Right, thoughts?

My money's on the statue of Fergie.

He wants tae be a Teddy Bear .... fuck the huns!

If Robinson was to be binned I would like Valekari. He's really impressed me since coming back to Scotland

22 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

If Robinson was to be binned I would like Valekari. He's really impressed me since coming back to Scotland

I’d agree he comes across well and seems to be able to adapt for the circumstances rather than these idealogues. Only risk is the ‘levels’ problem. I don’t know his background but has he got experience at a club where the expectations sit on a par with the Dons? We’ve seen in the past when you bring in a manager who’s primary objective is survival in the league and defending territory and trying to eek out victories.

2 minutes ago, Ajja said:

I’d agree he comes across well and seems to be able to adapt for the circumstances rather than these idealogues. Only risk is the ‘levels’ problem. I don’t know his background but has he got experience at a club where the expectations sit on a par with the Dons? We’ve seen in the past when you bring in a manager who’s primary objective is survival in the league and defending territory and trying to eek out victories.

He did get St Johnstone playing fitba when he took over from Levein.

The damage was already done for them, at that point, but he took them straight back up, without too much issue and was praised for his style in the Championship, which may be handy.

They seem to be holding their own in the league, despite a pumping from Newco last week.

I'd prefer someone from outside Scotland, but lets be honest, whoever comes in needs to hit the ground running and work with a fairly shit squad of players.

We won't be an attractive job for anyone decent.

Maybe the opening post on this thread is now worth a shout. We've tried about everything else.

Either the Fergie Statue or Angus the Bull.

We could also create a new toppest of top, top reds, DNA Membership, whereu members can get a chance to manage their heroes.

They win, they take the next game, they lose and the are out, with the next one in.

The joy is, they are paying us, so no expensive pay offs.

Don't think we could be any worse off and with potential TV rights, could be on to a moneyspinner, albeit in the Championship.

We can forget Dave Challinor as he has apparently agreed to go to Sheffield Wednesday.

Who was the guy that was invited to come to a game and sat in the stands then mysteriously disappeared off the radar? Schwartz or summink?

looks like he’s doing pretty well at Dynamo Moscow. Playing high energy press and possession based fitba.

Edited November 1Nov 1 by Ajja

23 minutes ago, Ajja said:

Who was the guy that was invited to come to a game and sat in the stands then mysteriously disappeared off the radar? Schwartz or summink?

looks like he’s doing pretty well at Dynamo Moscow. Playing high energy press and possession based fitba.

Guessing him just going there rules him out for us.

We need a manager with the expectation of winning and challenging for trophies. And has shown he can do that. A manager who can coach attacking football against teams who sit in, defend, and are hard to break down. As much as I was not a huge fan, Mcinnes was able to beat teams, and do this. He ground out wins.

Glass Goodwin Robson and Thelin pretty much came from lower level teams, and or who punched above their weight and won against better teams - Thelin was sold to us on winning games with lesser possession and counter attacking football, but that’s not really us.

Problem with this approach is that we have very little quality in the squad right now to be this type of team. I dont know how we can fuck up so many transfer windows but we are no better a squad than last year, or the year before. The squad is awful and that’s not just on the manager.

12 minutes ago, Panda said:

Shouldn't joke about that - we appointed Warnock so with Bevington on board wouldn’t put it past the clowns in charge

You’ve got to say that bevington is - on paper - a massive step up from burrows so surely to fuck we’re aiming high and will appoint someone with a track record and give them a budget to match.

Although it’ll probably emerge that bevington used to hang out with Russell brand or Prince Andrew or something.

2 hours ago, wee toon red said:

You’ve got to say that bevington is - on paper - a massive step up from burrows so surely to fuck we’re aiming high and will appoint someone with a track record and give them a budget to match.

Although it’ll probably emerge that bevington used to hang out with Russell brand or Prince Andrew or something.

Hope you are right but if he's that good why is he coming here?

I would guess* the next manager will be a Lutz appointment.

*Very much guessing because who knows what the strategy is in that place?

I would think though, the argument from Lutz will be that if you want the sporting director / head coach set-up to work, then he needs to pick his man. And so I expect a Lutz appointment.

He put all his eggs in Horneland's basket last time, and that backfired, but doubt he'll get another three-month pass again.

So, likely we can rule out anyone in Scotland (McGlynn, Valakari, Lennon) unless he is particularly big fans of them or all his old friends don't return his calls. All the previous names linked to us last time are in jobs (Horneland, Schwarz, Klauß, Rosler, Gisdol).

Julian Nagelsmann has been ruled out of the Man Utd job so a great time to make our move for Lutz's old pal...

Jon Dahl Tomasson reportedly held talks with Hibs if you believe Andy Halliday. Money and having to train Olusanya likely two big stumbling blocks there.

Last I saw of Steve Clarke he was opening the Edinburgh military tattoo.

Has he got anything else lined up?

I hope when Robinson goes they get rid of Craigan too.

When I firsr saw our youth team up at Cove, I wondered who the zoomer in the dugout was. I hadn't realised it was Craigan until after the game.

Loves the sound of his own voice.

Suspect there was a reason he was out of the game so long before Robinson took him up here.

I hope if we do punt Robinson, this guy doesn't get the interim gig or stays on in his current role.

1 hour ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

I hope when Robinson goes they get rid of Craigan too.

When I firsr saw our youth team up at Cove, I wondered who the zoomer in the dugout was. I hadn't realised it was Craigan until after the game.

Loves the sound of his own voice.

Suspect there was a reason he was out of the game so long before Robinson took him up here.

I hope if we do punt Robinson, this guy doesn't get the interim gig or stays on in his current role.

Fuck sake min, as if I wasn't already seriously depressed already, you float the idea oF Craigan being in charge 😲

Problem is Lutz + Robinson, if the bug eyed clown man stays then I doubt any new manager would have enough levers to work with to turn it around. Bevington needs to press the big red button and get his Filofax and batphone out pronto. Both need their P45 and their personal belongings boxed up this week. He needs a duo that can work together as equals according to a clear plan and a clear way of playing.

7 minutes ago, PatrickM said:

Problem is Lutz + Robinson, if the bug eyed clown man stays then I doubt any new manager would have enough levers to work with to turn it around. Bevington needs to press the big red button and get his Filofax and batphone out pronto. Both need their P45 and their personal belongings boxed up this week. He needs a duo that can work together as equals according to a clear plan and a clear way of playing.

The only real visibility we have of Lutz is him being undermined by the appointment of a manager he didn't want. I'd rather see him fail on his own merit, as opposed to guesswork on the behind-the-scenes stuff. There is every chance that Lutz will be able to work with someone who he appoints for his style of play.

I read Lutz’ contract expires next summer. Surprised a role like that has a fixed term. Would be strange to have him lead a new hire process if we’re not planning on renewing his contract, although wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if we let that happen and end up with a new Sporting Director who doesn’t get on with whichever Jurgen Bloggs we inevitably hire.

24 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

The only real visibility we have of Lutz is him being undermined by the appointment of a manager he didn't want. I'd rather see him fail on his own merit, as opposed to guesswork on the behind-the-scenes stuff. There is every chance that Lutz will be able to work with someone who he appoints for his style of play.

I have to disagree with that but maybe I'm mis-reading the Director of Football role. This man Lutz bares ultimate responsibility to the CEO and Chairman for what happens on the pitch, many of those signings that are not pulling their weight, not doing the basics and fundamentals well enough, not running, not following basic instructions and are basically not cut out to be Aberdeen players are his. When Robinson suggests signings, such as Brad Lyons, such as Chris Cadden, such as Dan Happe, such as Obi Wan and shipping Lobban out of loan, freezing out Devlin, Frame, Gyamfi, Lutz' signature is on that decision and on that paperwork as well.

And now the shit has hit the fan, where is he? We have Robinson wheeled out in front of the press for his post-match humiliation ritual, Robinson reports to Lutz and everything Robinson asks for goes through him, but we never see him, same as we never see Cormack. We saw Bevington in the stands after the game looking like he was about to vomit, at least he's there, he's visible, where is Lutz? Who's accountable for this to the fans? It's the one in the hierarchy who approves the decisions, ultimately, which under the Cormack structure is not the manager it's Lutz, but no one knows where he is, what he does and he's never, to my knowledge, even explained publicly what the structure is and where the responsibility lands when the plan fails.

If the DoF + CEO system has any merit beyond hot dog stands and flipping players on the market like London flats, then it should be Lutz in front of the cameras rn, it should be him justifying this mess and telling us how it's going to change, but the worse it gets the more AWOL he seems to be.

Edited Sunday at 10:555 days by PatrickM

2 hours ago, mondo_notion said:

Last I saw of Steve Clarke he was opening the Edinburgh military tattoo.

Has he got anything else lined up?

I would hate Steve Clarke to get it.

Firstly, his Scotland record is pretty average. The Euros have become significantly easier to qualify for. The World Cup - everyone remembers the Denmark win, but in truth that performance came out of nowhere because we were terrible v Belarus, and extremely fortunate v Greece, while Denmark not taking care of Belarus opened an unexpected door.

And, in three tournaments, Clarke's Scotland were a big let down.

But mainly the reason I would hate Clarke to be the manager is his lack of vision when Scotland boss. This is a guy that repeatedly called up Grant Hanley, generally played the same way, and only now under Pocognoli are we trying some new things.

He's also an arsehole.

31 minutes ago, PatrickM said:

I have to disagree with that but maybe I'm mis-reading the Director of Football role. This man Lutz bares ultimate responsibility to the CEO and Chairman for what happens on the pitch, many of those signings that are not pulling their weight, not doing the basics and fundamentals well enough, not running, not following basic instructions and are basically not cut out to be Aberdeen players are his. When Robinson suggests signings, such as Brad Lyons, such as Chris Cadden, such as Dan Happe, such as Obi Wan and shipping Lobban out of loan, freezing out Devlin, Frame, Gyamfi, Lutz' signature is on that decision and on that paperwork as well.

And now the shit has hit the fan, where is he? We have Robinson wheeled out in front of the press for his post-match humiliation ritual, Robinson reports to Lutz and everything Robinson asks for goes through him, but we never see him, same as we never see Cormack. We saw Bevington in the stands after the game looking like he was about to vomit, at least he's there, he's visible, where is Lutz? Who's accountable for this to the fans? It's the one in the hierarchy who approves the decisions, ultimately, which under the Cormack structure is not the manager it's Lutz, but no one knows where he is, what he does and he's never, to my knowledge, even explained publicly what the structure is and where the responsibility lands when the plan fails.

If the DoF + CEO system has any merit beyond hot dog stands and flipping players on the market like London flats, then it should be Lutz in front of the cameras rn, it should be him justifying this mess and telling us how it's going to change, but the worse it gets the more AWOL he seems to be.

It's been less than a day. The idea that any Director of football would handle a post match conference for a manager is ludicrous, especially when he hasn't been fired. I'd expect him to be working behind the scenes to get the new person in, with interviews lined up and seeing if anyone is interested. I would expect to hear from him shortly after Robinson departs, and I would expect to hear him shoulder some of the blame. The summer signings reeked of the debacle we've seen since Cormack joined, with no clear definition of which department is responsible for which part. Robinson was clearly given too many signings. For me, all signings should go through exactly the same process. Signings are identified, processed through the recruitment/data software, weighted for risk (proven SPFL, from a league where we've got data on players who've successfully moved, unknown etc etc), with the recruitment and football directors given the final decision. I don't believe that happened with Lyons and Cadden or Mayo and Smith (although I think the latter two might have made it through this process). If we've not done this then the problem isn't with the director of football, it's with the club and its segregation of duties and processes in place. That transcends the DofF, just like shite strategies transcend a manager, and getting rid of Lutz would make zero difference.

I saw Lutz at Hampden last week. I'm certain that he was there yesterday. Whether the cameras focus on him or the new guy that is deemed more interesting is neither here nor there. Do you think Lutz should have photo bombed the shot? It seems a little harsh to hold him to account for what a private TV company chooses to show its viewers.

6 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

The idea that any Director of football would handle a post match conference for a manager is ludicrous

As ludicrous as sitting in a dug out with the manager? The little useless prick, and I genuinely believe he is a useless prick, needs to fuck off.

44 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

It's been less than a day. The idea that any Director of football would handle a post match conference for a manager is ludicrous, especially when he hasn't been fired. I'd expect him to be working behind the scenes to get the new person in, with interviews lined up and seeing if anyone is interested. I would expect to hear from him shortly after Robinson departs, and I would expect to hear him shoulder some of the blame. The summer signings reeked of the debacle we've seen since Cormack joined, with no clear definition of which department is responsible for which part. Robinson was clearly given too many signings. For me, all signings should go through exactly the same process. Signings are identified, processed through the recruitment/data software, weighted for risk (proven SPFL, from a league where we've got data on players who've successfully moved, unknown etc etc), with the recruitment and football directors given the final decision. I don't believe that happened with Lyons and Cadden or Mayo and Smith (although I think the latter two might have made it through this process). If we've not done this then the problem isn't with the director of football, it's with the club and its segregation of duties and processes in place. That transcends the DofF, just like shite strategies transcend a manager, and getting rid of Lutz would make zero difference.

I saw Lutz at Hampden last week. I'm certain that he was there yesterday. Whether the cameras focus on him or the new guy that is deemed more interesting is neither here nor there. Do you think Lutz should have photo bombed the shot? It seems a little harsh to hold him to account for what a private TV company chooses to show its viewers.

Yeah, OK. To me this just sounds like corporate doublespeak and waffle. He's ultimately responsible, he should be side by side with the manager, not using the manager as a human shield when all the salient questions land in his lap. What did Robinson actually have to say: 'it wasn't good enough' and then when it came to the accountability piece 'I'll keep fighting (i.e. my contract says if I resign I don't get severance pay)' and 'we lacked confidence'. Why not just roll out an AI chatbot to do that?

This corporate structure I can see it works when what's clearly out of the manager's hands lands in the lap of the DoF, I can't see it working when the manager is trundled out as a pinata, he's on a hiding to nothing anyway so he just parrots the talking points and eats shit to collect his £250k cheque from the Chairman, and the DoF is on a private WhatsApp group asking what the going market hourly rate is to shovel shit.

To me the way you're framing this is that fans get this sort of performative circus of accountability when the 'real' accountability happens in emails and on WhatsApp between people we will never meet and to whom our club is just an interesting statistic for sports betting.

34 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

As ludicrous as sitting in a dug out with the manager?

Which he got criticised for, explained it was normal in Germany, but took heed and took a step back.

This is a literal example of being damned if you do and damned if you don't.

34 minutes ago, Kowalski said:

The little useless prick, and I genuinely believe he is a useless prick, needs to fuck off.

By all accounts his remit over summer was to sell players, which he did and apparently got good money for the departures.

He didn't cover himself in glory with the manager search, but mainly because he held on for Horneland. If Horneland had taken the job, who knows how the season would have panned out and how Lutz would be looked on.

Other than that, not really sure what the criticism of Lutz is. He's not taking part in training sessions and isn't picking the team, so his influence there is minimal. Signings - he's helped with some names he knows (namely Geiger - a bit of a coup at the time - and the two German goalkeepers). But Darren Mowbray has been head of recruitment since March, so are we blaming Lutz for the majority of the summer signings?

Lutz has been instrumental in getting some of the younger players signed up on new contracts.