Panda

https://www.afc.co.uk/2022/04/06/andy-considine-update/ Goodwin here saying Considine was offered a six-figure sum and a future coaching role, he wanted another 50% in wages and a two-year deal. Club have made the right move in my opinion. In response to Rico's post, his previous performances are irrelevant. It's about what he can offer for the next 12-24 months. You can't honestly argue we can't get younger and better out there.

With Considine is it not a case of he was offered a one-year deal but he wants two years? That would take him up to the age of 37. I'm with Goodwin on this one. I don't think we get two good years out of Considine, who is already past his best.

McGeouch is actually joint fourth best for assists in the squad this season, despite playing less minutes than most. Only Montgomery has a higher passing accuracy (which considering Montgomery hasn't played a full 90 mins yet kinda counts him out), and only Hedges, Ramsay & Campbell have created more chances per 90 minutes. He's actually a very effective player and if we could get a run of games out of him he could be important for us. I hope Goodwin isn't clearing the decks too much without having players to bring in. It's all well and good getting players out the door but if you spend the summer getting knocked back for all your first choices then you're not necessarily going to improve the side. I'd argue we were too hasty in punting Brown. I'd be playing him in defence on Saturday ahead of Gallagher or Bates.

Ojo leaving is honestly up there with winning a cup. Couldn't pass, couldn't shoot, couldn't tackle, couldn't win headers, was constantly caught out of position, had this weird ability to only be able to run in a straight line with the ball which often led to him actually running out of play. Guarantee he goes to England's League One, the fans of his new club love him, hitting home once again that we should stop labelling the Scottish Premiership as League One standard.

Aye got that same what's app, which said it was front, back and sleeves.

Every single result had gone our way on Saturday right up until Dundee United's late goal. Still think we need maximum points, and even then I'm not sure it'll be enough, but at 1-0 v Hibs I was already trying to put a positive spin on us not having to bother with the European qualifiers next season. It's nice to still be in the fight.

Team for next season Brilliant GK Ramsay Cracking-RCB Awesome-LCB Hayes McCrorie Barron Vicente Superb-AM Watkins Ramirez I'd make McCrorie captain from that. Goodwin actually said McCrorie was a future when he signed his contract extension.

Well Goodwin maybe hasn't had a first win yet but he's certainly made an impact. From taking charge at Motherwell when he could have watched from the stand, by showing Scott Brown who the man in charge is, to basically telling JET to shape up or fuck off, he's set his stall out early. Also has identified early that the midfield needs built around McCrorie. Hearts game the only real blot on his record. Motherwell he'd had just a team talk, Dundee United was unfortunate not to be a win, and Rangers the plan was working up until John Beaton wanted his name in the papers again. And that's with an injury-hit team. At least now he's finally got two weeks on the training pitch to put his ideas across and hopefully her players back before three absolute must-win games. I think anything less than nine points and we're almost certainly in the bottom six and out of European contention.

Has anyone checked in on the Aberdeen social media admin? It's him/her I feel sorry for. They clearly adored Scott Brown, from all the random photos and "our captain" posts for no reason - completely ignoring the fact he was only team captain & Joe Lewis was and still is the club captain. I liked having Brown here but the way we put him up on a pedestal gnawed a bit. Graeme Shinnie and Russell Anderson were better leaders in recent years.

When he signed I had this weird feeling he wouldn't finish the season. More because I thought he'd play a few games, get injured, struggle at his age for fitness, and eventually retire. I didn't obviously see Glass being sacked so soon and Brown wanting out. I'd liked to have seen him stay. Looking ahead to next season he's probably not in our starting XI, but he would still be a very decent back-up, would be an asset as a coach, and it's a strong leader in the dressing room. A lot of people on Twitter rewriting history and making out he's been a waste of time as a player. That's just not true - was very good in a lot of games in the early part of the season. But like I said on another thread - I think he played too much. Glass built the midfield around him and you can't do that with a 36-year-old. Became a bit of a liability of late - especially v Motherwell and Hearts. Shame we didn't get to see him lead us out at Hampden. But, think we've a good captain in waiting in Ross McCrorie.

Presume you mean Barron. I think he earned his spot on recent performances. No harm in giving him the chance. If anything, less pressure on him today than there will be against Hibs at Pittodrie. I think the problem with Brown is that at 36 he should have been a back-up player. A good one at that & a strong leader. And with a thin squad like ours he would still have played plenty of games. Instead Glass essentially built the midfield around him, when he should have been building it around a guy like McCrorie. Brown began the season pretty well but he's ran out of legs, which isn't really all that surprising.

Going in our favour is that Rangers were poor against St Johnstone, and let slip a two-goal lead against Motherwell last week, so let's not get over excited about them. Also, it's not like we've suddenly been below par - we've been like this all season and still managed to pick up two draws against them. So I don't foresee a hammering. That said, I'd take a point now if you were offering it. I'd play Brown in defence. He's not fit enough to run around midfield and get pulled apart. At least Brown reads the game a bit better than Gallagher & Bates though. Either play three at the back and have McCrorie if fit into midfield so there's a bit more energy there, or drop one of Gallagher/Bates and play Brown in a back two.

Ferguson did dive, but it was likely due to recent decisions that have went against Aberdeen. Namely, Dundee United on Saturday. Harkes (?) feels a tug on shirt, drops to ground, penalty given. Yet, few weeks ago against Livingston I think it was Ferguson who had his shirt pulled and got nothing. Hedges/Ferguson both could have had penalties v the Old Firm and didn't. There was contact from Atkinson so Ferguson felt it and went down. Sometimes you've got to make a meal of it to get the decision. Not saying two wrongs make a right, but everyone is doing it, not just Ferguson. Doubt Neilson will be so vocal next time a Hearts player does it either.

We've four games left before the split. Livingston (37): Celtic (H); Hearts (A); St Johnstone (A); Motherwell (H) Hibernian (36): St Johnstone (H); Aberdeen (A); Dundee Utd (H); Hearts (A) Dundee Utd (35): Hearts (H); St Mirren (A); Hibernian (A); Dundee (H) Motherwell (35): Dundee (H); St Johnstone (A); St Mirren (H); Livingston (A) Ross County (33): St Mirren (H); Celtic (A); Hearts (H); Aberdeen (H) St Mirren (33): Ross County (A); Dundee (A); Dundee Utd (H); Motherwell (A); Rangers (H) Aberdeen (32): Rangers (A); Hibernian (H); Dundee (A); Ross County (H) I'm not sure I see us making the top six. Going to form, I see Motherwell 42 Livingston 41 Dundee United 41 Hibernian 40 Ross County 36 St Mirren 35 So that means we need at least nine points from the last four games. On paper it's doable because after Rangers the other three games are definitely winnable, but I just don't think we've got it in us at the moment. I see us winning one, losing one, and drawing two.

Gallagher & Bates as a partnership is not going to work. Both constantly caught out of position. Too easily shrugged off the ball. Not enough pace. In fairness to Goodwin, he was limited with his options. Hearts were at full strength, we had Ramsay, McCrorie & Watkins missing who all improve that team, while Brown & Hayes are clearly not 100%, Kennedy has barely played and it showed. Ramirez had one of his poorer games.

Pretty sure Brown will be back - Goodwin said he just didn't risk him v United as he wasn't fully fit, but the extra few days should be enough. Robbie Neilson actually been getting it tight from Hearts fans for months, they're not happy at all with the football they're playing (only Aberdeen that gets the unrealistic expectations thing thrown at us though).

Thing is, all the teams above us in the hunt for fourth have been rubbish too. If they were good, they've be more than three points away from us. If we go up a level, we're better than all of them. Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee United, St Mirren. Livingston too if you like since they're on the same points as us. New manager or not, no excuses for not finishing in a European spot. Well we've got a new manager, so there's a transition there. We've got an entirely new defence and a young one at that. Two of them (the youngest two) have been absent with injuries. Our front line for next season will be Ramirez, Watkins & Besuijen. They haven't played together yet. And Funso Ojo is still trying to transition into a footballer from whatever sport it was he was playing before.

I don't think fourth this season and third next season is too lofty an expectation. We're currently only three points off fourth. We were, for a brief time, fourth last weekend when leading against Motherwell. The team in fourth (Hibernian) are similar to us in that they are in transition. I'd say our biggest threat to fourth is Dundee United, so tomorrow is a big one. Lose tomorrow and it becomes difficult, but still not impossible. I also think much of Goodwin's team building has been done for him. It's a relatively young team. It's just a case of fixing a few things rather than overhauling the squad. In summer we might lose Ramsay, Ferguson and possibly Brown. Two of those would go for sizeable transfer fees. Ojo & McGeouch might leave. So we'd be looking at bringing in 5/6 players - that's a normal summer turnover.

On Scott Brown - I'm not sure he will go to St Mirren. I think he'll have a petted lip for a while because his mate got sacked, and will probably sound St Mirren out, but I think most people would be advising him not to quit playing & take on what is still a relatively big job at St Mirren so soon. Hopefully Goodwin gets the arm around him and convinces him the Dons are going to the very top and he should stick around for the journey.

Pitch inspection at 10am. Probably benefits us if it is called off injury wise and gives Goodwin time on training ground with players. But, if it goes ahead Goodwin in charge apparently - not shirking it and doing the watching from the stand thing which always annoys me with new managers.

Jamie McGrath, Conor McCarthy, Ethan Erhahon, Cammy MacPherson and Jake Doyle-Hayes and most recent sighing Alex Greive are all young players who have been brought in and developed under Goodwin. Jay Henderson has come through their youth system and into the first team. Would suggest St Mirren's youth system not being as productive as Aberdeen's is more down to investment from the club rather than anything to do with Goodwin.

Almost forgot we have a game today, so has everyone else going by the thread. Feel we need a win, but think it'll be a draw. Will Brown play? If he does is this his last game? What sort of reception does he get? I think likely he'll be injured anyway.

Scott Brown - I'd be gutted if he left. Think there's still a good player there, a strong captain, and he'll be a huge loss. Also think it's fair too early for him to be thinking of becoming a manager. But, if it does happen, does Glass go there as assistant?

He's five days older than me, which is unsettling. I already refuse to accept the entire playing squad are younger than me now.

I do like Aberdeen's strategy here of interviewing Jack Ross, which means we'll pretty much accept anyone to avoid having him announced as boss. In the same way he's announcing a 16,000 capacity stadium so that we'll all be happy with a 17,000 capacity one. Well played Dave.