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You sack a manager when you lose all confidence they can ever turn it around. That's what did it for Goodwin and Robson. I don't believe Thelin has reached the stage of running out of ideas yet and I'm keen to see the next few months. Aye, the five wins in 31 is really poor. But forget last season. Different team now, and it took until transfer deadline day to add much needed quality. This season is a bigger judgement of him than last season. We have six players currently not fully match fit (Nisbet, Lazetic, Karlsson, Gyamfi, Armstrong, Bilalovic). We have Yengi, Milanovic, Aouchiche still settling in. Yengi in particular has had a lot of criticism, when in reality he's our third choice striker who was thrust in too early due to lack of bodies. Had all those players been here in July, had a full pre-season, and been available from day one of the season, then it's a different story. Obviously football isn't as neat and tidy as that. Earlier in this thread - I think before the cup final - I said it would be interesting to see who makes the most improvement this season out of Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen - the teams that finished above us, but still have the same managers. Hibs have had a few plaudits, but haven't won a home game this season (six games). Dundee United have also had a few plaudits, but they've only beat Strassen and Dundee this season. The top performing sides were the ones who had League Cup games to help build momentum - Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell. But it's fine margins with them too. Motherwell haven't actually won a league game yet, but people are raving about them. To answer your original question (I'll get there eventually), unless the season becomes a disaster and it appears obvious Thelin isn't up to it, then it becomes a conversation. But I'm confident that won't happen.

I hadn't actually looked that high up the table to notice that Game in hand over most of the table too...

With Hearts and Aberdeen again enjoying different fortunes, it's now 20 months since both teams won on the same say - 2 January 2024. They didn't win on the same day at all last season. Hearts aren't in the League Cup quarter finals, and we play Dundee United on a Tuesday, so perhaps that offers some opportunities to win since it's clearly Derek McInnes' fault for our league start. #McInnesOut

Yet another unfamiliar front three not quite getting it together, but individually I thought we weren't too bad save for a large spell in the second half. Created some really good chances. Aouchiche has two, Nisbet one, Jensen and Palaversa forced good saves, Polvara hits a post, Karlsson goes close too. There was a few times too there was a touch of the Elfsborg about us; Dorrington picking the front three out and we were on their back line. Sometimes you can see moves that have come from the training ground, but we just don't quite get it to work in a match. It'll click at some point, I'm sure of it. And, defensively we were okay too. Gyamfi isn't going to be racing up the byline much by the looks of things, but he's like another centre half at times and compliments Knoester well in that respect. Got to remember we had four debutants today (although granted one of those was Nisbet). Those four plus Lazetic are all lacking games and match sharpness. We'll see more from all of them. Crucially, all look like they have seen a football before. The next three games (Motherwell twice and Dundee United away) will be interesting as they both look handy up front, but are conceding for fun at the back.

Aye, they weren't great. Very similar to our performance.

Unsurprisingly, I meant facing. Where's the sub editors here?

Glad I spent so much time this week making Yengi graphics and talking at length about him faking his brother, only for him not to be in the squad. Anyway, have secured these bad boys down in Glasgow (it's a rowie though, min) and feeling a sweet 2-0 win.

Yer welcome.

Be interesting to see who starts up front. Yengi does have the most minutes under his belt. There's every chance he starts with Lazetic and Nisbet coming off the bench later on. Also, I wonder if Thelin will be swayed by letting him play against his brother. There is also the fact we might have a few new faces tomorrow - maybe too many - and Thelin won't want to throw them all in at once. But it's the first time in a long time that we've got some excitement around new signings, may even have boosted the ticket sales slightly. Keen to see Karlsson, a bit more of Lazetic, maybe even Gyamfi if fit enough, and even Armstrong in an Aberdeen shirt is intriguing. But just win Aberdeen, because I'm sick of the negativity, pundits tipping us for the bottom six and people questioning Thelin's shelf life. Can't be arsed with another week of it. As someone else said further up the thread I think - the season starts now.

So here's us at the moment. If Sokler and Ambrose leave, I think there's still room for another striker (Ginnelly?). Gonna take a wee while to get the team gelling, but once it does we might actually be a no bad team.

Timed his move well. I've only just come to peace with his goal in the 2017 Scottish Cup final, after the events of 24 May this year. Never rated him for Scotland, I look forward to being annoyed at him in an Aberdeen shirt now. But, something about Stuart Armstrong and Aberdeen just seems right.

The deadline to submit the 25-man squad for the Conference League is midnight tonight, so be interesting to see who is on it (or more notably, not).

What's wrong with it Rico? I don't see what is unfair about Aberdeen.

He's been a late sub in Millwall's last two games so with two weeks training he'll be fine for an hour at least.

I know. But I had a moment. (Gonna suggest it again after the Livingston game)

Here me out (bear in mind I'm drunk on happiness). Turn Keskinen into a box to box midfielder. Karlsson, Nisbet and Milanovic as the sensational front three, Aouchiche pulling the strings, Clarkson pinging passes from deep. I might be willing to listen to counter arguments tomorrow. Edit: Actually it's a fucking stupid idea. I'm going to bed.

I think we might be in for some good news

No that was at 18:08. Since then the glorious "confirmed" announcement has been made in the live text.

Believe now the latest update is he's very much Hibs bound.

More just a continuation of Jimmy's normal style, but with an extra central defender instead of a Nilsen, and maybe Aouchiche/Clarkson partnering Palaversa/Polvara. I guess it depends on whether this promised box-to-box midfielder signs.

Strasbourg strengthening for their trip to Pittodrie with the signing of Chelsea's Ben Chilwell. He was on about 200k a week at Chelsea.