Panda

Dorrington out for 3-4 weeks. Palaversa & Nilsen also out. Gyamfi back

It was on skybet, but they've now removed it so you can't bet on the Scottish Cup at all, and refunded my fiver Think someone mixed up the Premiership and Cup odds.

They're writing off our chances of winning it again...

BBC Scotland's Sportscene will televise live coverage of the Stealth Competitions Scottish Masters 2025 on 14 November. The six-a-side tournament at Aberdeen's P&J Live will feature former players from Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers, with on-air coverage from 19:15 GMT. Connie McLaughlin will present, with Rob Maclean in the commentary box and Tyrone Smith reporting. Donstalk contributor and red army legend Panda will also be there getting in everyone's way. Holders Aberdeen will be captained by Russell Anderson with Joe Lewis, Andy Considine, Jonny Hayes, Kevin McNaughton, Lee Miller, Adam Rooney and Derek Young also appearing. Celtic will be represented by skipper Joe Ledley and Efe Ambrose, Simon Donnelly, Gary Hooper, Charlie Mulgrew, Bobby Petta, Ross Wallace and Kelvin Wilson. Dundee United's squad features captain John Rankin as well Prince Bauben, Craig Conway, Paul Dixon, Paul Gallacher, Morgaro Gomis, Gary Kenneth and Danny Swanson. And Barry Ferguson will lead a Rangers squad comprising Bruno Alves, Cammy Bell, Lee McCulloch, Pedro Mendes, Nacho Novo and Martyn Waghorn.

To be fair, if Aasgaard was a red card (it was) then there was a case for Trusty going as well. I was at the game. Wanted Miovski to score simply because it would have meant he'd likely have had to come down to the media interviews afterwards, and I wanted to ask him about his Aberdeen betrayal. But he didn't. He couldn't even give me that.

Familiar face when we play them.

I don't think the European games are affecting us this season. I don't think there's been a game where you say "if it wasn't for the midweek European game we'd have won that". Yeah, we looked a bit knackered v Hibs, but they just outplayed us and tactically we got it wrong. I'd say we'll take more positives than negatives from the experience. The money, that it's attracted players to the club, players and manager gain experience from it. I think Shaktar gave us much needed confidence when we badly needed it, and when the players are maybe struggling mentally it's not a bad thing to be flying off to Greece and Cyprus for a change of scenery.

I spent four months in Ayia Napa just out of uni getting pissed every night, I wasn't paying much attention to historical events (much like my career ). I did travel out to the museum though which was an eye opener, and then at that time you could pay one euro to hire a telescope and look into the city. My folks did live there for a few years though (thankfully, not when I was there ) and they often went "on holiday" to the Turkish side. No idea what their views on the whole thing are, I'll raise it at Christmas dinner.

I'm sold. Get into them. For anyone who is going to Cyprus, and heading to Ayia Napa - many years ago I worked in Craig's Bar, the Scottish bar where Dons fans will be congregating (Napa is about 30-40 minutes from Larnaca). Buy a t-shirt (preferably the Aberdeen ones), I designed them all, apart from the Old Firm ones. Great place. Great times. Take a wee trip to Famagusta if you can, believe parts of it are now open. Sad and chilling story though. Don't go for dinner in Napa, all overpriced tourist traps. Hire a car* and drive out to where the locals go to for a decent 'meze'. *(like Scotland they drive on the left so it's very easy to drive there. Just be wary of the frustratingly low speed limits - only country I've been stopped in for speeding at 30mph).

It could be a 5-3-2, which would be what we all were asking for (okay, Rico and I, but I think we speak for the whole forum). Or Polvara or Armstrong could be in the number 10 position, which... well. Let's see.

Gyamfi injured, Dorrington struggling. So I'd go with this. Horrible game but the Dons to win it 1-0, preferably in the 109th minute on the counter attack after VAR fails and doesn't spot the blatant penalty for Kilmarnock.

The new sporting director is keen to work with Thelin. All previous predictions that an abject defeat tonight might lead to a dismissal are now null and void. Thelin will be here until *at least* December, so we may as well back the man. Personally, I'm interested to see how the partnership gets on.

I was gonna agree with this line-up (though Nilsen is injured I think) but Nisbet looks massively overweight there.