Aladdin

WTF are we doing at the back there.

Tactical genius it is. Think we are playing 4-3-3 but it's not entirely clear.

I worry that chalmers is the new Ryan Dow. Not entirely sure what is best position is and doesn't seem to excel at anything in particular albeit has some ability.

One benefit of bringing in another striker, especially Shankland, who works hard off the ball, is that a dangerous forward line may force teams to drop a bit deeper and allow our midfield a bit more space to work in. Similar to when we had the Armstrong, GMS, Gauld, Ciftci front line, teams were scared about leaving space at the back so dropped deeper, which had the illusionary effect of making the Paton/Rankin engine room look like Xavi and Iniesta. Once teams worked out you could bully the younger players and shut them down, they stopped being so worried and we saw the Pates and Ranks combo for what it was, which wasnt particularly good. Shankland and McNulty, for their faults, are streetwise enough to cope with those tactics. Hopefully Watt would be too which could improve the players behind them.

Was Niskanen not touted as being able to play on both sides? Could try moving him to the right, play Watt in the left inside forward role if thats where he excelled at Motherwell, Levitt and Fuchs sitting deep and Glass as a number 10. Im not wanting to see Butcher brought back in - he's a walking red card who doesnt seem to be learning any lessons.

Did Watt not play inside right for Motherwell? If so, no problem with him starting there for us ahead of Pawlett but McNulty doesn't look like he is ever going to score, although a couple of decent performances at the start of the season maybe buys him one or two more opportunities after injury. Niskanen has been off the boil for a while but we aren't exactly overflowing with wide players to replace him.

If Pawlett is going to play it has to be as an attacking central midfielder. He offered nothing on the touch line and looked better coming inside. No problems with Levitt coming deep to get the ball given he can play a pass but you need the full backs at least willing to push up to offer an outlet. First half, nobody seemed to receive the ball in the opposition half actually facing their goal.

Fuchs didn't have a great half but it's not his job to create anything. The first half as a whole was a disgrace of a performance.

Why was Freeman not starting?

Looked like a pen for handball.

Let off there. We are absolutely shite.

I would imagine Kevin McDonald, even given his health issues, would probably be a significant upgrade on Hoti.

Anyone got their hands on one of these new third kits? Whats the quality and sizing like?

Good to see United giving everyone that limited edition shopping experience online.

Might buy a top for the first time since the all black away number a few years ago.

I think this could do for him. The big question is what shitstorms are coming up in the next few months that they could possibly hang on him and therefore need to keep him in post, if any? It doesnt look like the issues with Brexit or inflation are going to be resolvable any time so there may not be any point in biding time. You can't really imagine a more deserving back in which a knife is to be planted anyway.

Throw the money we were going to give Motherwell for watt at getting Shankland back and replace mcnulty with watt at the end of the season. Dreams can come true.

I won't lie, I am absolutely sickened by this news. I don't care how shite or not he's been at other teams since leaving or even if he was shite again for us - I just want the beautiful mad b*****d back.

I think she will have weakened her personal support in some groups but strengthened in others, particularly the middle aged, middle class small c conservatives who approve of restrictions and who were naturally cautious about independence. I'm not in favour of the current restrictions but I recognise that this thread is likely not representative of the wider population. Like it or not, its England that is an outlier in western Europe where most have introduced further measures and I believe this will be recognised by many.

Picked up some winter trainers in two controversial colours.

I think overall we have been better than we were last season but we have thrown points away with some performances. Ross County and Livingston two of the most recent examples.

At the end of the day, most governments will want to err on the side of caution. Countries are likely being panicked by the prospect of the pressure on health care by a very small proportion of a potentially massive wave of infections coupled with the reduced capacity in health care and other emergency services if a significant number of staff are off sick. I can see the potential problems that a (suggested by the data) milder but more transmissible variant can cause. The massive frustration for me is the apparently unscientific way that restrictions are imposed, with models being seemingly adjusted for Xmas, the lack of support for business and the manner of communication, from dropping hints about restrictions to the mixed messaging about their purpose.

As has been said, it's utterly shambolic to introduce restrictions in a week's time. Either the variant is so transmissible that we see hospitalisations at a level that would overwhelm our health system, notwithstanding its lesser virulence, in which case something needs to be done now, or it isn't. In which case nothing needs to be done. This preoccupation of grown fucking adults with a religious holiday is laughable.

Got to the venue for my booster appointment and waited an hour in the freezing cold only to be told they were closing and we weren't getting in. Shambles. Woman in front of me said it was the second time it had happened to her.

Im meant to be going to a party tonight. The issue I have is, should I catch it, my wife would also have to isolate for 10 days. Meant to be going down to her mums in England on 24th for her to see her gran, who isnt in the best of health, which would be scuppered by a positive test. So, do I play rona roulette tonight or bide in, thus avoiding a potential situation of a prolonged period of her absolutely fuming if end up positive and scupper her family Xmas plans.