Aberdeen

The Dons are currently without duo Kristers Tobers and Gavin Molloy through injury with on-loan Tottenham Hotspur defender, Alfie Dorrington potentially being recalled by the Premier League side this January. “We don’t have many options,” Jimmy Thelin stated.  “That’s also how they have managed this pressure, the players, to play so many games in such a short time and space. “So who knows? Tobers is out for the rest of the season. Let’s also see what we have in terms of how some players are pushing. “Maybe they still have a journey to do, but also in the academy, to create space and pathways for our players that we have invested in before the season and the way we’re working now with the academy. “In January, for sure there are going to be movements in and out. “We will see when January is over, what has happened.” So let’s see how we balance the squad after January.” Aberdeen skipper, Graeme Shinnie is currently eyeing up a new deal at Pittodrie with midfielder, Dante Polvara’s contract all expiring come the end of the season with the American international being linked with Hibernian a while back. He added: “Again, as I said, I’m always in the window. If we’re going to say something, we have something to say, but he’s a really good captain for this club.” Vicente Besuijen who’s been out on loan with Finnish outfit, HJK Helsinki has returned to the Granite City despite not being available to play until the January window opens. Jimmy Thelin said: “He is training. He has taken care of himself. He is prepared for when the window opens. He can’t play until the window opens again. He is in a good shape and he has brought a good energy to the team in a positive way.” There has also been talk of a move for Aberdeen midfielder, Sivert Heltne Nilsen with a possible switch to Asane being on the cards for the Norwegian international. Nilsen was struck with injury last campaign due to a rare eye injury but a move closer to home could be an option for the 34-year-old this January. The midfielder has made 13 appearances for the Dons so far this season where he popped up with a goal in the early stages of the campaign scoring in a 3-0 win over Greenock Morton in the Premier Sports Cup.

Aberdeen tonight held their AGM, covering key points within the last 12 months. Dave Cormack began to praise the Dons’ support for their excellent support in helping out fans engagement in which saw a rise of 35% in attendances at Pittodrie over the last year. The average age groups heading to Pittodrie went from 48 to 35 also. Cormack went onto speak about the famous Scottish Cup win calling the fans out for their “amazing” and “unrelenting support” as Aberdeen won their first Scottish Cup in 35 years following a penalty shootout win over Celtic. The chairman then went on to speak about the new stadium project suggesting he was very disappointed with the false information on Aberdeen’s financial side of things when looking towards to the new stadium at Aberdeen beach. Dave said they hadn’t made it obvious of the “3.2billion economic upside” of the potential new ground at the beachfront. Cormack did confirm he and Chief executive, Allan Burrows will come together with Aberdeen City Council co-workers to hopefully progress in talks. The Dons’ are also setting sights on a covered pitch at their training ground, Cormack Park after a few months ago, stakeholders handed £8million to put into Aberdeen Football Club. Jimmy Thelin spoke about in the future, they may look into bringing in a set-piece coach but stated Aberdeen “educate our own coaches at it using connections with other clubs” and also said the squad are “working on it a lot. Another key talking point was Dante Polvara signing a new deal. Thelin confirms Dante is “quite happy right now” as well as “he’s talking with his people” as the Dons’ look to get the contract signed soon. New sporting director, Pfannenstiel suggested a possible recall despite being unlikely in January on Findlay Marshall after impressing so far on loan at Scottish Championship side, Arbroath. Pfannenstiel said he’s “definitely a vert talented player who trains in Cormack Park every day in front of our eyes”. Jimmy was also asked why new signings Frame, Bilalovic and Kjartansson weren’t being played. Jimmy is going towards the youth more than recent additions with Dylan Lobban and Jack Milne playing week in, week out while making great progress. Jimmy said his plan is to “keep working with the squad so when the players move the next one is ready”. He added: “The idea is to bring them in as early as possible” also adding “You are buying their potential”. Thelin provided a small summary of what to expect in the upcoming window: “We have a clear idea of what we want to do – as little as possible, but strengthen the squad”. The dons’ boss added “We have a good squad, but we need to adjust some parts” There has been some talk of late about players who may see the exit door such as Kusini Yengi who has only scored once since arriving in the summer and Leighton Clarkson who has dropped down the pecking order as the former Liverpool man searches for game time. They wrapped up on VAR after chairman, Dave Cormack suggested VAR should be limited to just 60 seconds while speaking to BBC on Saturday. Dave said “Almost nine minutes of VAR checks against the Dons side against St Mirren” Cormack said VAR was “brought in for clear decisions” and “if it takes four-and-a-half minutes, it’s nae clear and obvious”. The game lasted up until just after the 100 minute mark and the club figured out in the 3-3 draw with the Buddies’ last week, the ball was on the pitch for just over 50 minutes all down to the lengthy VAR checks and other issues causing to run down the clock.

Jimmy Thelin fully believes that the draw at home to the Buddies was their best performance of the season so far. The dons drew 3-3 at Pittodrie yesterday evening despite being 3-2 up last on, Richard King suffered a big blow to take one point back down to Paisley. St Mirren had taken the lead after 55 minutes after a lengthy VAR check in which lead to a penalty where Marcus Fraser dispatched. A very high-scoring fixture as both sides shared the points. Aberdeen have lately been praised for their defensive work but it is safe to say, their defensive work wasn’t at their best last night, conceding three to Stephen Robinson’s men however have also had issues in the scoring side which is one positive to take. Ahead of Dundee on Saturday, Jimmy said: “Of course, after a game it’s a lot of emotions and you play maybe our best performance so far this season. “You score three goals, you are one down and you come back and then 2-2, and then you score another one, and then you lose a goal in the last second of the game – of course, it’s tough. “But it’s another game on Saturday and I think the team performed really well the whole game better on what we talked about before this game – the creativity and the goals we scored, the chances we created in both halves. “Sometimes this is football. Of course, you want to win and losing a goal in the last second of the game is tough. “But the players performed really well today.” Jimmy was in full praise in the attacking side by the Paisley outfit. A very last minute goal by the Buddies sealed a point for the struggling St Mirren side which will only boost confidence. Thelin said:  “To be fair to St Mirren, they did well in the situation they created in the end and take the opportunity. “Of course we can learn and do something better, how we come closer to the opponents in the last minute of the game and these kind of things. “So it was disappointing, the result – but the performance was good. You probably should have been goals up at half-time again. “We have another game on Saturday and I think the team and the players are growing. So the result today and when the goal comes, there can be a lot of emotions on that one. “But we need to stay focused that we actually did a good performance. “I know football is always about winning, but our last period now has been good in results and also now the performance was really good. “So we have to focus on the right things and recover again and take the next challenge on Saturday.” Jimmy Thelin later spoke on the referee and VAR as roughly nine minutes were added following lengthy stoppages. Jimmy said: “The referees are the referees and we focus on other things.” He added: “It’s a lot of minutes (at the end), especially when you have a lot of… I think it was 10 or 11 minutes, something. “And then you play so many games, it’s a lot of extra minutes. “But that’s the rules and we have to follow the rules and then we have to adapt and grow.” Aberdeen decided to see the game out and make defensive changes but Gavin Molloy who was only just on was soon forced off with an issue leaving Aberdeen with ten men. The dons boss stated: “Let’s see. “That’s one of the most important things now. But this just happened so we need to assess him and then maybe we’ll know tomorrow. “I hope everything is fine.”