Summer 2025 Transfer Window

[redordead]

On another note. Do you all think we're holding off now to let decent strikers make decisions and all other business is done?

[tlg1903]

https://www.sportsboom.com/football/transfer-news-rumours/exclusive-aberdeen-maintain-interest-in-charlerois-oday-dabbagh-as-second-spell-looms/

 

Never heard of sports boom before it is refreshingly pop up ad free.  As the title says, apparantly we are looking to take cup tie Oday back. 

 

 

[Panda]

47 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

https://www.sportsboom.com/football/transfer-news-rumours/exclusive-aberdeen-maintain-interest-in-charlerois-oday-dabbagh-as-second-spell-looms/

 

Never heard of sports boom before it is refreshingly pop up ad free.  As the title says, apparantly we are looking to take cup tie Oday back. 

 

 

Don't think there's much truth in this. We had an option to buy Dabbagh so could have taken it up by now. 

Expect we'll sign another similar-type player this window instead.

[tlg1903]

31 minutes ago, Panda said:

Don't think there's much truth in this. We had an option to buy Dabbagh so could have taken it up by now. 

Expect we'll sign another similar-type player this window instead.

Yeah I'm far from convinced either though it did cross my mind that maybe the option was a bit high.  Also it says if he did come back it would be another loan and then he would ooc after that so it could just be the club playing the game. I wouldn't be adverse to Oday coming back but, and I'm turning into a broken record here for sure, he wouldn't help with euro registration rules.  

[Goldie03]

I would take him back for his semi final goal and final penalty alone 

[Jute]

Going to go against grain here and say would be disappointed if we took him back. Don’t think he was of required quality and that’s why option to buy was not taken up.

[Slim]

Yeah he had good instincts in the 6 yard box, which is not something to be sniffed at, but looked quite poor coming deep with the ball at his feet and in the air in general. Would never be anything more than a "fox in the box" to bring on with 20 minutes to go when we need a goal. Which, to be fair is probably something we need as we can't rely on Sokler or Ambrose to do that, but I'd still be wary about parting with serious money for him.

[Panda]

[Panda]

In terms of central defenders, we now have:-

Dorrington

Tobers

Milne

Rubezic

Knoester

Jensen

Molloy

Still feel we need one more ahead of the game with Hearts.

[Slim]

Happy with that. A lot of defenders on the books now though.

[wee toon red]

Can’t have too many good players I suppose but unless we’re playing three at the back more often this feels like one too many centre backs.

[OrlandoDon]

I suppose we should expect 3/5 at the back against Celtic again, maybe rangers, plus Europe, so bringing dorrington back helps that. Assuming ruby leaves plus maybe injury concerns with tobers?

[RicoS321]

I like Dorrington, I think he's going to be a fantastic player, but I can't help but think we're making this signing for fear of missing out. We have absolutely zero requirement for a right sided centre half. He's a loanee, with zero option to buy as far as I can tell. He's ahead of Tobers and Milne in the pecking order, who are our players. 

We could change to a back three, of course, but I think that takes away from what was tried last season. There are probably a handful of games where a back three would be beneficial from a defensive perspective. I'd be unconvinced of it when trying to break teams down at home (or away). 

It just reeks of poor squad building to be honest. Again, I'd go back to that employee in the building who puts pressure on the manager to make sense of these calls (the technical director we were expecting five years ago). In terms of squad harmony, player development (Milne), it doesn't make sense. It's not an area of the pitch that traditionally needs a huge number of players. Knoester will likely play 40+ games, and so will Dorrington now I'd expect. We have Polvara and Devlin who can both cover for the half dozen games that we struggle with suspensions etc, I don't think we need Tobers and Milne to provide cover for that one position. In fact, as a general rule, we should be looking at two players for every position, with utility players for third cover (other than striker, perhaps, where different types of striker can adapt to different strategies). In light of this signing, I'd look to move on Rubezic (regardless of the signing) and Tobers. 

[redordead]

Good signing, another I think will improve and with a change of boss at spurs may well be offloaded at the end of the season. 

I'm my head this suggests that ruby might not have made enough impact on preseason for Jimmy and we've sent for tried and tested. 

[OrlandoDon]

59 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

I like Dorrington, I think he's going to be a fantastic player, but I can't help but think we're making this signing for fear of missing out. We have absolutely zero requirement for a right sided centre half. He's a loanee, with zero option to buy as far as I can tell. He's ahead of Tobers and Milne in the pecking order, who are our players. 

We could change to a back three, of course, but I think that takes away from what was tried last season. There are probably a handful of games where a back three would be beneficial from a defensive perspective. I'd be unconvinced of it when trying to break teams down at home (or away). 

It just reeks of poor squad building to be honest. Again, I'd go back to that employee in the building who puts pressure on the manager to make sense of these calls (the technical director we were expecting five years ago). In terms of squad harmony, player development (Milne), it doesn't make sense. It's not an area of the pitch that traditionally needs a huge number of players. Knoester will likely play 40+ games, and so will Dorrington now I'd expect. We have Polvara and Devlin who can both cover for the half dozen games that we struggle with suspensions etc, I don't think we need Tobers and Milne to provide cover for that one position. In fact, as a general rule, we should be looking at two players for every position, with utility players for third cover (other than striker, perhaps, where different types of striker can adapt to different strategies). In light of this signing, I'd look to move on Rubezic (regardless of the signing) and Tobers. 

Likewise, it’s nothing against dorrington, good lad and solid player. Even has me wondering if Tobers has settled or is he on his way? If we’re playing alfie it’s less minutes for Milne and polvara (even though he’s a midfielder) and we’re not developing our own players as you’ve said. Good player and he probably makes us better, but at what cost?

[DantheDon]

1 hour ago, Panda said:

In terms of central defenders, we now have:-

Dorrington

Tobers

Milne

Rubezic

Knoester

Jensen

Molloy

Still feel we need one more ahead of the game with Hearts.

Looking at this list I would assume Jensen and Rubezic would be offloaded. I believe Tobers is can also play in midfield so perhaps we have plans for him there, or maybe it’s just because he’s injured again. 

[tlg1903]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

I like Dorrington, I think he's going to be a fantastic player, but I can't help but think we're making this signing for fear of missing out. We have absolutely zero requirement for a right sided centre half. He's a loanee, with zero option to buy as far as I can tell. He's ahead of Tobers and Milne in the pecking order, who are our players. 

We could change to a back three, of course, but I think that takes away from what was tried last season. There are probably a handful of games where a back three would be beneficial from a defensive perspective. I'd be unconvinced of it when trying to break teams down at home (or away). 

It just reeks of poor squad building to be honest. Again, I'd go back to that employee in the building who puts pressure on the manager to make sense of these calls (the technical director we were expecting five years ago). In terms of squad harmony, player development (Milne), it doesn't make sense. It's not an area of the pitch that traditionally needs a huge number of players. Knoester will likely play 40+ games, and so will Dorrington now I'd expect. We have Polvara and Devlin who can both cover for the half dozen games that we struggle with suspensions etc, I don't think we need Tobers and Milne to provide cover for that one position. In fact, as a general rule, we should be looking at two players for every position, with utility players for third cover (other than striker, perhaps, where different types of striker can adapt to different strategies). In light of this signing, I'd look to move on Rubezic (regardless of the signing) and Tobers. 

I agree with most of that but, and don't get me wrong cos I understand why you're saying it, I'm not convinced that it's poor squad building just yet.  Let's see who goes out first before making that call because I've got a feeling we will be left with Dorrington, Milne, Tobers, Knoester and Molloy come the end of the window.   Given the minimum number of fixtures we have to play this season 5 centre backs is probably about right. Two lefties, two righties and one that can play either left or right side. One thing for certain though we are defo needing to move some players on.  

[RicoS321]

1 hour ago, tlg1903 said:

and one that can play either left or right side.

Which one would that be? It's definitely not Dorrington. I think Milne could maybe be trusted to keep it simple perhaps. 

To me, a fifth should be a utility player, or the next young player. Not a guy that we should be giving plenty of game time at this stage in his career, nor a guy who is already a Latvian international. 

[RicoS321]

1 hour ago, DantheDon said:

I believe Tobers is can also play in midfield

He's not a midfielder in a million years. Unless it is a very deep lying one. About the same depth as the other central defender.

[OxfordDon]

Presumably means Ruby is away, and we are left with two experienced defenders in Tobers and Knoester, and three youngsters in Milne, Molloy and Dorrington.

Given we will have an absolute minimum of 50 games this season that doesn't seem unreasonable, and when we are 60 games in* and looking a bit leggy for all those cup finals, I'm sure we'll be thankful we had so many options.

*Shinnie will play all of them.

[RicoS321]

1 hour ago, OxfordDon said:

Presumably means Ruby is away, and we are left with two experienced defenders in Tobers and Knoester, and three youngsters in Milne, Molloy and Dorrington.

Given we will have an absolute minimum of 50 games this season that doesn't seem unreasonable, and when we are 60 games in* and looking a bit leggy for all those cup finals, I'm sure we'll be thankful we had so many options.

*Shinnie will play all of them.

Whilst that sounds reasonable, the issue isn't necessarily numbers, rather it is seniority of those numbers. I think we need to separate left and right centre back. Left is not an issue, with two players covering one role, and Molloy's lack of experience made up for by the fact he'll play less games. Right centre back, you've got the youngest player Dorrington, being the one who will be first choice, so his age is irrelevant. Behind that you've got a senior player, and another who would now expect to be treated as such (Milne). The Milne of last season should have been the backup to the other backups, but not this season too. We should also factor in the January window. This is the type of signing that could have waited until then if it became apparent we were having to shoehorn in likes of Devlin or Polvara because of injuries etc. As I said previously, it would be interesting to see/hear the type of pushback we get within the club, or if the manager is just allowed to sign whatever position he likes. 

[tlg1903]

2 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

Which one would that be? It's definitely not Dorrington. I think Milne could maybe be trusted to keep it simple perhaps. 

To me, a fifth should be a utility player, or the next young player. Not a guy that we should be giving plenty of game time at this stage in his career, nor a guy who is already a Latvian international. 

Of course it's Dorrington, he played there a few times.  Not saying it's ideal but he's good enough to cover the position if needed imo. 

[tlg1903]

30 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Whilst that sounds reasonable, the issue isn't necessarily numbers, rather it is seniority of those numbers. I think we need to separate left and right centre back. Left is not an issue, with two players covering one role, and Molloy's lack of experience made up for by the fact he'll play less games. Right centre back, you've got the youngest player Dorrington, being the one who will be first choice, so his age is irrelevant. Behind that you've got a senior player, and another who would now expect to be treated as such (Milne). The Milne of last season should have been the backup to the other backups, but not this season too. We should also factor in the January window. This is the type of signing that could have waited until then if it became apparent we were having to shoehorn in likes of Devlin or Polvara because of injuries etc. As I said previously, it would be interesting to see/hear the type of pushback we get within the club, or if the manager is just allowed to sign whatever position he likes. 

You're stating that as a fact but it's not, we have no idea if Thelin is signing him to be first choice right sided CB. 

[RicoS321]

10 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

Of course it's Dorrington, he played there a few times.  Not saying it's ideal but he's good enough to cover the position if needed imo. 

But it's nonsense though, he was terrible on his wrong side. Just as Jensen isn't a left back and Tobers definitely isn't a centre half. More importantly though, it suggests that we've brought him in as a versatile cover.

14 minutes ago, tlg1903 said:

You're stating that as a fact but it's not, we have no idea if Thelin is signing him to be first choice right sided CB. 

I'm stating it as fact, but it's - of course - my opinion. I think it would be incredibly strange business to bring a young lad who was first choice at the end of last season to then sit on our bench. It would be a terrible move for him too, as he's good enough to be playing every week, and I think we'd be doing him a huge disservice bringing him back. If he's not first choice then it makes it worse.

[tlg1903]

39 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

But it's nonsense though, he was terrible on his wrong side. Just as Jensen isn't a left back and Tobers definitely isn't a centre half. More importantly though, it suggests that we've brought him in as a versatile cover.

I'm stating it as fact, but it's - of course - my opinion. I think it would be incredibly strange business to bring a young lad who was first choice at the end of last season to then sit on our bench. It would be a terrible move for him too, as he's good enough to be playing every week, and I think we'd be doing him a huge disservice bringing him back. If he's not first choice then it makes it worse.

If memory serves he became first choice because Tobers got injured for the last few months of the season.    Also did Dorrington not only play LCB very early in his loan spell where just looked a bit all over the place regardless of what side he was on?  He defo took a few months before he started looking like a solid CB and once Knoester went in on the left he didn't miss many games if any.  I would also add I think it's far too early to be writing Tobers off given injury and settling into a new club and country time but I agree he's not set the heather alight just yet.  39 caps plus the captaincy of Latvia by the age of 24 would suggest he's not completely useless though......