Panda

We should be targeting Ralston at RB for them. He's their weakest link. I think we'll definitely score, which is more than we did last season in four games against them. However, keeping them out at the other end is the second biggest challenge in Scottish football at the moment behind not conceding a penalty to Rangers.

Finished 3-1 Hacken. I watched the last five minutes and that was enough to learn they are both hopeless and we'll run rings around the winner, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Not that it matters, because unless we win the Scottish Cup with a team of working class men who were all born within the perimeter of Pittodrie then it means nothing, but Vilnius v Hacken is currently being streamed by skybet (and likely other betting websites).

I'll take a guess it became a thing when fans realised their club need to make money to be able to compete for trophies. What's difficult to understand here? Do people think we're hoping the club make a lot of money so they can decorate the changing rooms and lay new carpets? It's so we can buy better players, develop our own, and be successful. The "I don't care how much money we make I want us to be successful" comment doesn't really work, unless you can point out a team that has been successful recently without spending anything. With respect, what a ridiculous comment. You're basically ridiculing people for wanting their team to earn money so they can be successful. Again, another ridiculous comment. You do realise it's possible to do both? Exactly this, especially that last sentence. We've managed to turn Aberdeen potentially earning €5-8m into a negative.

I remember when plastic pitches were first brought in, every away team in that first season was offered the chance to go train on the pitch the day before. I think that rule should still be in place. Aberdeen should have been allowed down there on the Friday to give the new signings a run out on it. Now maybe Livi - like Rico says - add more pellets that evening after we're finished, but would imagine an hour on the pitch is still beneficial and removes some of the advantages of having a plastic pitch.

Have attempted to work out what we'll earn from qualifying for the two respective competitions, based on the estimated prize money. These aren't exact figures as a lot of it is still too early to work out, as payments change based on the number of countries represented, coefficients, and other money that isn't decided until the end of the group stage, but we'll be in the right ballpark. Firstly, last season Hearts earned €4.5m from being in the Conference League group stage, winning two games, getting a 100% share of Scotland's TV money for the group stage, and a payment based on their 10-year coefficient ranking (FYI: Aberdeen are ranked 215th, Hearts 258th). What Aberdeen can expect this season... Europa League Starting fee €3.63m €0.63m per win / €0.21m per draw Finish third €0.5m Finish second €1.75m Finish first €2.3m Coefficient ranking €0.66m* TV money**: - If only Scottish team €2.58m - If Rangers drop into Europa: €1.03m (Rangers would get 60%, Aberdeen 40%) *This is impossible to work out at this stage, but is an estimate on where we'd likely be ranked out of the 32 teams. **Again can't be worked out until the 32 teams are known due to other distribution models. What we get: If being realistic, best case scenario is third in which case we could make €8.5m plus have a crack at Conference League knockouts (€7m if Rangers also in groups). Worst case scenario is fourth, six losses, and Rangers also in groups. We could still walk away with over €5m. Europa Conference League Starting fee: €2.94m €0.5m per win / €0.17m per draw. Finish second: €0.625m Finish first: €1.25m Coefficient ranking*: €0.22 TV money*: - If only Scottish team: €0.435 - If one of Hearts/Hibs qualify: €0.261 (Aberdeen get 60%) - If both Hearts/Hibs qualify: €0.174 (Aberdeen get 40%, the other two both 30%) Parachute payment from losing Europa League play-off: Hearts received €290,000 last season *Again coefficient ranking & TV money is guess work as the 32 teams aren't known. Realistically, best we do is maybe second if draw is favourable. That would be around €6m plus the knockout stage. Do what Hearts did last year and it's around €4.5m again, perhaps slightly more. Worst case scenario lose every game, then €3.1m to €3.5m. Things to note: These are in Euros. So €3.1m is more like £2.67m. Also these don't include ticket sales, however it's easy to say we'll make maybe £1.5m - £2m on ticket sales and count that as profit. However, when you consider the stadium upgrades we've paid for, charter flights, hotels, security, policing etc, basically that £1.5m to £2m disappears quite quickly, so not even sure it's worth adding.

I was just winding you up min. I need to stop posting at 1am, but it keeps me from shouting obscenities in the street, which apparently one or two of the neighbours don't like.

Sorry, how can you say "100% this" and then mention Fergie, when the post you're agreeing with has just said let's have some glamour ties because we've no chance of winning it? Fergie would be spinning in his grave. Or not, since he beat that too. Ipswich were Uefa Cup holders and had England internationals in their team when we ragdolled them. I'd never even heard of Brighton before opening this thread.

Thing is, what's easier in order to make the knockout stage? Finish third in the Europa group or finish top two in the Conference? Pot 3 in the Europa groups looks no more imposing than Pots 1 and 2 in the Conference.

Last home game against them was the beginning of the Jim Goodwin horror series. Showed no ambition, time wasted from the first minute, and eventually lost late on. Since then, Barry Robson has faced Celtic twice as a manager and has lost both to an aggregate of 9-0. So I can only suggest it can't get any worse this weekend. Good time to get Celtic while their defence is unsettled, and Ross County scored twice against them on the opening day so they are there to be got at. My worry is we look a bit one-dimensional so far. Clarkson goes deep and hits it long to Miovski and Duk. We need either good wingers or an attacking midfielder, otherwise we'll struggle to hurt Celtic. But we'll win it 1-0, Jack Mackenzie the match winner.

Rosenborg are absolutely gash at the minute, are 8th in the league (summer league innit) and out of both cups, one of which was a defeat to a lower league team. I know all this because was out drinking with a Hearts fan tonight who is flying out to Norway tomorrow and has convinced me Hearts will prevail, and I have no reason to doubt him. Aye it's Europa for the money and glamour, but Conference could be some cracking battles with teams on our level. Either way it's a no-lose place to be in. I'm more stressed about Stirling away than I am about the play-off. Here's the projected groups, take your pick (they've projected Vilnius making the EL based on their coefficient)

Like I said a few days ago, best draw we could have got, but by no means the stick on to win many think it is. Even Vilnius, was it not last season they beat Malmo to make the group stages? Hearts could be in Greece to face PAOK while you're there..

Well, we can argue all week about whether Mackenzie will be a problem for us this season, but we'll just have to wait and see. Unless Robson pulls a rabbit out of the bag, or Mackenzie skips the queue ahead of Rubezic at lunch and gets maimed badly for it, then he'll he playing against Celtic on Sunday. On the subject of LCBs by the way, latest rumour is Celtic want Scott McKenna...

If there's a chance to sign Scales without paying over the odds for him, then aye, I'm up for it. I don't need convincing. But I think Mackenzie given time in that position can also develop into a good player, so I'm not overly concerned about the situation.

The one thing we're not crying out for is another central defender. And the only way Scales plays next Sunday anyway is if he's wearing a Celtic shirt.

Vinny doesn't have much pace though (not that I've noticed) so dunno where you play him in a 3-5-2, as he's not gonna get up the pitch as a wing back, and if you changed the middle three to incorporate a number 10 you'd rather have Clarkson or, dare I say it, Polvara there.

We've had an unsettled pre-season, not playing what will be our starting defence, Devlin playing out of position, Miovski and Duk not quite 100% fit, Polvara playing in defence then today into midfield. That all told today. Looked like a side not quite ready for the start of the season, as if they were all still trying to get to know each other. We at least still look solid at the back. Pleasing also to see that Guthrie and Montano - who were both throwing themselves about and trying to bully* our lot - both got nailed separately. Shows we have a team who won't roll over. *Montano seemed to take a disliking very early on to Morris and went after him the entire time he was on the park. Need the wing backs to offer more though. Both Hayes and Morris got into good positions but crossing and finishing was really poor.

John Beaton losing control of the game as usual. There's been three bookings and yet none of them has been Kurtis Guthrie which is astonishing. Towards the end of the half we looked more threatening, a few more overlaps and getting into their box. Morris again though seeing plenty of the ball but doing nothing with it. Polvara is playing very well in midfield. Using his physicality and passing it well. Ylber who?

Early thoughts. Polvara is fucking amazing and shame on all of you who doubted him. Rubezic thumping Guthrie after he had spent half an hour going after every Aberdeen player has just earned him a place in the Aberdeen hall of fame. All we need now is a shot on target.

Well Celtic have a defensive "crisis" so every chance Scales is in the squad or even plays against Aberdeen next week. We'll probably boo him, then sign him the following week and welcome him home like a war hero.

I dunno, I think if it do that you stifle Shinnie a little. If anyone sits deep other than Clarkson it'll be Barron I would think. That's presuming Barron starts, don't think he started any of the pre-season games. There's every chance it's Morris, with the remit that he goes wide and the RWB covers him centrally. Do you think we'll sign any more defenders though? If McGarry is coming in, that means we have him, Mackenzie, Williams, McDonald, Rubezic, Dadia, Devlin. That's seven before counting Hayes, Milne, Stewart and Polvara.

If McDonald does make if then would stick him in the middle with Rubezic to the right. If Barron starts then a big one for him, as over the next seven days I expect we'll spend the Ramadani money on someone. Likewise, big game for Mackenzie as Williams and McDonald be back soon. Needs to make LCB his own.

Robson said on Wednesday that McDonald would definitely be back for Celtic, and might make Livingston, so you never know.

Of that, Hacken (who looked handy despite the doing we gave them under Glass) have just been knocked out of the Champions League by a team from the Faroes, so they or Vilnius might be the best of that group. Zrinjski are Bosnian champions but again preferable to some of the others. A team from Belarus is a bit dicey since they're big pals with Russia. We may wish to bring our own water and food to that one.

I am optimistic about this season, however at this moment in time there's an argument to be made that we're weaker than we were at the end of last season. The defence is missing McDonald and Williams. Rubezic hasn't kicked a ball yet, Dadia hasn't played 90 minutes, Devlin has been moved about. Add to that Pollock and Scales are big fish (sorry)that are no longer there, and although Rico assures us it'll be fine - at the moment I'd say McCrorie is still a big loss (but Devlin and/or Dadia haven't had a run at RWB yet so fair enough on that one). The midfield is pretty much the same except for an unsettled Ramadani, a Polvara who I don't think has actually played in midfield during pre-season yet, and a Morris that the has been given a re-trial after new evidence came to light that he might have some pace, but the jury is still out on him (again, I'm sorry). Up front I guess we're okay, but we're at least two signings away from me being calm about the season starting. I'd take an untidy 1-0 right now. Lot of people suggesting Livingston will struggle this season but I think they'll be okay.