Panda

Was my first game of the season and was worried we'd win 11 on the bounce, then I'd show up and we'd lose, but we are magnificent. Can see why Thelin took off McGrath for Palaversa as we needed physicality at that point, but it meant when we won it back we didn't have enough bodies forward to break and we struggled to hold possession and kill Dundee's momentum. That was when you wanted Gueye on for Clarkson too (although the wee man battled gamely, they were trying to bully him but he scrapped away). I've criticised Rubezic, but penalty apart he was very good. Molloy I thought struggled, second half all his headers seemed to be downward and he never really got it cleared. Was bailed out a few times. Ambrose, ooft. I wanted to give him a chance, but wouldn't be sad to never see him in a Dons shirt again.

Just got myself a last minute ticket so heading up to see Jimmy Thelin's sexy Swedish reds. Now that I'll be there I'll change my prediction to 1-0 Aberdeen, Palaversa off the bench with a last minute winner.

I did say could maybe make a case, wasn't particularly advocating it. Was more me taking umbrage at the suggestion Shinnie shouldn't start. But, was interesting that Clarkson was saying he could only play 60/70 minutes last year before he would suffer cramp, and that Thelin told him to stay on against Spartans to get 90 minutes on him despite him again beginning to cramp up.

I was reading some Girona fans' opinions on Miovski, albeit through google translate. They're split. Some think his movement is really good, others think he's poor. He's their Pape Gueye.

Leven been given permission to talk to St Johnstone. It's only a matter of time. If he doesn't take this one then another club will be along soon enough.

Aye I don't like this pattern of bringing out strips that look like they've been washed with the wrong colours, ie last year's home strip. This season's home is superb, the away is okay, the rip off third is very meh.

"Up to 19,000 tickets" for the semi. In truth that's 17,500 plus any unsold debentures. We'll probably take 14,000, which is our standard semi-final sales when doing well, and a good haul imo. I tend to think (hope) law of averages mean if we keep playing Celtic at Hampden we're bound to win one eventually. This is our ninth game at Hampden against them in 14 years.

Shinnie and Nilsen have to play. Could maybe make the case of Palaversa over Clarkson. Didn't realise you lived in New Zealand (presumed USA. Always thought you were being lazy sleeping in during games). I lived with two girls from New Zealand. Promised them I'd visit them in Queenstown one day, but it's a bit of a trek isn't it? It's on the bucket list though.

Please tell me it wasn't Football Insider. Have I taught you boys nothing?

Thank god for that, was struggling to tell the difference with the black and gold.

Aye Sky Sports used to do some masters tournament. We weren't in the Scottish one though, we got bumped into the "north-east" one with Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. We basically sent the Gothenburg team and despite having the oldest team we won it, cos we're the fucking Dons min. Can't remember what year that was.

New third kit? A retro kit? An update to the Adidas Aberdeen Arena at the beach?

This kinda feels like I'm basically posting a BBC press release here, but for anyone interested Sportscene is showing the Masters live on 14 November, which is in Aberdeen this year - not Augusta. Aberdeen, Dundee United, Celtic and Rangers are the four teams. Six-a-side. So not just the treble this year but the quadruple up for grabs. Aberdeen: Russell Anderson, Eoin Jess, Joe Lewis, Derek Young, Jonny Hayes, Gavin Rae, Kevin McNaughton and Lee Miller. Rangers: Barry Ferguson, Jermain Defoe, Kris Boyd, Lee McCulloch, Graham Dorrans, Pedro Mendes, Roy Carroll and Dean Sheils. Celtic: Stiliyan Petrov, Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew, Simon Donnelly, Gary Hooper, Darren O’Dea, Joe Ledley and Michael McGovern. Dundee United: Willo Flood, Mark Wilson, Craig Conway, Gary Kenneth, John Rankin, Jon Daly, Danny Swanson, Paul Gallacher I dunno if we want separate match threads for each game to piss off Rico? Anyway, be good to see Eoin Jess and Kevin McNaughton in particular again in Aberdeen shirts. Dunno why Scott Brown is turning out for Celtic, presumably couldn't get in the Dons team.

They are equally horrific shouts, but Lennon, Mowbray and Brown are not only ex-Celtic but also ex-Hibs. Mowbray is unrealistic anyway because of his health issues and he doesn't want to manage in Scotland, but I can't see Hearts appointing a former Hibs manager anyway. As for Lennon and Brown, they are both despised in Gorgie. It'd be like Aberdeen going for Durrant or Hateley. Not a hope Hearts ever consider them, and I doubt either man will be putting their name forward either.

Lennon, Mowbray and Brown? I will pay your mortgage for a year if Hearts appoint any of them.

This is where the season begins to unravel. Sold out away end, Aberdeen fans arriving in expectant mood, only to be met by a poor performance and Thelin's first defeat. Nisbet to miss a few sitters, Gueye to revert to his early-Aberdeen form, Clarkson to struggle to make an impact, Rubezic to be caught out for one goal and to be at fault for the penalty, Keskinen to go missing. Rangers to beat Hibs to narrow the gap on us to two points. I mean, I might be wrong. If I am then sorry Dundee for jinxing you.

The more I read up on Neil the more I was against him becoming Aberdeen manager. Got Norwich promoted and was heralded as a great up and coming manager, but since then he's had more failures than success. Norwich: After relegation, was sacked after seven wins in 24 and Norwich eighth in Championship. Preston: 16th in Championship. Sunderland: Wasn't there long enough, but were second I think when he took over and he got them promoted from League One through a play-off. Wasn't the miracle some made it out to be. Stoke: Finished 16th, then was sacked the following season when they were 20th. That doesn't make him a terrible manager - the English Championship is a tough division. There's worse names Hearts could appoint. But I'd have been underwhelmed had he came here. Would be genuinely intrigued how he would do at Hearts.

Should be the Saturday game as Celtic have a Champions League game on the Tuesday. So 12:15pm or 5:30pm, take your pick.

Would quite like them to give it to Alex Neil, just so we can see what we supposedly missed out on.

The game is actually in Azerbaijan behind closed doors. So an even longer trip.

https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/club-statement-steven-naismith Naismith gone

Think there'll be an announcement today that Naismith is gone.

Thing with Sokler is he's a useful number 10 the way he can link the play, but he's behind Clarkson, Gueye and even McGrath to play there. He's not at the level we need to play as a striker. You wouldn't really consider him a winger. Maybe an inverted one but then you'd expect him to be able to finish, which he can't. I think he might be a perennial "decent player but where do we play him?" until we eventually send him on loan to Slovenia.

Interesting that when MacDonald came on he replaced Molloy at LCB, while Milne was at RB in place of Devlin. Thought the Gueye wide right experiment was okay. You could see the plan was for him to meet the ball at the edge of the six-yard box. It's nice that we're unpredictable. Anyway, let's stay humble.