To be doing so poorly in the division below to be looking at potential back to back relegations is... I was going to say impressive, not sure that's the word...
I also tend not to be that excited by the prospect of Europe. Any cash is welcome and it's a sign (generally) of having watched us win a few games to get there and that's a good thing. But I think having seen us in Europe a few times, the novelty has worn off.
However a mate of mine did make the point that it would be nice just once to have a go at Europe with the good team that got us there. Frustration is often we have a team that's good enough to qualify, then we lose half of them at the end of the season and we're in qualifying in July bedding in a new team, with players sometimes not as good.. Other than Slattery, all our key players are under contract for next season. Maybe now is the time to qualify..?
I think it says something about the strength of squad at the minute that even after the levels of his performance against Hearts, Just doesn't automatically walk back into the team for Saturday if heโs available. Doesn't feel at the moment that we need to take too many risks by rushing players back. Same will apply to McGinn and Hendry (and Slattery in a couple of weeks)...
As to how we'll go this Saturday? In this situation with two non Old Firm teams playing each other two weeks in a row, you generally say one team doesn't win both. I'm not so sure. The aforementioned potential return of Just, Hendry and McGinn will keep the players on the pitch from relaxing too much...
Are you new around here?!?!
My thoughts on Stamatelopolous are like yours, somewhere in the middle.. He's missed some chances that I think he should have taken but has not looked like the total dud some are convinced he is (and feel they have to come on and point out after every game). Some of the instinctive goals he scored last season suggested there was a player there. This season has been disappointing for him but I'm not writing him off...
Not sure whether this belongs in Former Players or here given the article suggests we're also in for him. I half suspect it's lazy journalism to throw our name in there...
https://www.sportsboom.co.uk/football/exclusive-aberdeen-chasing-allan-campbell
Unless there's a free agent that can play left back, I wouldn't be rushing into the free agent market unless there's a player significantly better than what we have. The two mentioned are wingers. Given we have Said, Maswanhise, Just, Charles-Cook and Luca Ross all vying for two wing spots, I don't imagine it's a priority..
I'd argue that the defence hasn't shipped too many howlers this season.
Rangers goal - set piece
Hearts - first goal was a belter, second goal got caught marginally with a high line, third GK error.
Killie - First goal is one I'll give you, second goal GK error...
Not many needless goals shipped to my mind.
This is not to say Welsh won't be a decent signing. But just feel our centre halfs haven't been that culpable for goals this season...
To be fair, a lot has happened this summer. I forgot about Charles-Cook about two days after we signed him. Someone suggested to me how he might not be fit enough to start vs Killie and I was like "I forgot we signed him"...
I take your point but if someone was to ask me about Nicholson or various others we've had at Fir Park my first instinctive answer would be 'injury prone'. Sometimes it's just that your instinctive answer is right. As in Louis Moult or Rolando Aarons. Sometimes not. As is pointed out in the case of Chris Porter as weeyin pointed out...
Just worthwhile having a range of opinions. I'll confess I don't know if he can fill in at left back and with Wilson out on loan, I kind of assumed we'd sign a defender that could play left centre back and also cover Longelo at left back...