Panda

I don't get how people struggle to comprehend a cup competition is more than just a final. And he actually won both cups that season. All that aside, it being the biggest competition in Asia doesn't mean what you originally said is true - ie "it's one of the biggest competitions in the world". In terms of attendances, maybe it is. It's not in terms of standard. I have said no such thing. All I've said is based on his record it doesn't excite me, and I disagree with your suggestion that someone with his record is the best we could aim for. The media have linked us with them, doesn't mean any of them are on the shortlist. Rodriguez is every bit a blind punt as Robson is to be honest.

That's exaggerating it just a touch. I beg to differ. Depends who the club is. Take Sheffield United to sixth - that's very good. Take Liverpool to sixth - not so much. Looking at the club's previous finishes they were second and third consistently five years before he arrived, appeared to fall into a rut, and he made minimal improvements on their league position. That would concern me. Although granted, he appears to have had a good cup record. Now, I'm not an expert on how he did or any issues he may have had to deal with. I'm not even saying I'm against his arrival. I'm just saying it's not a record that stands out to me as particular impressive. I think many are getting caught up in him being Spanish and managing abroad. So you don't think it's possible to get a manager with a better record than sixth and ninth in the last two years?

From a mate who is right into his Japanese football (and who was convinced Ange would be a success here) on Ricardo Rodriguez.. Decent manager, not exciting. He'll have an early impact, then it fades away.

That's like getting excited about Callum Davidson because he's won two cups. The league he's managed in is irrelevant. I'm saying his record is okay at best. I'm just not as excited about him as you or the P&J are.

Appears to have done little of note before managing in the Japanese second division, finally won promotion after a few years, then after switching clubs finished sixth and ninth in the top flight. Can't say I'm drooling too much at that.

I can't see us signing Markanday, Myslovic and hailing the return of Roberts - all right sided players - and then playing Duk right wing. Also can't see Robson telling the media he sees Clarkson as a no.6 then playing him off the striker. Wouldn't be against trying Scales at left-back though with Coulson ahead of him.

A huge game now. Never mind Hearts, we are five points behind a now on-form Hibs, four behind St Mirren, and currently three behind sixth-placed Livingston who have a game in hand (against bottom of the table Dundee United). Losing to them is simply not an option. I would go four at the back. People talking about Scales as if he was a miss v Celtic but not sure he was. McCrorie at right-back, Mackenzie at left-back. If we are sticking with three at the back, then I'd actually keep Mackenzie in there and play Coulson and McCrorie ahead of Hayes and Kennedy. Robson has been trying to play Clarkson deep with Shinnie and Ramadani doing the dog work. Problem is, Ramadani needs dropped but there's a lack of similar players to replace him if you want to stick with that tactic. Barron isn't that type of player (possibly injured anyway on account he wasn't in yesterday's squad). Myslovic, are we playing him or is he another Polvara? He's an inverted winger. You could try him with Coulson on the other side in a midfield role. There's also Roberts and Markanday. This game will tell us more than the Celtic game if Robson has it in him to be Dons boss. It might also be his last if it doesn't go well.

We looked a really poor team today. Alarmingly poor. The way we constantly coughed up possession either from poor passes or being brushed off the ball was unforgivable. Rarely, if ever, did we actually put together a good passage of play, I'm struggling to think of one. The goals were soft, and we offered nothing at the other end except the two times Joe Hart nae two errors. We cannot cross the ball, no-one can beat their man. It's all so basic and shows just how badly they've been coached all season. Tactically the three at the back gave Celtic too much space in the first half although we did at least change the shape, even if by the time we did the horse had bolted, spent the day at the pub, and strolled back with a couple of fillies and stuck a do not disturb sign on the stable door. But I don't think there's a huge amount of criticism you can really give Robson for the 90 minutes. The mistakes from individuals weren't on him, and he had named pretty much the line-up you expected him to. But we didn't look fit (that's not on him), we looked slow (not on him). He picked Hayes because he thought he would offer more defensively and was rewarded by a really poor performance in return. Ramadani, lots of enthusiasm, but he's not Aberdeen standard I don't think. Shinnie was trying to run that midfield himself. Duk far too slow and ponderous. Clarkson really poor although at least he was always looking for the ball. To be fair to Robson, he corrected most of these mistakes as the game went on although he took too long to do them. At least he got there eventually, which is more than could be said for Goodwin. I don't see a new manager coming in before Livingston so it's a huge seven days for Robson. He has to identify the weaknesses, he has to make changes for Livingston, and by fuck do we need to win that.

Strachan would be a horrific choice of manager.

Gordon Strachan currently favourite with the bookies. Someone is at it and I can only applaud them for it.

Campbell in today's Daily Record saying he hopes his form at Stevenage might still earn him a new contract at Aberdeen. According to soccerbase, since his Aston Villa goal he's made just three very late substitute appearances. St the very least he needs to be starting games down there to be getting a new deal here. But, you know, if it's Robson who gets the job permanently he might be thinking he knows how to get the best out of Campbell.

Not that I want John Hughes at Aberdeen - but where is the "Hughes hates Aberdeen" stuff coming from? One memory I had of him was after the 2014 final, I waited outside the main stand to see the team come out with the trophy and Hughes came out first and was very gracious, congratulating everyone. I don't think he has it in him to hate anyone.

At those odds it'll still worth £2...

It be took me less than two hours to make Felipe Martins the fifth favourite for the job...

Filipe Martins is doing a sterling job with Casa Pia in the Portuguese league. Despite being minnows they are sixth in the table - just two points off a European place. I reckon if I were to message the bookies, ask for odds on him, place a bet on him, message a few pals and say I've heard whispers we've spoken to him and they should stick a cheeky fiver on him, then I could get him in the running for the Aberdeen job by this time tomorrow.

Excellent article here from Thomas Duncan. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64585496

Think we can safely assume McBookie have no idea who the next Aberdeen manager will be.

Behave you. Leanne's a good egg.

Falkirk 2-0 up on Darvel. Are you watching Jim Goodwin?

I'm fucking fed up of the Darvel love-in, so hope Falkirk take at least three off them tonight. However, Darvel v Ayr would be tasty. Some cup run for Ayr. They've played Pollock, Cove, Elgin and now the winner of Darvel/Falkirk. If only we had drawn an easy team like Da.....oh.

Well that's helpful. To be fair was he not originally a centre midfielder who has been converted into a centre half?

A 17 year old centre half would get ragdolled by 90% of the forwards in the Premiership. Jack Milne (who is a few years older at 20) is likely to be the next centre half to step up but we've sent him out on loan. He might get his chance next season.

Which youngsters do you have in mind? I'm all for giving youth a chance (McInnes sacking led to Ramsay & Mackenzie being introduced) but let's not forget we're in a four-way fight to finish fourth and qualify for Europe.

Right enough, it is a two-game ban for McCrorie In that case then maybe Mackenzie in for Scales being the only change if Robson sticks with three at the back. Although a back four with an extra man in midfield might not be too bad an idea. Problem is we're not blessed with natural full-backs, or at least ones able to defend.