January 2026 Transfer Window

[Radiored]

Personally, I feel more comfy with the ol' McInnes 4-1-3-2 ... 

To get it out of the way, I thought Polvara had a shit game v Jute ... but, otherwise,  I think the guy is class in doing the basics ... linking play etc .. much though I would relish seeing him further forward ... like as a No.10 ... I would be OK with him as a central defensive midfielder. Yeah, I hear ye .... a single def mid needs tae be built like a brick shithoose .... but, err, Ryhun Jack did good, aye? 

A 4-1 rear guard easily transforms to a back 3/5. A No.10 can easily drop back into mid when under pressure, leavin' 2 of three forward mids to backtrack in support ... but when in possession? ... we go 2-1-3-4! .... super dooper (til we fuck up a simple pass and revert to 7-2-1  )  ..... 

We've lost embarrassingly silly goals as a back 3, back 4 ... whatever .... clean sheets don't win prizes ... goals do! For sure, better coach our defenders ... but ... get some fkn balls in the net! A 4-1-3-2, with quick transition, will produce goals most games .. maybe even enough!  

[TheDonbytheDee]

2 hours ago, Radiored said:

Personally, I feel more comfy with the ol' McInnes 4-1-3-2 ... 

To get it out of the way, I thought Polvara had a shit game v Jute ... but, otherwise,  I think the guy is class in doing the basics ... linking play etc .. much though I would relish seeing him further forward ... like as a No.10 ... I would be OK with him as a central defensive midfielder. Yeah, I hear ye .... a single def mid needs tae be built like a brick shithoose .... but, err, Ryhun Jack did good, aye? 

 

I don't think you need to be built like a brick shithoose for the role, you just have to be good at it.

In my opinion, Dante seems to struggle with the pace of the game in that role.

I like the loon a lot, but I don't think he is suited to the fast pace of the Scottish game.

[Jute]

14 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

I don't think you need to be built like a brick shithoose for the role, you just have to be good at it.

In my opinion, Dante seems to struggle with the pace of the game in that role.

I like the loon a lot, but I don't think he is suited to the fast pace of the Scottish game.

I think he also struggles with physical side of game. Constantly out muscled in challenges on Saturday and not for first time. Don’t think he is suited to game here and would be better off back in MLS. 

[RicoS321]

45 minutes ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

I don't think you need to be built like a brick shithoose for the role, you just have to be good at it.

In my opinion, Dante seems to struggle with the pace of the game in that role.

I like the loon a lot, but I don't think he is suited to the fast pace of the Scottish game.

This. Kjartansson immediately looks like he'll read the game better than Dante. He is already in position, covering fullbacks, sitting in or pushing up as required. He doesn't need to have a lot of strength, he can just slow the game down until we're back in position. Polvara generally has to put in a challenge because he's a yard or two behind where he needs to be, and puts himself in the position to be out-muscled, which he's going to be 50% of the time. 

I think Polvara is better with the long raking pass, and is very good with both feet. In a "better the devil you know" sense, I hope he stays. He's a fantastic utility player (Dom Ball, but much better). He'll play 20 games at least for us every season. If he can be taught to be more aggressive he'd be very good. 

Also, as an argument against my own suggestion of moving to a back three, it is important to factor in that most teams in the league are playing a back three at the moment, and it's often pragmatic to match up. It just seems that we're asking a defender (either Devlin or Knoester) to be an auxiliary midfielder for a lot of the games at Pittodrie, and it might be better having a midfielder being an auxiliary defender. I think Kjartansson might be the only one capable though (Nilsen five years ago). 

[Jute]

Said on Saturday that I was wondering how much of out possession sits with Knooster and Milne. Both seem to have  responsibility for moving into midfield with the ball to start us moving forward. 

[RicoS321]

26 minutes ago, Jute said:

Said on Saturday that I was wondering how much of out possession sits with Knooster and Milne. Both seem to have  responsibility for moving into midfield with the ball to start us moving forward. 

It has been Devlin a lot too, but he didn't seem to do that against Utd, with Milne taking over. It didn't work. A lot of our goals (or opportunities given away) are caused by us giving simple ball away in midfield (see Aouchiche against Utd) when one of our back three is advanced. They get caught on the turn and make an arse of a simple clearance they would normally deal with, and the other two lose their bearings and fail to cover. It seems to happen most weeks, punished or unpunished. It should be easy to coach the cover though. When one steps up, the other two form a central two, and only return when the player is back in position. That would be at the cost of giving space wide left or right, but you'd fancy our chances against a winger running from deep rather than a one on one with a striker in behind. Maybe the option of the midfielder dropping in is better though, if they have the discipline. 

[Panda]

Scott Burns saying today in the Daily Record that Thelin keen to shift back to a four-man defence, with two defenders targeted in January.

[Ajja]

Would worry about Milne in a back 4. Assume that FBs go high so it leaves us awfully exposed. When we switched to 4 against both St Mirren and Utd at home it didn’t take long for them to make in game changes and have a go and we looked vulnerable down the channels immediately. Hopefully we would play KMK regularly to screen the 2 CBs to become a 3 out of possession. 

[OrlandoDon]

45 minutes ago, Panda said:

Scott Burns saying today in the Daily Record that Thelin keen to shift back to a four-man defence, with two defenders targeted in January.

Makes me wonder if his plan is Kjarten ahead of the 4. As was said by someone, kinda like a Ryan jack type that will sit in the middle. Except I think he’s a much bigger lad with more physicality potentially? This also gives more freedom/flexibility with those around and ahead of Kjarten.

[Panda]

22 minutes ago, Ajja said:

Would worry about Milne in a back 4. Assume that FBs go high so it leaves us awfully exposed. When we switched to 4 against both St Mirren and Utd at home it didn’t take long for them to make in game changes and have a go and we looked vulnerable down the channels immediately. Hopefully we would play KMK regularly to screen the 2 CBs to become a 3 out of possession. 

That might be why Thelin is looking at two new centre halves. Tobers if fit would always have been first choice.

Milne did begin his career as a holding midfielder (unless I'm getting him mixed up with someone else). Considering Thelin's preferred formation has always been 4-2-3-1, he could play there then drop into defence when needed - it's not that different than what he does now, as @RicoS321 put it, an auxiliary defender instead of auxiliary midfielder.

You then have Milne and Kjartansson interchangeable for that role alongside an Aouchiche or Armstrong.

Not saying it's what I would do, but can see it being what Thelin is moving towards.

[RicoS321]

3 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Except I think he’s a much bigger lad with more physicality potentially?

Don't think so. Maybe marginally more so than Jack, but he doesn't look particularly big or physical. Certainly not close to Polvara in that regard. I'd say Jack is probably the correct comparison all round, except in the category of dirty Judas rat.

[Panda]

3 minutes ago, OrlandoDon said:

Makes me wonder if his plan is Kjarten ahead of the 4. As was said by someone, kinda like a Ryan jack type that will sit in the middle. Except I think he’s a much bigger lad with more physicality potentially? This also gives more freedom/flexibility with those around and ahead of Kjarten.

Yeah, it could switch from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. 

At the beginning of Thelin's reign and the super run we were on, it worked well with Nilsen sitting deep and Shinnie was almost like a pendulum around him, going forward and getting himself wide to put crosses in.

It wasn't perfect, we were still lacking in areas and I think we all knew our results were better than performances, but it was far better than it was now, and there's no real reason for Thelin to stick with three at the back long term.

[tlg1903]

48 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Don't think so. Maybe marginally more so than Jack, but he doesn't look particularly big or physical. Certainly not close to Polvara in that regard. I'd say Jack is probably the correct comparison all round, except in the category of dirty Judas rat.

He's defo a bit stockier I would say, slightly taller maybe too.  He's only 18 though, come 21 he's probably going to have increased his mass a bit given the role he plays. 

[Elgindon]

Kjartansson is apparently only 5' 7",.....had him down as at least 6'.Looks sturdy though,would like to see what he can do over 90 mins hopefully tonight.

Havent been to Easter road since Scott Vernon missed a pen in the Scottish cup.Wanted to go to this,but k/o time doesnt work with train times.Maybe just as well,havent ever seen us win there,so...

 Hibees 2 - Dandies 3.    Karlsson,Lazetic,Kjartansson thunderbolt.  COYR

[tlg1903]

1 minute ago, Elgindon said:

Kjartansson is apparently only 5' 7",.....had him down as at least 6'.Looks sturdy though,would like to see what he can do over 90 mins hopefully tonight.

Havent been to Easter road since Scott Vernon missed a pen in the Scottish cup.Wanted to go to this,but k/o time doesnt work with train times.Maybe just as well,havent ever seen us win there,so...

 Hibees 2 - Dandies 3.    Karlsson,Lazetic,Kjartansson thunderbolt.  COYR

According to wiki Connor Barron is 5ft 9 and he's defo not bigger than KK

[RicoS321]

2 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

According to wiki Connor Barron is 5ft 9 and he's defo not bigger than KK

Barron runs like he's four feet though. 

[tlg1903]

13 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Barron runs like he's four feet though. 

As rats normally do

[Elgindon]

15 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

According to wiki Connor Barron is 5ft 9 and he's defo not bigger than KK

https://www.futbin.com/26/player/12306/kjartan-mar-kjartansson

Couple of sites saying 5' 7". Above post in wrong thread

[tlg1903]

2 minutes ago, Elgindon said:

https://www.futbin.com/26/player/12306/kjartan-mar-kjartansson

Couple of sites saying 5' 7". Above post in wrong thread

There's no danger he's the same size as my GF is all I'm saying.  Wrong thread? 

[Elgindon]

8 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

There's no danger he's the same size as my GF is all I'm saying.  Wrong thread? 

I agree,he looks a lot bigger but havent found a site to say otherwise.My original post should have been on match thread

  Another site description - "Kjartan Már Kjartansson hails from the cold climes of Iceland, born on the 14th of July, 2006. Now 19 years of age, Kjartansson holds the fort in the midfield, operating mainly as a central defensive midfielder for Aberdeen. At a height of 5 feet 8 inches (approximately 1.75 metres), and a lean and mean weight of 11 stone (approximately 70kg), he is a prominent figure on the pitch, donned in the number 29 jersey."

Edited 1 hour ago by Elgindon

[RicoS321]

2 minutes ago, Elgindon said:

I agree,he looks a lot bigger but havent found a site to say otherwise.My original post should have been on match thread

Nah, this is the transfer and Kjartansson height thread. 

[tlg1903]

3 minutes ago, Elgindon said:

I agree,he looks a lot bigger but havent found a site to say otherwise.My original post should have been on match thread

The curious case of the height of Kjartan Kjartanssen!

[Goldie03]

I'm intrigued to see him on the pitch now haha 

[Elgindon]

Another site says, "Physically, he is tall for his position(doesnt give details) with a broad-shouldered, lanky frame. Kjartansson is not particularly fast but utilizes his long strides to cover ground" 

.....then youve got this   https://sofifa.com/player/79780/kjartan-mar-kjartansson/260002/