Saints v Aberdeen 5/8/24

[Radford 72]

With the sort of crowd anticipated on Monday, Levein needs to have a go and that means starting Kimpioka and Sidibeh.

If he does that then whether it's a back three or back four becomes less of an issue.

We'll see if the scorpion can overcome his instincts I guess. But a negative selection, coupled with a negative result, isn't going to impress the new owner and any guests he has.

[blueheaven]

I think we really need to start with a back four. Always think the team looks so much more comfortable and able to pose a threat when we start from that base. When we switch to a back 3/5 it invariably means guys shifting into the wrong positions and having too many players behind the ball to mount an attack. Also feel Keltjens and Wright have looked like they're developing a good relationship down that right hand side and if we switch away from a back four we lose that.

Of course the niggling worry is Raymond's injury and how we handle that. If Levein feels it necessitates a switch to a wing-back system then it basically means an injury to one full-back is dictating our entire gameplan. On the other hand if we stick with a back four and move Keltjens across to left-back we lose his link-up with Wright.

I can't help but be annoyed that we've entered the league season with only one left-back in the squad and he's already injured and it's already potentially disrupting the entire team. We should have been better prepared than this.

It also worries me that Sidibeh continues to look knackered an hour into games. If he starts, who do we replace him with when he runs out of steam? (I still can't get my head around not using Stevie May when he's fit and ready and still here.) Or does Levein do his usual thing of keeping Sidibeh on the pitch regardless and delaying way too long to make the sub?

How Levein handles all this is a big challenge and something he has to get right.

 

[rik2304]

1 hour ago, blueheaven said:

I think we really need to start with a back four. Always think the team looks so much more comfortable and able to pose a threat when we start from that base. When we switch to a back 3/5 it invariably means guys shifting into the wrong positions and having too many players behind the ball to mount an attack. Also feel Keltjens and Wright have looked like they're developing a good relationship down that right hand side and if we switch away from a back four we lose that.

Of course the niggling worry is Raymond's injury and how we handle that. If Levein feels it necessitates a switch to a wing-back system then it basically means an injury to one full-back is dictating our entire gameplan. On the other hand if we stick with a back four and move Keltjens across to left-back we lose his link-up with Wright.

I can't help but be annoyed that we've entered the league season with only one left-back in the squad and he's already injured and it's already potentially disrupting the entire team. We should have been better prepared than this.

It also worries me that Sidibeh continues to look knackered an hour into games. If he starts, who do we replace him with when he runs out of steam? (I still can't get my head around not using Stevie May when he's fit and ready and still here.) Or does Levein do his usual thing of keeping Sidibeh on the pitch regardless and delaying way too long to make the sub?

How Levein handles all this is a big challenge and something he has to get right.

 

Sidibeh gets replaced by Nepo Baby.

Probably 15 minutes later than he should be though.

[Havana Saint]

Come on Ye Saints! Let's get right behind the lads!

[R.B.B:- Adz]

From watching the preseason and league cup games I have hope but on a couple of terms: 

- David Keltjens & Drey Wright down one side.

- Andre Raymond & Carey down another side.

- Kimpioka and Sidibeh starting together up front.

We do that, and the rest of the team perform at 6/10, we will have a fine season.

[Steve McQueen]

Get your predictions in!

[RandomGuy]

I thought they'd confirmed Raymond was out for this?

Kind of forces Cameron to effectively be LB one way or another so all about what he does on the right. Neilson is more a "wide CB" than Sanders I think, so Cameron, McClelland, Neilson back 3 with Wright and Carey as wing backs might be quite attacking in nature.

Midfield is a mess too really though.

[Ginger Bakers rebel army]

Looking more and more like a sell out.

Just 41 left in the Geoff Brown stand and 240 in the East.

296 sold since yesterday 4pm.

3 days to go, place will be rammed full,under the lights just like a European night.

[Rafa]

Hopefully we wont play 442 or we will have to play box to box shite like Cammy Macpherson.

Squad looks unbalanced not enough width, lots of good players though

[R.B.B:- Adz]

3 hours ago, RandomGuy said:

I thought they'd confirmed Raymond was out for this?

Kind of forces Cameron to effectively be LB one way or another so all about what he does on the right. Neilson is more a "wide CB" than Sanders I think, so Cameron, McClelland, Neilson back 3 with Wright and Carey as wing backs might be quite attacking in nature.

Midfield is a mess too really though.

 

2 hours ago, PoshBrat said:

Hopefully we wont play 442 or we will have to play box to box shite like Cammy Macpherson.

Squad looks unbalanced not enough width, lots of good players though

Sven Sprangler, Matt Smith & Cammy MacPherson are perfectly capable of competing at this level.

No doubt we are missing a Jody Morris, Murray Davidson or Chris Millar but to say it’s a mess is a bit harsh on these guys.

[RandomGuy]

9 minutes ago, R.B.B:- Adz said:

 

Sven Sprangler, Matt Smith & Cammy MacPherson are perfectly capable of competing at this level.

No doubt we are missing a Jody Morris, Murray Davidson or Chris Millar but to say it’s a mess is a bit harsh on these guys.

Smith ad MacPherson are liabilities.

[Aitchy]

19 minutes ago, R.B.B:- Adz said:

 

Sven Sprangler, Matt Smith & Cammy MacPherson are perfectly capable of competing at this level.

No doubt we are missing a Jody Morris, Murray Davidson or Chris Millar but to say it’s a mess is a bit harsh on these guys.

I am not convinced any of them have proven anything to evidence that they can compete at this level.

Sprangler has shown in glimpses he can do a job, but is one of these players that seems to get better in the eyes of some supporters the less he plays. Matt Smith looked really promising early last season and I initially thought we had a real player on our hands, but for whatever reason he seems to have regressed since that promising spell. MacPherson has shown absolutely nothing to prove he can compete at this level. Injured most of the time and when he does play he plays a couple of nice passes but then goes missing.

Realise there is still a few weeks left of the window, but as things stand I am really concerned about us. 

Edited August 2, 2024 by Aitchy

[RandomGuy]

Its effectively a midfield of Paul Paton, Ali Crawford, and Gary McDonald with those 3.

[Aitchy]

5 minutes ago, RandomGuy said:

It’s effectively a midfield of Paul Paton, Ali Crawford, and Gary McDonald with those 3.

The issues in the squad are glaring. It’s not being negative, it’s the reality. I would love nothing more than for Levein to prove me wrong and for us to have a successful season, but the reality is that we are heading into the season with a defence and midfield that looks miles off the level required for the league.

[rik2304]

50 minutes ago, R.B.B:- Adz said:

 

Sven Sprangler, Matt Smith & Cammy MacPherson are perfectly capable of competing at this level.

 

Nope. There is some potential for Sprangler but the other two are very,very poor.

[Rafa]

3 hours ago, R.B.B:- Adz said:

 

Sven Sprangler, Matt Smith & Cammy MacPherson are perfectly capable of competing at this level.

No doubt we are missing a Jody Morris, Murray Davidson or Chris Millar but to say it’s a mess is a bit harsh on these guys.

Cammy MacPherson is an appalling player, Jody Morris and Chris Millar were even worse

[rik2304]

37 minutes ago, PoshBrat said:

Cammy MacPherson is an appalling player, Jody Morris and Chris Millar were even worse

This sentence starts off really strongly but then just quickly deteriorates into nonsense. 

[dave mc]

4 hours ago, Aitchy said:

I am not convinced any of them have proven anything to evidence that they can compete at this level.

Sprangler has shown in glimpses he can do a job, but is one of these players that seems to get better in the eyes of some supporters the less he plays. Matt Smith looked really promising early last season and I initially thought we had a real player on our hands, but for whatever reason he seems to have regressed since that promising spell. MacPherson has shown absolutely nothing to prove he can compete at this level. Injured most of the time and when he does play he plays a couple of nice passes but then goes missing.

Realise there is still a few weeks left of the window, but as things stand I am really concerned about us. 

Issue with Matt, is he’s been played wide right too much, put him central, and he’ll be so much more creative 

[Glenshee]

Aberdeen a team in transition. Vulnerabilities there now that won’t be there later in the season. CL will play 3 up and go for the jugular!!!

[R.B.B:- Adz]

Kimpioka 28/1 to score 2 or more goals in the match…

[glenrothes saintee]

On 8/2/2024 at 5:56 PM, Ginger Bakers rebel army said:

Looking more and more like a sell out.

Just 41 left in the Geoff Brown stand and 240 in the East.

296 sold since yesterday 4pm.

3 days to go, place will be rammed full,under the lights just like a European night.

18 left in Geoff Brown stand  and  164 in East Stand

Edited August 3, 2024 by glenrothes saintee
Can’t count

[Ginger Bakers rebel army]

Just 21 to go in the Geoff Brown stand and 109 in the East.

[glenrothes saintee]

33 minutes ago, Ginger Bakers rebel army said:

Just 21 to go in the Geoff Brown stand and 109 in the East.

When I did my count last night I missed out 6 or 7 seats in section p😳😳😳

[Ginger Bakers rebel army]

6 minutes ago, glenrothes saintee said:

When I did my count last night I missed out 6 or 7 seats in section p😳😳😳

Most of whats left is single seats, just a few opportunities left for folk to sit together.

I think it will sell out by lunchtime tomorrow, fantastic show of support and appreciation for Geoff Brown.

I predict a home win tomorrow night.

[Templar Saint]

5 minutes ago, Ginger Bakers rebel army said:

Most of whats left is single seats, just a few opportunities left for folk to sit together.

I think it will sell out by lunchtime tomorrow, fantastic show of support and appreciation for Geoff Brown.

I predict a home win tomorrow night.

You have also to commend the new owner who has been handing out free tickets to ensure there is a full house for Geoff's send off