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Main I'm pretty "meh" about, but he has caused Aberdeen problems in the past. My main concern is that McInnes appears to be becoming more committed to his hoof ball tactics and this signing, and Taylor too if you like due to his penchant for going forward as an auxiliary striker, kinda fits in with that.

Says who? He's just been released by a team that finished 15th in League Two - he's in no position to be demanding big money or a guaranteed starting spot. Sounds more like McInnes is doing him a favour by securing him a contract for next season. We were short in defence this season. As much as I'm not a fan of Taylor, having him around for the last two months of the season would have been handy. I think we'll still sign another CB even if and when Taylor signs. Think the club are still interested in Hoban. No idea what the story is with Shaughnessy - has he signed a new St Johnstone deal or gone elsewhere? The talks with Aberdeen have dragged on since January.....though maybe he's actually the CB we're on the verge of announcing and not Taylor. Anyway, back to Taylor. I'm fairly relaxed about it as long as it's not taking too much out of the budget. A fully fit Devlin is still a better player than him. Bit of competition for places can't hurt though.

Finishing fourth is a disappointment but this is the first season in six I'd class as a real failure where he hasn't met minimum expectations. I'm willing to give him one more season at least. He's earned that.

But likewise, if they get promoted they'll be financially comfortable and won't need to sell anyone. It's nothing to them to therefore send him out on another one-season loan. Either his value goes up, he becomes a better player, or they get relegated and have a player to stick in their Championship squad. I think he'll be back on loan at Aberdeen next season. That's my hunch.

I've been told both Rangers and Celtic are interested in him. No clickbait here.

Think that's harsh. He's had quite a few solid performances this season in what has generally been an unsettled team. He's certainly not League Two standard.

It was a stupid question to be fair. No-one is suggesting he's going to be world class, but to suggest at 23 a player can't improve is just ridiculous.

Probably the same way as every other footballer.

Did anyone go to the event at Pittodrie last night? Anything more substantial at that?

Would say Ball has been a good signing for us considering how many different positions he's had to fill in. Still a young player with his best years ahead of him. Happy to see us sign him permanently, though as more of a back-up option. He's a handy player to throw on at 1-0 in the final 10 minutes.

We signed Devlin when he wasn't fit enough to play for another six months. I think we'll take the risk on Hoban. If it pays off then Aberdeen get a very good player on the cheap.

Wilson - you can see there's a player there. Given the run of games Cosgrove has had I'd fancy him to score more across the season. You can tell he's not played much though. Should be burying at least two of the chances that came his way today.

No, it's not acceptable to finish below Kilmarnock. That's not big club arrogance, it's down to budgets. We took their best player off them in January too. I can accept our injury list curtailing our efforts to finish second (should have still given it a better stab though) but not missing out on third.

Lewis Logan Devlin McKenna Lowe Ball Ferguson Stewart May Cosgrove Wilson All things considered, not as bad a starting XI as I first feared. Not much at all on the bench though.

But they don't appear to have many ambitions beyond having a seat on the fans forum and holding a player of the month award. The recent Aberdeen allocation for the cup replay at Ibrox was when a strong fans voice was needed to demand answers from the club. But they were posted missing - presumably because they don't want to upset the club.

I suggested to them long before DNA was mooted that they should be looking to set up such a scheme. Other than that I struggle to see their relevance now - the introduction of an Aberdeen SLO means fans can just go to her rather than the DST.

I would keep Considine around the place, but when everyone is fit I see him as more of a back-up. If we can get Hoban & Shaugnessy signed, and a new left back, then wouldn't see him starting much. Would be depressing if he reverts to left-back again. Wouldn't make McKenna captain - has generally struggled when given the armband. Is still a young player himself in need of guidance. The real worry is without Shinnie there's a lack of leaders in that team. Lewis wouldn't be the worst shout as captain.

Yeh, but you equated it to him looking "pissed off when handing his gloves to a fan" on Sunday, suggesting that was some tell-tale sign. I tend to think he was pissed off at losing a semi-final more than anything.

How have you come to the conclusion that means he wants to leave?

It actually says in your link "reported as £6.5m", which is the writer of that article just stating that reports in other media have said it was £6.5m. They aren't stating it as a fact themselves. I can't find the link, but I'm fairly sure the club said Villa's offer was not the £6.5m reported at the time, or at the very least wasn't the initial fee (likely loads of add ons and clauses that could potentially have made it that high one day). Stoke offered less than £5m in January, and you wouldn't expect a club to offer less than a bid that has already been rejected. Same with Celtic and their £3.5m bid.

Have the club themselves not been on record as saying the bid was no-where near £6.5m?

Agree with all this. May is likely to fluff any chances that come our way.

McLennan has already had a spell out on loan, and when played this season, more often than not has been a positive. I'd start him and McGinn for Wednesday and bench GMS - who is someone whose end product has been poor.

Oddly, I thought Cosgrove was one of our better players in the first half when most of the team was generally poor, but struggled in the second half when we were more of an attacking threat. Shinnie and Stewart were excellent. After the red card, Considine played very well. But Ferguson was below bar, sat off Rangers far too much in midfield. McKenna had a poor night, as did Logan. GMS is a funny one - shows loads of skill, was constantly getting on the ball, but his final product again wasn't good enough. Worryingly, we're kinda back to not quite knowing what our best XI is.

How's that different from any other game against them this season?