Hands tied: Give McInnes time

To cut to the chase: I think McInnes has been handed a tricky, almost unwinnable job so far. The signings and existing squad quality have been questioned rightly, and you can see why fans are frustrated. That said, it feels harsh to judge him on a handful of games when the building blocks simply aren’t there yet.

Recruitment has left gaps

There’s no dancing around it — recruitment this summer hasn’t inspired confidence. You mentioned Purdy and Thelwell Jr and plenty of fans think the blame lies with the incomings rather than the manager who’s barely had time in the seat. When the new players don’t immediately lift standards, and several squad members look short of the level required, the manager’s job becomes a lot harder.

Selection and shape do matter

That isn’t to say McInnes is blameless. Picking players in the right positions matters. Playing Sterling out of position and leaving Makhanya on the bench are fair points to raise — those kinds of choices alter the team shape and can cost you games. But small tactical tweaks won’t paper over broader issues if the roster lacks real quality or depth.

Time and windows, not knee-jerk reactions

Truth is, squads don’t become the manager’s overnight. If you want a Derek McInnes team you need at least a couple of windows to shape it — new signings, departures and time for players to learn his methods. I’m hopeful we’ll improve as the season goes on. Equally, I won’t pretend there aren’t risks — if it doesn’t work out it won’t be a total shock. But it would feel unfair to call him a failure when the whole structure around him looks shaky.

So yes, patience is warranted. Keep the pressure sensible, question the recruitment, and expect changes over the next windows. Whatever happens, the roots of this season were laid before he arrived.

Written by OhSuperBarry: 13 August 2026