Stephen Robinson was forthright in explaining what the next few months will look like after watching Aberdeen lose the final game of the season at Dens Park.
“We managed to get the team over the line in terms of avoiding the play-off place, which we thought was going to be a heck of a task when we walked in the club. We managed to do that. I already knew what needed to be done. I put a consistent team out to try and make sure we didn't get relegated, or at least in the play-off.
“We managed to do that, as I say, which is an achievement. Not one we want to have to be achieving at Aberdeen, but we needed it. But the mentality we've seen over the last two games, that has to change. The last two games have been an indictment of the season. It tells you where we are and the work that needs done.
“The last five minutes is probably the season as a whole. When we needed to stand up, when we needed to do the simple basics right, we didn’t. You can set up whatever way you want for set plays, but if you don't go and be brave and win the ball, then that's what happens. And that's a microcosm of our whole season.
“I'm not surprised by today at all. There's nothing for me to say to the players after today. I've had every opportunity. Frankly, I changed the team the last two games to have a look at people. Some have shown they may be able to play. But ultimately, it's not good enough. It simply hasn't been good enough all season. I don't need to say any more. Everybody can see that for themselves.
“It's having a desire to not be beaten. There's obviously a limit to how much you can change it, but nobody is safe this summer. If we get a better opportunity to bring someone in, we have to take it.
“I think it's obvious for everybody to see that we need better. We need more characters.We need a spine to the team. Hearts just came very, very close to winning the league from a spine of players from the UK that know how to win football matches, so the template's there. That’s not going to happen in one window, that I can assure you. But it's certainly the direction of travel.
“Everybody now needs to consider whether they've got a future at Aberdeen Football Club. There'll be some new players that we want in. Players are contracted. It's very, very difficult to get people to walk away from four- and five-year deals. But certainly between myself and Lutz and the recruitment guys, we'll be doing our best to refresh the thing and freshen absolutely everything up from top to bottom.
“There'll be some that do stay, that perhaps can't get away or don't want to go, but they'll certainly have to change their standards. We’ve already had some frank conversations.
“There are some good young players here. Kjartansson did ok today, but he’s 19. He's a young boy. He's a project. If we're attempting to finish in the top four or five, then he's not ready to start week in, week out, but he's shown that he has got talent. He's one of many projects that we maybe need to have a loan out to get game time. Ultimately, we need them to play within a base of players that can carry these younger players. We don't have that at this moment.”
In addition to the defeat, there was what looked to be a nasty injury to Mats Knoester, Robinson confirming the severity afterwards.
“Mats, the knee is badly swollen, so we're just praying and hoping that it's not as serious as we fear. He is one of the boys that will stand up and be counted, but unfortunately, we're very worried about him. We won't know until the swelling goes down and we get the scans. But it certainly doesn't look good at this stage.”
