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If we're not up for this, after the international break, against a team threatening to run away from us in the table as early as October, then I question the mentality of the team. And it's not just on McInnes, it's on the players too. Big 90 minutes really. Defeat, and especially if it's through another inept performance, and a lot of fans would just give up. No-one is interested in a season fighting for fourth place. That said, I'm confident. 2-0 Aberdeen. Cosgrove and Campbell.

The accusation was Shankland wasn't coached properly and that McInnes can't coach anyone. Whether you rate Cosgrove or not, he clearly has improved since working with McInnes. If he couldn't coach anyone I doubt so many players would be keen to work with him. So yes, I think he is a good coach. Your second question is a completely different debate. But in the context of the thread, I'd argue Cosgrove is a better player than Shankland.

Wasn't just McInnes coaching Shankland - there's a whole team of coaches at Aberdeen. That and he was also sent out on loan four times and had the chance to work under Jim Duffy and Jack Ross. Shankland himself admits his attitude was wrong and only after leaving Aberdeen did he sort himself out. McInnes (and his team) has done a pretty decent job of coaching and developing Sam Cosgrove. I'd back Cosgrove to score for fun in the Championship and to net at least one against San Marino.

Agree with the first part, always thought he was overrated. He did a good job, but not the spectacular job everyone makes it out to be. Got a few results against the Old Firm but can't think of any when it really mattered - they played Rangers a few times in cup games but generally came off second best. His cheerleaders were lining up to shoot down Alessio to push home the point of how well Clarke did and that no mere mortal, especially not some Jonny foreigner, could step into his shoes. And instead, it now appears after a rocky start that Alessio is doing alright, getting results while changing the style of play, and not having to rely on dinosaurs like Broadfoot and Boyd. I was fairly happy he got the Scotland job and in time he'll probably do alright, but it's little surprise he isn't producing miracles straight away. Before Mcinnes was appointed it was Clarke I actually wanted as Dons boss. But now I wouldn't be as enthusiastic about it.

Don't think Strachan was even in the poll to name the pitches.

Sunderland have by far and away the biggest budget in that league. He couldn't even buy his way out of it. And English League One is still the highest level he has ever managed at. Would be a big step down from McInnes. Roy Keane. Smacks of a "fuck it, it'll be interesting if nothing else" type of appointment, and he would be box office for sure, at least in the short term. But once the angry man persona wore off I'm not convinced there's a particular good football manager there. But you know what, I'd be on board with it, simply to inject a buzz into the club that's been missing for a few years. Gordon Strachan. Him visiting the training ground might have been more along the lines of him researching for the new one Dundee are hoping to build. His job there is technical director. Personally, I still back McInnes, at least for now. But in the spirit of the thread if we were replacing him I think it has to be a name that excites the fans. A Derek Adams, Jack Ross or Paul Hartley wouldn't fall into that category at all. I've also read suggestions the Cormack link might lead us to Stephen Glass and that wouldn't surprise me at all. Show a bit of ambition though, make a statement of intent and bring a big name north, either from these isles or abroad. Not necessarily someone unrealistic (I'm not suggesting we go for Mourinho) but someone that short term adds an extra few thousand on the gate. As for possible names, I've no idea. Fuck it, Roy Keane. If nothing else it'll be interesting.

Don't agree with it at all. I'd only ever agree with reducing an away allocation if it was to accommodate more Aberdeen fans. But actually cutting the overall attendance does us no favours. Scottish football is moving towards smaller away supports all over the place - including Aberdeen asking for just 900 for the cup replay at Ibrox last season. It's not just the Old Firm - we regularly go to Easter Road and Tynecastle, sell out the away end, but can't get any more tickets despite the home end not being sold out. We'll soon get to a point when our large away allocation at Tannadice will be a thing of the past. Clubs and police don't want the hassle of big away supports anymore, which impacts on the atmosphere. If the problem is objects being thrown between the two supports, then stick a big netting up between the fence and roof. Many of the away ends in Europe (Groupama Arena for one) had netting covering the whole of the away end.

Are Rijeka better than midtjylland? Doesn't look much between the two teams on paper, and if anything, the Danes have already started their season while this (I think) will be Rijeka's first competitive games.

The thinking was more that Partizan are seeded for the play-off round, so we could have taken their seeding and had an easier draw.

Possible opponents in the QR3 draw (being made Monday). We're in group 4. PSV Eindhoven / Basel Connah's Quay Nomads / Partizan Flora Tallinn / Eintracht Frankfurt Rijeka Jeunesse Esch / Vitoria SC If Aberdeen beat PSV/Basel, Partizan or Frankfurt, they would be seeded for the playoff round (according to someone who has been working it out). So Partizan would appear the best tie for us.

The odd thing about it is that it seems to be a common occurrence - people dressed as sheep being set on fire. Man jailed in 2010 for setting student dressed as sheep on fire https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk/2010/may/18/leeds-student-sheep-fancy-dress-court 2014: Bouncer sets student dressed as sheep on fire https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2014/07/12/shocking-images-of-student-in-sheep-costume-being-set-on-fire-by-bouncer-released-4795637/amp/ 2016: Student dressed as sheep set on fire https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/uk/666147/Cambridge-university-student-s-sheep-costume-set-on-fire-at-summer-party/amp Some people really don't like seeing students dressed as sheep.

Decent signing that. Solid first teamer. Maybe even a shock choice as captain?

I never really buy any strips anymore but I quite like this one. Might be tight and wait until the end of the season when the price drops though.

Their own twitter page was recommending to fans to fly to Helsinki then get a sleeper train.

I'm just hoping that McInnes' first choices are either proving difficult to get or are likely to take some time to come, so he's got a few back-up players in early to ensure we've a team for the early rounds of the Europa League. At the moment we'd be threadbare - McGinn, GMS (even if he stays), F.Ross all likely to be missing, Wilson away, Ball not yet signed, Shaughnessy has dragged on that long it's looking unlikely. In that regard, Main, Taylor, Hedges and one or two more leave us in better shape than we ended last season. But hopefully over summer the standard of signing is going to be much higher.

They're also incorrect about Main, a deal hasn't as yet been agreed (not saying it won't. But Hearts are still in the running).

I'm mentioning Hoban simply because McInnes has hinted he would like to sign him, so he's likely in some sort of long term plan.

McInnes has said he hopes to bring in "eight or nine players". You would imagine that's at least one striker, presuming May is staying to see out his contract. That's possibly Main. Anderson might see more game time next season. Replacements for GMS, Stewart, Shinnie. There's still another five players there, plus he's already been on record as saying the likes of Campbell, Ethan Ross, McLennan will all see more game time. Scott Wright seemed to do okay at Dundee. Frank Ross is probably a candidate to go out on loan considering he missed so much of the season through injury. So wouldn't be trying to second guess the defence just yet, as imagine a few more than Taylor will be coming in - even if that includes loan signings. Even if they sign Hoban, chances are he won't be fit for Europa League/League Cup, so we'd still need cover.

Apparently the architects have been changed, according to someone who was at that Q&A thing last week. The same people who designed Brighton's stadium and Liverpool's new stand. According to the same fella, club have recently visited Gent, and plan to visit Spurs & Atlanta soon. Be interesting to see if the design of the stadium changes, though I think it's more likely they'll be looking at things they can include within the stadium to maximise income.

We went for Cadden last year and he turned us down. His agent was all for the move. Apparently wanted to stay in the central belt.

Would imagine when they got relegated he would have had to take a pay cut. Depends on the terms of his contract I suppose. Either way, it's not as if Aberdeen will be in a bidding war for him.

Main I'm pretty "meh" about, but he has caused Aberdeen problems in the past. My main concern is that McInnes appears to be becoming more committed to his hoof ball tactics and this signing, and Taylor too if you like due to his penchant for going forward as an auxiliary striker, kinda fits in with that.

Says who? He's just been released by a team that finished 15th in League Two - he's in no position to be demanding big money or a guaranteed starting spot. Sounds more like McInnes is doing him a favour by securing him a contract for next season. We were short in defence this season. As much as I'm not a fan of Taylor, having him around for the last two months of the season would have been handy. I think we'll still sign another CB even if and when Taylor signs. Think the club are still interested in Hoban. No idea what the story is with Shaughnessy - has he signed a new St Johnstone deal or gone elsewhere? The talks with Aberdeen have dragged on since January.....though maybe he's actually the CB we're on the verge of announcing and not Taylor. Anyway, back to Taylor. I'm fairly relaxed about it as long as it's not taking too much out of the budget. A fully fit Devlin is still a better player than him. Bit of competition for places can't hurt though.

Finishing fourth is a disappointment but this is the first season in six I'd class as a real failure where he hasn't met minimum expectations. I'm willing to give him one more season at least. He's earned that.

But likewise, if they get promoted they'll be financially comfortable and won't need to sell anyone. It's nothing to them to therefore send him out on another one-season loan. Either his value goes up, he becomes a better player, or they get relegated and have a player to stick in their Championship squad. I think he'll be back on loan at Aberdeen next season. That's my hunch.