This week, the defence is a problem once again for Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen – are we already getting an idea of what might need done in January to fix it? Can Aberdeen still go into their crucial Friday night clash with Hibs feeling confident? Meanwhile, Ross County are moving in the right direction, despite a continued lack of points, says Andy Skinner, as question marks remain over Mark Ridgers’ half-time exit in Caley Thistle’s hammering at Morton. We’ve also got Jamie Durent on the bizarre...

This week, is Jim Goodwin taking Aberdeen to Rangers at the perfect moment? The Dons' new 3-5-2 set-up is creating great combinations between Duk/Bojan Miovski and Connor Barron/Ylber Ramadani – but what about all the wingers now kicking their heels? Plus, Sophie Goodwin on how Aberdeen Women have plenty of chances to make history at Pittodrie on Sunday. Ross County aren’t cut adrift in the Premiership yet – but they need to make pre-World Cup games count, starting with Hearts, while...

In this week's episode of Northern Goal, the panel run the rule over Aberdeen's midweek win over Partick Thistle and the emergence of their new cult hero, Luis 'Duk' Lopes. There's also injury news at both Ross County and Caley Thistle, plus Cove Rangers' need to find stability. We also look at what should be expected of Peterhead given their well-documented early-season struggles, plus Elgin City's chances of a Scottish Cup run.

This week, Aberdeen’s ‘bad day at the office’ as Dons let expectant fans down woefully at Dundee United – in the process struggling with defensive issues we’ve seen several times this season. Having had an early glimpse into how his touchline ban might affect the Reds, will Jim Goodwin now regret his remarks about Hibs’ Ryan Porteous? The panel also talk Hearts on Sunday, VAR and whether Connor Barron and Leighton Clarkson fit in the same Aberdeen team. Plus, Ross County have set themselves...

This week, Sean Wallace stands by his claim Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski is the Dons’ biggest signing coup since Hans Gillhaus - but is the trip to Dundee United going to be a straightforward as it might look on paper this weekend, for the Reds or Miovski? How bad is the mood at Ross County ahead of their clash with Livingston this weekend? And - on the subject of big games - Inverness have set up a tantalising Friday night clash with Partick Thistle where they could go level at the top of...

This week, we look at Aberdeen's 3-1 defeat at Hibs, where the pattern of the Dons losing when Ross McCrorie fills in at the back continued after Liam Scales' controversial dismissal. There's more likelihood of Jack Milne getting the nod to partner Anthony Stewart than a free agent coming in to provide back up, isn't there? In attack, could we see Ryan Duncan replacing the likes of Vicente Besuijen in the games ahead? Elsewhere, do Ross County have a scoring problem, and Cammy Harper and...

This week on Northern Goal - will Aberdeen have been disappointed not to meet Rangers at what feels like a vulnerable moment for the Ibrox side? Plus, why Hayden Coulson could be key to stopping Hibs' Martin Boyle on Saturday. As the Dons spearhead experiments in this area, are Saturday 6pm kick-offs going to boost the Scottish game? We also look ahead to Ross County's favourable-looking clash with St Johnstone, a huge game in the Championship as Inverness take on fellow title-hopefuls...

This week on Northern Goal, the panel look to the positives following Aberdeen's frustrating draw at Ross County. Is it a good time to play Rangers, and - with Leighton Clarkson suspended - might a rejig see Bojan Miovski and Luis 'Duk' Lopes start together? For County, William Akio's Lazarus-like recovery from a knee injury and equaliser v the Dons means the Staggies have the chance to build momentum against Motherwell. Caley Thistle, meanwhile, maintained an incredible record against Raith...

In this week's episode of Northern Goal, the panel discuss Aberdeen's 4-1 League Cup success at Annan Athletic in midweek and where, if at all the squad needs strengthening. There were defeats for Ross County and Caley Thistle against Celtic and Motherwell respectively, while we also get the lowdown on how Aberdeen Women have started the season in the SWPL. Cove Rangers, Peterhead and Elgin City have not enjoyed the best beginning to the campaign in their respective divisions, which we also...

This week, we discuss Liverpool loanee Leighton Clarkson’s career trajectory after his talents were on full display for Aberdeen against St Johnstone - Can he perform well consistently? Would bulking up make him even better? Plus, Sean Wallace talks up his player of the season so far, veteran Jonny Hayes. How long he could stick around at Aberdeen? Will the Dons build on their win v Saints against Livi, and ahead of their Annan cup clash? Ross County’s win against Kilmarnock was a Premiership...

This week, was Aberdeen’s disaster v Motherwell just a blip you’d expect from a completely rebuilt side? There’s clearly a need to keep players in their best positions ahead of St Johnstone on Saturday – although Bojan Miovski, at least, continues to look like he’ll be a goalscoring machine for the Dons. Ross County also showed they still need to build consistency, after having an off-day at the worst moment v St Mirren. They won’t go 10 games without a win again, will they? Meanwhile, Austin...

Following Aberdeen’s scintillating win over St Mirren, we ask if long-range screamer-scorer Leighton Clarkson will be the new Scott Severin for the Dons, while also discussing the startling stats which show an immediate understanding between the Reds’ latest loanee and fellow midfielder Ylber Ramadani. What will Jim Goodwin’s first-choice midfield be going forward as Aberdeen target the first back-to-back Premiership wins of his reign when they host Motherwell this weekend? Plus, can...

This week, the panel reflect on Aberdeen's league-opening loss at Parkhead and look ahead to St Mirren. Although the need for more centre-back cover was laid bare, there were positives: Bojan Miovski's aerial strength, Anthony Stewart's defensive intelligence and Matty Kennedy with the ball at his feet among them. We discuss why Dante Polvara will be all the better for his difficult afternoon and - while his involvement was a show of faith from Jim Goodwin - the Reds closing in on another...

This week, Sean Wallace tells us what he learned about Aberdeen's new attacker Callum Roberts from former Killie boss Lee Clark, while we also ask if Hayden Coulson is going to be the Dons' main left-back this term. Is there enough depth on the left side of defence generally after this week's departures? There are certainly defensive conundrums and questions over who to start in attack at Celtic in Sunday's Premiership opener - Who replaces Liam Scales? Miovski or Ramirez? Does Roberts get a...

This week, Aberdeen’s win over (albeit League 2) Stirling Albion suggests they’ve found an attacking verve, building excitement for the Premiership opener v Celtic. What did Sean Wallace make of Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes, and why Ylber Ramadani is worth at least £1 million. David Bates could also be set for the Dons exit door ahead of this weekend’s League Cup group stage-closer against Raith Rovers - lightning won’t strike twice, will it? Plus Kazeem Olaigbe terrorising full-backs in the blue of Ross...

This week, the panel discuss Anthony Stewart after he sparkles at Glebe Park and, in his performance and organisation, looks the man to shore up Aberdeen’s defence – with or without armband – ahead of the season-opener against Peterhead. Can David Bates cement his place alongside him though? If he wants to stay at the Dons, the League Cup group games are striker Christian Ramirez’s big chance while we wait for Bojan Miovski’s visa situation to be resolved. However, all signs are pointing to a...

This week, Sean Wallace and Andy Skinner join Ryan Cryle from Spain and Italy, respectively. Sean is embedded with Aberdeen in Alicante and delves into the big themes of the pre-season camp – what the Dons are working on in the sun, who’s there, who has impressed most, what his impression of summer signings like Anthony Stewart have been up close, and what the situation is with Ylber Ramadani and Bojan Miovski as they join up with their new team-mates. Plus, Sean gives a Jack MacKenzie injury...

This week, we assess Aberdeen’s manic week in the transfer market. The Dons have made four signings – Jayden Richardson, Liam Scales, Anthony Stewart and, most notably, striker Bojan Miovski. We discuss what the experts have told us about them over the last few days, and whether Jim Goodwin’s business so far has shown us how the Dons will line up next term. Who will be next? (It won’t be Liam Boyce or Robby McCrorie...) We also preview Aberdeen’s weekend trip to Buckie Thistle, chat about the...

This week, reaction to the £8m deal between Liverpool and Aberdeen for Calvin Ramsay – with the initial £4.5m fee set to break the Dons’ club record and previous high for a Scottish teen. Then Sean Wallace – after speaking to his ex-chairman in Norway - gives the inside track on how Reds-linked Tobias Lauritsen became a striker, overcoming adversity to get back to his nation’s top-flight in the process, and what his attributes are. There’s also further discussion on Macedonian target Bojan...

In this week’s episode of Northern Goal, the panel analyse Scotland’s 2-0 win over Armenia, which got their Nations League campaign off to a winning start. There’s also the big news of Paul Hartley’s departure to discuss at Cove Rangers, following his departure to English League Two side Hartlepool United at the end of last week. We also look at potential comings and goings at Aberdeen, with speculation about Calvin Ramsay’s future continuing and the Dons finally making their first signing of...

The panel sift through the debris of Scotland’s hugely disappointing night against Ukraine, in this week’s episode, which ended their hopes of making the 2022 World Cup. Where did it go wrong and are some players at the end of the road for the national side? We also look in-depth at a significant period of change for women’s football at Aberdeen and discuss what stories have caught our eye from our SPFL clubs.

This week, how did it all get away from Caley Thistle in their play-off final defeat to Premiership survivors St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, and following Austin Samuels’ all-action first-half display? The play-off system might be unfair, but Inverness now know – if they want to go up – they need to finish top of the Championship (which they maybe should have done), don’t they? We also discuss the Premier Sports Cup draw for all of our sides, with Aberdeen’s group-mates Raith Rovers...

This week, off the back of Paul Third’s Reds Rebuild series for the Press and Journal/Evening Express, we discuss what Aberdeen and boss Jim Goodwin need in every area of the park this summer – numbers and skillsets. Plus, Dundee United fans’ disruption mars final Ross County game of the season. How big a loss is the departed Blair Spittal to the Staggies, and are we resigned to Regan Charles-Cook, Harry Paton and Alex Iacovitti leaving, too? Could Roy MacGregor push the boat out to get...

On this week’s Northern Goal, the panel discuss Aberdeen’s 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone, which saw the Dons play without a senior striker after Christian Ramirez jetted off on holiday a week early. Following another soft goal against the Reds, can we see the Declan Gallagher and David Bates centre-back setup working next term? Sean Wallace also discusses the Luke Turner contract situation and how Jim Goodwin justified his decision to let the youngster goal. Plus, how did Ross County let Europe...