Dons manager is ready to take flight to clinch signing of Amiens defender Johnson

 

By Paul Third

 

Published: 22/07/2009

 

Mark McGhee is ready to fly to Paris today to make Reda Johnson his first signing at Aberdeen.

 

The Dons manager is keen to complete the move for the Amiens defender, who impressed while on trial with the club in Austria last week, and stave off interest from other clubs in the 21-year-old.

 

He said yesterday: “I will try to sign Johnson tomorrow. There has been good progress but it will require a face-to-face to nail it. It will mean going to Paris to do it. We have been pushing his agent but the club has been slow to react. I will have to go there personally to try and finalise the deal and, hopefully, get it done before Friday.

 

“There are other ones bubbling away, these are pretty exciting times. Some will come to fruition, others won't. What worries me is that by saying how good Johnson is and his name has been in the papers, we have alerted other clubs to him. That's why I'm reticent to talk about other deals.

 

“If it's not done in time for Europe, there is nothing more I can do. I have been working on this player since we got to Austria last week.â€

 

McGhee is also considering signing a goalkeeper on loan before Friday’s deadline for the Europa League qualifier next week against Fram Reykjavik or Sigma Olomouc.

 

He said: “Bertrand Bossu is struggling with a hamstring injury and I am now considering bringing in another goalkeeper on loan before Friday as it is a worry.â€

 

If McGhee flies out to Paris, he hopes to head out to Iceland tomorrow to watch next week’s Europa League opponents face off in the second leg, meaning he will miss tonight’s friendly at Peterhead, but he has arranged for a DVD of the game to be made so he can analyse the Balmoor Stadium performance.

 

Tommy Wright will miss the game and is facing a scan on the knee injury which kept him out of the second half of the training camp in Austria.

 

McGhee said: “I’m trying to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can. I’m trying to establish in my head what my strongest team will be for Europe. The players I have available now are probably the players I will have available for the game and I need to know what the best combination of players is.

 

“I was pleased the players took on board what I wanted them to do but they took it a bit literally. I made a comment about concentrating on possession, but we were so determined to execute my ideas we did not go forward enough. It was a starting point and I want to develop it as we go forward.

 

“We won’t try to change everything overnight. There will be a lot of aspects of our approach next week which will be the same as what they have done here in the past.â€

Hmmm. Maybe he saves his best for the big teams, like what Kombouare. Our old French friend only showed his best when Rangers came to town. Maybe Bossu is the same.

 

Maybe I'm just lucky not to have seen Bossu's Killie collapse

It seems ominously quiet.

 

Even with the potential lure of european football - I'd guess most players would wait and see if we get into the groups?

It seems ominously quiet.

 

Even with the potential lure of european football - I'd guess most players would wait and see if we get into the groups?

 

I have been having the same thoughts. I just hope we don't struggle for recruits.

 

Re: Bossu, BB I think you're being rather generous, if I recall it was after 5 mins. Myself and TC were sat just behind the goals, what a mistake that was.

It seems ominously quiet.

 

Even with the potential lure of european football - I'd guess most players would wait and see if we get into the groups?

 

I take it we can re-register players if we get to the group stages?

I take it we can re-register players if we get to the group stages?

 

yeah, the Friday deadline is only for this qualifier.

 

Zander Diamond was as bad as anyone on the pitch that night BB, as bad as Plastic Bertrand was, he had an equal. Surprised how quiet the broom cupboard is, we need at least a couple of "good" and preferably experienced players!

Zander Diamond was as bad as anyone on the pitch that night BB, as bad as Plastic Bertrand was, he had an equal. Surprised how quiet the broom cupboard is, we need at least a couple of "good" and preferably experienced players!

 

Don't think he was as bad as bossu, he was bad, but not that bad. It really looked as though the guy had never played in a game of football in his life.

 

Don't think he was as bad as bossu, he was bad, but not that bad. It really looked as though the guy had never played in a game of football in his life.

 

Plastic had the teflon gloves on, no doubt but Diamond was a total fucking car crash, pulled constantly out of position, out fought out paced out muscled. It was fucking Kilmarnock and this cunt is our top line centre half!

The Killie boy running through after two minutes and Bossu staying on his line is something I have never seen in football since I was in primary 5  and we stuck the kid who didn't like football in goals.

Plastic had the teflon gloves on, no doubt but Diamond was a total fucking car crash, pulled constantly out of position, out fought out paced out muscled. It was fucking Kilmarnock and this cunt is our top line centre half!

 

 

We'd be fecked without him.

 

 

 

 

We'd be fecked without him.

 

Complete nonsense, he is a decent player but far better have left.

 

 

Complete nonsense, he is a decent player but far better have left.

 

Hart and Anderson for example

Hart and Anderson for example

 

Indeed. I like big Zander a lot, he is a wholehearted player and has stepped it up recently but to suggest "we would be fecked" if he left is daft.

So no word I take it on this proposed loan signing this morning ?

At what time today is the cut off for eligibility to play in Europa qualifier ?

 

 

Complete nonsense, he is a decent player but far better have left.

 

I agree with that but if we didn't have Zander last season where would we have ended up? Not 4th. Bare in mind that as well as being reletively shite Mair was also injured for a fair amount of time. I think we would really have noticed Zander's absence last season. I agree that better have left. Absolutely. But He's now the best defender we have by quite some way.

I agree with that but if we didn't have Zander last season where would we have ended up? Not 4th. Bare in mind that as well as being reletively shite Mair was also injured for a fair amount of time. I think we would really have noticed Zander's absence last season. I agree that better have left. Absolutely. But He's now the best defender we have by quite some way.

 

That is a very frightening thought.

EE saying that Johnson deal will be concluded in time for him to play in the Europe tie. Worringly enough, Mark McGhee is also quoted as saying that the player will likely make a few howlers sa he gets adjusted to playing for us... Apparently he has a tendency to rush out and try and win every high ball, but AFC'will sort that'.

EE saying that Johnson deal will be concluded in time for him to play in the Europe tie. Worringly enough, Mark McGhee is also quoted as saying that the player will likely make a few howlers sa he gets adjusted to playing for us... Apparently he has a tendency to rush out and try and win every high ball, but AFC'will sort that'.

 

Yee ha, we're signing a mentalist!

Yee ha, we're signing a mentalist!

 

Sounds like another Zander to me!

Sounds like a rocket, awesome.

 

So.....have we signed him yet or what?

where's rene bot when you need him?!

So.....have we signed him yet or what?

 

MAYBE!

I agree with that but if we didn't have Zander last season where would we have ended up? Not 4th. Bare in mind that as well as being reletively shite Mair was also injured for a fair amount of time. I think we would really have noticed Zander's absence last season. I agree that better have left. Absolutely. But He's now the best defender we have by quite some way.

 

We would have equally have been fucked without plenty of other players in that case. That said, it is true he is our best centre half, but he should have developed into that before now anyway, bearing in mind he's now probably one of, if not THE highest paid player at the club.

How long can it take to sign a free player from a French first division club? The Franz Fox Glacier moves faster than this transfer saga!