Jimmy ready to splash the cash

 

Published: 15/04/2008

 

ABERDEEN have given manager Jimmy Calderwood clearance to splash the cash as he rebuilds his beleaguered squad.

 

The Dons boss admitted he will be allowed to pay transfer fees for players if it’s the only way he can bring them to Pittodrie.

 

Calderwood still won’t have fortunes to spend, but says being able to offer fees will help as he attempts to add more quality to his squad.

 

“You can’t keep pulling rabbits out of the hat,†said Calderwood, who is determined to ride the storm of criticism coming his way in the wake of their Scottish Cup defeat at the hands of Queen of the South.

 

He said: “Scott Severin, Jamie Smith and Lee Miller were taken in on free transfers, but it’s getting more and more difficult to get international players in that way.â€

 

Calderwood refused to identify specific targets at this stage, although he said his search has gone “world wide.â€

 

The Dons boss also confirmed football director Willie Miller’s statement in yesterday’s Evening Express that he will be making up to eight new signings to totally revamp his squad.

 

“The way things are shaping up it looks as if we will be taking eight in,†he said.

 

“I’m getting phone calls every day, from all over the world, telling me top players would be happy to come to Aberdeen.

 

“We are still an attractive club to play for but it always comes down to finance because quality costs money.

 

“The transfer money from the sale of Michael Hart and Chris Clark is there. They were only allowed to go because I knew the money would go right back into helping to get other players in over the summer.â€

 

It now looks certain four of those will be direct replacements for Barry Nicholson, Lee Miller and loan stars Sone Aluko and Josh Walker.

 

Calderwood fears their cup exit – and failure to qualify for Europe – has killed off any chance of Nicholson or Miller signing new deals.

 

He also confirmed Aluko and Walker, who played for the youth team against Celtic last night, are on their way back to England.

 

Calderwood said: “You’ve got to be realistic and accept it looks as if we are going to lose Barry and Lee

 

“I was trying to remain optimistic, but that was knocked out of me by last Saturday’s result.

 

“If we had won at Hampden and made it back into Europe then it might have edged their decisions our way.

 

“But that’s no to be, so I’m worried about how talks with them in the coming days will go.

 

“The other two look as if they will be away as well.

 

“Birmingham want Sone back, which is a shame because he has done well for us.

 

“Middlesbrough also want Josh to be playing every week, but I can’t guarantee that.

 

“We’ve been out and about in England looking to secure other good young players on loan though.

 

“We will get replacements.â€

That's a bit of a sweeping statement is it not?

 

It possibly is but we have all heard those stories before about players not wanting to move to Aberdeen.

That's a bit of a sweeping statement is it not?

 

trying to brush the real reason under the carpet?

That's a bit of a sweeping statement is it not?

 

Of course it is but I also think its true. Most people from the central belt see Aberdeen as the Siberia of Scotland. Its grim, its cold, theres not much to do and the people are pretty hostile to anything or anyone south of Cove as well. Why trade that in for whats available already in the central belt? Thats why players Like Lee Miller and Steve Crawford do the rounds elsewhere before they finally bite the bullet and make the move north.

 

Of course it is but I also think its true. Most people from the central belt see Aberdeen as the Siberia of Scotland. Its grim, its cold, theres not much to do and the people are pretty hostile to anything or anyone south of Cove as well. Why trade that in for whats available already in the central belt? Thats why players Like Lee Miller and Steve Crawford do the rounds elsewhere before they finally bite the bullet and make the move north.

 

 

Plus i'm told they are all miserable cunts 

The only two that I can think of that couldn't settle in Aberdeen was Ryan O'Leary who missed his Mammy and Heikenen who missed the boaby.

 

If you want to call us hostile because we don't like bedwetters or poofters then so be it.

 

Edinburgh and Glasgow were populated by cunts like that we sent packing.

Its grim, its cold, theres not much to do and the people are pretty hostile to anything or anyone south of Cove as well.

 

 

And again.

 

You're letting your own personal dislike of Aberdeen cloud your judgement of its attractiveness to professional footballers.

 

Professionals in alot of other industries for which Aberdeen is well known for go to Aberdeen from far and wide.  Having a top-class SPL football team (stop sniggering at the back) comes into that bracket too.

"I hope he enjoys playing in Aberdeen on a cold rainy night" is a typical quote aimed at players moving to the SPL from England. Why do they always choose aberdeen as the cold rainy place?

 

I dont mind Aberdeen. I love the team, dont mind the city, but find the attitude towards outsiders borderline medieval. Its got very little to offer a twenty something footballer asides from neddy pubs and clubs. Trumps golf course could change that though, Aberdeen needs investment to make it more attractive.

I think it works both ways though - some of the attitude amongst incomers and the student population is very ignorant towards the local population without knowing anything about us - you could say "borderline medieval".

 

And thats because of the image Aberdeen has. Cold, wet and generally depressing. The Granite City isnt a tag that incites anything more than a negative image. Aberdeen needs to be re-vitalised.

"I hope he enjoys playing in Aberdeen on a cold rainy night" is a typical quote aimed at players moving to the SPL from England. Why do they always choose aberdeen as the cold rainy place?

 

People from London say it about Manchester, people from Glasgow say it about Aberdeen, it's all about the perceived superiority complex from people living in larger cities.  It may be cold, but it's one of the driest towns in Scotland.

 

I moved to Glasgow for more opportunities in my line of work and I'd have absolutely no qualms about moving back.  Similarly you will get professional footballers biting AFC's hands off if they feel it will further their careers.  For those who choose a football club purely down to geography, more fool them.  All about work/life balance I know, but the real winners will want to play for the bigger and better teams.

 

What you are talking about is more to do with social commentary rather than why footballers choose what team to play for.  You could equally ask yourself how the fuck Juninho and Ravanelli went to Middlesbrough?

 

People who have lived in both cities for a period of time are probably those best placed to comment.

People from London say it about Manchester, people from Glasgow say it about Aberdeen, it's all about the perceived superiority complex from people living in larger cities.

 

I moved to Glasgow for more opportunities in my line of work and I'd have absolutely no qualms about moving back.  Similarly you will get professional footballers biting AFC's hands off if they feel it will further their careers.  For those who choose a football club purely down to geography, more fool them.  All about work/life balance I know, but the real winners will want to play for the bigger and better teams.

 

What you are talking about is more to do with social commentary rather than why footballers choose what team to play for.  You could equally ask yourself how the fuck Juninho and Ravanelli went to Middlesbrough?

 

Money money money, its a rich mans world! If a young footballer can get the same money in the central belt as he would in Aberdeen I would reckon the choice would be central belt 9 times out of 10.

Money money money, its a rich mans world! If a young footballer can get the same money in the central belt as he would in Aberdeen I would reckon the choice would be central belt 9 times out of 10.

 

Precisely, which brings us back to the original question.  Hibs don't pay more than Aberdeen do.  So why would you go then?

What is there to do in Glasgow that you can't do in Aberdeen?

 

As far as the local population's view on outsiders goes, I find that a large percentage of Aberdeen's population aren't originally from Aberdeen.

 

There's about 60 people working in my office and around half of them aren't Aberdonian, and that's been a similar trend in other places I have worked, and no-one seems to have had any problems settling in or with attitudes from local people.

All this Aberdeen / central belt stuff is by the by anyway.  We've 4 players leaving that by and large we'd rather have stay.  If we don't get decent players in to replace them then the dross that we can't get rid of will be our first picks.

 

It just keeps on getting better....

 

All this Aberdeen / central belt stuff is by the by anyway.  We've 4 players leaving that by and large we'd rather have stay.  If we don't get decent players in to replace them then the dross that we can't get rid of will be our first picks.

 

It just keeps on getting better....

 

 

Aberdonians or central belters?

What is there to do in Glasgow that you can't do in Aberdeen?

 

As far as the local population's view on outsiders goes, I find that a large percentage of Aberdeen's population aren't originally from Aberdeen.

 

There's about 60 people working in my office and around half of them aren't Aberdonian, and that's been a similar trend in other places I have worked, and no-one seems to have had any problems settling in or with attitudes from local people.

 

Its about choice, you arent confined to the one city, you have edinburgh at your disposal and you can head down to england in no time at all as well if you want, whereas in Aberdeen you have a fair slog if you want to be anywhere else. Its all about lifestyle really.

 

Anyway, like ST says:

All this Aberdeen / central belt stuff is by the by anyway.  We've 4 players leaving that by and large we'd rather have stay.  If we don't get decent players in to replace them then the dross that we can't get rid of will be our first picks.

 

It just keeps on getting better....

 

We have seen players leave for this reason before though - not just for central belt.

 

and I remember Invincible wouldn't sign for us and showed his ambitions by going to Killie cos he thought Aberdeen was too far away.

 

HA HA

 

What further than Oz to Britain??

Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood has revealed that midfielder Barry Nicholson has turned down the offer of a new contract at Pittodrie and will be moving on to pastures new in the summer.

 

The Aberdeen manager also added that striker Lee Miller has yet to decide one way or another regarding the deal offered to him.

 

 

Meanwhile, Derek Soutar, Greg Kelly, Richie Byrne, Dave Bus, Jonathan Smith and Steve Lovell, whose contracts expire in the summer, will not be offered new deals.

 

The Aberdeen boss commented, "It's obviously disappointing that Barry has decided to move on but, to be honest, it did not come as a huge surprise. As far as Lee is concerned, he is leaving his options open and, while I'm hopeful that he will decide to stay, we have to obviously prepare a squad with next season in mind. I'd like to thank all of the lads who won't be here next season for their contributions and wish all of them all the very best for the future. These are never easy decisions to make but are necessary as we move forward and prepare for the next campaign and beyond."

 

 

Jimmy confirmed that winger Sone Aluko will return to Birmingham City for pre season while no decision has been made as yet regarding fellow English teenager Josh Walker. The manager has already stated that he would be keen for either or both to remain in the north east.

 

Midfielder Stuart Duff and full back Alan Maybury, who both arrived in the January transfer window, will be given until the end of the season before any decision regarding their futures is taken.

 

From the official site.

They both must be dropped now. Get Mackie and Maguire playing together as we just may be stuck with them as a partnership for next season.

 

I'd rather JC played with his strongest 11 for the rest of the season and that would include Barry Nic and Miller.

Midfield on Sat should be Seve, Touzani, Jeff and Smith (shame he's not fit).

 

 

Time to move on.

 

Midfield on Sat should be Seve, Touzani, Jeff and Smith (shame he's not fit).

 

 

Time to move on.

 

who the hell is this touzani you speak of

What is there to do in Glasgow that you can't do in Aberdeen?

 

One thing, that I admit is based a little on personal opinion, and a lot on what I have read on here, is enjoy a large selection and variety of nice restaurants. For a lot of players (if they are not into the pub/club thing) I would assume this would form a large part of their social life.

 

As has been mentioned before, I assume the additional transport links, and the accesibility to variety probably plays a significant part for a lot of people, footballer or otherwise, too.

 

One other point, people have listed the folk who have come to Aberdeen and not settled (has Hignett been listed?) but that is not indicative of the numbers who have turned down a move based on Aberdeen's location. The same thing can be seen in England, as some have mentioned - folk would rather live in London than in Sunderland, because there's more to do.

Nicholson has to be dropped now, no matter how good he has been.

Get Touzani and/or Walker (if there is a chance he'll stay) into midfield.

 

Miller must be waiting to see if any interest is shown in him, so could probably be dropped as well.

Midfield on Sat should be Seve, Touzani, Jeff and Smith (shame he's not fit).

 

 

Time to move on.

 

 

Derek Young will likely start on Saturday and rightly so too.

 

I can see it being a midfield 5 of:

 

Young Severin Touzani Nicholson JdV

 

In the medium term, I can see Young replacing Barry Nicholson in the centre of midfield too.

Langfield

Maybury Diamond Considine Foster

JDV Touzani Walker Young

Mackie Maguire

 

till the end of the season would do. Giving Walker some games is the only way we'll be able to convince Boro to let us keep him and Jimmy has already said he can't play him and Severin together, so win-win situation.