Panda

I agree with pretty much every word. But we have previous form for this. McInnes-Glass-Goodwin-Robson-Warnock-Thelin. Every man so different from the next. There's no consistency there in selection. We abandon the plan, try short-term success, then go back to the plan again. We can't make up our minds. I can't help but feel Cormack is again looking enviously at Hearts. McInnes - experienced, knows the league, good at motivating the squad, has had some success before, and having a poor season at Kilmarnock hasn't stopped a very good league campaign so far at a bigger club. Who is the most similar type of manager in Scotland for Aberdeen to recreate that - Stephen Robinson. I also think it's personal for Cormack. He got rid of McInnes, and yet this will be the second time in four seasons in the top flight that McInnes has finished above Aberdeen. Hearts finishing above Aberdeen with McInnes in charge is a big problem for Cormack, especially if he does the unthinkable and wins the title. Why does Askou check the boxes but McGlynn doesn't? If McGlynn was Portuguese, 20 years younger and in his first season here, we'd be raving about him. It's not the slightest of glances. He has his fans in the boardroom, has been considered before, and is being considered now. Robinson is a good manager, that's the thing. He could actually be a successful Aberdeen manager. We would likely have to accept a horrible style of football, but let's not pretend there is not a very competent manager there. But, if we go with the - as you put it, the vision aligned coach - we're asking for time to get it right. We wanted to give Thelin time, and we did until we couldn't any more, but it wasn't all his fault, but will Cormack and the club accept their share of the blame? I think Cormack wants instant success this time and thinks Robinson will come in and lift the place (yes, just like that McInnes character) and paper over the recruitment/structure cracks we have. But here's hoping Lutz has others ideas.

There IS something to the Robinson links. Again, I don't know if the boy tweeting it is right that he's now the front runner, but he is on the club's radar and has fans in the Dons boardroom. And to be fair to the guy who tweeted about Robinson today, he broke the Olusanya story hours before it, which other media are now reporting. (although, granted, he hasn't signed yet, but it appears he's been first to an exclusive there). McGlynn sounds more like a guess, and I say that because the site posting it (footy insiders) has form for being way off the mark with things. But as is often the case when there's a vacancy, it's about timing, and McGlynn is very much the in-form manager just now, so I'd be surprised if he wasn't in the conversation.

If Stephen Robinson gets the job at least it'll be his third time in a week facing Livingston, so will know exactly what to do to beat them. (Didn't beat them on Saturday and at the time of writing is 1-0 down, but let's not allow that to spoil things).

He's definitely being considered, whether he's now the front runner I don't know. Putting two and two together, the reason he's been so angry in his recent interviews is because he's seeing his chances of getting it dwindle with every defeat. Olusanya also feels like a Robinson signing, but again I'm speculating. Had to laugh at the tweet that started tonight's gossip though, which said it'd be a "huge coup". Trust me, he'd walk to Pittodrie for the job.

So where does that leave us on loans? You can have a maximum of six in a season. Cameron, Morrison, Olusanya, Aouchiche, Karlsson. Does Dorrington still count or does him leaving free up space? If so, that would allow a goalkeeper on loan.

No idea how true it is, but Talksport journalist saying Toyosi Olusanya coming to Aberdeen. Was good at St Mirren, but has done nothing for Houston Dynamo or in his loan spell at Doncaster Rovers. Don't know if his time at Houston counts as this season or not so he might not eligible anyway, dunno how the MLS works.

Goodwin was at St Mirren (as manager) for nearly three years, and is coming up to his third anniversary at Dundee United, so there's one comparison. I don't think his St Mirren or Dundee United sides have ever impressed the same way McGlynn's Falkirk side has. Does his age matter? He's early 60s, it's not that old really. I'm still intrigued by Robert Klauß, who you could argue has a track record that edges Thelin in that he has been involved at big clubs before, has more coaching experience, and has managed outwith his own country. He would fit your young manager profile. However, I would be really keen to see how McGlynn - in his own words - got on with money to spend. Interestingly, Jamestown Analytics, apparently, rated McGlynn above McInnes & Robinson, but they ignored the ratings to appoint McInnes, likely because the optics of bringing McGlynn back for a third spell wouldn't have been great.

Nope, going to a tribunal.

It's not nonsense at all. Do you think Clarkson will be here next season? I don't. And I don't think we've brought Cameron in just to fill a hole for five months. I think we want him here long term. Loans turning into permanent deals aren't a new thing. Also, if Cameron can't get into this Rangers team, he's even less chance next season when they start throwing the chequebook about. I'm not convinced even a strong second half to the season is enough for Rangers.

There is probably more chance of Cameron being an Aberdeen player next season than there is Clarkson. He isn't going to sign a new deal and he'll have one year left on his current one in summer - every chance he moves on (be surprised if he didn't). Cameron is a loan at the moment. We got close to making the Scales & Christie deals permanent. We'll try with Cameron too. But it's not a competition between the two anyway. That they both started today suggests they may well be starting together in future too. The mistake was Armstrong being paired with them - was better when Shinnie came on.

Not that I wanted a Premiership team, but it's a fairly decent draw in that if we win, we've got rid of half the top six, and there's going to be at least two non-top flight sides in the quarters. So, as long as you avoid the Old Firm, nothing is too daunting. Might be a great time to get Motherwell. We (hopefully) will have a new manager bounce and some new signings, while they will be without Welsh (cup tied even if he returns), Maswanishe (potentially leaves in January) and therefore could be rocking a little bit.

Teams we can face Premiership: Dundee / Dundee United / Falkirk / Motherwell / St Mirren / Rangers / Celtic (probably). Others: Airdrie / Elgin City / Dunfermline / Stenhousemuir / Kelty Hearts / Partick Thistle / Spartans / (winner of Stranraer v Queen's Park). So including us that's a 50/50 split between the Premiership & non-Premiership. Good chance of an appealing draw. Celtic will be at home to Falkirk as usual so we will avoid those two, and Rangers I imagine will be at home to Spartans. I quite fancy Dunfermline away, big away support at a ground we haven't played at for years, and a good tie. Kelty Hearts at home though, thanks.

Yeah I'd agree with that. Wasn't a vintage display but was positive, drove forward, got shots off, and his set-piece delivery was really good. And this is a guy that has barely played for months. Keskinen was everywhere but makes too many mistakes. Thought Nisbet played well - interesting that he stayed on for the 90 because you could usually set your watch for the Lazetic-Nisbet swap.

Stephen Welsh named in Celtic's team so that transfer won't be happening this month.