Panda

Last home game against them was the beginning of the Jim Goodwin horror series. Showed no ambition, time wasted from the first minute, and eventually lost late on. Since then, Barry Robson has faced Celtic twice as a manager and has lost both to an aggregate of 9-0. So I can only suggest it can't get any worse this weekend. Good time to get Celtic while their defence is unsettled, and Ross County scored twice against them on the opening day so they are there to be got at. My worry is we look a bit one-dimensional so far. Clarkson goes deep and hits it long to Miovski and Duk. We need either good wingers or an attacking midfielder, otherwise we'll struggle to hurt Celtic. But we'll win it 1-0, Jack Mackenzie the match winner.

Rosenborg are absolutely gash at the minute, are 8th in the league (summer league innit) and out of both cups, one of which was a defeat to a lower league team. I know all this because was out drinking with a Hearts fan tonight who is flying out to Norway tomorrow and has convinced me Hearts will prevail, and I have no reason to doubt him. Aye it's Europa for the money and glamour, but Conference could be some cracking battles with teams on our level. Either way it's a no-lose place to be in. I'm more stressed about Stirling away than I am about the play-off. Here's the projected groups, take your pick (they've projected Vilnius making the EL based on their coefficient)

Like I said a few days ago, best draw we could have got, but by no means the stick on to win many think it is. Even Vilnius, was it not last season they beat Malmo to make the group stages? Hearts could be in Greece to face PAOK while you're there..

Well, we can argue all week about whether Mackenzie will be a problem for us this season, but we'll just have to wait and see. Unless Robson pulls a rabbit out of the bag, or Mackenzie skips the queue ahead of Rubezic at lunch and gets maimed badly for it, then he'll he playing against Celtic on Sunday. On the subject of LCBs by the way, latest rumour is Celtic want Scott McKenna...

If there's a chance to sign Scales without paying over the odds for him, then aye, I'm up for it. I don't need convincing. But I think Mackenzie given time in that position can also develop into a good player, so I'm not overly concerned about the situation.

The one thing we're not crying out for is another central defender. And the only way Scales plays next Sunday anyway is if he's wearing a Celtic shirt.

Vinny doesn't have much pace though (not that I've noticed) so dunno where you play him in a 3-5-2, as he's not gonna get up the pitch as a wing back, and if you changed the middle three to incorporate a number 10 you'd rather have Clarkson or, dare I say it, Polvara there.

We've had an unsettled pre-season, not playing what will be our starting defence, Devlin playing out of position, Miovski and Duk not quite 100% fit, Polvara playing in defence then today into midfield. That all told today. Looked like a side not quite ready for the start of the season, as if they were all still trying to get to know each other. We at least still look solid at the back. Pleasing also to see that Guthrie and Montano - who were both throwing themselves about and trying to bully* our lot - both got nailed separately. Shows we have a team who won't roll over. *Montano seemed to take a disliking very early on to Morris and went after him the entire time he was on the park. Need the wing backs to offer more though. Both Hayes and Morris got into good positions but crossing and finishing was really poor.

John Beaton losing control of the game as usual. There's been three bookings and yet none of them has been Kurtis Guthrie which is astonishing. Towards the end of the half we looked more threatening, a few more overlaps and getting into their box. Morris again though seeing plenty of the ball but doing nothing with it. Polvara is playing very well in midfield. Using his physicality and passing it well. Ylber who?

Early thoughts. Polvara is fucking amazing and shame on all of you who doubted him. Rubezic thumping Guthrie after he had spent half an hour going after every Aberdeen player has just earned him a place in the Aberdeen hall of fame. All we need now is a shot on target.

Well Celtic have a defensive "crisis" so every chance Scales is in the squad or even plays against Aberdeen next week. We'll probably boo him, then sign him the following week and welcome him home like a war hero.

I dunno, I think if it do that you stifle Shinnie a little. If anyone sits deep other than Clarkson it'll be Barron I would think. That's presuming Barron starts, don't think he started any of the pre-season games. There's every chance it's Morris, with the remit that he goes wide and the RWB covers him centrally. Do you think we'll sign any more defenders though? If McGarry is coming in, that means we have him, Mackenzie, Williams, McDonald, Rubezic, Dadia, Devlin. That's seven before counting Hayes, Milne, Stewart and Polvara.

If McDonald does make if then would stick him in the middle with Rubezic to the right. If Barron starts then a big one for him, as over the next seven days I expect we'll spend the Ramadani money on someone. Likewise, big game for Mackenzie as Williams and McDonald be back soon. Needs to make LCB his own.

Robson said on Wednesday that McDonald would definitely be back for Celtic, and might make Livingston, so you never know.

Of that, Hacken (who looked handy despite the doing we gave them under Glass) have just been knocked out of the Champions League by a team from the Faroes, so they or Vilnius might be the best of that group. Zrinjski are Bosnian champions but again preferable to some of the others. A team from Belarus is a bit dicey since they're big pals with Russia. We may wish to bring our own water and food to that one.

I am optimistic about this season, however at this moment in time there's an argument to be made that we're weaker than we were at the end of last season. The defence is missing McDonald and Williams. Rubezic hasn't kicked a ball yet, Dadia hasn't played 90 minutes, Devlin has been moved about. Add to that Pollock and Scales are big fish (sorry)that are no longer there, and although Rico assures us it'll be fine - at the moment I'd say McCrorie is still a big loss (but Devlin and/or Dadia haven't had a run at RWB yet so fair enough on that one). The midfield is pretty much the same except for an unsettled Ramadani, a Polvara who I don't think has actually played in midfield during pre-season yet, and a Morris that the has been given a re-trial after new evidence came to light that he might have some pace, but the jury is still out on him (again, I'm sorry). Up front I guess we're okay, but we're at least two signings away from me being calm about the season starting. I'd take an untidy 1-0 right now. Lot of people suggesting Livingston will struggle this season but I think they'll be okay.

The comparison between Ramadani and Flood is a good one, but I'd say Flood was the better player. He did much of the same stuff as Rama, but better. And even then, I don't think it was a case of not rating Flood, just that we needed better than him to go up a level. Just like Ramadani.

He's that scary looking that even if he's a donkey I'll be praising him every week on here for fear of reprisals.

Ramadani to Italy: He has his moments but I've always felt if we want to go up a level he's one player we need to improve on. If Barron can rediscover his form pre-injury then I think he can go on to be a better player. I think one thing we'll see with Robson is a few players improving after the clusterfuck that was the Goodwin era. Polvara will likely be given another chance too since he's unlikely to play in defence once Rubezic, Williams and McDonald all fit. Plus, chances are we'll sign another midfielder anyway. So cheers Rama for helping Miovski settle in Aberdeen, and cheers for the transfer fee, enjoy Italy, I hear it's nice there.

Game with Stirling to be on a Friday night, but not on TV. It's because Stirling Uni playing Gartcairn on the Saturday and they use Forthbank. Other choice was Sunday but Alan Burrows has explained on Twitter that gave Aberdeen less time to prepare for the EL play-off. Full fixtures (note it appears Hearts and Hibs both at home at the same time). Friday August 18 Stirling Albion v Aberdeen (7.45pm) Saturday August 19 Airdrieonians v Ross County (3.00pm) Livingston v Ayr United (3.00pm) Rangers v Greenock Morton (Live on Viaplay, 12.30pm) St Mirren v Motherwell (3.00pm) Sunday August 20 Hibernian v Raith Rovers (2.00pm) Heart of Midlothian v Partick Thistle (2.00pm) Kilmarnock v Celtic (Live on Viaplay, 3.00pm)

I like the forum, you get some good debates on it and I think it's ran very well, as opposed to AFC Chat where's... let's just say the posting style is a bit different. Just wondering if there's some ways we can make it a bit busier here though? I've noticed a few regular posters go quiet recently too (although it is pre-season). Personally, I'd say merge the Aberdeen & football sub-forums into one. Don't think they need to be separate. People would then see more active threads when they're browsing the forum. Also, could whoever holds the Twitter keys maybe make a post advertising the forum that the rest of us could retweet? Garner a bit of interest?

Davey Cormack here suggesting we're "very, very close" to signing two defenders with 2/3 more players targeted too.

Polvara I thought was okay. He actually looked like the player we expected Stewart to be. Not a bruising defender by any stretch, but got it clear, passed it out well, made some decent blocks. Morris - he's quick, and Charlton gave him loads of room to work in. But he didn't do anything I wouldn't expect anyone else given that space to do. Defensively was really poor. We've got rid of Matty Kennedy who was average, but a better player than Morris. Mackenzie - he needs a good CB next to him, in much the same way Scales improved when he had McDonald and Pollock there. Maybe with Rubezic and McDonald then Mackenzie can just concentrate on his own game. But today him, Stewart and Devlin at times were swapping positions and it was hard to work out who was playing where and who was was meant to be picking who up.

Oddly, I paid by PayPal and they only charged me £1. Thought he gave the ball away far too often, was ponderous in possession and got caught out.

Second half was really poor. Sokler, it's too early to judge obviously, but not impressed on that showing. Or Dadia too. Ryan Duncan didn't look comfortable at LWB and who is this imposter who has replaced Connor Barron? At least when we had close to our strongest XI out we looked relatively okay, although I'd expect Livingston to be a step up on Charlton.