LA-Don

Ok, partly tongue in cheek but Shinnie was a left back when signed, Jack was always a midfielder. It's only recently DM apparently said that Shinnie was now a midfielder - was this actually said and Shinnie is now a permanent midfielder?? Sad that he outshines other established central midfielders who have been in the Scotland squad for that position. Shinnie is our best midfielder BY FAR and Jack and McLean are inconsistent. We also have no competition in midfield to push them on and that has already been expressed - the comfort level because of nobody fighting for places. We need fresh blood to help players kick on - is this a reason Jack and McLean haven't progressed over the last couple of years? We badly needed signings for Jack/McLean's position to help with depth/competition for places and we went backwards signing nobody and loaning Storie. Disagree here with the winter break solving a problem, Shinnie is being run to death and don't see a 2 week winter break making much difference. We still trained and played in Dubai, we're not that rested. Our squad is smaller and I predict another shit finish to the season. We have no depth in midfield and will get injuries, suspensions, and fatigue will kick in. We play a 3 man center mid in a 4-2-3-1 - Jack, Shinnie, and McLean - other than Pawlett who'se had too many failed chances already and Christie we have no central mid cover. Neither of those 2 are midfield grafters and O'Connor is not a midfielder as proven. Paper thin. McLean is shit deep, he's proven that's not his position.

Well, not totally surprising. Thought we were decent in the first half but second half we went back to how we've played and failed against Celtic in the past. We sat back and let them play and gave us no chance of winning.....or even scoring. One header on target but other than that a very easy night for Craig Gordon. Celtic also missed chances - we couldn't string passes together but I have to praise Celtic here, they pressed the shit out of us and gave us little time on the ball and that totally shut out Hayes and McGinn. Thought Shinnie put in a power of work in midfield. Not convinced by Jack or McLean. Both gave very little in possession and in attack and if our best central midfielder is our left back we have issues. We had no attacking tactical play by the looks of things, nothing through Rooney. Don't understand the Storey sub, why play another player to do exactly the same thing as Rooney totally ineffectively did. What do we have on the bench? Lump the ball up to Stockley.....booo! Pawlett has had his chance long ago and is average at best. Tonight proved when we needed inspiration off the bench and we had nothing - we needed a new midfielder or two to come on and give us spark or energy but we don't have that. I know we got Christie but one or two more January signings would have been nice. I don't blame the market, all clubs have to deal with that, I blame our club for a lack of effort. January proved we're happy to be where we are. We chose not to improve and have accepted that this squad will hopefully get us second place rather than kick on, get better players, and try to pull away from Rangers and Hearts.

Well, what a disappointing window that was....again. Yet another window we fail to strengthen the squad and obviously weaken squad depth. Don't see Morris leaving as an issue but Burns played and Storie is one of, if not the only natural central midfield back up. It was only a matter of time before we had serious links to our best players. Onviously glad they haven't left and would certainly be tough to replace both players. Will make a tough summer if both go then, plus wouldn't be surprised if Rooney and Lewis got offers if they play well in the second half. Add to that jack possibly going certainly a time of significant change.

Well, pretty much silence here......is that it? Another very disappointing window if that is indeed the case. Our squad is smaller and we've even less cover now. Injuries and suspensions, particularly to Jack, McLean, or Shinnie could certainly hurt us. Does Shinnie have a suspension coming up? I assume O'Connor is our back up for the holding mid positions?? For the last three years we've stuttered to the finish. Can't help but believe 2-3 players in January adds freshness, an increased competitive edge for playing time etc. While the January window is a tough one those around us have done business and we haven't improved things (Christie is just a straight swap for Maddison.) Hopefully one or two pieces of business appear in the last few hours!

Well, window closing soon and we're 1 in and 4 out with Christie in and Maddison, Burns, Morris, and Storie gone. Think we're super thin (thinner) in center mid, still hoping we can add one there. Still also hopeful of May in too but concerned we'll not add anyone else. Don't see McGinn or Hayes leaving any time soon. Anyone else think we'll add a mystery guy that nobody saw coming? Nice solid world class midfielder perhaps!

I don't see it as 15-20 mins here and there, that doesn't help that much. Young players need to experience full games consistently, playing when games are competitive and need to be won. They have to deal with that stress, pressure, and the battle. Not coming on with the security of a lead and the competitive edge has gone. Bad example since it's an example of overplaying, but I'm meaning like Black, Simpson, Cooper, Hewitt, then Jess and Booth too, all who started regularly at a young age and developed accordingly.

One of the problems with the youth system is that we're in a generation of instant production. Young players have to produce immediately, they don't get 10-20 games to settle in. Managers lose their jobs if they have that kind of poor run so they're not willing to take the risk. The big argument for bringing back reserve league football is to help create more prepared young players. Young guys played with old pros, experienced guys, top players coming back from injury etc. The reserve league created players more adequately equipped for 1st team football. U20 league is great for getting young guys games but they play each other and the jump to the first team is significant. Every club is dealing with this, not just us.

I agree with the point above, I don't see him taking McLean's place. Kenny has been much better once moved back to his position which resulted in Maddison sitting on the bench. See Christie taking that role, not McLeans.

Tlg1903, you're more or less right. Everyone bar Celtic is pretty much broke and we rely on the cheap, free, and loan deals. We're all scraping the barrel. I'd rather be loaning a young Scottish talent with an upside than sign a lower English or foreign unknown.......although in years past signing an old firm player on loan would be unheard of and certainly unwanted. I get the negativity around signing a Celtic loanee but it's the current environment and the sad state of affairs in Scottish football. I also don't like that Aberdeen has very few Scottish players now so signing Scot is a positive in my eyes and hopefully we have the potential of a permanent signing. Would love us to be a real Scottish team with the best Scottish talent.

Happy to have young Scottish talent join us, hopefully we can develop and improve a Scottish player. Loads of potential and if we can benefit, win more games, finish 2nd, and make more money, I'm good! He's a young lad, we all do dumb shit as kids. I'm ignoring the tweet, don't care what he did in the past, care what he does for us. Hope he gets support from the fans!

Don't mind the Christie deal. Wish we were buying players but this is the current reality. Hope it's a rent to own and a price has already been agreed. We picked up McGinn from Celtic when his contract expired, if Christie is a success and we can pick him up that's great. If he's a dud, goodbye at the years end. Hope we get the same type of deal for May. Shinnie is not an outstanding midfielder but we do well with him in there. I've always said we needed 2 central midfielders including an enforcer in there and Shinnie is not that guy. We still need to add here. If Shinnie is becoming a midfielder which I'm fine with then we definitely need to sign a left back - a left footed Logan please. So, hopefully May replaces Burns and Storey, Christie replaces Maddison. Means we need a LB and CM.

Would love to see a killer instinct and go on and smash them. Does wonders for confidence and sends a message. Hayes and McGinn have had a strong first half!

Donsdaft, I just can't subscribe to that mentality. I despise Rangers and Celtic but if a player becomes an Aberdeen player I'm a fan - I want them and the team to excel. The abuse does nothing to help us and I can't relate to people who boo or abuse our own players. It serves no positive or helpful purpose and is detrimental to the team and performance in my eyes. Barry Nicholson was excellent for us, Gavin Rae was a local boy who supported us, I'd still take Andrew Shinnie if he became available, and if Neil Alexander ever plays he'll get my full support.

Don't care if players have played for Celtic or Rangers as long as they play well for us. Loved Jim Bett as a player, very happy with McGinn. Obviously Ferguson played for Rangers.... As for dropping down a league, the lifespan of a player is so limited I don't care what players do. We don't know the circumstances behind players and decisions. For example, as a new father money is so fucking tight for me right now that I'd play anywhere and for anyone if it meant an improved paycheck that helped my family and secured long term financial stability. If I was single with no kids I'd play for less money to play for a team I love! Footballers get judged for making decisions but we do not know why. A football career could be finished with a brutal injury tomorrow that I don't question why they do what they do. Just give your all for the dons if you play for us.

I don't see why May would mean no Maddison return. Two very different players in different positions. I see May replacing Burns and Storey. I think we may see a 4-4-2 with May and Rooney but we all thought that with Stockley -that does not appear to be DM's thought - he's a 4-2-3-1 guy. If Maddison doesn't return and Storie has gone on loan we're even thinner in the middle of the park. Cammy Smith returning?? I'd totally take O'Halloran. Worth the risk and from what I remember was solid at St. J. Both May and O'Halloran have upside in my eyes. He'd be more of a replacement for Maddison than May. Don't think Rangers would loan or sell him to us though. Silent on the central midfielder front, major concern in my eyes there.

DM said something about a serious offer we can get resolved and see where it takes us. My comment was we don't want to sell him and I want an amazing and high offer. Very different. I'll take 3million, DM will take 750k. It makes zero sense to sell him now, sell him in the summer at worst when we have more replacement options. A dons team less McGinn and Hayes will struggle to make top 4 and Europe unless DM produces some transfer magic.

I suppose I do understand, I'm just really disappointed. Is there another example of any other Scottish club doing this, releasing an important player in a key position then selling one on the cheap just to keep them happy? Players sign contracts and it's up to us to manage that - if the right offer comes along that helps us improve the team then sell, but obviously I doubt we'll hold out for that.....again. Burns is a strange one. While I'm not disappointed to see him go and he's had minimal impact, the fact that we've uncertainty with McGinn, Hayes, Maddison, and I'd add Storey too, we could end up losing a bunch of players this window. Do I have the faith we'll bring in sufficient and more than adequate replacements? Don't need to answer that one, we proved that last year with Danny Ward. Sadly the club reeks of a lack of ambition right now.

Sorry, but this is bullshit. I don't understand why we don't basically say we don't want to sell him, he's under contract, and it will take an absolutely amazing and high offer for us to consider selling him. End of story. We gave away Flood for free and that hurt us - why? The player wanted to play more so we kept him happy by releasing him. Now it sounds like Jonny wants a move and we'll work with him if Cardiff offer a little more money. I don't grudge Jonny wanting a new challenge and a significant pay increase, a pro player has a very short career and needs to be financially responsible making as much as he can while he can, but we need to look out for the club/team first. He's an internationalist and one of the best players in Scotland, we deserve to either hold out for an appropriate offer that considers he's one of the best players in Scotland or keep him. We're one of Scotland's best teams that provides players with top of the league challenges, cup final opportunities, and European football, and should only be selling our best players if it provides significant funds to greatly improve the team/squad.

McGinn is not in Dubai, in the states. Given extended break since he didn't get a summer and is joining the squad when they return to Aberdeen. DM said this somewhere, can't remember where I read it.

Ok, being an arsehole and looking at the top 4, Celtic have signed a player, so have Rangers and Hearts and we have.........I'm not overly optimistic. Also interesting to note, Jackson Irvine and Will Vaulks are playing for the bottom feeders of the Championship, why not a cheeky loan bid there? Still think either/both would do a job for us.

Then again, we gave away Willo Flood for free and have then struggled with that position all season. Who knows what we'll do!!

I'm definitely not one to normally think this way but why are we getting all the transfer attention? Why aren't players being linked to leaving Celtic, Rangers, or even Hearts?? We've had McGinn to Hearts, Hayes to Cardiff, Considine to the huns, and now Logan to Ipswich. This can't do anything positive for us, media are a bunch of wankers. Can't wait until the window closes. This whole transfer window system is an absolute shit way of doing business.

So if Maddison is worth 6 million and Hayes and now Logan being linked with teams in England so far, what's the value of our players based on Maddison - Hayes 3 mill? Logan 2 mill?

Zero chance we pay 150k for any 35 yr old.

Give me a reason McGinn goes to Hearts?? Because he knows the asst manager means little or nothing. They don't appear as good as us, Europe is questionable whereas he's been there yearly with us, we have the stronger squad, and we're the bigger club. I'd get it if it were Celtic or rangers but Hearts makes zero sense. If we lose him it will be to an English championship side - the fresh start, a nice signing bonus, and a higher wage. Can't argue with that really.