'hiding In Plain Sight' - But Why Have Aberdeen Appointed Robinson Now?

ByMartin Dowden

BBC Sport Scotland

Why person Aberdeen abruptly moved to make St Mirren's Stephen Robinson their caller manager? Enough is capable seems to beryllium nan evident answer.

Saturday's abject extremity to their Scottish Cup defence astatine Dunfermline marked nan latest debased successful a 16-month downward spiral that moreover lifting that trophy past play cannot mask.

Aberdeen person been going successful 1 guidance - nan incorrect 1 - for immoderate time.

After talking an property since Jimmy Thelin's departure successful January to flirt pinch options including Eirik Horneland and Sandro Schwarz, a abrupt request for urgency appears to person engulfed Pittodrie.

Under nan power of sporting head Lutz Pfannenstiel, each nan signals were that a full-time assignment would travel successful nan summer. Taking clip to get nan correct person. Learning from erstwhile errors.

That conception appears to person been thrown retired nan window.

Having announced nan assignment of Robinson - aft gathering a merchandise clause successful his statement - it seems nan nine person settled connected a campaigner they could person approached months ago.

"For me, he was a campaigner correct from nan start, hiding successful plain sight," Aberdeen fable Willie Miller told BBC Scotland.

"I deliberation it'll beryllium a astonishment to astir observers - fans included - that it has taken truthful agelong to place personification that's correct nether your nose."

"Atrocious," interim head Peter Leven said aft their cup exit. "Furious, I can't take sides them anymore. We're successful trouble."

Unusually blunt words post-match from immoderate head but who could blasted him?

Every clip there's been a glimmer that Aberdeen mightiness beryllium connected a way to return thing affirmative from a play of disappointment, they person severely stumbled.

Eighth successful nan Premiership, pinch 8 wins from 29 convention games; retired of nan League Cup successful September; their Conference League escapade a joyless trudge.

Then Saturday's illness against second-tier Dunfermline.

"Going retired of nan Scottish Cup, and nan measurement Aberdeen went out, was getting to an unacceptable stage," Miller explained.

"Getting a caller imperishable head successful spot is nan correct point to do and it's astir apt taken excessively long.

"At slightest nan compass tin beryllium pointed successful a affirmative measurement and you would dream that nan nine could get themselves successful a position now wherever they're not going to get dragged into a relegation battle."

A lot, based connected his CV.

St Mirren person consistently punched supra their weight to declare 3 consecutive top-six finishes and a long-awaited return to European football.

Add successful a League Cup triumph this season, pinch a Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic to follow.

The erstwhile Northern Ireland midfielder besides has a elaborate knowledge of what it takes to run successfully successful nan Scottish Premiership.

Consider 2 cup finals successful 1 play erstwhile head of Motherwell anterior to his clip successful Paisley and you person a compelling lawsuit of accordant over-achievement.

Yet nan timing is curious.

For each Aberdeen's woes, St Mirren beryllium 5 points down them successful nan convention table, pinch conscionable 3 wins successful 17 successful each competitions since lifting nan League Cup.

The timing is bully from his constituent of view. He would beryllium taking complete a nine beautiful overmuch astatine stone bottommost successful position of expectation, pinch nan consciousness that nan only measurement is up.

Leaving a nine hovering conscionable 3 points supra nan relegation play-off spot offers a timely flight connected a individual front, but he mightiness consciousness uneasy pinch nan thought that he is deserting a sinking ship.

In football, these opportunities look and tin vanish accelerated and nan perfect clip conscionable ne'er happens.

The chance to activity pinch acold greater resources will besides nary uncertainty appeal, though moving wrong a different building nether Pfannenstiel will beryllium different and whitethorn beryllium challenging.

Robinson intelligibly had a beardown relationship pinch each astatine St Mirren and that will person been a cardinal driver of occurrence connected and disconnected nan pitch. He'll request to replicate that.

He will cognize this is simply a measurement up, too. When asked aft Thelin's departure astir being favourite for nan Aberdeen role, Robinson simply suggested he couldn't power that. He didn't precisely adjacent down speculation.

It's a good opportunity for him personally, though early indications are that he will meet a mixed consequence from Aberdeen fans.

He had nan aforesaid guidance astatine St Mirren connected taking complaint and much than turned that around. And he'll backmost himself to do nan same.

Craig: This won't beryllium a celebrated assignment for fans who for illustration nan excitement of a overseas sanction but it is precisely what is required. After years of being nan softest broadside successful nan league, endlessly recycling possession pinch nary threat up top, I invited personification that will bring conflict and intent to nan broadside which presently lacks bite.

Chris: No thanks, would alternatively return our chances successful avoiding nan play-off spot pinch Peter Leven. Have we moreover asked Jens Berthel Askou?

Bruce: Finally! It's astir clip nan nine realised they request a beardown man-manager and effective coach who is seasoned successful nan SPFL. Robinson has overachieved for years - let's dream we tin entice him to Pittodrie.

Baz: Smacks of desperation, not a bully measurement of handling this business we're in. But, nary disrespect intended here, past why haven't they approached Falkirk aliases Motherwell?