Panda

Good to see we've all stood by our cup final hero Mitov through some rocky times. Should do his confidence the world of good.

That's 12 players min, and that's before you shoehorn Allan Campbell in there.

Thought we were helped by Rangers being pretty bang average to be honest. Barron basically took on our midfield by himself. Clarkson gave us some impetus late on, good to see someone running forward with the ball, but Lazetic and Karlsson were both a waste of time. We played three at the back, presumably to get the wing backs high since we had no width, but Gyamfi and Devlin aren't players who are going to take on the full-back. Whoever wins the league this season, it'll be the poorest champions I can remember, and yet we've lost 4/5 to the top three, and 10/11 to the top six.

Despite everything, it's two corner kicks that's the difference. If we just did the basics right we could have been frustrating them while growing into the game. Think the three at the back is again a waste of time, and our midfield are coming so deep we've six players all in the same area so can't break. Armstrong going on little dribbles outside our own box is achieving what? Polvara into midfield, Armstrong further forward. I'd actually go 4-4-2.

Appears to be a 3-4-1-2. I'm actually liking the two up front.

That's the end of any suggestion he should get the job permanently.

Don't think he's actually been mentioned in the thread, but Miovski is on the bench for them.

Thankfully not. Although a man many are punting for the Dons job - Stephen Robinson - is the one signing him.

That looks like a 4-3-3 to me, or a 4-2-3-1 if Polvara is playing a bit further forward. Kjartansson and Bilalovic both start. Looks like Aouchiche hasn't made it. Clarkson still being on the bench interesting, maybe wasn't just a Thelin thing there.

Some invitations you don't need to accept...

I have good and bad news for you. Allan Campbell is about to sign for a Scottish Premiership club...

Yeah it used to be a Dons-friendly pub. I was there for a Gothenburg anniversary night - Peter Weir and John McMaster were the special guests, they did a Q&A and the pub played the full game on the TV - and it was packed that night with Dons fans. I always remember Kevin Bridges standing at the bar ordering a pint, looking round bemused as to why so many Aberdeen fans were in. But, last few times I've been there to watch a Dons game, you can count on one hand how many fellow fans are there. Think the pub sponsored the Aberdeen Glasgow supporters team or something back in the day, which was why they encouraged other fans to go. Might be a supporters bus or two that stops there pre-match though so might be worth going past, but can't guarantee it. Especially for a midweek match. When I first moved to Glasgow, every Dons fan seemed to go to Hubbards, a decent bar in its day. I remember the night we got past Dnipro, some bounce at the final whistle that then spilled onto the streets, was like being back in union street. But now sadly it's changed owners, is called the French Horn, and only shows NFL and the Six Nations. A fucking liberty. But yeah, not sure where everyone goes now. I'm not even bothering to go to the game - £37 when it's -6 outside, and us playing like we have been, think I'll stick the heating on and watch from home. I did briefly consider changing my mind thinking Leven might get a new manager bounce, but prob left it too late now.

Watched the Lutz interview with RedTV. A summary:- - Performances over last four games were pivotal in deciding to sack Thelin. - Personality of next manager: He needs to "reflect a certain emotion and a certain fire, which I think is extremely important to get this team going and get the players behind you" - Won't put time scale on appointing new manager. "Could be six days, could be six weeks, could be six months." - ⁠Says he told the players they have six months to prove themselves - Paraphrasing him slightly (11:15) but he basically says Aberdeen have lots of good individuals but not a good team. - Among the names who have already applied, he says "there is some big names, some surprising names, there is some terrible names" - Said "don't be surprised if we are looking for more Scottish players in the transfer market" - Confirms Alfie Dorrington has returned to Tottenham (don't think it was ever officially announced) and "a few more players will leave in the next few days"

The holidays are over. Sober up.

It's a rather pleasant -3 here, but no snow. Just some frost. Get your fucking arses down here.

Not wishing to start any rumours, and I haven't heard anything about Aberdeen actually wanting the fella, but persuading Askou may not be as difficult as I first thought...

I've actually went down a bit of a Maloney rabbit hole, looking at his tactics at Wigan and why it went wrong, and also at his short time at Celtic with O'Neill (he's actually still at Celtic as he's the pathway manager). And you (and me, considering my earlier comment) are being a bit harsh on him. Hibs - was his first job and he only got five months in it. Wigan - was a very difficult situation with points deductions and losing his best players, but his sacking was a surprise, and the general feeling is they've got worse since he left. I would actually say Wigan was probably his Bristol City/Derek McInnes and he'll be better for it. By all accounts he was pretty instrumental in the dugout at Celtic in getting them results. Favours a 4-3-3, attacking football, yet at Wigan and Celtic he improved the defensive side of things too. I'm not saying he's my first choice. I'd like us to cast the net far and wide before hanging my hat on anyone. However, I do think the club will consider him, and if they do I could warm to it. Like I said, ticks a lot of boxes for the club. Would be more of a head coach than manager, fulfills that popular phase "knows the league". Knows a few players as well - managed Shinnie at Wigan and was keen to keep him, tried to sign Kevin Nisbet. And hey, it might mean Mark "if you're no training with intensity, you'll no be in ma team" Fotheringham might follow him up the road. Fuck it, get the Maloney thread started. Bring him home.

Lycka till Jimmy, hejdå

Saw the thread and was impressed we were at 45 pages already, just one hour after Thelin's sacking. First up, Neil Lennon and Stephen Robinson should be nowhere near the conversation. At least there'll be no talk of Derek McInnes returning. Askou, I can't see him walking away when two points off a Champions League qualifying spot. Leven has little management experience. Got a new manager bounce when last in interim charge, and will be interesting to see if he can repeat it again. If he does, then maybe he is worth considering, but also takes some of the blame for the Thelin era (and Robson). Maloney - he ticks a lot of Cormack's boxes. A more experienced version of Stephen Glass, which was Cormack's original plan, and working under Lutz the club may see him as a good fit. I view him as more of a coach than a manager though, and his two stabs at management so far have been really poor.

Fun fact: Steven Pressley scored twice for Aberdeen in his playing career. Both own goals.

By all accounts, the players liked him, but thought he was too soft on those who stepped out of line, and ultimately that loses you a bit of respect in the dressing room. Yesterday raised alarm bells. It's been poor for a while, but I kinda still felt he was slowly getting his head around things, but it was such a calamity at Falkirk that it was hard to make a case for him beyond the weekend. But I'm glad he left before I started to get so rattled by performances I began to dislike him. A throughly decent man who led us to the Scottish Cup, but hopefully we've made the right decision.

No. When I get to Florida in June, me and you are going to sit down and have a very serious chat about some of your decision making.

Harsh on Keskinen. Works his arse off, and would say when he came on at Hibs he showed how he can make an impact (most similar player we have to Morris). There's a player there, but like others is arguably mismanaged - in and out of the team, given various different roles, not given much help from more experienced teammates. Would also say it's a bit early to give up on Gyamfi. Hasn't ever had a run of injury free games.