See I think there is a player in Bates. When played on the right side of the defence he looked a different player. Far more confident and composed. Worth hanging on to him.
To this day, I can’t understand why he did that. Horrible night in Ayrshire. Put me right off. I wish you’d all stop talking about it, I had almost got rid of it as a memory
He played well in a back three doing the simple things - clearing the box with headers, scrambling the ball away.
When playing in a back two, given more responsibility, and when poor positioning is more easily punished, he was found out.
If we were to use a back three next season (Goodwin has said Aberdeen will be working on both a four and three in pre-season) then he may have been useful, but I suspect we've another centre-half on the way. We still need another left sided LCB otherwise if Scales is injured (or not up to it) then we'll be lopsided again like last season.
I don't think the Charles Dunne interest has totally died down yet. And St Mirren have now just signed a reinforcement in defence..
I can’t agree with getting rid of Bates. Time will tell but I think Bates will be just fine with a run of games where he plays as a RCB, with a competent player on his left. I don’t think anyone saw coming just how bad Bates and Gallagher would be together. It no doubt had a negative effect on Joe Lewis too who arguably had is his worst season for us.
I’m expecting good things from the defence this year. Much more confident and solid performances.
For me it was old Bertrand staying rooted to the line while the killie striker ran unchallenged into the penalty area, every step making the target bigger.
Had flashbacks to my one and only game for my school where i believe i ended up in goal as the 3 others who were ahead of me had decided they couldnt be bothered. Subbed at 3mins into 2nd half 3-2 down with the coaches immortal words 'dont worry Tom, only 3 of the goals were your fault'
I used to be a goalkeeper when I was younger, not to any great level, but enough to know the basics. I have also watched and played in many an amateur match and I can say, hand on heart, that display at Rugby Park by Bossu was, without doubt, THE worst I have ever seen from a goalkeeper. I love the comparison to Hen Broon running about! So true! #likeanewborngiraffe
I was also behind the goal that night and it was quite frankly the most horrendously inept display of goalkeeping i have ever witnessed. He was running about his line like Hen Broon >shudders< The fans were howling for him to be subbed.
This new boy was on the books at Derby for 8 seasons so surely cannot be in the same category.