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I absolutely would not want Askou. Because, if he even considered a move to Aberdeen, rather than back himself to chase down Hearts and the Old Firm when he's only eight, five and two points behind the three of them, then what the hell is wrong with him? Also, keep this going until the end of the season, and a bigger job than Aberdeen will be on the table for him.

Sorry @swaddon min, have too much to rant tonight to wait for the match thread to appear. Just how significant is the Falkirk game now? If we lose to Falkirk, they will leapfrog us and we'll fall to eighth. Since we'll be in January, that's sackable territory. A reminder of Dave Cormack's statement on 31 January 2024 when he sacked Barry Robson: "There is a talented squad of players at the Club which makes our current league position unacceptable." We were eighth, after three wins in 11. Robson's final game was a draw. Jim Goodwin was sacked on 28 January 2023 with the club in seventh, with two wins in 11. Stephen Glass made it all the way to 13 February, with the club in ninth, with four wins from 11 (two from nine). Unlike two of the above, Thelin is still in the Scottish Cup, and unlike all three has won a trophy within the last eight months. The sporting director's recent arrival also buys him time as he unlikely doesn't want a sacking on his record too soon. And, Thelin also hasn't had the January transfer window. So all these things to me would suggest even defeat at Falkirk wouldn't mean Thelin is in any immediate danger. However, fail to win on Saturday, and that would be three wins in his last 11 (four in 14). And a double header with Rangers is after that. Lose the cup game to Raith Rovers and you know what, that might be when the club did need to act to stave off angry fans. Jimmy, I don't want to read in two years about your first league title at some Scandinavian club where everyone is raving about your 4-2-3-1 / 4-3-3 hybrid. For the love of fuck, FOUR AT THE BACK ON SATURDAY!

One point from nine, and we didn't at any point tonight look better than Hibs despite the players they had missing. We're probably fortunate they weren't at full strength. Now we've got Falkirk away - lose and they leapfrog us, and they've had a free week to prepare. Rangers home and away - I don't see us getting anything at Ibrox if we play the same way we did tonight. And the Raith Rovers cup game, that's a season saving game because it's looking increasingly likely top five may in a month or two be realistically out of reach.

Not sure what our formation was at the end, it looked like a 4-1-4-1, but it appeared Devlin was one of the attacking midfielders, Keskinen was a very attack minded left back, and Milanovic, Aouchiche and Bilalovic all had free roles which caused Hibs some distress, but also meant three players went (and missed) the same cutback because no-one really knew where to be. Lazetic gets worse by the game. Too busy wrestling with defenders and trying to win cheap free-kicks. One example: Chance towards the end of the first half, Karlsson is the only one on his toes trying to be an option, Lazetic stays stationary. Very little hunger from him, which likely explains why he has so few in his career.

As it stands we're currently dropping back into the bottom six, which let's be honest is where this team belongs.

It's been all so predictable so far. We've never got above 'okay'. No real zip or pace to our play. We lack any real belief. Defensively not good enough. And this is against a depleted Hibs team.

No Lobban at all in the squad despite being available after suspension. Really hate that we keep benching Shinnie. Not seen anything yet to suggest Gyamfi is a better player than him. No Kieron Bowie in the Hibs squad. Either injured or, as rumoured, away to Wolves. Josh Campbell starts. He has five goals and four assists v Aberdeen (although the last goal was in Jim Goodwin's final game).

Yeah, it could switch from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. At the beginning of Thelin's reign and the super run we were on, it worked well with Nilsen sitting deep and Shinnie was almost like a pendulum around him, going forward and getting himself wide to put crosses in. It wasn't perfect, we were still lacking in areas and I think we all knew our results were better than performances, but it was far better than it was now, and there's no real reason for Thelin to stick with three at the back long term.

That might be why Thelin is looking at two new centre halves. Tobers if fit would always have been first choice. Milne did begin his career as a holding midfielder (unless I'm getting him mixed up with someone else). Considering Thelin's preferred formation has always been 4-2-3-1, he could play there then drop into defence when needed - it's not that different than what he does now, as @RicoS321 put it, an auxiliary defender instead of auxiliary midfielder. You then have Milne and Kjartansson interchangeable for that role alongside an Aouchiche or Armstrong. Not saying it's what I would do, but can see it being what Thelin is moving towards.

Scott Burns saying today in the Daily Record that Thelin keen to shift back to a four-man defence, with two defenders targeted in January.

Yeah I think with Tobers injured, and Dorrington not being used, we should be evolving away from thee at the back. Devlin is okay at RCB, but he's not a natural centre half. He should be switching with Lobban at right back (who we have to be careful not to run into the ground). Our two centre mids are always too deep. Playing a 4-1-4-1, or 4-3-3, means they naturally push further forward.

Hibs are down to the bare bones due to injuries and players away at AFCON, so they can't make many changes from Saturday, and if they do it'll weaken them. We at least have more options. Lobban and Jensen/Gyamfi likely start to give us some fresh legs at wing back. Lazetic probably begins ahead of Nisbet. One of Bilalovic or Kjartansson maybe get a start? Tactically they tore us apart at Pittodrie so I hope we don't make the same mistakes again.

I didn't see the offending post so can't comment on it, but why has all OBI's other posts from December been removed? Are we trying to pretend they didn't exist?

Point of order: When he was subbed off v Dundee, the fans recycled the Peter Pawlett chant for him. So, technically, one.

I dont know if it's deliberate, but the one in Edinburgh is on the same evening Hearts are playing, and the time of 6-8pm would be just as all the fans are drinking/making their way to Tynecastle past a pub full of Aberdeen fans getting their photo taken with the Scottish Cup. Fierce Bar isn't too far from Gorgie either. Either terrific raigebait, or someone didn't check the fixture list before booking.