BobbyBiscuit

Tough tie, but definately got a chance of going through. Whereas, if we'd got Bayern, there was no chance of going through. Only three weeks til the home leg, I think we'll need to win by a couple of goals at our place and keep a clean sheet. Just hope we've got our act together by then!

can you update us please? I've only got it on BBC and it's as slow as a week in the Bar-L.

well matched then, arent they?

You having a laugh? Have you ever watched the championship? Utter dross. The standard is appalling. Kev McNaughton said that Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts would occupy the top three places in that league, and I don't actually disagree with him. Willie Miller also said in the summer we'd survive in the Premiership.

If we didn't have the UEFA Cup coming up, I think he'd be off like a shot. However, it won't be the last Championship job coming up, and I don't envisage him being here by the end of the season. Would be worried about him taking our best players with him though.

He wants to play for the Huns. Therefore, he can fucking do one.

Scotland caps in general in recent times regardless of manager, count for fuck all. Gary Caldwell. Need I say more?

Absolutely, but then not giving the guy a chance at a run at it isn't doing anyone any good either. If he's given a run, and it's not happening, then by all means drop him. But to have him play as a lone striker and getting balls fired up in the air towards him and then take him off and then not play him at all after it is utter nonsense. And the man taking him off, and making him play to those tactics is the very man who told him not to sign for Leicester as that was their tactics! You couldn't make it up! From what I hear, Lovell likes it at Aberdeen, what he doesnt like is him not being used properly nor getting a decent run in the side. I can understand people being angry with his display against Hearts, it looked as though his heart wasn't in it. However, play to his strengths by passing the ball into the channels, and MAYBE we'll see why we bought him in the first place.

Would have to imagine it's going to be someone with reasonable experience, otherwise, what's the point? If it's a left back, that would surely signal a change in role for McNamara, either to centre back or midfield. If it's a centre back then would have to say that Considine is the favourite to be dropping out. If the rumour about Bamba is true, then I would say that we'd maybe be better off sticking with what we have at present. Looks a good player at times, other times he looks like Bombscare Billy. but if he does sign, then I'll give him a chance. Not sure about everyone else, but I can't really think of "realistic" targets at the moment, as I think Nemanja Vidic falls into the "unrealistic" bracket here! And sometimes, it's just better not trying to second guess JC...

I like Lovell, simply cos he's shown in glimpses what he can do, and I'd have to say I'd take Lovell every day of the week over Stavrum, but that's another discussion for another day... Losing two strikers, potentially, and replacing them with Dobie and possibly Derek Young would signal we're stuck in reverse gear. Having to pick any two from Mackie, Miller, Maguire, Dobie and Young is far from inspiring, it's a sad day when Darren Mackie looks the most lethal out the lot of them.

Supposedly we're after Scott Dobie!! Not good news. Something like 6 goals in 56 starts! PROLIFIC!

Have to wonder if we're signing a defender due to the injury/form problems at the back, or if this is a realisation from Calderwood that we can not afford to lose Severin from the midfield, and that maybe Touzani isn't up to it?

EDIT: Duff link, full article in Bobby Peru's post below! The Irish lad McAllister won't be signing for us, but a new striker and defender may be coming in before Saturday.

Not sure if you remember a story at the start of the summer about celtic taking an Irish lad on trial, then offering him a contract and the lad snubbing it? Well, this is the fella. He thought he wouldn't get a look in at Porkheid so didnt sign... fair play to him, money obviously isn't the driving force in his career. About the forwards... I genuinely believe that Lovell could be a tremendous striker for us if given a decent run in the side. But putting the guy in for one game, playing an unfamiliar role, getting the ball smacked up to his head for the whole time he's on the pitch and then he's out the side the next week is not doing us nor Stevie Lovell any favours. It should be Lovell and one of the others partnering him. Mackie has been our top scorer in two of the last three seasons (I think!), and Miller is allegedly our highest paid player. Maguire is a great prospect and looks as though he offers something the others dont (ie he can dribble and looks a cocky wee shite - in a good sense), if Calderflump can't get a successful partnership out of that then there's something wrong. And I agree with vanderark, JC's record with youth is not great, and that worries me about Maguires progress.

Going by a post on the Hat site, the two Jimmys were at a game in Nothern Ireland the other night and are supposedly after a lad called Mark McAllister who plays for Dungannon. Personally speaking, I would rather we just used Chris Maguire more often. The lad will never progress by purely sitting on the bench and I think we need to show faith in his ability. I'm also not a great subscriber to this theory that you need a big guy and a wee guy to play up front and I'd happily play Lovell with either Mackie or Maguire. JC seems reluctant to do this often, however. I would like to see us get a new keeper in before the end of the transfer window. Soutar has done ok, but looking back at the highlights of the Celtic game, I'm worried. Didn't shift his feet well, barely got off the ground at Nakamura's free kick (not that he would have saved it anyway, but that's hardly the point), is absolutely static at corner kicks (only a matter of time til we lose a goal from a corner which is put on to our six yard line) and should never have been beaten at the third goal.

If Seve played to his best consistently then he would be our best player. But he doesn't, so I think that accolade goes to Mikey Hart. Followed by Derek Young, obviously, as Reekie said.

Chris Sutton, i'd wager.

he'll be fit for sunday. JC in the EE saying so.

Yeah, it wasn't to me personally, but he really snapped at another young lad and the boy's dad was fuming, stormed over to Willie Miller (who had just been told about the others indiscretion) who then had steam coming out his ears!! I see Granty quite a lot. I play golf in Bannockburn a fair bit and he plays the same course with his lad. He's a top guy indeed.

I've met him quite a few times. Great guy, always got time for the fans. I remember one time when the Dons Youngstars Club (anyone else in that) had it's open day at Pittodrie and Miller was the manager at the time. All the players went through a training session and then you could meet all the players and management team for photos/autographs. Willie was great and made sure everything was going well... then he had reports that two of his players had been rather rude to a couple of kids. Willie marched into the centre of the park where the two offending players were and hauled them down the tunnel. At that point, I was amazed at how scared two grown men could look! The two players appeared five minutes later, red faced and looking rather sheepish. Without naming the two players directly, their nicknames were Dobbin and Zico. Strange how it's always the crap players who act like the billy big time and yet you have legends like Miller, McLeish, Snelders and McKimmie treating the fans with the respect they deserve.

Enjoyed listening to McGhee yesterday. Thought he was bang on with his comments about how a club like Aberdeen should at least be AIMING to challenge the old firm as you cant just continually go for 3rd place. There has to be improvement and ambition shown at some point.

Of course it's partly down to lack of funds available. But, and this is the most important part, it's down to JC's breathtaking shortsightedness when it comes to signings. I really thought we'd seen the last of this type of signing when we'd done well to get McNamara and De Visscher... this is a truly awful signing. The guy would go into my worst ever Dons XI.

Langfield isn't worth a fuck - a goalkeeper who makes the basic errors he makes is as much use as a chocolate fireman. Calderwood has made a massive error in judgement here. Langfield, we are told, was on his last warning about discipline, then there's the incident in Spain and Langfield's out the door... but that isn't the case at all is it? It sends out the wrong signals to the rest of the squad. Calderwood has basically backed down on this and Langfield should have been sacked in my opinion, as I would say his position has become untenable. Is it any wonder that clowns like Zander Diamond are constantly out on the piss if this is the attitude of his manager? Anyway, on the subject of the contract talks... need to get Hart, Lovell and Nicholson signed up asap. Foster and Clark are deserving of new contracts, Miller has much to prove this season but I think he'll come good but he really has to get his finger out. However, this is a massive season for Zander Diamond. His minder has gone and it's time he took responsibility and started playing the way we know he can play. If he doesnt, then it's out the door, or, he's offered a contract on the same terms. He won't get a better club than the Dons and he should realise that. Byrne, Soutar and Brewster should be shown the door. Soutar has been told he'll be No.1, but I have a feeling it will be that clown Langfield in goals come Tannadice.

I don't think Zero earned his pay. For all the time he was at the club, how many times did he actually turn it on? He was a poor team player who should have been shown the door after his petulance at the 2000 Scottish Cup Final.

I think he'll do alright mate. Roy Keane knows a player when he sees one, he's played against Anderson and Keane has not only said that he admires his playing ability but also his leadership. I think that's a fair bit of praise coming from one of the best captains there's been in world football in the last 20 years. It doesn't matter what Sunderland fans say about him just now, they'll change their tune when they see him play, and lets face it, they have no right in taking an uppity stance with us over the quality of our players... they sold us Dan fucking Smith for Christs sakes. i've been hearing this alot about roy keane knowing everything about football but i dont get it the guys been a manager for about 10 minutes I'm basically going on about how vocal he was as a player at Manu and reading his autobiography when he wouldnt be slow in saying that he could see in ten mins who would make the grade at OT and that sort of stuff. And the fact he's signed Russell in itself, of course...