manc_don

I'd agree with that. Thing is though, we don't know how the club is being run or the transfer front is being run so its difficult to see who should foot the blame. But as you said, i'm inclined to say it lays at the feet of our board.

Usually I'd agree with this, but because I do like United and obviously appreciate all Fergie did for our club I thought it was a nice touch. Though only because there were actually big stars playing (i.e I would have disagreed with them applauding their youth team off). I just hope our team got some valuable experiences from playing against them.

I don't think so at all, but we just have a hell of a lot of work to do and its just frustrating as hell since 3rd place was easily there for the taking. If only we'd have reinvested in the team after losing critical players. And D_D, I completely agree. I just wish the club would act sooner rather than later. Surely it makes sense, and as you say, it allows the team to gel during pre-season. I guess we've never had this and never will. As I said, i'm just trying to embrace this..."wait and see mentality", as much as I hate it as these is not much influence we can have

It was horrendous wasn't it! Everytime the commentators mentioned his name, he lost the ball. Thought Miller and JdV played well and it wasn't the worst friendly i've seen us play. It was good to see the Aberdeen fans applaud the united players off as well. I just wish I could have seen Scholes and Giggs, true legends of the game and could teach our lot a thing or 10 on how to be professionals. JC was in the paper today saying Mackie's goal should have stood.

Been having the same concerns. It was threadbare last season, and its only got smaller. But there is still time, granted not long before the season, but I am really just trying to stay positive until the season starts.

My stream has been terrible. Better in the second half mind, but the screen keeps freezing. Not a bad game though. Good save from Bossu.

I'm gutted I can't go, seeing vidic would be awesome. Him and Ferdinand could teach our defenders how to defend. Hell, Shame Edwin wasn't there to teach clangers how to kick.

Completely agree Ajja.

That would surely require some foresight from AFC? Pah There are a few decent players there aren't there? Or have the majority of them been moved on already?

Possibly, but he did mention he still wanted to try and play abroad. So when, not if, when FC Volendam get relegated, he'll seek a move again. But I'd hope by that stage we'd have found someone else

It's not his fault. He's backward cunt. Was it Darlington where they all send hate mail to their chairman who built a huge stadium that never gets filled?

Its a huge risk! I would have thought fair play if it was the guy killie were after who's an international etc...but then again, no risk, no gain. We'll just have to trust JC on this one.

Sauce?

I would have thought we'd have matched the 2K a week. Bit crazy really. But then again, he's not an international (i know we wouldn't be able to get one) and he wasn't our top pick. Slightly worrying though that we couldn't even convince him to join. Oh well, onwards and upwards.

Was there not some ridiculous fee (in our terms) being touted around?

I actually agree with most of you said. I'm not overly concerned about the beginning of the season just yet, but we need to make a couple of decent signings before then to allay any fears.

Alas I don't think our club had/has the foresight to act upon this. As you said, seems to be able to finish well enough. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next month or so.

Surely this happened with Kerr did it not? I know it took a while longer than we all thought, but hell, he weighed up his options and saw we were the better option. He didn't exhaust all other avenues, well I see it that way anyway.

Problem is I think JC seems content with Foster at LB. He is one of his favourites, just like Byrne was but he doesn't get injured very often. Unless we have a young Left back ready to step up (which I very much doubt at this moment in time).

I think its clear we don't have much money to play with in terms of transfer fees. Seems strange given our clubs "contacts" that we haven't inquired about him. But who's to say we haven't (I know how unlikely it is given how our clubs appears to be run). S_S was it not in installments depending on appearances etc?? Surely if we actually offered 150K straight up they would bite our hands off.

he certainly looks like he could run a circus, perfect candidate

Did wonder the same thing, but I don't know enough/anything about either of them.

Beautiful, lets hope he gets it then! I'm sure I read in the paper yesterday that it might be some guy managing an african team at the moment?

aberdeen face competition in striker bid Dons in chase to get the Wright man By Paul SMith Published: 09/07/2008 Aberdeen have opened talks with Darlington as they target forward Tommy Wright. The 23-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the English League 2 side following the arrival of former Clyde player Adam Proudlock. That has alerted a string of clubs to Wright’s availability and the Dons are among those who have expressed an interest. Aberdeen have not yet made a bid for the former Leicester City trainee and face competition for his services. Cheltenham Town are understood to have already had an offer rejected by Darlington and at least one other English side has also had an approach rebuffed. Aberdeen were prepared to pay about £50,000 for Southend United’s Irish forward Richie Foran and can afford to pay a fee for the right player. Wright, a former England under-19 international, has a record of 17 goals in 46 league starts for Darlington and has caught the eye of Jimmy Calderwood and his scouting team. Although currently recovering from a knee oper- ation, Wright is expected to be fit for the start of the season. After beginning his career at the Walkers Stadium, Wright went on to play for Brentford and Blackpool on loan before a move to Barnsley. At Oakwell he had a spell on loan at Walsall and then Darlington before completing a free transfer move to the Quakers in January last year. While Calderwood attempts to strengthen his attacking options, the move for defender Tim Bakens has stalled. The Press and Journal revealed yesterday that the Dutchman was unhappy with the initial contract offer from the Dons. Calderwood has since confirmed the wage problem and said: “I had contact from Tim’s agent on Tuesday morning. We made him an offer and the agent made us a counter-offer. If the terms we have now been quoted are what he wants then he will not be coming"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/7495866.stm My favorite bit comes at the end when he says he expects Hearts to be SPL champions very soon.