LA-Don

I don't think you can say they are below the standard either. Both keepers come with solid backgrounds. Lewis fell away but based on record the potential is there. In Stockley's case he's a young unknown - Jamie Vardy and Dele Alli were playing a similar level not that long ago. DM hasn't said any of the outfield signings are impact players, I do agree we need a central defender but, as I said, we had a really solid defense with Ward in goal and these same defenders. DM also said we'd need to toughen up so I def see a tough CM coming. If you are expecting Stockley to replace Rooney or Storey to replace Hayes then it won't happen but I think Storey adds to the squad. Adding a top class striker to sit on the bench behind Rooney won't happen, but we have more back up should he get injured. I think your expectations are high and rightly so, and the next 2-3 signings do need to be the impact player type.

Don't really know Irvine but that, to me, is the exact player we need to get. Best of the rest, one year contract left, so not too pricey. Plus send a player to them on loan to sweeten the deal and give one of the u20s experience.

I think we've made good squad signings but I have to stress so far. We didn't have enough squad depth which cost us last year and that's being addressed. I know on paper means little but we've signed two keepers who've been in/around the international set up at u21 or full level, plus in Lewis with his age it's a potential keeper for years. Alexander is certainly an upgrade from Brown. I agree we need a central defender but defensively we were solid last year when we had Danny Ward, a good keeper improves your defense. Morris is a replacement for Quinn. Hopefully McKenna is an addition at the back, Storie and Wright should further develop in midfield - what if any of them has an impact like Kieran Tierney at Celtic this past season? Storey gives us another wide player, and we've canned Goodwillie and replaced him with Shankland, Stockley, and Storey there too, maybe even Nuttall. Any 'major' signing takes time as players are looking at options. Shinnie was the exception but I think it takes time to get quality in. I still think we add a central defender, central midfielder (Vaulks potentially does both there, plus possibly Bannigan), wide player (Nicholson?) and an attacking mid/forward (would love to get Andrew Shinnie.) Time will tell but McInness said there'd be more signing action so we eagerly await.

So Rogers back to Falkirk as part of the Will Vaulks deal?

I'd take him! Would be a good signing and competition for Rooney. Although I'd expect him to make more with a championship team.

I remember when we signed Charlie Nicholas, major statement and a signing that set the tone for our intentions. What other signings have been like that? Obviously the financial climate has changed, but what other signings have sent that message? I'd say nowadays signing the best from the rest in Scotland would be a more current symbolic signing. So now the season is officially over get John McGinn, Greg Stewart, and Will Vaulks on board asap! And the boy Nicholson would be a good wide addition. MCGovern too although I'm thinking Rogers is going to get his chance as#1. Didn't see the game, how did he looking in the tanking by Killie?

Get him signed up! With Hibs staying in the championship again he's the type of player I'd like to see us pursue. Worth paying for with a sell on clause, would be nice to see us do that for a change.

I just think we're gassed, both physically and mentally. We have been playing and training since June and got off to a good league start since Europe was our preseason and we were fit and sharp at the start of the season. We had a small squad, weakened it in January, and we're crawling to the finish. We didn't rotate the squad, don't have the depth, didn't rest/sub to protect players, and we're running on empty. Pawlett and smith have to be gone in the summer, clear mcinness doesn't rate them given how much they play. We really need close to 10 solid players to reload for and be competitive next year.

I don't know if Ward was excellent, I was just passing on the Klopp quote from BBC. I'm assuming he saw the full game, not just the BBC highlights.

And according to Klopp on bbc, "Danny Ward was brilliant."

So, fuck the gloom of the Hearts loss, don't see us catching Celtic now, so looking to the future. I'm hoping for 5 signings this summer at least - a keeper, central defender, tough physical midfielder, creative midfielder, and a forward definitely - McGovern, no clue for a defender, bannigan or John McGinn (unlikely I know but if hibs don't come up why not!), Andrew shinnie, and El Bakhtaoui. What defender is a good realistic fit??

Doh, you are right, 3-1 earlier was at Tynecastle..

Well, what do we do for the next 5 games? I think we have to solidify second and try to finish the season strongly. The league is over, can't see us winning all 5 and Celtic losing 3, especially when we go to Celtic and Hearts again. I think we give some youth a chance, such as McKenna and Scott Wright, but not to the extend of sacrificing performances and a poor finish to the season like last year. Summer will be huge as it's clear of our deficiencies. We also have to believe Rangers will be decent next season, plus assume Hearts will build on their first year back. The January window was poor and if we don't have a good summer we could easily drop back and be fighting to make top 6 next year. I also wouldn't be surprised if we get offers for Rooney, Shinnie, Hayes, or even McGinn, plus Shay may move on. Our squad isn't big enough for sure. If we keep all of the above, we still need a keeper to compete with Rodgers (Rodgers is #2), at least one commanding central defender, a couple of center mids, and another forward for sure. We also need another winger (if Scott Wright isn't ready yet) as we rely too heavily on McGinn and Hayes. I think we need another creative center mid and another tough tackling/imposing center mid. I'll say losing Ward and Rooney was a big factor in losing the league. The keeper spot must be fixed and we can't rely so much on Rooney, Goodwillie and Church aren't the answer. Very disappointed right now. Last year at this time we had a better record than Celtic against all the other teams, it was our losses to Celtic that cost us the league. This year it's not been the Celtic games. Interesting times ahead....

I hate to say it but I wouldn't be surprised if we only win our home game. Hearts will certainly be a tough one plus Motherwell are still fighting for top 6. I hope I'm wrong! We're grinding out results and while Celtic have a game or two more they have a deeper squad. We've got to take care of our games and worry about Celtic later.

Was looking at his stats after having watched a game where our main/only forward was absolutely no threat whatsoever. Any future at Aberdeen? 22 games, 6 goals for St Mirren this year, their second top scorer. Personally, I'd like to see Rooney, Shankland, and us sign a big loon for our main three strikers next season. Interesting how Magennis has developed and will go to the Euros. Probably a better player than Church and Goodwillie now.

Will also add that credit to Taylor for his goal, and another important one from Logan. Right after Logan's goal he got a last second tackle/clearance for pretty much a Killie equalizer. He'll be a big loss if he leaves this summer. We do have the best right back and left back in the country in my opinion. Was also impressed with McLean, has to be buzzing with confidence. I do believe Robson must be a good influence on him too, when Robson went off McLean slotted into his position with ease. Drop McLean deeper and put Andrew Shinnie just behind Rooney next season?

Good second goal but not a great game, but the result is all that matters. Just like the St J game, cruising with a one goal lead then totally let Killie back into the game. Second goal proved that if we put it on the deck we can play but far too often it's long ball. After Killie's goal we played with much more urgency, I'd love to see us play much more of the game that way. Once we went 2-1 up we stuck Reynolds on and just pretty much punted the ball long for the last 10-15 mins. I'd love us to pass it and really push on for more goals because we keep teams in games. We have the skill to knock it around and that keeps possession and kills time, so much of our long ball is just giving away possession. Made it harder than it needed to be, and every game is a nail biter!

So, in my opinion, he'll be our player of the year and should be our permanent team captain. Absolutely tremendous player having a great season, and good chance he'll be up for Scottish Player Of The Year too. Can anyone, dons fan or not, explain why he's not in either Scotland squad? Crazy!

So was the second goal disallowed for a so called dive by Shinnie, and he was booked for diving?? Crazy decision if so, thankfully the shocking call didn't hurt us.

Watched a rare game on RedTV so here's my take. Church did pretty well, held the ball up, won it, good shot off a half chance from a cross. McLean wasn't involved, Pawlett more involved but lost the ball a lot, and McGinn didn't do a great deal, couple of threatening runs but that's it. We created little and that simply isn't good enough if we want to win the league - Church got two chances, one goal from a rebound and good half chance the keeper saved well. We definitely looked weak in defense and in the first half in particular St J had chances. We do not look confident at the back at all and we did a lot of panicy clearances rather than build out the back. Scrappy stuff. Second half we looked more secure defensively and St J did little, then got the penalty. Whether it was one or not, I don't think Jack should be diving in. Overall we weren't good enough and should push have on to get 2 or 3. Our own fault. Our squad will now be stretched with Hayes and Rooney out. Time for Church, Pawlett, and Cammy Smith to really step up. May see Wright get his chance too. Thought Brown in goal looked solid but his two central defenders have to stress him out.

Nobody asked about the most recent transfer window and the lack of players coming in?

Not a lot we can do except sit and wait and hope. We're a more desirable team and club again and we're trying to get in more desirable players who have options. January always has limited players available too, good players aren't really moving at this time of year. I also think negotiations with the guys on expiring contracts can take a while - if Bannigan is a target Thistle will only sell him if they can get a replacement so we're waiting there too I assume. The majority of deal happen at the end of the window anyway so there's still time. Andrew Shinnie would have been an interesting one but I think someone posted before he's on around 10k a week?? Don't think we can afford even a percentage of that.

If players don't produce enough in training they shouldn't stay at the club. If players are good enough they need to play and I agree, DM isn't giving enough youth/squad a chance. Players will burn out and we'll finish the season poorly for the third season in a row. It's all very well giving youth a chance in the last few weeks of the season but Cammy Smith and the like need to play more now. He's only 20 and more regular first team action will show whether that's where he belongs. I didn't realize Pawlett is 24 - if he isn't playing more because he's not producing it enough in training he needs to move on. However, I'd rather see him included more in a rotation so that McGinn, Hayes, McLean don't get burned out. Consistency comes from playing as I already said. Fergie was criticized for burning out the young guys like Neale Cooper but he still pretty much rotated/used Black, McGhee, Hewitt, even Willie Falconer and Stevie Cowan up top and Strachan, Bell, Cooper, Simpson, McMaster, Weir, Porteous in midfield. Our key guys do well but we cannot last an entire season without more rotation.

To be honest I'd like to see both Smith and Pawlett play more often. It's hard to be a consistent player when time on the field is extremely inconsistent and to develop talent you've got to play. We are very heavily reliant on McGinn, Hayes, McLean, Rooney, and Shinnie - they are all valued extremely highly but they be gassed by seasons end and particularly training and playing on the heavy fields we really need to better utilize certain squad players. I just don't think we can play a full season and keep up with Celtic without keeping people fresh.

Spending big on quality signings is what Milne thought he did first time around and it nearly killed the club. That won't happen again and I don't want it to happen. Paul Bernard was considered a quality million pound signing. I think the debt was simply paid/written off and we don't have money in the bank. Once and if we have a healthy bank balance I'd then support spending big. Would love to see us getting McGovern from Hamilton, prob on a pre contract, ability and experience. Don't get the Lennox signing if we rate Rogers and if Collin is any good have him replace Brown. Bannigan on a pre contract, tough player, young, and an investment, and Cowie on loan until the seasons end, plus a big tard up top who gives us a different approach. If we rated Shankland he'd be back at the club in my opinion. Finally, donate Goodwillie to charity.