What's gone wrong at Pittodrie?

Liam answered: Bad recruitment and an imbalanced squad. Yes, the individual players all have their attributes but few of the signings from the last few transfer windows have fitted in. They have never really looked like a team this season.

It's not because they're bad footballers, rather they weren't right for the team they were bought for.

Cases in point - Adil Aouchiche was brought on loan from Sunderland and looked lost at times yet has gone on to play a big role in Schalke's bid for promotion in Germany while making his international debut for Algeria, and Jesper Karlsson has moved back to the Dutch top flight and is scoring goals for Utrecht.

Ryan asked: What will be the impact of this horrendous season on the next? Assuming Aberdeen do enough to avoid anything silly affecting their top flight status, what does the summer bring? Will there be major changes throughout the club? We really feel like we're in danger of being Scotland's fifth club now behind the Edinburgh and Glasgow pairs. What do we need to do to keep pace starting from next season?

Liam answered: Firstly, no Europe which means less money despite a higher outlay on the playing squad.

I can understand why some Aberdeen fans will be looking at what has happened at Hearts this season and feel it could be the Dons up there challenging for the title.

Had the house been in order at Pittodrie that could have been the case as all of the top three have regularly dropped points, in Hearts' case they've done so in 12 of their 33 games yet they have been top since September. To put it in context, Aberdeen were only two points worse off than Hearts are after 33 games in 2016 under Derek McInnes.

This summer could be one of the most important Aberdeen have faced if they aren't to be left behind. There needs to be a reset and a new way of thinking. The impact of Tony Bloom and Jamestown at Tynecastle is there for all to see and it's only in its infancy.

I heard Brentford owner Matthew Benham discussing the player model they have, which like Jamestown at Brighton, has allowed the club to prosper and punch above their weight in the Premier League, competing with clubs with higher budgets.

They still use 'old-fashioned' scouting, but their data models are something Aberdeen should be taking an extremely close look at. If a player in his mid-20s doesn't tick every single data box, they don't sign him.

Changes higher up the food chain will be whether Dave Cormack thinks they're needed and that is something that can't be ruled out given how dreadful this season has been across the board.

[BBC]