Stephen Robinson met with the media on Friday afternoon ahead of our William Hill Premiership season opener against Hearts.
RedTV subscribers can watch the pre match press conference now.
Captain Kevin Nisbet
“I don’t think the captain is maybe as big a deal as everybody makes it.
“As I said, there are four or five people who organise things and lead the standards at the football club. Kevin (Nisbet) knows the football club, and he knows the standards of this football club, which I thought was very important with so many new players coming in.
“With him and Brad (Lyons) obviously knowing the league, I thought it was important that we had that leadership. The leadership group we’ve put together is driving the football club forward.
“Goalscorers are very, very hard to find, so Kevin has started the season very well and he’ll take that responsibility on board. He already has, in terms of around the football club and all the things that go with being captain, but it certainly won’t just be one person doing everything. We have a lot of people having a say as well.
“I think Graeme Shinnie was a fantastic captain. He really was. He was probably one of the last old-school captains, so to speak. He did absolutely everything on and off the pitch, commercially and football-wise as well. “I think that’s too much for one person. We’ve spread that out a little bit. Kevin will obviously have the armband and lead the club. He’s a very intelligent footballer as well in terms of getting that message on the pitch when it’s necessary.
“Him and Brad, I believe, will lead the dressing room and they’ll lead the players.”
The arrival of Chris Cadden
“I think what Chris gives us is a vast amount of experience in the league. He’s played in a team that’s been high up the division for many years now.
“I worked with Chris when he was a younger player, so I’ve got great knowledge of him as a player and as a person. He’s another player who I believe will make the squad a lot stronger.
“When I came in, we had a lot of variation in ages. What we have now is people in their prime and people making their way in the game. I think it’s a great balance and certainly everybody we bring in now is strengthening the squad.”
Moving players on
“We have to have people go out first of all. I think that’s very clear.
“As I said, my appreciation goes to the board. I said a few weeks ago that I was allowed to do this business before everybody went out. We’ve had some people move on, which Lutz has done very well with, but there are other things in the offing that haven’t quite happened yet. We expect that to happen in the coming weeks.
“It’s something we’re working on at the minute. Peter Ambrose won’t be part of what we’re doing going forward, so it’s something Lutz and the boys have been dealing with in terms of outgoings.
“I’ve been lucky enough at a club like this that I’m able to concentrate on the players coming in and on the coaching. Lutz does a great job with the hard stuff of getting people out of the football club.”
Team news
“Everybody is fit apart from Mats Knoester, but Mats is back on the training pitch again. Emmanuel Gyamfi will go down and have an injection in his thigh on Wednesday, but other than that it’s a fully fit squad from Saturday.”
Saturday night football
“We’re looking forward to it.
“On paper we’ve got a very, very difficult start, but that’s what you’ve come here for. You come to big clubs to play in big games, live on Sky, Saturday evening kick-off, a full house hopefully, that’s why you’re in football.
“It’s something I believe we should embrace rather than be frightened of. It’s a chance to put our stamp on the season and make sure we get off to a good start.”
Expectations
“Top six, first and foremost. At a club the size that we are, we have to be a top-six football club.
“That’s easier said than done. Over the last five years we’ve not been there often enough, so we have to change that.
“I’ve spoken about bringing stability to the club and bringing a direction that everybody is moving towards. I believe we’re doing that, and that starts with becoming a regular top-six club again.
“From there you can look at Europe and you can look at cups, but ultimately you need to be in the top six before you can even consider European football.”
The opposition
“I think Sturm Graz are a very good side, so we have to put that result into context.
“There wasn’t as much in the tie as maybe the score line suggested when I watched the first leg. We managed to watch the second leg as well and we’ve watched a lot of their pre-season friendly games.
“They’ve got a huge squad and a lot of players to pick from, so that’s probably my biggest problem, picking the team.
“Every manager has different styles and different ideas, but every time you play Hearts it’s a tough game. We don’t expect anything different and they’ll hopefully expect exactly the same coming to Pittodrie.
“We have to make Pittodrie a place to be feared again, a place that people don’t enjoy coming to, and it hasn’t been that often enough over the last five years.”
Giving players a chance
“Everyone here is fighting for a place. At the moment, Kusini Yengi won’t be in the squad tomorrow. He’s not fit enough to be in the squad. He hasn’t played any football, and he’s had a long-term injury, so he’s only just started training again. He won’t be involved this week or in the coming weeks.
“But everyone has an opportunity. If they’re good enough, they’ll play. People say, “Give people opportunities,” you have an opportunity every day in training. Every day you walk through that door you’ve got an opportunity to impress the staff.
“Kusini will be no different to anybody else.”
An exciting night
“As I alluded to before, this is what you come to Aberdeen for – full houses, expectation, live on Sky. That’s what we all work for, so we’ll embrace it.
“We have to make sure we get the crowd up and we have to give them something to cheer for.
“Aberdeen fans have travelled in their numbers for years to watch the club and we have to give them an identity. We aim to start that tomorrow.”
Adapting to the Scottish game
“I think sometimes it’s hard to actually give players that experience until they’re in it.
“You can show them things and you can talk about it, but until you come to the Scottish Premiership and see the passion from the fans, the commitment and the tempo of the game, it’s very difficult to recreate.
“Pre-season is different and the cup games are different. We have a lot of ownership and a lot of possession. It’s quite a slow pace.
“We’ve told everybody about it. Are they prepared for it? Yes, it won't be a suprise, but we certainly have to step up.”
Andrew Fasanya and Findlay Marshall
“The changes have only just come about, so I was glad to be proved wrong after my comments that he couldn’t play until December.
“What we have to do with Andrew is manage the expectation. He’s 15 years of age. He’s going back to school in September, so he’ll be at school three days a week. That probably puts into perspective where Andrew is.
“He’s an immense talent, a great kid and very, very grounded. We’ll use him when we need to use him. He’ll certainly be in the squad tomorrow. He’s not back at school yet, so that’s good news.
“As for Findlay, I believe he was overshadowed because of the age, but Finlay has worked very, very hard. He’s been very good for me in pre-season and in training.
“He’s got a lot of good players in front of him and a lot of competition, but that’s what we’re trying to create.
“Young players have to earn their chance. They have to be better than the players in front of them. We are trying to create an environment where everyone is competitive, and the squad is competitive, and the young boys add to that."
