Panda

The league placing is irrelevant, that's just polishing a turd. We were awful last season, we've been poor for three seasons, it's why fans wanted McInnes gone. Aberdeen's performances were bottom six standard. That the other clubs didn't take advantage is their own issue. "You make it sound like he inherited a total shambles." He did. He took over a team that couldn't score, couldn't create, couldn't defend, were being laughed at by fans of other clubs for the boring displays they put in, had no real desire or fight in the team, had games cancelled because players couldn't give a toss about breaking rules their manager put in place, and had a big rebuilding job this summer due to so many being out of contract. We were a shambles. And I think people are underestimating the job that Glass has already done before a ball is kicked. He's changed the whole coaching structure, signed six players, and already is dealing with both injuries (McCrorie at centre half surely isn't his first choice), disruption to pre-season with games cancelled, and one of his players handing in a transfer request. Aberdeen could finish in a European spot next season and still be a team in transition. We're not going to finish sixth, simply because the rest of the league isn't good enough. A poor Celtic still comfortably finished second. I'm judging us, and the performance of Glass, by our own performances, not about how many more points than St Mirren we pick up.

It really isn't. We were really poor last season, Glass would need to be a genius to come in and sort us out in one summer. It took Fergie four years at Man U and Gerrard three years at Rangers, just to give some examples. You either need loads of money, or time. I think Aberdeen will be similar to how Hibs were last season - will be be really good and entertaining to watch on their day, but will turn in more than a few shockers throughout the campaign and struggle with consistency. I'm prepared for that, I just want evidence we're getting better, and Europe and a trophy would be good too.

Actually, I'm going to essentially disagree with myself having thought about it. Been a few times in the past under McInnes where we threw everything at these qualifiers, played loads of friendlies, ultimately failed to reach the groups and, while it didn't always happen there were more than a few times we started the campaign poorly. We also haven't always had the best of luck with injuries and maybe that was down to pre-season. 14/15 - lost 3-0 to United on day one of season after the Real Sociedad game, and lost three of the opening five games. 15/16 - Managed to beat United on day one in between games with Almaty, and actually won our first seven. 16/17 - Won just one of our first five games after losing to Maribor. 17/18 - won our first four after losing to Limassol, though to be fair it was an easy start against Hamilton, Partick, etc. 18/19 - Drew with Rangers after losing to Burnley, but won just two of first seven league games. 19/20 - Won four of first eight games. Also went out early in League Cup. 20/21 - The European games started after the league season started which maybe helped us, and we actually only lost one of our first nine league games. But of course then had loads of injuries and were generally pish. I just wonder if the new coaching team have looked at it, questioned whether playing loads of friendlies to prepare for European games rather than working on other things and building it up slowly to day one of the league season has actually impacted the campaign at a later date and led to injuries, and have therefore decided training > games and we'll see how the legs are v Hacken. I do remember when we played Burnley they hadn't played a lot of friendlies and I thought that would favour us. On one hand maybe it did as we pushed them so close, but on the other they essentially won the tie because they had fresher legs in extra-time.

Yeh I really don't know what to expect from us. I would like to think Aberdeen are far better prepared than we think, I imagine there's been a few inter-squad games being played, and our coaching team have surely had it all meticulously planned out. Especially with a player being on the coaching staff, he'd surely be able to say if the players weren't anywhere near where they needed to be. But the schedule and lack of games has me bloody nervous. Is it still five subs this season? Has that rule been extended?

I don't understand how Ramirez has to quarantine for 10 days, yet is allowed to train and played the second half today. I know he got an elite sport exception, I just don't get the logic behind it.

Schedule announced here. Playing Inverness, St Johnstone and Reading. https://www.afc.co.uk/2021/07/06/dons-confirm-closed-door-pre-season-schedule/ On another note, every time I post here I get a notification telling me I've gone up a rank. Any chance of getting rid of those - I know my posts are great but i don't need an award each time.

He spoke about Gurr at the Q&A, defended that signing quite strongly.

https://www.afc.co.uk/2021/07/03/afc-women-match-to-be-streamed-live-on-youtube/ Game and trophy presentation live on YouTube tomorrow, 4pm. They're playing Boroughmuir Thistle who they've already beat 9-0 this season, while they won 8-1 on Thursday against Glasgow Women, so expect a few goals.

You know what they say about statistics.... Was watching a couple of YouTube videos of him, appears to be good in the air - a lot of goals from headers. Also bit of pace about him, although some of the defending against him was woeful. He even has his own chant which is quite catchy. Basically the "Vamos mi Sevilla" chant, but changed to:- Vamos Christian Vamos Christian Vamos Christian Vamos Christian Ramirez Cant find a video of the actual chant or where I even heard it (may have actually been an Aberdeen fan suggesting it when he was first linked weeks ago) but here's the Sevilla version.

The Dons won SWPL 2 today with two games to spare after thumping Dundee United 5-2. That's them in the top fight next season.

But, so what? So they've heard of Scott Brown (a lot may dislike him). They might have to google Glass. It doesn't mean a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. They'll know all about him in a few weeks. Our players all knew who McInnes was and didn't bother their arse playing for him.

Pretty much every loan player we've had has been pushed to the front of the queue and been picked regardless of performances. The Hernandez signing was weird, aye, I'd give myself a headache trying to tackle that one. Will we see more Atlanta players coming to Aberdeen? Probably. But at least Glass will be able to tell Cormack which ones are any good. There's too much scepticism and paranoia around the Atlanta partnership in my opinion.

No I didn't miss your point. How do you know Glass isn't a strong presence in the changing room or able to command respect? Who's to say Brown will undermine him? By that reckoning, did Miller or McLeish undermine Alex Smith? "What does Glass bring to the table", well you're quite clearly making it about his leadership abilities, which you're clearly doubting. What is it that's making you doubt he is any sort of leader? As for your Aitken/Miller comparison. After Miller was sacked, Aitken was able to cajole a lot more out of the team when he took over from Miller, which suggests a lot of things.

This makes no sense. If Gallagher was put in for "non-footballing reasons", then why wasn't Hernandez? Gallagher was actually one of Atlanta's better players last season under, funnily enough, Stephen Glass. At least, according to an Atlanta blog I read. Also, what benefit is there to Atlanta in us enjoying one of their coaches? If he's a massive success and a big club in England come in for him, you think he's going to turn that down to go back to Atlanta?

We nearly got relegated under Miller. Being a leader doesn't automatically make you a good manager. Just how close are Glass & Cormack? According to Tam McManus, who is a lot closer to Glass than Cormack, he said Glass told him the two had only ever met once previously. I think people presume Cormack is close friends with everyone in Atlanta. Whether they are close or not, the notion that he's just giving his mate a job is nonsense. Since Cormack has been at the club, the single biggest criticism he has had to face - almost on a weekly basis - has been him backing McInnes. He's under no illusions how much the success of the manager impacts on him. Therefore, he's going to only appoint a guy he is convinced is going to be a success, not because he's worried the Atlanta 2 coach is struggling to put food on the table. Maybe he has been earmarking Glass for a while. I'd say that's a good thing. He's got a strategy for the club and how he wants the team to play. Ash Taylor is fucking shite. Him winning a few headers in what has been a very poor Scottish Premiership this season should not make us forget that up against decent opposition he is consistently shown up.

Aye he might be using us for a bit of leverage. Out of contract in summer, out of favour at Celtic (although they are about to change manager), needs to be playing to be in Scotland team. Talk was Brown could persuade him to join him at Aberdeen.

I'm in favour of Glass. But then I'm also Dave Cormack. Ach I'm willing to give him a try, especially if it brings in the England striker coach, Scott Brown & Leigh Griffiths. The other realistic options on the table don't fill me with much optimism - Stephen Robinson's name has been mentioned an uncomfortable number of times. Everyone forgetting Motherwell were shite when he left them, played 5-5-0 at Ibrox which is unforgivable, got thumped 7-1 at Ibrox too. Not actually seen any consensus on who fans have as a favourite though.

Was he being groomed to be the next Aberdeen manager? I can't recall that ever being suggested. And if he was, and isn't currently ready to manage Aberdeen, why would that be the club's fault? Would it not be down to the guys he's been working under the last few years - ie McInnes & Docherty? Do they? It's going behind your manager's back and doing the dirty on them.

It would have been worse surely had Cormack been speaking to potential managers while McInnes was still in place? There's every chance McInnes was told he could remain until the end of the season and declined. Cant imagine it'd be much fun going in front of the media to explain you've been sacked but are carrying on, likewise the players might lose respect for you. He also probably doesn't want another fourth place finish on his record. If it is Glass, then Aberdeen have actually moved very quickly here. Compare that to Hearts and how long it took then to get Daniel Stendal, Rangers when McInnes turned them down and they went the rest of the season with Graeme Murty, and Celtic who sacked Lennon a week before McInnes yet appear no closer to appointing someone.

Most clubs allow the new manager to pick his own assistant. Aberdeen doing the same isn't a failure on their part.

No. A manager would be signing players, implementing his own tactics, picking his own backroom team. Surely you can tell the difference between a manager and a coach who is working under another manager?

That would mean Paul Sheerin has been a manager for years then, since he's been running the U20s. Aberdeen's U20 results are largely irrelevant. It's about developing the players and preparing them for the first team. That's what Glass' job has been at Atlanta 2.

Did you miss Celtic winning a quadruple treble? I'd say as a captain and an influence on players at the club he's certainly had a big part to play in that. You're dismissing him as a coach without having any knowledge of how good a coach he actually is. The point is, people on here are saying he has no coaching experience. You yourself have said he has "little or no coaching experience". He's been helping coach their U20s as far back as 6/7 years ago, and has done both his B & A licence badges. If Stephen Glass is the manager, then he should be able to pick who he wants to work with, not told he has to use Barry Robson because Derek McInnes may or may not have made some promise to him. Considering how poor we've been at so many things - set pieces, scoring, pressing, creating chances - I don't think an overhaul of our coaching team is a bad thing.

Did you read a single word of my post before replying?

Keane played six games in his final season for Man U before signing for Celtic, and hadn't played for four months before his debut v Clyde. Brown has made 37 appearances this season.