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Or, take the £5m windfall, and if that affects some league performances then so be it, considering that guaranteed group stage football might not be back for a few years after next season. The ONLY team that worries me are Hibs, and even then they are average and their run will come to a halt soon (much like it did for us). Think after this we generally only have one game a week until the split, which will make a big difference. Plenty of time on the training ground for Thelin.

The emphatic answer to this is "No". We're a better team with Graeme Shinnie in it, and that's two good games at left back he's played now. Kevin Nisbet, four goals in five games. He's beginning to look like someone we should be trying to sign permanently in summer. Morris should have started over Okkels. Even though he was so close to winning the game, I'm glad Jim Goodwin is no longer our manager. Sat back and invited Aberdeen pressure for 45 minutes. And that's the real positive I take from today.

Declan Gallagher, asked if he enjoys going back to Pittodrie, said: “Absolutely not, but it is one that I'm looking forward to. Listen, there's some great people at Aberdeen, even though when I was in the club that wasn't the best of times. I did love the club, it was great, but obviously the fans have got a dislike for me and obviously, I’m not too fond of them either, so that will make for a good atmosphere for me.” That's cute. Personally, I think like most Aberdeen fans, I don't have any feelings for him. If anything I wish him well as I'd rather see Dundee United finish fourth than Hibs or Hearts because I see those clubs as a bigger threat in the long term. He just wasn't good enough for us then and isn't good enough for us now.

This is a first for me, something I never thought I'd ever say. But... I'd start Morris. Think his performances off the bench in the last few games merit a start. Keskinen on the left, Morris on the right, if Dabbagh is fit then him and Nesbit. Who starts in midfield will be interesting. Think there's an expectation Palaversa plays because he didn't in midweek, but I think Nilsen and Shinnie did okay on Tuesday. Yes, Shinnie was wasteful at times defensively, but he drives forward and brings energy in the midfield in a way no-one else in our midfield does. Plus, do you bench the captain for the fourth time in five games?

What’s the next excuse, the dog ate my ticket?

I've seen us play much worse than that at Celtic Park, but we froze in both boxes. Celtic looked average tonight, criminal that we conceded five. Positives to take are Dabbagh getting more minutes, while Mackenzie & Keskinen played well I thought. Hopefully Tobers, Mitov and Dabbagh (who asked to come off after a knock) all fine for Sunday.

The point is McGrath and Hoilett are good enough to be in our first team. It's not like they're signing our bench warmers (granted, Hoilett not so much as McGrath, but he's made 17 appearances for Hibs this season and likely would have made similar for us). Be interesting to see if boyhood Hibs fan Jack Mackenzie is next to make the move to Easter Road...

He's a very good player, and he'll be a very good player for Hibs, but he struggled in Thelin's system. Thelin wanted him playing off the left and he never really shined in that role. Hopefully Okkels becomes the player we all hope he will. The big take away from this is Hibs taking a player from a direct rival and offering him a four-year deal, months after being able to offer Hoilett what we couldn't. Whether it proves to be financially prudent or not remains to be seen, but they're spending the Black Knights money. It's always been Hearts we've been worried about for third place, but Hibs have been quietly sneaking up on us.

I'd go 4-3-3 for this one. Slightly more defensive than usual but then it is Parkhead. Could do with an extra man in midfield to track Celtic's movement; they could have Engels, McGregor, Hatate, Jota, Kuhn and Maeda all to keep an eye on. It does mean Nisbet playing up top by himself and he's been at his best linking up with Gueye or Dabbagh, but likewise wouldn't drop him after his recent performances, Dabbagh still an unknown, and Gueye doesn't do the running you'd need. If we do go 4-2-3-1 though then would start Dabbagh with Nisbet.

I'll keep you all updated. Sure everyone on the forum will chip in to buy a replacement and get it down to Glasgow for me.

Mackenzie fit but Devlin out, according to Thelin. I am one of the daft ones who has paid £35 for a restricted view ticket. Kinda feel obliged to go when it's a midweek game in Glasgow to boost the away nunbers. The ticket hasn't arrived yet mind you

I'd say it's more likely Gueye he replaces. Notable that when Clarkson came on it was in a deeper role (granted, he was replacing Palaversa and Shinnie was being used at left back) but I think Thelin feels Nisbet playing off someone a bit more mobile, with the two wide men cutting in, is the way to go. Nisbet I thought was again excellent. I'd be inclined to start him and Dabbagh on Tuesday. Morris was good when he came on. It's funny though, it's so predictable what he's going to do - he'll always go to his right when a defender stands him up. But, he's tenacious and is holding onto the ball well under pressure. Tobers and Knoester. We've finally got a good defensive partnership there.

Thought we showed a lot more fight and urgency when our captain and leader Shinnie came on @redordead

Not looking beyond this game, but a worry if Devlin and Mackenzie both doubts for Tuesday. Forgot Shinnie could play left-back though. See how he gets on there for the next 25 minutes.

I have a bet on Okkels to score the first goal, so of course it was ruled out. Nisbet and Gueye appear to be the link-up men with Topi and Okkels the guys expected to score. Would like to see Mackenzie and Jensen get the ball in the final third though. Edit: Devlin and Jensen, since Mackenzie has just gone off.

You've made my point for me there. You're saying you have no problem with the job Scott Brown did, yet claim his teammates downed tools. Surely, if you're being consistent, you'd have to say he wasn't a very good captain then? For the same reason you're not blaming Scott Brown - we didn't lose all those games because of Graeme Shinnie being unable to motivate his teammates. There were many factors for Aberdeen's slump. Shinnie's performances (like many others) were a factor, his credentials as captain were not.

There's not a single part of what you wrote there that is even close to being true. So we need someone "up for the fight" and "able to motivate"? You mean like a Barry Robson? Or a Jim Goodwin? Or a Scott Brown? All three were part of the last three permanent management teams - Robson was part of all three actually. Yet we're blaming Shinnie for not being able to motivate? If Nilsen is such a great motivator, how the hell did we go three months without a win?

How has the last couple of years proven that? I don't understand the rush to sideline a 33 year old Graeme Shinnie in favour of a 33 year old Sivert Nilsen. Nilsen has had just as many, if not more, poor performances than Shinnie. I'd say the improved performances have come from Palaversa improving, which has taken the load off of Shinnie & Nilsen. I would think the natural successor as captain will be Tobers or Palaversa in 2-3 years time (should they stay beyond their current deals).

Chances are Molloy won't play again this season, at least not until the split, so having Dorrington as back-up (especially with Milne not fit and Rubezic away) isn't the worst thing.

I'm boycotting the rest of the thread until that appalling apostrophe is removed.

They're getting this out before they announce it's £24 for a 12:30pm kick-off live on TV v Queen's Park.

Wasn't that long ago (literally, two weeks ago) where Jensen and Devlin were being criticised v Hibs, and the general feeling was Mackenzie had given the team more balance when he came on. Like I said at the time of the sub, I didn't think he was playing badly and needed to come off, but as @RicoS321aludes to, maybe it was the partnership with him and Okkels that Thelin was unhappy with rather than them as individuals.

He did. He touched the ball 12 times in the opposition half, including twice inside the box, and made four passes into the final third. He had 40 touches of the ball (more than Topi, Jeppe, Pape and Kevin). His passing accuracy of 77% was statistically the best in the team, and his passing accuracy in the final third was only bettered by Palaversa. Most of his passes were to Okkels and Nilsen. Devlin and Jensen were very good though, and probably over the piece were better than him, but I tend to think people rush to criticise Mackenzie because he hasn't signed a new contract.

Was just away to post to say Okkels had started the second half really well and could see him scoring. Not sure we needed to take him off for Morris. Likewise the Devlin/Mackenzie sub doesn't really fix any glaring issue that I could see.

Nilsen was saying during the week he thinks the midfield has been fine, but up front they've not been creating anything. I'd say today the midfield has been totally outplayed and up front we've done well with the few times we've managed to get the ball. The passing has been hopeless. Defence looks shaky, mainly because every clearance seems to land in our own box, and we're inviting them to put as many crosses in as they like. Okkels getting more involved which is good to see, Nisbet playing well I'd say.