Panda

I'm heading up the road for this game, so fully expecting our little bubble to burst. Hoping Miovski gets a run out. Kinda torn on the defence. Part of me wants to see Scales, but part of me wants to see us line-up with the team that's gonna play v Celtic. Would keep McCrorie in midfield. Celtic won't be firing on all cylinders on day one so let's go at them, and McCrorie in midfield I think is key to that.

Duk has trained three times in six weeks according to Goodwin, so he's miles off the pace. Barron to miss the Raith & Celtic games it seems, but Mackenzie back training next week. Goodwin also admitted McCrorie moving into defence late on was him beginning to prepare for the Celtic game, with Scales not available. Though says Bates and Milne also being considered.

Duk getting 45 minutes apparently. And, big news.....apparently it's pronounced Dook as opposed to Duck.

I might be completely wrong about this, but with Duk being Portuguese and them being in the EU, I think his Visa application should be quicker. Even though the U.K. isn't in the EU, I think applicants from there tend to have less problems. But, fuk knows. Miovski is a wide player, number 10 and striker I'm sure. Some talk that Ramirez's family arrived yesterday so who knows.

I'm fairly confident that's just a light shade of red. But, to be fair, I did have to give it a second look.

Point of order: The live text is provided by Opta, as are the match stats. True story.

As a Roma fan, fuck him. (But, actually, hope he does well Just not against i Giallorossi )

Which one did you expect?

My first reaction every time I see this is to correct the person and remind them it's a cup game! Can't get used to playing for three points in the League Cup. I wonder if Lewis will play, with Goodwin maybe considering playing both goalkeepers in these four games before picking his number one for the season.

Both Aberdeen & Hearts have rubbished the Liam Boyce rumours, but FS are just continuing with the "Aberdeen are linked" thing, in the same way every time they mention Connor Barron they say that Celtic have a fight on their hands to get him based on a scout watching him once. Gets them hits though, innit. With Miovski, Watkins, this Duk lad and then trying to give Liam Harvey some minutes, I can't see us signing another frontman anyway, especially since there's every chance we don't get a suitable offer for Ramirez and decide to keep him. Think priority now is creative midfielder and a left sided defender, then we're ready to absolutely piss this league.

Not sure how good Fletcher is at 35, but he might be good foil for Tony Watt. Getting Levitt on a two-year deal is very good business, even if they cash in next summer. Could be a right interesting battle between Hearts, Hibs and United for fourth next season behind Scotland's big three...

Anthony Stewart the captain...

Presume this is how we're shaping up. Besuijen as a number 10. No Connor Barron in the squad. Edit: Just realised I've written Roos as Ross.

Brechin City friendly tonight available to buy for a tenner. https://brechincity.univtec.com/event/62b190d3dbd3b91e7749a11c

Reports today that Dundee United are closing in on loan deals for Levitt & McGrath. On one hand, they'd only be loans. Have a good half season and both could be away in January. But on the other - if they manage to get Zander Clark, Dylan Levitt & Jamie McGrath all signed up then they're in good shape. It also leaves us with just Ronan to go for from the three players we were talking about the other day, with Hearts apparently ramping up their interest.

Last season he played RCM, LCM, as a defensive mid and on occasion as an attacking mid. He even played at LWB. Passes into penalty area 47%, dribbling 60%, 38% shots on target, 26% crossing. Five goals. While he was doing that, we had Funso Ojo, whose passes into penalty area was only 30%, successful dribbles less than 50%, shots on target 24%, crossing 22%. Scored once. He also hugged the right hand side while Levitt was more fluid. Levitt was also able to turn with the ball while Ojo could only run in a straight line (I know he's not here anymore but I'm still not over it). Comparing Levitt to McGrath and Ronan. McGrath - more of a wide midfielder, but his stats were actually very similar to Levitt. Less goals though, but probably because he was playing wider. Previous season, when played more centrally, he scored 17 goals. Ronan - again, not a huge difference in stats. But scored eight goals and had four assists so was more effective than all of them last season. Any of them would be good signings. But McGrath (likely a loan) is 25. Ronan 24. Levitt is 21 and could be at a World Cup on his 22nd birthday, making him the much more enticing option.

Absolutely, Levitt would be a great signing and if Dundee United land him for 300k it'll be the transfer of the summer. I would guess though, with the likes of Aberdeen & Hearts being alerted, and presumably clubs in England, that 300k fee will shoot right up. It's also likely to include significant add ons, ie if he makes Wales' World Cup squad.

I noticed towards the end of last season we didn't really play with wingers. All our wide men would play quite narrow. Even Besuijen was playing quite central v Hibs. Maybe we'll see a system where our wing backs go wide and the forward guys tuck in. He can play left and right. He played all across the back four last season, and also played in midfield. Just the type of back up player you want. Apparently we've enquired about him but no offer made.

Actually, both made their debut after he left. Technically Mackenzie is a Paul Sheerin player, and Bannon belongs to Stephen Glass. His dad is a massive Celtic fan and, going by his Twitter bio, can't spell UEFA. That adds nothing to the debate, sorry. We've been linked with Jamal Amofa, 23-year-old centre half who is out of contract having turned down a new contract with Den Haag, and who can play on the left or right of defence. Between us and three other clubs apparently. An ex-team mate of Vicente Besuijen which may swing it our way. His birthday is also the same as mine, last Dons player to share such an honour was Jim Bett. Would be surprised if McLennan stays beyond the transfer window. At the very least he'll go out on loan.

P&J actually says Hancock loan off due to Mackenzie injury. Was the BBC gossip column throwing everyone off. Typical weegie press. (I've pointed out the error, should be getting changed)

So at the moment, for the opening league game v Celtic, this could be our line-up. Mjovski can play striker, N10 or winger. I'm simply guessing where he'll play just now as haven't seen him in the red shirt obviously. Looking at that, we still need another centre half as when Scales is missing we have no other LCB and could go into the Celtic game with no back-up. In general the squad still needs a bit more competition for places, especially on the left side. McGrath, Ronan, another striker and another defender and I'd be confident of a decent season. If that's our first XI, and they stay fit (and making a presumption Ramirez stays), then I wouldn't be too upset. Reckon that side is beating Celtic 2-0.

Mjovski medical on Tuesday, Ramadani arriving in Spain on Wednesday. Apparently.

You mean, like what gets published on the BBC pretty much every summer? https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57666360.amp

Kinda off topic, but it's related to Aberdeen planning to cut capacity to 16,000. Been having a look at the season ticket prices at Hearts, Hibs and ourselves. Hearts have sold 17,500, Hibs 10,000, and us 8,000. What is striking, is how much more expensive Aberdeen's are. Especially when you consider Hearts and Hibs are playing in better stadiums with less seats that have a restricted view. Few examples:- If you sit in the first seven rows at the side of the pitch, even if right on the halfway line, Hearts will discount your ticket down to £315. Aberdeen charge £437. So an extra £122 for an equivalent view. Behind the goals. If high up, Hearts are £360. At Aberdeen, the RDU (now family section) is £437. Platinum in lower deck is £528. So £77 more for what is restricted view in RDU (you struggle to see goal line), or a whopping £168 more for a similar view. In those first seven rows behind the goals at Tynecastle, it's £295. At Pittodrie, £409 at front of RDL or £368 in Merkland. Again, £114 more for RDL and even in our cheapest seats an adult is paying £73 more. (Now, the club will tell you the 'Red Shed' is aimed more at the youths, and fair enough the U18 prices generally are cheaper than Hearts, and there is also a 18-21 price for that stand.). Compare too the corners of the south stand in comparison to near the corner flag at Tynecastle. £360 at Hearts to £409 for Aberdeen. Hibs too are cheaper than Aberdeen, though not as cheap as Hearts. How do Aberdeen justify these prices when the stadium, by their own admission, is not fit for purpose? Likely their market research tells them season ticket sales won't change much depending on prices or how the team is doing, but it's similar too to their European own goal at the beginning of last season when Aberdeen were charging over £30 for one of the qualifiers, while Celtic, Hibs and St Johnstone all charged much lower for the same round. You can't help but feel if Aberdeen limit the capacity of the new ground to 16,000, and crowds go up as a result of the new ground and/or the team doing well, they'll be taking advantage of the lack of availability by pushing the prices right up.

Not necessarily since Gallagher was released to allow that deal to go through.