Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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New Aberdeen chief executive Adrian Bevington believes the Dons "will be very much at the heart" of discussions over how to get more homegrown talent playing for Scottish top flight clubs.

The Scottish FA have proposed financial incentives – and penalties – along with quotas in a bid to solve the problem, measures which will be voted on by clubs over the next few months.

Bevington was asked for his thoughts on the subject as he faced the media for the first since being appointed to the Pittodrie post earlier this month.

"I need to understand more about the exact proposals from the Scottish FA," he said.

"Obviously I am aware of them generically and I have had some really good dialogue with Craig Mulholland [Scottish FA chief football officer] and Ian Maxwell [Scottish FA CEO] who are guys that I know anyway. So I am convinced that from an Aberdeen football club point of view that we will be very much at the heart of those discussions which I think is important for our supporter base."

Prior to his Aberdeen arrival, Bevington held a number of senior executive roles including with the English and Welsh FAs and a number of key club positions south of the border.

"Generally I am someone who has always been very committed to youth development. In my last role at Middlesbrough, and this is not all down to me for clarity, but we brought in Djed Spence while I was there and he then moved on to, via Nottingham Forest, Tottenham for a significant transfer fee.

"Hayden Hackney, I think he came in his first year as a professional while he was at Middlesbrough and he has just moved on for the best part of £25m to Everton so I am very much aware of the importance in the football ecosystem that you have to develop players and if you are moving players on for a significant fee at a low cost or you have developed yourself ideally that is a really successful model for you.

"But also I understand as well from a fans' point of view they love it when one of their own comes through. Look you can't just play players for the sake of it, you can't say to the manager 'you have to play that player because he is a local guy or has come through the system'.

"In my opinion they have to be good enough. We have to ensure we are producing good enough quality players that can play in our first team, that get the game minutes and we have got to find that pathway with the proposals within what the Scottish FA are talking about at the moment."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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The appointment of Adrian Bevington as Aberdeen's new chief executive last week certainly raised a few eyebrows.

It is easy to see why.

Over nearly three decades the 55-year-old has had some lofty roles at the top level of the game, including with the English and Welsh FAs and he has held a number of key club positions south of the border.

So there was plenty to get through when he sat down to chat to the media for the first time since his arrival in the Granite City, here is a flavour of what he said.

On joining Aberdeen

''I am absolutely delighted to be here, I am honoured and privileged to be asked to take on the role I have been given at Aberdeen football club.

"Not every football club has that level of ownership where they are really determined to succeed.

"I have had a lot of different experiences within football and the best chairman I have ever worked for in club football is undoubtedly Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough who I think is regarded far and wide as one of the best chairman in the UK. The commitment that Dave Cormack is showing Aberdeen and has showed me in the conversations we have had is very similar to the attitude and ambition and commitment of Gibson at Middlesbrough and that is a big reason why I am here."

On Aberdeen's potential

''Massive potential.

"When you walk into the stadium, even though we are planning for a new stadium, there is still so much greatness about this place. Sometimes you walk into a football club and they are in disrepair and you think "how are we going to get out of this situation?" this is not where Aberdeen football club are.

"They have already got a great set of people working here, it has got a really good, strong, fantastic ownership, so if we can get the football right and keep the commercial growing effectively we have got every chance of achieving significant success with this football club.

"We have got to stretch ourselves, we have to be ambitious, we have to be punchy. I am not coming here just to be in cruise control, I will be hands on but I also like to ensure that the people who work with me have the opportunity to develop and take decisions themselves with support from me but I am a very driven person myself."

On head coach Stephen Robinson

"I have already had some really good discussions with Stephen and I was very impressed with him.

"I walked away without any shadow of a doubt that this is an individual who is absolutely driven to the max with very high professional standards.

"I have worked with and met a lot of mangers over the years so I am very confident that Stephen and his coaching staff are going to leave no stone unturned moving forward.

"He has to feel my support on a day-to-day basis and that is something I really have got across to him in the first meeting I had and I will do everything I can to support him.

"I also want to support Lutz [Pfannenstiel, sporting director] so we can plan long term."

On Aberdeen's hopes of moving to a new stadium

"It is quite clear to me that the club and the chairman are absolutely committed to wanting to deliver a new stadium, I do hope I can help and support him in that regard.

"I have got experience earlier on in my career where when I was involved with the build and the opening of Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.

"More recently than that was the build and opening and then activation of Wembley Stadium so there are two pretty big stadiums there.

"And I was involved in the process and the opening of St George's Park national football centre so I have got quite a bit of experience around major capital projects in that regard.

"I will do everything I can to build relationships within the local stakeholder community to support Dave [Cormack] and the board in that regards to drive us forward to see if we can get this moving in the right direction and across the line."

We asked your views on the stats behind Aberdeen's early-season attacking struggles.

Here's what some of you said:

Graham: Nowhere near good enough in midfield and lack creativity all over the park. Stephen Robinson needs to get a settled team and fast which will bring more confidence then more consistency. Captaincy needs to be in the middle not the front.

Mark S: While the opening games of the season were disappointing given the attacking players we brought to the club, in the past few games we have seen improvement. I'm not too fussed about possession football as a lot of the time it can be without a purpose. If we continue to be structurally sound, quick and direct as we were against Motherwell, then more often than not I believe we will create and score more goals.

David: We've had a creativity problem for years. A lack of investment in a midfielder who can pick a pass has cost us. Our current 5-3-2 set up looks like it may serve us well away from home. But the lack of creativity a player like Lyall Cameron could have provided, along with our current crop of non-functioning wingers, may well see us struggling at Pittodrie.

Scott: The recruitment has been poor overall. It's telling that the two 'main' wingers - Lewis Smith and Tony Yogane - haven't featured of late. The reason being, they're nowhere near good enough. Toyosi Olusanya has been getting game time, but he creates nothing either. So it's no wonder we're not creating chances.

Mark F: The most frustrating thing is Kevin Nisbet clearly has some talent, but over the course of his career he's shown it far too infrequently. Olusanya runs around a lot but to little effect. Another season of mid-table mediocrity is looming. It's a cop-out to say the fixture list hasn't been kind - all the teams we've played this season had troubles of their own and we have been unable to capitalise.

Joe: 'Attacking issues laid bare' confirms a problem obvious to fans, a lack of creativity and goalscoring throughout the team. There's no sense that centre-backs are a serious scoring threat or that our midfielders are as likely to score as our forwards. Eight points from seven games is woeful. If we don't improve that ratio, by scoring more goals, it will be a long season despite results last week.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

When highlighting how challenging a week of away fixtures Aberdeen had ahead of them earlier this month, there is no doubt Stephen Robinson would have signed up for a place in the League Cup semi-finals and four Premiership points from visits to Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Hibernian.

The trip to Easter Road yielded one of those points and a timid second-half display cost them all three having taken the lead and seemingly been sitting comfortably only for Northfield's Martin Boyle to once again score against his hometown club.

It was Boyle's 10th against the Dons with this one coming from the spot after an inexplicable Jack Milne challenge.

However, there is a much more positive spin on things at Pittodrie as we go into the newly extended September/October international break.

When the club football gets back under way in just over a fortnight, Aberdeen have a much more favourable schedule, although with that comes the pressure of expectancy.

Three out of their next four matches are at home against St Johnstone, St Mirren and Falkirk with a trip to Dundee United in among that.

The fans will hope to win all four of those but if the Dons can produce a return in the region of between eight and 10 points, Robinson will be content with how things are going.

The recent emergence of Findlay Marshall has been pleasing for the supporters. It looked like the 20-year-old was heading for the exit door, but he has grasped his opportunity and been one of their top performers over the past 10 days.

For those who watched the midfielder's performances for Arbroath during his loan spell last season, it will come as no surprise and he looks to have a bright future.

People in the north-east like nothing more than a local excelling and Marshall will be hoping to keep his place in what seems to be a slowly improving Aberdeen side.

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

Do Aberdeen have a creativity problem?

The stats behind the Dons' start to the Premiership season flag up some attacking concerns.

The 48 chances created by Stephen Robinson's side is the lowest tally in the division - same for their 37 chances from open play - while they have the fewest shots on target (18) and second-fewest shots (70).

It must be noted Aberdeen haven't had the kindest fixtures, with Robinson keen to point out they have faced five of last season's top-six teams in their opening seven games.

Eight points have been accrued, leaving the Dons seventh in a congested table and just two points shy of fourth, so there's no reason for panic.

Still, the Pittodrie side have netted just seven league goals - only bottom two Falkirk and Kilmarnock have scored fewer - and their xG (expected goals) is a league-low 7.16, suggesting opportunities have not exactly been flowing.

That is backed up by what Opta terms 'big chances' - the Dons' tally of nine is above only Falkirk, and their 137 touches in the opposition box is the third fewest.

Robinson's Aberdeen are not a ball-dominant team - their average possession 45.09% ranks 10th in the top flight - but they do possess a prowess at set-pieces. They have scored three goals and created 11 chances - the third-highest in the league - from dead balls.

And if the Dons could become more productive, they have a striker capable of profiting. Kevin Nisbet has netted 43% of the team's league goals - three of seven - from just four shots on target and also weighed in with two assists.

Dons fans, what do you make of the attacking threat in Robinson's side? Share your views here.

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson hopes to sign defender Gavin Molloy, 24, up on a new deal. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Findlay Marshall always believed he was good enough for the Aberdeen first team. Now he's finally getting the chance to prove it.

The 20-year-old midfielder has spent time on loan at Edinburgh City, Cove Rangers and Arbroath in recent seasons and was not part of former boss Jimmy Thelin's plans.

However, Marshall was handed a Dons debut by Stephen Robinson in the League Cup win over Kelty in July and hasn't looked back, starting the past two Premiership games and earning praise for his dynamism.

"It took a long time to get a start here, but I've always trusted the process, and I feel like it was probably a good thing now," Marshall told the Aberdeen website.

"Looking back, I think it probably has helped because I do feel ready. Maybe if I'd got chucked in earlier, it might have been different. So I feel like in the long run, it's worked out perfectly.

"When new boys come in during the window, everyone's got good quality, but I feel like you need to back yourself, and ultimately I think that I'm good enough to play.

"I just kept my head down in training, I feel like I've done quite well with my chance. The system helps. I feel like as an eight, I can get up and down, and I think it does probably suit me quite well.

"There was a good few weeks left to the window, and the manager said that there was no chance of going out on loan. He just said, 'Just keep working hard and you'll get a chance.' After that conversation, it actually helped a lot, once I got that clarity."

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

The recovery continues. Four points from two away games is a solid week's work given the pressure the manager was under.

What's also telling is I can't help but feel disappointed after only taking a point from Easter Road.

It was another solid away performance, only for a couple of Jack Milne mistakes to gift Hibs a draw.

We need to do more to win those type of games but we now have an extended international break to work on things.

Four of our next five league games are at Pittodrie, a venue Stephen Robinson wants to make oppositions teams dread visiting.

We have only lost twice in the league at home under Robinson so is October a chance for us to start looking up the table?

It's certainly a tight league so maybe we can start to be cautiously positive.

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Stephen Robinson is eager to see his Aberdeen side come out of the international break even stronger. (Record - subscription required, external)

Robinson has organised two friendlies for Aberdeen during the break. (Press and Journal - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Cal Gilkison
BBC Sport Scotland

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Lee Miller believes Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson has "turned it around" after a shaky start to the season.

Pressure had been building on Robinson after his side only managed one win from their opening five league games.

However, after booking their spot in the League Cup semi-finals, winning 4-0 in the league at Motherwell and drawing at Hibs, there is a more positive mood around Pittodrie.

Miller - who played 120 times for Aberdeen - praised how Robinson has managed the past few months.

"Robinson has managed the situation really well, in terms of when the chips are down," Miller said.

"He's got a backroom staff there. He's got players there that are behind him and backing him."

Miller believes the comprehensive victory at Fir Park could give Robinson's side "real belief and confidence" moving forward, but insists Robinson will not get "carried away" going into the international break.

Sportscene's James McFadden assesses Aberdeen's form after their Scottish Premiership draw at Hibernian.

The Dons took just three points from their opening four league games, but have taken five points from their next three outings and reached the League Cup semi-finals.

Aberdeen midfielder Findlay Marshall says confirmation he would not be sent on loan this season delivered a major boost to his bid to become a first-team regular. (Press & Journal, external)

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson hailed "a great week" for his side after they picked up a well-earned draw at managerless Hibernian.

Former Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet - who has now scored 12 goals this season - gave the visitors a first-half lead with a well-taken goal before Martin Boyle levelled from the penalty spot after the break.

Despite not being able to hold on for the win, Robinson was still satisfied after seeing his team negotiate a demanding three-game run on the road.

The Dons reached the Premier Sports Cup semi-final last weekend with a penalty shoot-out win against Kilmarnock before thrashing Motherwell on Tuesday.

And after a difficult start to the campaign, Robinson is seeing clear signs of progress. He said: "It's been a great week.

"I think the fixture list was very, very unkind to us with the travelling, the turnaround and we've managed to finish this mini-block of games two points off fourth and with a semi-final.

"So it's credit to the players and the staff.

"I think they've worked tirelessly to implement what we're trying to do. And probably a point was deserved by both teams today.

"First and foremost the boys need a break, that's been six games in 18 days."

Robinson admits referee Nick Walsh was left with no option but to award a penalty after Aberdeen defender Jack Milne dragged Jason Kerr to the ground.

He added: "It was a penalty. And I feel if you defend that deep you're going to make a mistake and get punished at some stage of the game."

Hibernian draw their first game since head coach David Gray's departure against Scottish Premiership visitors Aberdeen (UK only).

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your opinions on the 1-1 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Stuart: Under normal circumstances a point at Hibs would've been okay, however given the opportunities it was two points lost.

Andy: A bit mixed really. Certainly the team has turned a corner and Kevin Nisbet's finish was clinical but they should not have allowed Hibs back into the game.

Struan: Four points from two tough away games is a good haul, no denying that. However, Hibs were there for the taking and maybe with a more developed squad we could have pushed for all three points. Jack Milne needs to look more at Mats Knoester as a role model, rather than Dan Happe, as his development stalls once more with an error-strewn performance.

Bob: After some ridiculous abuse Stephen Robinson is slowly gelling a decent team. However, the last three games have proved Happe and Milne are liabilities - both are so lazy and prone to switching off.

Darren: The past week has been more positive, not sure last season's team would have managed those results. That's all the 'bigger' teams played already, so hopefully we can be a bit more attack-minded in the coming weeks, get our wingers back in and have a go.

Ross: Well, the ship is steadying. A point at Easter Road is never the worst result, yet the hope is always to get three. Marginal improvements should be recognised rather than focusing on any negatives.

Scott: Disappointing. After taking the lead, we allowed Hibs to take control. In the end, we were fortunate to get a point, as Hibs dominated the second half. Why Robinson continues with Toyosi Olusanya is beyond me. He causes as many problems for us as he does for the opposition. The international break may prove a blessing, as it'll allow Robinson three weeks to work on improving things.

Mark: What a brilliant signing Chris Cadden has been. Another great performance from him today. An upgrade on Nicky Devlin.

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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson: "I thought it could have been three, but a point is fair. We knew Hibs would have some sort of bounce in the second half, and they did.

"We sat a little bit too deep, but some of our counter-attacking play was really good. We probably have the best chance to win it with Jack Milne.

"But if you sit so deep, there is always going to be a mistake at some stage and we got punished for that. But the week as a whole has been very productive and positive.

"We've played [last season's] top five in the first seven games and we're three points off fourth and in a semi-final so we have to be pleased with that, but know there is still a lot of improvement.

"This was always going to be a transition season. Expectations are very, very high here. But when you bring 13 players in and lose 16 it's hard to get consistency and stability.

"We've got a template, but there is a lot of improvement still to come."

Managerless Hibernian showed some determination and fight to come back and earn a draw in the Scottish Premiership against improving Aberdeen at Easter Road.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

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Hibs will be under the charge of interim boss John Potter following David Gray's midweek sacking.

Kanayo Megwa (thigh) joins fellow defenders Marko Ivezic (illness), Rocky Bushiri (Achilles) and Jordan Obita (calf) on the sidelines, while Jamie McGrath (calf) remains a doubt.

Aberdeen pair Stuart Armstrong and Lewis Mayo are fitness concerns, while Brad Lyons (knee), Emmanuel Gyamfi (thigh) and Kristers Tobers (knee) are still out.

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Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen's trip to face managerless Hibs on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines:

• Robinson says that while Aberdeen's clinical finishing "carries the headlines" from their 4-0 midweek win at Motherwell, the "hard work and organisation is the big thing to take away from it".

• The Dons boss has the "utmost respect" for David Gray, who was sacked by Hibs on Wednesday, and says he did a "fantastic job" at Easter Road with third and fifth-place finishes.

• Robinson adds: "It just shows you how ruthless the game is now. We're six games in and he's in a semi-final so I have nothing but admiration for David as a player for Hibs and a manager for Hibs."

• Robinson doesn't expect Hibs to be "that much different" under interim boss John Potter - "they haven't changed players" - and wants the "exact same form and attitude" from Aberdeen's past two games as they seek a third straight win.

• On what has changed amid Aberdeen's mini revival, Robinson says: "Results. Results change everything. Results change the narrative. Sometimes you don't play as well as the results suggest, but if you win, it hides all faults. If you lose, every fault is opened up for scrutiny."

• Gavin Molloy, who made just his second league start of the season at Fir Park and scored the opener, is praised by Robinson as a "manager's dream".

• "Gav has had to be patient but I thought he was super," says the Pittodrie head coach. "He reminds me of Marcus Fraser at St Mirren. They just get on with it, they don't complain about anything. You can play them in any position. If they're not in the team, they train harder. He's going to get a lot of stick after me calling him a manager's dream now from the players, but he's just an ultimate pro and he got his just rewards on Tuesday night, so I'm delighted for him."

• The Dons have "real high hopes" for 20-year-old Findlay Marshall, who made his first league start in midweek and "gives us legs and energy, which we don't particularly have in midfield".

• Lewis Mayo and Stuart Armstrong are doubts for the game at Easter Road. Emmanuel Gyamfi will play in the KDM Cup next week and fellow long-term injury absentee Kristers Tobers is set to begin full training, which is a "real milestone for him".

• Robinson has met with new chief executive Adrian Bevington, saying: "We had a really good chat. Adrian comes with a really good reputation and obviously worked at really good levels, so I'm looking forward to working with him."

• Hibs, who sacked head coach David Gray in midweek, have lost six successive home games in the Scottish Premiership. In the 21st century, just two sides have lost seven in a row at home in Scotland's top flight: Ross County (Oct 2014 to Jan 2015) and Dundee (May to Oct 2018).

• Aberdeen scored as many goals in their 4-0 win at Motherwell last time out as they had in their previous seven league games combined. The Dons have kept two consecutive Premiership clean sheets, last keeping three in a row in May 2024 (5).

• Hibs (26y 325d) and Aberdeen (27y 325d) are the two sides with the oldest average ages of their starting XIs in the top flight this season.

• Hibs have only lost one of their past 10 home league games against Aberdeen (W7 D2), a 4-0 defeat in May 2024.

• After their 2-0 win in April, Aberdeen could win back-to-back league meetings with Hibs for the first time since November 2020 (3 in a row).