I figured it’s about time to start this. I think there’s a very good chance that come January we’re bottom six and lost a cup semi. I’m expecting McKenna to be sold plus I do see both Shinnie and GMS moving on, possibly Shinnie doing a McLean returning on loan but I see GMS moving if we can get some cash. With Ross, Wright, McGinn, and McLelland, DM will see us as having ample cover.

 

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Gleeson and or Forrester punted too, those two haven’t worked out. Tough to argue otherwise. Tansey too. Honestly, the squad needs an overhaul, happy to see the young boys given a run and save any money from exports in January for transfers in the summer.

 

Think we’re also due an offer or two for Joe Lewis. Wouldn’t be surprised to see that in the winter window.

 

Sad to say that i’m writing this season off, shame since Devlin is an excellent signing, what I wouldn’t have given for a player like him over the last few years. Would be happy to see the manager go too, things are stale and we’re going in the wrong direction both in performance and league position. Yesterday, with Wilson stuck in the Rooney wide left role, emphasized that we need fresh ideas and someone with a different set of contacts in the transfer market. DM, it was good while it lasted, but we’re going nowhere fast by the looks of things.

I agree tig. If he had any ambition at all he should be targeting better than Celtic, although they could be a useful stepping stone as he's not ready for the higher levels in my opinion. Getting picked for his country is another big feather in his CV so if Celtic did table a bid, AFC would tell the world, protract the negotiations and then someone else might come in with a bid that we really can't afford to ignore. Then we can concentrate on trying to get 3rd or 4th place in the league.

I think Celtic will be wary of that 2bh, they have been humiliated over the John McGinn affair and not getting McKenna would be even more embarrassment which they really don't want right now.  It just seems to me that McKenna is happy to stay till the summer (when he will surely move on).  If a richer side comes in with 8 plus and 20% sell on in january then fair enough he will likely be sold but I just have the feeling McKenna doesn't want to stay in Scotland.... and nor should he as he has the potential to be a really top end CH.    I do disagree slightly at the level he could go to though and think he could get a regular game with a lower to mid level prem side.  Bournemouth would probably be a really good for him given the manager and the opportunity to play (their defence isn't the best). Personally I would like to see him go abroad though  and in particular to Italy given how well they do defending but that's highly unlikely to happen. 

McKenna is saying all the right things and appears quite a sensible guy. I think he stays with us until the summer at least and I really don't see him staying in Scotland. I think he has to look at someone like Andy Robertson or Ryan Fraser and shoot for a lower level Premier team. Even Van Dijk is worth considering. Get to any of the bottom 10 team in the Premiership then ideal a move to one of the top 10. I'd say 8-10 million plus 20% sell on, 30-40 million in two or three years!!

Just read Shinnie to sign a pre contract with Wigan.

 

It does appear he is off and cannot really blame him as the money will be well in excess what we can afford, but still be sad to see him go, if and when he does.

Just read Shinnie to sign a pre contract with Wigan.

 

It does appear he is off and cannot really blame him as the money will be well in excess what we can afford, but still be sad to see him go, if and when he does.

 

In the BBC gossip section, taken from the Sun, so perhaps a pinch of salt required. I don't doubt he's moving however. It would have been good to have got a McLean-like deal, but oh well.

 

Despite what some of the posters on here have said recently, Shinnie will be exceptionally difficult to replace. One of the best midfielders in the country, with a fantastic attitude, drive and work rate. A proper captain. We haven't replaced Jack, we haven't replaced McLean (Ferguson definitely will do in future) and we'll really struggle to replace Shinnie.

In the BBC gossip section, taken from the Sun, so perhaps a pinch of salt required. I don't doubt he's moving however. It would have been good to have got a McLean-like deal, but oh well.

 

Despite what some of the posters on here have said recently, Shinnie will be exceptionally difficult to replace. One of the best midfielders in the country, with a fantastic attitude, drive and work rate. A proper captain. We haven't replaced Jack, we haven't replaced McLean (Ferguson definitely will do in future) and we'll really struggle to replace Shinnie.

 

I got it off the EE website, but totally agree with you about how much we will miss him, as you said a proper captain.

Shinnie going, and we let Tansey go... wonder if he will sign up Dom Ball

Shinnie going, and we let Tansey go... wonder if when he will sign up Dom Ball

 

Sorted that for you

A lot of hysteria goes on during this transfer window with teams seemingly signing players for the sake of it much of the time.

 

Other than getting a replacement for Lowe, not sure the Dons should actually be doing much.  We are just off the back of a great spell of results and should now have GMS back, Reynolds back, Hoban to come and Cosgrove and May starting to look promising as a pairing.  Just don't sell anyone until the summer and keep the squad together and we'll do fine.

 

Anyone that comes in now will take a couple of months to get going and similarly, anyone of note that goes will surely unsettle the team in the short term.

 

Wait until the summer, get replacements for Shinnie and GMS if necessary and ponder whether to sell McKenna if the money is right.

Shinnie going, and we let Tansey go... wonder if he will sign up Dom Ball

 

Really hope not as he is nowhere near the standard required to replace Shinnie.

Really hope not as he is nowhere near the standard required to replace Shinnie.

 

Exactly. We have plenty of time to decide on Ball too. I thought it was the right decision to re-sign him in the summer as it was clear the signings we made weren't up to scratch (or risky at best) and I think that's been justified. If we do similar this summer then I'd be happy to have Ball as a known quantity, low risk, option. See how we get on sourcing a Shinnie replacement, and if we're struggling then sign him up for a year. He's already been a better signing than Gleeson and Forrester so it shows how much of a lottery it is when making signings.

Every team needs journeymen squad players who can come in and play 20 games a season competently, filling in for team-mates who are injured/suspended/bang out of form. In our glory years we had Dougie Bell and Andy Watson doing it.

 

Ball fulfills this role well and would be a fairly cheap addition. I think we will sign him permanently and absolutely hope we do. There seems to be a section of our support who are blinded by an absurd hatred of Ball. I suggest this is more due to their lack of knowledge and also lack of insight into our financial situation. Long term I fully expect Dean Campbell to be the Shinnie replacement alongside Ferguson but he is not ready at this point to play week in week out. Ball can fill in intermittently and is also handy on the bench as he can cover centre half as well as defensive midfield.

lack of insight into financial position ?  record wages last accounting year......

Every team needs journeymen squad players who can come in and play 20 games a season competently, filling in for team-mates who are injured/suspended/bang out of form. In our glory years we had Dougie Bell and Andy Watson doing it.

 

Ball fulfills this role well and would be a fairly cheap addition. I think we will sign him permanently and absolutely hope we do. There seems to be a section of our support who are blinded by an absurd hatred of Ball. I suggest this is more due to their lack of knowledge and also lack of insight into our financial situation. Long term I fully expect Dean Campbell to be the Shinnie replacement alongside Ferguson but he is not ready at this point to play week in week out. Ball can fill in intermittently and is also handy on the bench as he can cover centre half as well as defensive midfield.

 

Hell no! Do not compare Dom Ball to Dougie Bell. He was a quality player, not some journeyman squad player!!

lack of insight into financial position ?  record wages last accounting year......

 

We cannot afford to have 12 central midfielders on their books as sevco have. Indeed sevco cannot afford to have 12 central midfielders on their books but thanks to some gullible directors willing to flush cash down the toilet and some accounting wizardry they do.

 

Yes record wages but our squad compared to the arse cheeks and even Hearts really is very thin. We cannot afford to have more than 2 specialist players fighting for one position.....indeed right now we have only Logan fighting himself for the right back position and precisely zero players fighting for the left back position. The squad also requires 3 or 4 fillers ho can cover 2 or 3 positions.......hence Consi covering centre back and (reluctantly) left back. Ball covers defensive midfield/ centre half. Forrester covers a bench seat and the reserves.....

 

I don't directly compare Ball to Dougie Bell. But the fact remains he performed a similar role (Watson did it more directly compared to the positions they play) for the early to mid 80s side.....when all "first choices" were available he would occupy a seat on the bench. But as I said before......injuries/suspensions/lack of form meant he was inevitably starting around 20 games each season.

We cannot afford to have 12 central midfielders on their books as sevco have. Indeed sevco cannot afford to have 12 central midfielders on their books but thanks to some gullible directors willing to flush cash down the toilet and some accounting wizardry they do.

 

Yes record wages but our squad compared to the arse cheeks and even Hearts really is very thin. We cannot afford to have more than 2 specialist players fighting for one position.....indeed right now we have only Logan fighting himself for the right back position and precisely zero players fighting for the left back position. The squad also requires 3 or 4 fillers ho can cover 2 or 3 positions.......hence Consi covering centre back and (reluctantly) left back. Ball covers defensive midfield/ centre half. Forrester covers a bench seat and the reserves.....

 

I don't directly compare Ball to Dougie Bell. But the fact remains he performed a similar role (Watson did it more directly compared to the positions they play) for the early to mid 80s side.....when all "first choices" were available he would occupy a seat on the bench. But as I said before......injuries/suspensions/lack of form meant he was inevitably starting around 20 games each season.

 

TC that is probably one of the best thought out and reasoned posts I have ever read on here.

I simply can't find fault with anything you've put there and have a Simmie my friend 

E There seems to be a section of our support who are blinded by an absurd hatred of Ball. I suggest this is more due to their lack of knowledge and also lack of insight into our financial situation.

 

I would argue that a section of support have a hatred of Ball because they've witnessed him making an absolute cunt of it too many times.

 

I would argue that a section of support have a hatred of Ball because they've witnessed him making an absolute cunt of it too many times.

 

I think that's it. I'm not a fan of Ball because he's just not good enough to be a first team regular, nothing personal, he tries his best. I've seen Flood, Robson, McLean, and Jack play that holding mid role in recent years and Ball is not an acceptable replacement. Squad filler and bench player perhaps, but he gets far too many minutes for my liking. We can AFFORD better.

 

Likewise, and many disagree due to recent performances, I don't think May is good enough. He tries really hard and runs around a lot but we can afford better.

I would argue that a section of support have a hatred of Ball because they've witnessed him making an absolute cunt of it too many times.

 

Id argue that Shinnie makes a cunt of things equally as frequently. Ball is a better passer, better in the air and a bit better with his weaker foot than Shinnie. Just remember to yourself what happens when Shinnie finds himself in an advanced position. Generally results in a brain fart as he hasn't a clue what to  next....

 

But Shinnie is "one of our own" so he gets away with his aberrations. I agree Ball is god awful at right back....that memory seems to be what sticks in folks' memories. At defensive midfield he is absolutely solid and has been one of our most consistently good players this season....never flashy just gets on with doing the job he is paid to do

Id argue that Shinnie makes a cunt of things equally as frequently. Ball is a better passer, better in the air and a bit better with his weaker foot than Shinnie. Just remember to yourself what happens when Shinnie finds himself in an advanced position. Generally results in a brain fart as he hasn't a clue what to  next....

 

But Shinnie is "one of our own" so he gets away with his aberrations. I agree Ball is god awful at right back....that memory seems to be what sticks in folks' memories. At defensive midfield he is absolutely solid and has been one of our most consistently good players this season....never flashy just gets on with doing the job he is paid to do

 

Sorry TC but I have to wonder if you have ever seen Ball play football with the above. His passing is nowhere near good enough. He is weak in the tackle (his piss poor attempt at a tackle that led to St Johnstone’s 2nd goal is an example of this) Defensively he is awful looks massively out of place at right back or centre half. Ball is at best a Championship level player and should not be anywhere near a team who intend challenging at the top of the table.

 

Shinnie may not be playing at his own high standards this season he is still a far better player than Ball. Since he has been paired with Ferguson and coincidentally Ball out of the team he has looked a lot better.

 

 

I suppose it's a case of we will just have to agree to disagree

 

Ultimately the only person whose opinion really matters is DM. And I think he will sign Ball up permanently in the summer.

Id argue that Shinnie makes a cunt of things equally as frequently. Ball is a better passer, better in the air and a bit better with his weaker foot than Shinnie. Just remember to yourself what happens when Shinnie finds himself in an advanced position. Generally results in a brain fart as he hasn't a clue what to  next....

 

But Shinnie is "one of our own" so he gets away with his aberrations. I agree Ball is god awful at right back....that memory seems to be what sticks in folks' memories. At defensive midfield he is absolutely solid and has been one of our most consistently good players this season....never flashy just gets on with doing the job he is paid to do

 

I think Balls passing is his worst attribute by far, to say he is better passer than Shinnie is sheer madness in my opinion. More often than not Balls passing causes more harm than good.

Ball isn't good enough for Aberdeen in my opinion.

 

Whenever I see his name on the team sheet it sends a cold shiver straight down my spine!

Papertalk linking us with McTominay at Man Utd on loan.

billy big bawz attitude a la wilson ? never really seen what the fuss was about with mcntoniminiminiminay

billy big bawz attitude a la wilson ? never really seen what the fuss was about with mcntoniminiminiminay

 

Sure i saw an interview a few months back (McLeish?) saying that despite being at Manure, he's really a quiet kid with not a hint of an attitude problem or superiority complex.

 

Can't really see the point of us taking him on loan. He would be yet another defensive midfielder......even if Shinnie were to leave in this window, he isn't a viable option for us to buy at the end of the loan.....he's worth £3-£5 million at least and probably on £20k/week. You would think Celtic might be a better option for him with Broon in decline/possibly off to molest some wallabies.

 

No matter where he ends up on loan, I think he needs to leave Old Trafford. He's just not quite the level that they operate at. Southampton, West Ham or the likes I think he could do a job