kneehigh

paatelinen could play a bit though - was more to say he did play as if he enjoyed the game. never really see young wi a smile on his coupon do you? could be a worse thing to teach our kids, no? play the game without fear!

Agreed Dave - but i hate all the pros turning up at the olympics - thought it was meant for amateurs. to save all the "there wouldn't be a scottish person ine the team" etc stuff - why not have a selection of welsh league, northern irish, junior and conference players having a big trial overlooked by a couple of managers and a squad selected from that - a bit like how your counties team got selected at school level! Always riled me the fact that the rules changed to an age thing to accommodate pro players

I'd be happy wi Mixu on the coaching staff somewhere - he seemed to get too stressed, when his main attribute as a player was always his enthusiasm for the game! Think he would be a great addition to the set-up though

Seen a lot of players in the worst leagues in the world - and hasn't done anything of note for over 15 yrs! I'd take him back as a player though

I would back that, but would he bring Kevin Rubkjaskcbz,cb,smzxndxaskbcbschbb bshzcs,alnn with him?

the hodgson reference was just a tongue in cheek comment referring to your need for an ex-don, or someone with experience within Scottish football! I agree McInnes does sound good, I also understand why you feel Calderwood shouldn't have been sacked. I also think we shouldn't be too hasty in dismissing anyone. I'll be happier when a decision has been made either way, I just don't want it to be done TOO hastily. And then we can all get right behind him and see Aberdeen do well, and get Pittodrie (or wherever we end up playing) bouncing!! No matter who he used to play for!!

yes I do know Hodgson has qualified - hence the "not with a London based team". who then? I'm really struggling too, I just don't think Mcghee is the answer. However, if he does come on board then rest assured i will be 100% behind him. I do think they should at least try and sound out Preston and Doncaster, cos it's worth interviewing these guys if they get the chance to do so.

But when has their last experience in Scottish football to have been? It is changed days since 80's early 90's, yet i'm sure you would snap David Moyes hand off if he decided to throw his hat in the ring. I for one would be delighted if Roy Hodgson wanted a wee bash at Europa League football wi a non London based team!! I'd rather have someone who has had 3 continuous years of success rather than one who does well for 2 seasons then fucks up or jumps ship (Mcghee) or someone who hasnt been tested as a manager in his own right for any lengthy period of time (Black).

I can play up front - doesn't mean i'm any good and deserve to be in the squad! But what I was getting at is every manager will always bring in players he trusts regardless of the squad he has inherited, cos he thinks they deserve to be at any club. So I opened up the debate to see what players people thought potential managers would end up bringing in

[quote author=dave_min link=topic=8718.msg142937#msg142937 date=1243366221 Whereas somebody who has some sort of connection to the club/Scottish football will have the advantage of having a decent understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of Darren Mackie and co, something I very much doubt Van Basten does? I'm pretty sure Van Basten would be able to come up with an opinion on Mackie in less than 2 months mate!! I do get your point, but what you are suggesting is a quick fix thing to get through one game - i would much rather the right person coming in who is successful over a long period, and I don't like the fact people want to ignore perfectly valid candidates just cos they haven't played for us.

I'd rather bring a manager in knowing the strength of a couple of players rather than not having a clue who might come. We might end up with Nigel Pepper or Juan Cobian!! Yes, he needs to assess the squad, but we also don't want to be out of the competition because he hasn't noticed that we need a few players extra.

That was partly my point Dave. We are not wanting to keep going on about our history but you seem adamant that the new manager needs to know everything about it. Surely it would be better for the guy just to come in, look at what we have NOW, and improve that! no?

100% agree. Exactly what I have said in other threads. Only way i'd take Billy Reid is if he HAD to bring the James's with him. Only way I'd take John Hughes is if he Had to bring Arfield and Barr

well said bb. How could he make a stance on indiscipline within the club for example? I do think he would be good as a coach for the strikers - teach Mackie not to be scared about having a dig, but as a manager for his first club - No chance! Why does it need to be someone with connections with Aberdeen - Fergie didn't and he was ok

so did Graham Rix!!! sorry, i'll get my coat

don't think ferguson is possible to be honest. again as said in another thread i'd take a look at alan irvine. would rather have black than mcghee. more experience with squads at a higher level, so we might get some good kids on loan. I would just hate for the aberdeen fans to turn on Black! It wouldn't be right.

but would you take him now? actually, tommy wright or dougie arnott now? hmmmm. point taken I wouldnt want John Hughes cos i don't think he'd be able to attract good enough players. If he is not getting a budget we couldn't afford their talented ones, and i wouldn't want to risk him bringing in some of their others, cos they are no better than what we have. I honestly think we should try for one of the talented managers from the championship or league 1. Especially if we are looking for a "fresh approach to take us forward"

I wish mate - more likely we'll end up with Keith Lasley, John Philliben and Dougie Arnott!!! Dempsey and Byrne weren't the best players at Dunfermline but they were still brought up.

as long as he doesn't bring clark back. It's maybe because he is used to having a striker called Mackie who has a strike rate of one every seventeen weeks.

If we get yogi we wouldnt be able to afford the better Falkirk players as they are all under 24. I'm worried if we don't get someone from a team at least on the same level we will end up with an influx of worse players brought in by the new manager, convinced they can make the grade. Even Calderwood was guilty by bringing Byrne and Dempsey.

As always seems to happen, new managers will bring in players they have worked with before. Out of the names currently being touted, who will be able to get in the best players? I know he has had a good couple of months, but my biggest fear is we go for Jim Jeffries and end up seeing Kevin Kyle in a Dons top!! Do we also really want half of the Falkirk team ending up at Pittodrie. Remember what happened when Patterson started bringing in players he believed could make the step up?? Leigh Hinds, Bryan Prunty ....... sorry have to stop ... can't see what i'm typing through the tears

I don't like the idea of going for an ex-don legend - hasn't exactly gone to plan in the best with Miller and Duncan Shearer. Plus it is never nice to see a relationship like that sour. Surely it is better to get a fresh approach to create his own piece of history and ditch the ties with the past and all the comparisons that go with it. Maybe O'Driscoll isn't the best shout, but what about Alan Irvine? You mentioned 3 guys who didnt exactly set the heather alight. I know this, but at the same token look at the players we have brought from the lower english leagues. more than half have been shocking, doesnt mean there is no talent there. I will re-iterate the fact he needs to have a good eye for a player. None of the managers i have mentioned have signed Derek Young before!!!!!!

Why don't we show a wee bit of nous and go for Alan Irvine - most ex preston managers have went on to do well recently!!

i understand your concerns - but i'm just worried that only going for someone who has already been in scotland is limiting ourselves and so missing out on potentially very good managers

you really think that any championship manager doesn't know anything about scottish football these days? when a good percentage of the top players in that league come from our division on low/no fees? Don't be so blinkered - there isn't a manager around who doesn't have a team in place so he knows what is going on in virtually every division. Surely it is more important for him to know a good standard of player when he sees one and how to get him into his club, and more importantly get the best out of a squad that he has inherited.