Panda

Will take the BBC criticism on board and raise it at the next department meeting. Just so my notes are correct, you're saying you want more Foster on VARdict and more old firm content?

No chance of it being overturned, but the club had to appeal against it to make a statement they feel they've been wronged.

MacDonald has said he wants to stay. We absolutely have to get that deal done, a colossus tonight. I don't think the players threw in the towel to the extent many suggest. Against Hibs they were a disorganised mess. Very few weren't actually trying. Jim Goodwin was the one who threw in the towel in that game. Couldn't even be arsed with damage limitation - and there's every chance that game still costs us third if it comes down to goal difference. Don't think the king, sorry Robson, really cares for him that much. Because he likely won't be able to play against his parent club Liverpool in the group stages (although in Europe that rule is more relaxed so it would be a gentleman's agreement).

Under Barry Robson, Aberdeen have only conceded from open play against Celtic and St Mirren. Other than that, it's six games with four clean sheets and two penalties. And yet, if you look at the league table, we still have the third highest goals against (we were joint second worst until we beat Kilmarnock). Despite the recent good run, the legacy of Jim Goodwin remains and that goal difference may yet be the difference between third and fourth because after County it's six games left against top six opposition, with 50% of them against the Old Firm. It's going to be hard to claw back those six goals on Hearts (we're -3, they're +3). That makes County an absolute must-win. A draw, and then a Hearts win the next day, it's advantage right back to Gorgie and who knows what effect sacking Robbie Neilson will have on them. Shinnie likely comes back in for Duncan, can't see any other changes. Aberdeen end already sold out, Friday night under the lights. Not gonna lie, I'm nervous for it, but I've not had the butterflies for a Dons game for a while which shows we've finally got something worth hanging on to.

Kinda changing the topic slightly, but was Jess better as a striker or midfielder? In his early years he was a striker. I actually think he was a striker when playing in the English top flight at Bradford. But I remember him more in midfield in the mid-90s, maybe by necessity as we had an abundance of forwards. One thing I always thought - and thank fuck it never happened - but if Jess had put himself ahead of the Dons he probably should have signed for Dick Advocaat's Rangers and landed himself league titles and played in the Champions League. He would have excelled in that team with the players he had around him. But again where would he have played - midfield or striker? Scary thought, but thankfully he didn't go. Just wish we hadn't done the whole Alex Miller experiment and he wouldn't have wasted his best years basically having to keep us up. Him and Craig Hignett could have really done something special together too.

Good spot. That would mean if Livingston don't make top six that one of Rangers' home games would have to be away, and Celtic will need an extra home game. Quite happy to take Rangers at Pittodrie a third time and for Hearts to go to Celtic Park again, feel that's fair.

Now that top six is secured, it'll be interesting to see how the post-split fixtures work out. Of the top seven, the breakdown in home/away games after the split would be. (I didn't work out the below myself, have borrowed it from elsewhere. They won't mind). Celtic Rangers, St Mirren. (home) Hearts, Aberdeen, Hibs, Livi (away) Rangers Hearts, Aberdeen, Hibs (home). Celtic, Livingston, St Mirren (away). Aberdeen Celtic, Hibs (home) Rangers, Hearts, Livingston, St Mirren (away) Hearts Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, Livingston (home) Rangers, St Mirren (away). St Mirren Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen (home) Celtic, Hibs, Livingston (away) Hibs Celtic, Livingston, St Mirren (home) Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen (away) Livingston Celtic, Aberdeen, St Mirren (home) Rangers, Hearts, Hibs (away) So if Hibs miss out (they could) I presume that might help us as we'd get a third home game against someone. Possibly St Mirren which would be a huge boost as we also shouldn't be discounting them for third. If Hibs make it and Livingston don't (on current form likely to happen), then I think even though we're currently third, the advantage still lies with Hearts based on their remaining fixtures. Of the seven remaining they have one less v Old Firm, and have also to play us at home. We really need a win at Ross County and for Hibs and Hearts to draw. Then even if we lose to Rangers we'd have at worst a one-point lead at the split. A draw at Tynecastle and a win over St Mirren may well be enough providing Hearts don't go doing anything stupid like winning at Ibrox or something.

Talking of strike partners

Picked Eoin Jess & Scott Booth from the options available, but agree would have picked Gillhaus & Nicholas.

The one thing I worry about with Robson (well someone had to be negative) is he doesn't stray much from his favoured starting line-up. If fit they play (which was something McInnes did often). Shinnie's suspension forces a change there, but while Miovski's recent form would merit him being dropped I'd be surprised if he didn't start. I'm not exactly proposing massive changes, but Barron (if fit) in for Shinnie and Watkins in for Miovski would be my picks. Could quite possibly have Hayes in for Shinnie centrally with Coulson at left-wing back. Hopefully St Mirren take their performance against Livingston to Tynecastle and we can get ourselves into third.

The goal. Have we paid St Johnstone off before the game?

Aberdeen winning. Hearts and Hibs getting beat. St Mirren beating Livingston is probably good for us too. The Barry Robson era is here and Scottish football better get used to it.

It's Andrew Considine's birthday today. And he's been sent off after seven minutes against Aberdeen. God I love that man

Odd that Gorter missing since he played for Netherlands U21s during the international break.

Okay so I did catch one after all. (See my previous post, and thank you)

Well I do work at the same place Craig Levein does... Edit at 12:03: But on this occasion I was attempting a rather shit April Fools

Robson has said Hayden Coulson won't play after this week's events. Formation wise, I wonder if we'll go back to a back three. It's how we finished against United and how we played v Hearts. I'd like to see Watkins start but I imagine after having a good international break (goal and assist I think) then Miovski will keep his place.

Agnew apparently told the club he's open to staying should Robson land the job permanently. On Liam Fox, although he's not a manager, he is a highly rated coach. Actually a good appointment I'd say. The news that disturbs me is that Craig Levein met with Alan Burrows this week and is set to join the Football Monitoring Board.

I think if Robson does well then he's in a no-lose situation. Either he gets the Aberdeen job permanently, or another club will pick him up. Hard to see Billy Dodds staying at Inverness beyond the end of the season for example. Robson an ex-player, it's still relatively close to the north-east. If he's not getting the Aberdeen job then that would be a plausible move. Or Dundee United if Goodwin doesn't stay. For Aberdeen, it means they have a manager in place now with the option to extend it. I would have preferred they had just made it permanent as there's still an uncertainty over the role, but it is what it is. Now go do enough to get the job permanently Robbo.

Don't know what's worse. Failing to make a dog pun or the weird way you've written 22nd. You're one sick puppy.

Could be one of those weekends that changes the course of history (bit dramatic maybe, or is it?). Aberdeen and Hearts both have terrible away records. On paper, we have similar challenges this weekend - us away to Saints, them away to Killie. We win, they don't, then we're right behind them and Neilson will be under severe pressure. However, they win and we don't, all the good work from beating them is gone and certain Danish managers called Jess will continue to see us as a chaos club. McInnes, you owe us one lad after lumbering us with Funso Ojo.

I think that would be really disrespectful to Robson and he would likely tell them to gtf, and quite right too. He's managed for six games, won four of them, had the team scoring three goals in three of them, beaten two direct rivals for a European place and won away from home. So what would we be hoping for from another four games? Just to make absolutely sure it wasn't all a fluke? And then if he does well in those we give him another five after the split just to make extra, extra sure it's not a fluke? If the club have someone lined up that they can't get until summer, or they feel they might get in summer (Chris Wilder perhaps considering he's only on a short-term deal at Watford) then that's the only reason to give it to Robson until summer only. Other than that, show the boy some respect and either appoint him or don't.

Aye, 2068 is when the stadium is being delivered and the 8,000 capacity in order to save costs will make getting a ticket difficult.

Come on McInnes, time to do your old club a favour. Beat Hearts, then send the reserves up to Pittodrie the following week. Edit: Reserves and Ash Taylor