wee toon red

Given the scale of the overhaul required, I think we need to prioritise first choice centre midfield players. Lewis Logan Devlin McKenna Consi Shinnie New McGinn New GMS May/Rooney/Cosgrove Isn’t a bad lineup as long as the two news are of the requisite standard. Beyond that, a first choice mobile striker and a couple of full backs would be nice. After his comments post-semi, does anyone else think we’ll be using the budget available to prioritise quality players rather than filling the squad this time? I’d take two high quality midfielders using up any available budget, with our current squad men and youngsters as back-up.

As discussed elsewhere on the board, if not this threat, if finishing second by going unbeaten against the best teams in the league and sealing it in style by beating the champions in their own midden on the last day is limping, then who needs to be running

If anyone seriously thought that we won't miss Kenny McLean next season then last night should prove beyond all doubt that he's our top player and we'll seriously struggle to get in someone even close to his level.

To finish fourth hibs would need to win tomorrow then draw on Sunday so it’s far from probable.

No idea how this ferguson boy will pan out but Hamilton do seem decent at spotting a midfielder so must be worth a risk. Couldn't give a monkeys whether he stops on of our "own" youngestes coming through - if any of them were good enough we wouldn't need to be signing Ferguson! I see Mark O'Hara at Dundee is out of contract - worth a punt given how many midfielders we need? Haven't seen too much of him but always looked a bit of a goal threat any time I've seen him on telly.

Indeed. But there are so many behind the scenes variables that we can't know about that it's a pretty insignificant thing to have picked up on. Maybe Cosgrove is feeling the pressure of movin to a bigger club so downplaying his cost etc might be a way of chilling him out? As I said, we don't know the behind the scenes stuff, particularly what McInnes is saying to the player's face, so not really worth worrying about a throwaway comment.

I take it Cove actually want to be in the league set up unlike Buckie or whoever it was in the playoff a couple of seasons ago?

I'm playing Devil's advocate to an extent but really none of us have a clue what goes on behind the scenes so those who are picking on something as minor as the cheap as chips comment to have a go at McInnes are being a bit churlish, which is the only reason I mentioned it.

Maybe Cosgrove is a billy big baws and a public slapping down is what he needs? Not saying that is the case, and I'm also not particularly bothered either way, but it could be the case. Of all the things to fault McInnes on I wouldn't say this is particularly noteworthy.

IIRC, the context of the cheap as chips quote was "he wasn't supposed to join us until the summer but he was cheap as chips so we went for it in January" or words to that effect, which I took to mean the transfer fee rather than specifically his wages.

Sincerely hope the Huns do appoint Gerrard as it's a massive gamble. He has literally no management experience, therefore how can anyone know if he'll be any good or not? Based on their track record of Warburton-Caixinha-Murty the Hun board don't appear to have much of an eye for a manager so chances are Gerrard will be hopeless and nothing more than a big name - albeit from his playing days - to dupe the hordes into renewing the season tickets.

Aye, who needs a proper left back

I'd take Wallace to cure our left back woes in a flash, providing the contract was reasonable.

Presumably to find out if they might actually be good enough for his first eleven, which I'd suggest McKenna seems like he could be, with McTominay and McBurnie reasonable squad players at this stage. McDonald and Murphy not so much.

Tierney will be captain when he's back in the squad so anyone else is just a temporary measure. Also, and I hope no-one takes this the wrong way, if your enthusiasm is affected overly much by whoever is named captain for a couple of friendlies then you probably weren't too bothered about the team anyway.

That's the point though, they are HIS players by any objective measure. He's responsible for them from now until the end of the season, he signed or brought them all through and I bet all three would credit him with playing a huge part in their careers to date.

If that's one of the big things we have to worry about as a club at the moment then we can't be doing too badly. All three, regardless of where they'll be next season or where they were last season, will be playing for Aberdeen for the remainder of this season, therefore they're Aberdeen players. McLean and Christie were both signed by McInnes and he gave McKenna his debut so they're also very much his players.

Whoever gets the shot or point(s) in the previous end goes first in the next one, ie if you win the end you go first in the next one. If it's a blank end, whoever went first in that one goes first in the next one.

I think that might work in an ideal world but it's almost impossible to look at it beyond a campaign by campaign basis. You've only got 10 or so games each time so individual players' form, injuries, luck etc all play much more of a part at international level than they do in the club game. Saying that, it should definitely be in Malky Mackay's job to look at the long term and for that reason a degree of integration between his job and the manager's is essential. The manager is really just a head coach anyway so I don't see much harm in the SFA, through Mackay, having certain stipulations for each squad selection to make sure we are always looking long-term.

I may have read you wrong but it seems like you're writing off 2020 qualification? I think we should be appointing someone now with a view to qualifying for the 2020 Euros. Qualifying for the World Cup is a nightmare but if we make it to the Euros through the usual qualification (doubt it, other than a VERY kind draw) or the Nations League (much more achievable) then the experience, confidence and belief we'll get from that will push us on tremendously. If we don't make 2020 then I don't think we'll get anywhere near the World Cup in 2022 so you'd be looking at 2024 before we have a realistic chance, barring an amazing qualifying draw for 2022.

I'd blame both centre backs before I'd blame Consi for that one. O'Connor gave the ball away and was too slow to get back into positioning. Knowing his mate was out of position, McKenna should've stood off his man rather than getting too tight and leaving a massive space for Stanton to run into. Shinnie also wasn't too great, although Stanton did take a great first touch to take him out the game.

If he's in control of his demons then he's the best centre half in Scotland by a million miles and an incredible signing by Dundee. Unfortunately, the fact he's signed for Dundee is probably a reflection of the faith managers in the championship down south have in him being in control. Hope I'm wrong and that he has a great end to the season, followed by a summer move to Pittodrie

Cmon man, that’s crazy talk. Rangers didn’t get relegated they went bust and their zombie replacement was allowed to start way higher up the pyramid than they should have. That was a massive helping hand for them. While I have no love for the sfa board, regan outlived his usefulness in general and it was long past time for him to go.

Apparently the Chinese window is open until February 28th so we'll find out in a few weeks if there is any substance to these rumours (like fuck there is).

His second goal last night was absolutely typical Rooney and shows why he, and the team, suffered so much from losing McGinn and Hayes at the same time.