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I only wrote that three days ago. Today was pathetic, like watching a different team. The first half pretty much everyone in the back line, including the two wing backs, were just beaten so easily. Just too static - Yang, O'Reilly, Kyogo and Palma's movement was too much for us. Now they'll do that to a lot of teams, but we were astonishingly bad. The problem was we never had an outlet. Every clearance went back to Celtic. Very few passes were being put together. There's no use having Clarkson sitting in the hole trying to spray passes to Hayes and Polvara, whose movement and pace aren't there. On Thursday, PAOK offered a different threat in that they attacked from wide, which suited Aberdeen as Devlin and Mackenzie could go meet their wide men while the back three covered. Today Celtic came through the middle and overlapped, which we seemingly were not prepared for. In the second half, we actually improved somewhat. We tried to push a higher line and tried to press higher. We were still poor going forward, but defensively Roos wasn't having to bail us out as often. But the penalty is followed by us just falling apart. To go from 2-0 to 6-0 in such a short space of time is frighteningly bad because we shouldn't we getting turned over like that.

Barry Robson's record in three games at Celtic Park 0-4 0-5 0-6 Progress.

Yeh, would have dropped Polvara or Hayes and played Barron, but Rico made such a fuss about it that Robson has placated him. If we lose today I want Rico out.

I don't know if they work outside the U.K.

Like I said, they've started once together this season. I certainly haven't seen enough to suggest they can't play together, you say you have. That's your opinion. But how many they started under Goodwin is irrelevant really. Oh, so he can play in more than one position? Not necessarily, you can also pick a style that suits the players you have. He wouldn't necessarily play the same role as Duncan on account he's a different player with different attributes. i also explained the 5-4-1 against PAOK didn't necessarily stay as that and in a few games now we've shaped into a 5-2-2-1, which for me I think Clarkson could excel in. He wouldn't spend 90 minutes camped as a wide midfielder. Him and Clarkson didn't work against Hibs because we had three players all dropping deep and we became too congested. That isn't necessarily down to the individuals, Polvara didn't really go on and offer anything different. Ultimately though, like I've already said, it's essentially a hypothetical argument we're having here.

I disagree we've found Clarkson's best position or how to utilise him best. I think if you ran a poll on this site you would see a split if opinions over where exactly he should be playing - whether Barron is in the side or not. Your argument is essentially "I don't think it'll work" rather than "this has been tried repeatedly and hasn't worked". So it's a bit of a hypothetical argument. We've 100 games between now and the end of the year and I'm sure at least once we'll see both play together, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

You might be right. There may not be a system that allows Clarkson and Barron to both co-exist. However, how many games have the two actually started together? I'll tell you, one. There's been three other occasions this season where they've played the last half an hour together. You can't come to a conclusion from such a small sample size that the two can't play in the same team. The two individually haven't even played enough games to have nailed down a position that we know is best for them. It took about three years to do that for McCrorie. To answer your other question, the 5-4-1 is actually fluid into a 5-2-2-1 which it was at times on Thursday. Duncan was receiving the ball in areas of the pitch where Clarkson would have made better use of the ball, one example would be his passing would release an overlapping full-back. Even if he's quiet in a game like Miovski was in the semi-final, he can produce something that Duncan can't.

No-one suggested we do that. The suggestion was we find a system the r can include our best players. Just deciding Barron and Clarkson can't play together after less than a handful of games in the same line-up would be more ridiculous.

They're two of our best players, we can't just bench one every week, we have to find a way to accommodate them. I'd play Clarkson in the role that Duncan occupied v PAOK. It's going to be a bit of trial and error, but they both add something to the team, and as well as Polvara has dove this season when he's played, both of them are better players than him.

No, third usually means you drop down a competition. We've no other competition to drop into. Beat Helsinki to get third, then play the B team against Frankfurt and keep the first picks fresh for Hampden.

That's a banning offence surely? @DonsTalk Admin Aye, begrudgingly. MacLean asked him to sum up this result. Could have said it was a credible result for Aberdeen and Scottish football, a lot of positives, good individual performances. Craigan's answer? "Surprising". Even at the goal, he described it as weak from the goalkeeper.

Only issue I had with their coverage was Stephen Craigan on comms, he was unlistenable at times. Really struggled to say anything positive about Aberdeen. John Hartson was laughable on the Celtic game the other night.

Agree, thought he was immense, especially in the last 10 minutes. Duk also very good. Been out the side, but great goal and worked his socks off, couldn't ask for more. McGrath excellent again. PAOK are a right good side, really quick on the break and dangerous at set-pieces. They beat Frankfurt, scored four away from home to Olympiakos at the weekend, and thumped Hearts 4-0 there. That's a cracking result for us away from home. Obviously frustrating that we're out, could be sitting here on eight points, instead we've two. But whisper it, we're starting to look like a good side.

Miovski can't be 100% fit after hobbling off on Saturday. Wouldn't surprise me if Duk sits wide and it's actually McGrath who is the more advanced player.

Well now, couple of surprises there. Duk and Duncan start, Miovski and Clarkson dropped.

The odds on it being 0-0 at half-time are pretty good and that is where my money has gone this evening. After that, who knows? Much to Rico and possibly other's posters chagrin, I'd like to see the same line-up as the Hibs semi, but obviously a few tactical tweaks. Let's see if we can get Clarkson, Barron and Shinnie working together in the same midfield and the best way of doing that is through playing games.

The SPFL citing previous semi-final and final attendances as the reason for their lack of a 50-50 split. You're essentially comparing Aberdeen's away crowd with Rangers' home one. So easy for someone in Glasgow to judge attendances. If they all had to go up to Aberdeen for their semis we'd see a hell of a drop in crowds. Thought the club's suggestion of holding back the north stand to see if we sold the rest was a sensible one, but there you go. The ticket prices are actually the biggest disappointment. £44 and £39 when one team also faces a hike from from the north-east is disgraceful pricing. Even £22 for a concession is mad.

But maybe it works? Our run to Hampden can only be down to having the same thread in the group stages. Maybe this will take us to Athens for the Conference League final? Maybe worth just having one thread for all the Premiership games too?

You're missing the 2014/15 League Cup semi, lost 2-1 to Dundee United at Hampden.

Kick-off confirmed for 3pm. No ticket information yet.

In fairness, this is on the SPFL as it's their final. The SFA tend to give 50/50 splits for the Scottish Cup final unless it's a Caley Thistle that have made it.

For anyone under the age of 40, even those slightly older than that, 17 December could be the greatest final of their footballing lifetimes. It's getting its own thread.

Kinda glad Rangers beat Hearts to be honest. Aberdeen v Rangers in the League Cup is always a bit special. I think the first ever League Cup final was Aberdeen v Rangers 1946/47. Fergie's first cup final with us was Aberdeen/Rangers 1978/79, the first final to go to penalties was Aberdeen/Rangers 87, the first cup final I remember was the 88 Aberdeen/Rangers final, first one I remember us winning was the 89 Aberdeen/Rangers final, and the first final I went to was the 92 Aberdeen/Rangers final. Nothing to fear. We'll be underdogs, aye, but we've won two of the last three meetings with Rangers, and we've shown up well enough in big matches this season. And we've shown yesterday that even when we're second best we have match winners in our team. I fully expect Rangers to get the majority of the tickets but hopefully we'll at least push strongly for a 50/50 split. The whole average crowd/how many you sold for the semi, is irrelevant. Cup final, both teams are meant to have the same chance - same number of players, same numbers backing them.

I think, since Fergie, it's:- League Cup: won 10 lost 7 Scottish Cup: won 4 lost 8

Aye agreed on the whole offside thing. VAR is supposed to be for clear and obvious stuff. ie if a penalty has been awarded and a replay shows it wasn't a foul, or someone punches the ball in the net. Boyle's fingernail being offside isn't really gaining an advantage. My sympathies with Hibs and all we can do to make up for this is beat Hearts in the final. We'll do it for you Hibs