Ampersand

I expect this is the bit most Dons fans would contest. There was a vocal minority who may never have been happy, but what support doesn't have a frankly dim vocal minority? As @Dons_1988 says, Sportsound repeats the 'What do they expect? They hounded out McInnes etc' nonsense ad nauseam. Same hacks who suggest Neil Lennon for every job going. McInnes did do well for several seasons, but we were on a downward slope for at least 18 months before he left. And he was also unwilling to work in the structure Cormack and the board wanted to bring in, so it was only going to end one way. I agree this would be reasonable for Thelin's first season - with evidence of the pitch of some adaptability and well-drilled patterns of play. Some sort of f*cking plan, basically, which we've been missing for a while. If I can see what he's trying to achieve, and I flatter myself that I'm not in that dim minority, then I'd take a top 6 finish and decent cup runs. I expect most would.

Particularly effective when the 'buenos pies para un hombre grande' variant is deployed.

4-4-2 is due a comeback I reckon. Pep or Julian Nagelsmann will start using it and it'll be billed as a radical reinvention.

Formerly known as a Kennedy.

A centre-back pairing of Andy Considine and Paul Hanlon sounds pacy.

Over in the new manager thread, in the absence of a new manager to discuss, a few posters were reflecting on our transfer/scouting policy of the last few windows, and how to strike the right balance between data-led recruitment and more traditional scouting (you know, watching a player play football in person). There was also some chat about combining more ambitious international scouting with more pragmatic, safer signings from within the SPFL (as far as any signing is safe). Hearts have got a few solid if unexciting pre-contracts tied up in the form of Penrice, Spittal and Dhanda. Who would folk like to see us approaching in a similar mould? I realize this is pretty moot without a technical director and head coach in place, so we'll likely miss the boat on pre-contracts anyway, but going off the contracts ending list on transfermarkt - https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scottish-premiership/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/SC1 - the pickings look slim. Maybe bringing Bruce Anderson back as a fairly solid Premiership striking option? Assuming Bojan is sold and Gueye moved on somehow. He screams McInnes-signing, so I'd expect to see him at Killie. Scott Tanser at St Mirren, maybe? Probably more reliable than McKenzie and less injured than McGarry. Meh. ETA: I've discounted anyone who, to me, is simply unrealistic, namely Keanu Baccus, Ryan Strain (both heading south I assume) and Beni Baningime (staying put or down south too).

I would like to believe we’re very far down the line in getting closer to being in a position to move things forward on a timeline that is in line with the medium- and long-term strategic goals of the club.

In the most populated region of the country, giving access to a large player pool and theoretically making scouting easier.

Aye, Klopp knows it’s Mark Fotheringham. The Fußballtrainer group chat is buzzing with it, given his reputation over there.

Or, 8 managers who can form like Voltron. Make it happen FMB.

Very true, and as others have said this is what makes Alex Neil unlikely. The EFL managerial wheel of fortune will land on his name again soon enough, for a higher salary (and subsequent payoff) than we're likely to offer.

@RandomGuy. - a fuller and better assessment than mine over on the next manager thread.

If memory serves, reliable when just repeating actual ITK-types' stuff, otherwise not so much. (I might be misremembering though.)

That is properly grim.