Aberdeen must get next manager right after Robinson sacking
The Journos weigh up what went wrong for Stephen Robinson, question Aberdeen's strategy and run through the names linked with the job.
By Peter Martin,
Aberdeen's decision to sack Stephen Robinson dominated the latest episode of The Journos, with Michael Grant, Hugh MacDonald and Gordon Parks joining Peter Martin to examine what went wrong at Pittodrie and who should come next.
Michael Grant said Dave Cormack has a big decision to make. The panel argued that "Aberdeen fans are entitled to have expectations", and also discussed Aberdeen's position in a one-team city.
What went wrong for Robinson
"This job was too big for him," was one verdict. The panel pointed to recruitment and to a team that was meant to be hard to beat and wasn't. They cited 38 different centre-back pairings across 128 games and five managers.
Cormack's appointment of Stephen Glass was described as the start of "one catastrophic decision after another". Wages and recruitment were raised, along with a sporting director who "appears to be bombproof". Jimmy Thelin's spell was also revisited, including how opposition teams worked him out.
A question of strategy
Hugh MacDonald questioned the club's long-term thinking, listing Glass, Barry Robson, Thelin and Robinson and saying "there's nothing that links those four". The panel contrasted that with Askou at Motherwell, who has a style and sticks to it. They also asked whether Aberdeen fans should press for the kind of plan Tony Bloom has given Hearts.
The names in the frame
Peter Martin read out the candidates linked with the post: Steve Clarke, Neil Lennon, John McGlynn, Steven Pressley, Michael Wimmer and Gary Caldwell. The panel considered whether Clarke is too big for the job, and heard that he could be persuaded. "I'm told possibly he could be persuaded if the conditions were right."
McGlynn drew the strongest support. One panellist said "I would have McGlynn in a heartbeat", but added "I can't see Aberdeen going for him". The discussion noted that Falkirk are third despite 17 players leaving, and also looked back on McGlynn's time at Hearts. The panel asked too whether Aberdeen can still lure a manager from Dundee or Falkirk.
The fans' survey and VAR
Peter Martin went through a new fans' survey covering online abuse, club ownership, referees and VAR, match-day experience, grassroots football, league reconstruction and facilities for disabled fans. The panel suggested "Referees and VAR will be the one that dominates". Gordon Parks questioned whether the SPFL wants to listen.
On VAR itself, one panellist said: "my opposition to VAR is primal".
The episode closed with the panel's iconic moments, among them Pelé to Carlos Alberto, Fergie after the Scottish Cup, Higuita, Bullard and Cantona.