Aberdeen

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's exit from the Conference League following their 1-0 defeat to Strasbourg.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: Jimmy Thelin was absolutely right after the game, this Aberdeen side are a very different one to the one that started the campaign. Really good first half performance and effort across the game. We are just lacking that final bit of quality that you need at this level. We have lost against the two most difficult teams in the league phase by just the single goal so there is definitely plenty to build on. Let's keep our domestic run going and push to get back to Europe next season and continue to improve.

Ross: Hats off to Thelin for turning the ship around; we may have lost but the manner in which we did gives a lot of hope going forward. Definitely not outclassed by a good outfit and the experience gained by the likes of Jack Milne and Dylan Lobban can only do them good. Any good young strikers in the academy knocking at the door yet?

David: We deserved at least a point out of that. Fantastic performance from the Dons. Some shaky moments from Nicky Devlin. Nicolas Milanovic and Kusini Yengi didn't quite look at it when they came on, but every player in red can hold their head high. Get Dante Polvara and Adil Aouchiche signed up long-term and build a team around that midfield two please!

Dave: Good to see Aberdeen finally getting their groove back. It's fine margins between success and failure. Marko Lazetic needs to work on his game both off the ball and his decision making on it. He's thinking too hard rather than using his instinct. If Aberdeen had a poacher like Adam Rooney or a Duncan Shearer, Strasbourg would have been disposed of.

John: A decent performance against a very good opponent, I feel if we had a striker with pace and a left back we'd be a very good side.

Stuart: Beaten by clearly a good side, it could have been worse if not for the brilliance of Dimitar Mitov so it's back to domestic football starting with three points on Sunday against Kilmarnock.

Aberdeen will make a "full and final offer" to council leaders during make-or-break talks on Friday over a new community stadium at the city's beach. (Press & Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Aberdeen exited the Conference League without a win and a game to spare despite a spirited display in their defeat to leaders Strasbourg at Pittodrie.

Read the match report here.

Have your say here.

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Aberdeen head coach Jimmy Thelin tells TNT Sports: "I want to look back on the whole competition and see how much we've grown, we're more mature, more stable and creating good chances. It's the most important thing, how the team have grown.

"Strasbourg are a really good team, but we had some good chances in the first-half from set-pieces while Marko [Lazetic] was so close, but they have a really good goalkeeper.

"It was a tight game, a good game, but it's small margins at this level.

"In tight games, you have to use the opportunities you create and they were sharper than us.

"I'm really proud of my players, they're a different kind of team to the one who started this competition.

"Now, we have to be here every year, that's how you improve, how players learn."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Defender Jack Milne admits playing for Scotland has been a childhood dream but says his full focus is on performing well at Aberdeen.

The 22-year old has been a standout in the heart of the Dons defence this term and his eye-catching performances have sparked a discussion about whether he can force his way in to Steve Clarke's squad for next summer's World Cup finals.

"I think playing for my country has always been a target since I was a kid, but I am just focused on playing here," Milne said.

"Playing as well as I can here, making sure I perform to the best of my abilities and see where it takes me.

"I am pretty motivated anyway, I don't really need extra motivation but I am just focusing on what is here just now."

Milne is set to be handed a key role when Aberdeen host big-spending Strasbourg in the Conference League tonight.

The Dons need a win against the French side - who are joint top in the standings - to preserve their already slender hopes of progressing beyond the league phase.

While reaching the knockout stages looks an almighty task, Milne believes they are capable of upsetting the odds.

"Yes, 100% I think all the boys in the changing room feel that way," he added.

"As long as there is a chance then we will keep believing.

"We know it is going to be difficult but it is a 90-minute game, if we can get three points then there is no reason why we can't do it in Prague and hopefully get through."

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Aberdeen's revival faces by far its stiffest test tonight with the visit of Strasbourg.

The Dons are unbeaten in eight games across all competitions but their Conference League hopes are hanging by a thread after picking up just two points from their four outings so far.

Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg are flying high in second, joint on points with leaders Samsunspor, and beat Crystal Palace last time out.

"I think Jimmy Thelin has really steadied the ship," Herald football writer Stephen McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"He was in a really difficult place, it's easy to forget that. His side have started scoring goals as well, they scored three in the last two games which they hadn't really been doing, but this is a formidable opponent.

"Strasbourg are second in the Conference League and one of the favourites to win it. That said, they have only won one of their last five league games.

"Aberdeen, realistically, would have to win every game [to progress] and I just don't see that being realistic.

"Jimmy Thelin has shown he can be pragmatic, the Scottish Cup final proved that beyond all doubt.

"It'll need one of these backs-to-the-wall type of performances to take a point tonight."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Strasbourg's Pittodrie visit is giving manager Liam Rosenior "goosebumps" as he follows in the footsteps of his hero Sir Alex Ferguson.

London-born Rosenior, who hopes to steer Strasbourg to Conference League victory over Aberdeen, is a lifelong supporter of another of legendary Dons boss Ferguson's former clubs, Manchester United.

"This is a big thing for me," he said. "My hero in life, Sir Alex Ferguson, if you understand the history of what he achieved here.

"I was a Manchester United fan from birth so I walk up the stairs and I see all of the pictures at this stadium, it gives me goosebumps to be a manager here myself.

"Aberdeen is a huge club historically and it is an absolute privilege to be able to manage here tomorrow night."

Rosenior will be reacquainted with another familiar face in Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie, who played under him at Derby County.

He explained: "I worked with Graeme at Derby when we were in administration and it was people like him that kept the club going in a difficult moment.

"Unfortunately in the end we had to sell him to help the club in terms of the finances. We didn't want him to go because he is just an absolute top, top guy, he has had an outstanding career.

"But the most important thing for me is human characteristics and he is one of the very best guys in football."

Rosenior's expensively-assembled side are joint top of the Conference League and big favourites against an Aberdeen team who sit 33rd in the 36-team table.

"There is no such thing in football as a mismatch," he said.

"We know after studying and analysing Aberdeen they are on a great run of form and getting very good results in the league recently.

"We are going to have to be in a really good place to have a good result."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen head coach Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Thursday's Conference League clash against Strasbourg.

Here are the key lines from the Dons boss:

• On whether the pressure is off Aberdeen against the fancied French side, Thelin says there is always pressure, adding: "You have to have this mentality and mindset that you can dream big and then take the fight from there."

• He is expecting a difficult challenge against a "technical, fast, explosive team" but points out the learning benefits of playing against good sides.

• Thelin stresses the Dons "have to do our things really well and keep believing we can win the game".

• On the European campaign so far - two points from four games - he says it is important "for us as a club to see the level" so they know what they have to do to be stronger next time.

• On whether defender Jack Milne can force his way into the national squad for next summer's World Cup, Thelin will "leave that to the manager of the Scotland" but praised the way the 22-year-old is "growing, learning and improving".

• The Swede was also asked if he is expecting to do much business in the January transfer window, replying: "Not move to too much but add something."

• Team news: Defensive pair Gavin Molloy and Kristers Tobers miss out through injury.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Aberdeen's chance of reaching the Conference League knockouts were probably dealt a fatal blow by the failure to beat Armenians Noah a fortnight ago when you look at their last two fixtures in the league phase.

It's not over yet, but as they prepare to face Strasbourg at Pittodrie on Thursday, only two wins from their final two games will give them a chance of progression.

The French side have been expensively assembled amid a takeover two years ago by Chelsea owners BlueCo, headed up by American businessman Todd Boehly, as they attempt to challenge the Paris Saint-Germain juggernaut.

They currently sit level on points at the top of the table with Turks Samsunspor albeit the likes of Lens, Marseille and Lille are doing a better job of pushing Champions League winners PSG domestically.

However, given the Dons had arguably been handed the toughest set of fixtures of anyone in the competition, they were always on the back foot and beating Noah was crucial to standing a chance of going through when they visit Sparta Prague in the final game next week.

It will take a mammoth effort to get the three points against Strasbourg and it would have to be viewed as one of their greatest European results if they were able to get over the line in this one.

For Jimmy Thelin, it will be important that no matter what happens on Thursday, their recent domestic resurgence isn't negatively impacted having moved themselves into the top six with a 3-1 win at Dundee.

The first half at Dens Park was as good as they have played this season and it was the sort of performance Thelin was brought to the club to produce.

Toiling Kilmarnock visit Pittodrie on Sunday in what will be a huge chance for the Dons to collect another three points and regardless of what happens on Thursday, the team will be desperate to continue their new-found momentum.

Aberdeen have made progress under manager Jimmy Thelin, believes CEO Alan Burrows, who believes "there is still a lot to do". (Record), external

Former Aberdeen defender Antoine Kombouare, who coached Paris Saint-Germain to two Coupe de France triumphs, would jump at the chance of managing the Pittodrie club. (Press & Journal - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Aberdeen had gone two full months - since the early-October batting of Dundee - without scoring more than once in a game.

That meagre run has been banished and then some. The trickle has become a flood with three Dons goals in each of our past two outings.

Still, things didn't quite go to plan last midweek, in large part due to some horrendous defending in the 3-3 draw with St Mirren.

As BBC Scotland reporter Tyrone Smith said to me: "On a night when we got things on the goalscoring front correct, we seemed to completely forget how to defend."

Saturday at Dens Park at least brought both parts together, a much more solid defensive display. Yes another set-piece goal was conceded, however our fluidity in attack was a joy to watch in that first 45 minutes.

It has taken four months but are things finally clicking? Unbeaten in six league matches and Kilmarnock's visit this weekend is surely an excellent chance to keep the run going.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen chief executive Alan Burrows wants the club to achieve a "consistency of success" under manager Jimmy Thelin.

Since the Swede arrived from Elfsborg in the summer of last year, there has been a lot of talk from those within the club about it being a three-year plan.

In his first season, Thelin guided the Dons to Scottish Cup glory and group stage European football, but after an electric league start they slumped badly, finishing fifth after matching champions Celtic in the early stages.

That poor form carried into the start of this season, but Aberdeen have climbed into the top half of the Scottish Premiership after going unbeaten in their past six matches.

"This is a football club that has to hold itself to a standard whereby we want to win trophies," Burrows said after the club's AGM on Monday.

"We want compete at the top end of the table, we want to play in European competitions regularly, we have done that in year one, the drive is consistency and that is the part that we are really striving to achieve - consistent success on the field, rather than a peaks and troughs element.

"Very few football clubs have linear success and there is always going to have to be resilience against bad moments, but what we are trying to build is consistency of success and that comes from consistency of recruitment, consistency of coaching, some stability within the club."

Thelin has assembled a big squad to deal with the challenges of having to juggle both domestic and Conference League commitments this term.

Several of the young players that have been recruited have had very limited, if any, game time so far, but Burrows believes their time will come.

"What we are trying to build is a progression plan when it comes to the player trading model," he said. "When you sell a player you are not on the hunt to find somebody else, you have got people in the building.

"There are often a lot of questions asked about [Kjartan Mar] Kjartansson, about [Kenan] Bilalovic , about [Mitchel] Frame and all these different players.

"We will bring in players in different windows - some will perform a role immediately, some will look to perform a role at some point in the future."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Aberdeen's 122nd annual meeting has been held at Pittodrie Stadium. Here is a taster of what was said:

• Chairman Dave Cormack was disappointed with what he says is "misleading information" being "drip fed" from senior Aberdeen city council figures about a proposed new beachfront community stadium.

• But he says the council's co-leaders "have asked to meet with myself and [chief executive] Alan [Burrows] on Friday" with regards to assessing the concept.

• Cormack highlighted the huge benefits he believes the development would bring to the city and "wants everybody to put our swords down and lets think about Aberdeen", adding "it would be pretty catastrophic" if the city lost the club in the city centre.

• He said he never thought he would be sitting saying there are "way more attractions" in Dundee than Aberdeen, despite the Granite City benefitting from 60 years of the oil industry.

• Asked about his recent comments criticising video assistant referees [VAR], he said: "I probably still would bin it, but I don't think they are going to get rid of it."

• With regards to an indoor facility at the Cormack Park training ground, the chairman said the "plan is to get it done" and he would like it in place by winter 2026.

• Manager Jimmy Thelin was asked about the player trading model and how players who have been brought in but aren't seeing much game time will progress. He talked about having a conveyor belt of players who can step in and replace those who leave, saying players progress and develop at different speeds.

• On the future of midfielder Dante Polvara, who is out of contract in the summer, he said talks are ongoing, adding: "I think he is quite happy right now."

Kevin Nisbet's "outrageous goal" in stoppage time clinched Aberdeen's 3-1 win away to Dundee and highlights why the striker should be in Scotland's World Cup squad, according to BBC Scotland Sportscene pundit Richard Foster.

The former Aberdeen full-back had already talked up Kieron Bowie's chances after the Hibernian striker's double against Falkirk on Saturday.

"I would have him on the plane as well," he said of Nisbet while suggesting head coach Steve Clarke should take six strikers to the Americas next summer.

"Brilliant assist from Stuart Armstrong. As a defender, you've not done much wrong there, but that is an outrageous goal."

Host Steven Thompson, the former Scotland striker, added: "It is technically brilliant to get the outside of the boot. Goal of the day."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Adil Aouchiche was unconvincing at the start of the season but has suddenly found a niche in this Aberdeen side.

The former PSG youngster underlined his improvement with two goals at Dens Park on Saturday.

Watch highlights of Dundee's 3-1 defeat against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 3-1 win against Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Brian: Still trying to work out if Aberdeen were good or Dundee were poor? Kevin Nisbet's goal was superb.

Calum: Excellent display in the first half, and fair play to Dundee for putting up a good fight in the second half. Very happy for Nisbet sealing the deal.

Malky: This has been one of those utterly bizarre seasons. I've never hidden the fact that I do not enjoy the manager's style and the manner of our performance - we're being outplayed by almost every team we come up against and it's not healthy.

However, I look at the recent form guide and you'd be mad to be unhappy. We should absolutely be better off league position wise and I still think the quality of player we have at the club should bring more commanding performances and more control in games, but hey, we are picking up points.

Graeme: It's great to see the Dons climbing up the table. There are a lot of games coming up and credit to Jimmy Thelin and the team for the vast improvement in form, here's hoping for a continuous forward momentum.

Niall: The Dons were so dominant and dynamic in the first half and should have been out of sight, arguably the best 45 minutes of the season. Stuart Armstrong was everywhere and involved in everything. The second half decision to sit back and defend has been seen before and must change if we are to challenge for European spots. That said, Nisbet's moment of magic cemented another fantastic three points on the road and into the top-six.

Ross: Another incremental improvement; let's not bemoan any deficiencies and agree with Thelin about the accurate assessment that The Dons are getting better. Maybe not consistently great over 90 minutes, but we're getting closer with each game. Marko Lazetic was particularly impressive with his intelligent, all-action display!

Aberdeen moved into the top half of the Premiership despite a second half fight-back from struggling Dundee.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I'm really happy for all the fans that were here today.

"They were so loud for the whole game and the players are fighting so hard.

"I think it was a game of two halves, I thought we were really good in the first half but Dundee came out in the second half and created some momentum. The mental capacity of the squad, the subs made a difference, so I think the team is growing.

"The goals we scored as well were really good goals. Dundee had to go for everything, they had to catch up and created momentum from throw-ins and corners but we stayed calm, found gaps in transitions and used them really well.

"The most important thing for us is that we are taking steps in the right direction, getting a little bit better every week.

"It's a top finish [from Kevin Nisbet]. He found the right angle and it was a really beautiful goal.

"The players accept the situation and share responsibility so we can go out with energy every game, that's really important for us when it's such a tight schedule that everybody is playing their part."