Christ, I must be slipping up now that I've commenced my seventh decade as I started last summer's one back in mid March 2022 much to Rico's annoyance.

Anyway, here goes, the exact date the window will open has yet to be announced but will be at some point in early June meaning we are potentially only just over six weeks away.

If we thought last year's one was busy, then I think its fair to say there is going to be a fair old churn this summer as well.

Difficult to forecast too much at this point given amongst other minor things we don't actually know who'll be in charge next season, but lets not let that stop us speculating too much.

Rumours in the papers suggesting we're still after the lad from Go Ahead Eagles that we came close to signing in January.

There will be all the usual chat about who's leaving and how much we'll rake in in fees, so knock yourselves out and get them fired in here lads. 

Phillips was the Young Player of the Season at Shrewsbury, despite only joining them on loan in January. Is liked by the Eagles too 

Apparently close to signing Serbian centre-back Slobodan Rubezic.

He's right footed. Last season we had an obsession with right sided wingers, this year it appears to be right sided centre-backs.

6 ft 4 Serbian who plays on either side apparently

A big mean looking ticket

Get the Croat in as well and change our name to Balkan FC 😉

11 minutes ago, BigAl said:

6 ft 4 Serbian who plays on either side apparently

A big mean looking ticket

Get the Croat in as well and change our name to Balkan FC 😉

I think we can all but write off scales coming back if this happens 

1 minute ago, tlg1903 said:

I think we can all but write off scales coming back if this happens 

Agreed.

No nothing whatsoever about Rubezic and paper talk is cheap, but it appears as if he is very highly rated and that we've been tracking this guy for some considerable time.

Whilst all these signings will require to gel together, it is possible for it all to go Pete Tong yet, it sure as hell is an exciting time to be a Don.

Even an old fucker like me is feeling re-energised and excited about the season ahead.

 

 

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Agreed.

No nothing whatsoever about Rubezic and paper talk is cheap, but it appears as if he is very highly rated and that we've been tracking this guy for some considerable time.

Whilst all these signings will require to gel together, it is possible for it all to go Pete Tong yet, it sure as hell is an exciting time to be a Don.

Even an old fucker like me is feeling re-energised and excited about the season ahead.

 

 

I hope the pacemaker can handle it mate 👍😉😘

It’s UN peacekeepers we’ll need at this rate.

4 hours ago, Slim said:

It’s UN peacekeepers we’ll need at this rate.

As long as they’re not Dutch, we should be ok.

8 hours ago, BigAl said:

6 ft 4 Serbian who plays on either side apparently

A big mean looking ticket

Get the Croat in as well and change our name to Balkan FC 😉

Saw a photo of him, he's similar build to Scott McKenna 

22 hours ago, tlg1903 said:

I think we can all but write off scales coming back if this happens 

Be interesting to see who would play LCB.

Looking at Wyscout, Rubezic has been playing RCB. He's only filled in at LCB when there's been injuries or suspensions.

Rhys Williams has actually played more games in his career at LCB. 

Anything Stewart also often played on the left side of defence before signing for Aberdeen...

 

 

Teklic no more

Off to Turkey for 1.2million euros

Turkish journalist reporting that we were a ba' hair away from getting him (not the exact language used).

Again, guess you can't really miss what you never had

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

Teklic no more

Off to Turkey for 1.2million euros

Turkish journalist reporting that we were a ba' hair away from getting him (not the exact language used).

Again, guess you can't really miss what you never had

Had a feeling this one wasn't going to happen

5 hours ago, BigAl said:

Off to Turkey for 1.2million

That's a fair sum. Have to imagine we were matching it if we were really close. Seem to be willing to splash the cash for the right player. 

You’d think a Croatian ‘B’ international who has signed for the Turkish champions of last season is the type of game changing player who could really move us up a level, hopefully there’s a couple more targets of that calibre on our shortlist. 

I was amused by how afc Twitter managed to get their pants wet by him following the club on instagram this week. It was never happening after last week. Shame, and exactly the caliber of player we should be looking to sign. Big wad of cash for a player with 11 months to go, but they’ve got the cash so it’ll be pocket change for them. Onwards and upwards, but I’d like to see someone confirmed soon.

Little surprised we haven’t been linked with more wide players. Are we relying on wing backs? Very limited with wingers at present.

21 hours ago, manc_don said:

I was amused by how afc Twitter managed to get their pants wet by him following the club on instagram this week. It was never happening after last week. Shame, and exactly the caliber of player we should be looking to sign. Big wad of cash for a player with 11 months to go, but they’ve got the cash so it’ll be pocket change for them. Onwards and upwards, but I’d like to see someone confirmed soon.

Warned you that profile pic thing was nothing but trouble.

Edited July 20, 20232 yr by OxfordDon

On 15/07/2023 at 19:37, BigAl said:

 Be’er Sheva defender Or Dadia. 

Allegedly 🤔

Done deal subject to usual visa etc being granted 👍

29 minutes ago, BigAl said:

Done deal subject to usual visa etc being granted 👍

So devlin or him playing on the left??

18 hours ago, BigAl said:

Done deal subject to usual visa etc being granted 👍

Officially confirmed by club now. 
 

 

2 hours ago, Jute said:

Officially confirmed by club now. 
 

 

Looks a hard fucker that you probably wouldn't want to pick a fight with.

So the chat is we're trying to get Liam Scales back on loan, because we've been priced out of a permanent transfer by Celtic.

Clever by Aberdeen I'd say. Don't pay over the odds if you don't have to. He clearly doesn't have a future at Celtic and no-one is going to pay an inflated fee for him.

 

10 hours ago, Panda said:

So the chat is we're trying to get Liam Scales back on loan, because we've been priced out of a permanent transfer by Celtic.

Clever by Aberdeen I'd say. Don't pay over the odds if you don't have to. He clearly doesn't have a future at Celtic and no-one is going to pay an inflated fee for him.

Yeah I agree. He came ok towards the end of last season but he wasnt good enough to merit a large fee. If it were not for the fact that hes a known quantity of a reasonable standard (and maybe also because he's left footed) I wouldn't even be interested in having him back. 

So looking at how we're shaping up.

Robson says he's hoping for two defenders and two midfielders.

I'd hazard a guess that a RM is on the shopping list since that's what Teklic would have been, while yesterday showed a central midfielder with an attacking edge is needed.

Then a LCB, and I'm kinda presuming Rubezic is a done deal as everything seems to suggest it is.

Duncan was playing LWB / LM when he came on yesterday, so looks like he may be the one pushing Hayes for a place there.

Besuijen didn't feature at all yesterday which - unless he's injured or not fit - doesn't bode well for him, especially if another two midfielders come in.

We need eight (I think) home grown players in the European squad, four of which need to be trained by the club. So Bavidge, Marshall, Duncan, Barron, Mackenzie, Milne, Ritchie, Devlin, Doohan, Shinnie - that's 10, so maybe Marshall and Milne go out on loan?

You kinda feel Mackenzie would benefit from a loan, but because he's a left footed defender he's probably going to play a lot. Especially if Scales comes back on loan.

Below graphic in case we opt for four at the back, which would suit Dadia and Devlin you imagine. 

I think Clarkson is playing further up the pitch. Certainly was yesterday with shinnie playing the anchor.

I'd be surprised if sokler doesn't push bojan out of the starting line up this season.

Not a fan of the attacking wing back and felt both Johnny and Morris were crap yesterday.  Certainly an area where a specialist is needed.

I did think that Duncan did ok in that position as the game went on.