Your views: Aberdeen ‘need reinforcements’ & Rangers ‘toil’ to win

Aberdeen are winless in three games after their second successive draw in Edinburgh, this time away to Hearts…

Andrew: I wonder if Jimmy Thelin’s use of the more fringe players was to highlight the need for reinforcements in defence and midfield in January. Despite our six changes, it was a decent enough performance. If progression is not fearing a trip to Tynecastle but hoping for a win then in a short period of time we have progressed. Second place is realistic if backed.

Malky: Three difficult away venues in a week, form usually goes out the window in these types of games. Thelin will have learned a fair bit from these games, and we need reinforcements in certain areas of the pitch. Still a fantastic start overall and we need to dust ourselves down and try and go on another run. There’s no easy games in this league.

John: Our recent form is nothing to be concerned about. Every team goes through a sticky spell. Total confidence in Thelin.

Andy: I don’t think the Dons deserved a draw. Their passing out of defence was very poor and if they play like that on Wednesday they will get thumped.

Chris: Watched the last two games and much as I love what Thelin has done with the team out of possession we don’t seem to know whether to stick or twist. In possession we are careless. We get a lot of crosses over but struggle to convert. I think the first defeat knocked the stuffing out the confidence, so individual performances suffer.

Eric: Once again Aberdeen’s defence was all over the place. We seem to have lost our mojo, and I don’t think we have a system or squad strong enough to justify swapping players around with only Shayden Morris showing his worth coming into the starting line-up. We need a more settled 11 or we will continue heading in the wrong direction.

Allan: Let’s get things into perspective. One league defeat since March is a superb turnaround. Also going to the Edinburgh clubs away, who are on a similar budget to ours, and not losing is okay in my mind. Yes, we are starting to lose goals but that is up to the manager to address and we have good depth in the squad and a manager who knows the score.

Brian: I don’t get the overreaction. We are a work in progress and miles ahead of where we should be. The past week has proven we have no divine right to beat anyone and Jimmy will have sussed out who in the squad can come in and do well and others that can’t. He’ll be backed in January and we should look forward to an exciting run over the Christmas period.

Hearts fought back for a point but finished the weekend two points adrift at the bottom of the table…

Paul: It all comes down to quality up front, there’s not enough of it, the real shining lights in the performance were Musa Drammeh, Cammy Devlin and Craig Halkett, who came on to add leadership to back four. Alan Forrest’s lack of commitment when tracking back is woeful. What a difference having Musa up front in terms of pace and real commitment, just need somebody who can finish.

Kevo: They could have felt sorry for themselves, dominating, shifting the entire defence, losing a goal out of nothing, but they didn’t. Brave, determined and perseverant. Well done Hearts.

Alan: Obviously the two defensive injuries hampered our chances but we did create enough to win the game. Unfortunately it was the same old story of playing well enough but not winning. This form is not looking to shift any time soon and we are in real danger of relegation on our own merit.

Raymond: No better than when Steven Naismith was the manager. Neil Critchley is the wrong choice for the job and his team selections are difficult to fathom.

Gavin: Musa was a breath of fresh air. Driving forward and never stopped.

Frederick: If we make the top six this season that will be acceptable given the start we’ve had. I think Kilmarnock and St Mirren would accept the same. We will have to have the luck of the draw in the cup though and bring back our confidence. Let’s hope January brings some changes with incoming players and some leaving. We can’t seem to be able to handle Europe.

Chris: I’m bemused that Critchley thought we played well. The game had little to no quality. We were fortunate to get a draw, Aberdeen were poor too which helped. We are so weak up front and the individual quality was nowhere to be seen. Lots of endeavour from Musa and Devlin did all the dirty work, man of the match easily.