Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, appointed in November, is leading a rebuild at Aberdeen.

After a huge turnover of players in the past two years – there have been 31 incomings in four transfer windows – a disjointed squad needs a strong identity.

Pfannenstiel is on record as saying this, and his work started in January as the club added seven new players.

It is about the long-term vision for the club which means there may need to be short-term pain, so the theory goes. It is a logical analysis.

The problem is football does not always bow to logic.

“People should see it as a privilege to be offered the Aberdeen job,” former Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson said on Sportsound.

“If there is a personal issue or a snag, I think the Aberdeen board should just cut ties.

“Everything has a reason for happening, go and get someone else. I can’t believe a club the size of Aberdeen is going to sit dormant between now and the end of the season.

“I know they won in the cup – but go and act quickly, you’re Aberdeen. It would put the fans and players at ease and settle everything down.”

The point Stevenson makes about settling things down is a salient one. Aberdeen have had no consistency this season.

They have used more players than any side in the Premiership, and have changed goalkeepers, centre-back pairings, and systems at will. Not to mention different voices in the dugout.

From Thelin to Leven, Pfannenstiel and now new assistant Tony Docherty as well. If results start to turn for the interim team, it will buy the club time.

Lose to Dundee United on Tuesday and the noise will keep growing. It can only be ignored for so long.