six new faces required, but buddies ace is wanted man

McGhee will keep after Mehmet in Dons rebuild

By Paul Third

 

Published: 21/04/2010

 

Mark McGhee is forging ahead with his rebuilding plans for next season – but the Aberdeen manager faces a challenge in making the most of his budget at Pittodrie.

 

A year on, the collapse of Setanta and the loss of revenue for the SPL clubs is still hitting hard.

 

But McGhee knows the supporters will still be expecting to see a drastic improvement at the club next season.

 

The Dons manager has inquired about St Mirren forward Billy Mehmet, but the Buddies attacker – who is also attracting the interest of Hearts – is expected to move to England to play in the Championship or League 1 next season.

 

However, the Aberdeen manager has not given up hope of landing Mehmet, who has reached double figures in the last two seasons with the Buddies.

 

With 12 players under contract for next season the Dons manager knows he must add at least six new faces in his squad, but ensuring that they are good enough to help improve the club will be his most difficult task.

 

He said: “We are trying to be prudent and keep the wage bill within reason.

 

“There is no wage cap here and we may have to allow for the fact someone who may be right for us could cost another £300 a week due to interest in him from other clubs.

 

“We are looking at a sum of money which we can carve up any way we like, but we need those 18 to 20 players.

 

“I could go out and get a centre forward on £5,000 a week but it might leave us £3,000 to get six other players, so it is not about that.

 

“It is about getting the right blend of players to fill the void and making it work.â€

 

McGhee believes the lack of experience in his squad in recent weeks has highlighted just why he needs more depth next season.

 

The absence of Sone Aluko, Jim Paterson, Andrew Considine and Gary McDonald, coupled with the sale of Lee Miller and the decision to let Chris Maguire join Kilmarnock on loan, has left the Dons squad threadbare and the manager is aware he needs reinforcements.

 

He said: “We went into Saturday’s game with the 10 outfield players plus Fraser Fyvie, Michael Paton and Paul Marshall. The rest were young lads.

 

“Say we had lost Steven McLean, Darren Mackie or Zander Diamond. We would be going into Saturday’s game at St Johnstone with Fyvie and five young boys who have never played on the bench, but that’s where we have been for the last six weeks here.

 

“I was more relieved with the win than I said on Saturday due to those circumstances and regardless of how it looked, the players did well in difficult circumstances.

 

“The players have been hung out to dry a little bit and they did really well to win the game on Saturday when you consider those on the pitch and on the bench were all we had.

 

“I don’t feel culpable in that we only had 13 players to choose from on Saturday or that I have not being able to strengthen as I would have liked.

 

“But there have been tactical changes or personnel changes I’ve made which people can rightly criticise.

 

“I am not going to sit here and not say their argument doesn’t have foundation.

 

“My job now is to ensure it doesn’t happen again.â€

We could be trying to sign Mark Yardley and there would be Aberdeen fans on the internet somewhere trying to find the positives.

 

Mehmet is pish, no thanks.

 

Is Yardley available? He's a target man that even Kerr couldn't miss.

We could be trying to sign Mark Yardley and there would be Aberdeen fans on the internet somewhere trying to find the positives.

 

Mehmet is pish, no thanks.

 

Too true.  MM was supposed to be looking at players in Eastern Europe that Craig Robertson had identified as possible signing targets, he has surely seen a better striker on his travels.

from BBC Gossip column:

 

Hearts are lining up St Mirren pair Billy Mehmet and Andy Dorman on summer free transfers. (Daily Mail)

 

St Mirren are tracking 20-year-old Queen's Park left-back Barry Douglas, who has also been linked with Aberdeen and Partick Thistle. (Various)

What depths have we sunk to, when the club is looking at someone like Mehmet as our main striker.

 

and we can't even afford to sign him! How far do we have to fall before Milne will fuck off! Our budget sounds as if it will be lower than las season again. Offloading big earners such as miller, kerr, mcdonald and mulgrew and still struggling to sign mehmet.what the fick is going on?

from BBC Gossip column:

Is Dorman out of contract?

Rangers are tracking Motherwell's former Celtic winger Jim O'Brien, who is also poised to turn his back on Republic of Ireland and choose to play for Scotland. (The Sun)

Is Dorman out of contract?

 

Apparently so.

St Midden will be looking for a new manager come the summer as well

St Midden will be looking for a new manager come the summer as well

 

Worrying.

Apparently so.

St Midden will be looking for a new manager come the summer as well

McPherson been given the boot?

Apparently so.

St Midden will be looking for a new manager come the summer as well

 

Is McPherson leaving or being given the sack?  I know a few Saints fans who don't rate him at all.

from BBC Gossip column:

 

Barry Douglas? Who?

 

Could be the next Jamie McAllister!

Is McPherson leaving or being given the sack?  I know a few Saints fans who don't rate him at all.

 

Been told he is offski regardless of whether he keeps them in the SPL or not.

Apparently him and the chairman ( Gilmour ? ) don't speak at all.

McPherson has similar aspirations to our last manager apparently

Been told he is offski regardless of whether he keeps them in the SPL or not.

Apparently him and the chairman ( Gilmour ? ) don't speak at all.

McPherson has similar aspirations to our last manager apparently

 

He wants to manage killie and have an all year round tan?

Been told he is offski regardless of whether he keeps them in the SPL or not.

Apparently him and the chairman ( Gilmour ? ) don't speak at all.

McPherson has similar aspirations to our last manager apparently

 

Andy Millen decked Gilmour after the cup final did he not? Would certainly point towards all not being rosey.

 

It worries me that we may well be looking for a manager soon and this plank may be available for rock all.

Been told he is offski regardless of whether he keeps them in the SPL or not.

Apparently him and the chairman ( Gilmour ? ) don't speak at all.

McPherson has similar aspirations to our last manager apparently

And what were the aspirations of our last manager exactly? 

And what were the aspirations of our last manager exactly? 

 

read Padre's post

‘Move to Aberdeen FC – or put your career at risk’

Pittodrie legend Bett’s warning to O’Brien

 

By Sean Wallace

 

Published: 23/04/2010

 

TARGET: Motherwell’s Jim O’Brien.

More Pictures

 

ABERDEEN FC target Jim O’Brien was today warned snubbing Pittodrie in favour of Rangers could derail his career.

 

Motherwell winger O’Brien is top of Aberdeen FC boss Mark McGhee’s wish list as he looks to rebuild his squad.

 

But McGhee’s plans could be thrown into chaos by league leaders Rangers who are also tracking the 22-year-old.

 

But Dons and Rangers legend Jim Bett insists O’Brien risks his career stalling if he moves to Govan.

 

Read more: http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1703328#ixzz0lvOmqpa8

ABERDEEN FC boss Mark McGhee today revealed the fate of his out-of-contract players has already been decided.

 

But McGhee will make them sweat until the end of the season on their Pittodrie futures.

 

Stuart Duff, Stuart Nelson and Paul Marshall are all out of contract with Aberdeen FC in the summer.

 

All three started in the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone, but McGhee revealed nothing they do in the remaining games of the season will change his mind on whether they will stay – or go.

 

Read more: http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1706584#ixzz0mDBloxfd

 

Why would you not tell them if they were staying?

If they were staying presumably you'd have to offer them a contract? I got a bad feeling they'll all be staying.

I'd be surprised if Marshall stays but surprised if they other two leave.

While he's been at the club, Marshall has shown nothing to suggest he would improve the first team/squad, that he would be a decent squad player or that he is just good to have around the place. Bin him.

What depths have we sunk to, when the club is looking at someone like Mehmet as our main striker.

 

The same depths that have kept Mackie here for 10 years when everyone knows he could not hit a barn door even from the inside.

 

6 players my arse its the same every year

6 becomes 5 someone paid more

5 becomes 4 someone paid more

4 becomes 3 someone paid more

3 becomes 2 signed for Berwick rangers as he thought they had more ambition

wait a minute we have 2 players coming back from injury that will do.

 

 

In other news

 

BREAKING NEWS

 

Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC today pulled off a re-signing hat-trick as Terry Butcher began work on assembling his squad for the forthcoming SPL campaign.

 

Dubliner Richie Foran, who has hit 14 goals in 35 games this season, put pen to paper on a new two-year contract. Midfielder Lee Cox, 19, signed last summer from Leicester City, has also signed a two year deal. after making 31 league starts.

 

Forward Eric Odhiambo, another recruit from Leicester City who has hit five goals in 22 appearances, has agreed a one-year contract.

 

Manager Terry Butcher said: "All three lads were out of contract at the end of the season so I'm extremely pleased they have committed themselves for our return to the SPL. It's a flying start to my plans for next season and I'll be speaking to other players very soon.

 

"It's a highly encouraging way to go in to our final game with Dundee at Inverness on Saturday."

 

Richie Foran said: "I really enjoy working with Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas and it didn't take a great deal of persuasion to make me accept a new deal. There's such a tremendous spirit in the camp, I'm hopeful everyone will stay. It was such a sickener to be relegated by a single goal on goal difference a year ago, so it's great to be heading back to the top flight.

 

Thats one potential target out the window.

For me it means we're going to punt the ball and hope for the best.

 

 

Nothing new there then!