LA-Don

A 6'2'' striker who has scored one goal in his professional career. Why not just keep Stockley? We have May, Rooney, Maynard, Stewart, and McGinn, all who can play up top (although that's an assumption with Maynard.) How about we play tactics that suit them instead of wasting money on a big loon to punt long balls to?

Good move for Wright if you ask me if it happens, especially now that we have McGinn back. He needs to play regularly and find consistency and we can’t give him multiple starts hoping he’ll find that. Straight replacement for ohalloran - obviously hope he does well but reminds me of pawlett. Bags of talent but can he step up to the next level??

Well, figured it was best here and not the match thread but is Mulumbu at Killie worth a look? Turned 31 a couple of days ago and is out of contract in the summer. Played for Clark at West Brom but surely we can offer a better wage and more chance of Europe and finals. Thought he looked very good, no nonsense and smart with the ball. Killie have certainly improved with him in the middle of the park.

Was intrigued by him as potentially our manager when I though McInnes was off to the huns. Now being linked with the Scotland job, curious to know peoples thoughts. Think it was Rodgers that commented and Lennon is flattered with the suggestion and didn't shoot it down. Would be happy for him as a national team manager. Reasonably respected and knows the Scottish game, plus it weakens Hibs. Other than that, who? McLeish? What's peoples thoughts on Lennon for Scotland?

Christie is a really interesting one. Don't see him as a permanent first 11 at Celtic, don't see him as an EPL player, so would most likely follow in McLean's footsteps and be somewhere in the championship. There are a number of Scottish players who go there and are rarely heard of, no trophy or cup final opportunities, certainly no Europe, and don't get a sniff of the Scotland squad. Think Jonny Hayes showed him exactly what may happen going back to Celtic. He's been in a national squad, and here can challenge for trophies and play in Europe. He can also be our star man, and right now he is. With the exception of money (which is huge obviously), why leave Aberdeen. Obviously he has to as a loan player but he certainly has it good with us.

Good attitude from Devlin and saying the right things - said it was a no brainer since he gets the chance to play in Europe and cup finals (hopefully.) Pretty sure he could have gotten better money elsewhere, good on him.

Yup, on a 4 1/2 year deal. We have signed Niall McGinn and a guy who cannot play yet. Hope we get the finger out...

100% and made that point before. Stewart and May are the perfect examples of players who don't fit our system. Good managers sign players who can play their system or adjusts tactics to suit players.

I'd say the huns are very similar to us in terms of players although we definitely have areas needing strengthened, but Celtic have better players. When only us and Ross County haven't taken points off one or both of the old firm this year (if that is correct) I think the problem is 100% the manager and his preparation/tactics. If we can beat the rest we have the ability to take points from the old firm. This question should be posed to DM in an interview. It's not one or two games, we are consistently bad against both and tactics are the same and wrong virtually every single game. Big Al - your point backs me up. We have the same points as Rangers despite them taking 10 of 15 from us and Celtic. They aren't that good, no need for the tactics we see. Celtic aren't that good either as others have shown. I don't think Rangers or Celtic raise their game against us. They just look good because we are shit and our tactics are wrong. Give teams time and space and sit back and they'll look good against us. Initially I assumed DM isn't going anywhere, he declined the huns and is saying all the right stuff. He's made us credible but clearly cannot take us further - there is zero argument against that. Now we have the stadium issue - how can DM walk away in the middle of this? That would create a shit ton of drama. Does DM go to the huns in the summer which is more respectful after doing all he can with us including getting us new facilities, or does he go to the huns then because he doesn't get new facilities and a stadium? Maybe I'm full of shit but I wonder.

I tend to agree with you but we badly need him in midfield which really tells us how shite the rest have been. It’s a reflection of how shit our league has been since we’ve been shit in central defense, center mid, and our star goal scorer is very limited. Hearts and Rangers have improved now and the pressure is definitely on McInnes to sign quality. We need the quality signings because he’s proven his tactics are shit against the top teams. I think wiggy is proud that we’re not shit anymore and will stand by his man, but DM is being found out.

I think the better explanation may be that we have a shit left back. He probably doesn’t want to get caught out wider or isolated because he’ll get skinned for pace. That’s happened far too often in the past as we all know. I’m a huge supporter of Shinnie in midfield but thats mainly due to the shit central midfield options we have. Another booking and another suspension doesn’t help us. DM hasn’t signed one good central midfielder since he joined the club. I’ve bitched about that for years and my dead horse has taken almost as much of a beating as our friend telling us Maynard is as good as Harry Kane. I don’t think I’m out there saying this, I think it’s blatantly obvious center mid is an issue. I’m really torn between a new left back and Shinnie going back there but left back and center mid area huge problem areas needing addressed. Then again so is a central defender to partner McKenna, a center forward, and a right back since Shay turned into shit. DMs record against the old firm is awful. These are not one off games. It’s no fluke and not unlucky and not just a bad day. Other than the Scottish cup final and the 2-1 ibrox win I cannot recall a good performance against the old firm. One of the first things Fergie realized was that you had to beat these guys, wtf Derek McInnes. I’d love to hear an explanation.

There’s no such thing as defensive width. You want a defense to be compact, allowing no penetration between defenders - space there results in scoring chances as these spaces are more central than wide.You allow the space wide which is away from goal and less dangerous but need to be prepared to potentially defend crosses. Since I didn’t see the game that’s one area it sounds like we got right, not sure there were any others.

Not ready to comment. Delighted McGinn is back and we don’t know about the midfielder, could be good. There’s a week in the window left, a lot can still happen. Hopefully.

Was about to post this too. Points from rangers and Celtic are there to be taken. Didn’t see the game but sounds like it was the same old story.

While I agree with you I'd think Arnie is on good money right now. Doubt he'll stay as a cheap back up or we can't afford an expensive 35/36 year old who doesn't play much.

Exactly this. AOC no better or worse than ash Taylor, both have their good and bad. I expect Arnie to go too but Reynolds is under contract and will stay. I think Devlin is worth the gamble.

Well, McGinn potentially replaces Christie, and McGeough linked to replace McLean. I see in the sun and record (yes, I know) we’re now linked with Chris Cadden. Given we have Scott Wright, do I assume cadden replaces the on loan Stewart? What are people’s thoughts, Cadden or Stewart? Stewart has found some form of late and is growing on people. I think he’s skilled but in the #10 role, thus sending McGinn wide. I’m not a fan of him wide, his lack of pace kills me.

I've suggested that before but been shot down. Problem is that Klinsmann would want power and a change in the whole Scotland structure from youth teams up. He's a true winner but no way the powers that be will give him the authority. I actually thought McLeish did well as Scotland manager, would hopefully have players playing for the jersey. Then again it was a while ago and I could be wrong...

I'd suggest the Ryan Jack saga, along with the Jonny Hayes transfer, has affected how McLean went about his departure. Well done son.

I think it’s fair to say, if you compare the two, Shinnie is the more effective and influential midfielder. They are very different types of players, I’m not comparing them like for like. In the 4-2-3-1 that McInnes plays, the flair comes from the attacking 3, and we have that. The two holding mids require Shinnie’s qualities, and it sounds like McGeough can hold his own. McLean can pass an excellent 50 yard square ball, it looks good but the majority of passes from what I see do little, hence the minimal assists. No way McGinn becomes one of those two, he’s more lightweight than mclean.

Only the highlights. I’m not an AOC fan, just pointing out that I don’t think Arnie has been the rock we need in there, plus being 35 is not the long term solution.

I’d be happy with McGeough and Devlin. Probably have to wait until summer though but we may have to sell McLean now to finance creative pre contract offers? Not heard much about Arnie other than gossip about him wanting a new deal. Not fussed if he goes, hasn’t looked overly better than AOC at the back. I was never sold on McLean. Always expected a box to box midfielder, a frank lampard type. But he’s a big puss, doesnt score enough, create enough, assist enough, and tends to be the guy who lost his marker or didn’t track back on a goal. I cringe when he shoots, so rarely hits the target. Pisses me off too that’s he’s playing quite well now, I assume because he’s putting himself in the shop window. Seems to have improved in the deeper midfield role but he’s still too weak for me. Shinnie has turned into the better central midfielder, plus plays in a manner with effort and passion that the fans love. Based on the comments, I’d take McGeough ahead of McLean alongside Shinnie any day. I was a fan of both flood and Robson. McGeough sounds more of a Robson with a bite of bite and flair, which we badly need in there.

Not saying he's necessarily the player we need, but sounds like the type of player we need. And to be fair, I think we were lucky to beat them in Edinburgh earlier in the season, don't recall our midfield dominating that game. He's played in a midfield that's performed well against the old firm, can't really say that about many of our midfielders over the last couple of years.

Chatter about Dylan McGeouch, can’t say I’ve seen him play much. What type of midfielder? A replacement for Christie or the deeper more heavily lifting role that McLean has been playing of late?

Didn't see the game, just the highlights. Thought Stewart looked lively early and GMS certainly appears to have found confidence. Looks like we played at good pace at times, certainly has been a strength of ours. Today is another example of how valuable Christie has become. Funny how we've heard a lot about Maddison of late, I'd take Christie for our team and in our league before him any day. Wondering if McGinn is Christie's replacement - would love to keep Ryan obviously but as many have said, don't think we can afford the transfer fee or the weekly wage, plus with his good performances each week he gets further out of reach. I think Stewart is worth trying to get permanently too. Not sure how we accommodate Rooney and May in the same line up. The mix up between the two when Rooney should have scored sums it up really....