Tree

It’s been pretty obvious that we have lacked firepower up front since the start of this season. Jordan is a very honest player but is not a goal scorer and is not a target man in the traditional sense either. If we had a Shankland up front we would be a shoe-in for 2nd and possibly be able to challenge for 1st.

Game is off

Oh no you didn’t!

What a manager says to the press always has to be taken with a pinch of salt so I don't read too much into Robo'scomments. I could copy and paste much of what I said after the last home game against Alloa however and Robo seems to be watching a different game in not recognising our limitations. Whilst Jordan is clearly an 'honest' player and puts a shift in it is clear that the manner in which we play is heavily affected/constrained when he is on the park and we become one dimension and not a particularly great dimension at that. The first game against Alloa with Curry up front was a different style (even though much of our play was sloppy). When we play Jordan we effectively operate with a player who lacks mobility and will only play in front of the defense. This works fine for a target man such as Higdon or Brewster who will hold up play bring others in, etc. Jordan is not capable of this and it is made worse by the number on times he is on his heals and reacts slowly to balls coming his way. Whilst the standard of ball forward to him was not great (wind had a part possibly), he will either not connect with the ball or if he does none of our players know where the ball is going hence why it breaks down. Against better defenders the physical presence is nullified and we effectively end up playing with 10 men. We also end up with the ball coming back very quickly and midfielders lack options and therefore have to play sideways or backwards. Others can be criticised from yesterday however when I saw the team before the game it was demoralising in that the game went the way I expected. I employ three Arabs in one of my offices down south and they all were hoping we would play him as they think we are an easier team to play when he is up front as we are predictable and can be stopped playing without much effort.

Gave my son a hard time for not challenging him and leaving him with a free header ?

A non story and some unnecessary personal insults!

Playing Jordan changes the way in which we play the game and this was clear from the two Alloa matches. Having movement from Curry gave the midfield and wide players options and forced the defenders to cover both in front and behind. With White there is less movement as a front unit and as a result we change to a direct long ball. Jordan is not Higdon or Brewster however and invariably we lose possession when the ball goes forward. He will not run in general behind the defence and therefore it become easier to defend in front only with a deep midfielder closing down the space and we lose possession. We lack edge up front both in terms of general play and goal threat. If we stop the errors at the back this will help but without a true goal threat it is hard to see how anything other than a playoff place is achievable. Should add that I don’t think Todorov is the answer and I don’t think the manager does either!

White’s goal unfortunately does not mask the fact that we were considerably worse up front than last week with Curry. Some of this is due to the early goal which allowed Alloa to park the bus for much of the game. We definitely lack edge in this position and have limited alternative options however with more movement we are likely to create more. For too much of the game the Alloa defence was able to keep the game in front of them.

We are a weaker team this week!

So how does Duncan suggest the club pays for 5 f/t coaches (the 6th is a paid player) required by Project Brave from less than £100k?

Three poor goals to lose however the game showed up our likely Achilles Heel in lack of cutting edge up front. Whilst Jordan scored one he also missed three other decent chances including the last kick (or sclaff) of the game. Others missed chances of course.

The negative impact of Project Brave was well trailed prior to its introduction and whilst worthy in what it is trying to achieve the requirement for clubs to have in effect six full-time employees as a minimum requirement is not sustainable in relation to the income levels in the Scottish game (as well as Academy Director and access to various facilities, etc). We have mitigated this effect to an extent, e.g.by using Carlo as one of the coaches for example, however there has also been a significant number of casulaties along the way due to background politics. A number of clubs have taken the view to in effect pull the plug on youth development. A proposal was made a year ago to try and move the development side into a Foundation however things have gone silent on progress towards this (though if the rumours about the Club under our departed CE requiring the Devlopment Foundation to pay the club for use of IP, training facilities, etc were true then this would partly explain why this has not got off the ground). Brave also does not provide a path for players over the age of 18. This is why we have looked to use Fort William as a vehicle for players. If Alan Savage is to get involved I suspect that youth will be part of the equation as he is passionate about this side of things (obviously bankrolling in effect the Clach Youth side).

Richard Hastings????

Are you suggesting that in spite of the histrionics above the club are actually on top of things and this is a non-story ?

He already is a shareholder so doesn't have to return

Shouldn't be an issue but the fact is that there was an issue!

Thanks for feedback DD.

Interesting that Away fans are paying less than ICT fans for the same stand!

Over 20 years?? Only started placing away fans in this area last season. Issue is bigger than a few people standing up and on three occasions there has almost been trouble. MJ is correct about right to feel safe and the club are not on top of this.

Yet again there was almost trouble due to siting the away fans in the middle of home fans in the main stand without adequate stewarding. This is the third time that this has happened, at least in which I have observed. The away fans refused to sit and stood along the passageway. After asking them to sit the stewards and club management gave up. After ejections of home fans for less in previous seasons this is bewildering and indeed in breach of the safety guidelines under which we are granted a certificate. If we don’t want to open the south stand why are the away fans not placed in the west corner of the north stand where they can be segregated more easily? As well as Jim K did in keeping the Caley and Morton fan apart there is insufficient stewards to stop things kicking off and as before this is now the third time that trouble has almost happened.

Ah yeah. Your missing the point. We have to select one of our better players who is playing well and randomly criticise them. It’s McCart this week and next week it will be Rigders for saving penalties but not holding the ball ?

Not routinely though if issues are identified during the Stage 3 Assessment there may be a further public consultation (generally when base information from Stage 2 is found to be flawed and to prevent contestable aspects if the project goes to PLI). As an affected party, ongoing consultation with the club is likely particularly in this instance as the temporary measures to allow construction are likely to have an effect on game traffic and pedestrian flows

DD/RIG The consultation period closed on 9th August so time is quite important. Representation may have been made by others already however. TS may view the positive benefit in having a NMU underpass in any event and the road flow modelling may indicate that this is beneficial during match days to avoid significant negative impact though signalised crossings. The AWPR/A944 Interchange has been pre-ducted during the construction to allow restrospective installation of traffic lights when the Aberdeen Stadium is completed by ACC. The design parameters for the interchange are however flawed as the frequency of accidents and demerge tail backs show. In theory everyone is getting a bus to the new AFC stadium (ahem) so footway capacity through the slips is of less concern!

Public exhibitions were held last June on the proposals which are now progressing through the Stage 3 detailed design stage in advance of progressing draft orders. Further information is available at the link below https://www.transport.gov.scot/publication/exhibition-materials-june-2019-a9a82-longman-junction-improvement-scheme/ Jacobs in preparing the scheme to date make reference to further discussions regarding Non-motorised User (NMU) provision which is a couched reference to the potential for provision of an underpass for aiding access to the Stadium. It is incumbant on the club and public in general to make representations to TS during the current consultation stage as to the specific requirement for this (on the basis of pedestrian safety avoiding the need for specific crossing point on the merge and demerge). The greater the level of representation will provide basis for inclusion within the final Stage 3 design and during the RSA1/2 assessment.

Indeed what has happened to the foundation? Little has been said about the replacement for Danny (seems to be Charlie) Project Brave has no place for over 18s and we are not in the Reserve League. If we don't 'ship them all out en masse' they will not have any football to play apart from friendlies. Does leave a question as to whether it was a good decision to give contracts to 10 development team players if there is not a route to first team football for them??