Panda

1 hour ago, blinlemon said:

Apparently he’s the Scotsman’s sports editor and his speciality is Hearts, Hibs, Sevco5088, and the VicTims. 

I definitely disagree with his last line where he says Miovski is in a good place right now.

He looks miserable, isn't playing, and has had to delete his social media due to abuse from his own fans. I think if he's being honest he regrets ever making that move.

52 minutes ago, swaddon said:

Xabi Alonso has quit Real Madrid.

Worth a look?

BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague saidthat there was 'a clash between a coach with a clear methodology and players who want to rely on instinct.'

Poor bloke doesn't need to be subjected to our lot.

1 hour ago, blinlemon said:

Scotsman report courtesy of Webpage Archive. Do you know this prick, Panda? (Note well-placed apostrophe…)

https://archive.ph/sJzUL

 

Nah, I know the name but don't know him. 

46 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

Was Lutz sitting on the bench?  I never saw him, so couldn't say.

The TV cameras showed him at one point sitting on the bench, aye.

16 minutes ago, dons8321 said:

OK, had no idea about your history together and not in the least bit interested. Didn't think your original comment was tongue in cheek when I first read it and still don't - just my opinion, like.

So you genuinely think I don't want us to win the Scottish Cup, because I'd like us to have some free Saturdays?

There's nothing much else to say to that.

1 hour ago, dons8321 said:

Guess BigAl and me owe you an apology for being whooshed

I'm sure his posts about me are as thrilling as ever

Thankfully, this forum has an ignore function, which I've had him on since summer.

4 minutes ago, dons8321 said:

Seriously surprised that you EVER want anything else than a Dons win... you're better than that!

It's clearly tongue firmly planted in the cheek. 

Surely you're better than that!?

I hate to say it, but we could do worse than take a leaf out of Derek McInnes' playbook this season.

He's playing 4-4-2. Two deep central midfielders (Devlin and Baningime), two wingers, and then Braga partners Shankland. Sometimes Braga drops deep to make it a 4-2-3-1. And their midfield get the ball forward quickly and their front four are right on top of opponents. 

We don't have a Braga, a Devlin or... well we're about 11 players short. But we just make nice little five yard passes in our own half then punt it forward when the opposition are all back in place and in their shape.

Today was the same as every other game; desperately hoping someone produces a bit of magic because we can't open anyone up.

On 19/12/2025 at 21:34, Panda said:

 

Next five games:-

 

I would love to come up at the other end of these with a good tally of points, but that's four away games there, at least three at tough venues, and I can't say I'm confident about winning any of them.

One point from these five, plus today.

Best thing that can happen to us would be Raith Rovers winning the cup tie, because it'd give us some free weekends where we're not subjected to watching this pish.

They have targeted Devlin & Milne in this half. 

Mitov didn't "get away with one", it's a foul every day of the week. 

The main problem here is the defence. 

Going forward, Devlin getting into great positions, but he's not a finisher. 

Lazetic again a waste of time. Really expected more from him. 

That's two corners where Polvara has ran into his own player. Knocked over Devlin at one corner (although Devlin also to blame), and on his arse there to allow Aasgaard an easy finish.

Be interesting to see where Milanovic playing. Is he wide on the right (meaning Karlsson left). That means either 4-2-3-1 with Clarkson or Polvara advanced, or basically just the Jimmy Thelin tactics of 5-2-3 and we'll knock it around our own half until we give the ball away.

Or, or is it the same as midweek, with Karlsson and Lazetic as a front two with Milanovic in a No.10 role? That would be more interesting.

Either way, 1-0 the Dons. 

I remember a game in the 90s down at Ibrox, where the game was called off 10 minutes before kick-off.

Been a long time waiting to repay the favour, but..

Bold line-up from Dundee

Presume Leven will stick with two up front. He hinted in his press conference he would when he spoke about Bilalovic being signed as a winger but that he's going to work with him on playing through the middle.

Not been a fan of three at the back as it encourages us to just knock it around our back line too much, and it relies on us having really attacking wing backs which I don't think we have apart from Lobban, so I think we need a few signings to make that work. Would go 4-2-2 diamond or a simple 4-4-2.

6 hours ago, manc_don said:

What’s with this Robinson chat? The guy is pish and his football is eye bleeding. If we’re a serious club, we shouldn’t be anywhere near him. 

From what I was told, Aberdeen have already spoken to Robinson.

But, you may have noticed he isn't currently the manager of Aberdeen, so take of that what you will.

5 hours ago, wokinginashearerwonderland said:

No doubt a bit of tongue in cheek in your post but in all seriousness, a few folk have been touting Leven and I think his very brief spell in charge when Robson left has clouded people's views.  He was in charge for just 11 games after Warnock left when the season had basically petered out anyway and there was nothing to play for.  Have to remember that he has been a main part of both Robson and Thelin's reigns as manager. 

Oh I totally agree, which is why I think Leven shouldn't be in the conversation unless he is a) being paired with an experienced assistant manager and being given help from all areas of the club (what should have happened with Glass), or b) becoming an assistant with perhaps a long term strategy to eventually take over.

On Gisvol, it was slightly tongue in cheek on account I don't think we've spoken to him and may have no plans to, but he does tend to make a decent stab of things in his first 18 months and would have the experience required for Leven, so it wouldn't be the worst idea.

1 hour ago, KGB said:

LP says we want a manager with a knowledge of the Scottish game and thereafter random German coaches are touted with zero knowledge of our game. Mental. 

As said in a previous post, I don't think that should necessarily be taken as gospel. If Askou and Robinson don't want it, who are the alternatives that meet that criteria? I certainly didn't hear Lutz saying the sporting director should have knowledge of Scottish football.

And you can pair a foreign manager with a Scottish assistant.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/markus-gisdol-open-aberdeen-next-36529995.amp
 

I'm sold. Gisdol for 18 months to help smooth the path for Peter Leven to take over permanently. Teach him how to implement his gegenpress then hand over the reigns.

(I'd suggest, if no approach has been made at this stage despite Lutz and him knowing each other, there probably won't be one. But then I don't know how Lutz works.)

2 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

I find it interesting reading names of foreign coaches who may know lutz but may never ever have been to Scotland. Knowledge and most likely experience of the Scottish game sounded like a prerequisite, no??

I wonder if that was a comment Lutz might regret saying, because it would limit his options if he stuck to that. And it also means it would likely be someone Lutz hasn't worked with before.

I think a happier medium might be a Scottish assistant with someone Lutz knows.

Although, Stephen Robinson is very much on the radar, as is Askou, so maybe at the time he said it he was confident he could get one of them.

1 hour ago, tlg1903 said:

I would want to see Leven go be a manager elsewhere before getting the Aberdeen 2bh. 

Begs the question, what would be the better education? Manage, say, a Morton or Airdrie, or be assistant to an experienced manager, working with a spitting director, and handling bigger names and expectations?

It is kinda what's happening at Celtic with Maloney and O'Neill. Maloney I'm sure could get a smaller job as his own man.

Gisdol himself gave up an early managerial role to be assistant to Ralf Rangnick at Schalke. 

Markus Gisdol is interesting. Has spent the majority of his career taking over clubs battling relegation and turning them around, but hasn't had any long term success at a club.

His most recent job in Turkey, he only took charge for eight games and failed to win a match, but I was reading the reaction of fans and they mostly said he never stood a chance with their squad.

Has experience of some huge clubs (Hamburg, Kaiserslautern, Koln, Lokomotiv Moscow), is a free agent and has worked with Lutz before.

I'd like to think we're grooming Leven to be the manager eventually one day, but maybe be needs a term as assistant manager first. Bring in Gisdol for 18 months before it inevitably goes tits up, then Leven can finally get the top job.

1 hour ago, Blow.Up.Sheep said:

 

Armstrong - release him been a big let down

 

Disagree, think he's actually played very well in spells, but has been woefully mismanaged.

He's been over played (compare his minutes to Graeme Shinnie), he's been constantly shuttled into different positions, and has had little to no chance to development any sort of partnership with anyone. 

Lyall Cameron? Rangers prepared to loan him out, but could we coax them, and him, with a permanent transfer bid?

They haven't actually paid Dundee for him yet, and he's not really playing under Danny Rohl.

3 hours ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

 

Would do him good to be dropped for a game or two, in my opinion.

 

 

Wasn't really referring to your post, and absolutely he should be dropped if his form isn't good enough, like you would expect in any other position.

But there's others that want him to hand back his SC winners medal and do a walk of shame down union street.

Good to see we've all stood by our cup final hero Mitov through some rocky times. Should do his confidence the world of good.