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€

 

Starting to have a bit of a groundhog day look about things, with publicised targets rejecting Aberdeen outright or being linked with clubs liked Hearts, Hibs or the Arabs.

 

That's Foran gone, and the other 2 ICT lads either unaffordable or prefering to stay at ICT than sign for us.

Other targets such as O'Brien, Mehmet and Dorman are all now linked with Hearts, so we've absolutely no chance there if Hearts seriously want them.

 

I fear there's a long, hard summer ahead followed by some desperate and underwhelming signings at the end of July...

 

 

 

 

There's nothing different about this end of season to last season in terms of transfer trepidation. The only difference is that there isn't likely to be the same sickening, short sighted rejoicing that our manager got knifed in the back.

 

Even if Mcghee got sacked I doubt there'd be the same shameful celebratory mood among some.

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.

 

 

This just musnt happen.  I know it has in the past (only too often) but with the squad being so small, he MUST get at least 6 players in. 

He says he knows the fortunes of the players but i think that might just be a bluff until he can guarantee at least mibbe 3 of his signings.  Maybe not, but it wouldnt surprise me!

 

Doesnt say much for him, Miller and the club itself, if we cant bring players in.  I know money is a problem and we are looking for out of contract players and loan signings. . . . But, the rest of the SPL seem to be able manage it. 

 

Personally, i think experience is the key.  a centreback,  centre midfielder and striker, a necessity!!  That would gel the team. 

Adam Virgo isn't having his contract renewed at Brighton...

 

Please no.

Adam Virgo isn't having his contract renewed at Brighton...

 

Please no.

 

I heard there's a player just been released by Darlo that is definitely worth a look...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/st_mirren/8673647.stm

 

Mehmet joining some team in Turkey. Another one bites the dust.

Thank fuck.

All we need now is somebody to take Kyle....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/st_mirren/8673647.stm

 

Mehmet joining some team in Turkey. Another one bites the dust.

 

Allegedly getting £10K a week to go there. Got to wonder if they have actually seen him play. Must have a brilliant agent.

Apparently so.

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

 

Al calls it right on 22nd April 

Another rumour target of ours - Michael Stewart, is off to the same Turkish team as Mehmet.

Mehmet is at best an average, run of the mill player.

For him to have secured a basic wage of in excess of £1m for the next two years is beyond belief

So some pishy Turkish side are offering 10k a week.  Another kick in the bags for the SPL.

To hear McGhee saying about us trawling Europe for players in places like Slovenia probably means second division in Slovenia!!

Financially we really are getting more and more into the depths.

Would be interesting to hear where we come financially in the money leagues in Europe, not very high i am guessing!

Souter went to a Cypriot 2nd division team because they were offering him way more than any scottish teams.

 

Admittedly that might be because Scottish teams all know he is shit.

So some pishy Turkish side are offering 10k a week.  Another kick in the bags for the SPL.

To hear McGhee saying about us trawling Europe for players in places like Slovenia probably means second division in Slovenia!!

Financially we really are getting more and more into the depths.

Would be interesting to hear where we come financially in the money leagues in Europe, not very high i am guessing!

 

Are crowds in these places that high? Surely these clubs cannot be operating within their means? How long until Scottish clubs operating within their means see the benefits? I.E. Not going bust when other clubs are?

True, you would think they couldnt finance these moves.

 

Stuart Milne did say we would keep to the budget so as this doesnt happen to us.  Still waiting for the arse to fall out of football so we can reap the rewards 

 

Apparently on one web sire we are the '10TH' richest league in Europe!!

 

Mind you take away the OF . . . . 

Where's all the cash coming from in these other 'diddy' countries?

 

I doubt Cypriot football fans are paying £20+ for match tickets or their club attracting huge sponsorship deals.

 

Surely they're not all being bankrolled by local Morning Noon & Night moguls?

Apparently on one web sire we are the '10TH' richest league in Europe!!

 

Mind you take away the OF . . . . 

 

That the same old firm where half of it is in massive debt and on the brink of administration?

That the same old firm where half of it is in massive debt and on the brink of administration?

 

Yip, I am thinking this site might be a few years old and certainly isnt taking this into consideration!!

A player I'd like to see at Pittodrie is Tam Scobbie from Failkirk.

 

Did you see what I did there? I called them Fail-kirk. That's pretty funny.

 

 

A player I'd like to see at Pittodrie is Tam Scobbie from Failkirk.

 

Did you see what I did there? I called them Fail-kirk. That's pretty funny.

 

I'd take Moutinho from them, he's just been released.

I'd take Moutinho from them, he's just been released.

 

Agreed, if McGhee could get him to show his talent consistantly/regularly then he would be a handy signing. I'd imagine he's on Hughes radar though.

Agreed, if McGhee could get him to show his talent consistantly/regularly

 

Could have been a decent signing but you do seem to grasp the problem yourself.

A player I'd like to see at Pittodrie is Tam Scobbie from Failkirk.

 

Did you see what I did there? I called them Fail-kirk. That's pretty funny.

I liked Flynn from what I seen against Killie, two shocking misses though.

I liked Flynn from what I seen against Killie, two shocking misses though.

 

Craig Bryson is pretty much the only one I'd take from there.