Panda

I'd say at the very least a draw and extra-time would have been fair.

I think Robson's problem is he's trying to play last season's 3-5-2 with a different set of players and isn't getting the same success. At the moment (and it's early and these things can change) Scales > Jensen Pollock > Rubezic Ramadani > Polvara McCrorie - Devlin Hayes - McGarry Devlin the best of the new signings, but I don't think 3-5-2 is working for him. Because if he plays RWB, we seem to lack a lot of pace down the right. If we play him in the three to play Morris, then we play a guy who can't defend as a wing back. I'd play a four at the back with Shinnie and Clarkson as a two in midfield, get McGrath in front of them, and play Polvara as a defensive mid who can drop into defence to make it a three if need be. Means the team lacks width, but Hayes and Morris appear to be the only wingers anyway.

This one? "That's not how we want to play. That was the frustrating part. We are building a new team. We've got all these players that have just come in the door. They've hardly introduced themselves to each other. "We will be fine. We've got real speed, we've got a good group, we've got some really good players and once we get going, we'll be fine. I'm really relaxed about that." I'd say a lot of what he says there makes sense. That doesn't make him immune from criticism, but we've had good performances that deserved more (Celtic, arguably Hacken) and we've had poor performances where we've dropped points in them all, when maybe last season a good defensive performance or an on-form striker bailed us out. Next four games after the international break will tell us a lot. Hearts away Frankfurt away Ross County home Ross County away (cup) Frankfurt is a free hit (unless it's an absolute pumping), but I'd be looking for a semi-final spot and a home win in the league. I'd also like to think, especially since Hearts have lost to Dundee and Motherwell, that we can improve on the two abject performances at Tynecastle last season.

Need to get McGrath more central. Rubezic probably needs subbed before he gets a second yellow. I'd bring Polvara on for him. Dare I say it, if it's gonna be a game of little creativity, put Geye on and see if he can get his head on a set piece?

Excellent that Celtic are continuing to develop him before we buy him in January.

Clarkson has a calf knock apparently, hence him being benched.

That's probably our strongest XI bar Clarkson. Have a feeling McGrath and Duk will score today.

I was only in Helsinki for about six hours two months ago so don't have an extensive knowledge of the place. However, near the ferry terminal down at the harbour, there's loads of food markets where you can have a meal for much cheaper than the normal Finland prices (which ain't cheap as you can probably imagine), and the portions were great too.

Booked up for Frankfurt. Going by West Ham's allocation when they played there, we should expect 2400 tickets. Maybe we'll get more if the interest isn't there from the home support, but we're the Dons min, their biggest game of the season, so can't see why they wouldn't sell out.

This game is on PPV for those without dodgy firesticks who want to watch it. I think we may see the same team that started v Hacken, unless MacDonald is fit (I presume that's why he didn't start on Thursday), then he'll either replace Rubezic, or Devlin will switch to RWB.

This is an important point. He's a young lad, has made a step up, has played some big games already, and is being slaughtered for a few mistakes. I hope all these defenders signing is Robson wanting to look after him, and Mackenzie, and let them learn from more experienced heads in the coming months.

Aberdeen have signed 13 players this summer, a year after Jim Goodwin promised we'd never need a window like that again. Are we weaker than last season? At the moment, it's hard to argue against it. Pollock goes straight into that team. Scales maybe but let's see how Jensen turns out and I thought he looked okay on Thursday. Ramadani is replaceable, but unfortunately we don't appear to have replaced him. Ross McCrorie also gets into that team. Maybe Devlin takes his place at RWB but I'd have loved him in midfield on Thursday. We'll see how it goes in the next few months but we need McGarry, Jensen and Gartenmann to all turn out to be great, MacDonald to find consistent fitness, Duk to come back from this extended pre-season he appears to be on, and Barron needs to step up because we're short in midfield. I'm not sure either where McGrath fits into a 3-5-2. All these defenders suggest we're not going four at the back any time soon. Over to you Robson.

Aye, fun fact, but I used to live in Germany (near Monchengladbach) and been back so many times for football; Dortmund, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich and Cologne. It's just an amazing county, brilliant for football, and it breaks my heart that we're going to make the people of Frankfurt unhappy by pumping them.

Was waiting for you to post your thoughts first. I know nothing about any of them except Mario Gotze plays for Frankfurt, and Hearts were unlucky not to beat PAOK at home so let's not be scared of them. Plus when we play them in Greece it'll be a lot cooler weather wise. Now, where's good to stay in Frankfurt?

Have they not done away with the direct Aberdeen to Frankfurt flight? I was in Helsinki in July (albeit briefly, was staying in Tampere 90 minutes north of it). They like their reindeer meat over there.

Harsh on Jensen, especially since he's only played one full game. Thought he looked good last night.

Don't worry about it @RicoS321, we've only got another year of group stage football to worry about before our coefficient goes crashing through the trapdoor.

You can simulate the draw here if that sort of thing turns you on. https://draw.inker.one/#/ecl/gs/2023

The tie was a month too early really. I think Robson will sort the defence the same way he did last season, and our strikers - especially the quality of Miovski and Duk - won't miss those chances all season. l'm not worried though. The first eleven is okay, few players can and will improve, and we'll be alright this season.

Btw, if you want to have some fun, there's a draw simulator here. https://draw.inker.one/#/el/gs/2023 Aye I would take that

I've been desperate to land Roma all summer. But suddenly, at the 11th hour, I really want Ajax. I'll take either of them though. Europa League: Ajax/Roma, Slavia Prague, Slovan Bratislava, Aberdeen. - Glamour tie, but third place and therefore the Conference knockout stage wouldn't be impossible. Also some good stadiums for Cormack to visit to pick up tips for the Duk Dome at the Beach. Conference League: AZ Alkmaar, Fiorentina, Spartak Trnava, Aberdeen - I've been to Trnava and not in hurry to return but reckon we could beat them, Florence is a place I'd love to see, and Alkmaar have a cracking stadium for Dave to visit.

Sorry to be the purveyor of bad news, but we can't get four of the teams you've listed there as they'll be in pot 4 with us. Only Olympiakos and Maccabi Tel Aviv are doable. Here's the current projected pots (based on the highest seed winning, which is why Aberdeen are projected to be in the Europa League). Teams in bold already qualified.

Heading up to Aberdeen for this one. Not seen us lose at Pittodrie under Barry Robson so Häcken are done for. I suspect McGarry and McGrath were were deliberately on the bench on Sunday with this game in mind. We'll press them high right from the start. Wouldn't be surprised to see Sokler start too, some fresh legs. Be interesting to see if him and Miovski can play together. On recent form, Hacken are beatable. But if the version that won the Swedish league turns up then it'll be a test alright.

Send Bavidge to Celtic with the provision he must play at least 75% of games. They owe us one.

He made two changes. Any more and he'd be accused of making too many changes, and of not taking St Mirren seriously. Hearts made five changes, had to make three subs at half-time, and still lost.