Well, figure it’s close enough to start the thread and may get some more enthusiasm than the current season. So what do we need?

manager - Alex Neill

formation - 4-2-3-1/4-3-3

I’m going with the belief that we currently have 7 starters - Devlin, ruby (or gartenmann), Jensen, Mackenzie, shinnie, clarkson or McGrath, and sokler. 4 legit starter signings needed, plus more. I’d argue McGrath has been better than clarkson this year, but I dont think both together are our midfield solution.

goalkeeper - NEEDED to replace Roos, doohan is back up

right back - devlin, Richardson, SiGN gartenmann

left back - think Mackenzie deserves to be our left back, one of our few successes this year, mcgarry as back up, jenson cover too as gartenmann does right back.

central defense - ruby, gartenmann, Jensen, Macdonald - think that’s good enough, just need a legit and consistent keeper and midfield to protect and support them

Right mid - TWO needed, starter and back up, vinnie as back up? sell morris

left mid - ONE needed, possibly hoilett and mcgarry as back up, vinnie?? Don’t think Duncan is good enough, squad filler.

center mid - sign TWO. ONE starter needed, plus assuming Barron leaves. Free agent Baccus? Shinnie clarkson or McGrath,  and one other, mcgrath/clarkson and polvara as back up, sign another ONE physical/athletic worker so that shinnie and new signing aren’t run into the ground.

Forward - assuming Miovski and duk are sold, I want sokler given a chance. SIGN one to compete with him to start, bavidge the third option and given minutes. Sell GUEYE.

I’m assuming miovski, duk, morris, gueye, and Barron are gone, and we sign gartenmann and hoilett. Hayes retires. Mcgarry gets a summer to get fit and prove what he can do next year, been unfortunate to date. A bench from Richardson, mcgarry, Duncan, clarkson/mcgrath, hoilett, bavidge, doohan, Milne, polvara, vinnie, plus a new back up right mid and an enforcing center mid.

Obviously Mikey Johnson is one of our new signings.

Edited February 18, 20242 yr by OrlandoDon

 

Thoughts with @OrlandoDonat this difficult time.

9 minutes ago, baggy89 said:

Ante Palaversa

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ante_Palaversa

According to transfermarkt, he was once rated at €5m and is now €350k. Has played about 12 games in two years.

Probably the type of fella we should take a punt on though if going cheap, plus we need a Croatian to add to our Balkan contingent.

1 hour ago, Panda said:

 

Thoughts with @OrlandoDonat this difficult time.

Fuck him. And Mikey Johnson. Shayden is better anyway. In all seriousness, we have clarkson and polvara coming back, a loaner center mid is probably more realistic.

so are we linked with this Croatian guy palaversa??

Supposed to be signing soon. “City Group” player. Man City and loans till moving to Troyes. 
Could be absolute rubbish but thought I’d add it, just in case it’s not. As Panda says looks like the type of player we would be trying to sign. 

3 hours ago, Jute said:

Evening Express linking us with a loan move for 19 year old Chelsea midfielder Leo Castledine. As I said before woukd rather give game time to one of our own players than than develop a player for somebody else. 

As would i but we are short of midfielders with Clarkson and Polvara out for ages.  A loan makes sense if the kid is a higher standard than we have in our own youth ranks already and  especially if he gets sent back in January when Polvara and Clarkson are available again.  You could argue you could take in one midfielder on loan and still give our own youth more of an opportunity than they would have got without those injuries. 

Well, this is a very interesting bit of business

https://www.afc.co.uk/2024/08/08/palaversa-makes-pittodrie-move/

Great to see us upping the ante.

1 minute ago, RicoS321 said:

Great to see us upping the ante.

Bit of a palaver getting him here.

One year deal with an option to extend it to three is a smart move.

Gives us cover for DM (although he describes himself as "a creative midfielder", young guy, is Balkan so will replace Miovski in the car pool, his name provides plenty of pun opportunities.

Winger now and we're sorted.

Edited August 8, 20242 yr by Panda

Interestingly he has signed from Troyes who are part of the City Football Group. I see Miovski is being heavily linked with Girona this morning who are also part of the City Football Group.

5 minutes ago, Slim said:

Interestingly he has signed from Troyes who are part of the City Football Group. I see Miovski is being heavily linked with Girona this morning who are also part of the City Football Group.

That is interesting, good knowledge slim 

 

55 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Great to see us upping the ante.

Ante replacing Dante.

12 minutes ago, Panda said:

 

I dont believe it….

2 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Great to see us upping the ante.

As long as uncle Ebbe doesn't find out 😯

Who does he knock out of the team if he's as good as suggested?

May also suggest that McGrath will be used as a winger for the season

 

The one day I actually have a lengthy client meeting, I miss all the excitement.

A potentially exciting signing, not without risk, hence the structure, which should be applauded. 

Looks like Miovski is all but done.

Sincerely hope we have held out for the fee we wanted and not caved in over it 🤔

Palaversa is an interesting signing. Seems like a 50/50 call but giving ourselves an out after a year looks like a wise move.

Think whoever wrote his career history for the signing announcement might need to check their calendar mind you, the dates are all over the shop 😂

2 hours ago, redordead said:

Who does he knock out of the team if he's as good as suggested?

May also suggest that McGrath will be used as a winger for the season

 

The way McGrath and Mackenzie are combining on the left, I dont think we need a traditional left winger. Certainly don’t think McGrath plays or is being asked to play as a winger. These two are playing well and we get good attacking width from them.

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Looks like Miovski is all but done.

Sincerely hope we have held out for the fee we wanted and not caved in over it 🤔

The only way that would happen is if the window was about to close.  I think it will be fine 

2 hours ago, redordead said:

Who does he knock out of the team if he's as good as suggested?

May also suggest that McGrath will be used as a winger for the season

 

From the man himself on the Aberdeen website, he says:-

 

“I am mainly a number six, a holding midfielder. I also play as a number eight. I think I see myself as a creative midfielder, I like the ball at my feet and I like to play football. My passing is one of my strengths. I am happy to play wherever the manager wants me to play, and do a job for the team. I come here to prove myself, to give 100% in training every day.

Can only presume we are about to make an audacious bid for an aging N'Golo Kanté to stay within our "Shayden/Jayden/Hayden" rhyming triplets signing policy.

23 hours ago, baggy89 said:

Ante Palaversa

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ante_Palaversa

Great shout from Baggy 😉

Who's next mate 😉

With ante, what’s the deal with work permit etc? I think he needs clearance, is that a quick fix? Can we expect him to be available to play this weekend??