Aberdeen

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Former skipper Andrew Considine still sees a "very bright future" for Aberdeen despite a poor start to the season.

After the high of May's Scottish Cup triumph, the Dons opened the Premiership with a six-game winless and goalless run.

Four matches later Jimmy Thelin's side sit eighth, just three points above Livingston at the bottom but only six adrift of Hibs in third.

There's also been a club record European defeat - the 6-0 hammering by AEK Athens - but Considine is confident the Dons' summer recruitment will soon bear fruit.

The 38-year-old who retired from football in July 2024, told BBC Scotland: "It's been a little bit of a sticky start.

"There's still probably two or three gears that they need to get up to. I think the recruitment has been good, the likes of Jesper Karlsson, there's numerous players that have come in, there's some real quality in that squad.

"It takes a bit of time to gel but I understand in football you just don't get time.

"I certainly don't see Aberdeen sitting down the bottom from here on in. I've seen many glimpses this year already of what's to come.

"It's down to the players, they have a wonderful manager, the club itself is in a really strong position. It's about turning the results into wins. They've come really close in a lot of results but they haven't managed to get it over the line. That'll come, that's football.

"If they go on a winning run now of three, four or five games they're third or fourth because the league is pretty tight. Things can change Saturday to Saturday, I still see a very bright future for Aberdeen."

Considine will be playing for Aberdeen in the Scottish Masters at the city's P&J Arena. Watch live coverage on BBC Scotland on Friday, 14 November at 19:30 GMT.

We asked for your views on what one thing you would change at Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Joseph: There is a lot wrong, but the thing that concerns me most is that the squad is too big. Each week there have been senior pros and new signings left out. Persuading players to come to Scotland and join us on a multi-year contract, then leaving them sitting in the stand is baffling.

Andy: Tempted to say the manager but I will go with the formation. We need three in midfield as the current two are constantly being overrun. Play 5-3-2. Wing-backs provide width, more bodies in the middle of the park and play Jesper Karlsson just behind the striker.

Malky: It might be the easy answer, but the simple solution for me is to change the manager! Look at the wrong records he's broken, the offensive statistics, the defensive statistics, it's embarrassing. He's been backed significantly and it is his team, there can't be any more excuses for the man. Forever in our history books for the Scottish Cup, but he's out of his depth.

Kev: I'd give youth a chance! You've seen the impact Dylan Lobban has had in the squad. I would drop Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Nilsen and bring in more kids to work alongside Karlsson while we have him.

Peter: I would not have sold Shayden Morris or Pape Gueye. We lost two guys that made the difference in the cup final when they came on. Now we don't have that impact off the bench and are looking weak up front.

Bernie: It's apparent to me that what the Aberdeen players lack is enjoyment in the game. Yes, football can be a serious business, but I'm not sure they feel as if they're allowed to also have fun. I think they're afraid of failure and that's stifling their creativity. So they should be let off the leash, to some extent, be told to go out there, relax and have fun.

Midfielder Findlay Marshall, 19, hopes he has boosted his Aberdeen chances with his loan spell at Arbroath. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Dante Polvara "has been more stable in his position", says Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin. (Record), external

Veteran former Aberdeen winger Gary Mackay-Steven, 35, can still be a game changer at Ross County, says manager Tony Docherty. (Press and Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

The cup-winning feelgood factor at Aberdeen has faded amid a disjointed start to the season.

The Dons took seven games to notch a league win - and a goal - but have at least shown signs of improvement in recent matches and begun to rise up the table.

There has also been a major European low - the 6-0 shellacking by AEK Athens marked the club's heaviest-ever defeat in continental competition.

The international break provides the chance to pause for breath and reflect after a frenetic few weeks at Pittodrie.

So, if you could change one thing about Aberdeen's season so far, what would it be?

Tell us here.

Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin is happy to shift from right-back to a back-three role to accommodate Dylan Lobban. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis endorses the Pittodrie board's backing of manager Jimmy Thelin. (Record), external

Ross County manager Tony Docherty believes former Aberdeen boss Barry Robson's sacking at Raith Rovers was harsh. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Pittodrie's biggest crowd of the season turned up for Aberdeen's match against Motherwell hoping to see their team continue their mini Premiership resurgence.

What they didn't expect to see was a Motherwell team, assembled for a lot less money than the Dons squad, dominate the ball for large spells. The visitors were ahead in every barometer in the match stats.

It leaves Aberdeen with just one home win in nine outings at Pittodrie this season and Jimmy Thelin knows that's not good enough given the money that has been pumped into this squad. He has been backed like no other Dons manager in that respect.

A lengthy trip back from Cyprus and a draining 90 minutes against AEK Larnaca can be cited of course, but this was a lethargic performance with a lack of pace and prowess.

The Dons don't score many goals either. They are the joint lowest scorers in the league, have only scored more than one goal in a game once in the league this season, and are averaging just over three shots on target per Premiership match.

Defensively they have been a lot better recently, but the goal they conceded at the weekend, not long after taking the lead, was as cheap they get.

The question Thelin will have to answer is how to make this Aberdeen team more of a threat if they are to even make the top six this season.

On paper, it shouldn't be a problem when you see the attacking players the Swede has at his disposal, but whether it's the set-up or confidence or lack of pace, they are one of the most toothless sides in the Premiership.

Next up, after the international break, is a visit from league leaders Hearts, who haven't won at Pittodrie since 2016.

This time last year, the Dons were 22 points clear of the Edinburgh side in the Premiership with two games in hand. Twelve months on there has been an astonishing 41-point swing between the two of them.

The Aberdeen fans will turn up in big numbers again, will the team?

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Consistently inconsistent. That's the best way to sum Aberdeen up this season, highlighted by the past two games.

In Cyprus the Dons defended their hearts out to earn what could be a valuable Conference League point come 19 December.

Jack Milne and Mats Knoester dealt with everything thrown at them by AEK Larnaca. Yet three days later a defence that had recorded back-to-back clean sheets conceded a comically soft goal. A poor mistake that cost us victory.

At least we are consistently poor in the final third. While chances were few and far between in Cyprus, our lack of quality and cutting edge was stark and Nicolas Milanovic's miss at the end felt glaring.

Rinse and repeat on Sunday where Marko Lazetic and Gavin Molloy spurned excellent chances as again in the final third we were found wanting. But for a magical moment from Jesper Karlsson we'd probably still be searching for a goal.

The international break will give Jimmy Thelin a lot of time to ponder key questions around this squad. How to get us scoring regularly? What's our best midfield duo? How do we cut out the silly mistakes? Can we find some consistency?

After the break, leaders Hearts are the visitors to Pittodrie before a busy run in December. The pressure and expectation will get turned up by fans desperate for the Dons to rise up the league and earn points in looming home European fixtures.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

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Dylan Lobban has crowned his Aberdeen breakthrough by being named in the Scotland Under-21 squad for the first time.

The 20-year-old made his first-team debut with a start in the 1-0 win at Kilmarnock last month and has also played the full 90 minutes in the following two matches, helping the Dons go unbeaten in three.

Lobban joins Scot Gemmill's Under-21 squad for the upcoming Euro qualifying double-header against Gibraltar and Bulgaria.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Jesper Karlsson scored a superb goal from distance as Aberdeen played out a 1-1 draw against Motherwell on Sunday.

The Bologna loanee takes a spot in my team of the week. He is the guiding light in a team struggling for cohesion.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 1-1 draw against Motherwell.

Here's what some of you said:

Spencer: Slow, uninspiring and second best. Players and managers assure us we're on the up. Told to follow the three-year project. But we're far too slow, there's no communication, a lack of completing basic passes and it leaves fans staring empty promises in the face.

Andy: Jimmy Thelin says that the Dons have turned a corner, well they've certainly stopped shipping as many goals. However, I am seriously unimpressed with having to endure my team resorting to playing on the break against Motherwell at Pittodrie. It's not what we signed up for.

Niall: Just not good enough in the first-half. A touch of class from Jesper Karlsson, the only bright spark in a very abject performance. Shocking switch-off at the back to gift the equaliser to the visitors. Was this lethargy from midweek or back to where we were?

Malky: Once again we are scratching our heads at such a poor performance under this manager. I don't know what anyone saw in him to be given the opportunity in the first place, but alas, he won a trophy and will always be remembered for that. However, nobody can deny that we are a poor and predictable outfit. It's on him. It's time to go. Passes slow and laboured, defensive tactics not getting the most out of the attacking players we've spent money on, defence always look rattled and afraid, midfield don't win their battles nine times out of 10. I could go on, but what's the point.

Garry: Absolutely abysmal overall performance; outplayed and outthought. You can't blame Thelin for the equaliser though, but the identity, attitude and culture of the players is instilled by him and something's rotten whether it's his lackadaisical attitude that dictates that is beyond me. I know we had a big tiring game on Thursday so why Kevin Nisbet, Leighton Clarkson and Topi Keskinen didn't start is alarming. Graeme Shinnie isn't the answer, Stuart Armstrong should never have started. We threw it away after a cracking goal. Says it all really.

Eric: What's happened to the free-flowing attacking football Dave Cormack spoke about? I'm 73 and wonder if I'll ever see it again at Pittodrie. We seem to be getting worse while our manager tells us it's improving. Worrying times.

Watch highlights from Sunday's Scottish Premiership draw between Aberdeen and Motherwell.

Available to UK users only.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has confirmed that Kristers Tobers will miss most of the season with the knee injury the Latvia defender picked up against Motherwell in September but dismissed reports suggesting midfielder Sivert Nilsen could return to Norway in January. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Motherwell bounced back from their Premier Sports Cup Hampden disappointment to salvage a deserved draw against Aberdeen to make it three unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "The first half, we are not there with our front-footed approach. We let them play between the lines too easy. They didn't create too many chances but they had a lot of the ball by dropping players and trying to push us up.

"The good thing was the mentality of the players. When you start badly, it's easy to let it go away from you. But we stayed in the game, didn't panic or stress and gave ourselves the chance to win the game, even though it was not the perfect game.

"Second half, we did better and started creating more chances. Still, they were good in transitions, but the big chances were quite equal in the game.

"They did really well in the corner, like Liverpool v Barcelona, but we need to get ready. It was too easy.

"We know how Motherwell play, and they build the ball really well. We need to defend better, but we defended the right area well. We just want to be more front-footed, intercept the ball more. It's a lot of emotions, but the players stayed focused."

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Manager Jimmy Thelin feels Aberdeen have turned a corner after a troubled start to the season as they prepare to face Motherwell at Pittodrie following a fine away performance in Europe.

Thelin praised his players for their "amazing" discipline in a the goalless draw with AEK Larnaca, just two weeks after a record 6-0 European defeat by AEK Athens.

The draw in Cyprus on Thursday was the Dons' first point of the competition after losing the opening two games.

Now Thelin's men return to Scottish Premiership action, where the Scottish Cup holders have picked up form in the past few weeks.

Aberdeen have won three of their past four league games, with one defeat - as many victories as in their previous 17 matches.

"We have had to start somewhere," said Thelin, whos side are up to eighth in the Premiership table.

"We have had four clean sheets in the last six games. We are playing more compact, more together, supporting each other on the pitch.

"And after the game in Cyprus you saw the connection between players and supporters. This is so important for Aberdeen, doing things together."

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Aberdeen remain without Alfie Dorrington, Ante Palaversa and Sivert Heltne Nilsen along with long-term absentee Kristers Tobers (knee).

Motherwell remain without Stephen O'Donnell (hamstring) while Aston Oxborough has been ruled out until January with a fractured hand.

Long-term absentees Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic (both knee), Eseosa Sule, Jordan McGhee (both thigh) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

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• Aberdeen have won four of their past five home league games against Motherwell (D1), including the latest three in a row.

• After their 2-0 win in September, Motherwell are looking for back-to-back league victories over Aberdeen for the first time since November 2021.

• Aberdeen have won three of their past four league games (L1), as many as their previous 17 beforehand (W3 D4 L10).

• Motherwell have won their past two league games and are looking to win three on the bounce for the first time since September 2023.

• Only Celtic (34) have made more changes to their starting XIs across Scottish Premiership games this season than Aberdeen (30), who have used 27 different players, a joint high with Celtic.

Aberdeen midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen could be on his way back to Norway, with several clubs contacted by the injured 34-year-old's representatives, according to a report in his homeland. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Saturday's gossip.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin says their gritty Conference League draw with AEK Larnaca proves to themselves and their doubters they deserve to be competing in European football.

The Dons' goalless draw in Cyprus on Thursday night was their first point of the competition after losing the opening two games.

And Devlin believes it was the ideal response to their record 6-0 drubbing by AEK Athens.

He said: "We just probably had to prove to ourselves that we were good enough to play at this level.

"After the last away game I am sure a lot of people would have questioned the team being at this level, so we had to come and show that away from home we can put performances together.

"They [Larnaca] scored four goals against AZ Alkmaar, they scored four against Legia Warsaw here as well, so they are a good side.

"They just went to Crystal Palace and won so I think a lot of people might have turned their noses up a wee bit thinking 'It is only this team from Cyprus, we should be competing against them', but they are a good side, especially here, so hopefully it will be a good point in the long run."

Devlin stressed the importance of building on the result, with the next challenge a Premiership home game against Motherwell on Sunday.

"It has to come from us now to build on it," he added.

"Apart from the Hibs game, it has been quite a few clean sheets recently, so we know if we can keep clean sheets we have got a good chance of winning games because we have always players that will create chances."

At 32, Devlin is one of the senior players in the Aberdeen team and admits it is satisfying to see academy products Jack Milne, 22, and 20-year-old Dylan Lobban - who were standouts in Cyprus - making their top mark.

He said: "The both of them just look so comfortable. Jack, in the middle of the back three, it looks too easy for him at times - he just strolls it and he is getting better all the time.

"And Dylan has been brilliant. He has probably been a wee bit frustrated that he has maybe not been involved probably as much as he wanted to be, but he has come in for his first two games at Aberdeen and he has two clean sheets.

"Both of them are brilliant around the dressing room and they will just keep trying to get better."

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We asked for your views on Aberdeen picking up their first Conference League point of the season with a goalless draw away to AEK Larnaca.

Here's what some of you said:

Graham: Not sure we are equipped to go to the next level in Europe, but delighted we showed we have learned from the game in Athens. Some very good performances and we looked solid. Baby steps after Athens.

David: A far better performance but still don't have a striker, too many chances missed, maybe time for some of the young players.

Fred: An evenly-balanced match. It is very pleasing to see our defence is now solid and does not look like shipping too many goals. I just wonder why the club have invested in so many strikers who currently cannot score. Unless the manager finds a solution it will be a dire season.

Zander: I'm not going to complain with a point on the board, let's hope the Dons can kick on in the league and in Europe now, no more excuses.

Alan: It's a game we could have won if we had been more clinical with the final ball. In saying that it was good to get a point on the board away from home against a decent enough team.

Stuart: Well played Aberdeen, yes we could have lost, however we could also have won the game. So now bring that performance and confidence into Sunday's game against Motherwell and start moving up the table.