In consideration of our failing season, thought an update to our contract situation might be worthwhile. Apologies for the length.

GK

2023

• Woods (31) - Is he Injured? noticed the boy Ritchie was on the bench Sunday.

2024

• Lewis (34) - Been off form but capable of getting that back made some good saves yesterday. 

No real issues here. Lewis has been out of form, but not really a problem for January or even next summer. 

Defence

January 2022

• Devlin (28) - Injured needs to be released.

Summer 2022

• Considine (34) - Injured and aging but should be given another year extension.
• Gurr (26) - not of the required standard.

2023

• MacKenzie (21) - Injured will be fine once he recovers from injury.
• Gallagher (30) - Injured looked off form when he has been fit.

2024

• Hernandez (24) - Loaned out hopefully Atlanta repay us for the fee paid out on their behalf and the whole sorry mess can be put to bed. 
• McCrorie (23) - arguably a midfielder been OK at the back and we have had little option. 
• Ramsay (18)- Injured could end up receiving offers for him, maybe his current injury will delay them till next summer. 
• Bates (25) - improving. 

I'd hope we are looking to start next season with MacKenzie, Gallagher, McCrorie (is he a midfielder), Ramsay (unless the right offer comes in) Bates & Considine (depending on his recovery). In January, Devlin must be off the payroll, attempts made to get Gurr off too, and fingers crossed Atlanta buy Hernandez (for everyone's sake). Should be planning on 4-6 of the current lot being here next season. Assuming recovery from injuries and no more occurring;

MacKenzie, Gallagher, McCrorie, Ramsay and Bates till end of the season, that are good enough, scope for additions.

Midfield

Summer 2022

• Hayes (34) - can see him signing an extension if offered but is he as effective as first time around? Can we get better and younger for the wage?
• Hedges (26) - will be off, decision is balancing any money offered and what player(s) can we bring in against what little Hedges playing within himself brings for the remainder of the season.
• McGeouch (28) - Injured? (again) imagine he's looking to see what offers he gets and will be trying to minimize injuries to his fragile body in the meantime.
• Ojo (30) - Also seems to be looking to see what offers he gets and we should be able to do better. 
• McGinn (34) - Past it.

End of Loan Summer 2022(If possible cancel them all in January)

• Jenks (19)  - Not good enough
• Samuels (21)  - Not good enough
• Longstaff (21) - Not good enough

2023

• Campbell (20) - Doesn't appear as if Glass rates him that highly.
• Kennedy (27) - Injured (allegedly) tried to get rid of in the summer depending on how true the back injury is, will likely try again.
• McLennan (22) - Injured he's got strength, pace, skill all let down by decision making and consistency. Should be at a higher level if he's going to make it at his club. 
• Brown (36) - Injured? Will give his all and probably been our best player, but he's 36. 

2024

• Ferguson (22) - doesn't want to be here will push for a move to england again in January. 

Next season would be planning on Hayes (to sign a new contract), Campbell, Brown, McLennan maybe Hanratty. Potentially for remainder of the season we have;

Campbell, Brown & Hayes who will give their all all, albeit Brown is 36 and probably will need a rest at some point some & Hayes who is 34 and has 6 months left on his contract. Hedges, McGeouch and Ojo who will be playing with one eye on a signing on fee elsewhere, won't care where we finish and play accordingly. Jenks, Longstaff and Samuels none of whom are good enough and none have a vested interest in our success.  Kennedy and McLennan who are not good enough and Ferguson who is trying to get a move elsewhere. 

Forwards

2023

• Watkins (31) - Hopefully stays injury free for the remainder of the season.
• Ramirez (30) - Possibly Glass's singular piece of good recruitment
• JET (30) - wrong type of player for battling at the wrong end of the table

An aging strike-force. Can't see any of them being here after summer 2023. JET too much of a luxury but can't see anyone taking him off our hands in January. Ngwenya to join them next season?

Youth on loan

• Ngwenya (18) - contract till 2024
• Ruth (19) - contract till 2022
• Barron (19) - contract till 2022
• Ritchie (18) - contract till 2022
• Duncan (17) - contract till 2022
• Hanratty (18) - contract till 2024
• Mykyta (19) - contract till 2022
• McIver (18) - contract till 2022
• Gallagher (20) - contract till 2022
• Milne (18) - contract till 2022

As far as I can find only Ngwenya and Hanratty signed for longer than the end of the season?

Following Sunday it appears we may only have 15 fit outfield players fit. 3 defenders (1 is Gurr and McRorie will be banned for hibs), 9 midfielders (Longstaff might as well not be here, Jenks and Samuels aren't good enough, McGinn has made 2 starts from 7 appearances ), 3 forwards (1 is JET).

7 games till the break and opening of the window. 

Recruitment has been a shambles for a while now, nothing we saw in the summer points to improvements and this must be the most unbalanced & incoherent (almost as bad as this post), uncommitted and aging squad we've had in a long time. Hopefully our DoF has been making several plans based on any number of scenario's.

We have to;

• Mitigate the effect losing Ferguson and/or Ramsay would have
• Take into account the lack of commitment from the 8 midfielders with no contractual obligation beyond the end of the season.
• The imbalance inexperience and decimation through injury of our defence. 
• The age of our attack. 
• And the lack of players in their "prime years" throughout the squad.

And this has to be balanced against;

• how shit January is as a transfer window
• that we have enough to ensure we don't get dragged into relegation worries
• not make rash decisions that fuck up future season with more aging or not good enough players all playing the same positions on high wages. 

Good move for Dean Campbell. He needs minutes on the field in his preferred position, hope he gets it there, think DM will give him the time. While McKenna's stint at Ayr United wasn't a huge success, he came back, got a chance, and his career changed drastically from there. Hope same happens for this guy as he should/could get chances with us......Brown is old, Ferguson will go in the summer, Jenks away, Ojo and McGeouch out of contract I think.

Was delighted when we finally pulled the plug on McInnes, it was time. But one thing I've considered lately, he (and Doc) was popular and able to convince players to join us. He had a reputation up here, plus was known down south, as well as playing contacts. Just thinking with Glass' experience or lack of to date in this country, plus what and who exactly is Steven Gunn and his role, do we have the same strength in convincing players that Aberdeen is the place to come to? Was that a factor this window?

3 minutes ago, LA-Don said:

Good move for Dean Campbell. He needs minutes on the field in his preferred position, hope he gets it there, think DM will give him the time. While McKenna's stint at Ayr United wasn't a huge success, he came back, got a chance, and his career changed drastically from there. Hope same happens for this guy as he should/could get chances with us......Brown is old, Ferguson will go in the summer, Jenks away, Ojo and McGeouch out of contract I think.

Was delighted when we finally pulled the plug on McInnes, it was time. But one thing I've considered lately, he (and Doc) was popular and able to convince players to join us. He had a reputation up here, plus was known down south, as well as playing contacts. Just thinking with Glass' experience or lack of to date in this country, plus what and who exactly is Steven Gunn and his role, do we have the same strength in convincing players that Aberdeen is the place to come to? Was that a factor this window?

Fair point but I think Scott Brown is definitely a selling factor to a lot of players i.e. if he can choose Abwrdeen over Celtic, it can't be a bad place to play.

Speaking to a Celtic acquaintance, he said that the boy Montgomery is a real good player in the making and that he is mot of a winger that was put at left back to get him a place in the team. That is music to my ears because we need attacking options.

24 minutes ago, Chris Frae Killie said:

Speaking to a Celtic acquaintance, he said that the boy Montgomery is a real good player in the making and that he is mot of a winger that was put at left back to get him a place in the team. That is music to my ears because we need attacking options.

I heard that too about him, was a forward /winger who was stuck at left back to get game time and fill a void. And agree about Scott Brown to an extent, but players still play for the manager and Glass doesn't seem overly enthusiastic/inspirational, and that's needed no matter how good a coach you are.

On 03/02/2022 at 19:12, LightbulbMoment2021 said:

Griffiths with brown in his ear could well do us a trick till may. Snodgrass even at 33-34 is out of our reach especially with cormack in charge.

Griffiths had Brown in his ear last season did he not? The fact we haven't gone for him or shown any interest would actually suggest Brown has told Glass he's not worth it.

Scott Burns claiming we are in for Robert Snodgrass. Make of it what you will. 

 

4 minutes ago, Jute said:

Scott Burns claiming we are in for Robert Snodgrass. Make of it what you will. 

 

Panda is part of the scouting network?

I'd personally love to see him here.

No idea why he would want to come here though unless we have lied that we might get into europe🤣.

He was brilliant once.

 

Glass just talking shit again

Edited February 8, 20224 yr by HaarDon

Snodgrass past his best, but if he's better than Ojo then worth a punt.

Just now, Panda said:

Snodgrass past his best, but if he's better than Ojo then worth a punt.

But that would imply that Glass would actually drop Ojo rather than shoehorn him into goalkeeper or striker.

At least we can put this one to bed.

 

Thank fuck. Found his level.

7 hours ago, Jute said:

At least we can put this one to bed.

 

His arms look fucking stupid.

 

And as for that vaginal transplant