Panda

Don't know if I've said this on here before so apologies if I'm repeating myself. But someone well known within Scottish football enquired at the beginning of last season what Aberdeen were doing so differently in training under Thelin to produce such a stunning run of results. What methods was he using, what drills, was it more intense, more tactical, etc. Just what genius was leading Aberdeen to this run of wins? He was told they were not doing anything different than what they normally do...

I might concede the first three paragraphs, grudgingly, mainly because last season's league performances mean nothing to me. But no, not the cup. Hearts were not better then us, was pretty even until they went down to 10, and Devlin should have been off long before he did. I'd have fancied our chances at 11 v 11. "Celtic were off it". So were we in that case, I saw us play much better than that last season. But even so, the best players on the park were wearing red that day.

Aye I am calmed by the fact Lutz has clearly done his homework on this guy and followed his progress for a while, to the point that his tenure in France and the wait to get him hasn't weakened Lutz's resolve to appoint him. Thelin perhaps was good on paper, but maybe a deeper dive would have shown a few more cracks, not that you can ever guarantee success or failure.

I'm not having this. It wasn't a lucky start to the season. It was a team that needed to improve to keep the run going, and unfortunately didn't, but they earned every single one of those wins, the same way I wouldn't suggest the three months without a win after it was "unlucky". If anything, considering Hibs were very fortunate with some refereeing decisions in various games in the run in, we were perhaps UNLUCKY not to have had a chance of third on the final day. And as for the cup, what was lucky about it? We actually trailed for most of the game due to Celtic getting some good fortune. Let's not denigrate one of the best days in our recent history. Thought that sentence was leading up to Panda there

Trying to see the positives of him starting in summer; I think him being able to sit back, watch the games, and begin planning who will stay/go/come in will be very beneficial. Thelin didn't have that luxury, being the manager of Elfsborg still. Likely too (unless Leven/Doc produce some magic) that, like Thelin and McInnes (for Hearts), he has the League Cup group stage to build some momentum for his first games. But, it's also a lot of effort for a guy whose record isn't that good. Healthy win rate at Brann and won a cup. Off a poor spell in France (and I went on a Horneland/St Ettienne rabbit hole and really struggled to find many fans not absolutely slating him), but then a new language, league, culture - it was a difficult gig to take on. Maybe Scotland and Aberdeen will suit him more. Cant say my excitement levels are the same as they were when Thelin was the target, but then maybe that's down to Thelin himself not being as good as I thought he'd be. But Lutz seems pretty determined this is the guy, and apart from our dignity, what have we got to lose?

Yep, four games in 14 days on that pitch.

Been told we might get an update tonight or tomorrow. I'll revisit this on Saturday when we don't Andreas Hinkel (who was linked earlier in the thread). He's said he hasn't spoken to Aberdeen and it's news to him, so if Horneland falls through I think we can rule him out.

Horneland has been on the club's radar for quite some time, so the "should have names lined up," they essentially did. But, he only became available about three weeks into the managerial search. Would imagine it would have been really frustrating for the club if they appointed someone, only for their number one choice to become a free agent days later, so the time it's taken can be in part attributed to that.

Struggling to see what the issue here is. Perfect football conditions.

"It is more like he is not really all that sure if he wants the job or not" is literally an example of jumping to conclusions.

I can see why people wouldn't be that enthused by Horneland. I think his record is decent, although mainly at one club. I do like his tactics though and think he has the potential to improve on what Thelin did, so I'm on board with it if it's him. But you've just pitched Scott Brown ahead of him, simply because he has more knowledge of Scottish football. Two of the managers occupying the top four in the Premiership at the moment are foreign. The "knows Scottish football" thing is an easy thing that gets thrown about - it's a whole management team these days, and we play each other 4-6 times a season so they get to know the opposition very quickly.

Think we share that accolade with Dundee United.

Such as?

Great draw if we get through. Hopefully a decent kick-off time & I imagine we'd sell out the away end. All four quarter finals are usually on the TV so we can forget about Saturday 3pm.

I did wonder with it being so soon since he left St Ettiene if there would be something still to sort out with them; either compensation or a payoff etc. Scott Burns appears to be hinting at that being the hold up. Good job we've got no games any time soon. Can't see the Tannadice pitch surviving the expected rain next week either.