Latest news with #Euro-bound
Daily Record
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ipswich spoil Aberdeen party as Jimmy Thelin's shake up after Scottish Cup glory becomes clear
The Dons slumped to a 3-1 defeat in front of the fans with the new season just days away Ipswich Town came up and spoiled Aberdeen's Scottish Cup homecoming. The Tractor Boys ploughed through Pittodrie, thanks to a double from Jaden Philogene and another from Scotland cap George Hirst. Jimmy Thelin 's cup winners started brilliantly but then the English Championship promotion pushers just had too much for them. Hirst and Sam Szmodic neatly combined to give Philogene a tap-in before the half-hour. They doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Dimitar Mitov pushed out a Szmodic shot and Hirst rammed in the rebound. Philogene netted a third in the second period when he too easily beat Mitov. Sub Peter Ambrose was an unlikely goal hero as he netted a consolation late on for Aberdeen. It leaves Thelin's Euro-bound squad with plenty to ponder before Monday's Premiership opener at Hearts, as he looks to improve on last season's fifth place finish. A new-look for the Scottish Cup winners It was the first Pittodrie outing since the Aberdeen lifted the Scottish Cup. The glow of that win still shines over the city. It was almost just over two months ago since Thelin had taken the trophy back to the Granite City for the first time in 35 years. It was a chance for the Red Army to come out and see their remaining heroes and those who Thelin had added over the course of the summer. The likes of Adil Aouchiche, Kusini Yengi, Nicolas Milanovic, Nick Suman, Alfie Dorrington and Kjartan Kjaransson. Old European foes This game was marked as a re-run of their legendary 1981-82 encounter in the UEFA Cup. The Dons drew 1-1 at Portman and Road then knocked Bobby Robson's side out 3-1 at Pittodrie thanks to a Peter Weir double and another from Gordon Strachan. This time it was nothing more than a glamour friendly. Both sides have very different ambitions away from a Battle of Britain. Ipswich are looking to get back into the English Premier League, while Aberdeen are fighting for third place in Scotland. Would Jimmy Thelin change tack? The Swede when it came to his formation was very one dimensional. It was 4-2-3-1 all season until he finally threw a curve ball in the Scottish Cup final. Would that encourage him to mix things up going into the new season. Yet last night it was back to the old safety blanket of 4-2-3-1, which many teams had learned to counteract last season. Will he show more flexibility or will he stick with what he knows? New faces Thelin has been relatively busy in the transfer window this summer. Kusini Yengi and Adil Aouchiche were the only two new boys who were handed starts. The big striker hardly got any service in this game and this certainly wasn't a game to judge him. On-loan Aouchiche played just behind him. He looked neat and tidy on the ball and could pose a real attacking threat. Winger Milanovic was another big-money buy and he came on for Shayden Morris at the interval. He also looks lively. It took him a few minutes to drive inside the box and fire across the face. He also had a shot blocked on the line that allowed Ambrose to follow up for his goal. Will Aberdeen be ready for Hearts? They and Celtic will be the last in the Premiership to kick a top-flight ball. They have lost their last two outings against Fulham and Ipswich but the argument will be that they are both likely to be better than most sides they will be facing domestically. Thelin is still trying to bed his new players in and it is unlikely they are going to repeat their sizzling start of last season. Traditionally, Aberdeen don't have a great record at Tynecastle. Hearts have also hit their strides under Derek McInnes so the Dons could have asked for much of a tougher challenge in the opening game.
Daily Record
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
The bizarre Celtic transfer act of Said Hamulic as striker finally set for Premiership switch
The Tannadice outfit have agreed a season-long loan deal with Toulouse Said Hamulic has never been one to shy away from headlines but Jim Goodwin will be hoping it will be his goals for Dundee United that will have everybody talking. United have agreed a season-long loan deal with Toulouse for the Bosnia and Herzegovina striker and that deal could be finalised in the next 48 hours. The 24-year-old has been with the French side for two years but has struggled to make his mark and after disappointing loan spells at Vitesse, Lokomotiv Moscow and Widow Lodz he will be looking to get back on track with Goodwin's Euro-bound squad. Hamulic is no stranger to Scotland as he was on Celtic r adar back in 2023 before he made the move to Ligue 1. The Dutch-born forward had come to the fore after a goal-filled loan spell at Polish side Stal Mielec. Hamulic, who had been loaned out from Lithuanian side Dainava to Poland, netted an impressive nine goals and pitched in with four assists in just 19 appearances. It made him hot property and the player certainly thought he was close to sealing a move to Celtic. A bizarre 'Said Hamulic, welcome to Celtic video' with a show reel of his career highlights was briefly posted on his Instagram account before it was quickly removed. A few weeks later, it was Toulouse who sealed a deal when they agreed to pay £2million to land him. The Bosnian never got his move to Scotland at that point but is finally set to get a crack at the Scottish Premiership in the tangerine and black of Dundee United. Hamulic moved to Toulouse in the January of 2023 but made just nine appearances and failed to net. He did end up with a Coupe de France winner' medal, as an unused sub as Toulouse beat Nantes 5-1. The frontman then made headlines as he was one of three players at Toulouse who were alleged to have refused to wear a rainbow flag on their club shirt, which was part of a campaign by the French Football Federation. Zakaia Aboukhlal was left on the bench while Moussa Diarra and Hamulic were left out of the squad for the match against Nantes. The 2022-23 season was to finish on a high as he got his first taste of international football with Bosnia and Herzegovina. He won the first of his six caps against Luxembourg in that June. There was the hope that could help spark his career in Toulouse the following season but he was sent back to his country of birth and a loan spell with Vitesse to try and get him to rediscover his form. It didn't go the way either side hoped. He failed to score in 14 appearances and in January his loan was terminated. Hamulic, though, always remained confident and Goodwin will be hoping that continues at Tannadice and also seeps on to the pitch. Hamulic said: "I don't know if I will stay in Toulouse. 'I don't know what the plans are and what will happen. When I get home, I'll think about it. 'It was a difficult season for me, also mentally. 'But when you look at my career, I always come back stronger. This will also be the case next season." He went to Lokomotiv Moscow but played one game as his loan was wrecked by injury. Last season he went out on loan to Polish side Widzew Lodz but again injury curtailed him. He netted once in 13 games and also pitched in with three assists. The goals haven't exactly been free-flowing for Hamulic since he moved to France. But if they had, then he would have been out of United's financial grasp. Goodwin, along with fellow new striker Zac Sapsford, is now going to give him an opportunity to get back to his best. It is quite similar to Sam Dalby. Before he came up on loan to United, he had hardly had a prolific strike rate but ended up amongst the Premiership's top scorers. Goodwin will be hoping Hamulic can do something similar.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ryan Ledson on Hibs transfer radar as Black Knights flag up Preston star as summer target
The midfielder is set to become a free agent at the end of June and has plenty suitors Euro-bound Hibs are amongst a number of clubs who are interested in Ryan Ledson. The midfielder is set to leave Preston North End this summer. The 27-year-old has been flagged by the Black Knights, who own a stake in the Easter Road club. Ledson has interest from his former club, Oxford United, Bolton, Huddersfield and Plymouth. The former Everton youngster is currently weighing up his next move. Hibs have declared an interest and hope the lure of playing in European football next season could also help their cause. Ledson has spent the last seven years at Preston and will exit Deepdale when his contract expires next month. Hibs sealed third spot against St Mirren on Wednesday night and it could guarantee European group stage football, providing Aberdeen don't win the Scottish Cup. Sporting director Malky Mackay is already looking to add to their squad for next season. Eupen winger Regan Charles-Cook, Legia Warsaw frontman Migouel Alfarela and Hartberg keeper Raphael Sallinger are all amongst their summer options. Walsall defender Oisin McEntee is another they have looked into.
