Panda

Quick bit of scouting: Appears to be left footed but plays predominantly right of centre midfield. Four goals in 18 games this season. 48 shots on goal compared to Clarkson (16) and Barron (5) suggests a more attacking player, but not quite a No.10.

If anyone had their heart set on signing Kevin Long, he's signed for Birmingham.

Disagree. He was good at driving into the box, and was never scared to take on a shot from distance. I would argue - heading ability aside - he offered more going forward than Lewis Ferguson. And "journeyman" is a ridiculous description. He's only played for about four clubs and has won caps for Scotland.

https://www.afc.co.uk/2023/01/05/dons-bolster-midfield-options/ Another one. Who had Slovakia in the sweep stake?

Him and Ramadani will be great pals.

Wow. Aberdeen FC I fucking love you. I better go sellotape my semi-final ticket back together.

IF (and I won't believe it until he's spotted with a rowie in George Street) he comes back, it creates an interesting dynamic in the team. General thinking is Barron won't still be here by the end of the window, so he could essentially be taking his place in the team. If not, then interesting to see what Goodwin is thinking. Is Shinnie a left wing back? A centre mid? A spoiler? Either of these teams at Hampden will do me.

Mental that this time yesterday we were worrying about bottom six, and now Shinnie is coming home to win the lot.

Can't believe they've scheduled this the same day as Elgin City v East Fife. We'll win, we have to. If not the build up to the semi-final will be miserable (and Hearts could be 11 points ahead by the time we play them). New goalkeeper McCrorie New-RCB New-LCB Coulson Ramadani Barron Duncan Clarkson Hayes Duk 1-0, Considine to help his old team out by throwing one in.

Not too late to join us. It's either that or St Johnstone at home. I'll put you down as a maybe.

Willie Miller was proclaiming it as an excellent Aberdeen performance. Personally, I thought Ross County were one of the worst sides to visit Pittodrie this season and I include the three lower league teams in that. They sat off us in the first half and allowed us to do what we wanted. A good creative side are at least two goals ahead at the break. Second half they changed things, pushed us wider, and we rarely managed to hit a red shirt with a cross. (Some) Credit to Goodwin for trying to switch things about. McCrorie out wide was good. Barron needing a rest was good. Ramirez starting was good. But our tactics were actually similar to how we tried to chase the game against Kilmarnock. Put on loads of strikers, put the ball into the box and hope it eventually falls for us. Was very little patience to our play. I get we want to play at pace but sometimes when someone is packing the box, keep the ball and pass it until you get an opening. The goals we've scored since the World Cup have all been individual brilliance rather than a well worked team goal, almost like we're scoring in spite of the tactics rather than because of them. That's what we were relying on today and it didn't come.

You underestimated our rock solid defence. Joking aside, Goodwin praised them for keeping a clean sheet, like that was some sort of achievement. Aw come on. He actually created two very good chances in his short spell on the pitch. He's just off an injury and hasn't played much.

Aaron Reid loaned out to Elgin City. Look forward to being there for his debut next week... In other news, Wigan have made Graeme Shinnie available. Unfortunately looks like a return to Derby is on the cards rather than a move back to us.

Anyway, bringing the thread back to the game on Monday, I caught glimpses of County v Dundee United and the scoreline flattered United. County were very much in the game and on another day get a point. Also played okay v Rangers but their problem, again, was scoring, which is just the sort of side we want to be facing.

Look, Elgin wouldn't be my first choice either, and that was before the train strikes meaning I'll need to drive and stay relatively sober which is going to affect any posts I make on here. It's a corporate thing which means I'm probably paying four times as much as I should be. Sure it'll be great.

I'm not gonna lie Elgin, some Sardinian red wine was drank, but I'm gonna stick with Ole until Knutsen throws his hat into the ring. By the way, talking of mad decisions, I've somehow been roped into Elgin City v East Fife on Jan 7, which as you can imagine I'm thrilled about. Where's good for a night out in Elgin afterwards? (Yes I did just ask that).

There should be big changes after Goodwin's comments about lack of fight etc, but there won't be. Stewart will return, Hayes if fit will play, maybe Besuijen starts cos Clarkson injured, that will be it I imagine. Same tactics, McCrorie probably still in defence, but a smug Goodwin telling us they've answered their critics because a poor County side are put to the sword. Want: A shit, horrible 1-0 win that gets us the points so we don't fall further behind Hearts, but still results in Cormack realising it's time for change, getting a ferry to Norway (climate change and that), and getting Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (Hear me out. He's coaching the Kristiansund U14s, he says he wants back in management, was getting things together at Molde before Man Utd came calling, has pumped Celtic and Hibs already. Let's do this. Ole for the Dons min. The campaign starts now). Expect: 3-0 the Dons cos County are wank. We go on to lose to St Johnstone, Rangers and Hearts. We pay the SFA all the money we saved for the new stadium to get Steve Clarke, and without Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and John McGinn in his team everyone gets to see how bang average he is. Cormack announces the £80m new stadium will be a 14,000 capacity and they hope to move in by 2028. Edit: I do appreciate Charlie Nicholas pitched Ole in February and we all ignored him. That was a mistake from everyone and I want to be first to apologise to the great man.

Brown had more good games than bad. In the first half of last season he was one of our better players. We should have played him in a deeper role - possibly even defence - but to label him an awful signing when he out performed most of his team-mates, was generally fit and available to play 90 minutes each week, and was a proper leader - I'm not sure what people really expected from him. Steve Davis at Rangers is a prime example. Still a very important part of the squad but they don't build the team around him and accept he's not going to play every week. We overused Brown. That was one of Glass' big errors, but he likely would have naturally played less this season anyway had he stayed. Actually, it's very normal. Ange Postecoglou for one had his entire coaching team forced upon him by Celtic. Your example is a bit extreme, but having someone at the club with an alternative view to Goodwin wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. We have a squad and staff put together by Goodwin who are all yes men.

No I don't think so. You see chairman sacking managers because they haven't lived up to unrealistic expectations. I don't think that's the case with McInnes, Glass or Goodwin who have all fallen below expectations. Rangers have recently binned a manager who got them to a European final and won the Scottish Cup six months previous. I wanted Goodwin to get the job and therefore I don't blame Cormack for appointing him. I also don't blame Cormack for the recruitment because he backed him financially in summer. The worrying thing is I don't think new players in January solves Goodwin's problems. Yes he might find better individuals than Stewart and Richardson, but he'll still make numerous tactical blunders, he'll still have no idea how to get the best out of McCrorie and Barron in particular. The lack of fight which he directed at the players is down to him - he got rid of the team's leaders. And how can you accuse the players of a lack of fight when you were praising them 10 days ago for time wasting at home v Celtic to try and get a point because you had no belief in them? He started with a bull in a China shop approach which binned Scott Brown, said the squad wasn't up to it when hoping they might still deliver top six & Europe, and publicly embarrassed Considine, Bates & Ramirez. He spent summer chasing wingers and ignoring the defence. And this season we've had games at home where we've looked good on the front foot but been helped massively by penalties and red cards. It's been papering over cracks stuff. On the road we've been found out. Taken to extra-time by Annan. Easily beaten at Easter Road. Hammered at Ibrox. Thumped at Tannadice. Defeats in Paisley and Livingston. And had we not been playing a Derek McInnes team who sat back on 2-0 we could have had another hiding at Rugby Park. The midfield constantly over run. A calamitous defence. Little service to the strikers. Subs that make no sense. It's not working, and January isn't going to fix it. I don't expect him to be sacked before Ross County, but Cormack now needs to begin thinking seriously of a replacement.

McInnes' first line-up: Langfield Shaughnessy Anderson Reynolds Robertson Jack Rae McGinn Milson Hayes Magennis Goodwin's first line-up: Lewis Ramsay Gallagher Bates Montgomery McCrorie Ferguson Besuijen Barron Hayes Ramirez

No-one is claiming McInnes was a great manager or "a god". But in his first four years as manager he did very well. In his final four years, he underachieved. Would still say he ranks above everyone in the division bar Ange based on his accomplishments.

I'm presuming that you're talking about Callum Roberts. Goodwin was asked about him in a press conference last week. He said he'd had a set-back but "was not a million miles away" from returning.

Yep, we didn't win a cup on penalties. We thumped Falkirk 5-0, beat Motherwell with 10 men at Fir Park, and thrashed St Johnstone in the semi-final. Did we not win the cup without conceding a goal? And I also agree on the strength of the division now versus then. McInnes' Aberdeen may not get above either of the current Old Firm, but they would be comfortably third and due to the current coefficient would be lording it in the group stages every year.

Of course it's come from an account with no profile picture, who now appears to have deleted their account. It's always the cowards.

Re-pressure in Goodwin. Think the four critical games in January will shape Cormack's feelings towards Goodwin more than this week. Rangers at Hampden Hearts at Tynecastle Darvel Scottish Cup Hibs at Easter Road Best case scenario: We're in a cup final, next round of Scottish Cup, and hit two rivals for third hard. That would probably buy Goodwin until summer. But, although I think we'll beat Darvel regardless, if we lose the other three then the fans anger will be fierce. I don't think Cormack would sack him, but shoogly peg and all that. Back to now: Hearts have St Johnstone away & Hibs next, tough games. Six points from six for us against Killie & Ross County and we could establish a lead in third again.