Panda

Not necessarily. Because Kilmarnock are also in the Conference League, one of them may have their game moved to Wednesday for TV purposes. It's a thing Uefa have been doing this season. Dates confirmed in the morning.

Someone is taking the piss

The team finishing last in La Liga get £45m in tv revenue alone. Add in sponsorship, expected gate receipts (40,000 capacity stadium), and that last season they had player sales that amounted to over €30m, then £3m is pocket change to them.

Hoilett - I'd have liked him to stay because he had something about him, but was probably a fringe player anyway. We really need to sign another Miovski level player who is a nailed on starter and game changer. Espanyol - Reports suggesting £3m. Aye for Duk maybe.

Well if we're doing it all in here, then... While we should temper expectations for Thelin in his first season, I still expect at least fourth. Hibs - bar the Kelty defeat - actually look okay, but our squad even at this stage still looks stronger than theirs, and the same goes for Killie, Dundee and St Mirren. We're two players away from being a tidy enough side, if not spectacular. Hearts - on paper they look to have strengthened, and have good squad depth which will help them cope with European games. Even if Shankland goes, they'll have that cash plus the European money to strengthen even more in January. But, despite comfortably finishing third last season, they were not great shakes, and although Naismith seems competent enough I don't think he'll ever have Hearts being fantastic. They are definitely there to be got at if Thelin can get any sort of consistency going. Reckon this could be the year Motherwell go down. St Johnstone and Ross County also to struggle. Goodwin to get sacked by Dundee United, but they'll have enough to be safe. Celtic to stroll the title. Mine and Philippe Clement's gym is currently getting an expensive upgrade which might be enough to convince him to see out the season (honestly, should see the number of different saunas they're building. Looking forward to discussing Connor Barron in there with him). Predicting the cups a waste of time as much depends on the luck of the draw. Player of the season: Have a feeling a maturing Jack Mackenzie could really impress this season.

Tannadice it is then. Hopefully we get the Shed.

Technically Rangers are at Hampden... Which poses the question - if Rangers' temporary stay there becomes long term, where does the semi & final get played if Rangers make it that far? In 1994, Celtic played their home games at Hampden. Both the semi (v Aberdeen) and final (v Raith) were played at Ibrox so that Celtic didn't get an advantage (the Scottish Cup final did get played at Hampden, which was criticised). Should Aberdeen draw a Rangers in the semi at the start of November, we would have every right to demand it's at Murrayfield.

The draw Seeded The Dons, Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Dundee, Ross County Unseeded Hibernian, Dundee United, St Johnstone, Airdrieonians, Falkirk, Spartans, Queen's Park, and either Motherwell or Partick Thistle. Takes place tomorrow after Motherwell v Partick.

What exactly were you expecting from them in their 20 minutes? They rarely wasted a pass, set up numerous chances, both got assists, and but for a good save Vinnie could have scored. Were they meant to stop the Titanic sinking during their cameos?

Things we did and didn't learn. Sokler is going to start v St Johnstone and Miovski is simply keeping fit before he leaves. Thanks for the memories Bojan - go get a move to a Champions League club and do us all proud. Be interesting to see Sokler when he makes the step up v Premiership teams. Vinnie and Duncan playing on their weaker side was interesting, but effective. We almost played in a counter-attacking style in that second half, with the two of them preferring to make their passes from deep and be overlapped. Morris wasn't bad, but he should be ripping a side like Dumbarton apart. He's ordinary on a good day and horrific on others. Should not start v St Johnstone. Has not done enough in his four starts. Would still like to think a new winger arriving is imminent though. We still don't know who will replace Nilsen v St Johnstone. Presumably one of Clarkson or McGrath. Defensively we still look like we can be got at easily, though Dumbarton rarely tested us. James McGarry coming off the bench and getting a goal and assist wasn't on the bingo card. He'll play second fiddle to Mackenzie, but maybe still hope he'll be a decent back-up.

Vinny and Duncan both getting assists That's £100 both BigAl and OrlandoDon owe me. Proving to be a very profitable season:

Think we've made all five subs now.

I've not wanted two players to put in a good 20 minutes as much in my life. I'm not even supporting Aberdeen at this point - just Duncan & Vinny. You can't say things like that around here. Talking of Fergie, I was staying in the same hotel as him in Stuttgart last month. Wanted to ask for a photo but he was sat on the phone so I left him alone. Also walked past Wenger at the Switzerland game. These stories offer you nothing but I needed to share them.

I'm guessing obviously, but he comes across as the type of manager who rather than going into the dressing room and berating everyone, just calmly explains how we should do things better.

There's four players on the bench I'd rather see start wide today. None of them I currently see as long term options, but Morris we already know won't be good enough when the quality of opposition goes up. Pape, Vinnie, Duncan and even McGarry as a left winger would be more interesting than watching Morris run in a straight line to the byline and try and win corners.

Morris starting a fourth game in a row is sensational patter. I imagine he's just a lovely guy that trains hard, and the managers and coaching staff just want him to be happy, so pick him because they don't want to face those puppy dog eyes and let him down.

Be interesting to see if the team that starts tomorrow is the one likely to start v St Johnstone. Am I right in thinking Nilsen is suspended v St Johnstone following on from SK Brann (He picked up two yellow cards in the first 10 mins v Bodo/Glimt in his final game there. We stupidly signed him on the 11th - he could have served his suspension with Brann on the 13th). So Thelin might want to test his likely midfield combo for that one, which means we could have another Jensen or McGrath experiment there (or Jack Milne?). I would guess Nilsen will start just to get him more acquainted with the team but will be an early substitution. Angus MacDonald also suspended, but of course is injured anyway. Sokler will do well to start again. Unless a move for Miovski is imminent, you want to get 90 minutes in his legs ahead of the opening day of the season when - if he's still here - he should start.

Legally Aberdeen can't say much about it, hence the lack of communication.

BigAl na ɛwɔ hɔ

Call yourself a football fan? Surely everyone has a favourite Ghanaian team?

If true, he's 19, so probably someone to sit in our U20s for a couple of seasons before being loaned to Montrose, then released.

I like that you're learning from me. Under my tutelage I feel you can be a big part of this forum this season.

Played with a bit more intensity in the second half and rattled Airdrie to get those two goals. It's good we're aggressive in the middle of the park, but Shinnie and Nilsen both booked tonight. It's going to become a problem later in the season, and maybe in this competition if we go into a big quarter or semi-final without them. Going forward I like how our players are good at finding space. We could have scored more, we're a bit rusty still up top, but that sharpness will come. Defensively still a worry. Airdrie knock it about well but we shouldn't be hanging on like that at home against them. Based on our current squad, our strongest XI is the one that started the second half. But another winger a must, and I still think another centre half and deep midfielder would give us more depth.

I was gonna say after the East Kilbride game I thought Clarkson would be in for a very good season. Having Shinnie and Nilsen offers him more freedom. I think he'll be in for a very good season.

sHinniE's lEgS hUv gOn. We'rE a bEttEr teAm wItHouT hIM. Sit yourselves down for another week.