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Definitely this. I think Rubezic will be fine if played correctly and consistently, I'm just a little concerned that Robson doesn't see it. He's moved Rubezic central a few times this season already. The point about him only being 23 is an interesting one. I guess our signings, in defence, are usually expected to be up to speed when we get them (Scales wasn't quite last season, although that might have just been a Goodwin thing). If experience was an issue, and I think you and Panda are right, then it's all the more bewildering that Rubezic hasn't been given a consistent run. It's really frustrating that we get pumped in Europe when seemingly not playing out best setup. Anyway, the new guy doesn't really solve the problem unless he can either play centrally, or we're intending resting Rubezic regularly. In my mind, him being here makes it even more likely that we persist with Rubezic centrally! It could work if Robson allows Rubezic to be ahead of the other two , but I don't think he will. Rubezic's biggest issue is that his peripheral awareness is pish (which is why he also seems best at kicking it the way he's facing) and he doesn't cover left and right very well. Anyway, it was an interesting window. I've heard numerous people suggest that it was a good window because we got thirteen players in. Certainly there is credit due to the recruitment staff for an impressive quantity. However, by only having one number eight (and Robson wedded to one formation), all the good work risks being completely undone. No matter how good the other signings are, they won't make up for a missing midfield. We tried bypassing it the other night and that didn't work. I'm struggling to think how we get round the issue in a 3-5-2. I guess we play 3-4-1-2 with two sitting. I always think that's better in a back four (4-2-3-1). The question is who the two sitting are. Out of the options, I'd probably try and play Barron into some form there. He's been good in a two before, I'm not convinced that the others ever have. There's no way on earth that we're competing successfully in three competitions with that midfield though unless we move a player from another position or we intend killing Shinnie through exhaustion.

Yup. 23 yr old who had a serious knee injury that put him out for a year too. I think he’ll play the pollock role well, but currently asked to be the leader in the middle with an out of position right back next to him, plus no consistency on the other side, arguably it’s been mostly an out of position left back, and missing our main holding mid to protect him. Interested to see how our defense plays out once everyone is fit.

Don't know if I've ever said but my high school friend Gareth Henderby has been involved in the Right To Dream Academy in Ghana for well over 20 years. He is now their Technical Director for Denmark and Egypt if memory is serving me correctly. He sent me the below message when we were 2-0 down last night; "SeeBass, one of our own is absolutely killing you guys. I'm sorry." He was talking about Ibrahim Sadiq. Also gave me a bit of background on the boy who has just left Ajax to go to West Ham United Mohammed Kudus. He apparently brought him through the Right To Dream Academy from the age of 12. Why aren't we tapping into this African market???

The UEFA Europa Conference League fixtures have been added to the auto-updating fixtures list.

Aberdeen have signed 13 players this summer, a year after Jim Goodwin promised we'd never need a window like that again. Are we weaker than last season? At the moment, it's hard to argue against it. Pollock goes straight into that team. Scales maybe but let's see how Jensen turns out and I thought he looked okay on Thursday. Ramadani is replaceable, but unfortunately we don't appear to have replaced him. Ross McCrorie also gets into that team. Maybe Devlin takes his place at RWB but I'd have loved him in midfield on Thursday. We'll see how it goes in the next few months but we need McGarry, Jensen and Gartenmann to all turn out to be great, MacDonald to find consistent fitness, Duk to come back from this extended pre-season he appears to be on, and Barron needs to step up because we're short in midfield. I'm not sure either where McGrath fits into a 3-5-2. All these defenders suggest we're not going four at the back any time soon. Over to you Robson.

I presume Helens valuation of Baccus and our top dollar were miles apart. Shame, we could've done with a Rama replacement who is proven in this league

Let’s be fair. Or dadia is supposedly a right back, wing back, or holding mid, Milne was/is a central midfielder first, and devlin a right back/wing back. For a back 3 it’s 3 from ruby, Williams, Macdonald, gartenmann, and Jensen. I guess with Stewart gone it’s not too much overkill. With this guy signed though it also makes me wonder if there is more to Macdonald’s health given he didn’t play last night. Lastly, Polvara Milne or dadia, even Barron, do not overly fill me with confidence replacing Rama.

And yes, I think we are better off in a way in the conference league. There are some weaker teams in there. Some good ones too obviously. Based on some of the comments today we’ll get crucified by some of you if we get a European pumping. It’s an exciting adventure, won’t be perfect or pretty at times but enjoy it ffs. robson is trying to implement a more attacking style, I think we hear and see that. It’s work in progress with new players yet we’re getting complains about our performance. I’d rather we tried this than the mcinnes tactics. Or Goodwin. lastly, refreshing to sign most players rather than a bunch of loaners coming in. Congrats to the club for that. We’ve got this group for a couple of years at least. It’s been less than a month, scrambling to put a team on the field. Again, give it time.

Quite a bit of bitching and moaning, come on boys. Had we scored our chances we’d be in the group stage. We didn’t though but we’re still in a European competition with exciting games ahead. That’s a good thing. Would rather see that than play group stage league cup football? Think we missed a healthy Macdonald last night, that’s a factor. We also lost to the Swedish league champions who are in mid season, that’s no embarrassment. We’ve lost one game in the league to our league champions, and we actually played quite well in that game. St mirren beat us last year. Livi away isn’t an easy fixture. Loads of signings coming in, lots of varying fitness levels, players developing chemistry, even possibly Duk and miovski a little unsettled with transfer talk. Hopefully we sign Baccus today and let’s give the team and squad time. I’ve seen enough from the new signings to suggest we’ll be a decent team this year. It’s September 1, breathe!!

Joe Lewis looks like he's contemplating dislocating his jaw and swallowing Jonathan Sutherland whole.

It's a horrible, horrible industry. Used to think life at the top of the game was ridiculous in that the Real Madrids and Barcelonas of this world would fire a manager after half a dozen dodgy results, but Hibs? They have actually let the guy spend a decent sum of cash in the summer, he has just lost his best player and they fire him three games into the league season. Do chairman not realise that someone is always going to be at the bottom of the league, the provincial clubs can't all be in fourth place. I would love their chairman to have to explain to Johnson's kids how their Dad has just lost his job because his team lost three games of fitba.