Panda

Jimmy Thelin: "Min fru, som för övrigt är svensk och vacker, sa "Aberdeen!?"

3-0 Hammarby with five minutes to go. Well that's wonderful.

I've not been watching (might try finding a stream for the second half tho as it seems to be a thrilling game). I'm intrigued how Elfsborg have had 39% possession yet the majority of the chances. Hibs fans are going to hate us.

Two clean sheets in a row, that offers me some hope. Maybe, just maybe, we can recreate the spirit of 1990 and take it to penalties. I think we'll lose 3-0 though.

There seems to be an unwritten rule about criticising Peter Leven, like he's the young goat herder that is putting out the village fires in the absence of a properly established fire brigade. However, let's not forget he's one of the Cormack Park coaches that has helped create this shambles of a season. His fingerprints are all over the match box, even if he didn't light them (I'll stop now). And under his interim management - it's not something we've only just began doing, but I'm noticing it so much now - out attacking strategy appears to be to get to the edge of the box, then someone lobs it in and hope it falls for someone. So often over the last few weeks we have this wee school ground style stramashes in the box. It's embarrassing to watch us. See the whole "I hope Leven is part of the new coaching set up, he deserves it". I would clear out every single one of them. How the hell do we have a team of talented players performing this badly week after week?

Almost done Though kinda going off him the more I hear the way the surname is pronounced. Say what you like about Robson but he kept it simple.

Well this post has just jinxed the whole thing. FFS Orlando.

Well that's our glamour pre-season friendly sorted. The 1983 v 1987 ECWC winners. There's not a stadium big enough to host that fixture.

The only game after the cup final is the relegation play-off I'm sure he'll be watching every game. If anything, if I was an Elfsborg fan I'd be annoyed as his focus will be elsewhere, but I'm sure he'll see plenty of the Dons. They've got dodgy fire sticks in Sweden don't they? NB: Breaking news tonight is that Thelin is pronounced Te-leen, with the emphasis on leen. I find if you say it out loud that way you can't help but sound Swedish. You just said it out loud didn't you?

As much as I'd like Thelin in charge now so he can begin his magic at Hampden, it makes sense for him to wait until summer. Big move, uprooting his life from Sweden to Aberdeen, being thrown straight into a huge game v Celtic and working with players he won't know. It didn't do Glass, Goodwin or Warnock any good in the short-term (or long term) taking over a struggling team towards the end of the season. He could have a few early defeats and have fans doubting him early. Makes sense to move when he's been able to watch from afar and get to know a bit about the team, and come in summer ready to rock and roll. By all accounts he's very "boring", not one to criticise referees or make outlandish statements. But Henrik Larsson was the same and until now he's the most successful Swede in Scottish football, so I'll take it.

That would involve having to go onto the hat. I'll wait until he finds his way over here.

It means Peter Leven will be the first interim manager since Valdas Ivanauskas in 2006 to win the Scottish Cup. You can have that for your next pub quiz.

Reports in Sweden saying Jimmy Thelin to Aberdeen is done, but he'll join on 1 June, along with his two assistants. https://www.fotbollskanalen.se/allsvenskan/uppgifter-allt-tyder-pa-att-thelin-lamnar-elfsborg/

Ajax had been on somewhat of a comeback after their horrible start to the season, but plugged 6-0 off Feyenoord at the weekend. Ajax Aberdeen - having terrible seasons.