ruby Nilsen MacKenzie

 Palaversa Shinnie Clarkson McGrath

Keskinen Sokler 

 

 

[Shinniesta]

2 hours ago, Helmet said:

Lots of debate about changing the starting players around but haven’t seen anyone suggest he changes the shape which is probably unlikely but might give our opponents something different to think about.

Maybe a 433?

 

I'd like to see him try 4-3-3 vs Celtic we were far too open against them at Hampden. But regardless of formations JT really needs to utilise the squad as much as possible especially in midfield & attack as we have 3 games in 6 days. Palaversa & Polvara will both surely be needed. I don't think any of the centre mid, wide or front players should start all 3 games we have enough cover in the squad to rotate them.

 

 

[WesthillWanderersFC]

1 hour ago, Shinniesta said:

I'd like to see him try 4-3-3 vs Celtic we were far too open against them at Hampden. But regardless of formations JT really needs to utilise the squad as much as possible especially in midfield & attack as we have 3 games in 6 days. Palaversa & Polvara will both surely be needed. I don't think any of the centre mid, wide or front players should start all 3 games we have enough cover in the squad to rotate them.

 

 

Against the Tims, I’d definitely play all 3 of Palaversa, Nilsen & Shinnie in a midfield 3. 
Ratting in about Hatate, McGregor & Engels. 

Two wide & Duk or Sokler at centre forward.

 

[Durrant Dived]

1 hour ago, Arthur FN Shelby said:

Wonder if replacing Molloy with Nilsen would steady the defence. Bit more experience. 
 

Mitov

Devlin Ruby Nilsen MacKenzie

 Palaversa Shinnie Clarkson McGrath

Keskinen Sokler 

 

 

Not sure that's the wisest move when we are struggling for pace as it is.

[penguin2024]

I would like to see us give Keskinen same type of balls we are giving Morris,he does not get the same chances to run behind as Morris does,Duk through the middle and Keskinen on left Morris on the right would be great for the last 30 mins of any game

[WesthillWanderersFC]

2 hours ago, Arthur FN Shelby said:

Wonder if replacing Molloy with Nilsen would steady the defence. Bit more experience. 
 

Mitov

Devlin Ruby Nilsen MacKenzie

 Palaversa Shinnie Clarkson McGrath

Keskinen Sokler 

 

 

Jeez…. Just when you thought the defence was slow…. You make it even slower. 

[northernlights]

58 minutes ago, WesthillWanderersFC said:

Against the Tims, I’d definitely play all 3 of Palaversa, Nilsen & Shinnie in a midfield 3. 
Ratting in about Hatate, McGregor & Engels. 

Two wide & Duk or Sokler at centre forward.

 

Worth a try.  If St Mirren and Hibs can exploit weakness in our game, how much more Celtic?

I see nothing wrong with adopting a different mode, even just for the element of surprise.  

There were fine margins at Celtic Park.  We had a shout for a penalty.  Take the lead then, and we win.  But it took brilliance to match them that day.

Faltering as we were at Hampden, Jimmy brought on Palaversa changing our shape and giving us a more rigid structure.  It's the only time this season we have set up differently, and used safety-first-tactics.

We can always revert to plan A, so if Jimmy thinks it best not to start open plan, we go with it.

Three in midfield means three of our most solid players.  We don't need to play with a number 10.

Duk did brilliantly against Hibs as a centre-forward.

[northernlights]

6 minutes ago, northernlights said:

Worth a try.  If St Mirren and Hibs can exploit weakness in our game, how much more Celtic?

I see nothing wrong with adopting a different mode, even just for the element of surprise.  

Faltering as we were at Hampden, Jimmy brought on Palaversa changing our shape and giving us a more rigid structure.  It's the only time this season we have set up differently, and used safety-first-tactics.

We can always revert to plan A, so if Jimmy thinks it best not to start open plan, we go with it.

Three in midfield means three of our most solid players.  We don't need to play with a number 10.

 

                       Mitov

Devlin.     Ruby.     Molloy.    Mackenzie 

         Palaversa  Nilsen.  Shinnie

       Morris.       Duk.          Mcgrath 

[Scotty_Toronto]

5 hours ago, aberdeen1970 said:

Jamie and Topi are important to help us get control of games, happy for them to come off later for the other guys. 

We just don't seem to get control of games in the first half, though (not that I wouldn't start them).

[aberdeen1970]

28 minutes ago, Scotty_Toronto said:

We just don't seem to get control of games in the first half, though (not that I wouldn't start them).

Aye. I just don't think the alternatives (Besuijen and Morris) would even do as well in the same formation. 

Like others, i'd like to see us try a 3 in midfield, first half at least. 

[Scotty_Toronto]

I'd be for that (and see how it goes) as we need to start grabbing games by the throat early doors.

[Russell]

4 hours ago, Arthur FN Shelby said:

Wonder if replacing Molloy with Nilsen would steady the defence. Bit more experience. 
 

He's nae a defender so probably not

[Parklife]

I think we need to persevere with the defence as is at the moment. We don't have any real options of anyone as good to bring in, so we'd make ourselves weaker by changing things. 

I'd like to see Palaversa start tomorrow along with shinnie and Nilsen and try and find a bit more solidity by getting control of the middle of the park. Shinnie furthest forward of the 3 leading the press  

McGrath and Duk wide, with Sokler through the middle. Tynecastle is a tight pitch, so I'd drop Topi and keep Shady for later in the match. 
 

[Arthur FN Shelby]

5 hours ago, WesthillWanderersFC said:

Jeez…. Just when you thought the defence was slow…. You make it even slower. 

Well he’s quicker than me so that’s who I compared him to.
 Mind you I was never good at football, 11 boys in our small school and still never got a game.

[Torry Tosser]

Must win game tomorrow against this lot,after recent results,and the Tims midweek,could  be start of a downward spiral...Funny old game Saint.

[davierobb]

Need to stay in the game tomorrow. Do not start like we did last two games. If level after 60/ 70 mins fans will turn on players and we have so many attacking options to bring on. I would like to start with Palaversa/ Shinnie and Nilsen and stay  solid.Our options to attack and change things is vast. Duk through the middle upset the Hibs back line and might be worth considering again as long as we play short to feet.

[WesthillWanderersFC]

6 hours ago, northernlights said:

Worth a try.  If St Mirren and Hibs can exploit weakness in our game, how much more Celtic?

I see nothing wrong with adopting a different mode, even just for the element of surprise.  

There were fine margins at Celtic Park.  We had a shout for a penalty.  Take the lead then, and we win.  But it took brilliance to match them that day.

Faltering as we were at Hampden, Jimmy brought on Palaversa changing our shape and giving us a more rigid structure.  It's the only time this season we have set up differently, and used safety-first-tactics.

We can always revert to plan A, so if Jimmy thinks it best not to start open plan, we go with it.

Three in midfield means three of our most solid players.  We don't need to play with a number 10.

Duk did brilliantly against Hibs as a centre-forward.

It makes perfect sense to play 3 against 3 in midfield against the Tims. 

Get in their face. 
Foul. 
Niggle.  
Do what the fuck you can to make them uncomfortable.

FTT 

[GeorgeStreetReds]

My main hope for tomorrow is that we see an improvement in our defence and that we are much more solid. That may mean three central midfielders are required to start.

[fine-n-dandy]

Great time to hit these cunts when they’re down again. They will be in complete meltdown if we beast them

🤞🤞🤞🤞

[sheep123]

3 nil up by half time the morn, back to same levels as the goodWillie / mcginn show 

[Willo flood]

We should pump them, but if our performances at Tynecastle of late are anything to go by it’s going to be another poor afternoon 

[starryfish]

Win our next two and back to the top of the league 

[CraigHill]

2v1 the good guys.

Sokler and Nisbet.

[Red Clive 1995]

7 hours ago, Willo flood said:

We should pump them, but if our performances at Tynecastle of late are anything to go by it’s going to be another poor afternoon 

Of late being since roughly 1995