Panda

Eh? Do you mean you want Celtic to win tomorrow? Or are you referring to McInnes winning four semi-finals while with Aberdeen?

No, don't think strikers are our priority, and it's not like Ramirez has been playing much. Use the wages to bring in a top defender & to get Shinnie signed up permanently.

He's actually been struggling for game time and the loan was looking like a bit of a waste of time. Even against Villa he was a sub. Hopefully this leads to a better run of games. Although I dunno how he fits into the Aberdeen team, I think his time here has maybe gone.

Wasn't Morelos (he was suspended), was Umar Sadiq and even Beaton couldn't give that one with a straight face (he booked him for diving). I don't tend to buy into all the conspiracy theories, but Beaton has been chronic and has certainly given Rangers a leg up against us more than once (2-2 game at Ibrox particularly springs to mind).

Apologies for the extra long quote although the original article was posted in a Calvin Ramsay thread. After the debate last season, and him being played in both attacking mid (league cup) and defence this season, is McCrorie now finally in a position that suits him at right-back? And will Goodwin actually keep him there? If he does, with Shinnie in the door too, I think we're a centre half away from being a pretty good team.

For a few weeks I was apathetic about this game - the long build-up and then our dreary return after the World Cup. But now? Shinnie back, McCrorie finally being allowed to bomb down the right wing, Duk emerging as the GOAT. Now I'm believing again. I still fear we'll cough up cheap goals, but I'm confident we can get at them too. Hopefully Goodwin doesn't go too daft with the tactics.

Interesting quote from Goodwin, saying we now have five very good central midfielders in Shinnie, Myslovic, Clarkson, Barron and Ramadani. Poor Dante Polvara at the back

Actually, ignore me, Myslovic won't be able to play until he has a work permit. If Ramadani & Miovski are anything to go by we could be waiting a while.

Disappointed with that tbh, would have been good to continue with McCrorie at RB and start the new Slovakian guy. Is Saturday's Considine's first return to Pittodrie since Goodwin took him away from us? And now it's been overshadowed by this Shinnie character?

MŠK sports manager Karol Belaník: "Aberdeen lost a player in his position, who was also on loan. Therefore, he should get the space and it will depend only on him if and how he succeeds. He has the football qualities for it, he can prove it during his half-year loan." The three loan players are Clarkson, Coulson and Scales. I don't see why Liverpool would benefit from cutting Clarkson's loan short - he's playing every week and isn't exactly going into the Liverpool team. Unless they have a loan lined up with an English Championship team where, presumably, they feel it'll be a higher standard. Or Rangers. Clarkson worked with Michael Beale there...

Quick bit of scouting: Appears to be left footed but plays predominantly right of centre midfield. Four goals in 18 games this season. 48 shots on goal compared to Clarkson (16) and Barron (5) suggests a more attacking player, but not quite a No.10.

If anyone had their heart set on signing Kevin Long, he's signed for Birmingham.

Disagree. He was good at driving into the box, and was never scared to take on a shot from distance. I would argue - heading ability aside - he offered more going forward than Lewis Ferguson. And "journeyman" is a ridiculous description. He's only played for about four clubs and has won caps for Scotland.

https://www.afc.co.uk/2023/01/05/dons-bolster-midfield-options/ Another one. Who had Slovakia in the sweep stake?

Him and Ramadani will be great pals.

Wow. Aberdeen FC I fucking love you. I better go sellotape my semi-final ticket back together.

IF (and I won't believe it until he's spotted with a rowie in George Street) he comes back, it creates an interesting dynamic in the team. General thinking is Barron won't still be here by the end of the window, so he could essentially be taking his place in the team. If not, then interesting to see what Goodwin is thinking. Is Shinnie a left wing back? A centre mid? A spoiler? Either of these teams at Hampden will do me.

Mental that this time yesterday we were worrying about bottom six, and now Shinnie is coming home to win the lot.

Can't believe they've scheduled this the same day as Elgin City v East Fife. We'll win, we have to. If not the build up to the semi-final will be miserable (and Hearts could be 11 points ahead by the time we play them). New goalkeeper McCrorie New-RCB New-LCB Coulson Ramadani Barron Duncan Clarkson Hayes Duk 1-0, Considine to help his old team out by throwing one in.

Not too late to join us. It's either that or St Johnstone at home. I'll put you down as a maybe.

Willie Miller was proclaiming it as an excellent Aberdeen performance. Personally, I thought Ross County were one of the worst sides to visit Pittodrie this season and I include the three lower league teams in that. They sat off us in the first half and allowed us to do what we wanted. A good creative side are at least two goals ahead at the break. Second half they changed things, pushed us wider, and we rarely managed to hit a red shirt with a cross. (Some) Credit to Goodwin for trying to switch things about. McCrorie out wide was good. Barron needing a rest was good. Ramirez starting was good. But our tactics were actually similar to how we tried to chase the game against Kilmarnock. Put on loads of strikers, put the ball into the box and hope it eventually falls for us. Was very little patience to our play. I get we want to play at pace but sometimes when someone is packing the box, keep the ball and pass it until you get an opening. The goals we've scored since the World Cup have all been individual brilliance rather than a well worked team goal, almost like we're scoring in spite of the tactics rather than because of them. That's what we were relying on today and it didn't come.

You underestimated our rock solid defence. Joking aside, Goodwin praised them for keeping a clean sheet, like that was some sort of achievement. Aw come on. He actually created two very good chances in his short spell on the pitch. He's just off an injury and hasn't played much.

Aaron Reid loaned out to Elgin City. Look forward to being there for his debut next week... In other news, Wigan have made Graeme Shinnie available. Unfortunately looks like a return to Derby is on the cards rather than a move back to us.

Anyway, bringing the thread back to the game on Monday, I caught glimpses of County v Dundee United and the scoreline flattered United. County were very much in the game and on another day get a point. Also played okay v Rangers but their problem, again, was scoring, which is just the sort of side we want to be facing.