LA-Don

I'm really intrigued to see how this all plays out. We've lost 1/3 of our starting 11 and DM had an easy get out. He chose to stay which, to me, has to mean he believes he'll get the players to make us better than we were with Hayes, McGinn etc. We were second across the board last season and I just cannot see DM settling, plus he did say players of the level of those who left would come in - really curious who that will be, I just don't see DM staying then settling for top 6 mediocrity only. DM is his usual quiet self regarding transfers, just hope he produces the transfer goods, he's been average in the market at best.

Good grief some people over react. We've worn blue before and this one is still, like the last time, nothing like Rangers. Scotland wear pink, hearts have a comedy top, seem to recall us once have a vomit stain design on a top. Anyway, it's an Aberdeen top, I'll wear it, least I can do to help the cause. If I had my choice I'd love be a black and white striped away top, white shorts and socks, like juventus! Or red and black like Milan.

I just don't want to see McLean walk away for free as McGinn and Jack have done. And we gave Flood away for free last year. Sad to say but McLean has done everything he can at Aberdeen. More money, more caps, and potentially more trophies elsewhere, plus doesn't help that he's just watched Hayes, McGinn, and Jack all leave. Cash in while we can and, to be honest, I'm not terrified if we face Rangers with Jack and McLean. As I've already said, Shinnie and Christie are better.

I was never a fan of Jack - a poor mans Scott Brown - and not overly keen on McLean - an attacking creative midfielder who somehow manages to rarely get goals and assists. Shinnie is our best midfielder, I see Christie better than Kenny. Hayes and McGinn are the tough ones to replace as they scored and assisted on a shit load. Don't think Jack or McLean would be overly missed provided we sign replacements and if we get offered seven figures for McLean we take it. He's a die hard hun apparently, totally see him going there for free on a pre contract and we did a terrible job of losing McGinn and Jack for nothing, that should never happen. We cannot afford to lose our supposed best players for free. Still think that if we can send McLean to Birmingham for Stewart and Andrew Shinnie that's a good piece of business plus McLean doesn't come back to haunt us with the huns. Saying that, I'd like to see a central midfield pairing on Graeme Shinnie and John McGinn with Christie ahead of them.

Ok, getting bored! Milne fucked us by saying we should expect signing this week! Getting slightly concerned by the lack of activity but this is what I expected to be honest. We don't pay big money so available players won't jump at us immediately, they'll wait to explore all offers, much like the situation Niall McGinn is in. Plus we have an agenda with Europe coming up, other teams are still on holiday. We need at the bare minimum 6 signings in my eyes, the rest get replaced by youth, something we've neglected and must be developed - Alexander - replaced by Danny Rogers Taylor - replaced by ? Pawlett - replaced by Andrew Shinnie Hayes - replaced by Greg Stewart McGinn - replaced by Scott Wright Jack - replaced by Ryan Christie and Greg Tansey Punt Storey and add Stevie May The Jonny Hayes transfer free plus freed wages should cover all of this.

Shinnie would be a direct replacement for Pawlett in my eyes, solid squad player. I may be blinkered, but by signing for us with his brother here may spark his career, there's talent there.

That's my logic BigAl, not that I'm pushing him out the door or necessarily want him to leave but I totally see him away next summer for free.

So Kenny McLean to Birmingham and Greg Stewart and Andrew Shinnie to us?? I'd take that.

Then stop talking about it, I don't read all the shit about what ex players are saying, more concerned about who is coming in. I don't care if we buy or sell from Rangers or Celtic, despise them both, but if it makes us better it's a business where performance matters. If you took the 1.3 mill we brought in who would you buy? Would you spend 750k on Stevie May and Lindsay? I think both are young enough with the potential to do well for us then sell on eventually and make money - we haven't done that particularly well in the past, pains me seeing teams like United and Hearts make money off transfers, I'd love us to gamble on these two. Add Jamie walker to that we spend a mill on a half or so on players that are good young talent. I get that May is a risk but worth it in my eyes. All the talk about as doing better next year means we MUST spend to replace what we lost, plus we MUST spend to reward the manager's loyalty.

I'd pay 400k for May, 200 now and 200 in club/international appearances etc. Much like I felt we should have signed Craig Gordon when he was without a club after injury, May has tremendous upside and is worth the risk.

To me it depends on the other signings - Maloney and a bunch of nobodies and I'll be well pissed off. However, if it's Maloney, and signings the likes of Nicholson, May, Lindsay, Andrew Shinnie, and Ali Crawford then I'm ok with it. He's well passed it and we cannot rely on him for a great deal so he needs to be complimenting other strong signings.

Read up a bit on the boy, sounds a decent player!

Maybe I'm missing the point but is there a difference signing a player from Rangers or Celtic/or ex Rangers or Celtic players or is that unacceptable too? I know there's people here too who don't accept that. Jim Bett is one of the best players I've ever seen play for the dons, and obviously McGinn was a success. Christie played 10 games for Celtic scoring twice and has already played 15 games with 6 goals for us. I see him as being a better player this year. Is it conceivable to see him as more of an Aberdeen player given he's played more for us and done more for us? It pisses me off he can't play against Celtic but it's certainly a good signing i'm happy to make.

There is plenty wrong with modern football and I'd love every player to be a permanent signing but the game has changed drastically in recent years and loans are a regular thing in the current game. We're loaning a quality player who will contribute while saving transfer money, allowing for other signings. That's win win. If we want to be second best (which in itself pains me to say) we have to consider loans from anyone, including Celtic. I'd rather we take Christie who is a known quality and will be successful over an unknown championship/league one player. I even like it in the fact that he's a Scottish player. To ignore loans like this would be cutting off our noses to spite our face. Welcome back Ryan Christie!

Happy to take Christie back. Reality is we can't afford the 8k weekly wage but he's a good player who will do well for us again. Hayes won't be loaned out at 29. Maloney would be very uninspiring. Naismith, please god no. While great that DM is staying we're still a much weaker team with the players gone, huge month or so ahead and up until now DM hasn't been that strong in signings. Nervous for the future - we need younger proven quality players to add to an aging weakened squad.

I think it's this, if not more. DM must be very confident of getting good players in, plus must be spending money, not just free transfers. He's staying here to win trophies and consolidate second best behind Celtic and, as he's quoted saying in the club statement about staying, the players who left will be replaced with similar quality. Excited about who is brought in to replace Hayes, McGinn, jack, Pawlett, and Taylor. Interesting transfer activity ahead!

I'd really like to see us try for Lindsay and walker. Would be a statement. Tough to do while we don't know the manager situation though.

Is it worth investing the potential Jonny Hayes money on Jamie Walker? He's 23, grab him from underneath Rangers noses and surely we'd make our money and some with a sell on in a few years.

Certainly don't blame Hayes, good luck to the boy. A little disappointed if he's indeed off, 2 years left on a contract, but the rumors of him leaving have been since the cup final so you'd have to think that anyone interested would have come in for him by now. With McGinn and Jack gone for free I guess we cash in when we get the biggest return. Hoping the loan has an agreed transfer fee if Christie decides long term here is the correct move - I don't blame Christie either for not wanting to sign permanently right now, he doesn't know who our manager will be.

Was thinking the same thing Rossco, it's the start of the summer and he's getting plenty of season recognition. I'm sure there'd be interest if we look for it. We should be holding out for a lot more. No urgency to sell. I understand us selling, don't want to end up him leaving and us getting nothing like Jack and McGinn but a little patience and we should get more.

Shocking if it's true and 1.2 million. He's under contract and Celtic have money. We gave away Willo Flood last year and 1.2 for Hayes would be giving him away in my eyes. Wtf. At least that plus Christie is a little better but we don't have a good selling record.

Probably the shit if I had to guess.

So, has he been stripped of the captaincy for the cup final because he said that and is now going to the huns?

Honestly, is it worth playing an at best half match fit Jack? His head cannot be in the right place and he's not fully match fit to play the best team in the league. He'll probably get abuse from some sections of both sets of fans. I'd go with O'Connor, Shinnie, and McLean in the middle of midfield. Jack on the bench. Sad ending to his Aberdeen career, should never have come to this, and shouldn't have come out that he was leaving, should have done exactly what McGinn has done.

Kenny, McGinn played much of his time wide left and cutting in, Hayes played any of the front 3 positions behind Rooney. Pretty sure Mackey-Steven can play Mcginn's role w Hayes on the field.